Data from: Contrasted patterns of local adaptation to climate change across the range of an evergreen oak, Quercus aquifolioides

Long-lived tree species are genetically differentiated and locally adapted
with respect to fitness-related traits, but the genetic basis of local
adaptation remains largely unresolved. Recent advances in population
genetics and landscape genomic analyses enable identification of putative
adaptive loci and specific selective pressures acting on local adaptation.
Here we sampled 60 evergreen oak (Quercus aquifolioides) populations
throughout the species’ range and pool-sequenced 587 individuals at
drought stress candidate genes. We analyzed patterns of genetic diversity
and differentiation for 381 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 65
candidate genes and eight microsatellites. Outlier loci were identified by
genetic differentiation analysis and genome–environment associations. The
response pattern of genetic variation to environmental gradient was
assessed by linear isolation by distance/environment tests, redundancy
analysis and non-linear methods. SNPs and microsatellites revealed two
genetic lineages: Tibet and Hengduan Mountains-Western Sichuan Plateau
(HDM-WSP), with reduced genetic diversity in Tibet lineage. More outlier
loci were detected in HDM-WSP lineage than Tibet lineage. Among these,
three SNPs in two genes responded to dry season precipitation in the
HDM-WSP lineage but not in Tibet. By contrast, genetic variation in the
Tibet lineage was related to geographic distance instead of the
environment. Furthermore, Risk of Non-Adaptedness (RONA) analyses
suggested HDM-WSP lineage will have a better capacity to adapt in the
predicted future climate compared to the Tibet lineage. We detected
genetic imprints consistent with natural selection and molecular
adaptation to drought on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) over a range of
long-lived and widely distributed oak species in a changing environment.
Our results suggest that different within-species adaptation processes
occur in species occurring in heterogeneous environments.Long-lived tree
species are genetically differentiated and locally adapted with respect to
fitness-related traits, but the genetic basis of local adaptation remains
largely unresolved. Recent advances in population genetics and landscape
genomic analyses enable identification of putative adaptive loci and
specific selective pressures acting on local adaptation. Here we sampled
60 evergreen oak (Quercus aquifolioides) populations throughout the
species’ range and pool-sequenced 587 individuals at drought stress
candidate genes. We analyzed patterns of genetic diversity and
differentiation for 381 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 65
candidate genes and eight microsatellites. Outlier loci were identified by
genetic differentiation analysis and genome–environment associations. The
response pattern of genetic variation to environmental gradient was
assessed by linear isolation by distance/environment tests, redundancy
analysis and non-linear methods. SNPs and microsatellites revealed two
genetic lineages: Tibet and Hengduan Mountains-Western Sichuan Plateau
(HDM-WSP), with reduced genetic diversity in Tibet lineage. More outlier
loci were detected in HDM-WSP lineage than Tibet lineage. Among these,
three SNPs in two genes responded to dry season precipitation in the
HDM-WSP lineage but not in Tibet. By contrast, genetic variation in the
Tibet lineage was related to geographic distance instead of the
environment. Furthermore, Risk of Non-Adaptedness (RONA) analyses
suggested HDM-WSP lineage will have a better capacity to adapt in the
predicted future climate compared to the Tibet lineage. We detected
genetic imprints consistent with natural selection and molecular
adaptation to drought on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) over a range of
long-lived and widely distributed oak species in a changing environment.
Our results suggest that different within-species adaptation processes
occur in species occurring in heterogeneous environments.