Signals of differential introgression in the genome of natural hybrids of Caribbean anoles

Abstract

AbstractHybridization facilitates recombination between divergent genetic lineages and can be shaped by both neutral and selective processes. Upon hybridization, loci with no net fitness effects introgress randomly from parental species into the genomes of hybrid individuals. Conversely, alleles from one parental species at some loci may provide a selective advantage to hybrids, resulting in patterns of introgression that do not conform to random expectations. We investigated genomic patterns of differential introgression in natural hybrids of two species of Caribbean anoles, Anolis pulchellus and A. krugi in Puerto Rico. Hybrids exhibit A. pulchellus phenotypes but possess A. krugi mitochondrial DNA, originated from multiple, independent hybridization events, and appear to have replaced pure A. pulchellus across a large area in western Puerto Rico. Combining genome‐wide SNP datasets with bioinformatic methods to identify signals of differential introgression in hybrids, we demonstrate that the genomes of hybrids are dominated by pulchellus‐derived alleles and show only 10%–20% A. krugi ancestry. The majority of A. krugi loci in hybrids exhibit a signal of non‐random differential introgression and include loci linked to genes involved in development and immune function. Three of these genes (delta like canonical notch ligand 1, jagged1 and notch receptor 1) affect cell differentiation and growth and interact with mitochondrial function. Our results suggest that differential non‐random introgression for a subset of loci may be driven by selection favouring the inheritance of compatible mitochondrial and nuclear‐encoded genes in hybrids.