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Abstract:
It is now accepted that phenotypic evolution can occur quickly but understanding the genetic basis of rapid adaptation is largely unknown. Population genomic studies of experimental populations of guppies provide a unique opportunity to study this phenomenon. Guppy populations that were transplanted from high predation (HP) to low predation (LP) environments have been shown to evolve phenotypes similar to naturally-colonised LP populations in as few as 8 generations and these phenotypes persist in subsequent generations in laboratory environments. Here, we present results from whole genome sequencing of four experimental LP populations and their high- predation source. An unique advantage of this experiment is that we can compare our genetic signals to monthly mark-recapture census data. We first used site frequency and haplotype statistics (e.g. ROHs and IBD segments) to infer past demography. We find that haplotype statistics are more sensitive to founding and known bottleneck events. Next, we used genome-wide scans (including a novel multivariate scan method) to uncover signatures of selection and we identified strong candidate loci for convergent evolution in all of our experimental sites. These results help us understand how guppies are able to adapt so quickly to new environments.
