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Tiedemann R, Riesch R, Tomowski M, Havenstein K, Schlupp J, Berbel-Filho WM, Schlupp I. Genetic and phenotypic diversification in a widespread fish, the Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna). BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:87. [PMID: 38951779 PMCID: PMC11218414 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02270-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Widespread species often experience significant environmental clines over the area they naturally occupy. We investigated a widespread livebearing fish, the Sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) combining genetic, life-history, and environmental data, asking how structured populations are. Sailfin mollies can be found in coastal freshwater and brackish habitats from roughly Tampico, Veracruz in Mexico to Wilmington, North Carolina, in the USA. In addition, they are found inland on the Florida peninsula. Using microsatellite DNA, we genotyped 168 individuals from 18 populations covering most of the natural range of the Sailfin molly. We further determined standard life-history parameters for both males and females for these populations. Finally, we measured biotic and abiotic parameters in the field. We found six distinct genetic clusters based on microsatellite data, with very strong indication of isolation by distance. However, we also found significant numbers of migrants between adjacent populations. Despite genetic structuring we did not find evidence of cryptic speciation. The genetic clusters and the migration patterns do not match paleodrainages. Life histories vary between populations but not in a way that is easy to interpret. We suggest a role of humans in migration in the sailfin molly, for example in the form of a ship channel that connects southern Texas with Louisiana which might be a conduit for fish migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Tiedemann
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Rüdiger Riesch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, UK
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Maxi Tomowski
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Katja Havenstein
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jan Schlupp
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
- Amazon, amazon.com, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
| | - Waldir Miron Berbel-Filho
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
- International Stock Center for Livebearing Fishes, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, 32514, USA
| | - Ingo Schlupp
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
- International Stock Center for Livebearing Fishes, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
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Kurtul I, Tarkan AS, Sarı HM, Haubrock PJ, Soto I, Aksu S, Britton JR. Exploring invasiveness and versatility of used microhabitats of the globally invasive Gambusia holbrooki. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171718. [PMID: 38490407 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Non-native species can lead to severe impacts on invaded ecosystems, including the decline of ecosystem function through deleterious impacts on species diversity. The successful establishment of non-native species in new environments is the first barrier a species must overcome, ultimately depending on its ability to either cope with or adapt to local site-specific conditions. Despite the widespread distribution and ecological consequences of many freshwater invaders, site-specific and climatic preferences are often unknown. This is also the case of the Eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki, a global invader considered as a pervasive threat to endemic species. Here, we determined the ecological features and preferred site-specific conditions of G. holbrooki in Türkiye, which spans a wide range of diverse biogeographically distinct ecosystems by surveying populations from 130 localities in 2016 and 2017. Gambusia holbrooki were detected by hand-net in 48 of these sites (19 lotic, 29 lentic). It showed a preference for shallow waters with medium sized rocks, and abundances differed spatially across a latitudinal gradient and was influenced predominantly by variations in pH. The only other factors predicting its presence were low current velocities and gravel substrate, highlighting its ecological versatility in utilising a wide range of microhabitats. Bioclimatic models suggest that G. holbrooki is found in areas with a wide average annual temperature ranging from 10 to 20 °C, but with temperature not being a limiting factor to its invasion. Gambusia holbrooki shows a preference for xeric freshwater ecosystems and endorheic basins, as well as temperate coastal rivers, temperate upland rivers, temperate floodplain rivers and wetlands, and tropical and subtropical coastal rivers. These results, particularly the wide occurrence with only few limiting factors, emphasise the invasion potential of mosquitofish and should substantiate the need for localised invasive species management and conservation efforts, particularly in smaller or insular areas where mosquitofish and endemic fish species co-exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irmak Kurtul
- Marine and Inland Waters Sciences and Technology Department, Faculty of Fisheries, Ege University, İzmir, Türkiye; Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset, UK.
| | - Ali Serhan Tarkan
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset, UK; Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Türkiye.
