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Rapid evolution predicted recovery after drought in scarlet monkeyflower

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Research area:biology-geneticsgenetics-genomics

What the study found

The study found that population recovery after exceptional drought was predictable from standing genetic variation and rapid evolution at climate-associated loci in scarlet monkeyflower, a plant species also known as Mimulus cardinalis. It also found that genetic variation at adaptive loci, but not neutral loci, predicted recovery.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that the findings demonstrate the possibility of evolutionary rescue in the wild. The study suggests that rapid evolution may help some declining populations persist during climate change.

What the researchers tested

The researchers used whole-genome sequencing across 55 populations to identify climate-associated loci. They also tracked population size and allele frequency changes throughout the drought in order to link evolution with demographic change.

What worked and what didn't

They observed range-wide population decline during the drought. They also found geographically variable rapid evolution and variable population recovery, and the recovery pattern was associated with standing genetic variation and rapid evolution at climate-associated loci. In contrast, neutral loci did not predict population recovery.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond the study's focus on one species and one exceptional drought event. It also does not provide information about mechanisms beyond the reported associations.

Key points

  • Scarlet monkeyflower populations declined across their range during an exceptional drought.
  • Recovery after drought varied among populations.
  • Standing genetic variation and rapid evolution at climate-associated loci predicted recovery.
  • Genetic variation at neutral loci did not predict recovery.
  • The authors describe the findings as evidence for evolutionary rescue in the wild.

Disclosure

Research title:
Rapid evolution predicted recovery after drought in scarlet monkeyflower
Authors:
Daniel N. Anstett, Julia Anstett, Seema N. Sheth, Dylan R. Moxley, Haley A. Branch, Mojtaba Jahani, Kaichi Huang, Marco Todesco, Rebecca Jordan, José M. Lázaro-Guevara, Loren H. Rieseberg, Amy L. Angert
Institutions:
Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Cornell University, Cornell University, Genome British Columbia, John Brown University, McGill University, McGill University Health Centre, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, Sun Yat-sen University, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Yale University
Publication date:
2026-03-12
DOI:
10.1126/science.adu0995
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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