Population Epigenetics: The Extent of DNA Methylation Variation in Wild Animal Populations

Epigenomes, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6(4), P. 31 - 31

Published: Sept. 28, 2022

Population epigenetics explores the extent of epigenetic variation and its dynamics in natural populations encountering changing environmental conditions. In contrast to population genetics, basic concepts this field are still their early stages, especially animal populations. Epigenetic may play a crucial role phenotypic plasticity local adaptation as it can be affected by environment, is likely have higher spontaneous mutation rate than nucleotide sequences do, inherited via non-mendelian processes. review, we aim bring together studies generate new insights into ecological evolutionary implications. We first provide an overview DNA methylation autonomy from genetic wild population. Second, discuss which create observed structures including genetics Then, highlight relevance mechanism extended synthesis. Finally, suggest research directions highlighting gaps knowledge field. As for our results, diversity was found reveal parameters that used characterize Some applied explain structure The set recent advancements epigenetics, transgenerational inheritance population, might reshape way ecologists predictive models capacity organisms adapt environments.

Language: Английский

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Epigenetic variations are more substantial than genetic variations in rapid adaptation of oyster to Pacific oyster mortality syndrome

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(36)

Published: Sept. 8, 2023

Disease emergence is accelerating with global changes. Understanding by which mechanisms host populations can rapidly adapt will be crucial for management practices. Pacific oyster mortality syndrome (POMS) imposes a substantial and recurrent selective pressure on populations, rapid adaptation may arise through genetics epigenetics. In this study, we used (epi)genome-wide association mapping to show that oysters differentially exposed POMS displayed genetic epigenetic signatures of selection. Consistent higher resistance POMS, the genes targeted included many in several pathways related immunity. By combining correlation, DNA methylation quantitative trait loci, variance partitioning, revealed third phenotypic variation was explained interactions between information, ~14% genome, up 25% epigenome alone. Similar genetically based adaptation, notably governing immune responses contribute substantially hosts emerging infectious diseases.

Language: Английский

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A science and management partnership to restore coregonine diversity to the Laurentian Great Lakes

Environmental Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 31(4), P. 716 - 738

Published: May 31, 2023

Similar to many freshwater ecosystems, the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America have undergone numerous anthropogenic stressors resulting in considerable loss biodiversity and habitat. Among fishes, coregonine sub-family has endured most extensive declines, including extinction several species ( Coregonus johannae, C. alpenae, kiyi orientalis) at least 10 instances local extirpations other nigripinnis, reighardi, zenithicus, hoyi, artedi) across all 5 lakes, much which occurred prior 1960s owing overfishing, interactions with non-indigenous species, habitat loss. Despite these no federal-, provincial-, or state-mandated actions were ever implemented conserve diversity, potentially because so declines enactment federal conservation legislation. Possible explanations for inaction since that legislation include insufficient data on biological vulnerability threats, unresolved taxonomy, limited support from fishery management agencies their stakeholders 2000s. In recent decades, however, undertaken efforts re-introduce diversity. These helped lead development a science-based framework restore coregonines was universally endorsed by managers representing eight U.S. states, four tribal organizations, province ON, Canada, May 2018. The basin-wide is based principles biology adaptive management. We describe details its key steps, planning, restoring, evaluating, while also describing implementation develop methods, improve available resources, enhance coordination basin. Although our paper describes regional effort native coregonines, adaptive-management approach could be used multi-agency seeking fishes.

Language: Английский

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To live or let die? Epigenetic adaptations to climate change—a review

Current Zoology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Anthropogenic activities are responsible for a wide array of environmental disturbances that threaten biodiversity. Climate change, encompassing temperature increases, ocean acidification, increased salinity, droughts, and floods caused by frequent extreme weather events, represents one the most significant alterations. These drastic challenges pose ecological constraints, with over million species expected to disappear in coming years. Therefore, organisms must adapt or face potential extinctions. Adaptations can occur not only through genetic changes but also non-genetic mechanisms, which often confer faster acclimatization wider variability ranges than their counterparts. Among these mechanisms epigenetics defined as study molecules perpetuate alternative gene activity states context same DNA sequence. Epigenetics has received attention past decades, epigenetic sensitive cues, epimutations spread populations mutations. Epimutations be neutral, deleterious, adaptative transmitted subsequent generations, making them crucial factors both long- short-term responses fluctuations, such climate change. In this review, we compile existing evidence involvement adaptation change discuss derived perspectives remaining field epigenetics.

