Integrated environmental and genomic analysis reveals the drivers of local adaptation in African indigenous chickens

摘要: Elucidating the genetic basis of environmental adaptation in indigenous livestock populations has important implications for sustainable breeding improvement. It requires a detailed untangling relevant pressures and fine resolution detection genomic signatures selection associated with these parameters. Here, we uniquely employed an integrative approach, combining Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) (i) genome-wide analyses positive (SSA) (ii) genotype-environment association (GEA) to unravel Ethiopian chickens. We first examined 34 agro-ecological climatic variables identified six main drivers (one temperature - strongly correlated elevation, three precipitation, two soil/land variables). then performed using high-density SNP data from whole-genome sequencing 245 chickens 25 different populations. Environmental (SSA GEA) identify few supported selected regions, often clusters candidate genes, related altitude-induced stresses (hypoxia, thrombosis, cold temperatures), water scarcity, challenges scavenging feeding behaviour. These support predominantly oligogenic control possible regulation by one or elements only. Our study shows that pre-identification key adaptation, followed investigation mechanisms provides powerful new approach elucidating effect natural domestic animals. results represent landmarks inform poultry