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Zala SM, Church B, Potts WK, Knauer F, Penn DJ. Female scent accelerates growth of juvenile male mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7371. [PMID: 37147391 PMCID: PMC10163255 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34548-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposing female house mice (Mus musculus) to male urinary scent accelerates their sexual development (Vandenbergh effect). Here, we tested whether exposing juvenile male mice to females' urine similarly influences male growth and size of their sexual organs. We exposed three-week old male house mice to female urine or water (control) for ca. three months. We found that female-exposed males grew significantly faster and gained more body mass than controls, despite all males being reared on a controlled diet, but we detected no differences in males' muscle mass or sexual organs. In contrast, exposing juvenile males to male urine had no effect their growth. We tested whether the males' accelerated growth imposed functional trade-offs on males' immune resistance to an experimental infection. We challenged the same male subjects with an avirulent bacterial pathogen (Salmonella enterica), but found no evidence that faster growth impacted their bacterial clearance, body mass or survival during infection compared to controls. Our results provide the first evidence to our knowledge that juvenile male mice accelerate their growth when exposed to the urine of adult females, though we found no evidence that increased growth had negative trade-offs on immune resistance to infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Zala
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1a, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Brian Church
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Felix Knauer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dustin J Penn
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1a, 1160, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
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The effect of inbreeding, body size and morphology on health in dog breeds. Canine Med Genet 2021; 8:12. [PMID: 34852838 PMCID: PMC8638537 DOI: 10.1186/s40575-021-00111-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dog breeds are known for their distinctive body shape, size, coat color, head type and behaviors, features that are relatively similar across members of a breed. Unfortunately, dog breeds are also characterized by distinct predispositions to disease. We explored the relationships between inbreeding, morphology and health using genotype based inbreeding estimates, body weight and insurance data for morbidity. Results The average inbreeding based on genotype across 227 breeds was Fadj = 0.249 (95% CI 0.235–0.263). There were significant differences in morbidity between breeds with low and high inbreeding (H = 16.49, P = 0.0004). There was also a significant difference in morbidity between brachycephalic breeds and non-brachycephalic breeds (P = 0.0048) and between functionally distinct groups of breeds (H = 14.95 P < 0.0001). Morbidity was modeled using robust regression analysis and both body weight (P < 0.0001) and inbreeding (P = 0.013) were significant (r2 = 0.77). Smaller less inbred breeds were healthier than larger more inbred breeds. Conclusions In this study, body size and inbreeding along with deleterious morphologies contributed to increases in necessary health care in dogs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40575-021-00111-4.
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Kardos M, Armstrong EE, Fitzpatrick SW, Hauser S, Hedrick PW, Miller JM, Tallmon DA, Funk WC. The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2104642118. [PMID: 34772759 PMCID: PMC8640931 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104642118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field of conservation biology has placed too much focus on conserving genome-wide genetic variation, and that the field should instead focus on managing the subset of functional genetic variation that is thought to affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate the feasibility and likely benefits of this approach in conservation. We find that population genetics theory and empirical results show that conserving genome-wide genetic variation is generally the best approach to prevent inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential from driving populations toward extinction. Focusing conservation efforts on presumably functional genetic variation will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, and counterproductive when prioritized over genome-wide genetic variation. Given the increasing rate of habitat loss and other environmental changes, failure to recognize the detrimental effects of lost genome-wide genetic variation on long-term population viability will only worsen the biodiversity crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marty Kardos
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98112;
| | | | - Sarah W Fitzpatrick
- W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Samantha Hauser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211
| | - Philip W Hedrick
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Joshua M Miller
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027
- Polar Bears International, Bozeman, MT 59772
- Department of Biological Sciences, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2, Canada
| | - David A Tallmon
- Biology and Marine Biology Program, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK 99801
| | - W Chris Funk
- Department of Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
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Abstract
The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field of conservation biology has placed too much focus on conserving genome-wide genetic variation, and that the field should instead focus on managing the subset of functional genetic variation that is thought to affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate the feasibility and likely benefits of this approach in conservation. We find that population genetics theory and empirical results show that conserving genome-wide genetic variation is generally the best approach to prevent inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential from driving populations toward extinction. Focusing conservation efforts on presumably functional genetic variation will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, and counterproductive when prioritized over genome-wide genetic variation. Given the increasing rate of habitat loss and other environmental changes, failure to recognize the detrimental effects of lost genome-wide genetic variation on long-term population viability will only worsen the biodiversity crisis.
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5
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Pheromones that correlate with reproductive success in competitive conditions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21970. [PMID: 34754031 PMCID: PMC8578420 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01507-9] [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: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The major urinary proteins (MUPs) of house mice (Mus musculus) bind and stabilize the release of pheromones and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from urinary scent marks, which mediate chemical communication. Social status influences MUP and VOC excretion, and the urinary scent of dominant males is attractive to females. Urinary pheromones influence the sexual behavior and physiology of conspecifics, and yet it is not known whether they also affect reproductive success. We monitored the excretion of urinary protein and VOCs of wild-derived house mice living in large seminatural enclosures to compare the sexes and to test how these compounds correlate with reproductive success. Among males, urinary protein concentration and VOC expression correlated with reproductive success and social status. Territorial dominance also correlated with reproductive success in both sexes; but among females, no urinary compounds were found to correlate with social status or reproductive success. We found several differences in the urinary protein and volatile pheromones of mice in standard cages versus seminatural enclosures, which raises caveats for conventional laboratory studies. These findings provide novel evidence for chemical signals that correlate with male reproductive success of house mice living in competitive conditions.
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Zhang YH, Zhao L, Fu SH, Wang ZS, Zhang JX. Male pheromones and their reception by females are co-adapted to affect mating success in two subspecies of brown rats. Curr Zool 2021; 67:371-382. [PMID: 34671704 PMCID: PMC8521721 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pheromonal communication plays a key role in the sociosexual behavior of rodents. The coadaptation between pheromones and chemosensory systems has been well illustrated in insects but poorly investigated in rodents and other mammals. We aimed to investigate whether coadaptation between male pheromones and female reception might have occurred in brown rats Rattus norvegicus. We recently reported that major urinary protein (MUP) pheromones are associated with male mating success in a brown rat subspecies, R. n. humiliatus (Rnh). Here, we discovered that MUPs were less polymorphic and occurred at much lower concentrations in males of a parapatric subspecies, R. n. caraco (Rnc), than in Rnh males, and found no association between pheromones and paternity success. Moreover, the observation of Rnc males that experienced chronic dyadic encounters and established dominance–submission relationships revealed that the dominant males achieved greater mating success than the subordinate males, but their MUP levels did not differ by social status. These findings suggest that male mating success in Rnc rats is related to social rank rather than to pheromone levels and that low concentration of MUPs might not be a reliable signal for mate choice in Rnc rats, which is different from the findings obtained in Rnh rats. In addition, compared with Rnh females, Rnc females exhibited reduced expression of pheromone receptor genes, and a lower number of vomeronasal receptor neurons were activated by MUP pheromones, which imply that the female chemosensory reception of pheromones might be structurally and functionally coadapted with male pheromone signals in brown rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shi-Hui Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,College of Life Science, Hebei University, Hebei Province, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Zhen-Shan Wang
- College of Life Science, Hebei University, Hebei Province, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Jian-Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Pérez-González J, Carranza J, Martínez R, Benítez-Medina JM. Host Genetic Diversity and Infectious Diseases. Focus on Wild Boar, Red Deer and Tuberculosis. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1630. [PMID: 34072907 PMCID: PMC8229303 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Host genetic diversity tends to limit disease spread in nature and buffers populations against epidemics. Genetic diversity in wildlife is expected to receive increasing attention in contexts related to disease transmission and human health. Ungulates such as wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) are important zoonotic hosts that can be precursors to disease emergence and spread in humans. Tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease with relevant consequences and can present high prevalence in wild boar and red deer populations. Here, we review studies on the genetic diversity of ungulates and determine to what extent these studies consider its importance on the spread of disease. This assessment also focused on wild boar, red deer, and tuberculosis. We found a disconnection between studies treating genetic diversity and those dealing with infectious diseases. Contrarily, genetic diversity studies in ungulates are mainly concerned with conservation. Despite the existing disconnection between studies on genetic diversity and studies on disease emergence and spread, the knowledge gathered in each discipline can be applied to the other. The bidirectional applications are illustrated in wild boar and red deer populations from Spain, where TB is an important threat for wildlife, livestock, and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Pérez-González
- Biology and Ethology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - Juan Carranza
- Wildlife Research Unit (UIRCP), University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;
| | - Remigio Martínez
- Infectious Pathology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (R.M.); (J.M.B.-M.)
| | - José Manuel Benítez-Medina
- Infectious Pathology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (R.M.); (J.M.B.-M.)
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Demography, genetics, and decline of a spatially structured population of lekking bird. Oecologia 2021; 195:117-129. [PMID: 33392789 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04808-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms underlying population decline is a critical challenge for conservation biologists. Both deterministic (e.g. habitat loss, fragmentation, and Allee effect) and stochastic (i.e. demographic and environmental stochasticity) demographic processes are involved in population decline. Simultaneously, a decrease of population size has far-reaching consequences for genetics of populations by increasing the risk of inbreeding and the strength of genetic drift, which together inevitably results in a loss of genetic diversity and a reduced effective population size ([Formula: see text]). These genetic factors may retroactively affect vital rates (a phenomenon coined 'inbreeding depression'), reduce population growth, and accelerate demographic decline. To date, most studies that have examined the demographic and genetic processes driving the decline of wild populations have neglected their spatial structure. In this study, we examined demographic and genetic factors involved in the decline of a spatially structured population of a lekking bird, the western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). To address this issue, we collected capture-recapture and genetic data over a 6-years period in the Vosges Mountains (France). Our study showed that the population of T. urogallus experienced a severe decline between 2010 and 2015. We did not detect any Allee effect on survival and recruitment. By contrast, individuals of both sexes dispersed to avoid small subpopulations, thus suggesting a potential behavioral response to a mate finding Allee effect. In parallel to this demographic decline, the population showed low levels of genetic diversity, high inbreeding and low effective population sizes at both subpopulation and population levels. Despite this, we did not detect evidence of inbreeding depression: neither adult survival nor recruitment were affected by individual inbreeding level. Our study underlines the benefit from combining demographic and genetic approaches to investigate processes that are involved in population decline.
