Epigenetics and island-mainland divergence in an insectivorous small mammal

Geographically isolated populations, specifically island-mainland counterparts, tend to exhibit phenotypic variation in many species. The so-called island syndrome occurs when different environmental pressures lead to insular divergence from mainland populations. This phenomenon can be seen in an island population of Nova Scotia masked shrews (Sorex cinereus), which have developed a specialized feeding habit and digestive enzyme compared to their mainland counterparts. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation (DNAm), can impact phenotypes by altering gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Here, we used a de novo masked shrew genome assembly and a mammalian methylation array profiling 37 thousand conserved CpGs to investigate morphological and DNA methylation patterns between island and mainland populations. Island shrews were morphologically and epigenetically different than their mainland counterparts, exhibiting a smaller body size. A gene ontology enrichment analyses of differentially methylated CpGs implicated developmental and digestive system related pathways. Based on our shrew epigenetic clock, island shrews might also be aging faster than their mainland counterparts. This study provides novel insight on phenotypic and epigenetic divergence in island-mainland mammal populations and suggests an underlying role of methylation in island-mainland divergence.

Automated summary

Geographically isolated populations, such as the island population of Nova Scotia masked shrews in this study, often exhibit phenotypic and epigenetic differences compared to their mainland counterparts. This study provides novel insights into the role of DNA methylation in phenotypic and epigenetic divergence in island-mainland mammal populations.