1
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Semenov GA, Sonnenberg BR, Branch CL, Heinen VK, Welklin JF, Padula SR, Patel AM, Bridge ES, Pravosudov VV, Taylor SA. Genes and gene networks underlying spatial cognition in food-caching chickadees. Curr Biol 2024:S0960-9822(24)00398-1. [PMID: 38636515 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Substantial progress has been made in understanding the genetic architecture of phenotypes involved in a variety of evolutionary processes. Behavioral genetics remains, however, among the least understood. We explore the genetic architecture of spatial cognitive abilities in a wild passerine bird, the mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli). Mountain chickadees cache thousands of seeds in the fall and require specialized spatial memory to recover these caches throughout the winter. We previously showed that variation in spatial cognition has a direct effect on fitness and has a genetic basis. It remains unknown which specific genes and developmental pathways are particularly important for shaping spatial cognition. To further dissect the genetic basis of spatial cognitive abilities, we combine experimental quantification of spatial cognition in wild chickadees with whole-genome sequencing of 162 individuals, a new chromosome-scale reference genome, and species-specific gene annotation. We have identified a set of genes and developmental pathways that play a key role in creating variation in spatial cognition and found that the mechanism shaping cognitive variation is consistent with selection against mildly deleterious non-coding mutations. Although some candidate genes were organized into connected gene networks, about half do not have shared regulation, highlighting that multiple independent developmental or physiological mechanisms contribute to variation in spatial cognitive abilities. A large proportion of the candidate genes we found are associated with synaptic plasticity, an intriguing result that leads to the hypothesis that certain genetic variants create antagonism between behavioral plasticity and long-term memory, each providing distinct benefits depending on ecological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgy A Semenov
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
| | - Benjamin R Sonnenberg
- Department of Biology and Evolution, Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Carrie L Branch
- Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Virginia K Heinen
- Department of Biology and Evolution, Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Joseph F Welklin
- Department of Biology and Evolution, Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Sara R Padula
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Ajay M Patel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Eli S Bridge
- Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Vladimir V Pravosudov
- Department of Biology and Evolution, Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Scott A Taylor
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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2
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Feiner N, Yang W, Bunikis I, While GM, Uller T. Adaptive introgression reveals the genetic basis of a sexually selected syndrome in wall lizards. Sci Adv 2024; 10:eadk9315. [PMID: 38569035 PMCID: PMC10990284 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk9315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The joint expression of particular colors, morphologies, and behaviors is a common feature of adaptation, but the genetic basis for such "phenotypic syndromes" remains poorly understood. Here, we identified a complex genetic architecture associated with a sexually selected syndrome in common wall lizards, by capitalizing on the adaptive introgression of coloration and morphology into a distantly related lineage. Consistent with the hypothesis that the evolution of phenotypic syndromes in vertebrates is facilitated by developmental linkage through neural crest cells, most of the genes associated with the syndrome are involved in neural crest cell regulation. A major locus was a ~400-kb region, characterized by standing structural genetic variation and previously implied in the evolutionary innovation of coloration and beak size in birds. We conclude that features of the developmental and genetic architecture contribute to maintaining trait integration, facilitating the extensive and rapid introgressive spread of suites of sexually selected characters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Weizhao Yang
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ignas Bunikis
- Uppsala Genome Center, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Geoffrey M. While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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3
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Polic D, Yıldırım Y, Merilaita S, Franzén M, Forsman A. Genetic structure, UV-vision, wing coloration and size coincide with colour polymorphism in Fabriciana adippe butterflies. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17272. [PMID: 38240162 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Colour polymorphisms have long served as model systems in evolutionary studies and continue to inform about processes involved in the origin and dynamics of biodiversity. Modern sequencing tools allow for evaluating whether phenotypic differences between morphs reflect genetic differentiation rather than developmental plasticity, and for investigating whether polymorphisms represent intermediate stages of diversification towards speciation. We investigated phenotypic and genetic differentiation between two colour morphs of the butterfly Fabriciana adippe using a combination of ddRAD-sequencing and comparisons of body size, colour patterns and optical properties of bright wing spots. The silvery-spotted adippe form had larger and darker wings and reflected UV light, while the yellow cleodoxa form displayed more green scales and reflected very little UV, showcasing that they constitute distinct and alternative integrated phenotypes. Genomic analyses revealed genetic structuring according to source population, and to colour morph, suggesting that the phenotypic differentiation reflects evolutionary modifications. We report 17 outlier loci associated with colour morph, including ultraviolet-sensitive visual pigment (UVRh1), which is associated with intraspecific communication and mate choice in butterflies. Together with the demonstration that the wings of the adippe (but essentially not the cleodoxa) morph reflect UV light, that UV reflectance is higher in females than males and that morphs differ in wing size, this suggests that these colour morphs might represent genetically integrated phenotypes, possibly adapted to different microhabitats. We propose that non-random mating might contribute to the differentiation and maintenance of the polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Polic
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Yeşerin Yıldırım
