DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3r2280gw2
title: Incomplete genetic compensation and countergradient variation of blood-oxygen transport in deer mice

description: We combined lab and field data to quantify maladaptive (fitness-reducing)
 hematological responses to hypoxia and cold in deer mice (Peromyscus
 maniculatus) across their ~4000 m elevational range. In laboratory-raised
 mice native to low elevations, individuals increased their hemoglobin
 concentration and hematocrit in response to simulated high-elevation, a
 response that is maladaptive if unmitigated. In contrast, deer mice from
 high elevation increased hematocrit and hemoglobin to a lesser degree,
 consistent with genetic compensation. Unlike the predictions under
 complete genetic compensation, we observed a positive slope between
 hematological traits and elevation in the field, although this slope was
 lower than that observed in lowlanders in the lab. Our results suggest
 that deer mice have attenuated maladaptive hematological responses to
 high-elevation via genetic compensation that is incomplete, which has led
 to weak countergradient variation. We suggest this phenomenon is the
 result of a balance between positive selection for increased oxygen
 carrying capacity and antagonistic selection against elevated blood
 viscosity.
description: Incomplete genetic compensation and countergradient variation of
 blood-oxygen transport in deer mice Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3r2280gw2
 Included are the hematocrit (the proportion of red cells in the blood) and
 hemoglobin concentration data for each individual measured in this study
 from both field (wild-caught individuals) and laboratory-reared subjects.
 Description of the data and file structure The
 dataset All_Mouse_Phenotype_Data.csv contains field survey hematocrit and
 hemoglobin concentration data from across elevations in North America.
 Samples are from wild-captured individuals.  These data include: *
 Mouse_ID: individual mouse identifier  * Location: the site of capture *
 Elevation_m: the capture elevation in meters * The Latitude and Longitude
 of each location, if known * The Season in which the animal was captured,
 if known * Year of capture, if known * Sex: Male or Female, if known *
 Mass of the animal (in grams), if known * The Date of capture, if known *
 Hb: hemoglobin concentration in grams per deciliter of blood (g/dL) *
 Hematocrit (proportion of red cells in blood) The data set lab_hb_hct.csv
 is of laboratory acclimation experiment data. Common-gardened animals were
 subject to acclimation to hypobaric hypoxia simulating 1000, 3000, and
 4500m elevation for six weeks in controlled lab conditions. Note that a
 single individual ("ME_F1_104_f") has data for hb but not hct
 (marked with "NA"). The data include: * Mouse.ID: the individual
 mouse identifier * Population: the population from which the animal was
 derived. LN = Lincoln, Nebraska. ME = Mt. Blue Sky, Colorado (formerly Mt.
 Evans) * Family: the breeding family identity * Sex: Male or Female *
 Exp_elevation: simulated elevation in meters during hypobaric hypoxia
 acclimation * Exp_temp: temperature (in degrees celsius) during
 acclimation * Mass in grams * Hb: hemoglobin concentration in grams per
 deciliter of blood (g/dL) * Hematocrit (proportion of red cells in blood)