Dissertation
Characterization of the abiotic and biotic drivers of population genomic variation to study the evolutionary consequences of global change
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
05/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006551
Abstract
The rapid advancement of both theory and technology in the field of population genomics has permitted the evolutionary study of numerous species and thereby enabled the application of novel data and techniques to understanding the ongoing biodiversity crisis. In this dissertation, I analyze population genomic data from three species representing different facets of the biodiversity crisis. Specifically, I study 1) the capacity of an imperiled endemic species to respond evolutionarily to threats posed by global climate change; 2) the evolutionary impacts of shifting ecological interactions between species; and 3) adaptive evolution of an invasive species across its introduced range. The interplay of evolutionary forces, including natural selection, gene flow, and genetic drift, determines the extent to which species evolve population structure and local adaptation. These forces are frequently influenced by environmental conditions. Accordingly, understanding the contemporary relationships between environmental conditions, population structure, and local adaptation may provide critical insights into how species may respond as the environment changes in the future. Herein, I identify genomic signatures of local adaptation to current environmental conditions among populations of the imperiled streamside salamander (Ambystoma barbouri); I couple this knowledge with assessments of genetic diversity and connectivity to better understand the capacity of this species to respond to environmental change. Next, I extend the typical conception of the environment to include interspecific interactions by studying the evolutionary consequences of the competitive interaction between the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), a mesopredator, and the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), a declining top predator. I show that spatiotemporal variation in devil population density, as well as time since the arrival of the devil’s lethal disease, impact genetic connectivity and impose divergent selection among quoll populations. Finally, I use novel methodology to demonstrate geographic variation in genomic signatures of local adaptation among invasive Australian populations of the cane toad (Rhinella marina), thus providing a rare example of how heterogeneous invasion dynamics may impact adaptive evolution of an invasive species post-introduction.
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Details
- Title
- Characterization of the abiotic and biotic drivers of population genomic variation to study the evolutionary consequences of global change
- Creators
- Marc Andreas Beer
- Contributors
- Andrew Storfer (Chair)Jeremiah W Busch (Committee Member)Jesse L Brunner (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 249
- Identifiers
- 99901121438901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation