Meeting Abstract

S2-2.3  Friday, Jan. 4  Epigenetic variation: a mechanism to overcome reduced diversity in novel environments? LIEBL, AL*; SCHREY, AW; RICHARDS, CR; MARTIN, LB; Univ S. Florida; Armstrong Atlantic State Univ; Univ S. Florida; Univ S. Florida aliebl@mail.usf.edu

Many introduced populations experience reduced genetic diversity in their new areas, and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in Kenya (one of the most recent vertebrate introductions) are no exception. Microsatellite data indicate that Kenyan house sparrows are less genetically diverse than other house sparrow populations, with higher relatedness and lower heterozygocity than expected by chance; further, data also suggest that the pattern of spread within Kenya has resulted in little to no admixture in some areas, while others are considerably admixed. Despite reduced genetic diversity, other research from our lab shows that behavioral, physiological, and immune differences exist among Kenyan house sparrows dependent on time since colonization. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as methylation, sometimes inherited across generations, can control gene expression; epigenetic changes can be stable (determined either through inheritance or during early life) or labile within an individual’s lifetime permitting enhanced responsiveness to the environment. We propose that in a novel or changing environment, more labile epigenetic marks might provide the variation necessary to facilitate short term adaptation in populations constrained by low genetic diversity. Here, we document high epigenetic variation (measured using MS-AFLP techniques) among Kenyan house sparrows- even in cities with little or no genetic admixture. Our results suggest that DNA methylation might allow an enhanced response to new environments when genetic variation is limited, allowing individuals to rapidly adjust to novel habitats as their range expands.