Population dynamics in extreme environments: shared histories of strong selection lead to predictable patterns across separate high-elevation populations of small mammals

High-elevation deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in Colorado show declining genetic and phenotypic variation with elevation, alongside higher survival and fewer traits linked to survival.

• Why it matters: Predicting how species respond to environmental change is limited, especially when conditions at gradient extremes are consistently harsh and expected to shape evolution in repeatable ways.
• What they did: Along two Colorado Rocky Mountain transects from 2120–4200m, the team measured genetic and phenotypic variation and quantified selection by testing how traits influenced survival across elevation.
• The result: The observed elevation-linked declines in variation and the survival pattern at high elevations suggest extreme environments can yield predictable evolutionary consequences, supporting forecasting of population vulnerability to environmental change.

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