Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation may vary in response to environmental stressors and introduce adaptive or maladaptive gene expression within and among wild bird populations. We examined the association between DNA methylation and demographic characteristics of the Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla in territories with and without disturbance from shale gas development in a Central Appalachian watershed during 2013–2015. We also evaluated the degree to which an individual’s methylated state was subject to change across years in individuals that returned over the course of more than one breeding season (i.e. recaptures). Overall, population methylation differed between adult male and female Waterthrush where adult males generally had fewer methylated restriction sites. Methylation also differed between adult females and nestlings. Age influenced methylation in both adult males and females with a decrease in methylation with age, although adult female recaptures had increased methylation with age. Adult males were variably methylated between shale gas undisturbed and disturbed areas at a population and restriction site (i.e. loci) level, where restriction sites were predominately less methylated in shale gas‐disturbed areas. Barium (Ba) and strontium (Sr) data from 2013 feather samples showed adult males had fewer methylated sites at higher concentrations of Ba and Sr, whereas nestlings displayed no correlation of methylation to Ba and Sr concentrations. Adult females displayed increased methylation with increased Sr, a trend also seen year to year in adult female recaptures. Overall, results of our study suggest sex‐specific influences of shale gas development on gene expression that may affect long‐term population survival and fitness.

中文翻译：

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路易斯安那州Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla对页岩气发育的表观遗传响应

表观遗传机制（例如DNA甲基化）可能会因环境压力而变化，并在野生鸟类种群内部和之中引入适应性或适应不良的基因表达。我们检查了DNA甲基化与路易斯安那州Waterthrush帕克提亚motacilla的人口统计学特征之间的关联在2013-2015年间，阿巴拉契亚中部流域受到或不受页岩气开发干扰的地区。我们还评估了在超过一个繁殖季节（即重新捕获）的过程中返回的个体中，个体的甲基化状态随年变化的程度。总体而言，成年雄性和雌性Waterthrush之间的种群甲基化有所不同，在成年雄性中，成年雄性的甲基化限制位点通常较少。成年雌性和雏鸟之间的甲基化也不同。年龄影响成年男性和女性的甲基化，甲基化随年龄的增长而降低，尽管成年雌性捕获物的甲基化随着年龄的增长而增加。在种群和限制位点（即位点）水平上，在不受干扰的页岩气和扰动区域之间，成年雄性甲基化程度不同，在页岩气扰动区域，限制位点甲基化程度较低。2013年羽毛样品的钡（Ba）和锶（Sr）数据显示，成年雄性在较高的Ba和Sr浓度下甲基化位点较少，而雏鸟的甲基化与Ba和Sr浓度无相关性。成年雌性显示甲基化程度随Sr的增加而增加，成年雌性捕获物中逐年也有这种趋势。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，页岩气发育对基因表达的性别特异性影响可能会影响长期种群生存和适应性。而雏鸟显示甲基化与Ba和Sr浓度没有相关性。成年雌性显示甲基化程度随Sr的增加而增加，成年雌性捕获物中逐年也有这种趋势。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，页岩气发育对基因表达的性别特异性影响可能会影响长期种群生存和适应性。而雏鸟显示甲基化与Ba和Sr浓度没有相关性。成年雌性显示甲基化增加，而Sr升高，成年雌性捕获物中逐年增加的趋势。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，页岩气发育对基因表达的性别特异性影响可能会影响长期种群生存和适应性。