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Sami Merilaita
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Markus Franzén
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Anders Forsman
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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4
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Lu B, Qiu X, Yang W, Yao Z, Ma X, Deng S, Zhang Q, Fu J, Qi Y. Genetic Basis and Evolutionary Forces of Sexually Dimorphic Color Variation in a Toad-Headed Agamid Lizard. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae054. [PMID: 38466135 PMCID: PMC10963123 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In the animal kingdom, sexually dimorphic color variation is a widespread phenomenon that significantly influences survival and reproductive success. However, the genetic underpinnings of this variation remain inadequately understood. Our investigation into sexually dimorphic color variation in the desert-dwelling Guinan population of the toad-headed agamid lizard (Phrynocephalus putjatai) utilized a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing phenotypic, ultrastructural, biochemical, genomic analyses, and behavioral experiments. Our findings unveil the association between distinct skin colorations and varying levels of carotenoid and pteridine pigments. The red coloration in males is determined by a genomic region on chromosome 14, housing four pigmentation genes: BCO2 and three 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthases. A Guinan population-specific nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism in BCO2 is predicted to alter the electrostatic potential within the binding domain of the BCO2-β-carotene complex, influencing their interaction. Additionally, the gene MAP7 on chromosome 2 emerges as a potential contributor to the blue coloration in subadults and adult females. Sex-specific expression patterns point to steroid hormone-associated genes (SULT2B1 and SRD5A2) as potential upstream regulators influencing sexually dimorphic coloration. Visual modeling and field experiments support the potential selective advantages of vibrant coloration in desert environments. This implies that natural selection, potentially coupled with assortative mating, might have played a role in fixing color alleles, contributing to prevalence in the local desert habitat. This study provides novel insights into the genetic basis of carotenoid and pteridine-based color variation, shedding light on the evolution of sexually dimorphic coloration in animals. Moreover, it advances our understanding of the driving forces behind such intricate coloration patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xia Qiu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weizhao Yang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhongyi Yao
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaofeng Ma
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shunyan Deng
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinzhong Fu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Yin Qi
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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5
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Coulmance F, Akkaynak D, Le Poul Y, Höppner MP, McMillan WO, Puebla O. Phenotypic and genomic dissection of colour pattern variation in a reef fish radiation. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17047. [PMID: 37337919 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs rank among the most diverse species assemblages on Earth. A particularly striking aspect of coral reef communities is the variety of colour patterns displayed by reef fishes. Colour pattern is known to play a central role in the ecology and evolution of reef fishes through, for example, signalling or camouflage. Nevertheless, colour pattern is a complex trait in reef fishes-actually a collection of traits-that is difficult to analyse in a quantitative and standardized way. This is the challenge that we address in this study using the hamlets (Hypoplectrus spp., Serranidae) as a model system. Our approach involves a custom underwater camera system to take orientation- and size-standardized photographs in situ, colour correction, alignment of the fish images with a combination of landmarks and Bézier curves, and principal component analysis on the colour value of each pixel of each aligned fish. This approach identifies the major colour pattern elements that contribute to phenotypic variation in the group. Furthermore, we complement the image analysis with whole-genome sequencing to run a multivariate genome-wide association study for colour pattern variation. This second layer of analysis reveals sharp association peaks along the hamlet genome for each colour pattern element and allows to characterize the phenotypic effect of the single nucleotide polymorphisms that are most strongly associated with colour pattern variation at each association peak. Our results suggest that the diversity of colour patterns displayed by the hamlets is generated by a modular genomic and phenotypic architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriane Coulmance
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Oldenburg, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Derya Akkaynak
- Hatter Department of Marine Technologies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences, Eilat, Israel
| | - Yann Le Poul
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Marc P Höppner
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Oscar Puebla
- Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Oldenburg, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), Panama, Republic of Panama
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6
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Berdan EL, Barton NH, Butlin R, Charlesworth B, Faria R, Fragata I, Gilbert KJ, Jay P, Kapun M, Lotterhos KE, Mérot C, Durmaz Mitchell E, Pascual M, Peichel CL, Rafajlović M, Westram AM, Schaeffer SW, Johannesson K, Flatt T. How chromosomal inversions reorient the evolutionary process. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1761-1782. [PMID: 37942504 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Inversions are structural mutations that reverse the sequence of a chromosome segment and reduce the effective rate of recombination in the heterozygous state. They play a major role in adaptation, as well as in other evolutionary processes such as speciation. Although inversions have been studied since the 1920s, they remain difficult to investigate because the reduced recombination conferred by them strengthens the effects of drift and hitchhiking, which in turn can obscure signatures of selection. Nonetheless, numerous inversions have been found to be under selection. Given recent advances in population genetic theory and empirical study, here we review how different mechanisms of selection affect the evolution of inversions. A key difference between inversions and other mutations, such as single nucleotide variants, is that the fitness of an inversion may be affected by a larger number of frequently interacting processes. This considerably complicates the analysis of the causes underlying the evolution of inversions. We discuss the extent to which these mechanisms can be disentangled, and by which approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Berdan
