Unraveling the Genomic Landscape of Campylorhynchus Wrens along Western
Ecuador’s Precipitation Gradient: Insights into Isolation by Distance,
Isolation by Environment, and Hybridization
Abstract
Climate variability influences genetic and phenotypic diversity within
species, impacting biodiversity’s evolution. Gene flow and selection
maintain changes in genetic and phenotypic variants along an
environmental gradient. We investigated a hybrid zone in western
Ecuador, involving two wren species (Aves: Troglodytidae),
Campylorhynchus zonatus and C. fasciatus, and their admixed populations.
We addressed two primary questions: (1) What is the relative
contribution of Isolation by Distance (IBD) and Isolation by Environment
(IBE) to genetic differentiation in these species along the western
Ecuadorian environmental gradient? (2) Is there evidence of genetic
admixture and introgression between these taxa in western Ecuador? We
analyzed 4,409 SNPs from 112 blood samples sequenced using ddRadSeq.
Clusters ranged from K=2-4, aligning with geographic origins, known
phylogenetics, and physical or ecological constraints. IBD was evident
across all models, while IBE was less pronounced but still significant
for annual mean precipitation and precipitation seasonality. Genetic
admixture between C. f. pallescens and C. zonatus gradually changed
along the environmental gradient. Genetic differentiation in the two C.
f. pallescens populations could be attributed to an unreported potential
physical barrier in central western Ecuador. The proximity of the Andes
to the coastline restricted lowland habitats, limiting dispersal and
gene flow, especially among dry-habitat specialists. Taxonomic changes
are not proposed, but the admixture in C. f. pallescens suggests it may
be a hybrid between C. z. brevirostris and C. fasciatus, with varying
degrees of admixture in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. This
study enhances our understanding of avian population genomics in
tropical regions.