High-elevation adaptation of amphibians and reptiles and its genetic basis

两栖爬行动物的高海拔适应及其遗传基础

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04482
• 负责人: Fu, Jinzhong
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=739981
• 关键词: elevation; adaptation; amphibians; reptiles; its

My research aims to understand the process of adaptation in natural populations using the elevational gradient as a study system. For the next five years, my specific objectives include detecting genetic and phenotypic variations of a common toad (Bufo gargarizans) along elevational gradients, establishing associations between them, and understanding how these variations may have contributed to the adaptation process. My primary approach will be population-level comparative analysis. Bufo gargarizans is a common toad in Tibet with a large elevational distribution range (0-3800 m). We have located three sampling transects. Each transect has a minimum elevational difference of 2000 m and a maximum straight line distance of 50 km. Recently, we have successfully sequenced its genome. I will conduct a population genomic analysis, identify putative adaptive variants, and address fundamental questions of genetic adaptation. Using genome re-sequencing, we will gather genome data along these transects. The elevational gradient design will facilitate the identification of putative adaptive variants. These variants will then be subject to functional analysis and association studies to phenotypic variations. Furthermore, we will assess whether certain classes of variants are particularly important in adaptive evolution (e.g. particular pathways, regulatory mutations), and test for evidence of co-evolution or constraints among genes. I will detect phenotypic variations, including morphological, behavioural, physiological and life history traits, along these transects. Currently, we are focusing on morphology of the brain, sensory organs, and locomotion related traits, as well as behavioural and physiological traits that may interact with life history traits (the pace-of-life syndrome). Ultimately, we will establish association between genetic variations and phenotypic variations. I will also apply between-species comparative analysis to explore convergence and parallelism between high-elevation amphibians and other vertebrates (e.g. Phrynocephalus lizards, deer mice, human). This will allow us to put our research findings into a larger context and to generate widely applicable hypotheses. Our integrative analysis of variations at multiple hierarchical levels will yield insights into causes and consequences of adaptive genetic changes and the genetic architecture underlying complex phenotypic traits.

我的研究旨在以海拔梯度为研究系统来理解自然种群的适应过程。在接下来的五年里，我的具体目标包括检测一种常见的蟾蜍(Bufo Gargarizans)沿海拔梯度的遗传和表型变异，建立它们之间的联系，并了解这些变异可能如何促进适应过程。我的主要方法将是人口层面的比较分析。中华大蟾蜍是西藏常见的一种蛙类，海拔分布范围大(0-3800米)。我们已经定位了三个取样样带。每条样带的最小高差为2000米，最大直线距离为50公里。最近，我们成功地对它的基因组进行了测序。我将进行群体基因组分析，确定可能的适应变异，并解决遗传适应的基本问题。利用基因组重新测序，我们将沿着这些横断面收集基因组数据。海拔梯度设计将有助于识别假定的适应性变异。然后将对这些变异进行功能分析和与表型变异的关联研究。此外，我们将评估某些类别的变异在适应性进化中是否特别重要(例如，特定的途径、调节突变)，并测试共同进化或基因之间限制的证据。我将检测这些横断面上的表型变异，包括形态、行为、生理和生活史特征。目前，我们专注于大脑、感觉器官和运动相关特征的形态，以及可能与生活史特征(生活节奏综合征)相互作用的行为和生理特征。最终，我们将在遗传变异和表型变异之间建立联系。我还将应用物种间的比较分析来探索高海拔两栖动物与其他脊椎动物(例如沙头蜥蜴、鹿鼠、人类)之间的趋同和平行关系。这将使我们能够把我们的研究结果放在更大的背景下，并产生广泛适用的假设。我们对多层次变异的综合分析将深入了解适应性遗传变化的原因和后果，以及复杂表型性状背后的遗传结构。