What kind of genetic variation contributes the most to adaptation is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. By resequencing genomes of 80 individuals, we inferred the origin of genomic variants associated with a complex adaptive syndrome involving multiple quantitative traits, namely, adaptation between high and low altitudes, in the vinous-throated parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana) in Taiwan. By comparing these variants with those in the Asian mainland population, we revealed standing variation in 24 noncoding genomic regions to be the predominant genetic source of adaptation. Parrotbills at both high and low altitudes exhibited signatures of recent selection, suggesting that not only the front but also the trailing edges of postglacial expanding populations could be subjected to environmental stresses. This study verifies and quantifies the importance of standing variation in adaptation in a cohort of genes, illustrating that the evolutionary potential of a population depends significantly on its preexisting genetic diversity. These findings provide important context for understanding adaptation and conservation of species in the Anthropocene.
1.Natl Taiwan Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Taipei 11677, Taiwan 2.Novogene Bioinformat Inst, Beijing 100083, Peoples R China 3.Univ Maryland Baltimore Cty, Dept Biol Sci, Baltimore, MD 21250 USA 4.Beijing Normal Univ, Coll Life Sci, Minist Educ, Key Lab Biodivers Sci & Ecol Engn, Beijing 100875, Peoples R China 5.Natl Hlth Res Inst, Inst Populat Hlth Sci, Zhunan 35053, Miaoli County, Taiwan 6.Huaqiao Univ, Sch Biomed Sci, Inst Genom, Xiamen 361021, Peoples R China 7.Acad Sinica, Biodivers Res Ctr, Taipei 11529, Taiwan 8.Peking Univ, Sch Life Sci, Beijing 100080, Peoples R China 9.Hainan Normal Univ, Coll Life Sci, Key Lab Ecol Trop Islands, Minist Educ, Haikou 571158, Hainan, Peoples R China 10.Natl Dong Hwa Univ, Dept Nat Resources & Environm Studies, Hualien 97401, Taiwan 11.Endem Species Res Inst, Div Zool, Nantou 55244, Taiwan
Recommended Citation:
Lai, Yu-Ting,Yeung, Carol K. L.,Omland, Kevin E.,et al. Standing genetic variation as the predominant source for adaptation of a songbird[J]. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,2019-01-01,116(6):2152-2157