- Bioinformatics Core, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nicholas H Barton
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Roger Butlin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Bioscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Brian Charlesworth
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rui Faria
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Inês Fragata
- CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute/Animal Biology Department, cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Paul Jay
- Center for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Kapun
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katie E Lotterhos
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Claire Mérot
- UMR 6553 Ecobio, Université de Rennes, OSUR, CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Esra Durmaz Mitchell
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Functional Genomics & Metabolism Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Marta Pascual
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Catherine L Peichel
- Division of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marina Rafajlović
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Linnaeus Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anja M Westram
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
| | - Stephen W Schaeffer
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kerstin Johannesson
- Linnaeus Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Strömstad, Sweden
| | - Thomas Flatt
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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7
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Brien MN, Orteu A, Yen EC, Galarza JA, Kirvesoja J, Pakkanen H, Wakamatsu K, Jiggins CD, Mappes J. Colour polymorphism associated with a gene duplication in male wood tiger moths. eLife 2023; 12:e80116. [PMID: 37902626 PMCID: PMC10635649 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Colour is often used as an aposematic warning signal, with predator learning expected to lead to a single colour pattern within a population. However, there are many puzzling cases where aposematic signals are also polymorphic. The wood tiger moth, Arctia plantaginis, displays bright hindwing colours associated with unpalatability, and males have discrete colour morphs which vary in frequency between localities. In Finland, both white and yellow morphs can be found, and these colour morphs also differ in behavioural and life-history traits. Here, we show that male colour is linked to an extra copy of a yellow family gene that is only present in the white morphs. This white-specific duplication, which we name valkea, is highly upregulated during wing development. CRISPR targeting valkea resulted in editing of both valkea and its paralog, yellow-e, and led to the production of yellow wings. We also characterise the pigments responsible for yellow, white, and black colouration, showing that yellow is partly produced by pheomelanins, while black is dopamine-derived eumelanin. Our results add to a growing number of studies on the genetic architecture of complex and seemingly paradoxical polymorphisms, and the role of gene duplications and structural variation in adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie N Brien
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Anna Orteu
- Department of Zoology, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Eugenie C Yen
- Department of Zoology, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Juan A Galarza
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of OuluOuluFinland
| | - Jimi Kirvesoja
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Hannu Pakkanen
- Department of Chemistry, University of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | | | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Johanna Mappes
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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8
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Hu Y, Wang X, Xu Y, Yang H, Tong Z, Tian R, Xu S, Yu L, Guo Y, Shi P, Huang S, Yang G, Shi S, Wei F. Molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution in wild animals and plants. Sci China Life Sci 2023; 66:453-495. [PMID: 36648611 PMCID: PMC9843154 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2233-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Wild animals and plants have developed a variety of adaptive traits driven by adaptive evolution, an important strategy for species survival and persistence. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution is the key to understanding species diversification, phenotypic convergence, and inter-species interaction. As the genome sequences of more and more non-model organisms are becoming available, the focus of studies on molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution has shifted from the candidate gene method to genetic mapping based on genome-wide scanning. In this study, we reviewed the latest research advances in wild animals and plants, focusing on adaptive traits, convergent evolution, and coevolution. Firstly, we focused on the adaptive evolution of morphological, behavioral, and physiological traits. Secondly, we reviewed the phenotypic convergences of life history traits and responding to environmental pressures, and the underlying molecular convergence mechanisms. Thirdly, we summarized the advances of coevolution, including the four main types: mutualism, parasitism, predation and competition. Overall, these latest advances greatly increase our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms for diverse adaptive traits and species interaction, demonstrating that the development of evolutionary biology has been greatly accelerated by multi-omics technologies. Finally, we highlighted the emerging trends and future prospects around the above three aspects of adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Hu
- CAS Key Lab of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Yongchao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Hui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Zeyu Tong
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Ran Tian
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shaohua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Li Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
| | - Yalong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
| | - Peng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
| | - Shuangquan Huang
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Guang Yang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 511458, China.
