Diversifying selection and color-biased dispersal in the asp viper.

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Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_76EE5A4E5624
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Diversifying selection and color-biased dispersal in the asp viper.
Journal
BMC Evolutionary Biology
Author(s)
Dubey S., Zwahlen V., Mebert K., Monney J.C., Golay P., Ott T., Durand T., Thiery G., Kaiser L., Geser S.N., Ursenbacher S.
ISSN
1471-2148 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1471-2148
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2015
Volume
15
Pages
99
Language
english
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The presence of intraspecific color polymorphism can have multiple impacts on the ecology of a species; as a consequence, particular color morphs may be strongly selected for in a given habitat type. For example, the asp viper (Vipera aspis) shows a high level of color polymorphism. A blotched morph (cryptic) is common throughout its range (central and western Europe), while a melanistic morph is frequently found in montane populations, presumably for thermoregulatory reasons. Besides, rare atypical uniformly colored individuals are known here and there. Nevertheless, we found in a restricted treeless area of the French Alps, a population containing a high proportion (>50%) of such specimens. The aim of the study is to bring insight into the presence and function of this color morph by (i) studying the genetic structure of these populations using nine microsatellite markers, and testing for (ii) a potential local diversifying selection and (iii) differences in dispersal capacity between blotched and non-blotched vipers.
RESULTS: Our genetic analyses support the occurrence of local diversifying selection for the non-blotched phenotype. In addition, we found significant color-biased dispersal, blotched individuals dispersing more than atypical individuals.
CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that, in this population, the non-blotched phenotype possess an advantage over the typical one, a phenomenon possibly due to a better background matching ability in a more open habitat. In addition, color-biased dispersal might be partly associated with the observed local diversifying selection, as it can affect the genetic structure of populations, and hence the distribution of color morphs.
Keywords
Diversifying selection, Dispersal, Coloration, Reptile, Asp viper
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
29/06/2015 14:25
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:34
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