| | - Hasan Musa Sarı
- Marine and Inland Waters Sciences and Technology Department, Faculty of Fisheries, Ege University, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Phillip J Haubrock
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany; Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic; CAMB, Center for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait
| | - Ismael Soto
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Sadi Aksu
- Vocational School of Health Services, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Türkiye
| | - J Robert Britton
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset, UK
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Swaegers J, De Cupere S, Gaens N, Lancaster LT, Carbonell JA, Sánchez Guillén RA, Stoks R. Plasticity and associated epigenetic mechanisms play a role in thermal evolution during range expansion. Evol Lett 2024; 8:76-88. [PMID: 38370551 PMCID: PMC10872138 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrac007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to global change, many species are shifting their distribution and are thereby confronted with novel thermal conditions at the moving range edges. Especially during the initial phases of exposure to a new environment, it has been hypothesized that plasticity and associated epigenetic mechanisms enable species to cope with environmental change. We tested this idea by capitalizing on the well-documented southward range expansion of the damselfly Ischnura elegans from France into Spain where the species invaded warmer regions in the 1950s in eastern Spain (old edge region) and in the 2010s in central Spain (new edge region). Using a common garden experiment at rearing temperatures matching the ancestral and invaded thermal regimes, we tested for evolutionary changes in (thermal plasticity in) larval life history and heat tolerance in these expansion zones. Through the use of de- and hypermethylating agents, we tested whether epigenetic mechanisms play a role in enabling heat tolerance during expansion. We used the phenotype of the native sister species in Spain, I. graellsii, as proxy for the locally adapted phenotype. New edge populations converged toward the phenotype of the native species through plastic thermal responses in life history and heat tolerance while old edge populations (partly) constitutively evolved a faster life history and higher heat tolerance than the core populations, thereby matching the native species. Only the heat tolerance of new edge populations increased significantly when exposed to the hypermethylating agent. This suggests that the DNA methylation machinery is more amenable to perturbation at the new edge and shows it is able to play a role in achieving a higher heat tolerance. Our results show that both (evolved) plasticity as well as associated epigenetic mechanisms are initially important when facing new thermal regimes but that their importance diminishes with time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Swaegers
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Simon De Cupere
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Noah Gaens
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lesley T Lancaster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - José A Carbonell
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Robby Stoks
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Jourdan J, El Toum Abdel Fadil S, Oehlmann J, Hupało K. Rapid development of increased neonicotinoid tolerance in non-target freshwater amphipods. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108368. [PMID: 38070438 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The comprehensive assessment of the long-term impacts of constant exposure to pollutants on wildlife populations remains a relatively unexplored area of ecological risk assessment. Empirical evidence to suggest that multigenerational exposure affects the susceptibility of organisms is scarce, and the underlying mechanisms in the natural environment have yet to be fully understood. In this study, we first examined the arthropod candidate species, Gammarus roeselii that - unlike closely related species - commonly occurs in many contaminated river systems of Central Europe. This makes it a suitable study organism to investigate the development of tolerances and phenotypic adaptations along pollution gradients. In a 96-h acute toxicity assay with the neonicotinoid thiacloprid, we indeed observed a successive increase in tolerance in populations coming from contaminated regions. This was accompanied by a certain phenotypic change, with increased investment into reproduction. To address the question of whether these changes are plastic or emerged from longer lasting evolutionary processes, we conducted a multigeneration experiment in the second part of our study. Here, we used closely-related Hyalella azteca and pre-exposed them for multiple generations to sublethal concentrations of thiacloprid in a semi-static design (one week renewal of media containing 0.1 or 1.0 µg/L thiacloprid). The pre-exposed individuals were then used in acute toxicity assays to see how quickly such adaptive responses can develop. Over only two generations, the tolerance to the neonicotinoid almost doubled, suggesting