1
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Monteiro JPC, Pröhl H, Lyra ML, Brunetti AE, de Nardin EC, Condez TH, Haddad CFB, Rodríguez A. Expression patterns of melanin-related genes are linked to crypsis and conspicuousness in a pumpkin toadlet. Mol Ecol 2024:e17458. [PMID: 38970414 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Colour signals play pivotal roles in different communication systems, and the evolution of these characters has been associated with behavioural ecology, integumentary production processes and perceptual mechanisms of the species involved. Here, we present the first insight into the molecular and histological basis of skin colour polymorphism within a miniaturized species of pumpkin toadlet, potentially representing the lowest size threshold for colour polytypism in tetrapods. Brachycephalus actaeus exhibits a coloration ranging from cryptic green to conspicuous orange skin, and our findings suggest that colour morphs differ in their capability to be detected by potential predators. We also found that the distribution and abundance of chromatophores are variable in the different colour morphs. The expression pattern of coloration related genes was predominantly associated with melanin synthesis (including dct, edn1, mlana, oca2, pmel, slc24a5, tyrp1 and wnt9a). Up-regulation of melanin genes in grey, green and brown skin was associated with higher melanophore abundance than in orange skin, where xanthophores predominate. Our findings provide a significant foundation for comparing and understanding the diverse pathways that contribute to the evolution of pigment production in the skin of amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane P C Monteiro
- Post-Graduate Program in Biodiversity, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Biodiversity and Aquaculture Center (CAUNESP), Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine of Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Heike Pröhl
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine of Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Mariana L Lyra
- Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Andrés E Brunetti
- Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Institute of Subtropical Biology (IBS, UNaM-CONICET), Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Eli C de Nardin
- Department of Biodiversity and Aquaculture Center (CAUNESP), Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais H Condez
- Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Célio F B Haddad
- Department of Biodiversity and Aquaculture Center (CAUNESP), Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ariel Rodríguez
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine of Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
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2
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Aguilar P, Pérez I de Lanuza G, Carneiro M, Andrade P, Pinho C. The role of historical biogeography in shaping colour morph diversity in the common wall lizard. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17338. [PMID: 38572696 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The maintenance of polymorphisms often depends on multiple selective forces, but less is known on the role of stochastic or historical processes in maintaining variation. The common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) is a colour polymorphic species in which local colour morph frequencies are thought to be modulated by natural and sexual selection. Here, we used genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism data to investigate the relationships between morph composition and population biogeography at a regional scale, by comparing morph composition with patterns of genetic variation of 54 populations sampled across the Pyrenees. We found that genetic divergence was explained by geographic distance but not by environmental features. Differences in morph composition were associated with genetic and environmental differentiation, as well as differences in sex ratio. Thus, variation in colour morph frequencies could have arisen via historical events and/or differences in the permeability to gene flow, possibly shaped by the complex topography and environment. In agreement with this hypothesis, colour morph diversity was positively correlated with genetic diversity and rates of gene flow and inversely correlated with the likelihood of the occurrence of bottlenecks. Concurrently, we did not find conclusive evidence for selection in the two colour loci. As an illustration of these effects, we observed that populations with higher proportions of the rarer yellow and yellow-orange morphs had higher genetic diversity. Our results suggest that processes involving a decay in overall genetic diversity, such as reduced gene flow and/or bottleneck events have an important role in shaping population-specific morph composition via non-selective processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prem Aguilar
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Guillem Pérez I de Lanuza
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Ethology Lab, Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Miguel Carneiro
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Pedro Andrade
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinho
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
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3
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Amer A, Spears S, Vaughn PL, Colwell C, Livingston EH, McQueen W, Schill A, Reichard DG, Gangloff EJ, Brock KM. Physiological phenotypes differ among color morphs in introduced common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). Integr Zool 2024; 19:505-523. [PMID: 37884464 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Many species exhibit color polymorphisms which have distinct physiological and behavioral characteristics. However, the consistency of morph trait covariation patterns across species, time, and ecological contexts remains unclear. This trait covariation is especially relevant in the context of invasion biology and urban adaptation. Specifically, physiological traits pertaining to energy maintenance are crucial to fitness, given their immediate ties to individual reproduction, growth, and population establishment. We investigated the physiological traits of Podarcis muralis, a versatile color polymorphic species that thrives in urban environments (including invasive populations in Ohio, USA). We measured five physiological traits (plasma corticosterone and triglycerides, hematocrit, body condition, and field body temperature), which compose an integrated multivariate