1
|
Staubli V, Bshary R, Triki Z. The serotonin blocker Ketanserin reduces coral reef fish Ctenochaetus striatus aggressive behaviour during between-species social interactions. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16858. [PMID: 38313029 PMCID: PMC10838075 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
A multitude of species engages in social interactions not only with their conspecifics but also with other species. Such interspecific interactions can be either positive, like helping, or negative, like aggressive behaviour. However, the physiological mechanisms of these behaviours remain unclear. Here, we manipulated the serotonin system, a well-known neurohormone for regulating intraspecific aggressive behaviour, to investigate its role in interspecific aggression. We tested whether serotonin blockade affects the aggressive behaviour of a coral reef fish species (Ctenochaetus striatus) that engages in mutualistic interactions with another species, the cleaner fish (Labroides dimidiatus). Although this mutualistic cleaning relationship may appear positive, cleaner fish do not always cooperate and remove ectoparasites from the other coral reef fish ("clients") but tend to cheat and bite the client's protective layer of mucus. Client fish thus often apply control mechanisms, like chasing, to deter their cleaner fish partners from cheating. Our findings show that blocking serotonin receptors 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C with ketanserin reduced the client fish's aggressive behaviour towards cleaner fish, but in the context where the latter did not cheat. These results are evidence of the involvement of serotonin in regulating aggressive behaviour at the between-species social interactions level. Yet, the direction of effect we found here is the opposite of previous findings using a similar experimental set-up and ecological context but with a different client fish species (Scolopsis bilineatus). Together, it suggests that serotonin's role in aggressive behaviour is complex, and at least in this mutualistic ecological context, its function is species-dependent. This warrants, to some extent, careful interpretations from single-species studies looking into the physiological mechanisms of social behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Staubli
- Faculty of Science, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Faculty of Science, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Zegni Triki
- Faculty of Science, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Corso AJ, Pina-Amargós F, Rodriguez-Viera L. Cleaning symbiosis in coral reefs of Jardines de la Reina National Park. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16524. [PMID: 38077429 PMCID: PMC10710127 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cleaning symbiotic interactions are an important component of coral reef biodiversity and the study of the characteristics of these interacting species networks allows to assess the health of communities. The coral reefs of Jardines de la Reina National Park (JRNP) are subject to a protection gradient and there is a lack of knowledge about the effect of different levels of protection on the cleaning mutualistic networks in the area. The present study aims to characterize the mutualistic cleaning networks in the reefs of JRNP and to assess the potential effect of the protection gradient on their characteristics. Methods We visited 26 reef sites distributed along the National Park and performed 96 band transects (50 m × 4 m). Low, medium and highly protected regions were compared according to the number of cleaning stations and the abundance and number of species of clients and cleaners associated with them. Additionally, we built interaction networks for the three regions and the entire archipelago based on a total of 150 minutes' video records of active cleaning stations. We assessed ecological networks characteristics (specialization, nestedness) using network topological metrics. Results We found a high diversity and complex cleaning interaction network with 6 cleaner species and 39 client species, among them, the threatened grouper Epinephelus striatus was one of the most common clients. No clear effect of the protection level on the density, abundance or diversity of cleaners and clients was detected during this study. However, we found that the network structure varied among regions, with the highly protected region being more specialized and less nested than the other regions. Our research reveals some patterns that suggest the effect of fishing pressure on cleaning symbiosis, as fishing may reduce the abundance and composition of client species, especially those that are targeted by fishers. However, fishing pressure may not be the main factor influencing cleaning symbiosis inside of the National Park, as other factors, such as habitat quality or environmental conditions may have stronger effects on the demand for cleaning services and the interactions between cleaners and clients. Our research provides insights into the factors that influence cleaning symbiosis and its implications for coral reef conservation and management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andy Joel Corso
- Center for Marine Research, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Leandro Rodriguez-Viera
- Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Paula JR, Cascalheira L, Oliveira R, Otjacques E, Frazão-Santos C, Beldade R, Mills SC, Rosa R. GABAergic role in the disruption of wild cleaner fish behaviour under high CO2. Anim Behav 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
4
|