developmental plasticity as a plausible mechanism for the rapid adaptive response to strong selection factors such as neonicotinoid insecticides. It remains to be discovered whether the plasticity of rapidly developed tolerance is species-specific and explains why closely related species - which may not have comparable adaptive response capabilities - disappear in polluted habitats. Overall, our findings highlight the neglected role of developmental plasticity during short- and long-term exposure of natural populations to pollution. Moreover, our results show that even pollutant levels seven times lower than concentrations found in the study region have a clear impact on the developmental trajectories of non-target species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Jourdan
- Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Hessen, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13 D-60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Safia El Toum Abdel Fadil
- Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20 D-21033, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Oehlmann
- Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Hessen, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13 D-60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kamil Hupało
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Huang X, Li H, Shenkar N, Zhan A. Multidimensional plasticity jointly contributes to rapid acclimation to environmental challenges during biological invasions. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:675-690. [PMID: 36810233 PMCID: PMC10159005 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079319.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Rapid plastic response to environmental changes, which involves extremely complex underlying mechanisms, is crucial for organismal survival during many ecological and evolutionary processes such as those in global change and biological invasions. Gene expression is among the most studied molecular plasticity, while co- or posttranscriptional mechanisms are still largely unexplored. Using a model invasive ascidian Ciona savignyi, we studied multidimensional short-term plasticity in response to hyper- and hyposalinity stresses, covering the physiological adjustment, gene expression, alternative splicing (AS), and alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulations. Our results demonstrated that rapid plastic response varied with environmental context, timescales, and molecular regulatory levels. Gene expression, AS, and APA regulations independently acted on different gene sets and corresponding biological functions, highlighting their nonredundant roles in rapid environmental adaptation. Stress-induced gene expression changes illustrated the use of a strategy of accumulating free amino acids under high salinity and losing/reducing them during low salinity to maintain the osmotic homoeostasis. Genes with more exons were inclined to use AS regulations, and isoform switches in functional genes such as SLC2a5 and Cyb5r3 resulted in enhanced transporting activities by up-regulating the isoforms with more transmembrane regions. The extensive 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) shortening through APA was induced by both salinity stresses, and APA regulation predominated transcriptomic changes at some stages of stress response. The findings here provide evidence for complex plastic mechanisms to environmental changes, and thereby highlight the importance of systemically integrating different levels of regulatory mechanisms in studying initial plasticity in evolutionary trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuena Huang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Hanxi Li
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Noa Shenkar
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801 Tel-Aviv, Israel
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Aibin Zhan
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
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6
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Stuart KC, Sherwin WB, Edwards RJ, Rollins LA. Evolutionary genomics: Insights from the invasive European starlings. Front Genet 2023; 13:1010456. [PMID: 36685843 PMCID: PMC9845568 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1010456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Two fundamental questions for evolutionary studies are the speed at which evolution occurs, and the way that this evolution may present itself within an organism's genome. Evolutionary studies on invasive populations are poised to tackle some of these pressing questions, including understanding the mechanisms behind rapid adaptation, and how it facilitates population persistence within a novel environment. Investigation of these questions are assisted through recent developments in experimental, sequencing, and analytical protocols; in particular, the growing accessibility of next generation sequencing has enabled a broader range of taxa to be characterised. In this perspective, we discuss recent genetic findings within the invasive European starlings in Australia, and outline some critical next steps within this research system. Further, we use discoveries within this study