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Widespread gene flow following range expansion in Anna's hummingbird
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  • Nicole Adams,
  • Ruta Bandivadekar,
  • C.J. Battey,
  • Michael Clark,
  • Kevin Epperly,
  • Kristen Ruegg,
  • Lisa Tell,
  • Rachael Bay
Nicole Adams
UC Davis

Corresponding Author:nicoleadams.sci@gmail.com

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Ruta Bandivadekar
UC Davis
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C.J. Battey
Myriad Genetics
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Michael Clark
UC Davis
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Kevin Epperly
University of Washington
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Kristen Ruegg
Colorado State University System
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Lisa Tell
UC Davis
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Rachael Bay
UC Davis
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Abstract

Anthropogenic changes have altered the historical distributions of many North American taxa. As environments shift, ecological and evolutionary processes can combine in complex ways to either stimulate or inhibit range expansion. Here we examine the role of evolution in a rapid range expansion whose ecological context has been well-documented, Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna). Previous work suggests that the C. anna range expansion is the result of an ecological release facilitated by human-mediated environmental changes, where access to new food sources have allowed further filling of the abiotic niche. We examine the role of gene flow and adaptation during range expansion from their native California north into Canada and east into New Mexico and Texas, USA. Using low coverage whole genome sequencing we found high genetic diversity, low divergence, and little evidence of selection on the northern and eastern expansion fronts. Additionally, there are few (if any) limits to gene flow across the native and expanded range. The lack of selective signals between core and expanded ranges could reflect i) an absence of novel selection pressure in the extended range (supporting the ecological release hypothesis), ii) swamping of adaptive variation due to high gene flow, or iii) limitations of genome scans for detecting small shifts in allele frequencies across many loci. Nevertheless, our results provide an example where strong selection is not apparent during a rapid, contemporary range shift.
04 Oct 2022Submitted to Molecular Ecology
06 Oct 2022Submission Checks Completed
06 Oct 2022Assigned to Editor
28 Oct 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Dec 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Dec 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
05 Jan 20231st Revision Received
05 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Jan 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
28 Feb 20232nd Revision Received
01 Mar 2023Assigned to Editor
01 Mar 2023Submission Checks Completed
01 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Accept