Sharks are the preferred scraping surface for large pelagic fishes: Possible implications for parasite removal and fitness in a changing ocean. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275458. [PMID: 36260545 PMCID: PMC9581428 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutualistic and commensal interactions can have significant positive impacts on animal fitness and survival. However, behavioural interactions between pelagic animals living in offshore oceanic environments are little studied. Parasites can negatively effect the fitness of their hosts by draining resources and diverting energy from growth, reproduction, and other bodily functions. Pelagic fishes are hosts to a diverse array of parasites, however their environment provides few options for removal. Here we provide records of scraping behaviour of several pelagic teleost species, a behaviour that is likely used for parasite removal. These records span three ocean basins and, to the best of our knowledge, include the first records of scraping interactions involving tunas, blue sharks, and mako sharks as well as the first records of intraspecific scraping. We found that scrapers preferred scraping their head, eyes, gill cover, and lateral surfaces, areas where parasites are commonly found and where damage would likely have a substantial impact on fitness. Scraper species varied in their scraping preferences with tunas scraping mostly on the posterior caudal margins of sharks and occasionally conspecifics, while rainbow runner scraped in more varied locations on both sharks and conspecifics. Lengths of scrapers and scrapees were positively correlated and fish scraping on sharks were larger than those scraping on conspecifics, suggesting that risk of predation may be a limiting factor. We show that pelagic teleosts prefer to scrape on sharks rather than conspecifics or other teleosts and suggest that this behaviour may have a positive impact on teleost fitness by reducing parasite loads. The decline of shark populations in the global ocean and the reduction in mean size of many species may limit these interactions, eroding possible fitness benefits associated with this behaviour, and consequently placing more pressure on already highly targeted and vulnerable species.
Collapse
|
5
|
Narvaez P, Morais RA, Vaughan DB, Grutter AS, Hutson KS. Cleaner fish are potential super-spreaders. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:276034. [PMID: 35855672 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cleaning symbiosis is critical for maintaining healthy biological communities in tropical marine ecosystems. However, potential negative impacts of mutualism, such as the transmission of pathogens and parasites during cleaning interactions, have rarely been evaluated. Here, we investigated whether the dedicated bluestreak cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, is susceptible to, and can transmit generalist ectoparasites between client fish. In laboratory experiments, L. dimidiatus were exposed to infective stages of three generalist ectoparasite species with contrasting life-histories. Labroides dimidiatus were susceptible to infection by the gnathiid isopod, Gnathia aureamaculosa, but significantly less susceptible to the ciliate protozoan, Cryptocaryon irritans, and the monogenean flatworm, Neobenedenia girellae, compared to control host species (Coris batuensis or Lates calcarifer). The potential for parasite transmission from a client fish to the cleaner fish was simulated using experimentally transplanted mobile adult (i.e., egg-producing) monogenean flatworms on L. dimidiatus. Parasites remained attached to cleaners for an average of two days, during which parasite egg production continued, but was reduced compared to control fish. Over this timespan, a wild cleaner may engage in several thousand cleaning interactions, providing numerous opportunities for mobile parasites to exploit cleaners as vectors. Our study provides the first experimental evidence that L. dimidiatus exhibits resistance to infective stages of some parasites yet has the potential to temporarily transport adult parasites. We propose that some parasites that evade being eaten by cleaner fish could exploit cleaning interactions as a mechanism for transmission and spread.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Narvaez
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, 5 Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia.,Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - Renato A Morais
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, 5 Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - David B Vaughan
- School of Access Education, Central Queensland University, 554-700 Yaamba Road, Rockhampton, Queensland 4701, Australia.,Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre, Central Queensland University, 554-700 Yaamba Road, Rockhampton, Queensland 4701, Australia
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kate S Hutson
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia.,Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia.,Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Paula JR, Repolho T, Grutter AS, Rosa R. Access to Cleaning Services Alters Fish Physiology Under Parasite Infection and Ocean Acidification. Front Physiol 2022; 13:859556. [PMID: 35755439 PMCID: PMC9213755 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.859556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cleaning symbioses are key mutualistic interactions where cleaners remove ectoparasites and tissues from client fishes. Such interactions elicit beneficial effects on clients’ ecophysiology, with cascading effects on fish diversity and abundance. Ocean acidification (OA), resulting from increasing CO2 concentrations, can affect the behavior of cleaner fishes making them less motivated to inspect their clients. This is especially important as gnathiid fish ectoparasites are tolerant to ocean acidification. Here, we