Chromosome inversions, adaptive cassettes and the evolution of species' ranges. Issue 9 (6th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kirkpatrick, Mark; Barrett, Brian
• Is Part Of: Molecular ecology. Volume 24:Issue 9(2015)
• Page Start: 2046
• Page End: 2055
• Publication Date: 2015-02-06
• Subjects: adaptation -- ecological genetics -- evolutionary theory -- invasive species -- molecular evolution -- population genetics – theoretical; Molecular ecology -- Periodicals; Molecular population biology -- Periodicals; 576
• DOI: 10.1111/mec.13074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-1083

Abstract

Abstract: A chromosome inversion can spread when it captures locally adapted alleles or when it is introduced into a species by hybridization with adapted alleles that were previously absent. We present a model that shows how both processes can cause a species range to expand. Introgression of an inversion that carries novel, locally adapted alleles is a particularly powerful mechanism for range expansion. The model supports the earlier proposal that introgression of an inversion triggered a large range expansion of a malaria mosquito. These results suggest a role for inversions as cassettes of genes that can accelerate adaptation by crossing species boundaries, rather than protecting genomes from introgression.