Whole genome resquencing of sympatric Mimulus laciniatus & Mimulus guttatus & F2 hybrids. Erythranthe laciniata

The aim of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for ecologically relevant traits that differed between sympatric populations of Mimulus guttatus and its close relative M. laciniatus. Mimulus laciniatus specializes on dry, exposed rocky outcrops while M. guttatus occurs in nearby seeps and streams. The two species are known to be locally adapted to different habitats (Peterson et al. 2013), but there is evidence of ongoing gene flower in the form of phenotypic hybrids between the species at several locations (Vickery 1964, K. Ferris pers ob). This study examined the genetic architecture of flowering time, flower size, and leaf shape differences between the species at a sympatric location where phenotypic hybrids have been observed (K. Ferris pers ob). Inbred lines of sympatric M. laciniatus and M. guttatus were crossed to create an F2 mapping population and a genotyping by sequencing method was used to map QTLs. The results are consistent with current theory that predicts that local adaptation in populations experiencing ongoing gene flow should be due to few loci of large effect.