Genetic depletion does not prevent rapid evolution in island-introduced lizards

Experimental introductions of species have provided some of the most tractable examples of rapid phenotypic changes, which may reflect plasticity, the impact of stochastic processes, or the action of natural selection. Yet to date, very few studies have investigated the neutral and potentially adaptive genetic impacts of experimental introductions. We dissect the role of these processes in shaping the population differentiation of wall lizards in three Croatian islands (Susac, Pod Kopiste, and Pod Mraru), including the islet of Pod Mraru, where experimentally introduced lizards underwent rapid (similar to 30 generations) phenotypic changes associated with a shift from an insectivorous to a plant-based diet. Using a genomic approach (similar to 82,000 ddRAD loci), we confirmed a founder effect during introduction and very low neutral genetic differentiation between the introduced population and its source. However, genetic depletion did not prevent rapid population growth, as the introduced lizards exhibited population genetic signals of expansion and are known to have reached a high density. Our genome-scan analysis identified just a handful of loci showing large allelic shifts between ecologically divergent populations. This low overall signal of selection suggests that the extreme phenotypic differences observed among populations are determined by a small number of large-effect loci and/or that phenotypic plasticity plays a major role in phenotypic changes. Nonetheless, functional annotation of the outlier loci revealed some candidate genes relevant to diet-induced adaptation, in agreement with the hypothesis of directional selection. Our study provides important insights on the evolutionary potential of bottlenecked populations in response to new selective pressures on short ecological timescales.

Automated summary

Experimental introductions of species have led to rapid phenotypic changes, and this study investigates the genetic impacts and evolutionary potential of bottlenecked populations in response to new selective pressures. The results suggest that a small number of loci and phenotypic plasticity may play a major role in determining extreme phenotypic differences among populations. The study also identifies candidate genes relevant to diet-induced adaptation.