system to guide discussion of pressing future research directions more generally within the fields of population and evolutionary genetics, including the use of historic specimens, phenotypic data, non-SNP genetic variants (e.g., structural variants), and pan-genomes. In particular, we emphasise the need for exploratory genomics studies across a range of invasive taxa so we can begin understanding broad mechanisms that underpin rapid adaptation in these systems. Understanding how genetic diversity arises and is maintained in a population, and how this contributes to adaptability, requires a deep understanding of how evolution functions at the molecular level, and is of fundamental importance for the future studies and preservation of biodiversity across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina C. Stuart
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - William B. Sherwin
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard J. Edwards
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lee A Rollins
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Liu M, Jia J, Wang H, Wang L. Allometric model of brain morphology of Hemiculter leucisculus and its variation along climatic gradients. J Anat 2022; 241:259-271. [PMID: 35383914 PMCID: PMC9296032 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior studies on Hemiculter leucisculus, which is a widespread native fish in China, mainly focused on its growth, feeding habits, and individual fecundity, but few have investigated the brain. In this research, we explored the developmental patterns of the Hemiculter leucisculus brain and found the brain showed allometry through sample time points and three age groups. At the same time, we found that the brain varied along climatic gradients. The volumes of the olfactory bulbs, telencephalic lobes, optic tectum, corpus cerebelli, and total brain in the south were larger than those in the north, while the volume of the hypothalamus in the north was larger than in the south. This study provides a view for the in-depth study of the acclimatized mechanism of the teleost brain, lays a foundation for the further study of evolutionary ecology, and provides a reference for the phenotypic plasticity of the teleost brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Liu
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenGuangdongChina
| | - Jia Jia
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - He Wang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Lihong Wang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
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Luo M, Zhao B, Zhang J, Qin Z. Phenotypic plasticity of the invasive apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, in China: a morphological differentiation analysis. MOLLUSCAN RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/13235818.2022.2064043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Benliang Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaen Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhong Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Swaegers J, Sánchez-Guillén RA, Carbonell JA, Stoks R. Convergence of life history and physiology during range expansion toward the phenotype of the native sister species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151530. [PMID: 34762959 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In our globally changing planet many species show range expansions whereby they encounter new thermal regimes that deviate from those of their source region. Pressing questions are to what extent and through which mechanisms, plasticity and/or evolution, species respond to the new thermal regimes and whether these trait changes are adaptive. Using a common-garden experiment, we tested for plastic and evolutionary trait changes in life history and a set of understudied biochemical/physiological traits during the range expansion of the damselfly Ischnura elegans from France into a warmer region in Spain. To assess the adaptiveness of the trait changes we used the phenotype of its native sister species in Spain, I. graellsii, as proxy for the locally adapted phenotype. While our design cannot fully exclude maternal effects, our results suggest that edge populations adapted to the local conditions in the newly invaded region through the evolution of a faster pace-of-life (faster development and growth rates), a smaller body size, a higher energy budget and increased expression levels of the heat shock gene DnaJ. Notably, based on convergence toward the phenotype of the native sister species and its thermal responses, and the fit with predictions of life history theory these potential evolutionary changes were likely adaptive. Nevertheless, the convergence toward the native sister species is incomplete for thermal plasticity in traits associated with anaerobic metabolism and melanization. Our results highlight that evolution might at least partly contribute in an adaptive way to the persistence of populations during range expansion into new thermal environments and should be incorporated when predicting and understanding species' range expansions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Swaegers
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, Leuven B-3000, Belgium.