investigated how access to cleaning services, performed by the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, affect individual client’s (damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis) aerobic metabolism in response to both experimental parasite infection and OA. Access to cleaning services was modulated using a long-term removal experiment where cleaner wrasses were consistently removed from patch reefs around Lizard Island (Australia) for 17 years or left undisturbed. Only damselfish with access to cleaning stations had a negative metabolic response to parasite infection (maximum metabolic rate—ṀO2Max; and both factorial and absolute aerobic scope). Moreover, after an acclimation period of 10 days to high CO2 (∼1,000 µatm CO2), the fish showed a decrease in factorial aerobic scope, being the lowest in fish without the access to cleaners. We propose that stronger positive selection for parasite tolerance might be present in reef fishes without the access to cleaners, but this might come at a cost, as readiness to deal with parasites can impact their response to other stressors, such as OA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Ricardo Paula
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Tiago Repolho
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Rui Rosa
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Triki Z, Richter XYL, Demairé C, Kurokawa S, Bshary R. Marine cleaning mutualism defies standard logic of supply and demand. Am Nat 2021; 199:455-467. [DOI: 10.1086/718315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
8
|
Caves EM. The behavioural ecology of marine cleaning mutualisms. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2584-2601. [PMID: 34165230 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Cleaning interactions, in which a small 'cleaner' organism removes and often consumes material from a larger 'client', are some of the most enigmatic and intriguing of interspecies interactions. Early research on cleaning interactions canonized the view that they are mutualistic, with clients benefiting from parasite removal and cleaners benefiting from a meal, but subsequent decades of research have revealed that the dynamics of these interactions can be highly complex. Despite decades of research on marine cleaning interactions (the best studied cleaning systems), key questions remain, including how the outcome of an individual cleaning interaction depends on ecological, behavioural, and social context, how such interactions arise, and how they remain stable over time. Recently, studies of marine parasites, long-term data from coral reef communities with and without cleaners, increased behavioural observations recorded using remote video, and a focus on a larger numbers of cleaning species have helped bring about key conceptual advances in our understanding of cleaning interactions. In particular, evidence now suggests that the ecological, behavioural, and social contexts of a given cleaning interaction can result in the outcome ranging from mutualistic to parasitic, and that cleaning interactions are mediated by signals that can also vary with context. Signals are an important means by which animals extract information about one another, and thus represent a mechanism by which interspecific partners can determine when, how, and with whom to interact. Here, I review our understanding of the behavioural ecology of marine cleaning interactions. In particular, I argue that signals provide a useful framework for advancing our understanding of several important outstanding questions. I discuss the costs and benefits of cleaning interactions, review how cleaners and clients recognize and assess one another using signals, and discuss how signal reliability, or 'honesty', may be maintained in cleaning systems. Lastly, I discuss the sensory ecology of both cleaners and clients to highlight what marine cleaning systems can tell us about signalling behaviour, signal form, and signal evolution in a system where signals are aimed at multiple receiver species. Overall, I argue that future research on cleaning interactions has much to gain by continuing to shift the research focus toward examining the variable outcomes of cleaning interactions in relation to the broader behavioural, social, and ecological contexts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M Caves
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
|
10
|
Ros AFH, Nusbaumer D, Triki Z, Grutter AS, Bshary R. The impact of long-term reduced access to cleaner fish on health indicators of resident client fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb231613. [PMID: 33188063 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.231613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
In many mutualisms, benefits in the form of food are exchanged for services such as transport or protection. In the marine cleaning mutualism, a variety of 'client' reef fishes offer 'cleaner' fish Labroides dimidiatus access to food in the form of their ectoparasites, where parasite removal supposedly protects the clients. Yet, the health benefits individual clients obtain in the long term from repeated ectoparasite removal remain relatively unknown. Here, we tested whether long-term reduced access to cleaning services alters indicators of health status such as body condition, immunity and the steroids cortisol and testosterone in four client damselfish species Pomacentrus amboinensis, Amblyglyphidodon curacao, Acanthochromis polyacanthus and Dischistodus perspicillatus To do so, we took advantage of a long-term experimental project in which several small reefs around Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) have been maintained cleaner-free since the year 2000, while control reefs had their cleaner presence continuously monitored. We found that the four damselfish species from reef sites without cleaners for 13 years had lower body condition than fish from reefs with cleaners. However, immunity measurements and cortisol and testosterone levels did not differ between experimental groups. Our findings suggest that clients use the energetic benefits derived from long-term access to cleaning services to selectively increase body condition, rather than altering hormonal or immune system functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert F H Ros