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Rumanta M, Kunda RM, Volkandari SD, Indriawati I, Kakisina P. Genetic characterization and phylogenetic study of Lakor goat from Southwest Maluku Regency based on mitochondrial COI gene. Vet World 2020; 13:1209-1220. [PMID: 32801575 PMCID: PMC7396349 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.1209-1220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: This study is aimed at characterizing the genetic and phylogenetic structure of Lakor goats as indigenous livestock from the Southwest Maluku Regency based on mitochondrial COI gene sequences. Materials and Methods: The genomes of 103 follicle samples from Lakor goats, collected from Lakor Island, were analyzed. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify 1548 bp of the mitochondrial COI gene using two primer pairs (COIA and COIB). Following sequencing, genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship were established using MEGA version X software. Results: The results of multiple COI gene alignment of the total sequences identified four polymorphic nucleotides that function as genetic markers between individual animals within the Lakor goat population. These correspond to positions 228 (A-G), 519 (G-A), 900 (C-T), and 1266 (T-C). Phylogenetic signals based on the COI gene showed that Lakor goat breed is a monophyletic group or single clade with a bootstrap value of 100% by the neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) evolutionary models. This data indicated that evolutionarily, the Lakor goat breed has a very close kinship with three goat breeds from China: The Meigu goat (KM 244714.1), Chinese Tibet (Capra hircus) (KJ 940969.1), and C. hircus (KP 677510.1). Phylogenetic information based on the cladistics system classified the Lakor goat as a single clade (monophyletic group). The low-genetic diversity within populations indicates that there has been an inbreeding depression occurring at a very high frequency. Conclusion: We conclude that the Lakor goat may be divided into a single clade or monophyletic group based on the COI gene sequence. Four nucleotides were identified that can be used as genetic markers among individual animals within the Lakor goat population, as well as C. hircus and others as derived from GenBank data. The Lakor goat population has a high level of inbreeding depression as a result of geographical isolation, which supports the formation of a monophyletic group with different genetic characteristics, and does not allow the introduction of males from other breeds. Phylogenetic signals indicated that Capra aegagrus (bezoar) is the ancestor of the native goats in Indonesia, including the Lakor goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maman Rumanta
- Department of Biology Education, Study Program, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, Universitas Terbuka, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Rony Marsyal Kunda
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia
| | | | - Indriawati Indriawati
- Research Center for Biotechnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Pieter Kakisina
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia
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10
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Cooper AN, Cunningham CB, Morris JS, Ruff JS, Potts WK, Carrier DR. Musculoskeletal mass and shape are correlated with competitive ability in male house mice ( Mus musculus). J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb213389. [PMID: 31915200 PMCID: PMC7033737 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.213389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Intense physical competition between males for mating opportunities is widespread among mammals. In such agonistic encounters, males with combinations of morphological, physiological and behavioral characters that allow them to dominate an opponent have greater fitness. However, the specific physical traits associated with competitive ability are poorly understood. Larger body size is often correlated with fitness in mammals. Interestingly, fitness is maximized at intermediate body masses in male house mice (Mus musculus), a species with a polygynous mating system in which males compete physically for access to reproductive resources. Here, we used competition trials in semi-natural, mixed-sex population enclosures to directly measure competitive ability in male house mice based on control of a preferred nesting site. We tested the hypothesis that the musculoskeletal systems of male mice demonstrating high competitive ability are more specialized for competition by comparing the masses of 10 major muscle groups and eight bones as well as a set of 12 skeletal shape indices associated with anatomical specialization for fighting performance in a set of nine winners and 20 losers. Winning males possessed several traits hypothesized to enhance performance in male-male contests: relatively greater mass in several muscle groups and bones of the forelimb and hindlimb and larger scapular surface area. Unexpectedly, no measurements of the head and neck differed significantly between winners and losers. These results identify musculoskeletal traits associated with competitive ability in male house mice and suggest that our current understanding of mammalian fighting performance is incomplete and more nuanced than previously considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda N Cooper
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | | | - Jeremy S Morris
- Department of Biology, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
| | - James S Ruff
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - David R Carrier
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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11
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Tian X, Firsanov D, Zhang Z, Cheng Y, Luo L, Tombline G, Tan R, Simon M, Henderson S, Steffan J, Goldfarb A, Tam J, Zheng K, Cornwell A, Johnson A, Yang JN, Mao Z, Manta B, Dang W, Zhang Z, Vijg J, Wolfe A, Moody K, Kennedy BK, Bohmann D, Gladyshev VN, Seluanov A, Gorbunova V. SIRT6 Is Responsible for More Efficient DNA Double-Strand Break Repair in Long-Lived Species. Cell 2019; 177:622-638.e22. [PMID: 31002797 PMCID: PMC6499390 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
DNA repair has been hypothesized to be a longevity determinant, but the evidence for it is based largely on accelerated aging phenotypes of DNA repair mutants. Here, using a panel of 18 rodent species with diverse lifespans, we show that more robust DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, but not nucleotide excision repair (NER), coevolves with longevity. Evolution of NER, unlike DSB, is shaped primarily by sunlight exposure. We further show that the capacity of the SIRT6 protein to promote DSB repair accounts for a major part of the variation in DSB repair efficacy between short- and long-lived species. We dissected the molecular differences between a weak (mouse) and a strong (beaver) SIRT6 protein and identified five amino acid residues that are fully responsible for their differential activities. Our findings demonstrate that DSB repair and SIRT6 have been optimized during the evolution of longevity, which provides new targets for anti-aging interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tian
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Denis Firsanov
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Zhihui Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Yang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Lingfeng Luo
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Gregory Tombline
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Ruiyue Tan
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Matthew Simon
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Steven Henderson
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Janine Steffan
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Audrey Goldfarb
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Jonathan Tam
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Kitty Zheng
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Adam Cornwell
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Adam Johnson
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Jiang-Nan Yang
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11, Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Zhiyong Mao
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Bruno Manta
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Weiwei Dang
- Huffington Center on Aging, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhengdong Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jan Vijg
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Aaron Wolfe
- Ichor Therapeutics, 2521 US-11, Lafayette, NY 13084, USA
| | - Kelsey Moody
- Ichor Therapeutics, 2521 US-11, Lafayette, NY 13084, USA
| | - Brian K Kennedy
- Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology, National University Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Healthy Aging, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Dirk Bohmann
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Vadim N Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrei Seluanov
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
| | - Vera Gorbunova
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
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Zhu Y, Wan QH, Zhang HM, Fang SG. Reproductive Strategy Inferred from Major Histocompatibility Complex-Based Inter-Individual, Sperm-Egg, and Mother-Fetus Recognitions in Giant Pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Cells 2019; 8:cells8030257. [PMID: 30893784 PMCID: PMC6468540 DOI: 10.3390/cells8030257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Few major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-based mate choice studies include all MHC genes at the inter-individual, sperm-egg, and mother-fetus recognition levels. We tested three hypotheses of female mate choice in a 17-year study of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) while using ten functional MHC loci (four MHC class I loci: Aime-C, Aime-F, Aime-I, and Aime-L; six MHC class II loci: Aime-DRA, Aime-DRB3, Aime-DQA1, Aime-DQA2, Aime-DQB1, and Aime-DQB2); five super haplotypes (SuHa, SuHaI, SuHaII, DQ, and DR); and, seven microsatellites. We found female choice for heterozygosity at Aime-C, Aime-I, and DQ and for disassortative mate choice at Aime-C, DQ, and DR at the inter-individual recognition level. High mating success occurred in MHC-dissimilar mating pairs. No significant results were found based on any microsatellite parameters, suggesting that MHCs were the mate choice target and there were no signs of inbreeding avoidance. Our results indicate Aime-DQA1- and Aime-DQA2-associated disassortative selection at the sperm-egg recognition level and a possible Aime-C- and Aime-I-associated assortative maternal immune tolerance mechanism. The MHC genes were of differential importance at the different recognition levels, so all of the functional MHC genes should be included when studying MHC-dependent reproductive mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, State Conservation Centre for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Qiu-Hong Wan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, State Conservation Centre for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - He-Min Zhang
- China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, No. 98 Tongjiang Road, Dujiangyan 611800, China.
| | - Sheng-Guo Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, State Conservation Centre for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Regulation of volatile and non-volatile pheromone attractants depends upon male social status. Sci Rep 2019; 9:489. [PMID: 30679546 PMCID: PMC6346026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36887-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the regulation of chemical signals of house mice living in seminatural social conditions. We found that male mice more than doubled the excretion of major urinary proteins (MUPs) after they acquired a territory and become socially dominant. MUPs bind and stabilize the release of volatile pheromone ligands, and some MUPs exhibit pheromonal properties themselves. We conducted olfactory assays and found that female mice were more attracted to the scent of dominant than subordinate males when they were in estrus. Yet, when male status was controlled, females were not attracted to urine with high MUP concentration, despite being comparable to levels of dominant males. To determine which compounds influence female attraction, we conducted additional analyses and found that dominant males differentially upregulated the excretion of particular MUPs, including the pheromone MUP20 (darcin), and a volatile pheromone that influences female reproductive physiology and behavior. Our findings show that once male house mice become territorial and socially dominant, they upregulate the amount and types of excreted MUPs, which increases the intensities of volatiles and the attractiveness of their urinary scent to sexually receptive females.