phenotype. We then tested variation among co-occurring color morphs in the context of establishment in an urban environment. We found that the traits describing physiological status and strategy shifted across the active season in a morph-dependent manner-the white and yellow morphs exhibited clearly different multivariate physiological phenotypes, characterized primarily by differences in plasma corticosterone. This suggests that morphs have different strategies in physiological regulation, the flexibility of which is crucial to urban adaptation. The white-yellow morph exhibited an intermediate phenotype, suggesting an intermediary energy maintenance strategy. Orange morphs also exhibited distinct phenotypes, but the low prevalence of this morph in our study populations precludes clear interpretation. Our work provides insight into how differences among stable polymorphisms exist across axes of the phenotype and how this variation may aid in establishment within novel environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Amer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Sierra Spears
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Princeton L Vaughn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Cece Colwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Ethan H Livingston
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Wyatt McQueen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Anna Schill
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA
| | - Dustin G Reichard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Eric J Gangloff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, USA
| | - Kinsey M Brock
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
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4
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Polic D, Yıldırım Y, Merilaita S, Franzén M, Forsman A. Genetic structure, UV-vision, wing coloration and size coincide with colour polymorphism in Fabriciana adippe butterflies. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17272. [PMID: 38240162 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Colour polymorphisms have long served as model systems in evolutionary studies and continue to inform about processes involved in the origin and dynamics of biodiversity. Modern sequencing tools allow for evaluating whether phenotypic differences between morphs reflect genetic differentiation rather than developmental plasticity, and for investigating whether polymorphisms represent intermediate stages of diversification towards speciation. We investigated phenotypic and genetic differentiation between two colour morphs of the butterfly Fabriciana adippe using a combination of ddRAD-sequencing and comparisons of body size, colour patterns and optical properties of bright wing spots. The silvery-spotted adippe form had larger and darker wings and reflected UV light, while the yellow cleodoxa form displayed more green scales and reflected very little UV, showcasing that they constitute distinct and alternative integrated phenotypes. Genomic analyses revealed genetic structuring according to source population, and to colour morph, suggesting that the phenotypic differentiation reflects evolutionary modifications. We report 17 outlier loci associated with colour morph, including ultraviolet-sensitive visual pigment (UVRh1), which is associated with intraspecific communication and mate choice in butterflies. Together with the demonstration that the wings of the adippe (but essentially not the cleodoxa) morph reflect UV light, that UV reflectance is higher in females than males and that morphs differ in wing size, this suggests that these colour morphs might represent genetically integrated phenotypes, possibly adapted to different microhabitats. We propose that non-random mating might contribute to the differentiation and maintenance of the polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Polic
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Yeşerin Yıldırım
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Sami Merilaita
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Markus Franzén
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Anders Forsman
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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5
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Lu B, Qiu X, Yang W, Yao Z, Ma X, Deng S, Zhang Q, Fu J, Qi Y. Genetic Basis and Evolutionary Forces of Sexually Dimorphic Color Variation in a Toad-Headed Agamid Lizard. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae054. [PMID: 38466135 PMCID: PMC10963123 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In the animal kingdom, sexually dimorphic color variation is a widespread phenomenon that significantly influences survival and reproductive success. However, the genetic underpinnings of this variation remain inadequately understood. Our investigation into sexually dimorphic color variation in the desert-dwelling Guinan population of the toad-headed agamid lizard (Phrynocephalus putjatai) utilized a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing phenotypic, ultrastructural, biochemical, genomic analyses, and behavioral experiments. Our findings unveil the association between distinct skin colorations and varying levels of carotenoid and pteridine pigments. The red coloration in males is determined by a genomic region on chromosome 14, housing four pigmentation genes: BCO2 and three 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthases. A Guinan population-specific nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism in BCO2 is predicted to alter the electrostatic potential within the binding domain of the BCO2-β-carotene complex, influencing their interaction. Additionally, the gene MAP7 on chromosome 2 emerges as a potential contributor to the blue coloration in subadults and adult females. Sex-specific expression patterns point to steroid hormone-associated genes (SULT2B1 and SRD5A2) as potential upstream regulators influencing sexually dimorphic coloration. Visual modeling and field experiments support the potential selective advantages of vibrant coloration in desert environments. This implies that natural selection, potentially coupled with assortative mating, might have played a role in fixing color alleles, contributing to prevalence in the local desert habitat. This study provides novel insights into the genetic basis of carotenoid and pteridine-based color variation, shedding light on the evolution of sexually dimorphic coloration in animals. Moreover, it advances our understanding of the driving forces behind such intricate coloration patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xia Qiu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weizhao Yang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhongyi Yao