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Suhua Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
| | - Fuwen Wei
- CAS Key Lab of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 511458, China.
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9
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Coughlan JM, Dagilis AJ, Serrato-Capuchina A, Elias H, Peede D, Isbell K, Castillo DM, Cooper BS, Matute DR. Patterns of Population Structure and Introgression Among Recently Differentiated Drosophila melanogaster Populations. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac223. [PMID: 36251862 PMCID: PMC9641974 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite a century of genetic analysis, the evolutionary processes that have generated the patterns of exceptional genetic and phenotypic variation in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster remains poorly understood. In particular, how genetic variation is partitioned within its putative ancestral range in Southern Africa remains unresolved. Here, we study patterns of population genetic structure, admixture, and the spatial structuring of candidate incompatibility alleles across a global sample, including 223 new accessions, predominantly from remote regions in Southern Africa. We identify nine major ancestries, six that primarily occur in Africa and one that has not been previously described. We find evidence for both contemporary and historical admixture between ancestries, with admixture rates varying both within and between continents. For example, while previous work has highlighted an admixture zone between broadly defined African and European ancestries in the Caribbean and southeastern USA, we identify West African ancestry as the most likely African contributor. Moreover, loci showing the strongest signal of introgression between West Africa and the Caribbean/southeastern USA include several genes relating to neurological development and male courtship behavior, in line with previous work showing shared mating behaviors between these regions. Finally, while we hypothesized that potential incompatibility loci may contribute to population genetic structure across the range of D. melanogaster; these loci are, on average, not highly differentiated between ancestries. This work contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary history of a key model system, and provides insight into the partitioning of diversity across its range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenn M Coughlan
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andrius J Dagilis
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Hope Elias
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - David Peede
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kristin Isbell
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dean M Castillo
- Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Brandon S Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Daniel R Matute
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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10
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Petras T, Vrezec A. Long-Term Ringing Data on Migrating Passerines Reveal Overall Avian Decline in Europe. Diversity 2022; 14:905. [DOI: 10.3390/d14110905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The loss of biodiversity is shaping today’s environment. Bird ringing is a citizen science research tool that can determine species population dynamics and trends over a large geographic area. We used a 17-year time series to assess population trends of 74 passerine species based on ringing data from autumn migration in Slovenia (south-central Europe). We defined seven guilds of species according to geographic location, ecological, migratory, breeding, and life-history traits. Almost all guilds showed declining trends, except for the group of species of northeastern European origin, which showed a stable trend. The greatest decline was in low-productivity wetland specialists. Forest birds, seed-eaters, and high-productivity species experienced the smallest declines. The general declines in avifauna across a range of life-history and behavioural traits, and across a range of spatial and ecological scales, suggest widespread environmental change in Europe. Our data indicates that recent trends are toward ecosystem homogeneity, with an impoverished avifauna, including a few species that are increasing in abundance. These are the species with higher productivity and flexible behaviour, such as short-distance migrants, that have the greatest chance of prevailing in the recently rapidly changing environment because of their ability to adapt to changes in a timely manner.
