1
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Brown GP, Shine R, Rollins LA. A biological invasion modifies the dynamics of a host-parasite arms race. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232403. [PMID: 38351807 PMCID: PMC10865005 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
By imposing novel selection pressures on both participants, biological invasions can modify evolutionary 'arms races' between hosts and parasites. A spatially replicated cross-infection experiment reveals strong spatial divergence in the ability of lungworms (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) to infect invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) in Australia. In areas colonized for longer than 20 years, toads are more resistant to infection by local strains of parasites than by allopatric strains. The situation reverses at the invasion front, where super-infective parasites have evolved. Invasion-induced shifts in genetic diversity and selective pressures may explain why hosts gain advantage over parasites in long-colonized areas, whereas parasites gain advantage at the invasion front.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory P. Brown
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Lee A. Rollins
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
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2
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Westrick SE, Laslo M, Fischer E. Natural History of Model Organisms: The big potential of the small frog Eleutherodactylus coqui. eLife 2022; 11:73401. [PMID: 35029143 PMCID: PMC8824473 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Puerto Rican coquí frog Eleutherodactylus coqui is both a cultural icon and a species with an unusual natural history that has attracted attention from researchers in a number of different fields within biology. Unlike most frogs, the coquí frog skips the tadpole stage, which makes it of interest to developmental biologists. The frog is best known in Puerto Rico for its notoriously loud mating call, which has allowed researchers to study aspects of social behavior such as vocal communication and courtship, while the ability of coquí to colonize new habitats has been used to explore the biology of invasive species. This article reviews existing studies on the natural history of E. coqui and discusses opportunities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Westrick
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, United States
| | - Mara Laslo
- Curriculum Fellow Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Eva Fischer
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana and Champaign, United States
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3
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Russo AG, Harding EF, Yan GJH, Selechnik D, Ducatez S, DeVore JL, Zhou J, Sarma RR, Lee YP, Richardson MF, Shine R, Rollins LA, White PA. Discovery of Novel Viruses Associated With the Invasive Cane Toad ( Rhinella marina) in Its Native and Introduced Ranges. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:733631. [PMID: 34552575 PMCID: PMC8450580 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.733631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cane toads (Rhinella marina) are notoriously successful invaders: from 101 individuals brought to Australia in 1935, poisonous toads now cover an area >1.2 million km2 with adverse effects on native fauna. Despite extensive research on the role of macroparasites in cane toad invasion, viral research is lagging. We compared viral prevalence and diversity between toads in their native range (French Guiana, n=25) and two introduced ranges: Australia (n=151) and Hawai'i (n=10) with a metatranscriptomic and metagenomic approach combined with PCR screening. Australian toads almost exclusively harbor one of seven viruses detected globally. Rhimavirus-A (Picornaviridae) exhibited low genetic diversity and likely actively infected 9% of sampled Australian toads extending across ~2,000km of Northern Australia and up to the current invasion front. In native range cane toads, we identified multiple phylogenetically distinct viruses (Iridoviridae, Picornaviridae, Papillomaviridae, and Nackedna-like virus). None of the same viruses was detected in both ranges, suggesting that Australian cane toads have largely escaped the viral infection experienced by their native range counterparts. The novel native range viruses described here are potential biocontrol agents, as Australian toads likely lack prior immunological exposure to these viruses. Overall, our evidence suggests that there may be differences between viruses infecting cane toads in their native vs. introduced ranges, which lays the groundwork for further studies on how these viruses have influenced the toads' invasion history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice G Russo
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma F Harding
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Grace J H Yan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel Selechnik
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Simon Ducatez
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jayna L DeVore
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jia Zhou
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Roshmi R Sarma
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yin Peng Lee
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark F Richardson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lee A Rollins
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter A White
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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4
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The evolution of targeted cannibalism and cannibal-induced defenses in invasive populations of cane toads. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2100765118. [PMID: 34426494 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2100765118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biotic conflict can create evolutionary arms races, in which innovation in one group increases selective pressure on another, such that organisms must constantly adapt to maintain the same level of fitness. In some cases, this process is driven by conflict among members of the same species. Intraspecific conflict can be an especially important selective force in high-density invasive populations, which may favor the evolution of strategies for outcompeting or eliminating conspecifics. Cannibalism is one such strategy; by killing and consuming their intraspecific competitors, cannibals enhance their own performance. Cannibalistic behaviors may therefore be favored in invasive populations. Here, we show that cane toad tadpoles (Rhinella marina) from invasive Australian populations have evolved an increased propensity to cannibalize younger conspecifics as well as a unique adaptation to cannibalism-a strong attraction to vulnerable hatchlings-that is absent in the native range. In response, vulnerable conspecifics from invasive populations have evolved both stronger constitutive defenses and greater cannibal-induced plastic responses than their native range counterparts (i.e., rapid prefeeding development and inducible developmental acceleration). These inducible defenses are costly, incurring performance reductions during the subsequent life stage, explaining why plasticity is limited in native populations where hatchlings are not targeted by cannibalistic tadpoles. These results demonstrate the importance of intraspecific conflict in driving rapid evolution, highlight how plasticity can facilitate adaptation following shifts in selective pressure, and show that evolutionary processes can produce mechanisms that regulate invasive populations.
