Postglacial Echoes: Parasite Genomics Uncover Environmental Changes in Postglacial European Lakes

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Main Authors: Mar Llaberia‐Robledillo, José Ignacio Lucas‐Lledó, Juan Antonio Balbuena, Jan Brabec, Julia Bilat, Rune Knudsen, Ole Seehausen, Isabel Blasco‐Costa
Format: Artículo Open Access
Published: Wiley 2025
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author Mar Llaberia‐Robledillo
José Ignacio Lucas‐Lledó
Juan Antonio Balbuena
Jan Brabec
Julia Bilat
Rune Knudsen
Ole Seehausen
Isabel Blasco‐Costa
author_facet Mar Llaberia‐Robledillo
José Ignacio Lucas‐Lledó
Juan Antonio Balbuena
Jan Brabec
Julia Bilat
Rune Knudsen
Ole Seehausen
Isabel Blasco‐Costa
Mar Llaberia‐Robledillo
José Ignacio Lucas‐Lledó
Juan Antonio Balbuena
Jan Brabec
Julia Bilat
Rune Knudsen
Ole Seehausen
Isabel Blasco‐Costa
collection Wiley Open Access
contents Postglacial Echoes: Parasite Genomics Uncover Environmental Changes in Postglacial European Lakes Mar Llaberia‐Robledillo José Ignacio Lucas‐Lledó Juan Antonio Balbuena Jan Brabec Julia Bilat Rune Knudsen Ole Seehausen Isabel Blasco‐Costa Molecular Ecology ABSTRACTPostglacial environmental changes have influenced biodiversity and species evolution, yet the genomic and demographic responses of parasites remain underexplored. This study investigates the population genetics and demographic history of the flatworm Phyllodistomum umblae, a generalist trematode at the definitive host level infecting Coregonus spp. across perialpine and subarctic postglacial lakes. Additionally, we compare its demographic patterns to Proteocephalus fallax, a whitefish specialist tapeworm, to elucidate how ecological strategies shape evolutionary responses to environmental fluctuations. Genomic data from ddRAD sequencing revealed clear genetic differentiation in P. umblae between subarctic and perialpine regions, likely driven by geographic isolation during glacial cycles. Low genetic differentiation suggests hydrological connectivity and the parasite's ability to utilise several host species as definitive hosts. Demographic inference uncovered distinct evolutionary trajectories between P. umblae and Pr. fallax. During the Last Glacial Period (~115–11 kya), P. umblae populations underwent declines, followed by rapid postglacial expansions after the Last Glacial Maximum (~15–10 kya). In contrast, Pr. fallax exhibited older historical fluctuations, including pronounced bottlenecks during the Middle Pleistocene (~300 kya). Its populations remained stable during the LGP, likely due to host persistence in glacial refugia unavailable in earlier glaciation periods. These findings align with the taxon pulse concept within the Stockholm Paradigm, highlighting how glacial cycles triggered episodic population contractions and expansions. By integrating genomic and historical data, this study (1) underscores parasites as models for understanding ecological and evolutionary processes and (2) provides insights into biodiversity resilience and adaptation to past and future environmental changes. 10.1111/mec.70039 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
doi_str_mv 10.1111/mec.70039
format Artículo Open Access
id wiley_oa_10_1111_mec_70039
institution Wiley Open Access
license_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
publishDate 2025
publisher Wiley
record_format wiley_oa
spellingShingle Postglacial Echoes: Parasite Genomics Uncover Environmental Changes in Postglacial European Lakes
Mar Llaberia‐Robledillo
José Ignacio Lucas‐Lledó
Juan Antonio Balbuena
Jan Brabec
Julia Bilat
Rune Knudsen
Ole Seehausen
Isabel Blasco‐Costa
Molecular Ecology
Postglacial Echoes: Parasite Genomics Uncover Environmental Changes in Postglacial European Lakes Mar Llaberia‐Robledillo José Ignacio Lucas‐Lledó Juan Antonio Balbuena Jan Brabec Julia Bilat Rune Knudsen Ole Seehausen Isabel Blasco‐Costa Molecular Ecology ABSTRACTPostglacial environmental changes have influenced biodiversity and species evolution, yet the genomic and demographic responses of parasites remain underexplored. This study investigates the population genetics and demographic history of the flatworm Phyllodistomum umblae, a generalist trematode at the definitive host level infecting Coregonus spp. across perialpine and subarctic postglacial lakes. Additionally, we compare its demographic patterns to Proteocephalus fallax, a whitefish specialist tapeworm, to elucidate how ecological strategies shape evolutionary responses to environmental fluctuations. Genomic data from ddRAD sequencing revealed clear genetic differentiation in P. umblae between subarctic and perialpine regions, likely driven by geographic isolation during glacial cycles. Low genetic differentiation suggests hydrological connectivity and the parasite's ability to utilise several host species as definitive hosts. Demographic inference uncovered distinct evolutionary trajectories between P. umblae and Pr. fallax. During the Last Glacial Period (~115–11 kya), P. umblae populations underwent declines, followed by rapid postglacial expansions after the Last Glacial Maximum (~15–10 kya). In contrast, Pr. fallax exhibited older historical fluctuations, including pronounced bottlenecks during the Middle Pleistocene (~300 kya). Its populations remained stable during the LGP, likely due to host persistence in glacial refugia unavailable in earlier glaciation periods. These findings align with the taxon pulse concept within the Stockholm Paradigm, highlighting how glacial cycles triggered episodic population contractions and expansions. By integrating genomic and historical data, this study (1) underscores parasites as models for understanding ecological and evolutionary processes and (2) provides insights into biodiversity resilience and adaptation to past and future environmental changes. 10.1111/mec.70039 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Postglacial Echoes: Parasite Genomics Uncover Environmental Changes in Postglacial European Lakes
topic Molecular Ecology
url https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.70039