Adaptation across an extreme elevational gradient in Andean leaf-eared mice, the world’s highest-dwelling mammal
Abstract
Andean leaf-eared mice ( Phyllotis vaccarum ) live at the highest elevations of any mammal, and they also have the broadest elevational range, from sea level to mountain summits of >6700 meters. Highland populations have evolved an enhanced thermogenic capacity in hypoxia relative to lowland conspecifics, and this improved physiological performance is associated with an increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity in skeletal muscle. Population genomic analyses identified mechanisms of hypoxia adaptation and revealed an unanticipated dimension of environmental adaptation in P. vaccarum because selection on biotransformation pathways suggests an evolved capacity to metabolize plant-derived dietary toxins. The world’s highest-dwelling mammal has adapted to habitats at both the low- and high-elevation limits of its range, and much of the elevation-related selection relates to previously unappreciated aspects of feeding ecology.
Article Details
Journal Info
Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Authors (22)
Schuyler Liphardt
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
Naim M. Bautista
School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.
Marcial Quiroga-Carmona
School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.
Nathanael D. Herrera
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
L. Moritz Blumer
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
Juan C. Opazo
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia, Chile.
Federico G. Hoffmann
Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA.
Ranim Saleem
Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Derek A. Somo
Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Francisco Del Basto Llancaqueo
Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Ecologícas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Timothy J. Thurman
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
Timothy B. Wheeler
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
Daniel E. Shaw
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
Hunter K. Walt
Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA.
Till S. Harter
Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Grant B. McClelland
Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Graham R. Scott
Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Pablo Sabat
Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Ecologícas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Zachary A. Cheviron
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
Guillermo D’Elía
Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Jeffrey M. Good
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
Jay F. Storz
School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.