| | | | - José A Carbonell
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, Leuven B-3000, Belgium; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Robby Stoks
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, Leuven B-3000, Belgium
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10
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Zhou L, Ouyang X, Zhao Y, Gomes-Silva G, Segura-Muñoz SI, Jourdan J, Riesch R, Plath M. Invasive fish retain plasticity of naturally selected, but diverge in sexually selected traits. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:152386. [PMID: 34915006 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Invasive alien species (IAS) have become a major threat to ecosystems worldwide. From an evolutionary ecological perspective, they allow teasing apart the relative contributions of plasticity and evolutionary divergence in driving rapid phenotypic diversification. When IAS spread across extensive geographic ranges, climatic variation may represent a source of strong natural selection through overwinter mortality and summer heat stress. This could favour local adaptation, i.e., evolutionary divergence of certain traits. IAS, however, are likely to show plasticity in survival-related traits, and environmental fluctuation in their new distribution range could favour the maintenance of this pre-existing phenotypic plasticity. By contrast, sexually selected traits are more likely to undergo evolutionary divergence when components of sexual selection differ geographically. Here, using data from a common-garden rearing experiment of Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis Baird and Girard, 1853) from five populations across the species' invasive range in China, we show that invasive mosquitofish have retained plasticity in key physiological (thermal tolerances), morphological and life-history traits even 100 years after their introduction to China, but exhibit heritable population differences in several sexually selected traits, including the shape of the male copulatory organ. Adaptive plasticity of traits linked to immediate survival in different thermal environments-while likely responsible for the species' extraordinary invasion success-could slow down genetic evolution. Several sexually selected traits could diverge geographically and show rapid evolutionary change, e.g., because climate alters selective landscapes arising from mate competition as an indirect consequence of variation in overwinter mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjun Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, PR China
| | - Xu Ouyang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, PR China
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, PR China
| | - Guilherme Gomes-Silva
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, College of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Susana Inés Segura-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, College of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jonas Jourdan
- Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Riesch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK.
| | - Martin Plath
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, College of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
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11
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Zúñiga-Vega JJ, Aspbury AS, Johnson JB, Pollux BJA. Editorial: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior of Viviparous Fishes. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.832216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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12
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Jourdan J, Riesch R, Cunze S. Off to new shores: Climate niche expansion in invasive mosquitofish ( Gambusia spp.). Ecol Evol 2021; 11:18369-18400. [PMID: 35003679 PMCID: PMC8717293 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Formerly introduced for their presumed value in controlling mosquito-borne diseases, the two mosquitofish Gambusia affinis and G. holbrooki (Poeciliidae) are now among the world's most widespread invasive alien species, negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems around the world. These inconspicuous freshwater fish are, once their presence is noticed, difficult to eradicate. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to assess their geographic potential and to identify their likely ability to persist under novel climatic conditions. LOCATION Global. METHODS We build species distribution models using occurrence data from the native and introduced distribution ranges to identify putative niche shifts and further ascertain the areas climatically suitable for the establishment and possible spread of mosquitofish. RESULTS We found significant niche expansions into climatic regions outside their natural climatic conditions, emphasizing the importance of integrating climatic niches of both native and invasive ranges into projections. In particular, there was a marked shift toward tropical regions in Asia and a clear niche shift of European G. holbrooki. This ecological flexibility partly explains the massive success of the two species, and substantially increases the risk for further range expansion. We also showed that the potential for additional expansion resulting from climate change is enormous-especially in Europe. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Despite the successful invasion history and ongoing range expansions, many countries still lack proper preventive measures. Thus, we urge policy makers to carefully evaluate the risk both mosquitofish pose to a particular area and to initiate appropriate management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Jourdan
- Department Aquatic EcotoxicologyGoethe University of FrankfurtFrankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Rüdiger Riesch
- Department of Biological SciencesRoyal Holloway University of LondonEghamUK
| | - Sarah Cunze
- Department of Integrative Parasitology and ZoophysiologyGoethe University of FrankfurtFrankfurt am MainGermany