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaofeng Ma
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shunyan Deng
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinzhong Fu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Yin Qi
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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6
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Recknagel H, Leitão HG, Elmer KR. Genetic basis and expression of ventral colour in polymorphic common lizards. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17278. [PMID: 38268086 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Colour is an important visual cue that can correlate with sex, behaviour, life history or ecological strategies, and has evolved divergently and convergently across animal lineages. Its genetic basis in non-model organisms is rarely known, but such information is vital for determining the drivers and mechanisms of colour evolution. Leveraging genetic admixture in a rare contact zone between oviparous and viviparous common lizards (Zootoca vivipara), we show that females (N = 558) of the two otherwise morphologically indistinguishable reproductive modes differ in their ventral colouration (from pale to vibrant yellow) and intensity of melanic patterning. We find no association between female colouration and reproductive investment, and no evidence for selection on colour. Using a combination of genetic mapping and transcriptomic evidence, we identified two candidate genes associated with ventral colour differentiation, DGAT2 and PMEL. These are genes known to be involved in carotenoid metabolism and melanin synthesis respectively. Ventral melanic spots were associated with two genomic regions, including a SNP close to protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) genes. Using genome re-sequencing data, our results show that fixed coding mutations in the candidate genes cannot account for differences in colouration. Taken together, our findings show that the evolution of ventral colouration and its associations across common lizard lineages is variable. A potential genetic mechanism explaining the flexibility of ventral colouration may be that colouration in common lizards, but also across squamates, is predominantly driven by regulatory genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Recknagel
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Henrique G Leitão
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Kathryn R Elmer
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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7
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Sun BJ, Li WM, Lv P, Wen GN, Wu DY, Tao SA, Liao ML, Yu CQ, Jiang ZW, Wang Y, Xie HX, Wang XF, Chen ZQ, Liu F, Du WG. Genetically Encoded Lizard Color Divergence for Camouflage and Thermoregulation. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae009. [PMID: 38243850 PMCID: PMC10835340 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Local adaptation is critical in speciation and evolution, yet comprehensive studies on proximate and ultimate causes of local adaptation are generally scarce. Here, we integrated field ecological experiments, genome sequencing, and genetic verification to demonstrate both driving forces and molecular mechanisms governing local adaptation of body coloration in a lizard from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We found dark lizards from the cold meadow population had lower spectrum reflectance but higher melanin contents than light counterparts from the warm dune population. Additionally, the colorations of both dark and light lizards facilitated the camouflage and thermoregulation in their respective microhabitat simultaneously. More importantly, by genome resequencing analysis, we detected a novel mutation in Tyrp1 that underpinned this color adaptation. The allele frequencies at the site of SNP 459# in the gene of Tyrp1 are 22.22% G/C and 77.78% C/C in dark lizards and 100% G/G in light lizards. Model-predicted structure and catalytic activity showed that this mutation increased structure flexibility and catalytic activity in enzyme TYRP1, and thereby facilitated the generation of eumelanin in dark lizards. The function of the mutation in Tyrp1 was further verified by more melanin contents and darker coloration detected in the zebrafish injected with the genotype of Tyrp1 from dark lizards. Therefore, our study demonstrates that a novel mutation of a major melanin-generating gene underpins skin color variation co-selected by camouflage and thermoregulation in a lizard. The resulting strong selection may reinforce adaptive genetic divergence and enable the persistence of adjacent populations with distinct body coloration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wei-Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Peng Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guan-Nan Wen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Dan-Yang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shi-Ang Tao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ming-Ling Liao
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Chang-Qing Yu
- Ecology Laboratory, Beijing Ecotech Science and Technology Ltd, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhong-Wen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Hong-Xin Xie
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xi-Feng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | | | - Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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8