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Fishery Research Unit, LAZBW, Argenweg 50/1, 88085 Langenargen, Germany
| | - David Nusbaumer
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zegni Triki
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 18 B, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Triki Z, Emery Y, Teles MC, Oliveira RF, Bshary R. Brain morphology predicts social intelligence in wild cleaner fish. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6423. [PMID: 33349638 PMCID: PMC7752907 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20130-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
It is generally agreed that variation in social and/or environmental complexity yields variation in selective pressures on brain anatomy, where more complex brains should yield increased intelligence. While these insights are based on many evolutionary studies, it remains unclear how ecology impacts brain plasticity and subsequently cognitive performance within a species. Here, we show that in wild cleaner fish (Labroides dimidiatus), forebrain size of high-performing individuals tested in an ephemeral reward task covaried positively with cleaner density, while cerebellum size covaried negatively with cleaner density. This unexpected relationship may be explained if we consider that performance in this task reflects the decision rules that individuals use in nature rather than learning abilities: cleaners with relatively larger forebrains used decision-rules that appeared to be locally optimal. Thus, social competence seems to be a suitable proxy of intelligence to understand individual differences under natural conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zegni Triki
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 18 B, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Yasmin Emery
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Magda C Teles
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Rui F Oliveira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Changes in local free-living parasite populations in response to cleaner manipulation over 12 years. Oecologia 2019; 190:783-797. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04451-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
|
13
|
Dunkley K, Ioannou CC, Whittey KE, Cable J, Perkins SE. Cleaner personality and client identity have joint consequences on cleaning interaction dynamics. Behav Ecol 2019; 30:703-712. [PMID: 31210720 PMCID: PMC6562305 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutualistic interactions involve 2 species beneficially cooperating, but it is not clear how these interactions are maintained. In many mutualisms, one species interacts with multiple species, and since partners differ in terms of the commodities they trade, partner identity will directly influence the decisions and behaviors of interacting individuals. Here, we investigated the consequences of within and between-species diversity on a model cleaner-client interaction in a natural environment, by quantifying the behavior of both partners. We found that the predominant Caribbean cleaner fish, the sharknose goby (Elacatinus evelynae), shows personality variation as we documented repeatable individual differences in activity, boldness, and exploratory behaviors. Personality variation was associated with cleaner-client interactions: cleaner boldness and activity were significantly related to posing by clients and cleaning, respectively. Cleaner personality variation was also associated with the functional identity (sociality, mobility, body size, and trophic level) of clients posing and being cleaned. We thus demonstrate that partner identity can have consequences on mutualistic outcomes which will contribute to the context-dependency and highly heterogeneous patterns we observe at a population level. We also suggest that within- and between-species differences have consequences on partner choice, a feature that has been previously thought to be absent from these cleaner-client interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Dunkley
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Kathryn E Whittey
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jo Cable
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sarah E Perkins
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Xavier R, Mazzei R, Pérez-Losada M, Rosado D, Santos JL, Veríssimo A, Soares MC. A Risky Business? Habitat and Social Behavior Impact Skin and Gut Microbiomes in Caribbean Cleaning Gobies. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:716. [PMID: 31024495 PMCID: PMC6467100 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The broadstripe cleaning goby Elacatinus prochilos has two alternative ecotypes: sponge-dwellers, which live in large groups and feed mainly upon nematode parasites; and coral-dwellers, that live in small groups or in solitude and behave as cleaners. Recent studies focusing on the skin and gut microbiomes of tropical fish showed that microbial communities are influenced mainly by diet and host species. Here, we compare the skin and gut microbiomes of the Caribbean broadstripe cleaning goby E. prochilos alternative ecotypes (cleaners and non-cleaners) from Barbados and predict that different habitat use and behavior (cleaning vs. non-cleaning) will translate in different bacterial profiles between the two ecotypes. We found significant differences in both alpha- and beta-diversity of skin and gut microbiomes belonging to different ecotypes. Importantly, the skin microbiome of obligate cleaners showed greater intra-sample diversity and harbored a significantly higher prevalence of potential fish pathogens. Likewise, potential pathogens were also more prevalent in the gut of obligate cleaners. We suggest that habitat use, diet, but also direct contact with potential diseased clientele during cleaning, could be the cause for these patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Xavier
