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Genealogical structure changes as range expansions transition from pushed to pulled.

Gabriel Birzu1,2, Oskar Hallatschek3,4, Kirill S Korolev5,6

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Range expansions create diverse evolutionary histories by generating a spectrum of genealogical tree structures. Growth dynamics at the expansion front, not just population bottlenecks, dictate whether lineages merge pairwise (Kingman coalescent) or in multiple mergers (Bolthausen-Sznitman coalescent).

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Population genetics
  • Theoretical ecology

Background:

  • Range expansions are key drivers of evolutionary change, influenced by mechanisms like gene surfing and genetic drift.
  • Understanding how these expansions shape genealogical trees is crucial for inferring evolutionary processes.
  • Existing models present opposing views: Kingman coalescent (pairwise mergers) from invasion biology and Bolthausen-Sznitman coalescent (multiple mergers) from traveling wave models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To unify the Kingman and Bolthausen-Sznitman coalescent models for range expansions.
  • To demonstrate that range expansions can generate a spectrum of coalescent topologies.
  • To link tree topology to specific expansion dynamics, particularly pulled versus pushed expansions.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a theoretical framework unifying different coalescent models for range expansions.
  • Analyzed the impact of growth dynamics at the expansion front on genealogical tree structures.
  • Investigated the role of fluctuations in founder descendant numbers and distribution of reproductive values.

Main Results:

  • Range expansions can produce a continuum of coalescent topologies, bridging the Kingman and Bolthausen-Sznitman models.
  • Expansion dynamics, specifically pulled versus pushed expansions, determine tree topology.
  • High growth cooperativity favors the Kingman coalescent, while low cooperativity leads to broad distributions and non-Kingman topologies due to fluctuations.

Conclusions:

  • Range expansions are a robust source of multiple merger genealogies, potentially mimicking those seen in populations with strong selection or high fecundity.
  • The study unifies disparate views on range expansion impacts on genealogies.
  • Caution is advised when inferring the origins of non-Kingman genealogies solely from tree topology.