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Liu M, Liu Y, Wang X, Wang H. Brain morphological adaptations of
Gambusia affinis
along climatic gradients in China. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology Northwest A&F University Yangling China
| | - Yanqiu Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology Northwest A&F University Yangling China
| | - Xiaoqin Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology Northwest A&F University Yangling China
| | - He Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology Northwest A&F University Yangling China
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14
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Borza P. Intraspecific variability in the filter mesh size of suspension feeding organisms: the case of invasive Ponto-Caspian corophiids (Crustacea: Amphipoda). PeerJ 2021; 9:e11245. [PMID: 33976975 PMCID: PMC8061577 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11245] [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: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Suspension feeders play pivotal roles in the nutrient cycling of almost all aquatic ecosystems. Since sufficiently large differences in the filter mesh size (FMS) can lead to different food web positions, the inter- and intraspecific variability of this trait might be of community-level importance. The aim of this study was to quantify the range of FMS variation within the three invasive Ponto-Caspian Chelicorophium species based on a large material representing various conditions (1,224 specimens from 40 samples across Central Europe), characterize the components of variation within populations, identify the main factors determining intraspecific differences, and reveal how intraspecific variation affects the FMS overlaps among species. The FMS of the most widespread invader, C. curvispinum, varied within the broadest range (between 2.34–8.28 μm, compared to 2.51–5.97 μm in C. robustum and 1.08–3.23 μm in C. sowinskyi); nevertheless, the contribution of intraspecific plasticity to the invasion success of the species is not evident based on the present study. The within-individual variability of FMS increased with the individual mean of the trait and decreased with body size; however, it showed little differences among samples. The among-individual variation within samples could be partitioned into components related to body size (ontogenetic niche shift/differences among cohorts) and sex (ecological sexual dimorphism) as well as a seemingly random component (individual specialization), varying widely in extent and relative contributions. The FMS of C. curvispinum was significantly larger in the presence of C. sowinskyi than in allopatry, likely reflecting character displacement; however, it did not show further increase when C. robustum was also present. Similar differences could not be observed in C. sowinskyi. The FMS ranges of C. curvispinum and C. robustum never overlapped with that of C. sowinskyi in co-occurrence despite the considerable intraspecific differences among sites, suggesting that their interaction can be seen as a clear case of niche differentiation by food particle size. On the contrary, the strong overlaps observed between C. curvispinum and C. robustum indicate that other factors might play the primary role in their coexistence. The studied species appear to be suitable model organisms for identifying the drivers and mechanisms of FMS variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Borza
- Danube Research Institute, Centre for Ecological Research, Budapest, Hungary
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15
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Pirroni S, de Pennafort Dezen L, Santi F, Riesch R. Comparative gut content analysis of invasive mosquitofish from Italy and Spain. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4379-4398. [PMID: 33976817 PMCID: PMC8093736 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) are among the most widely introduced freshwater species globally. To gain a better understanding of feeding patterns in non-native populations, and which local factors may influence them at the population level, we carried out gut content analysis on 163 specimens from nine invasive populations in Italy and Spain. Based on previous studies, we predicted that (a) mosquitofish are omnivores with a preference for detritus and cladocerans; (b) they display size- and population-specific differences in gut morphologies and diet, with larger fish feeding more intensively over a wider range of prey items; and (c) some of the variation would be associated with differences in local environmental and climatic factors. Our results confirmed our first prediction, because mosquitofish fed on a variety of diet items, among which detritus and Cladocera dominated. However, not a single diet item was shared among all populations. Congruent with our second prediction, we further identified size- and population-specific differences in the occurrence of some diet items and gut morphologies. However, observed patterns in dietary habits did not seem to be driven by the environmental and climatic variables we had quantified. The fairly variable diet likely aids invasion success and helps explain the ubiquity of invasive mosquitofish across Italy and Spain, as mosquitofish seem to be able to rely on whatever a local habitat provides. We further propose that size-specific differences likely capture the substantial sexual size dimorphism (males are smaller than females), while population-specific differences are likely the result of differences in local prey abundance. The lack of an influence of temperature on dietary habits suggests that mosquitofish feeding ecology may be less impacted by rising temperatures than other freshwater fish species. If true, then this suggests climate change-induced effects may further exacerbate the competitive superiority of mosquitofish over native species in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Pirroni
- Department of Biological SciencesCentre for Ecology, Evolution and BehaviourRoyal Holloway University of LondonEghamUK
| | - Laura de Pennafort Dezen
