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Janko K, Mikulíček P, Hobza R, Schlupp I. Sperm-dependent asexual species and their role in ecology and evolution. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10522. [PMID: 37780083 PMCID: PMC10534198 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is the primary mode of reproduction in eukaryotes, but some organisms have evolved deviations from classical sex and switched to asexuality. These asexual lineages have sometimes been viewed as evolutionary dead ends, but recent research has revealed their importance in many areas of general biology. Our review explores the understudied, yet important mechanisms by which sperm-dependent asexuals that produce non-recombined gametes but rely on their fertilization, can have a significant impact on the evolution of coexisting sexual species and ecosystems. These impacts are concentrated around three major fields. Firstly, sperm-dependent asexuals can potentially impact the gene pool of coexisting sexual species by either restricting their population sizes or by providing bridges for interspecific gene flow whose type and consequences substantially differ from gene flow mechanisms expected under sexual reproduction. Secondly, they may impact on sexuals' diversification rates either directly, by serving as stepping-stones in speciation, or indirectly, by promoting the formation of pre- and postzygotic reproduction barriers among nascent species. Thirdly, they can potentially impact on spatial distribution of species, via direct or indirect (apparent) types of competition and Allee effects. For each such mechanism, we provide empirical examples of how natural sperm-dependent asexuals impact the evolution of their sexual counterparts. In particular, we highlight that these broad effects may last beyond the tenure of the individual asexual lineages causing them, which challenges the traditional perception that asexual lineages are short-lived evolutionary dead ends and minor sideshows. Our review also proposes new research directions to incorporate the aforementioned impacts of sperm-dependent asexuals. These research directions will ultimately enhance our understanding of the evolution of genomes and biological interactions in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Janko
- Laboratory of Non‐Mendelian Evolution, Institute of Animal Physiology and GeneticsAcademy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicLiběchovCzech Republic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of OstravaOstravaCzech Republic
| | - Peter Mikulíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural SciencesComenius University in BratislavaBratislavaSlovakia
| | - Roman Hobza
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of BiophysicsAcademy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Ingo Schlupp
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OklahomaOklahomaNormanUSA
- Department of BiologyInternational Stock Center for Livebearing FishesOklahomaNormanUSA
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Dedukh D, Marta A, Janko K. Challenges and Costs of Asexuality: Variation in Premeiotic Genome Duplication in Gynogenetic Hybrids from Cobitis taenia Complex. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212117. [PMID: 34830012 PMCID: PMC8622741 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition from sexual reproduction to asexuality is often triggered by hybridization. The gametogenesis of many hybrid asexuals involves premeiotic genome endoreplication leading to bypass hybrid sterility and forming clonal gametes. However, it is still not clear when endoreplication occurs, how many gonial cells it affects and whether its rate differs among clonal lineages. Here, we investigated meiotic and premeiotic cells of diploid and triploid hybrids of spined loaches (Cypriniformes: Cobitis) that reproduce by gynogenesis. We found that in naturally and experimentally produced F1 hybrids asexuality is achieved by genome endoreplication, which occurs in gonocytes just before entering meiosis or, rarely, one or a few divisions before meiosis. However, genome endoreplication was observed only in a minor fraction of the hybrid's gonocytes, while the vast majority of gonocytes were unable to duplicate their genomes and consequently could not proceed beyond pachytene due to defects in bivalent formation. We also noted that the rate of endoreplication was significantly higher among gonocytes of hybrids from natural clones than of experimentally produced F1 hybrids. Thus, asexuality and hybrid sterility are intimately related phenomena and the transition from sexual reproduction to asexuality must overcome significant problems with genome incompatibilities with a possible impact on reproductive potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrij Dedukh
- Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the CAS, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Liběchov, Czech Republic;
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (K.J.)
| | - Anatolie Marta
- Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the CAS, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Liběchov, Czech Republic;
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Zoology, MD-2028, Academiei 1, 2001 Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Karel Janko
- Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the CAS, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Liběchov, Czech Republic;
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (K.J.)
