Local parasite pressures and host genotype modulate epigenetic diversity in a mixed‐mating fish

Parasite‐mediated selection is one of the main drivers of genetic variation in natural populations. The persistence of long‐term self‐fertilization, however, challenges the notion that low genetic variation and inbreeding compromise the host's ability to respond to pathogens. DNA methylation re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology and evolution 2019-08, Vol.9 (15), p.8736-8748
Main Authors: Berbel‐Filho, Waldir M., Garcia de Leaniz, Carlos, Morán, Paloma, Cable, Joanne, Lima, Sergio M. Q., Consuegra, Sofia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Animals
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA methylation
epigenetic variation
Epigenetics
Fertilization
Fish
Fish parasites
Gene expression
Genetic diversity
Genomes
Genotype & phenotype
Genotypes
hermaphroditism
Hypotheses
Inbreeding
Loads (forces)
local adaptation
mangrove killifish
Microsatellites
Natural populations
Original Research
Parasites
Population genetics
Populations
Self-fertilization
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Summary:Parasite‐mediated selection is one of the main drivers of genetic variation in natural populations. The persistence of long‐term self‐fertilization, however, challenges the notion that low genetic variation and inbreeding compromise the host's ability to respond to pathogens. DNA methylation represents a potential mechanism for generating additional adaptive variation under low genetic diversity. We compared genetic diversity (microsatellites and AFLPs), variation in DNA methylation (MS‐AFLPs), and parasite loads in three populations of Kryptolebias hermaphroditus, a predomintanly self‐fertilizing fish, to analyze the potential adaptive value of DNA methylation in relation to genetic diversity and parasite loads. We found strong genetic population structuring, as well as differences in parasite loads and methylation levels among sampling sites and selfing lineages. Globally, the interaction between parasites and inbreeding with selfing lineages influenced DNA methylation, but parasites seemed more important in determining methylation levels at the local scale. Using a naturally inbred fish, we show that genetic background and the interaction between parasite loads and inbreeding influences global DNA methylation levels.
ISSN:2045-7758
2045-7758
DOI:10.1002/ece3.5426