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11
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Jeong H, Baran NM, Sun D, Chatterjee P, Layman TS, Balakrishnan CN, Maney DL, Yi SV. Dynamic molecular evolution of a supergene with suppressed recombination in white-throated sparrows. eLife 2022; 11:79387. [PMID: 36040313 PMCID: PMC9427109 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In white-throated sparrows, two alternative morphs differing in plumage and behavior segregate with a large chromosomal rearrangement. As with sex chromosomes such as the mammalian Y, the rearranged version of chromosome two (ZAL2m) is in a near-constant state of heterozygosity, offering opportunities to investigate both degenerative and selective processes during the early evolutionary stages of 'supergenes.' Here, we generated, synthesized, and analyzed extensive genome-scale data to better understand the forces shaping the evolution of the ZAL2 and ZAL2m chromosomes in this species. We found that features of ZAL2m are consistent with substantially reduced recombination and low levels of degeneration. We also found evidence that selective sweeps took place both on ZAL2m and its standard counterpart, ZAL2, after the rearrangement event. Signatures of positive selection were associated with allelic bias in gene expression, suggesting that antagonistic selection has operated on gene regulation. Finally, we discovered a region exhibiting long-range haplotypes inside the rearrangement on ZAL2m. These haplotypes appear to have been maintained by balancing selection, retaining genetic diversity within the supergene. Together, our analyses illuminate mechanisms contributing to the evolution of a young chromosomal polymorphism, revealing complex selective processes acting concurrently with genetic degeneration to drive the evolution of supergenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeonsoo Jeong
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, United States
| | - Nicole M Baran
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, United States.,Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, United States.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States
| | - Dan Sun
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, United States.,Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paramita Chatterjee
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, United States
| | - Thomas S Layman
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, United States
| | | | - Donna L Maney
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, United States
| | - Soojin V Yi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, United States.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States
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12
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MacDonald ZG, Snape KL, Roe AD, Sperling FAH. Host association, environment, and geography underlie genomic differentiation in a major forest pest. Evol Appl 2022; 15:1749-1765. [PMID: 36426133 PMCID: PMC9679251 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse geographic, environmental, and ecological factors affect gene flow and adaptive genomic variation within species. With recent advances in landscape ecological modelling and high‐throughput DNA sequencing, it is now possible to effectively quantify and partition their relative contributions. Here, we use landscape genomics to identify determinants of genomic differentiation in the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria, a widespread and irruptive pest of numerous deciduous tree species in North America. We collected larvae from multiple populations across Eastern Canada, where the species experiences a diversity of environmental gradients and feeds on a number of different host tree species, including trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red oak (Quercus rubra), and white birch (Betula papyrifera). Using a combination of reciprocal causal modelling (RCM) and distance‐based redundancy analyses (dbRDA), we show that differentiation of thousands of genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among individuals is best explained by a combination of isolation by distance, isolation by environment (spatial variation in summer temperatures and length of the growing season), and differences in host association. Configuration of suitable habitat inferred from ecological niche models was not significantly related to genomic differentiation, suggesting that M. disstria dispersal is agnostic with respect to habitat quality. Although population structure was not discretely related to host association, our modelling framework provides the first molecular evidence of host‐associated differentiation in M. disstria, congruent with previous documentation of reduced growth and survival of larvae moved between natal host species. We conclude that ecologically mediated selection is contributing to variation within M. disstria, and that divergent adaptation related to both environmental conditions and host association should be considered in ongoing research and management of this important forest pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary G. MacDonald
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA
- Institute of the Environmental and Sustainability University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Kyle L. Snape
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Amanda D. Roe
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada Sault Ste. Marie ON Canada
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13
