Evolutionary Adaptation Potential and Population Structure of Notothenia spp

VAN DE PUTTE, ANTON; HEINDLER, FRANZ; BARRERA ORO, ESTEBAN; CHRISTIANSEN, HENRIK; VOLCKAERT, FILIP; HELLEMANS, BART

Davos

Congreso; SCAR Open Science Conference XXXV, Davos; 2018

SCAR

Global change is fundamentally altering marine ecosystems of Antarctica, albeit with at times opposite effects in different areas, e.g., decreasing or increasing sea ice cover. Marine organisms are expected to cope variably with these changes; some may benefit, while others face extinction. Adaptation to changing environmental conditions is one option to avert demise. Standing genetic variation is key for this as it can facilitate adaptation at much faster rates than adaptation from new mutations. In this context, knowledge of genetic diversity in time and space is important to investigate evolutionary adaptation potential of Antarctic species. We use reduced representation sequencing to genotype thousands of genetic markers in the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps and Notothenia rossii. We assess genetic variation and differentiation, particularly in the Western Antarctic Peninsula region. Furthermore, we employ a series of genome scan methods to detect loci that are putatively under selection, i.e., showing signs of recent evolutionary action. Combining patterns of neutral and adaptive genetic variation can give clues as to how species have evolved in the past and how they may react to rapid changes in the future.