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Renata Mazzei
- Laboratoire d'Eco-Ethologie, Institut de Biologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Marcos Pérez-Losada
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Computational Biology Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Ashburn, VA, United States
| | - Daniela Rosado
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana L Santos
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Veríssimo
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta C Soares
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Titus BM, Daly M, Vondriska C, Hamilton I, Exton DA. Lack of strategic service provisioning by Pederson's cleaner shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni) highlights independent evolution of cleaning behaviors between ocean basins. Sci Rep 2019; 9:629. [PMID: 30679712 PMCID: PMC6345747 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37418-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine cleaning interactions have been useful model systems for exploring evolutionary game theory and explaining the stability of mutualism. In the Indo-Pacific, cleaner organisms will occasionally "cheat" and remove live tissue, clients use partner control mechanisms to maintain cleaner honesty, and cleaners strategically increase service quality for predatory clients that can "punish" more severely. The extent to which reef communities in the Caribbean have evolved similar strategies for maintaining the stability of these symbioses is less clear. Here we study the strategic service provisioning in Pederson's cleaner shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni) on Caribbean coral reefs. In the Gulf of Honduras, we use video observations to analyze >1000 cleaning interactions and record >850 incidents of cheating. We demonstrate that A. pedersoni cheat frequently and do not vary their service quality based on client trophic position or cleaner shrimp group size. As a direct analog to the cleaner shrimp A. longicarpus in the Indo-Pacific, our study highlights that although cleaning interactions in both ocean basins are ecologically analogous and result in parasite removal, the strategic behaviors that mediate these interactions have evolved independently in cleaner shrimps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Titus
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA. .,Operation Wallacea, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 4EX, UK. .,Division of Invertebrate Zoology, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA.
| | - Marymegan Daly
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Clayton Vondriska
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA.,Operation Wallacea, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 4EX, UK.,Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, 74267, USA
| | - Ian Hamilton
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Dan A Exton
- Operation Wallacea, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 4EX, UK
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Binning SA, Roche DG, Grutter AS, Colosio S, Sun D, Miest J, Bshary R. Cleaner wrasse indirectly affect the cognitive performance of a damselfish through ectoparasite removal. Proc Biol Sci 2019. [PMID: 29514969 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cleaning organisms play a fundamental ecological role by removing ectoparasites and infected tissue from client surfaces. We used the well-studied cleaning mutualisms involving the cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, to test how client cognition is affected by ectoparasites and whether these effects are mitigated by cleaners. Ambon damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) collected from experimental reef patches without cleaner wrasse performed worse in a visual discrimination test than conspecifics from patches with cleaners. Endoparasite abundance also negatively influenced success in this test. Visual discrimination performance was also impaired in damselfish experimentally infected with gnathiid (Crustacea: Isopoda) ectoparasites. Neither cleaner absence nor gnathiid infection affected performance in spatial recognition or reversal learning tests. Injection with immune-stimulating lipopolysaccharide did not affect visual discrimination performance relative to saline-injected controls, suggesting that cognitive impairments are not due to an innate immune response. Our results highlight the complex, indirect role of cleaning organisms in promoting the health of their clients via ectoparasite removal and emphasize the negative impact of parasites on host's cognitive abilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra A Binning
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland .,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St-Lucia, Australia.,Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Dominique G Roche
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St-Lucia, Australia
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St-Lucia, Australia
