Data from: Epigenetic response to environmental change: DNA methylation varies with invasion status

Epigenetic mechanisms may be important for a native species’ response to rapid environmental change. Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta Santschi, 1916) were recently introduced to areas occupied by the Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus Bosc & Daudin, 1801). Behavioral, morphological, and physiological phenotypes of the Eastern Fence Lizard have changed following invasion, creating a natural biological system to investigate environmentally induced epigenetic changes. We tested for variation in DNA methylation patterns in Eastern Fence Lizard populations associated with different histories of invasion by Red Imported Fire Ants. At MS-AFLP loci, we detected a higher diversity of methylation in Eastern Fence Lizard populations from Fire Ant uninvaded versus invaded sites, and uninvaded sites had higher methylation. Our results suggest that invasive species may alter methylation frequencies and the pattern of methylation among native individuals. While our data indicate a high level of intrinsic variability in DNA methylation, DNA methylation at some genomic loci may underlie observed phenotypic changes in Eastern Fence Lizard populations in response to invasion of Red Imported Fire Ants. This process may be important in facilitating adaptation of native species to novel pressures imposed by a rapidly changing environment.表观遗传（epigenetic）机制对于本土物种响应快速环境变化或具有关键意义。红火蚁（Solenopsis invicta Santschi, 1916）近期被引入至东部栅栏蜥蜴（Sceloporus undulatus Bosc & Daudin, 1801）的自然栖息范围内。红火蚁入侵后，东部栅栏蜥蜴的行为、形态及生理表型均发生改变，由此构建出可用于探究环境诱导型表观遗传变化的天然生物研究体系。本研究针对具有不同红火蚁入侵历史的东部栅栏蜥蜴种群，检测其DNA甲基化（DNA methylation）模式的变异特征。在MS-AFLP位点分析中，我们发现未受红火蚁入侵区域的东部栅栏蜥蜴种群，其甲基化多样性显著高于入侵区域种群，且未入侵区域的甲基化水平更高。研究结果表明，入侵物种或可改变本土个体的甲基化频率与甲基化模式。尽管本研究数据显示DNA甲基化存在较高的内在变异水平，但部分基因组位点的DNA甲基化或许是东部栅栏蜥蜴种群在应对红火蚁入侵时出现表型变化的潜在分子基础。这一过程或对推动本土物种适应快速变化环境所施加的全新选择压力具有重要价值。