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Disentangling adaptation from drift in bottlenecked and reintroduced populations of Alpine ibex
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  • Deborah Leigh,
  • Heidi Lischer,
  • Frédéric Guillaume,
  • Christine Grossen,
  • Torsten Günther
Deborah Leigh
WSL

Corresponding Author:deborah.leigh@wsl.ch

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Heidi Lischer
Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
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Frédéric Guillaume
University of Zurich
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Christine Grossen
University of Zurich
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Torsten Günther
Uppsala University
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Abstract

Identifying local adaptation in bottlenecked species is essential for conservation management. Selection detection methods have an important role in species management plans, assessments of adaptive capacity, and looking for responses to climate change. Yet, the allele frequency changes exploited in selection detection methods are similar to those caused by the strong neutral genetic drift expected during a bottleneck. Consequently, it is often unclear what accuracy selection detection methods have across bottlenecked populations. In this study, simulations were used to explore if signals of selection could be confidently distinguished from genetic drift across 23 bottlenecked and reintroduced populations of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex). The meticulously recorded demographic history of the Alpine ibex was used to generate comprehensive simulated SNP data. The simulated SNPs were then used to benchmark the confidence we could place in outliers identified in empirical Alpine ibex SNP data. Within the simulated dataset, the false positive rates were high for all selection detection methods but fell substantially when two or more methods were combined. True positive rates were consistently low and became negligible with increased stringency. Despite finding many outlier loci in the empirical Alpine ibex SNPs, none could be distinguished from genetic drift-driven false positives. Unfortunately, the low true positive rate also prevents the exclusion of recent local adaptation within the Alpine ibex. The baselines and stringent approach outlined here should be applied to other bottlenecked species to ensure the risk of false positive, or negative, signals of selection are accounted for in conservation management plans.
12 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
12 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
27 Feb 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
27 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 May 20211st Revision Received
01 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Oct 2021Published in Molecular Ecology Resources volume 21 issue 7 on pages 2350-2363. 10.1111/1755-0998.13442