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14
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de Boer RA, Eens M, Müller W. An experimental study: Does inbreeding increase the motivation to mate? PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199182. [PMID: 29912975 PMCID: PMC6005545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding is a central topic in evolutionary biology and ecology and is of major concern for the conservation of endangered species. Yet, it remains challenging to comprehend the fitness consequences of inbreeding, because studies typically focus only on short-term effects on inbreeding in the offspring (e.g. survival until independence). However, there is no a priori reason to assume that inbreeding has no more effects in adulthood. Specifically, inbred males should have lower reproductive success than outbred males among other things because of inbreeding depression in attractiveness to females and a reduced lifespan. Such differences in future reproductive value should affect male mating behaviour, such that an inbred male of a given age should be more motivated to seize a current mating opportunity than an outbred male of the same age. We used an inventive experimental set-up that enabled us to assess male behaviour in relation to an apparent mating opportunity while excluding potential confounding effects of female preference. Age-, weight-, and size-matched inbred and outbred male canaries (Serinus canaria) were presented with a female that only one male at a time could access visually via a ‘peephole’ and thus when both males were equally interested in seizing the apparent mating opportunity this would result in contest. We find that inbred males spent more than twice as much time ‘peeping’ at the female than outbred males, suggesting that inbreeding indeed causes different behavioural responses to an apparent mating opportunity. Our study is among the first to highlight that inbreeding affects male mating behaviour, and therewith potentially male-male competition, which should be taken into account in order to understand the full range of inbreeding effects on fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raïssa A. de Boer
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Wendt Müller
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium
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15
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de Boer RA, Eens M, Müller W. Sex-specific effects of inbreeding on reproductive senescence. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20180231. [PMID: 29794043 PMCID: PMC5998105 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding depression plays a significant role in evolutionary biology and ecology. However, we lack a clear understanding of the fitness consequences of inbreeding depression. Studies often focus on short-term effects of inbreeding in juvenile offspring, whereas inbreeding depression in adult traits and the interplay between inbreeding depression and age are rarely addressed. Inbreeding depression may increase with age and accelerate the decline in reproductive output in ageing individuals (reproductive senescence), which could be subject to sex-specific dynamics. We test this hypothesis with a longitudinal experimental study in a short-lived songbird. Adult inbred and outbred male and female canaries were paired in a 2 × 2 factorial design, and survival and annual reproductive performance were studied for 3 years. We found inbreeding depression in female egg-laying ability, male fertilization success and survival of both sexes. Annual reproductive success of both males and females declined when paired with an inbred partner independent of their own inbreeding status. This shows that inbreeding can have fitness costs in outbred individuals when they mate with an inbred individual. Further, inbred females showed faster reproductive senescence than outbred females, confirming that inbreeding depression and age can interact to affect fitness. By contrast, there was no evidence for an interaction between inbreeding depression and reproductive senescence in male fertilization success. Our findings highlight the importance of considering sex-specific effects and age to determine the full range of fitness consequences of inbreeding and demonstrate that inbreeding depression can accelerate reproductive senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raïssa A de Boer
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Wendt Müller
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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16
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Losdat S, Germain RR, Nietlisbach P, Arcese P, Reid JM. No evidence of inbreeding depression in sperm performance traits in wild song sparrows. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:1842-1852. [PMID: 29435258 PMCID: PMC5792576 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding is widely hypothesized to shape mating systems and population persistence, but such effects will depend on which traits show inbreeding depression. Population and evolutionary consequences could be substantial if inbreeding decreases sperm performance and hence decreases male fertilization success and female fertility. However, the magnitude of inbreeding depression in sperm performance traits has rarely been estimated in wild populations experiencing natural variation in inbreeding. Further, the hypothesis that inbreeding could increase within-ejaculate variation in sperm traits and thereby further affect male fertilization success has not been explicitly tested. We used a wild pedigreed song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) population, where frequent extrapair copulations likely create strong postcopulatory competition for fertilization success, to quantify effects of male coefficient of inbreeding (f) on key sperm performance traits. We found no evidence of inbreeding depression in sperm motility, longevity, or velocity, and the within-ejaculate variance in sperm velocity did not increase with male f. Contrary to inferences from highly inbred captive and experimental populations, our results imply that moderate inbreeding will not necessarily constrain sperm performance in wild populations. Consequently, the widely observed individual-level and population-level inbreeding depression in male and female fitness may not stem from reduced sperm performance in inbred males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Losdat
- Institute of Biological and Environmental SciencesSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenScotland
- Institute of BiologyUniversity of NeuchâtelNeuchâtelSwitzerland
| | - Ryan R. Germain
- Institute of Biological and Environmental SciencesSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenScotland
| | - Pirmin Nietlisbach
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Peter Arcese
- Department of Forest and Conservation SciencesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Jane M. Reid
- Institute of Biological and Environmental SciencesSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenScotland
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17
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Kohl KD, Dearing MD, Bordenstein SR. Microbial communities exhibit host species distinguishability and phylosymbiosis along the length of the gastrointestinal tract. Mol Ecol 2017; 27:1874-1883. [PMID: 29230893 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Host-associated microbial communities consist of stable and transient members that can assemble through purely stochastic processes associated with the environment or by interactions with the host. Phylosymbiosis predicts that if host-microbiota interactions impact assembly patterns, then one conceivable outcome is concordance between host evolutionary histories (phylogeny) and the ecological similarities in microbial community structures (microbiota dendrogram). This assembly pattern has been demonstrated in several clades of animal hosts in laboratory and natural populations, but in vertebrates, it has only been investigated using samples from faeces or the distal colon. Here, we collected the contents of five gut regions from seven rodent species and inventoried the bacterial communities by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. We investigated how community structures varied across gut regions and whether the pattern of phylosymbiosis was present along the length of the gut. Gut communities varied by host species and gut region, with Oscillospira and Ruminococcus being more abundant in the stomach and hindgut regions. Gut microbial communities were highly distinguishable by host species across all gut regions, with the strength of the discrimination increasing along the length of the gut. Last, the pattern of phylosymbiosis was found in all five gut regions, as well as faeces. Aspects of the gut environment, such as oxygen levels, production of antimicrobials or other factors, may shift microbial communities across gut regions. However, regardless of these differences, host species maintain distinguishable, phylosymbiotic assemblages of microbes that may have functional impacts for the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - M Denise Dearing
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Seth R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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18
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Bocedi G, Reid JM. Feed-backs among inbreeding, inbreeding depression in sperm traits, and sperm competition can drive evolution of costly polyandry. Evolution 2017; 71:2786-2802. [PMID: 28895138 PMCID: PMC5765454 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ongoing ambitions are to understand the evolution of costly polyandry and its consequences for species ecology and evolution. Emerging patterns could stem from feed-back dynamics between the evolving mating system and its genetic environment, defined by interactions among kin including inbreeding. However, such feed-backs are rarely considered in nonselfing systems. We use a genetically explicit model to demonstrate a mechanism by which inbreeding depression can select for polyandry to mitigate the negative consequences of mating with inbred males, rather than to avoid inbreeding, and to elucidate underlying feed-backs. Specifically, given inbreeding depression in sperm traits, costly polyandry evolved to ensure female fertility, without requiring explicit inbreeding avoidance. Resulting sperm competition caused evolution of sperm traits and further mitigated the negative effect of inbreeding depression on female fertility. The evolving mating system fed back to decrease population-wide homozygosity, and hence inbreeding. However, the net overall decrease was small due to compound effects on the variances in sex-specific reproductive success and paternity skew. Purging of deleterious mutations did not eliminate inbreeding depression in sperm traits or hence selection for polyandry. Overall, our model illustrates that polyandry evolution, both directly and through sperm competition, might facilitate evolutionary rescue for populations experiencing sudden increases in inbreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Bocedi
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenZoology BuildingTillydrone AvenueAberdeen AB24 2TZUnited Kingdom
| | - Jane M. Reid
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenZoology BuildingTillydrone AvenueAberdeen AB24 2TZUnited Kingdom
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19
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Karageorge KW, Wilson RR. An integrative mating system assessment of a nonmodel, economically important Pacific rockfish ( Sebastes melanops) reveals nonterritorial polygamy and conservation implications for a large species flock. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:11277-11291. [PMID: 29299300 PMCID: PMC5743636 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the mating systems of long-lived, economically important Pacific rockfishes comprising the viviparous Sebastes species flock is crucial for their conservation. However, direct assignment of mating success to sires is precluded by open, offshore populations and high female fecundity. We addressed this challenge by integrating paternity-assigned mating success of females with the adult sex ratio (ASR) of the population, male evolutionary responses to receptive females, and reproductive life history traits-in the framework of sexual selection theory-to assess the mating system of Sebastes melanops. Microsatellite parentage analysis of 17 pregnant females, 1,256 of their progeny, and 106 adults from the population yielded one to four sires per brood, a mean of two sires, and a female mate frequency distribution with a truncated normal (random) pattern. The 11 multiple paternity broods all contained higher median allele richness than the six single paternity broods (Wilcoxon test: W = 0, p < .001), despite similar levels of average heterozygosity. By sampling sperm and alleles from different males, polyandrous females gain opportunities to enhance their sperm supply and to lower the cost of mating with genetically incompatible males through reproductive compensation. A mean of two mates per mated female with a variance of one, an ASR = 1.2 females per male, and the expected population mean of 2.4 mates for mated males (and the estimated 35 unavailable sires), fits polygamous male mate frequency distributions that distinguish polygynandry and polyandrogyny mating systems, that is, variations of polygamy, but not polyandry. Inference for polygamy is consistent with weak premating sexual selection on males, expected in mid-water, schooling S. melanops, owing to polyandrous mating, moderately aggregated receptive females, an even ASR, and no territories and nests used for reproduction. Each of these characteristics facilitates more mating males and erodes conspicuous sexual dimorphism. Evaluation of male evolutionary responses of demersal congeners that express reproductively territorial behavior revealed they have more potential mechanisms for producing premating sexual selection, greater variation in reproductive success, and a reduced breeding effective population size of adults and annual effective size of a cohort, compared to S. melanops modeled with two mates per adult. Such divergence in behavior and mating system by territorial species may differentially lower their per capita birth rates, subsequent population growth, and slow their recovery from exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt W. Karageorge
- Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State UniversityLong BeachCAUSA
| | - Raymond R. Wilson
- Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State UniversityLong BeachCAUSA
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20
