Abstract Detail

Molecular Ecology

Hernandez, Adriana [1], Specht, Chelsea [1].

Identifying genetic drivers of local adaptation in the highly polymorphic California endemic lily Calochortus venustus.

Polymorphic taxa represent instances in which rules of natural selection have seemingly been broken. While selection often homogenizes variation of traits, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms that shape and maintain gene flow given a diversity of phenotypes. Conversely, determining how trait variation is derived and maintained in light of ongoing gene flow is essential to understanding local adaptation. The California endemic butterfly mariposa lily, Calochortus venustus, displays striking variation in floral pigmentation and patterning: individuals within a population can range in petal color from a spectrum of red, purple, pink, white, and yellow, with variation in other floral traits as well. Population genetics data show gene flow between morphotypes, and phylogeography suggests parallel evolution toward the white morphotype in the northern range (Hernández et al., submitted). Concordance of population dynamics, evolutionary history, and spatial phenotypic distribution provides evidence that phenotypic diversity is locally adaptive despite lack of reproductive isolation between morphotypes. We aim to investigate genetic variants that drive adaptive evolution in this hypervariable species. Climatic niche modeling was implemented to test for a correlation between the distribution of each petal color with climate and soil variables in order to identify potential abiotic selective forces in Maxent. Preliminary data suggest that while each morphotype occupies a different fundamental climatic niche, some may be limited in part by dispersal while others are likely limited by habitat suitability strongly associated with temperature and precipitation. These data will be implemented into ongoing genotype-environment associations and Fst outlier analyses, in order to identify the genetic mechanisms that maintain both phenotypic diversity and drive local adaptation.

1 - Cornell University, Section of Plant Biology & the L.H. Bailey Hortorium, 502 Mann Library, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States

Keywords:
local adaptation
gene flow
floral trait evolution.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: ME1, Molecular Ecology
Location: /
Date: Tuesday, July 20th, 2021
Time: 3:00 PM(EDT)
Number: ME1001
Abstract ID:142
Candidate for Awards:None