Short-term evolutionary implications of an introgressed size-determining supergene in a vulnerable population
The Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) is a vulnerable species displaying a discrete size-polymorphism in the northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA). We conducted whole genome sequencing of samples collected across its range. Genetic diversity was similar at all sampled sites, but we discovered a ~ 31 megabase bi-allelic supergene associated with the size polymorphism, with the larger size allele having introgressed in the last ~160,000 years B.P. While both Gulf of Maine (GoM) and Canadian (CAN) populations exhibit the size polymorphism, we detected a significant deficit of heterozygotes at the supergene and longer stretches of homozygosity in GoM population. This suggests inbreeding driven by assortative mating for size in GoM but not in CAN. Coalescent-based demographic modelling reveals strong migration between regions maintaining genetic variability in the recombining genome, preventing speciation between morphs. This study highlights short-term context-dependent evolutionary consequences of a size-determining supergene providing new insights for the management of vulnerable species.
Authors
- Lei Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5644-7480)
- Arve Lynghammar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6827-568X)
- Olivier Fédrigo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6450-7551)
- Pierre Lesturgie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6120-3336)
- John S. S. Denton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1885-4453)
- Stefano Mona (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9087-0656)
- Gavin J. P. Naylor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8731-2626)
- Shannon Corrigan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0093-5028)
- Jeff Kneebone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4581-8108)
- Romuald Laso‐Jadart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8410-1121)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Florida Museum of Natural History (US)
- American Museum of Natural History (US)
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- École Pratique des Hautes Études (FR)
- Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (FR)
- New England Aquarium (US)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Sustainability Institute (ZA)
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (FR)
- Cabot (United States) (US)
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-01-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56126-z
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.81
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Universitetet i Tromsø
- College of Charleston
- Havforskningsinstituttet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
- Région Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée
- Sorbonne Université