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Janko K, Eisner J, Mikulíček P. Sperm-dependent asexual hybrids determine competition among sexual species. Sci Rep 2019; 9:722. [PMID: 30679449 PMCID: PMC6345890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35167-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Interspecific competition is a fundamental process affecting community structure and evolution of interacting species. Besides direct competition, this process is also mediated by shared enemies, which can change the outcome of competition dramatically. However, previous studies investigating interactions between competing species and their parasites (parasite-mediated competition) completely overlooked the effect of ‘sperm’ parasites (i.e. sperm-dependent parthenogens or pseudogams) on competition. These organisms originate by interspecific hybridization, produce clonal gametes, but exploit parental species for their own reproduction, being therefore analogous to classical parasites. Here we use the reaction-diffusion model and show that pseudogams alter the outcome of interspecific competition significantly. They may either slow down competitive exclusion of the inferior competitor or even turn the outcome of competition between the species. Asexual organisms may thus have unexpectedly strong impact on community structure, and have more significant evolutionary potential than was previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Janko
- Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rumburská 89, 27721, Liběchov, Czech Republic. .,Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chitussiho 10, 71000, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Eisner
- Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rumburská 89, 27721, Liběchov, Czech Republic. .,Department of Mathematics and Biomathematics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Peter Mikulíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 84215, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Morgado-Santos M, Magalhães MF, Vicente L, Collares-Pereira MJ. Mate choice driven by genome in an allopolyploid fish complex. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M Morgado-Santos
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Climáticas (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M F Magalhães
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Climáticas (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - L Vicente
- Centro de Filosofia das Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (CFCUL), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M J Collares-Pereira
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Climáticas (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Morgado-Santos M, Carona S, Vicente L, Collares-Pereira MJ. First empirical evidence of naturally occurring androgenesis in vertebrates. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:170200. [PMID: 28573029 PMCID: PMC5451830 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Androgenesis among vertebrates is considered a rare phenomenon, with some cases reported so far, but linked to experiments involving gamete manipulation (artificial androgenesis). Herein, we report the first empirical evidence of the natural occurrence of spontaneous androgenesis in a vertebrate, the Squalius alburnoides allopolyploid complex. A genetically screened random sample of a natural population was allowed to reproduce in an isolated pond without any human interference, and the viable offspring obtained was later analysed for paternity. Both nuclear and mitochondrial markers showed that the only allodiploid fish found among all the allotriploid offspring was androgenetically produced by an allodiploid male. This specimen had no female nuclear genomic input, and the sequence of the mitochondrial fragment examined differed from that of the male progenitor, matching one of the parental females available in the pond, probably the mother. The possible role of androgenesis in the reproductive dynamics of this highly successful vertebrate complex is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Morgado-Santos
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c), Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sara Carona
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c), Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís Vicente
- Centro de Filosofia das Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (CFCUL), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria João Collares-Pereira
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c), Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Morgado-Santos M, Carona S, Magalhães MF, Vicente L, Collares-Pereira MJ. Reproductive dynamics shapes genomotype composition in an allopolyploid complex. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:20153009. [PMID: 27226473 PMCID: PMC4892787 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.3009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybrid complexes are composed of organisms with multiple combinations of parental genomes (genomotypes) that interconnect through nets of crosses. Although several such complexes are well established without speciation or extinction, mechanisms shaping their dynamics remain poorly understood. In this study, we quantified the reproductive success of the allopolyploid Iberian fish Squalius alburnoides in experimental free-access and directional crosses involving the most common genomotypes. Specifically, we analysed the paternity of the offspring produced when females had free access to male genomotypes and quantified variations in egg allocation, fertilization rate, and offspring survival among crosses involving each male genomotype. The composition of the offspring produced from free-access crosses varied significantly from that expected from random mating, suggesting that offspring production and viability are not independent of parental male genomotype. Moreover, directional crosses producing the genomotype most commonly found in wild populations appeared to be the most successful, with females laying more eggs, and fertilization rate and offspring survival being the highest. These results suggest that reproductive dynamics plays a relevant role in structuring the genomotype composition of populations and opens a path to future research on the ecology and evolutionary biology of allopolyploids and their multiplicity of possible evolutionary pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Morgado-Santos
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - S Carona
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M F Magalhães
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - L Vicente
- Centro de Filosofia das Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (CFCUL), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M J Collares-Pereira
- Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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