Distribution models unravel drivers of local adaptation in chickens
71st Annual Meeting of the
European Federation of
Animal Science
Fasil G. Kebede, Hans Komen,
Olivier Hanotte, Setegn W. Alemu,
Tadelle Dessie, John Bastiaansen
Virtual Meeting,
1st -4th December, 2020
 Contribute to livelihoods
 Genetics of local adaptation is not fully understood
 Environmental drivers
 Definition of ecotypes
 Species distribution models (SDMs): associate species’
occurrence with environment
 Phenotypic distribution models (PDMs): response of
phenotypic variables to environment
Background
Objective combine SDM & PDM approaches to identify
the drivers of local adaptation & define potential
ecotypes

Methods

SDMs:
 9 env. variables associated with habitat
suitability
PDMs:
 24 env. variables associated with phenotypic
differentiation
10 phenotypic variables — most useful for
classification (e.g. body weight, body length)
 Distribution models identify the most important environmental variables inducing
local adaptation
 Combining the models enables better definition of livestock ecotypes
Fasil G. Kebede Email: fasilgetachew7@gmail.com; f.getachew@cgiar.org
Results
Conclusion
 Precipitation (wettest & coldest quarters)
 Solar radiation
 Temperature (seasonality, coldest quarter)
 Soil clay content
 Water vapour pressure (August & May)
 Isothermality
SDMs + PDMs 4 potential
ecotypes
Corresponding author:

Proper citation:
Kebede F.G., Komen.H, Alemu S.W., Hanotte.O, DessieT., Bastiaansen, J.2020.
Distribution models unravel drivers of local adaptation in chickens. Poster presented at
the 71st Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP). Virtual
Meeting, 1st-4th December 2020.