The evolution of white-tailed jackrabbit camouflage

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Ferreira, Mafalda S.; Thurman, Timothy J.; Jones, Matthew R.; Farelo, Liliana; Kumar, Alexander, V; Mortimer, Sebastian M. E.; Demboski, John R.; Mills, L. Scott; Alves, Paulo C.; Melo-Ferreira, Jose; Good, Jeffrey M.
• 署名单位: Universidade do Porto; Universidade do Porto; University of Montana System; University of Montana; University of Montana System; University of Montana; United States Department of the Interior; US Fish & Wildlife Service; University of Montana System; University of Montana; Uppsala University
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-13533
• DOI: 10.1126/science.ade3984
• 发表日期: 2023-03-24
• 页码: 1238-1242
• 关键词: hybridization; declines

摘要

The genetic basis of adaptive traits has rarely been used to predict future vulnerability of populations to climate change. We show that light versus dark seasonal pelage in white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii) tracks snow cover and is primarily determined by genetic variation at endothelin receptor type B (EDNRB), corin serine peptidase (CORIN), and agouti signaling protein (ASIP). Winter color variation was associated with deeply divergent alleles at these genes, reflecting selection on both ancestral and introgressed variation. Forecasted reductions in snow cover are likely to induce widespread camouflage mismatch. However, simulated populations with variation for darker winter pelage are predicted to adapt rapidly, providing a trait-based genetic framework to facilitate evolutionary rescue. These discoveries demonstrate how the genetic basis of climate change adaptation can inform conservation.