Short-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable population
Abstract The Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) is a vulnerable species displaying a discrete size-polymorphism in the northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA). We conducted whole genome sequencing of samples collected across its range. Genetic diversity was similar at all sampled sites, but we discovered a ~ 3...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56126-z |
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| author | Pierre Lesturgie John S. S. Denton Lei Yang Shannon Corrigan Jeff Kneebone Romuald Laso-Jadart Arve Lynghammar Olivier Fedrigo Stefano Mona Gavin J. P. Naylor |
| author_facet | Pierre Lesturgie John S. S. Denton Lei Yang Shannon Corrigan Jeff Kneebone Romuald Laso-Jadart Arve Lynghammar Olivier Fedrigo Stefano Mona Gavin J. P. Naylor |
| author_sort | Pierre Lesturgie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) is a vulnerable species displaying a discrete size-polymorphism in the northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA). We conducted whole genome sequencing of samples collected across its range. Genetic diversity was similar at all sampled sites, but we discovered a ~ 31 megabase bi-allelic supergene associated with the size polymorphism, with the larger size allele having introgressed in the last ~160,000 years B.P. While both Gulf of Maine (GoM) and Canadian (CAN) populations exhibit the size polymorphism, we detected a significant deficit of heterozygotes at the supergene and longer stretches of homozygosity in GoM population. This suggests inbreeding driven by assortative mating for size in GoM but not in CAN. Coalescent-based demographic modelling reveals strong migration between regions maintaining genetic variability in the recombining genome, preventing speciation between morphs. This study highlights short-term context-dependent evolutionary consequences of a size-determining supergene providing new insights for the management of vulnerable species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73c76d01cf904ecbbc1316185c5dfa67 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-73c76d01cf904ecbbc1316185c5dfa672025-02-02T12:32:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-56126-zShort-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable populationPierre Lesturgie0John S. S. Denton1Lei Yang2Shannon Corrigan3Jeff Kneebone4Romuald Laso-Jadart5Arve Lynghammar6Olivier Fedrigo7Stefano Mona8Gavin J. P. Naylor9Florida Museum of Natural History, Dickinson HallDepartment of Ichthyology, American Museum of Natural HistoryFlorida Museum of Natural History, Dickinson HallFlorida Museum of Natural History, Dickinson HallAnderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England AquariumInstitut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des AntillesUiT The Arctic University of Norway, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, The Norwegian College of Fishery Science, NO-9037 BreivikaColossal BiosciencesInstitut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des AntillesFlorida Museum of Natural History, Dickinson HallAbstract The Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) is a vulnerable species displaying a discrete size-polymorphism in the northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA). We conducted whole genome sequencing of samples collected across its range. Genetic diversity was similar at all sampled sites, but we discovered a ~ 31 megabase bi-allelic supergene associated with the size polymorphism, with the larger size allele having introgressed in the last ~160,000 years B.P. While both Gulf of Maine (GoM) and Canadian (CAN) populations exhibit the size polymorphism, we detected a significant deficit of heterozygotes at the supergene and longer stretches of homozygosity in GoM population. This suggests inbreeding driven by assortative mating for size in GoM but not in CAN. Coalescent-based demographic modelling reveals strong migration between regions maintaining genetic variability in the recombining genome, preventing speciation between morphs. This study highlights short-term context-dependent evolutionary consequences of a size-determining supergene providing new insights for the management of vulnerable species.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56126-z |
| spellingShingle | Pierre Lesturgie John S. S. Denton Lei Yang Shannon Corrigan Jeff Kneebone Romuald Laso-Jadart Arve Lynghammar Olivier Fedrigo Stefano Mona Gavin J. P. Naylor Short-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable population Nature Communications |
| title | Short-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable population |
| title_full | Short-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable population |
| title_fullStr | Short-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable population |
| title_short | Short-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable population |
| title_sort | short term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size determining supergene in a vulnerable population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56126-z |
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