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5
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Mayer M, Schlippe Justicia L, Shine R, Brown GP. Host defense or parasite cue: Skin secretions mediate interactions between amphibians and their parasites. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:1955-1965. [PMID: 34176205 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Amphibian skin secretions (substances produced by the amphibian plus microbiota) plausibly act as a first line of defense against parasite/pathogen attack, but may also provide chemical cues for pathogens. To clarify the role of skin secretions in host-parasite interactions, we conducted experiments using cane toads (Rhinella marina) and their lungworms (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) from the range-core and invasion-front of the introduced anurans' range in Australia. Depending on the geographical area, toad skin secretions can reduce the longevity and infection success of parasite larvae, or attract lungworm larvae and enhance their infection success. These striking differences between the two regions were due both to differential responses of the larvae, and differential effects of the skin secretions. Our data suggest that skin secretions play an important role in host-parasite interactions in anurans, and that the arms race between a host and parasite can rapidly generate spatial variation in critical features of that interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mayer
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lia Schlippe Justicia
- Department of Animal Biology, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Richard Shine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gregory P Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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6
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Haywood CJ, Nielsen CK, Jiménez FA. Live-Capture Techniques for Colonizing Nine-Banded Armadillos. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2021. [DOI: 10.1656/045.028.0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carly J. Haywood
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901
| | - Clayton K. Nielsen
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901
| | - F. Agustín Jiménez
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901
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7
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Laid-back invaders: Cane toads (Rhinella marina) down-regulate their stress responses as they colonize a harsh climate. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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8
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Charbonnel N, Galan M, Tatard C, Loiseau A, Diagne C, Dalecky A, Parrinello H, Rialle S, Severac D, Brouat C. Differential immune gene expression associated with contemporary range expansion in two invasive rodents in Senegal. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18257. [PMID: 33106535 PMCID: PMC7589499 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75060-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological invasions are major anthropogenic changes associated with threats to biodiversity and health. However, what determines the successful establishment and spread of introduced populations remains unclear. Here, we explore several hypotheses linking invasion success and immune phenotype traits, including those based on the evolution of increased competitive ability concept. We compared gene expression profiles between anciently and recently established populations of two major invading species, the house mouse Mus musculus domesticus and the black rat Rattus rattus, in Senegal (West Africa). Transcriptome analyses identified differential expression between anciently and recently established populations for 364 mouse genes and 83 rat genes. All immune-related genes displaying differential expression along the mouse invasion route were overexpressed at three of the four recently invaded sites studied. Complement activation pathway genes were overrepresented among these genes. By contrast, no particular immunological process was found to be overrepresented among the differentially expressed genes of black rat. Changes in transcriptome profiles were thus observed along invasion routes, but with different specific patterns between the two invasive species. These changes may be driven by increases in infection risks at sites recently invaded by the house mouse, and by stochastic events associated with colonization history for the black rat. These results constitute a first step toward the identification of immune eco-evolutionary processes potentially involved in the invasion success of these two rodent species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Charbonnel
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Maxime Galan
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Caroline Tatard
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Anne Loiseau
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe Diagne
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Départment de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Fann, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Hugues Parrinello
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, c/o Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephanie Rialle
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, c/o Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
| | - Dany Severac
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, c/o Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
| | - Carine Brouat
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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9
