Microgeographic morphological variation across larval wood frog populations associated with environment despite gene flow.

ABSTRACT: Gene flow has historically been thought to constrain local adaptation; yet, recent research suggests that populations can diverge despite exchanging genes. Here I use a common garden experiment to assess the combined effects of gene flow and natural selection on morphological variation of 16 wood frog (Rana sylvatica) populations, a species known to experience divergent selection pressures in open- and closed-canopy ponds across relatively small geographic scales. Wood frog tadpoles from different ponds showed significant morphological variation associated with canopy type with a trade-off between tail length and body depth consistent with previous research. In contrast, neutral genetic differentiation of nine microsatellite loci as measured by Jost's D was not associated wit

SUBMITTER: Zellmer AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5838061 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature