Epigenetic changes
Temporal epigenetic changes and life-history trade-offs
Life-history trade-offs are a central concept in evolutionary biology, yet their underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Epigenetic mechanisms, like DNA methylation, play an important role in seasonal timing and in reproduction. If methylation changes associate with multiple traits in opposite directions, for example positively with reproduction and negatively with survival, they might help explain trade-offs on a molecular level.
We investigated how DNA methylation changes might contribute to shaping life-history trade-offs in black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). More specifically, we collected blood samples from 51 male black grouse before and after the breeding (lekking) period and quantified genome-wide DNA methylation changes using epiGBS, a reduced representation bisulphite sequencing method.
Our findings suggest that epigenetic changes are associated with reproduction and survival, and that significant CpG sites are localised rather than widespread. We found that changes at three CpG sites exhibited opposite relationships between current reproductive investment and future fitness-relevant traits, suggesting that epigenetic mechanisms might contribute to shaping life-history trade-offs. This manuscript is currently in review and a pre-print can be found on EcoEvoRxiv with DOI 10.32942/X2506F.