Genomic Evidence for Altitude-Driven Adaptive Divergence In The Color-Polymorphic Bush Cricket Isophya rizeensis

Understanding how environmental gradients shape genetic variation is fundamental to evolutionary ecology. Isophya rizeensis, an endemic bush cricket distributed along the Fırtına Valley of Türkiye, exhibits striking altitudinal color polymorphism, making it an ideal system for studying local adaptation. Using genome-wide RAD-seq data from 71 individuals across and altitudinal gradient (450–2300 m elevation), we identified $92,048$ polymorphic loci, including 1,113 putatively adaptive SNPs. Despite low genome-wide differentiation (Fst < 0.05), adaptive loci exhibited greater divergence, suggesting selection-driven genetic structuring. Genome-wide association analyses identified 101 SNPs significantly correlated with altitude, with bidirectional allele frequency shifts indicating disruptive selection. Discriminant analysis further revealed three major-effect loci differentiating color morphs, which were also significantly associated with elevation. Our findings illustrate the interplay between selection, gene flow, and local adaptation, highlighting how environmental heterogeneity structures genomic variation in montane ecosystems. These results provide insights into the genetic basis of phenotypic divergence and contribute to understanding biodiversity persistence under changing environmental conditions. Supplementary Material File (topalan_saglam_2025.pdf) - Download - 10.24 MB Information & Authors Information Version history Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License.

Authors Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 446views 222downloads Citations Download citation Ufuk Topalan, Arda Kuyucu, Salwa Farid, et al. Genomic Evidence for Altitude-Driven Adaptive Divergence In The Color-Polymorphic Bush Cricket Isophya rizeensis. Authorea. 11 March 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174170725.57086658/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174170725.57086658/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.