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Morris JS, Ruff JS, Potts WK, Carrier DR. A disparity between locomotor economy and territory-holding ability in male house mice. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:2521-2528. [PMID: 28468871 PMCID: PMC5536892 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.154823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Both economical locomotion and physical fighting are important performance traits to many species because of their direct influence on components of Darwinian fitness. Locomotion represents a substantial portion of the total daily energy budget of many animals. Fighting performance often determines individual reproductive fitness through the means of resource control, social dominance and access to mates. However, phenotypic traits that improve either locomotor economy or fighting ability may diminish performance in the other. Here, we tested for a predicted disparity between locomotor economy and competitive ability in wild-derived house mice (Mus musculus). We used 8 week social competition trials in semi-natural enclosures to directly measure male competitive ability through territorial control and female occupancy within territories. We also measured oxygen consumption during locomotion for each mouse using running trials in an enclosed treadmill and open-flow respirometry. Our results show that territory-holding males have higher absolute and mass-specific oxygen consumption when running (i.e. reduced locomotor economy) compared with males that do not control territories. This relationship was present both before and after 8 week competition trials in semi-natural enclosures. This disparity between physical competitive ability and economical locomotion may impose viability costs on males in species for which competition over mates is common and may constrain the evolution of behavioral and phenotypic diversity, particularly in natural settings with environmental and resource variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Morris
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - James S Ruff
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - David R Carrier
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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21
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Ruff JS, Saffarini RB, Ramoz LL, Morrison LC, Baker S, Laverty SM, Tvrdik P, Capecchi MR, Potts WK. Mouse fitness measures reveal incomplete functional redundancy of Hox paralogous group 1 proteins. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174975. [PMID: 28380068 PMCID: PMC5381901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we assess the fitness consequences of the replacement of the Hoxa1 coding region with its paralog Hoxb1 in mice (Mus musculus) residing in semi-natural enclosures. Previously, this Hoxa1B1 swap was reported as resulting in no discernible embryonic or physiological phenotype (i.e., functionally redundant), despite the 51% amino acid sequence differences between these two Hox proteins. Within heterozygous breeding cages no differences in litter size nor deviations from Mendelian genotypic expectations were observed in the outbred progeny; however, within semi-natural population enclosures mice homozygous for the Hoxa1B1 swap were out-reproduced by controls resulting in the mutant allele being only 87.5% as frequent as the control in offspring born within enclosures. Specifically, Hoxa1B1 founders produced only 77.9% as many offspring relative to controls, as measured by homozygous pups, and a 22.1% deficiency of heterozygous offspring was also observed. These data suggest that Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 have diverged in function through either sub- or neo-functionalization and that the HoxA1 and HoxB1 proteins are not mutually interchangeable when expressed from the Hoxa1 locus. The fitness assays conducted under naturalistic conditions in this study have provided an ultimate-level assessment of the postulated equivalence of competing alleles. Characterization of these differences has provided greater understanding of the forces shaping the maintenance and diversifications of Hox genes as well as other paralogous genes. This fitness assay approach can be applied to any genetic manipulation and often provides the most sensitive way to detect functional differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S. Ruff
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Raed B. Saffarini
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Leda L. Ramoz
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Linda C. Morrison
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Shambralyn Baker
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Sean M. Laverty
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Petr Tvrdik
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Mario R. Capecchi
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
| | - Wayne K. Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Ruff JS, Cornwall DH, Morrison LC, Cauceglia JW, Nelson AC, Gaukler SM, Meagher S, Carroll LS, Potts WK. Sexual selection constrains the body mass of male but not female mice. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:1271-1275. [PMID: 28303195 PMCID: PMC5306010 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual size dimorphism results when female and male body size is influenced differently by natural and sexual selection. Typically, in polygynous species larger male body size is thought to be favored in competition for mates and constraints on maximal body size are due to countervailing natural selection on either sex; however, it has been postulated that sexual selection itself may result in stabilizing selection at an optimal mass. Here we test this hypothesis by retrospectively assessing the influence of body mass, one metric of body size, on the fitness of 113 wild‐derived house mice (Mus musculus) residing within ten replicate semi‐natural enclosures from previous studies conducted by our laboratory. Enclosures possess similar levels of sexual selection, but relaxed natural selection, relative to natural systems. Heavier females produced more offspring, while males of intermediate mass had the highest fitness. Female results suggest that some aspect of natural selection, absent from enclosures, acts to decrease their body mass, while the upper and lower boundaries of male mass are constrained by sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Ruff
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | | | | | | | - Adam C Nelson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology Harvard University Cambridge MA USA
| | - Shannon M Gaukler
- Environmental Stewardship Group Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos NM USA
| | - Shawn Meagher
- Department of Biological Sciences Western Illinois University Macomb IL USA
| | - Lara S Carroll
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
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23
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Gaukler SM, Ruff JS, Morrison LC, Potts W. Rofecoxib-Induced Deleterious Effects Escape Detection by Organismal Performance Assays. JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL NEGATIVE RESULTS 2017; 7:4-11. [PMID: 28042224 DOI: 10.4103/0976-9234.177051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organismal Performance Assays (OPAs) are a unique toxicity quantification method used to assess the safety of potentially toxic compounds, such as pharmaceuticals. OPAs utilize genetically diverse wild mice (Mus musculus) housed in semi-natural enclosures wherein exposed individuals compete directly with controls for resources. Previously, OPAs have been successful in detecting adverse effects in mice that were exposed to paroxetine. Here, we further test OPAs utility in pharmaceutical safety assessment by testing OPAs with rofecoxib, a drug with known adverse effects in humans. METHODS We exposed mice to rofecoxib (~37.5 mg/kg/day) during gestation and into early adulthood. Exposure ceased when individuals were released into enclosures. Five independent populations were established and rofecoxib-exposed individuals (n = 58) competed directly with control individuals (n = 58) over 28 weeks. Organismal performance was determined by quantifying reproduction, survival and male competitive ability. RESULTS In enclosures, rofecoxib-exposed males had equal reproduction, survival and competitive ability. Rofecoxib-exposed females had equal survival compared to controls but experienced 40% higher reproductive output. CONCLUSIONS The adverse health effects of rofecoxib seen in humans escaped detection by OPAs, just as they had during traditional preclinical assays. These results may be explained by the exposure design (in enclosures, all animals were on the control diet), the relatively short duration of exposure, species differences, or because the health benefits of the drug negated the side effects. Similarly to numerous assays used in preclinical trials, OPAs cannot reveal all maladies, despite their demonstrated sensitivity in detecting cryptic toxicity from numerous exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Gaukler
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Room 201, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - James S Ruff
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Room 201, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Linda C Morrison
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Room 201, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Wayne Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Room 201, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
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24
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Esmaeili R, Sadeghpour A, Darbandi-Azar A, Majidzadeh-A K, Vajhi A, Sadeghizadeh M. Echocardiographic assessment of myocardial infarction: comparison of a rat model in two strains. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH 2017; 18:30-35. [PMID: 28588630 PMCID: PMC5454576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2015] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to induce myocardial infarction (MI) and compare the echocardiographic parameters and mortality ratio of Lewis inbred and Wistar outbred strain before and after the procedure to help choose the best one for MI studies. In this study MI was induced in 46 Lewis and 34 Wistar by occlusion of left anterior descending artery (LAD). Doppler, two-dimensional (2-D) and 2-D guided M-mode images were recorded from parasternal long-axis and parasternal short-axis and apical four-chamber views. The following parameters were acquired. Interventricular septum diastolic and systolic dimension (IVSd, s), diastolic and systolic left ventricular internal diameter (LVIDd, s), diastolic and systolic left ventricular posterior wall dimension (LVPWd, s), ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS). The significant changes were observed in systolic IVS, LVID and EF and FS before and after MI and no significant difference was detected between Lewis and Wistar. The high mortality rate of 51% was seen in the procedure, including anesthesia in Lewis compared to 34% in Wistar. As a conclusion the echocardiographic parameters of these two strains were similar, but according to mortality rate and more cardiac anatomic variation in Lewis rats, Wistar is better for MI studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Esmaeili
- Ph.D. Student in Genetics, Department of Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- Cancer Genetics Department, Breast Cancer Research Center (BCRC), (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - A. Sadeghpour
- Echocardiography Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - A. Darbandi-Azar
- DVM, Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - K. Majidzadeh-A
- Cancer Genetics Department, Breast Cancer Research Center (BCRC), (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
- Tasnim Biotechnology Research Center (TBRC), Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - A. Vajhi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - M. Sadeghizadeh
- Department of Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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25
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Kardos M, Taylor HR, Ellegren H, Luikart G, Allendorf FW. Genomics advances the study of inbreeding depression in the wild. Evol Appl 2016; 9:1205-1218. [PMID: 27877200 PMCID: PMC5108213 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding depression (reduced fitness of individuals with related parents) has long been a major focus of ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. Despite decades of research, we still have a limited understanding of the strength, underlying genetic mechanisms, and demographic consequences of inbreeding depression in the wild. Studying inbreeding depression in natural populations has been hampered by the inability to precisely measure individual inbreeding. Fortunately, the rapidly increasing availability of high-throughput sequencing data means it is now feasible to measure the inbreeding of any individual with high precision. Here, we review how genomic data are advancing our understanding of inbreeding depression in the wild. Recent results show that individual inbreeding and inbreeding depression can be measured more precisely with genomic data than via traditional pedigree analysis. Additionally, the availability of genomic data has made it possible to pinpoint loci with large effects contributing to inbreeding depression in wild populations, although this will continue to be a challenging task in many study systems due to low statistical power. Now that reliably measuring individual inbreeding is no longer a limitation, a major focus of future studies should be to more accurately quantify effects of inbreeding depression on population growth and viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marty Kardos
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyEvolutionary Biology CentreUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | | | - Hans Ellegren
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyEvolutionary Biology CentreUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Gordon Luikart
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMTUSA
- Flathead Lake Biological StationDivision of Biological SciencesUniversity of MontanaPolsonMTUSA
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Inbreeding depression by environment interactions in a free-living mammal population. Heredity (Edinb) 2016; 118:64-77. [PMID: 27876804 PMCID: PMC5176111 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2016.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental studies often find that inbreeding depression is more severe in harsh environments, but the few studies of in situ wild populations available to date rarely find strong support for this effect. We investigated evidence for inbreeding depression by environment interactions in nine traits in the individually monitored Soay sheep population of St Kilda, using genomic inbreeding coefficients based on 37 037 single-nucleotide polymorphism loci, and population density as an axis of environmental variation. All traits showed variation with population density and all traits showed some evidence for depression because of either an individual's own inbreeding or maternal inbreeding. However, only six traits showed evidence for an interaction in the expected direction, and only two interactions were statistically significant. We identify three possible reasons why wild population studies may generally fail to find strong support for interactions between inbreeding depression and environmental variation compared with experimental studies. First, for species with biparental inbreeding only, the amount of observed inbreeding in natural populations is generally low compared with that used in experimental studies. Second, it is possible that experimental studies sometimes actually impose higher levels of stress than organisms experience in the wild. Third, some purging of the deleterious recessive alleles that underpin interaction effects may occur in the wild.
