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Ancient hybridization patterns between bighorn and thinhorn sheep.

Sarah H D Santos1, Rhiannon M Peery1, Joshua M Miller1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

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|November 30, 2021
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Summary

Whole-genome sequencing reveals complex evolutionary events in sheep. Stone sheep (Ovis dalli stonei) show significant ancient introgression with bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), suggesting multiple hybridization events.

Keywords:
Ovis sppadaptive introgressioncoat colour genesgene flowmelanogenesisnatural selection

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics
  • Phylogenetics

Background:

  • Bighorn (Ovis canadensis) and thinhorn (Ovis dalli) sheep exhibit rapid radiation and potential secondary contact.
  • Investigating evolutionary discordance, such as ancient hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), is crucial for understanding sheep diversification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the phylogenomic history of bighorn and thinhorn sheep using whole-genome sequencing.
  • To identify potential introgression patterns and their adaptive consequences among sheep subspecies.
  • To clarify the evolutionary origins of Stone sheep (O. dalli stonei) in relation to bighorn and Dall sheep (O. dalli dalli).

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing of bighorn sheep, thinhorn sheep (Stone and Dall subspecies), snow sheep (O. nivicola), and domestic sheep (O. aries).
  • Phylogenomic analysis to reconstruct species trees and identify genealogical discordance.
  • Detection and analysis of introgression signals within the genomes.

Main Results:

  • A consistent monophyletic species tree was retrieved for snow, bighorn, and thinhorn sheep.
  • Significant genealogical discordance was observed, with Stone sheep and bighorn sheep frequently appearing as sister clades.
  • Extensive introgression signals, particularly involving coat color genes, were detected between Stone and bighorn sheep genomes.
  • Introgression signals between Dall and bighorn sheep were less frequent and more random, likely due to ILS or secondary contact.

Conclusions:

  • Stone sheep likely originated from a complex evolutionary history involving multiple ancient secondary contact events with bighorn sheep.
  • The observed introgression patterns provide insights into the adaptive evolution and diversification of sheep subspecies.