Genetic and Epigenetic Differentiation Across Intertidal Gradients in the Foundation Plant Spartina alterniflora

• DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.868826
• Publication Date: 2022-05-12T08:29:03Z
• Authors: Jeannie M. Mounger; Isolde van Riemsdijk; M. Teresa Boquete; Cornelis A. M. Wa...; Samar Fatma; Marta H. Robertson; Sandy A. Voors; Jenna Oberstaller; Fleur Gawehns; Torrance C. Hanley; Ivo Grosse; Koen J. F. Verhoeven; Erik E. Sotka; Catherine A. Gehring; A. Randall Hughes; David B. Lewis; Marc W. Schmid; Christina L. Rich...
• Keywords: Spartina alterniflora; Salt marsh; Environmental gradient

Ecological genomics approaches have informed us about the structure of genetic diversity in natural populations that might underlie patterns trait variation. However, we still know surprisingly little mechanisms permit organisms to adapt variable environmental conditions. The salt marsh foundation plant Spartina alterniflora exhibits a dramatic range phenotype is associated with pronounced intertidal gradient across narrow spatial scale. Both and non-genetic molecular this phenotypic To investigate both, used epigenotyping-by-sequencing (epiGBS) evaluate make-up gradient. Based on recent findings, expected both DNA sequence methylation would be explained by source population habitat within populations. predicted epigenetic variation more strongly since similar modifications could rapidly elicited different backgrounds Overall, PERMANOVA found origin significant amount (8.6%) (3.2%) variance. In addition, small but variance (<1%) was interaction an additional 2.9% 1.4% By examining same fragments (variation close-cis), 9.2% 8,960 tested loci, even after accounting for differences fragment. Habitat alone very (<0.1%) these close-cis comparisons, 2.1% loci. Using multiple matrix regression randomization (MMRR) were correlated when differences. Our results support contention explains most methylation, provided evidence distinctly contributes responses