| | - Simona Colosio
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Derek Sun
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St-Lucia, Australia
| | - Joanna Miest
- Department of Life and Sports Sciences, University of Greenwich, Kent, UK
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
|
18
|
Imsland AKD, Hanssen A, Nytrø AV, Reynolds P, Jonassen TM, Hangstad TA, Elvegård TA, Urskog TC, Mikalsen B. It works! Lumpfish can significantly lower sea lice infestation in large-scale salmon farming. Biol Open 2018; 7:7/9/bio036301. [PMID: 30177547 PMCID: PMC6176945 DOI: 10.1242/bio.036301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To assess the efficacy of lumpfish grazing on attached sea lice on Atlantic salmon, six large-scale sea cages, (130 m circumference, 37,688 m3 volume) each stocked with approximately 200,000 salmon 0+ smolts, were stocked with a 4, 6 and 8% density (8000, 12,000 and 16,000, respectively) of lumpfish. The sea cages without lumpfish acted as controls. Sea lice infestation levels on the salmon were monitored weekly and bi-weekly from 6 October to 17 May the subsequent year. Mortality of the lumpfish rose with decreasing sea temperatures to around 0.8% week-1 and did not vary between the lumpfish groups. There were clear signs of lumpfish grazing on sea lice, with significantly lower average levels of chalimus, pre-adult and adult female Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus sea lice per salmon. Lumpfish in the high density (8%) group reduced the mature female L. salmonis to levels equal to or lower than the counts recorded prior to the start of the study. Overall, the present results indicate that lumpfish are a suitable cold-water option for biological delousing of Atlantic salmon in large-scale production conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Kjartan Dagbjartarson Imsland
- Akvaplan-niva Iceland Office, Akralind 4, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland .,Department of Biology, University of Bergen, High Technology Centre, 5020 Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Patrick Reynolds
- Gildeskål Forskningsstasjon (GIFAS) AS, Gildeskål, 8140 Inndyr, Norway
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Gingins S, Roche DG, Bshary R. Mutualistic cleaner fish maintains high escape performance despite privileged relationship with predators. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:rspb.2016.2469. [PMID: 28424344 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Predatory reef fishes regularly visit mutualistic cleaner fish (Labroides dimidiatus) to get their ectoparasites removed but show no interest in eating them. The concept of compensated trait loss posits that characters can be lost if a mutualistic relationship reduces the need for a given trait. Thus, selective pressures on escape performance might have relaxed in L. dimidiatus due to its privileged relationship with predators. However, the cost of failing to escape a predatory strike is extreme even if predation events on cleaners are exceptionally rare. Additionally, cleaners must escape from non-predatory clients that regularly punish them for eating mucus instead of parasites. Therefore, strong escape capabilities might instead be maintained in cleaner fish because they must be able to flee when in close proximity to predators or dissatisfied clients. We compared the fast-start escape performance of L. dimidiatus with that of five closely related wrasse species and found that the mutualistic relationship that cleaners entertain with predators has not led to reduced escape performance. Instead, conflicts in cleaning interactions appear to have maintained selective pressures on this trait, suggesting that compensated trait loss might only evolve in cases of high interdependence between mutualistic partners that are not tempted to cheat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Gingins
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Dominique G Roche
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Brooker RM, Feeney WE, White JR, Manassa RP, Johansen JL, Dixson DL. Using insights from animal behaviour and behavioural ecology to inform marine conservation initiatives. Anim Behav 2016; 120:211-221. [PMID: 29104297 PMCID: PMC5665575 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The impacts of human activities on the natural world are becoming increasingly apparent, with rapid development and exploitation occurring at the expense of habitat quality and biodiversity. Declines are especially concerning in the oceans, which hold intrinsic value due to their biological uniqueness as well as their substantial sociological and economic importance. Here, we review the literature and investigate whether incorporation of knowledge from the fields of animal behaviour and behavioural ecology may improve the effectiveness of conservation initiatives in marine systems. In particular, we consider (1) how knowledge of larval behaviour and ecology may be used to inform the design of marine protected areas, (2) how protecting species that hold specific ecological niches may be of particular importance for maximizing the preservation of biodiversity, (3) how current harvesting techniques may be inadvertently skewing the behavioural phenotypes of stock populations and whether changes to current practices may lessen this skew and reinforce population persistence, and (4) how understanding the behavioural and physiological responses of species to a changing environment may provide essential insights into areas of particular vulnerability for prioritized conservation attention. The complex nature of conservation programmes inherently results in interdisciplinary responses, and the incorporation of knowledge from the fields of animal behaviour and behavioural ecology may increase our ability to stem the loss of biodiversity in marine environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rohan M. Brooker
