Population genetics of geothermal adaptation

Local selection can promote phenotypic divergence despite gene flow across habitat mosaics, but adaptation itself may sometimes generate substantial barriers to genetic exchange. In plants, life-history, phenology, and mating system divergence have been particularly proposed to promote genetic differentiation over microgeographic spatial scales.In this study, we combined common garden and population genomic approaches to investigate phenotypic and genetic variation in Mimulus guttatus (yellow monkeyflowers) adapting to a complex geothermal soil mosaic in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Overall, this work suggests that reproductive isolation between populations in primary sympatry does not necessarily follow reproductive trait adaptation strong enough to shape individual mating patterns.