Simulated infection induced changes in DNA methylation differ between
introduced and native house sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Abstract
DNA methylation, which can change within-individuals over time and
regulate gene expression, is important to many aspects of avian biology.
It is particularly important in avian responses to various stressors
associated with introductions, such as infection and environmental
changes. However, it remains unclear whether native and invasive bird
species differ in their epigenetic responses to stress, and how DNA
methylation may contribute to the success of invasive species because of
the limited availability of longitudinal epigenetic studies. To address
this knowledge gap, we used epiRADseq to investigate changes in DNA
methylation within-individual house sparrows (Passer domesticus) over an
eight hour period in response to simulated infection. We compare
wild-caught house sparrows from introduced populations with those from
native populations, assessing the number of genomic locations that
exhibit changes, the magnitude of those changes, and the variance among
individuals. Our results show that individuals from introduced
populations experience more widespread changes in DNA methylation, with
greater magnitude and higher variance, compared to their counterparts
from native populations. Together, these findings suggest that DNA
methylation plays a significant role in an individual’s response to
infection. They also indicate that individuals from introduced
populations may exhibit distinct epigenetic responses compared to their
native counterparts, consistent with the concept of epigenetic
buffering.