%0 Journal Article %A Jean-Sébastien Moore %A Les N. Harris %A Jérémy Le Luyer %A Ben J. G. Sutherland %A Quentin Rougemont %A Ross F. Tallman %A Aaron T. Fisk %A Louis Bernatchez %T Migration Harshness Drives Habitat Choice And Local Adaptation In Anadromous Arctic Char: Evidence From Integrating Population Genomics And Acoustic Telemetry %D 2017 %R 10.1101/138545 %J bioRxiv %P 138545 %X Migration is a ubiquitous life history trait with profound evolutionary and ecological consequences. Recent developments in telemetry and genomics, when combined, can bring significant insights on the migratory ecology of non-model organisms in the wild. Here, we used this integrative approach to document dispersal, gene flow and local adaptation in anadromous Arctic Char from six rivers in the Canadian Arctic. Telemetry data from 124 tracked individuals indicated asymmetric dispersal, with a large proportion (72%) of fish tagged in three rivers migrating up the shortest river in the fall. Population genomics data from 6,136 SNP markers revealed weak, albeit significant, population differentiation (FST = 0.011) and population assignments confirmed the asymmetric dispersal revealed by telemetry data. Approximate Bayesian Computation simulations suggested the presence of asymmetric gene flow but in the opposite direction than that observed from the telemetry data, suggesting that dispersal does not necessarily lead to gene flow. These observations suggested that Arctic Char home to their natal river to spawn, but may overwinter in rivers with the least harsh migratory route to minimize the costs of migration in non-breeding years. Genome scans and genetic-environment-associations identified 90 markers putatively associated with local adaptation, 23 of which were in or near a gene. Of those, at least four were involved in muscle and cardiac function, further highlighting the potential importance of migratory harshness as a selective pressure. Our study illustrates the power of integrating genomic and telemetry to study migrations in non-model organisms in logistically challenging environments such as the Arctic. %U https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2017/05/16/138545.full.pdf