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Kay T, Helleu Q, Keller L. Iterative evolution of supergene-based social polymorphism in ants. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210196. [PMID: 35694755 PMCID: PMC9189498 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Species commonly exhibit alternative morphs, with individual fate being determined during development by either genetic factors, environmental cues or a combination thereof. Ants offer an interesting case study because many species are polymorphic in their social structure. Some colonies contain one queen while others contain many queens. This variation in queen number is generally associated with a suite of phenotypic and life-history traits, including mode of colony founding, queen lifespan, queen-worker dimorphism and colony size. The basis of this social polymorphism has been studied in five ant lineages, and remarkably social morph seems to be determined by a supergene in all cases. These 'social supergenes' tend to be large, having formed through serial inversions, and to comprise hundreds of linked genes. They have persisted over long evolutionary timescales, in multiple lineages following speciation events, and have spread between closely related species via introgression. Their evolutionary dynamics are unusually complex, combining recessive lethality, spatially variable selection, selfish genetic elements and non-random mating. Here, we synthesize the five cases of supergene-based social polymorphism in ants, highlighting interesting commonalities, idiosyncrasies and implications for the evolution of polymorphisms in general. This article is part of the theme issue 'Genomic architecture of supergenes: causes and evolutionary consequences'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Kay
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Quentin Helleu
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Keller
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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14
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Hager ER, Harringmeyer OS, Wooldridge TB, Theingi S, Gable JT, McFadden S, Neugeboren B, Turner KM, Jensen JD, Hoekstra HE. A chromosomal inversion contributes to divergence in multiple traits between deer mouse ecotypes. Science 2022; 377:399-405. [PMID: 35862520 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg0718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
How locally adapted ecotypes are established and maintained within a species is a long-standing question in evolutionary biology. Using forest and prairie ecotypes of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), we characterized the genetic basis of variation in two defining traits-tail length and coat color-and discovered a 41-megabase chromosomal inversion linked to both. The inversion frequency is 90% in the dark, long-tailed forest ecotype; decreases across a habitat transition; and is absent from the light, short-tailed prairie ecotype. We implicate divergent selection in maintaining the inversion at frequencies observed in the wild, despite high levels of gene flow, and explore fitness benefits that arise from suppressed recombination within the inversion. We uncover a key role for a large, previously uncharacterized inversion in the evolution and maintenance of classic mammalian ecotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Hager
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Olivia S Harringmeyer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - T Brock Wooldridge
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Shunn Theingi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jacob T Gable
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sade McFadden
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Beverly Neugeboren
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Kyle M Turner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Jensen
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Hopi E Hoekstra
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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15
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Rubin CJ, Enbody ED, Dobreva MP, Abzhanov A, Davis BW, Lamichhaney S, Pettersson M, Sendell-Price AT, Sprehn CG, Valle CA, Vasco K, Wallerman O, Grant BR, Grant PR, Andersson L. Rapid adaptive radiation of Darwin's finches depends on ancestral genetic modules. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabm5982. [PMID: 35857449 PMCID: PMC9269886 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm5982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent adaptive radiations are models for investigating mechanisms contributing to the evolution of biodiversity. An unresolved question is the relative importance of new mutations, ancestral variants, and introgressive hybridization for phenotypic evolution and speciation. Here, we address this issue using Darwin's finches and investigate the genomic architecture underlying their phenotypic diversity. Admixture mapping for beak and body size in the small, medium, and large ground finches revealed 28 loci showing strong genetic differentiation. These loci represent ancestral haplotype blocks with origins predating speciation events during the Darwin's finch radiation. Genes expressed in the developing beak are overrepresented in these genomic regions. Ancestral haplotypes constitute genetic modules for selection and act as key determinants of the unusual phenotypic diversity of Darwin's finches. Such ancestral haplotype blocks can be critical for how species adapt to environmental variability and change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl-Johan Rubin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Institute of Marine Research, Nordnesgaten 50, 5005 Bergen, Norway
| | - Erik D. Enbody
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mariya P. Dobreva
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, SL5 7PY Ascot, UK
| | - Arhat Abzhanov
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, SL5 7PY Ascot, UK
| | - Brian W. Davis
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Mats Pettersson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ashley T. Sendell-Price
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - C. Grace Sprehn
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carlos A. Valle
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Galápagos Science Center GSC, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Karla Vasco
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Galápagos Science Center GSC, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Ola Wallerman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - B. Rosemary Grant
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Peter R. Grant
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Leif Andersson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Corresponding author.