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, U.S.A
| | - William E. Feeney
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, U.S.A
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K
| | - James R. White
- College of Tropical and Marine Science, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Rachel P. Manassa
- Water Studies Centre, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jacob L. Johansen
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas, Port Aransas, TX, U.S.A
| | - Danielle L. Dixson
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Artim J, Sikkel P. Comparison of sampling methodologies and estimation of population parameters for a temporary fish ectoparasite. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2016; 5:145-57. [PMID: 27330985 PMCID: PMC4900441 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Characterizing spatio-temporal variation in the density of organisms in a community is a crucial part of ecological study. However, doing so for small, motile, cryptic species presents multiple challenges, especially where multiple life history stages are involved. Gnathiid isopods are ecologically important marine ectoparasites, micropredators that live in substrate for most of their lives, emerging only once during each juvenile stage to feed on fish blood. Many gnathiid species are nocturnal and most have distinct substrate preferences. Studies of gnathiid use of habitat, exploitation of hosts, and population dynamics have used various trap designs to estimate rates of gnathiid emergence, study sensory ecology, and identify host susceptibility. In the studies reported here, we compare and contrast the performance of emergence, fish-baited and light trap designs, outline the key features of these traps, and determine some life cycle parameters derived from trap counts for the Eastern Caribbean coral-reef gnathiid, Gnathia marleyi. We also used counts from large emergence traps and light traps to estimate additional life cycle parameters, emergence rates, and total gnathiid density on substrate, and to calibrate the light trap design to provide estimates of rate of emergence and total gnathiid density in habitat not amenable to emergence trap deployment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J.M. Artim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Sciences Program, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - P.C. Sikkel
- Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Sciences Program, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467, USA
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wagner ELES, Roche DG, Binning SA, Wismer S, Bshary R. Temporal comparison and predictors of fish species abundance and richness on undisturbed coral reef patches. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1459. [PMID: 26644988 PMCID: PMC4671157 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Large disturbances can cause rapid degradation of coral reef communities, but what baseline changes in species assemblages occur on undisturbed reefs through time? We surveyed live coral cover, reef fish abundance and fish species richness in 1997 and again in 2007 on 47 fringing patch reefs of varying size and depth at Mersa Bareika, Ras Mohammed National Park, Egypt. No major human or natural disturbance event occurred between these two survey periods in this remote protected area. In the absence of large disturbances, we found that live coral cover, reef fish abundance and fish species richness did not differ in 1997 compared to 2007. Fish abundance and species richness on patches was largely related to the presence of shelters (caves and/or holes), live coral cover and patch size (volume). The presence of the ectoparasite-eating cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, was also positively related to fish species richness. Our results underscore the importance of physical reef characteristics, such as patch size and shelter availability, in addition to biotic characteristics, such as live coral cover and cleaner wrasse abundance, in supporting reef fish species richness and abundance through time in a relatively undisturbed and understudied region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena L E S Wagner
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, NE, Switzerland
| | - Dominique G Roche
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, NE, Switzerland
| | - Sandra A Binning
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, NE, Switzerland
| | - Sharon Wismer
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, NE, Switzerland
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, NE, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Sun D, Cheney KL, Werminghausen J, Meekan MG, McCormick MI, Cribb TH, Grutter AS. Presence of cleaner wrasse increases the recruitment of damselfishes to coral reefs. Biol Lett 2015; 11:rsbl.2015.0456. [PMID: 26289440 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutualisms affect the biodiversity, distribution and abundance of biological communities. However, ecological processes that drive mutualism-related shifts in population structure are often unclear and must be examined to elucidate how complex, multi-species mutualistic networks are formed and structured. In this study, we investigated how the presence of key marine mutualistic partners can drive the organisation of local communities on coral reefs. The cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, removes ectoparasites and reduces stress hormones for multiple reef fish species, and their presence on coral reefs increases fish abundance and diversity. Such changes in population structure could be driven by increased recruitment of larval fish at settlement, or by post-settlement processes such as modified levels of migration or predation. We conducted a controlled field experiment to examine the effect of cleaners on recruitment processes of a common group of reef fishes, and showed that small patch reefs (61-285 m(2)) with cleaner wrasse had higher abundances of damselfish recruits than reefs from which cleaner wrasse had been removed over a 12-year period. However, the presence of cleaner wrasse did not affect species diversity of damselfish recruits. Our study provides evidence of the ecological processes that underpin changes in local population structure in the presence of a key mutualistic partner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Derek Sun
