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Al-Shaer L, Leach W, Baban N, Yagodich M, Gibson MC, Layden MJ. Environmental and molecular regulation of asexual reproduction in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230152. [PMID: 37325595 PMCID: PMC10264993 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarians exhibit incredible reproductive diversity, with most capable of sexual and asexual reproduction. Here, we investigate factors that influence asexual reproduction in the burrowing sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, which can propagate asexually by transverse fission of the body column. By altering culture conditions, we demonstrate that the presence of a burrowing substrate strongly promotes transverse fission. In addition, we show that animal size does not affect fission rates, and that the plane of fission is fixed along the oral-aboral axis of the polyp. Homeobox transcription factors and components of the TGFβ, Notch, and FGF signalling pathways are differentially expressed in polyps undergoing physal pinching suggesting they are important regulators of transverse fission. Gene ontology analyses further suggest that during transverse fission the cell cycle is suppressed, and that cell adhesion and patterning mechanisms are downregulated to promote separation of the body column. Finally, we demonstrate that the rate of asexual reproduction is sensitive to population density. Collectively, these experiments provide a foundation for mechanistic studies of asexual reproduction in Nematostella, with implications for understanding the reproductive and regenerative biology of other cnidarian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Al-Shaer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Whitney Leach
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Noor Baban
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Mia Yagodich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | | | - Michael J. Layden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
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Gergely R, Tökölyi J. Resource availability modulates the effect of body size on reproductive development. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9722. [PMID: 36620418 PMCID: PMC9817193 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Within-species variation in animal body size predicts major differences in life history, for example, in reproductive development, fecundity, and even longevity. Purely from an energetic perspective, large size could entail larger energy reserves, fuelling different life functions, such as reproduction and survival (the "energy reserve" hypothesis). Conversely, larger body size could demand more energy for maintenance, and larger individuals might do worse in reproduction and survival under resource shortage (the "energy demand" hypothesis). Disentangling these alternative hypotheses is difficult because large size often correlates with better resource availability during growth, which could mask direct effects of body size on fitness traits. Here, we used experimental body size manipulation in the freshwater cnidarian Hydra oligactis, coupled with manipulation of resource (food) availability to separate direct effects of body size from resource availability on fitness traits (sexual development time, fecundity, and survival). We found significant interaction between body size and food availability in sexual development time in both males and females, such that large individuals responded less strongly to variation in resource availability. These results are consistent with an energy reserve effect of large size in Hydra. Surprisingly, the response was different in males and females: small and starved females delayed their reproduction, while small and starved males developed reproductive organs faster. In case of fecundity and survival, both size and food availability had significant effects, but we detected no interaction between them. Our observations suggest that in Hydra, small individuals are sensitive to fluctuations in resource availability, but these small individuals are able to adjust their reproductive development to maintain fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Gergely
- MTA‐DE “Momentum” Ecology, Evolution and Developmental Biology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary ZoologyUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary,Pál Juhász‐Nagy Doctoral SchoolUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary
| | - Jácint Tökölyi
- MTA‐DE “Momentum” Ecology, Evolution and Developmental Biology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary ZoologyUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary
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Boutry J, Tissot S, Mekaoui N, Dujon A, Meliani J, Hamede R, Ujvari B, Roche B, Nedelcu AM, Tokolyi J, Thomas F. Tumors alter life-history traits in the freshwater cnidarian, Hydra oligactis. iScience 2022; 25:105034. [PMID: 36147948 PMCID: PMC9485901 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although tumors can occur during the lifetime of most multicellular organisms and have the potential to influence health, how they alter life-history traits in tumor-bearing individuals remains poorly documented. This question was explored using the freshwater cnidarian Hydra oligactis, a species sometimes affected by vertically transmitted tumors. We found that tumorous polyps have a reduced survival compared to healthy ones. However, they also displayed higher asexual reproductive effort, by producing more often multiple buds than healthy ones. A similar acceleration is observed for the sexual reproduction (estimated through gamete production). Because tumoral cells are not transmitted through this reproductive mode, this finding suggests that hosts may adaptively respond to tumors, compensating the expected fitness losses by increasing their immediate reproductive effort. This study supports the hypothesis that tumorigenesis has the potential to influence the biology, ecology, and evolution of multicellular species, and thus should be considered more by evolutionary ecologists. Vertically transmitted tumors influence the life history traits of hydras Tumor-bearing hydras have a reduced survival rate Tumorous hydras show increased early reproductive effort (asexual and sexual) Changes in sexual reproduction pattern can be a compensatory response of the host
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Boutry
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Corresponding author
| | - Sophie Tissot
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Corresponding author
| | - Narimène Mekaoui
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Antoine Dujon
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jordan Meliani
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benjamin Roche
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, México
| | - Aurora M. Nedelcu
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Jácint Tokolyi
- MTA-DE “Momentum” Ecology, Evolution and Developmental Biology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC/CANECEV (CREES), MIVEGEC, Unité Mixte de Recherches, IRD 224–CNRS 5290–Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Miklós M, Laczkó L, Sramkó G, Barta Z, Tökölyi J. Seasonal variation of genotypes and reproductive plasticity in a facultative clonal freshwater invertebrate animal ( Hydra oligactis) living in a temperate lake. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9096. [PMID: 35845371 PMCID: PMC9280439 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Facultative sexual organisms combine sexual and asexual reproduction within a single life cycle, often switching between reproductive modes depending on environmental conditions. These organisms frequently inhabit variable seasonal environments, where favorable periods alternate with unfavorable periods, generating temporally varying selection pressures that strongly influence life history decisions and hence population dynamics. Due to the rapidly accelerating changes in our global environment today, understanding the population dynamics and genetic changes in facultative sexual populations inhabiting seasonal environments is critical to assess and prepare for additional challenges that will affect such ecosystems. In this study, we aimed at obtaining insights into the seasonal population dynamics of the facultative sexual freshwater cnidarian Hydra oligactis through a combination of restriction site‐associated sequencing (RAD‐Seq) genotyping and the collection of phenotypic data on the reproductive strategy of field‐collected hydra strains in a standard laboratory environment. We reliably detected 42 MlGs from the 121 collected hydra strains. Most of MLGs (N = 35, 83.3%) were detected in only one season. Five MLGs (11.9%) were detected in two seasons, one (2.4%) in three seasons and one (2.4%) in all four seasons. We found no significant genetic change during the 2 years in the study population. Clone lines were detected between seasons and even years, suggesting that clonal lineages can persist for a long time in a natural population. We also found that distinct genotypes differ in sexual reproduction frequency, but these differences did not affect whether genotypes reappeared across samplings. Our study provides key insights into the biology of natural hydra populations, while also contributing to understanding the population biology of facultative sexual species inhabiting freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máté Miklós
- MTA-DE "Momentum" Ecology, Evolution and Developmental Biology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary.,Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School of Biology and Environmental Sciences University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Levente Laczkó
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School of Biology and Environmental Sciences University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary.,MTA-DE "Lendület" Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group Debrecen Hungary.,Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Gábor Sramkó
- MTA-DE "Lendület" Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group Debrecen Hungary.,Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Zoltán Barta
- MTA-DE Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Jácint Tökölyi
- MTA-DE "Momentum" Ecology, Evolution and Developmental Biology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
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