Clock genes exhibit substantial control over gene expression and ultimately life‐histories using external cues such as photoperiod, and are thus likely to be critical for adaptation to shifting seasonal conditions and novel environments as species redistribute their ranges under climate change. Coding trinucleotide repeats (cTNRs) are found within several clock genes, and may be interesting targets of selection due to their containment within exonic regions and elevated mutation rates. Here, we conduct inter‐specific characterization of the NR1D1 cTNR between Canada lynx and bobcat, and intra‐specific spatial and environmental association analyses of neutral microsatellites and our functional cTNR marker, to investigate the role of selection on this locus in Canada lynx. We report signatures of divergent selection between lynx and bobcat, with the potential for hybrid‐mediated gene flow in the area of range overlap. We also provide evidence that this locus is under selection across Canada lynx in eastern Canada, with both spatial and environmental variables significantly contributing to the explained variation, after controlling for neutral population structure. These results suggest that cTNRs may play an important role in the generation of functional diversity within some mammal species, and allow for contemporary rates of adaptation in wild populations in response to environmental change. We encourage continued investment into the study of cTNR markers to better understand their broader relevance to the evolution and adaptation of mammals.

中文翻译：

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空间和环境对加拿大天猫座（Lynx canadensis）中编码三核苷酸重复序列的时钟基因选择的影响

时钟基因表现出对基因表达的控制，并最终利用光周期等外部线索对生命历史进行控制，因此，随着物种在气候变化下重新分布其范围，时钟基因可能对于适应不断变化的季节性条件和新环境至关重要。编码的三核苷酸重复序列（cTNRs）存在于几个时钟基因中，由于它们包含在外显子区域内并且突变率升高，因此可能是有趣的选择靶标。在这里，我们对NR1D1进行种间表征加拿大山猫和山猫之间的cTNR，以及中性微卫星的种内空间和环境关联分析以及我们的功能性cTNR标记，以研究选择在加拿大山猫中该基因座上的作用。我们报告了山猫和山猫之间的差异选择的签名，在范围重叠的区域中潜在的杂交介导的基因流。我们还提供了证据，表明在控制中性种群结构后，加拿大东部的整个加拿大天猫座都在选择该基因座，空间和环境变量均对解释的变异起了重要作用。这些结果表明，cTNR在某些哺乳动物物种的功能多样性的产生中可能发挥重要作用，并考虑到野生动植物适应环境变化的当代适应率。我们鼓励继续投资研究cTNR标记，以更好地了解cTNR标记与哺乳动物的进化和适应性的广泛关系。