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen L Cheney
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Johanna Werminghausen
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark G Meekan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, UWA Oceans Institute (M096), Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mark I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas H Cribb
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E. Glazier
- Biology Department; University of Massachusetts; 100 Morrissey Blvd Boston MA 02125 USA
| | - Ron J. Etter
- Biology Department; University of Massachusetts; 100 Morrissey Blvd Boston MA 02125 USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Imsland AK, Reynolds P, Eliassen G, Hangstad TA, Nytrø AV, Foss A, Vikingstad E, Elvegård TA. Notes on the behaviour of lumpfish in sea pens with and without Atlantic salmon present. J ETHOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-014-0397-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
26
|
Skelton J, Creed RP, Brown BL. Ontogenetic shift in host tolerance controls initiation of a cleaning symbiosis. OIKOS 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2013.00963.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
|
27
|
|
28
|
Jennings RM, Etter RJ, Ficarra L. Population differentiation and species formation in the deep sea: the potential role of environmental gradients and depth. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77594. [PMID: 24098590 PMCID: PMC3788136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological speciation probably plays a more prominent role in diversification than previously thought, particularly in marine ecosystems where dispersal potential is great and where few obvious barriers to gene flow exist. This may be especially true in the deep sea where allopatric speciation seems insufficient to account for the rich and largely endemic fauna. Ecologically driven population differentiation and speciation are likely to be most prevalent along environmental gradients, such as those attending changes in depth. We quantified patterns of genetic variation along a depth gradient (1600-3800m) in the western North Atlantic for a protobranch bivalve (Nuculaatacellana) to test for population divergence. Multilocus analyses indicated a sharp discontinuity across a narrow depth range, with extremely low gene flow inferred between shallow and deep populations for thousands of generations. Phylogeographical discordance occurred between nuclear and mitochondrial loci as might be expected during the early stages of species formation. Because the geographic distance between divergent populations is small and no obvious dispersal barriers exist in this region, we suggest the divergence might reflect ecologically driven selection mediated by environmental correlates of the depth gradient. As inferred for numerous shallow-water species, environmental gradients that parallel changes in depth may play a key role in the genesis and adaptive radiation of the deep-water fauna.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Jennings
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ron J. Etter
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lynn Ficarra
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Cheney KL. Cleaner fish coloration decreases predation risk in aggressive fangblenny mimics. Behav Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/art043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
|
30
|
Gingins S, Werminghausen J, Johnstone RA, Grutter AS, Bshary R. Power and temptation cause shifts between exploitation and cooperation in a cleaner wrasse mutualism. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20130553. [PMID: 23615288 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In many instances of cooperation, only one individual has both the potential and the incentive to 'cheat' and exploit its partner. Under these asymmetric conditions, a simple model predicts that variation in the temptation to cheat and in the potential victim's capacity for partner control leads to shifts between exploitation and cooperation. Here, we show that the threat of early termination of an interaction was sufficient to induce cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus to feed selectively against their preference (which corresponds to cooperatively eating client fish ectoparasites), provided that their preference for alternative food was weak. Under opposite conditions, cleaners fed selectively according to their own preference (which corresponds to cheating by eating client mucus). By contrast, a non-cleaning fish species, Halichoeres melanurus, failed to adjust its foraging behaviour under these same conditions. Thus, cleaners appear to have evolved the power to strategically adjust their levels of cooperation according to the circumstances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Gingins
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|