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16
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Jenck CS, Lehto WR, Hunnicutt KE, Murphy SM, Quinn TW, Larson EL, Tinghitella RM. Genetic divergence among threespine stickleback that differ in nuptial coloration. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:934-947. [PMID: 35716364 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sexual signals are shaped by their intended and unintended receivers as well as the signalling environment. This interplay between sexual and natural selection can lead to divergence in signals in heterogeneous environments. Yet, the extent to which gene flow is restricted when signalling phenotypes vary across environments and over what spatial scales remains an outstanding question. In this study, we quantify gene flow between two colour morphs, red and black, of freshwater threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We capitalize on the very recent divergence of signalling phenotypes in this system to characterize within-species and among-morph genetic variation and to test for levels of gene flow between colour morphs in Oregon and Washington. Despite limited evidence for assortative mating between allopatric red and black populations, we found that black populations are genetically distinct from nearby red populations and that the black morph appears to have evolved independently at least twice in Oregon and Washington. Surprisingly, we uncovered a group of stickleback in one small coastal stream, Connor Creek, which is genetically and morphologically distinct from the red and black colour morphs and from marine stickleback. Historically, both colour morphs have coexisted in this location and sometimes hybridized, raising new questions about the origins and history of these fish, which were first described as anadromous-black hybrids >50 years ago. Understanding how genetic variation is currently partitioned within and among populations and colour morphs in this system should prompt future studies to assess the relative roles of habitat, ecological and pre- and post-reproductive barriers in the genetic divergence and phenotypic patterns we observe in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara S Jenck
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Whitley R Lehto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Kelsie E Hunnicutt
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Shannon M Murphy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Thomas W Quinn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Erica L Larson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Robin M Tinghitella
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
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17
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Fark SN, Gerber S, Alonzo SH, Kindsvater HK, Meier JI, Seehausen O. Multispecies colour polymorphisms associated with contrasting microhabitats in two Mediterranean wrasse radiations. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:633-647. [PMID: 35304789 PMCID: PMC9311657 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Intraspecific colour polymorphisms (CPs) present unique opportunities to study fundamental evolutionary questions, such as the link between ecology and phenotype, mechanisms maintaining genetic diversity and their putative role in speciation. Wrasses are highly diverse in ecology and morphology and harbour a variety of colour‐polymorphic species. In the Mediterranean Sea, wrasses of the tribe Labrini evolved two species radiations each harbouring several species with a brown and a green morph. The colour morphs occur in complete sympatry in mosaic habitats with rocky outcrops and Neptune grass patches. Morph‐specific differences had not been characterized yet and the evolutionary forces maintaining them remained unknown. With genome‐wide data for almost all Labrini species, we show that species with CPs are distributed across the phylogeny, but show evidence of hybridization. This suggests that the colour morphs are either ancient and have been lost repeatedly, that they have evolved repeatedly or have been shared via hybridization. Focusing on two polymorphic species, we find that each colour morph is more common in the microhabitat providing the best colour match and that the morphs exhibit additional behavioural and morphological differences further improving crypsis in their respective microhabitats. We find little evidence for genetic differentiation between the morphs in either species. Therefore, we propose that these colour morphs represent a multi‐niche polymorphism as an adaptation to the highly heterogeneous habitat. Our study highlights how colour polymorphism (CP) can be advantageous in mosaic habitats and that Mediterranean wrasses are an ideal system to study trans‐species polymorphisms, i.e. polymorphisms maintained across several species, in adaptive radiations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarya N Fark
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Steve Gerber
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Suzanne H Alonzo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Holly K Kindsvater
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Joana I Meier
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Center of Ecology, Evolution & Biogeochemistry, Swiss Institute for Environmental Sciences and Technology (EAWAG), Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Ole Seehausen
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Center of Ecology, Evolution & Biogeochemistry, Swiss Institute for Environmental Sciences and Technology (EAWAG), Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
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18
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Sinnott‐Armstrong MA, Deanna R, Pretz C, Liu S, Harris JC, Dunbar‐Wallis A, Smith SD, Wheeler LC. How to approach the study of syndromes in macroevolution and ecology. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8583. [PMID: 35342598 PMCID: PMC8928880 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Syndromes, wherein multiple traits evolve convergently in response to a shared selective driver, form a central concept in ecology and evolution. Recent work has questioned the existence of some classic syndromes, such as pollination and seed dispersal syndromes. Here, we discuss some of the major issues that have afflicted research into syndromes in macroevolution and ecology. First, correlated evolution of traits and hypothesized selective drivers is often relied on as the only evidence for adaptation of those traits to those hypothesized drivers, without supporting evidence. Second, the selective driver is often inferred from a combination of traits without explicit testing. Third, researchers often measure traits that are easy for humans to observe rather than measuring traits that are suited to testing the hypothesis of adaptation. Finally, species are often chosen for study because of their striking phenotypes, which leads to the illusion of syndromes and divergence. We argue that these issues can be avoided by combining studies of trait variation across entire clades or communities with explicit tests of adaptive hypotheses and that taking this approach will lead to a better understanding of syndrome‐like evolution and its drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda A. Sinnott‐Armstrong
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado‐Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
- Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Rocio Deanna
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado‐Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal IMBIV (CONICET‐UNC) Córdoba Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (FCQ, UNC) Córdoba Argentina
| | - Chelsea Pretz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado‐Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Sukuan Liu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado‐Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Jesse C. Harris
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado‐Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Amy Dunbar‐Wallis
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado‐Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Stacey D. Smith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado‐Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Lucas C. Wheeler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado‐Boulder Boulder Colorado USA
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