International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 84-96 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 93 These findings underscore the complexity and diversity of genetic mechanisms driving adaptation to extreme environments. The recurrent identification of specific genes and pathways across different species suggests a degree of evolutionary constraint and convergence in the genomic basis of adaptation. This convergence indicates that certain genetic solutions are repeatedly favored in response to similar environmental pressures, providing a clearer understanding of the predictability and repeatability of evolutionary processes. Moreover, the rapid adaptation observed in some species, such as the green anole lizard, highlights the potential for swift evolutionary responses to environmental changes, which is particularly relevant in the context of ongoing climate change. Future research should focus on functional validation of the identified candidate genes and pathways to confirm their roles in adaptation. Comparative studies across a broader range of species and environments will help elucidate the generality of the observed patterns and identify additional adaptive mechanisms. Integrating genomic data with ecological and physiological studies will provide a more comprehensive understanding of how organisms cope with extreme conditions. Additionally, investigating the interplay between genetic adaptation and phenotypic plasticity will shed light on the relative contributions of these processes to survival in extreme environments. Finally, exploring the potential for rapid evolutionary responses in other taxa will be crucial for predicting the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Acknowledgements The authors express the gratitude to the anonymous peer reviewers for their feedback and suggestions on this manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Akashi H., Díaz A., Shigenobu S., Makino T., and Kawata M., 2016, Differentially expressed genes associated with adaptation to different thermal environments in three sympatric Cuban Anolis lizards, Molecular Ecology, 25(10): 2273-2285. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13625 PMid:27027506 Alvira-Iraizoz F., Gillard B., Lin P., Paterson A., Pauža A., Ali M., Alabsi A., Burger P., Hamadi N., Adem A., Murphy D., and Greenwood M., 2021, Multiomic analysis of the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) kidney reveals a role for cholesterol in water conservation, Communications Biology, 4(1): 779. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02327-3 PMid:34163009 PMCid:PMC8222267 Araya‐Donoso R., Juan E., Tamburrino Í., Lamborot M., Veloso C., and Véliz D., 2021, Integrating genetics, physiology, and morphology to study desert adaptation in a lizard species, Journal of Animal Ecology, 91(6): 1148-1162. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13546 PMid:34048024 Beckman E., Martins F., Suzuki T., Bi K., Keeble S., Good J., Chavez A., Ballinger M., Agwamba K., and Nachman M., 2021, The genomic basis of high-elevation adaptation in wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) from South America, Genetics, 220(2): iyab226. https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyab226 PMid:34897431 PMCid:PMC9097263 Berg P., Jentoft S., Star B., Ring K., Knutsen H., Lien S., Jakobsen K., and André C., 2015, Adaptation to low salinity promotes genomic divergence in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), Genome Biology and Evolution, 7(6): 1644-1663. https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evv093 PMid:25994933 PMCid:PMC4494048 Besson A., and Cree A., 2010, A cold-adapted reptile becomes a more effective thermoregulator in a thermally challenging environment, Oecologia, 163: 571-581. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-010-1571-y PMid:20140685 Bock D., Baeckens S., Kolbe J., and Losos J., 2023, When adaptation is slowed down: genomic analysis of evolutionary stasis in thermal tolerance during biological invasion in a novel climate, Molecular Ecology, 33(10): e17075. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17075 PMid:37489260 Buckley L., Ehrenberger J., and Angilletta M., 2015, Thermoregulatory behaviour limits local adaptation of thermal niches and confers sensitivity to climate change, Functional Ecology, 29(8): 1038-1047. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.12406
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==