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Dryad

Fitness maps to a large-effect locus in introduced stickleback populations

Cite this dataset

Schluter, Dolph et al. (2020). Fitness maps to a large-effect locus in introduced stickleback populations [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.np5hqbzrc

Abstract

Mutations of small effect underlie most adaptation to new environments, but beneficial variants with large fitness effects are expected to contribute under certain conditions. Genes and genomic regions having large effects on phenotypic differences between populations are known from numerous taxa, but fitness effect sizes have rarely been estimated. We mapped fitness over a generation in an F2 intercross between a marine and a lake stickleback population introduced to a freshwater pond. A QTL map of the number of surviving offspring per F2 female detected a single, large-effect locus near Ectodysplasin (Eda), a gene having an ancient freshwater allele causing reduced bony armor and other changes. F2 females homozygous for the freshwater allele had twice the number of surviving offspring as homozygotes for the marine allele, producing a large selection coefficient, s = 0.50 ± 0.09 SE. Correspondingly, the frequency of the freshwater allele increased from 0.50 in F2 mothers to 0.58 in surviving offspring. We compare these results to observed allele frequency changes at the Eda gene in an Alaskan lake population colonized by marine stickleback in the 1980’s. The frequency of the freshwater Eda allele rose steadily over multiple generations and reached 95% within 20 years, yielding a similar estimate of selection, s = 0.49 ± 0.05. These findings are consistent with other studies suggesting strong selection on this gene (and/or linked genes) in fresh water. Selection on ancient genetic variants carried by colonizing ancestors is likely to increase the prevalence of large-effect fitness variants in adaptive evolution.

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Award: Discovery

National Cancer Institute, Award: NHGRI 3P50 HG002568

National Science Foundation, Award: DEB-0322818, DEB-0919184

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Max Planck Society

Killam Trusts

Howard Hughes Medical Institute