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Brooks AW, Kohl KD, Brucker RM, van Opstal EJ, Bordenstein SR. Phylosymbiosis: Relationships and Functional Effects of Microbial Communities across Host Evolutionary History. PLoS Biol 2016; 14:e2000225. [PMID: 27861590 PMCID: PMC5115861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2000225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 318] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Phylosymbiosis was recently proposed to describe the eco-evolutionary pattern, whereby the ecological relatedness of host-associated microbial communities parallels the phylogeny of related host species. Here, we test the prevalence of phylosymbiosis and its functional significance under highly controlled conditions by characterizing the microbiota of 24 animal species from four different groups (Peromyscus deer mice, Drosophila flies, mosquitoes, and Nasonia wasps), and we reevaluate the phylosymbiotic relationships of seven species of wild hominids. We demonstrate three key findings. First, intraspecific microbiota variation is consistently less than interspecific microbiota variation, and microbiota-based models predict host species origin with high accuracy across the dataset. Interestingly, the age of host clade divergence positively associates with the degree of microbial community distinguishability between species within the host clades, spanning recent host speciation events (~1 million y ago) to more distantly related host genera (~108 million y ago). Second, topological congruence analyses of each group's complete phylogeny and microbiota dendrogram reveal significant degrees of phylosymbiosis, irrespective of host clade age or taxonomy. Third, consistent with selection on host–microbiota interactions driving phylosymbiosis, there are survival and performance reductions when interspecific microbiota transplants are conducted between closely related and divergent host species pairs. Overall, these findings indicate that the composition and functional effects of an animal's microbial community can be closely allied with host evolution, even across wide-ranging timescales and diverse animal systems reared under controlled conditions. Studies on the assembly and function of host-microbiota symbioses are inherently complicated by the diverse effects of diet, age, sex, host genetics, and endosymbionts. Central to unraveling one effect from the other is an experimental framework that reduces confounders. Using common rearing conditions across four animal groups (deer mice, flies, mosquitoes, and wasps) that span recent host speciation events to more distantly related host genera, this study tests whether microbial community assembly is generally random with respect to host relatedness or "phylosymbiotic," in which the phylogeny of the host group is congruent with ecological relationships of their microbial communities. Across all four animal groups and one external dataset of great apes, we apply several statistics for analyzing congruencies and demonstrate phylosymbiosis to varying degrees in each group. Moreover, consistent with selection on host–microbiota interactions driving phylosymbiosis, transplanting interspecific microbial communities in mice significantly decreased their ability to digest food. Similarly, wasps that received transplants of microbial communities from different wasp species had lower survival than those given their own microbiota. Overall, this experimental and statistical framework shows how microbial community assembly and functionality across related species can be linked to animal evolution, health, and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W. Brooks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Kevin D. Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Brucker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- The Rowland Institute at Harvard, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Edward J. van Opstal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Seth R. Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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de Boer RA, Eens M, Müller W. A loss of heterozygosity, a loss in competition? The effects of inbreeding, pre- and postnatal conditions on nestling development. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:7921-7930. [PMID: 30128140 PMCID: PMC6093172 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The early developmental trajectory is affected by genetic and environmental factors that co‐depend and interact often in a complex way. In order to distinguish their respective roles, we used canaries (Serinus canaria) of different genetic backgrounds (inbred and outbred birds). An artificial size hierarchy was created to provoke within‐nest competition, manipulating postnatal conditions. To this end, inbred birds were weight‐matched with outbred birds into duos, and each nest contained one duo of size‐advantaged, and one duo of size‐disadvantaged inbred and outbred nestlings. Prenatal (maternal) effects were taken into account also, enabling us to study the separate as well as the interactive effects of inbreeding, pre‐ and postnatal conditions on nestling development. We find that postnatal conditions were the most important determinant of early growth, with size‐advantaged nestlings growing faster and obtaining larger size/body mass at fledging in comparison with size‐disadvantaged nestlings. Prenatal conditions were important too, with birds that hatched from eggs that were laid late in the laying order obtaining a larger size at fledging than those hatched from early laid eggs. Inbreeding inhibited growth, but surprisingly this did not depend on (dis)advantageous pre‐ or postnatal conditions. Our findings imply that inbred individuals lose when they are in direct competition with same‐sized outbred individuals regardless of the rearing conditions, and we thus propose that reduced competitiveness is one of the driving forces of inbreeding depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raïssa A de Boer
- Department of Biology Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group - University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group - University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Wendt Müller
- Department of Biology Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group - University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
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Mowry AV, Kavazis AN, Sirman AE, Potts WK, Hood WR. Reproduction Does Not Adversely Affect Liver Mitochondrial Respiratory Function but Results in Lipid Peroxidation and Increased Antioxidants in House Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160883. [PMID: 27537547 PMCID: PMC4990174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproduction is thought to come at a cost to longevity. Based on the assumption that increased energy expenditure during reproduction is associated with increased free-radical production by mitochondria, oxidative damage has been suggested to drive this trade-off. We examined the impact of reproduction on liver mitochondrial function by utilizing post-reproductive and non-reproductive house mice (Mus musculus) living under semi-natural conditions. The age-matched post-reproductive and non-reproductive groups were compared after the reproductive females returned to a non-reproductive state, so that both groups were in the same physiological state at the time the liver was collected. Despite increased oxidative damage (p = 0.05) and elevated CuZnSOD (p = 0.002) and catalase (p = 0.04) protein levels, reproduction had no negative impacts on the respiratory function of liver mitochondria. Specifically, in a post-reproductive, maintenance state the mitochondrial coupling (i.e., respiratory control ratio) of mouse livers show no negative impacts of reproduction. In fact, there was a trend (p = 0.059) to suggest increased maximal oxygen consumption by liver mitochondria during the ADP stimulated state (i.e., state 3) in post-reproduction. These findings suggest that oxidative damage may not impair mitochondrial respiratory function and question the role of mitochondria in the trade-off between reproduction and longevity. In addition, the findings highlight the importance of quantifying the respiratory function of mitochondria in addition to measuring oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise V. Mowry
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Andreas N. Kavazis
- School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Aubrey E. Sirman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Wayne K. Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Wendy R. Hood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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30
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Fitness Assays Reveal Incomplete Functional Redundancy of the HoxA1 and HoxB1 Paralogs of Mice. Genetics 2016; 201:727-36. [PMID: 26447130 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.178079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene targeting techniques have led to the phenotypic characterization of numerous genes; however, many genes show minimal to no phenotypic consequences when disrupted, despite many having highly conserved sequences. The standard explanation for these findings is functional redundancy. A competing hypothesis is that these genes have important ecological functions in natural environments that are not needed under laboratory settings. Here we discriminate between these hypotheses by competing mice (Mus musculus) whose Hoxb1 gene has been replaced by Hoxa1, its highly conserved paralog, against matched wild-type controls in seminatural enclosures. This Hoxb1(A1) swap was reported as a genetic manipulation resulting in no discernible embryonic or physiological phenotype under standard laboratory tests. We observed a transient decline in first litter size for Hoxb1(A1) homozygous mice in breeding cages, but their fitness was consistently and more dramatically reduced when competing against controls within seminatural populations. Specifically, males homozygous for the Hoxb1(A1) swap acquired 10.6% fewer territories and the frequency of the Hoxb1(A1) allele decreased from 0.500 in population founders to 0.419 in their offspring. The decrease in Hoxb1(A1) frequency corresponded with a deficiency of both Hoxb1(A1) homozygous and heterozygous offspring. These data suggest that Hoxb1 and Hoxa1 are more phenotypically divergent than previously reported and support that sub- and/or neofunctionalization has occurred in these paralogous genes leading to a divergence of gene function and incomplete redundancy. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of obtaining fitness measures of mutants in ecologically relevant conditions to better understand gene function and evolution.