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Reproductive characteristics of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) in their invasive range of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16271. [PMID: 33004879 PMCID: PMC7529884 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73206-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive species pose a major threat to global biodiversity. The effects of invasive species can be strongly influenced and potentially mediated by their reproductive characteristics, such as fecundity, egg production, and duration and number of reproductive events. Selection for smaller body size at first reproduction can also play a role in their establishment, facilitating colonization and spread. The American bullfrog, native to the eastern U.S. (Lithobates catesbeianus), is a species that has invaded more than 40 countries across 4 continents. This species has become especially prevalent in the western United States since its introduction in the early 1900s. This study characterized reproductive characteristics of bullfrogs with emphasis on the minimum size at which males and females reach sexual maturity in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA invasion range. We collected and dissected 121 individuals in 2013 and 2017, quantifying characteristics of sexual maturity including snout-vent length, total length, sex, tympanum diameter, presence of distended oviducts or eggs for females, and testes length and sperm activity in males. Our results showed that the minimum reproductive size of both males and females was smaller relative to bullfrogs in their native range as well as in populations across their invasive range. Reduction in size at reproductive maturity is likely impacting the invasive success of American bullfrogs and this study gives us insight on management actions to control the invasion. Applying this insight, managers can adjust their definition of reproductively active adults, increasing the target population of culling and other control methods.
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10
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Rivory P, Brown G, Shilton C, Shine R, Šlapeta J. Apparent lack of spill-over of parasites from an invasive anuran: PCR detects Entamoeba in cane toads ( Rhinella marina) but not in sympatric Australian native frogs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 12:207-213. [PMID: 32685367 PMCID: PMC7355385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The recent detection of a novel amoebozoan parasite (Entamoeba sp. CT1) killing invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) in tropical Australia raises concerns of potential spill-over into native anuran populations. Considering the vulnerability of anuran communities globally, Entamoeba sp. CT1 may pose a serious threat to anuran biodiversity. Through PCR-based detection and molecular identification, we investigated the prevalence of Entamoeba spp. in the faeces and colon tissue of cane toads (Rhinella marina) and eleven native Australian frog species from a single locality in the Northern Territory. No Entamoeba DNA was detected in samples of native frog faeces (N = 57) or colons (N = 17). Entamoeba DNA was detected in 24% of 45 cane toads (95%CI 14.08–38.82). Both E. ranarum and Entamoeba sp. CT1 were present in cane toads. The failure of faecal samples to indicate Entamoeba spp. in infected cane toads may be due to cysts in faeces being shed intermittently, degraded before analysis, or impervious to lysis prior to DNA isolation. Our results suggest that native frogs do not carry the pathogen in an area where 20–30% of cane toads are infected with Entamoeba sp. CT1. We demonstrate the importance of recognising PCR inhibition prior to molecular diagnostics, and the apparent inadequacy of faecal samples for the detection of Entamoeba spp. in anurans. Entamoeba spp. were detected in cane toads, but not in faeces or colons of native frogs. PCR inhibition of anuran faecal samples. Additional purification, the presence of inhibition was reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Rivory
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Gregory Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Cathy Shilton
- Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory, Northern Territory Government, GPO Box 3000, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0801, Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Jan Šlapeta
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
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11
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Schoeman AL, Joubert TL, du Preez LH, Svitin R. Xenopus laevis as UberXL for nematodes. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2019.1681295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anneke L Schoeman
- African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Tracy-Lee Joubert
- African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Louis H du Preez
- African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Roman Svitin
- African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa
- Department of Invertebrate Fauna and Systematics, II Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Kyiv, Ukraine
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12
