Where the “<i>ruber</i>” Meets the Road: Using the Genome of the Red Diamond Rattlesnake to Unravel the Evolutionary Processes Driving Venom Evolution
Understanding the proximate and ultimate causes of phenotypic variation is fundamental in evolutionary research, as such variation provides the substrate for selection to act upon. Although trait variation can arise due to selection, the importance of neutral processes is sometimes understudied. We presented the first reference-quality genome of the Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) and used range-wide 'omic data to estimate the degree to which neutral and adaptive evolutionary processes shaped venom evolution. We characterized population structure and found substantial genetic differentiation across two populations, each with distinct demographic histories. We identified significant differentiation in venom expression across age classes with substantially reduced but discernible differentiation across populations. We then used conditional redundancy analysis to test whether venom expression variation was best predicted by neutral divergence patterns or geographically variable (a)biotic factors. Snake size was the most significant predictor of venom variation, with environment, prey availability, and neutral sequence variation also identified as significant factors, though to a lesser degree. By directly including neutrality in the model, our results confidently highlight the predominant, yet not singular, role of life history in shaping venom evolution.
Authors
- Gamaliel Castañeda‐Gaytán (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1896-0937)
- Preston J. McDonald (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7153-4611)
- Christopher L. Parkinson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2020-6992)
- Marc A. Beer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1374-0705)
- Samuel R Hirst (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3172-5210)
- Rhett M. Rautsaw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8229-5951)
- Paul B. Frandsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4801-7579)
- Jason L. Strickland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1927-7259)
- Víctor Vásquez-Cruz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5446-1855)
- Miguel Borja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4098-7279)
- Ramsés Alejandro Rosales-García (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0110-435X)
- Mark J. Margres (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6153-6701)
- Andrew Storfer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9414-8588)
- Cameron M VanHorn
- Alexandra Rubio Rincón
- Bruno Rodriguez Lopez
- Alfonso Kelly Hernández
- Hector Franz Chávez
Institutions
- Brigham Young University (US)
- Universidad Veracruzana (MX)
- Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (MX)
- University of South Florida (US)
- Washington State University (US)
- Clemson University (US)
- University of South Alabama (US)
- Universidad de Colima (MX)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Genome Biology and Evolution
- Published
- 2024-09-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evae198
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.20
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- American Museum of Natural History
- National Geographic Society
- Florida State University
- Brigham Young University
- University of South Florida
- University of South Alabama
- Division of Environmental Biology