- Department of Biological SciencesCentre for Ecology, Evolution and BehaviourRoyal Holloway University of LondonEghamUK
| | - Francesco Santi
- Department of Biological SciencesCentre for Ecology, Evolution and BehaviourRoyal Holloway University of LondonEghamUK
| | - Rüdiger Riesch
- Department of Biological SciencesCentre for Ecology, Evolution and BehaviourRoyal Holloway University of LondonEghamUK
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16
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Wood ZT, Palkovacs EP, Olsen BJ, Kinnison MT. The Importance of Eco-evolutionary Potential in the Anthropocene. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Humans are dominant global drivers of ecological and evolutionary change, rearranging ecosystems and natural selection. In the present article, we show increasing evidence that human activity also plays a disproportionate role in shaping the eco-evolutionary potential of systems—the likelihood of ecological change generating evolutionary change and vice versa. We suggest that the net outcome of human influences on trait change, ecology, and the feedback loops that link them will often (but not always) be to increase eco-evolutionary potential, with important consequences for stability and resilience of populations, communities, and ecosystems. We also integrate existing ecological and evolutionary metrics to predict and manage the eco-evolutionary dynamics of human-affected systems. To support this framework, we use a simple eco–evo feedback model to show that factors affecting eco-evolutionary potential are major determinants of eco-evolutionary dynamics. Our framework suggests that proper management of anthropogenic effects requires a science of human effects on eco-evolutionary potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary T Wood
- School of Biology and Ecology and with the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States
| | - Eric P Palkovacs
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States
| | - Brian J Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology and with the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States
| | - Michael T Kinnison
- School of Biology and Ecology and with the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States
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17
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Harmon EA, Pfennig DW. Evolutionary rescue via transgenerational plasticity: Evidence and implications for conservation. Evol Dev 2021; 23:292-307. [PMID: 33522673 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
When a population experiences severe stress from a changing environment, evolution by natural selection can prevent its extinction, a process dubbed "evolutionary rescue." However, evolution may be unable to track the sort of rapid environmental change being experienced by many modern-day populations. A potential solution is for organisms to respond to environmental change through phenotypic plasticity, which can buffer populations against change and thereby buy time for evolutionary rescue. In this review, we examine whether this process extends to situations in which the environmentally induced response is passed to offspring. As we describe, theoretical and empirical studies suggest that such "transgenerational plasticity" can increase population persistence. We discuss the implications of this process for conservation biology, outline potential limitations, and describe some applications. Generally, transgenerational plasticity may be effective at buying time for evolutionary rescue to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Harmon
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - David W Pfennig
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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18
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Augustyniak M, Tarnawska M, Dziewięcka M, Kafel A, Rost-Roszkowska M, Babczyńska A. DNA damage in Spodoptera exigua after multigenerational cadmium exposure - A trade-off between genome stability and adaptation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 745:141048. [PMID: 32758757 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human activity is a serious cause of extensive changes in the environment and a constant reason for the emergence of new stress factors. Thus, to survive and reproduce, organisms must constantly implement a program of adaptation to continuously changing conditions. The research presented here is focused on tracking slow changes occurring in Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) caused by multigenerational exposure to sub-lethal cadmium doses. The insects received food containing cadmium at concentrations of 5, 11, 22 and 44 μg per g of dry mass of food. The level of DNA stability was monitored by a comet assay in subsequent generations up to the 36th generation. In the first three generations, the level of DNA damage was high, especially in the groups receiving higher doses of cadmium in the diet. In the fourth generation, a significant reduction in the level of DNA damage was observed, which could indicate that the desired stability of the genome was achieved. Surprisingly, however, in subsequent generations, an alternating increase and decrease was found in DNA stability. The observed cycles of changing DNA stability were longer lasting in insects consuming food with a lower Cd content. Thus, a transient reduction in genome stability can be perceived as an opportunity to increase the number of genotypes that undergo selection. This phenomenon occurs faster if the severity of the stress factor is high but is low enough to allow the population to survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Augustyniak
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Monika Tarnawska
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Marta Dziewięcka
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Alina Kafel
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Magdalena Rost-Roszkowska
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Babczyńska
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
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