Data from: Epigenetic response to environmental change: DNA methylation varies with invasion status

Epigenetic mechanisms may be important for a native species’ response to rapid environmental change. Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta Santschi, 1916) were recently introduced to areas occupied by the Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus Bosc & Daudin, 1801). Behavioral, morphological, and physiological phenotypes of the Eastern Fence Lizard have changed following invasion, creating a natural biological system to investigate environmentally induced epigenetic changes. We tested for variation in DNA methylation patterns in Eastern Fence Lizard populations associated with different histories of invasion by Red Imported Fire Ants. At MS-AFLP loci, we detected a higher diversity of methylation in Eastern Fence Lizard populations from Fire Ant uninvaded versus invaded sites, and uninvaded sites had higher methylation. Our results suggest that invasive species may alter methylation frequencies and the pattern of methylation among native individuals. While our data indicate a high level of intrinsic variability in DNA methylation, DNA methylation at some genomic loci may underlie observed phenotypic changes in Eastern Fence Lizard populations in response to invasion of Red Imported Fire Ants. This process may be important in facilitating adaptation of native species to novel pressures imposed by a rapidly changing environment.表观遗传（epigenetic）机制对于本土物种响应快速环境变化或具有重要意义。红火蚁（Solenopsis invicta Santschi, 1916）近期被引入至东部栅栏蜥蜴（Sceloporus undulatus Bosc & Daudin, 1801）的栖息区域。东部栅栏蜥蜴的行为、形态与生理表型在红火蚁入侵后发生了改变，由此构建了一个可用于探究环境诱导型表观遗传变化的天然生物系统。本研究针对受红火蚁入侵历史不同的东部栅栏蜥蜴种群，检测其DNA甲基化（DNA methylation）模式的变异情况。在MS-AFLP位点上，我们发现未受红火蚁入侵区域的东部栅栏蜥蜴种群的甲基化多样性高于入侵区域种群，且未入侵区域的种群甲基化水平更高。本研究结果表明，外来入侵物种或可改变本土个体的甲基化频率与甲基化模式。尽管本研究数据显示DNA甲基化存在较高的内在变异性，但部分基因组位点的DNA甲基化或许是东部栅栏蜥蜴种群响应红火蚁入侵时出现表型变化的分子基础。该过程或对助力本土物种适应快速变化环境带来的新型生存压力具有重要意义。