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Summer Rainfall Drives Adaptation with Gene Flow in a Widespread Butterfly.
Lily F Durkee1,2, Christen M Bossu3, Kristen C Ruegg2,3
1Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Molecular Ecology
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Environmental variation influences genetic patterns in the clouded sulfur butterfly. Despite high connectivity, precipitation drives local adaptation, highlighting insect resilience to diverse landscapes.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Population genomics
- Environmental genetics
Background:
- Understanding gene flow and environmental variation is key to evolutionary biology.
- The clouded sulfur butterfly (Colias philodice eriphyle) serves as a model for studying these interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of geographic and environmental factors on genetic variation.
- Identify genomic regions and genes associated with local adaptation.
- Assess the role of environmental variation in shaping population structure and connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome resequencing of Colias philodice eriphyle populations.
- Sampling across replicated high- and low-elevation transects.
- Genotype-environment association and redundancy analyses.
Main Results:
- No discrete population structure observed, suggesting high gene flow.
- Isolation by distance detected, particularly in eastern populations.
- Over 16,000 loci associated with environmental variables (elevation, precipitation, solar radiation).
- Precipitation identified as the strongest predictor of adaptive genomic differentiation.
- Candidate genes linked to melanization and thermoregulation identified.
Conclusions:
- Environmental variation can maintain local adaptation signals even in panmictic populations.
- Precipitation is a significant driver of adaptive genomic differentiation.
- Genomic insights into widespread insect species are crucial for conservation and predicting responses to environmental change.
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