Neutral and adaptive differentiation in pike (Esox lucius) populations from contrasting environments
Understanding how eco-evolutionary processes and environmental factors drive population differentiation and adaptation are key challenges in evolutionary biology. In this project, we utilized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from Restriction-site Associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to investigate genetic diversity and structure in 11 populations of pike (Esox lucius). The study populations included three spawning ecotypes (freshwater, anadromous, and brackish resident) along a latitudinal gradient. Patterns of neutral and adaptive genetic variation were invested and compared, to disentangle how different eco-evolutionary processes and environmental factors influence neutral and adaptive differentiation in pike. In addition, outlier analyses were performed to identify genes putatively under selection.