Language: Английский

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Epigentics

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

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Effect of legacy and emerging pollutants on genome-wide methylation patterns in black hake (Merluccius polli) natural populations

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 298, P. 118279 - 118279

Published: May 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Rapid adaptation through genomic and epigenomic responses following translocations in an endangered salmonid

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 14(10), P. 2470 - 2489

Published: June 11, 2021

Identifying the molecular mechanisms facilitating adaptation to new environments is a key question in evolutionary biology, especially face of current rapid and human-induced changes. Translocations have become an important tool for species conservation, but attendant small population sizes ecological pressures might affect phenotypic genotypic variation trajectories dramatically unknown ways. In Scotland, European whitefish (

Language: Английский

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The evolutionary consequences of interactions between the epigenome, the genome and the environment

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract The epigenome is the suite of interacting chemical marks and molecules that helps to shape patterns development, phenotypic plasticity gene regulation, in part due its responsiveness environmental stimuli. There increasing interest understanding functional evolutionary importance this sensitivity under ecologically realistic conditions. Observations epigenetic variation abounds natural populations have prompted speculation it may facilitate responses rapid perturbations, such as those occurring climate change. A frequent point contention whether variants reflect genetic or are independent it. genome often appear tightly linked interdependent. While many changes genetically determined, converse also true, with DNA sequence influenced by presence marks. Understanding how epigenome, environment interact one another therefore an essential step explaining broader consequences epigenomic variation. Drawing on results from experimental comparative studies carried out diverse plant animal species, we synthesize our current these factors populations, a focus identifying similarities differences between taxonomic groups. We describe main components they vary within taxa. review interacts features determinants, role transposable elements (TEs) integrating environment. And look at recent investigating interactions. Although differentiation nature likely result drift selection stochastic epimutations, there growing evidence significant fraction can be stably inherited could contribute evolution independently

Language: Английский

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Identifying and conserving sympatric diversity in trout of the genus Salmo, with particular reference to Lough Melvin, Ireland

Ecology Of Freshwater Fish, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(2), P. 177 - 207

Published: Jan. 12, 2022

Abstract Salmonid (Salmonidae) sympatric diversity is the co‐occurrence, in a lake or river, of two more reproductively isolated populations/subpopulations, phenotypes resulting from phenotypic plasticity. Sympatric populations can arise through allopatric and/or evolution. Subsequently, lineages occur sympatry due to independent colonisation anthropogenic introduction. divergence often driven by feeding opportunities, with segregating as planktivorous, benthivorous and piscivorous ecotypes (“trophic polymorphism”), further segregation occurring depth body size. Subpopulations evolve natal homing where water has discrete spawning areas, phenotypically ecologically cryptic sympatry. Most known populations/phenotypes trout genus Salmo (Eurasian aka brown trout) involve (ferox) lifetime invertivorous trout. Segregation on benthic–limnetic axis been poorly studied Eurasian compared other salmonids but likely commoner than currently described. While three populations/species are recognised Lake Ohrid (Albania/North Macedonia), limited ecological information available there only lakes four described benthic, limnetic trophic segregation: Lough Melvin (Ireland) Loch Laidon (Scotland), latter having identified case profundal benthic populations, possibly absence Arctic charr ( Salvelinus alpinus ) lake. Many thousands waters yet be examined. Some extinct, others vulnerable conservation action being urgently required. This should ideally based populations/conservation units, lack recognition intraspecific units most legislations native range necessitates pragmatic approach, species classification, appropriate, integrative taxonomy. clearly merit status formally classified such if valid previous name not available.

Language: Английский

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Patterns, processes and conservation management consequences of intraspecific diversity, illustrated by fishes from recently glaciated lakes

Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Patterns in phenotypic and genotypic diversity within many species are becoming increasingly apparent, although there remain for which such patterns have yet to be described adequately. Fishes from recently glaciated ecosystems likely particularly rich intraspecific diversity, current conservation management strategies are, parts of the world, Europe, conventionally overwhelmingly focused on species, regardless competing concepts, appropriate policies managing at a sub‐specific level still developed. Occasional attempts protect certain vulnerable ecotypes proposed alternative units (e.g. ‘Pragmatic Species’ or ‘Evolutionarily Significant Units’) reinforce conventional primacy contemporary expressed variation. Intraspecific ultimately result complex processes divergence; approaches that focus products evolution largely ignore generate maintain those patterns. Policies acknowledge continuation evolution, derivation novel over often very short time spans role environment initiating perpetuating these poorly integrated into strategy. To address possible deficits, where is not addressed practice, we believe it important first characterize hidden genetic may intimate eco‐evolutionary processes, initially among high status. A second step should use an approach illuminates ultimate mechanisms bring about also concedes central affords adequate protection drive as United Nations Convention Biological Diversity (CBD) Ecosystems approach.

Language: Английский

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