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Data from: The genetic basis of dispersal in a vertebrate metapopulation

Saatoglu, Dilan1; Lundregan, Sarah L.1; Fetterplace, Evelyn1; Goedert, Debora1; Husby, Arild2; Niskanen, Alina K.3; Muff, Stefanie1; Jensen, Henrik1

Research facility: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Published Feb 13, 2024 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.80gb5mkxh

Data files

Feb 13, 2024 version files 362.95 MB

Abstract

Dispersal affects evolutionary processes by changing population size and genetic composition, influencing the viability and persistence of populations. Investigating which mechanisms underlie variation in dispersal phenotypes and whether populations harbor adaptive potential for dispersal is crucial to understanding the eco-evolutionary dynamics of this important trait. Here, we investigate the genetic architecture of dispersal among successfully recruited individuals in an insular metapopulation of house sparrows. We use an extensive long-term individual-based ecological data set and high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes for over 2500 individuals. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS), finding a relationship between dispersal probability and an SNP located near genes known to regulate circadian rhythmic, glycogenesis and exercise performance, among other functions. However, this SNP only explained 3.8% of variance, suggesting that dispersal is a polygenic trait. We then used an animal model to estimate heritable genetic variation (σA2 ), which composes 10% of the total variation in dispersal probability. Finally, we investigated differences in σA2 across populations occupying ecologically relevant habitat types (farm vs. non-farm) using a genetic-groups animal model. We found different adaptive potentials across habitats, with higher mean breeding value, σA2 , and heritability for the habitat presenting lower dispersal rates, suggesting also different roles of environmental variation. Our results suggest a complex genetic architecture of dispersal, and demonstrate that adaptive potential may be environment-dependent in key eco-evolutionary traits. The eco-evolutionary implications of such environment-dependence and consequent spatial variation are likely to become ever more important with the increased fragmentation and loss of suitable habitats for many natural populations.