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31
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Gaukler SM, Ruff JS, Galland T, Underwood TK, Kandaris KA, Liu NM, Morrison LC, Veranth JM, Potts WK. Quantification of cerivastatin toxicity supports organismal performance assays as an effective tool during pharmaceutical safety assessment. Evol Appl 2016; 9:685-96. [PMID: 27247619 PMCID: PMC4869410 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A major problem in pharmaceutical development is that adverse effects remain undetected during preclinical and clinical trials, but are later revealed after market release when prescribed to many patients. We have developed a fitness assay known as the organismal performance assay (OPA), which evaluates individual performance by utilizing outbred wild mice (Mus musculus) that are assigned to an exposed or control group, which compete against each other for resources within semi-natural enclosures. Performance measurements included reproductive success, survival, and male competitive ability. Our aim was to utilize cerivastatin (Baycol(®), Bayer), a pharmaceutical with known adverse effects, as a positive control to assess OPAs as a potential tool for evaluating the safety of compounds during preclinical trials. Mice were exposed to cerivastatin (~4.5 mg/kg/day) into early adulthood. Exposure ceased and animals were released into semi-natural enclosures. Within enclosures, cerivastatin-exposed females had 25% fewer offspring and cerivastatin-exposed males had 10% less body mass, occupied 63% fewer territories, sired 41% fewer offspring, and experienced a threefold increase in mortality when compared to controls. OPAs detected several cerivastatin-induced adverse effects indicating that fitness assays, commonly used in ecology and evolutionary biology, could be useful as an additional tool in safety testing during pharmaceutical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Gaukler
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA; Los Alamos National Laboratory Environmental Stewardship Group Los Alamos NM USA
| | - James S Ruff
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Tessa Galland
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | | | | | - Nicole M Liu
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | | | - John M Veranth
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
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32
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Gaukler SM, Ruff JS, Potts WK. Paroxetine exposure skews litter sex ratios in mice suggesting a Trivers-Willard process. Behav Ecol 2016; 27:1113-1121. [PMID: 27418753 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
While conducting a toxicity assessment of the antidepressant paroxetine (Paxil®), in wild-derived mice (Mus musculus), we observed that exposed dams (P0) produced female biased litters (32:68 M:F). Though numerous experimental manipulations have induced sex ratio bias in mice, none have assessed the fitness of the offspring from these litters relative to controls. Here, we retrospectively analyze experimentally derived fitness data gathered for the purpose of toxicological assessment in light of 2 leading hypothesis (Trivers-Willard hypothesis [TWH] and cost of reproduction hypothesis [CRH]), seeking to test if this facultative sex ratio adjustment fits into an adaptive framework. Control F1 males were heavier than F1 females, but no differences in mass were detected between exposed F1 males and females, suggesting that exposed dams did not save energy by producing fewer males, despite producing 29.2% lighter litters relative to controls. F1 offspring of both treatments were released into seminatural enclosures where fitness was quantified. In enclosures, the relative reproductive success of F1-exposed males (compared with controls) was reduced by ~20% compared with the relative reproductive success of F1-exposed females. Thus, exposed dams increased their fitness by adjusting litters toward females who were less negatively affected by the exposure than males. Collectively, these data provide less support that the observed sex ratio bias results in energetic savings (CRH), and more support for the TWH because fitness was increased by biasing litters toward female offspring. These mammalian data are unique in their ability to support the TWH through the use of relevant fitness data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Marie Gaukler
- Department of Biology, University of Utah , 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 , USA
| | - James Steven Ruff
- Department of Biology, University of Utah , 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 , USA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah , 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 , USA
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33
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Ebel ER, Phillips PC. Intrinsic differences between males and females determine sex-specific consequences of inbreeding. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:36. [PMID: 26860745 PMCID: PMC4748534 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0604-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inbreeding increases homozygosity and exposes deleterious recessive alleles, generally decreasing the fitness of inbred individuals. Interestingly, males and females are usually affected differently by inbreeding, though the more vulnerable sex depends on the species and trait measured. RESULTS We used the soil-dwelling nematode Caenorhabditis remanei to examine sex-specific inbreeding depression across nine lineages, five levels of inbreeding, and hundreds of thousands of progeny. Female nematodes consistently suffered greater fitness losses than their male counterparts, especially at high levels of inbreeding. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that females experience stronger selection on genes contributing to reproductive traits. Inbreeding depression in males may be further reduced by sex chromosome hemizygosity, which affects the dominance of some mutations, as well as by the absence of sexual selection. Determining the relative contributions of sex-specific expression, genes on the sex chromosomes, and the environment they are filtered through-including opportunities for sexual selection-may explain the frequent though inconsistent records of sex differences in inbreeding depression, along with their implications for conservation and the evolution of mating systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Ebel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution and Department of Biology, 5289 University of Oregon, 97403, Eugene, Oregon, USA.,Present address: Department of Biology, Stanford University, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Patrick C Phillips
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution and Department of Biology, 5289 University of Oregon, 97403, Eugene, Oregon, USA.
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Thoß M, Luzynski KC, Ante M, Miller I, Penn DJ. Major urinary protein (MUP) profiles show dynamic changes rather than individual 'barcode' signatures. Front Ecol Evol 2015; 3. [PMID: 26973837 DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
House mice (Mus musculus) produce a variable number of major urinary proteins (MUPs), and studies suggest that each individual produces a unique MUP profile that provides a distinctive odor signature controlling individual and kin recognition. This 'barcode hypothesis' requires that MUP urinary profiles show high individual variability within populations and also high individual consistency over time, but tests of these assumptions are lacking. We analyzed urinary MUP profiles of 66 wild-caught house mice from eight populations using isoelectric focusing. We found that MUP profiles of wild male house mice are not individually unique, and though they were highly variable, closer inspection revealed that the variation strongly depended on MUP band type. The prominent ('major) bands were surprisingly homogenous (and hence most MUPs are not polymorphic), but we also found inconspicuous ('minor') bands that were highly variable and therefore potential candidates for individual fingerprints. We also examined changes in urinary MUP profiles of 58 males over time (from 6 to 24 weeks of age), and found that individual MUP profiles and MUP concentration were surprisingly dynamic, and showed significant changes after puberty and during adulthood. Contrary to what we expected, however, the minor bands were the most variable over time, thus no good candidates for individual fingerprints. Although MUP profiles do not provide individual fingerprints, we found that MUP profiles were more similar among siblings than non-kin despite considerable fluctuation. Our findings show that MUP profiles are not highly stable over time, they do not show strong individual clustering, and thus challenge the barcode hypothesis. Within-individual dynamics of MUP profiles indicate a different function of MUPs in individual recognition than previously assumed and advocate an alternative hypothesis ('dynamic changes' hypothesis).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thoß
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - K C Luzynski
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Ante
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - I Miller
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - D J Penn
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Ruff JS, Hugentobler SA, Suchy AK, Sosa MM, Tanner RE, Hite ME, Morrison LC, Gieng SH, Shigenaga MK, Potts WK. Compared to sucrose, previous consumption of fructose and glucose monosaccharides reduces survival and fitness of female mice. J Nutr 2015; 145:434-41. [PMID: 25733457 PMCID: PMC4336529 DOI: 10.3945/jn.114.202531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intake of added sugar has been shown to correlate with many human metabolic diseases, and rodent models have characterized numerous aspects of the resulting disease phenotypes. However, there is a controversy about whether differential health effects occur because of the consumption of either of the two common types of added sugar-high-fructose corn syrup (fructose and glucose monosaccharides; F/G) or table sugar (sucrose, a fructose and glucose disaccharide). OBJECTIVES We tested the equivalence of sucrose- vs. F/G-containing diets on mouse (Mus musculus) longevity, reproductive success, and social dominance. METHODS We fed wild-derived mice, outbred mice descended from wild-caught ancestors, a diet in which 25% of the calories came from either an equal ratio of F/G or an isocaloric amount of sucrose (both diets had 63% of total calories as carbohydrates). Exposure lasted 40 wk, starting at weaning (21 d of age), and then mice (104 females and 56 males) were released into organismal performances assays-seminatural enclosures where mice competed for territories, resources, and mates for 32 wk. Within enclosures all mice consumed the F/G diet. RESULTS Females initially fed the F/G diet experienced a mortality rate 1.9 times the rate (P = 0.012) and produced 26.4% fewer offspring than females initially fed sucrose (P = 0.001). This reproductive deficiency was present before mortality differences, suggesting the F/G diet was causing physiologic performance deficits prior to mortality. No differential patterns in survival, reproduction, or social dominance were observed in males, indicating a sex-specific outcome of exposure. CONCLUSION This study provides experimental evidence that the consumption of human-relevant levels of F/G is more deleterious than an isocaloric amount of sucrose for key organism-level health measures in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Ruff
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT;
| | | | - Amanda K Suchy
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT;,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ; and
| | - Mirtha M Sosa
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Ruth E Tanner
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Megumi E Hite
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | - Sin H Gieng
- Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA
| | - Mark K Shigenaga
- Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
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36
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An estimate of the average number of recessive lethal mutations carried by humans. Genetics 2015; 199:1243-54. [PMID: 25697177 PMCID: PMC4391560 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.114.173351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of inbreeding on human health depend critically on the number and severity of recessive, deleterious mutations carried by individuals. In humans, existing estimates of these quantities are based on comparisons between consanguineous and nonconsanguineous couples, an approach that confounds socioeconomic and genetic effects of inbreeding. To overcome this limitation, we focused on a founder population that practices a communal lifestyle, for which there is almost complete Mendelian disease ascertainment and a known pedigree. Focusing on recessive lethal diseases and simulating allele transmissions, we estimated that each haploid set of human autosomes carries on average 0.29 (95% credible interval [0.10, 0.84]) recessive alleles that lead to complete sterility or death by reproductive age when homozygous. Comparison to existing estimates in humans suggests that a substantial fraction of the total burden imposed by recessive deleterious variants is due to single mutations that lead to sterility or death between birth and reproductive age. In turn, comparison to estimates from other eukaryotes points to a surprising constancy of the average number of recessive lethal mutations across organisms with markedly different genome sizes.
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37
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Pryce JE, Haile-Mariam M, Goddard ME, Hayes BJ. Identification of genomic regions associated with inbreeding depression in Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle. Genet Sel Evol 2014; 46:71. [PMID: 25407532 PMCID: PMC4234836 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-014-0071-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inbreeding reduces the fitness of individuals by increasing the frequency of homozygous deleterious recessive alleles. Some insight into the genetic architecture of fitness, and other complex traits, can be gained by using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to identify regions of the genome which lead to reduction in performance when identical by descent (IBD). Here, we compared the effect of genome-wide and location-specific homozygosity on fertility and milk production traits in dairy cattle. METHODS Genotype data from more than 43 000 SNPs were available for 8853 Holstein and 4138 Jersey dairy cows that were part of a much larger dataset that had pedigree records (338 696 Holstein and 64 049 Jersey animals). Measures of inbreeding were based on: (1) pedigree data; (2) genotypes to determine the realised proportion of the genome that is IBD; (3) the proportion of the total genome that is homozygous and (4) runs of homozygosity (ROH) which are stretches of the genome that are homozygous. RESULTS A 1% increase in inbreeding based either on pedigree or genomic data was associated with a decrease in milk, fat and protein yields of around 0.4 to 0.6% of the phenotypic mean, and an increase in calving interval (i.e. a deterioration in fertility) of 0.02 to 0.05% of the phenotypic mean. A genome-wide association study using ROH of more than 50 SNPs revealed genomic regions that resulted in depression of up to 12.5 d and 260 L for calving interval and milk yield, respectively, when completely homozygous. CONCLUSIONS Genomic measures can be used instead of pedigree-based inbreeding to estimate inbreeding depression. Both the diagonal elements of the genomic relationship matrix and the proportion of homozygous SNPs can be used to measure inbreeding. Longer ROH (>3 Mb) were found to be associated with a reduction in milk yield and captured recent inbreeding independently and in addition to overall homozygosity. Inbreeding depression can be reduced by minimizing overall inbreeding but maybe also by avoiding the production of offspring that are homozygous for deleterious alleles at specific genomic regions that are associated with inbreeding depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennie E Pryce
- Biosciences Research Division, Department of Environment and Primary Industries Victoria, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora 3083, Australia.