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Selechnik D, Richardson MF, Shine R, Brown GP, Rollins LA. Immune and environment-driven gene expression during invasion: An eco-immunological application of RNA-Seq. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:6708-6721. [PMID: 31236254 PMCID: PMC6580278 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Host-pathogen associations change rapidly during a biological invasion and are predicted to impose strong selection on immune function. It has been proposed that the invader may experience an abrupt reduction in pathogen-mediated selection ("enemy release"), thereby favoring decreased investment into "costly" immune responses. Across plants and animals, there is mixed support for this prediction. Pathogens are not the only form of selection imposed on invaders; differences in abiotic environmental conditions between native and introduced ranges are also expected to drive rapid evolution. Here, we use RNA-Seq to assess the expression patterns of immune and environmentally associated genes in the cane toad (Rhinella marina) across its invasive Australian range. Transcripts encoding mediators of costly immune responses (inflammation, cytotoxicity) showed a curvilinear relationship with invasion history, with highest expression in toads from oldest and newest colonized areas. This pattern is surprising given theoretical expectations of density dynamics in invasive species and may be because density influences both intraspecific competition and parasite transmission, generating conflicting effects on the strength of immune responses. Alternatively, this expression pattern may be the result of other evolutionary forces, such as spatial sorting and genetic drift, working simultaneously with natural selection. Our findings do not support predictions about immune function based on the enemy release hypothesis and suggest instead that the effects of enemy release are difficult to isolate in wild populations, especially in the absence of information regarding parasite and pathogen infection. Additionally, expression patterns of genes underlying putatively environmentally associated traits are consistent with previous genetic studies, providing further support that Australian cane toads have adapted to novel abiotic challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Selechnik
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES)University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Mark F. Richardson
- Deakin Genomics Centre, School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES)University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Gregory P. Brown
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES)University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Lee Ann Rollins
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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13
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Cotes-Perdomo A, Santodomingo A, Castro LR. Hemogregarine and Rickettsial infection in ticks of toads from northeastern Colombia. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2018; 7:237-242. [PMID: 29988825 PMCID: PMC6032028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The toads Rhinella spp. are in constant contact with humans and domestic animals and are commonly parasitized by ticks, which are also potential vectors of pathogenic microorganisms, such as apicomplexans and rickettsia. However, little is known about microorganisms associated with toad ticks. In this work, we molecularly evaluated the presence of Rickettsia spp. and hemogregarines in ticks of Rhinella horribilis and R. humboldti in the Colombian Caribbean, finding two different species of Rickettsia: the colombianensi strain and one close to R. bellii. In the case of hemogregarines, since only 18S gene sequences are available, it is difficult to define species and place them correctly in a phylogeny, but most of our samples show a 99% identity with Hemolivia stellata, while others identical to each other seem to form another clade within this genre. All collected ticks were identified as Amblyomma dissimile, representing the first time that H. stellata was recorded in this tick. The prevalence of both microorganisms was very high, which makes it necessary to generate robust phylogenies to clarify their taxonomic diversity and to correctly define their ecological role and pathogenicity, which should be taken into account in amphibian conservation plans and veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lyda R. Castro
- Grupo de Investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia
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Poulin R. Invasion ecology meets parasitology: Advances and challenges. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2017; 6:361-363. [PMID: 30951572 PMCID: PMC5715220 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Biological invasions threaten the diversity and functioning of native ecosystems, and the rate at which species are being introduced to new areas shows no sign of slowing down. Parasites play roles in biological invasions, for instance when native parasites interact with exotic hosts, or when parasites themselves are introduced to new areas. However, publication trends show clearly that research on parasitism in the context of biological invasions is lagging far behind research on biological invasions in general. The different articles in this special issue of International Journal for Parasitology-Parasites and Wildlife on 'Invasions' address various aspects of the interface between parasitology and invasion biology, including how invasive free-living species lose or gain parasites on the invasion front as they move away from their site of introduction, how these invasive species affect the dynamics of native parasites, and how exotic parasites become established and impact native hosts. Together, they highlight the challenges facing researchers in this area, and set the agenda for the next few years of research.
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15
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Finnerty PB, Shine R, Brown GP. The costs of parasite infection: Effects of removing lungworms on performance, growth and survival of free‐ranging cane toads. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B. Finnerty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Gregory P. Brown
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
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