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Genome-culture coevolution promotes rapid divergence of killer whale ecotypes

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew D. Foote

    (Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University
    Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen
    Computational and Molecular Population Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern)

  • Nagarjun Vijay

    (Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University)

  • María C. Ávila-Arcos

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen
    Stanford University)

  • Robin W. Baird

    (Cascadia Research)

  • John W. Durban

    (Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration)

  • Matteo Fumagalli

    (Evolution, and Environment, UCL Genetics Institute, University College London)

  • Richard A. Gibbs

    (Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza)

  • M. Bradley Hanson

    (Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

  • Thorfinn S. Korneliussen

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen)

  • Michael D. Martin

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen)

  • Kelly M. Robertson

    (Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration)

  • Vitor C. Sousa

    (Computational and Molecular Population Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern)

  • Filipe G. Vieira

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen)

  • Tomáš Vinař

    (Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Mlynska Dolina)

  • Paul Wade

    (National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

  • Kim C. Worley

    (Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza)

  • Laurent Excoffier

    (Computational and Molecular Population Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern)

  • Phillip A. Morin

    (Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration)

  • M. Thomas P. Gilbert

    (Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen
    Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, Curtin University)

  • Jochen B.W. Wolf

    (Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University
    Science for Life Laboratory, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University
    Section of Evolutionary Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich)

Abstract

Analysing population genomic data from killer whale ecotypes, which we estimate have globally radiated within less than 250,000 years, we show that genetic structuring including the segregation of potentially functional alleles is associated with socially inherited ecological niche. Reconstruction of ancestral demographic history revealed bottlenecks during founder events, likely promoting ecological divergence and genetic drift resulting in a wide range of genome-wide differentiation between pairs of allopatric and sympatric ecotypes. Functional enrichment analyses provided evidence for regional genomic divergence associated with habitat, dietary preferences and post-zygotic reproductive isolation. Our findings are consistent with expansion of small founder groups into novel niches by an initial plastic behavioural response, perpetuated by social learning imposing an altered natural selection regime. The study constitutes an important step towards an understanding of the complex interaction between demographic history, culture, ecological adaptation and evolution at the genomic level.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew D. Foote & Nagarjun Vijay & María C. Ávila-Arcos & Robin W. Baird & John W. Durban & Matteo Fumagalli & Richard A. Gibbs & M. Bradley Hanson & Thorfinn S. Korneliussen & Michael D. Martin & Kel, 2016. "Genome-culture coevolution promotes rapid divergence of killer whale ecotypes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11693
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11693
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