Historical DNA reveals climate adaptation in an endangered songbird

Sheela P. Turbek (), Christen Bossu, Christine Rayne, Cristian Gruppi, Barbara E. Kus, Mary Whitfield, Thomas B. Smith, Eben H. Paxton, Rachael A. Bay and Kristen C. Ruegg
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Sheela P. Turbek: Colorado State University
Christen Bossu: Colorado State University
Christine Rayne: Colorado State University
Cristian Gruppi: University of California
Barbara E. Kus: San Diego Field Station, US Geological Survey
Mary Whitfield: Southern Sierra Research Station
Thomas B. Smith: University of California
Eben H. Paxton: US Geological Survey
Rachael A. Bay: University of California Davis
Kristen C. Ruegg: Colorado State University

Nature Climate Change, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 735-741

Abstract: Abstract To cope with climate change, species may shift their distributions or adapt in situ to changing environmental conditions. However, clear examples of genetic changes via adaptation are limited. We explore evolutionary responses to climate change in the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) through whole-genome comparisons between historical specimens, collected from 1888 to 1909 near San Diego, California, United States, and contemporary individuals from across the breeding range. Genomic analyses revealed that introgression into San Diego increased adaptive potential over time and shifted genome-wide population structure towards that of neighbouring populations. In contrast, loci linked to climate (dew point temperature and precipitation) shifted away from neighbouring populations and in a direction consistent with adaptation to climate change in southern California. This research highlights the role of admixture in facilitating adaptive shifts through its impact on genome-wide genetic variation and represents one of the few studies to document climate adaptation in a wild population.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01696-3

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