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Gaukler SM, Ruff JS, Galland T, Kandaris KA, Underwood TK, Liu NM, Young EL, Morrison LC, Yost GS, Potts WK. Low-dose paroxetine exposure causes lifetime declines in male mouse body weight, reproduction and competitive ability as measured by the novel organismal performance assay. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2014; 47:46-53. [PMID: 25446017 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Revised: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is currently available on the market and is suspected of causing congenital malformations in babies born to mothers who take the drug during the first trimester of pregnancy. We utilized organismal performance assays (OPAs), a novel toxicity assessment method, to assess the safety of paroxetine during pregnancy in a rodent model. OPAs utilize genetically diverse wild mice (Mus musculus) to evaluate competitive performance between experimental and control animals as they compete among each other for limited resources in semi-natural enclosures. Performance measures included reproductive success, male competitive ability and survivorship. Paroxetine-exposed males weighed 13% less, had 44% fewer offspring, dominated 53% fewer territories and experienced a 2.5-fold increased trend in mortality, when compared with controls. Paroxetine-exposed females had 65% fewer offspring early in the study, but rebounded at later time points, presumably, because they were no longer exposed to paroxetine. In cages, paroxetine-exposed breeders took 2.3 times longer to produce their first litter and pups of both sexes experienced reduced weight when compared with controls. Low-dose paroxetine-induced health declines detected in this study that were undetected in preclinical trials with doses 2.5-8 times higher than human therapeutic doses. These data indicate that OPAs detect phenotypic adversity and provide unique information that could be useful towards safety testing during pharmaceutical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Gaukler
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - James S Ruff
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Tessa Galland
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kirstie A Kandaris
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Tristan K Underwood
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Nicole M Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Young
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Linda C Morrison
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Garold S Yost
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, 30 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Wayne K Potts
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Kapadia M, Zhao H, Ma D, Hatkar R, Marchese M, Sakic B. Zoopharmacognosy in diseased laboratory mice: conflicting evidence. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100684. [PMID: 24956477 PMCID: PMC4067353 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoopharmacognosy denotes a constellation of learned ingestive responses that promote healing and survival of infected or poisoned animals. A similar self-medication phenomenon was reported in diseased laboratory rodents. In particular, a series of studies revealed that autoimmune MRL/lpr mice readily consume solutions paired or laced with cyclophosphamide (CY), an immunosuppressive drug that prevents inflammatory damage to internal organs. However, due to design limitations, it could not be elucidated whether such a response reflects the learned therapeutic effect of CY, or a deficit in sensory input. We presently assess the behavioural effects of prolonged consumption of CY-laced, 16% sucrose solution in a continuous choice paradigm, with tap water available ad lib. Contrary to overall expectation, MRL/lpr mice did not increase their intake of CY with disease progression. Moreover, they ingested lower doses of CY and preferred less CY-laced sucrose solution than age-matched controls. The results obtained could not confirm zoopharmacognosy in diseased MRL/lpr mice, likely due to impaired responsiveness to palatable stimulation, or attenuated survival mechanisms after prolonged inbreeding in captivity. However, by revealing the effectiveness of unrestricted drinking of drug-laced sucrose solution on behavior and immunity, the current study supports broader use of such an administration route in behavioural studies sensitive to external stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minesh Kapadia
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donglai Ma
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rupal Hatkar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Monica Marchese
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Boris Sakic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Ruff JS, Suchy AK, Hugentobler SA, Sosa MM, Schwartz BL, Morrison LC, Gieng SH, Shigenaga MK, Potts WK. Human-relevant levels of added sugar consumption increase female mortality and lower male fitness in mice. Nat Commun 2014; 4:2245. [PMID: 23941916 PMCID: PMC3775329 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Consumption of added sugar has increased over recent decades and is correlated with numerous diseases. Rodent models have elucidated mechanisms of toxicity, but only at concentrations beyond typical human exposure. Here we show that comparatively low levels of added sugar consumption have substantial negative effects on mouse survival, competitive ability, and reproduction. Using Organismal Performance Assays (OPAs) – in which mice fed human-relevant concentrations of added sugar (25% Kcal from a mixture of fructose and glucose [F/G]) and control mice compete in seminatural enclosures for territories, resources and mates – we demonstrate that F/G-fed females experience a two-fold increase in mortality while F/G-fed males control 26% fewer territories and produce 25% less offspring. These findings represent the lowest level of sugar consumption shown to adversely affect mammalian health. Clinical defects of F/G-fed mice were decreased glucose clearance and increased fasting cholesterol. Our data highlight that physiological adversity can exist when clinical disruptions are minor, and suggest that OPAs represent a promising technique for unmasking negative effects of toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Ruff
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
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41
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High-throughput sequencing reveals inbreeding depression in a natural population. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:3775-80. [PMID: 24586051 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1318945111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Proxy measures of genome-wide heterozygosity based on approximately 10 microsatellites have been used to uncover heterozygosity fitness correlations (HFCs) for a wealth of important fitness traits in natural populations. However, effect sizes are typically very small and the underlying mechanisms remain contentious, as a handful of markers usually provides little power to detect inbreeding. We therefore used restriction site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing to accurately estimate genome-wide heterozygosity, an approach transferrable to any organism. As a proof of concept, we first RAD sequenced oldfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus) from a known pedigree, finding strong concordance between the inbreeding coefficient and heterozygosity measured at 13,198 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). When applied to a natural population of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), a weak HFC for parasite infection based on 27 microsatellites strengthened considerably with 14,585 SNPs, the deviance explained by heterozygosity increasing almost fivefold to a remarkable 49%. These findings arguably provide the strongest evidence to date of an HFC being due to inbreeding depression in a natural population lacking a pedigree. They also suggest that under some circumstances heterozygosity may explain far more variation in fitness than previously envisaged.
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42
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Thonhauser KE, Thoß M, Musolf K, Klaus T, Penn DJ. Multiple paternity in wild house mice (Mus musculus musculus): effects on offspring genetic diversity and body mass. Ecol Evol 2013; 4:200-9. [PMID: 24558575 PMCID: PMC3925383 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Revised: 11/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple mating is common in many species, but it is unclear whether multiple paternity enhances offspring genetic diversity or fitness. We conducted a survey on wild house mice (Mus musculus musculus), and we found that in 73 pregnant females, 29% of litters had multiple sires, which is remarkably similar to the 23–26% found in feral populations of Mus musculus domesticus in the USA and Australia, respectively. The question is: How has selection maintained multiple mating in these subspecies since the evolutionary divergence, ca. 2800–6000 years ago? We found no evidence that multiple paternity enhanced females’ litter size, contrary to the fertility assurance or genetic benefits hypotheses. Multiple paternity was associated with reduced mean and variance in offspring body mass, which suggests that females allocate fewer resources or that there is increased intrauterine conflict in multiple-versus single-sired litters. We found increased allelic diversity (though not heterozygosity) in multiple-sired litters, as predicted by the genetic diversity hypothesis. Finally, we found that the dams’ heterozygosity was correlated with the mean heterozygosity of their offspring in single-and multiple-sired litters, suggesting that outbred, heterozygous females were more likely to avoid inbreeding than inbred, homozygous females. Future studies are needed to examine how increased genetic diversity of litters and smaller mean (and variance) offspring body mass associated with multiple paternity affect offspring fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin E Thonhauser
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
| | - Michaela Thoß
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
| | - Kerstin Musolf
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria ; Department of Biology, Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Teresa Klaus
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
| | - Dustin J Penn
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
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Charpentier MJE, Drea CM. Victims of infanticide and conspecific bite wounding in a female-dominant primate: a long-term study. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82830. [PMID: 24367560 PMCID: PMC3867408 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggression animals receive from conspecifics varies between individuals across their lifetime. As poignantly evidenced by infanticide, for example, aggression can have dramatic fitness consequences. Nevertheless, we understand little about the sources of variation in received aggression, particularly in females. Using a female-dominant species renowned for aggressivity in both sexes, we tested for potential social, demographic, and genetic patterns in the frequency with which animals were wounded by conspecifics. Our study included 243 captive, ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), followed from infancy to adulthood over a 35-year time span. We extracted injury, social, and life-history information from colony records and calculated neutral heterozygosity for a subset of animals, as an estimate of genetic diversity. Focusing on victims rather than aggressors, we used General Linear Models to explain bite-wound patterns at different life stages. In infancy, maternal age best predicted wounds received, as infants born to young mothers were the most frequent infanticide victims. In adulthood, sex best predicted wounds received, as males were three times more likely than females to be seriously injured. No relation emerged between wounds received and the other variables studied. Beyond the generally expected costs of adult male intrasexual aggression, we suggest possible additive costs associated with female-dominant societies - those suffered by young mothers engaged in aggressive disputes and those suffered by adult males aggressively targeted by both sexes. We propose that infanticide in lemurs may be a costly by-product of aggressively mediated, female social dominance. Accordingly, the benefits of female behavioral 'masculinization' accrued to females through priority of access to resources, may be partially offset by early costs in reproductive success. Understanding the factors that influence lifetime patterns of conspecific wounding is critical to evaluating the fitness costs associated with social living; however, these costs may vary substantially between societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie J. E. Charpentier
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- CEFE-CNRS, UMR 5175, Montpellier, France
| | - Christine M. Drea
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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van Bergen E, Brakefield PM, Heuskin S, Zwaan BJ, Nieberding CM. The scent of inbreeding: a male sex pheromone betrays inbred males. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20130102. [PMID: 23466986 PMCID: PMC3619463 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding depression results from mating among genetically related individuals and impairs reproductive success. The decrease in male mating success is usually attributed to an impact on multiple fitness-related traits that reduce the general condition of inbred males. Here, we find that the production of the male sex pheromone is reduced significantly by inbreeding in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Other traits indicative of the general condition, including flight performance, are also negatively affected in male butterflies by inbreeding. Yet, we unambiguously show that only the production of male pheromones affects mating success. Thus, this pheromone signal informs females about the inbreeding status of their mating partners. We also identify the specific chemical component (hexadecanal) probably responsible for the decrease in male mating success. Our results advocate giving increased attention to olfactory communication as a major causal factor of mate-choice decisions and sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik van Bergen
- Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, RA 2300 Leiden, The Netherlands.
