An integrative paleolimnological approach for studying evolutionary processes

Maria Cuenca-Cambronero; Colin J Courtney-Mustaphi; Ryan Greenway; Oliver Heiri; Cameron M Hudson; Leighton King; Kimberley D Lemmen; Marvin Moosmann; Moritz Muschick; Nare Ngoepe; Ole Seehausen; Blake Matthews

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2022.01.007

An integrative paleolimnological approach for studying evolutionary processes

Trends Ecol Evol. 2022 Jun;37(6):488-496. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.01.007. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), CH-6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland; Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; Aquatic Ecology Group, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: maria.cuenca@uvic.cat.
² Geoecology, Department of Environmental Science, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; Centre for Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (WISE) Futures, P.O. Box 9124, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania.
³ Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), CH-6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland.
⁴ Geoecology, Department of Environmental Science, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), CH-6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland; Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
⁶ Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), 6708 Wageningen, The Netherlands.

PMID: 35183376
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.01.007

Abstract

The field of paleolimnology has made tremendous progress in reconstructing past biotic and abiotic environmental conditions of aquatic ecosystems based on sediment records. This, together with the rapid development of molecular technologies, provides new opportunities for studying evolutionary processes affecting lacustrine communities over multicentennial to millennial timescales. From an evolutionary perspective, such analyses provide important insights into the chronology of past environmental conditions, the dynamics of phenotypic evolution, and species diversification. Here, we review recent advances in paleolimnological, paleogenetic, and molecular approaches and highlight how their integrative use can help us better understand the ecological and evolutionary responses of species and communities to environmental change.

Keywords: adaptive radiation; environmental change; evolutionary ecology; paleolimnology; selective environments.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biological Evolution*
Ecosystem*