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45
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Lindholm AK, Musolf K, Weidt A, König B. Mate choice for genetic compatibility in the house mouse. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:1231-47. [PMID: 23762510 PMCID: PMC3678478 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Revised: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In house mice, genetic compatibility is influenced by the t haplotype, a driving selfish genetic element with a recessive lethal allele, imposing fundamental costs on mate choice decisions. Here, we evaluate the cost of genetic incompatibility and its implication for mate choice in a wild house mice population. In laboratory reared mice, we detected no fertility (number of embryos) or fecundity (ability to conceive) costs of the t, and yet we found a high cost of genetic incompatibility: heterozygote crosses produced 40% smaller birth litter sizes because of prenatal mortality. Surprisingly, transmission of t in crosses using +/t males was influenced by female genotype, consistent with postcopulatory female choice for + sperm in +/t females. Analysis of paternity patterns in a wild population of house mice showed that +/t females were more likely than +/+ females to have offspring sired by +/+ males, and unlike +/+ females, paternity of their offspring was not influenced by +/t male frequency, further supporting mate choice for genetic compatibility. As the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is physically linked to the t, we investigated whether females could potentially use variation at the MHC to identify male genotype at the sperm or individual level. A unique MHC haplotype is linked to the t haplotype. This MHC haplotype could allow the recognition of t and enable pre- and postcopulatory mate choice for genetic compatibility. Alternatively, the MHC itself could be the target of mate choice for genetic compatibility. We predict that mate choice for genetic compatibility will be difficult to find in many systems, as only weak fertilization biases were found despite an exceptionally high cost of genetic incompatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Lindholm
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology und Environmental Studies, University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
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46
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Nelson AC, Colson KE, Harmon S, Potts WK. Rapid adaptation to mammalian sociality via sexually selected traits. BMC Evol Biol 2013; 13:81. [PMID: 23577674 PMCID: PMC3637274 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-13-81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 03/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Laboratory studies show that the components of sexual selection (e.g., mate choice and intrasexual competition) can profoundly affect the development and fitness of offspring. Less is known, however, about the total effects of sexual selection on offspring in normal social conditions. Complex social networks, such as dominance hierarchies, regulate the opportunity for mating success, and are often missing from laboratory studies. Social selection is an extended view of sexual selection that incorporates competition during sexual and nonsexual interactions, and predicts complex evolutionary dynamics. Whether social selection improves or constrains offspring fitness is controversial. RESULTS To identify fitness consequences of social selection, wild-derived mice that had bred under laboratory conditions for eight generations were re-introduced to naturalistic competition in enclosures for three consecutive generations (promiscuous line). In parallel, a control lineage bred in cages under random mate assignment (monogamous line). A direct competition experiment using second-generation animals revealed that promiscuous line males had greater reproductive success than monogamous line males (particularly during extra-territorial matings), in spite of higher mortality and equivalent success in social dominance and sperm competition. There were no major female fitness effects (though promiscuous line females had fewer litters than monogamous line females). This result suggested that selection primarily acted upon a sexually attractive male phenotype in the promiscuous line, a hypothesis we confirmed in female odor and mating preference trials. CONCLUSIONS We present novel evidence for the strength of sexual selection under normal social conditions, and show rapid male adaptation driven largely by sexual trait expression, with tradeoffs in survivorship and female fecundity. Re-introducing wild-derived mice to competition quickly uncovers sexually selected phenotypes otherwise lost in normal colony breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C Nelson
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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47
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Cunningham CB, Ruff JS, Chase K, Potts WK, Carrier DR. Competitive ability in male house mice (Mus musculus): genetic influences. Behav Genet 2013; 43:151-60. [PMID: 23291957 PMCID: PMC3626107 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-012-9577-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Conspecifics of many animal species physically compete to gain reproductive resources and thus fitness. Despite the importance of competitive ability across the animal kingdom, specific traits that influence or underpin competitive ability are poorly characterized. Here, we investigate whether there are genetic influences on competitive ability within male house mice. Additionally, we examined if litter demographics (litter size and litter sex ratio) influence competitive ability. We phenotyped two generations for a male's ability to possess a reproductive resource--a prime nesting site--using semi-natural enclosures with mixed sex groupings. We used the "Animal Model" coupled with an extensive pedigree to estimate several genetic parameters. Competitive ability was found to be highly heritable, but only displayed a moderate genetic correlation to body mass. Interestingly, litter sex ratio had a weak negative influence on competitive ability. Litter size had no significant influence on competitive ability. Our study also highlights how much remains unknown about the proximal causes of competitive ability.
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48
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Bickley LK, Brown AR, Hosken DJ, Hamilton PB, Le Page G, Paull GC, Owen SF, Tyler CR. Interactive effects of inbreeding and endocrine disruption on reproduction in a model laboratory fish. Evol Appl 2013; 6:279-89. [PMID: 23798977 PMCID: PMC3689353 DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00288.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Accepted: 06/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding depression is expected to be more severe in stressful environments. However, the extent to which inbreeding affects the vulnerability of populations to environmental stressors, such as chemical exposure, remains unresolved. Here we report on the combined impacts of inbreeding and exposure to an endocrine disrupting chemical (the fungicide clotrimazole) on zebrafish (Danio rerio). We show that whilst inbreeding can negatively affect reproductive traits, not all traits are affected equally. Inbreeding depression frequently only became apparent when fish were additionally stressed by chemical exposure. Embryo viability was significantly reduced in inbred exposed fish and there was a tendency for inbred males to sire fewer offspring when in direct competition with outbred individuals. Levels of plasma 11-ketotestosterone, a key male sex hormone, showed substantial inbreeding depression that was unaffected by addition of the fungicide. In contrast, there was no effect of inbreeding or clotrimazole exposure on egg production. Overall, our data provide evidence that stress may amplify the effects of inbreeding on key reproductive traits, particularly those associated with male fitness. This may have important implications when considering the consequences of exposure to chemical pollutants on the fitness of wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K Bickley
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesExeter, UK
| | - Andrew R Brown
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesExeter, UK
- AstraZeneca Safety, Health and Environment, Brixham Environmental LaboratoryBrixham, UK
| | - David J Hosken
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, Centre for the Environment and ConservationCornwall, UK
| | - Patrick B Hamilton
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesExeter, UK
| | - Gareth Le Page
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesExeter, UK
- AstraZeneca Safety, Health and Environment, Brixham Environmental LaboratoryBrixham, UK
| | - Gregory C Paull
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesExeter, UK
| | - Stewart F Owen
- AstraZeneca Safety, Health and Environment, Brixham Environmental LaboratoryBrixham, UK
| | - Charles R Tyler
- University of Exeter, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesExeter, UK
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Tung J, Charpentier MJE, Mukherjee S, Altmann J, Alberts SC. Genetic effects on mating success and partner choice in a social mammal. Am Nat 2012; 180:113-29. [PMID: 22673655 PMCID: PMC3431189 DOI: 10.1086/665993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mating behavior has profound consequences for two phenomena--individual reproductive success and the maintenance of species boundaries--that contribute to evolutionary processes. Studies of mating behavior in relation to individual reproductive success are common in many species, but studies of mating behavior in relation to genetic variation and species boundaries are less commonly conducted in socially complex species. Here we leveraged extensive observations of a wild yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus) population that has experienced recent gene flow from a close sister taxon, the anubis baboon (Papio anubis), to examine how admixture-related genetic background affects mating behavior. We identified novel effects of genetic background on mating patterns, including an advantage accruing to anubis-like males and assortative mating among both yellow-like and anubis-like pairs. These genetic effects acted alongside social dominance rank, inbreeding avoidance, and age to produce highly nonrandom mating patterns. Our results suggest that this population may be undergoing admixture-related evolutionary change, driven in part by nonrandom mating. However, the strength of the genetic effect is mediated by behavioral plasticity and social interactions, emphasizing the strong influence of social context on mating behavior in socially complex species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Tung
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, 920 E 58 Street, Chicago IL 60637, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Box 90383, Durham NC 27708, USA
- Duke Population Research Institute, Duke University, Box 90420, Durham NC 27708, USA
| | | | - Sayan Mukherjee
- Department of Statistical Science, Duke University, Box 90251, Durham NC 27708, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Duke University, Box 90129, Durham NC 27708, USA
- Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Box 90320, Durham NC 27708, USA
| | - Jeanne Altmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08540, USA
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan C Alberts
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham NC 27708, USA
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50
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Curno O, Reader T, McElligott AG, Behnke JM, Barnard CJ. Infection before pregnancy affects immunity and response to social challenge in the next generation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2012; 366:3364-74. [PMID: 22042914 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural selection should favour parents that are able to adjust their offspring's life-history strategy and resource allocation in response to changing environmental and social conditions. Pathogens impose particularly strong and variable selective pressure on host life histories, and parental genes will benefit if offspring are appropriately primed to meet the immunological challenges ahead. Here, we investigated transgenerational immune priming by examining reproductive resource allocation by female mice in response to direct infection with Babesia microti prior to pregnancy. Female mice previously infected with B. microti gained more weight over pregnancy, and spent more time nursing their offspring. These offspring generated an accelerated response to B. microti as adults, clearing the infection sooner and losing less weight as a result of infection. They also showed an altered hormonal response to novel social environments, decreasing instead of increasing testosterone production upon social housing. These results suggest that a dominance-resistance trade-off can be mediated by cues from the previous generation. We suggest that strategic maternal investment in response to an infection leads to increased disease resistance in the following generation. Offspring from previously infected mothers downregulate investment in acquisition of social dominance, which in natural systems would reduce access to mating opportunities. In doing so, however, they avoid the reduced disease resistance associated with increased testosterone and dominance. The benefits of accelerated clearance of infection and reduced weight loss during infection may outweigh costs associated with reduced social dominance in an environment where the risk of disease is high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Curno
- School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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