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Twomey E, Melo-Sampaio P, Schulte LM, Bossuyt F, Brown JL, Castroviejo-Fisher S. Multiple Routes to Color Convergence in a Radiation of Neotropical Poison Frogs. Syst Biol 2023; 72:1247-1261. [PMID: 37561391 PMCID: PMC10924724 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syad051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Convergent evolution is defined as the independent evolution of similar phenotypes in different lineages. Its existence underscores the importance of external selection pressures in evolutionary history, revealing how functionally similar adaptations can evolve in response to persistent ecological challenges through a diversity of evolutionary routes. However, many examples of convergence, particularly among closely related species, involve parallel changes in the same genes or developmental pathways, raising the possibility that homology at deeper mechanistic levels is an important facilitator of phenotypic convergence. Using the genus Ranitomeya, a young, color-diverse radiation of Neotropical poison frogs, we set out to 1) provide a phylogenetic framework for this group, 2) leverage this framework to determine if color phenotypes are convergent, and 3) to characterize the underlying coloration mechanisms to test whether color convergence occurred through the same or different physical mechanisms. We generated a phylogeny for Ranitomeya using ultraconserved elements and investigated the physical mechanisms underlying bright coloration, focusing on skin pigments. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we identified several instances of color convergence, involving several gains and losses of carotenoid and pterin pigments. We also found a compelling example of nonparallel convergence, where, in one lineage, red coloration evolved through the red pterin pigment drosopterin, and in another lineage through red ketocarotenoids. Additionally, in another lineage, "reddish" coloration evolved predominantly through structural color mechanisms. Our study demonstrates that, even within a radiation of closely related species, convergent evolution can occur through both parallel and nonparallel mechanisms, challenging the assumption that similar phenotypes among close relatives evolve through the same mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Twomey
- Department of Wildlife/Zoo Animal Biology and Systematics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Paulo Melo-Sampaio
- Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, R. Gen. Herculano Gomes 41, Rio de Janeiro 20941-360, Brazil
| | - Lisa M Schulte
- Department of Wildlife/Zoo Animal Biology and Systematics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Franky Bossuyt
- Amphibian Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Jason L Brown
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 125 Lincoln Dr., Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
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9
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McLaughlin JF, Brock KM, Gates I, Pethkar A, Piattoni M, Rossi A, Lipshutz SE. Multivariate Models of Animal Sex: Breaking Binaries Leads to a Better Understanding of Ecology and Evolution. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:891-906. [PMID: 37156506 PMCID: PMC10563656 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
"Sex" is often used to describe a suite of phenotypic and genotypic traits of an organism related to reproduction. However, these traits-gamete type, chromosomal inheritance, physiology, morphology, behavior, etc.-are not necessarily coupled, and the rhetorical collapse of variation into a single term elides much of the complexity inherent in sexual phenotypes. We argue that consideration of "sex" as a constructed category operating at multiple biological levels opens up new avenues for inquiry in our study of biological variation. We apply this framework to three case studies that illustrate the diversity of sex variation, from decoupling sexual phenotypes to the evolutionary and ecological consequences of intrasexual polymorphisms. We argue that instead of assuming binary sex in these systems, some may be better categorized as multivariate and nonbinary. Finally, we conduct a meta-analysis of terms used to describe diversity in sexual phenotypes in the scientific literature to highlight how a multivariate model of sex can clarify, rather than cloud, studies of sexual diversity within and across species. We argue that such an expanded framework of "sex" better equips us to understand evolutionary processes, and that as biologists, it is incumbent upon us to push back against misunderstandings of the biology of sexual phenotypes that enact harm on marginalized communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F McLaughlin
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kinsey M Brock
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Isabella Gates
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Anisha Pethkar
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Marcus Piattoni
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Alexis Rossi
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Sara E Lipshutz
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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10
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Thompson A, Kapsanaki V, Liwanag HEM, Pafilis P, Wang IJ, Brock KM. Some like it hotter: Differential thermal preferences among lizard color morphs. J Therm Biol 2023; 113:103532. [PMID: 37055135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Temperature rules the lives of ectotherms. To perform basic biological functions, ectotherms must make behavioral adjustments to keep their body temperatures near a preferred temperature (Tpref). Many color polymorphic lizards are active thermoregulators and exhibit morph differences in traits related to thermoregulation, such as color, body size, and microhabitat use. The Aegean wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii, is a heliothermic lizard with orange, white, and yellow color morphs that differ in size, behavior, and microhabitat use. Here, we tested whether P. erhardii color morphs from the same population from Naxos island, Greece, differ in Tpref. We hypothesized that orange morphs would prefer lower temperatures than white and yellow morphs because orange morphs are often found on cooler substrates and in microhabitats with more vegetation cover. We obtained Tpref for 95 individuals using laboratory thermal gradient experiments of wild-caught lizards and found that orange morphs do, indeed, prefer cooler temperatures. Average orange morph Tpref was 2.85 °C lower than average white and yellow morph Tpref. Our results add support to the idea that P. erhardii color morphs have multivariate alternative phenotypes and present the possibility that thermally heterogeneous environments play a role in the maintenance of color polymorphism in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asher Thompson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Vassiliki Kapsanaki
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Heather E M Liwanag
- Department of Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
| | - Panayiotis Pafilis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Zoological Museum, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ian J Wang
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kinsey M Brock
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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McLaughlin JF, Aguilar C, Bernstein JM, Navia-Gine WG, Cueto-Aparicio LE, Alarcon AC, Alarcon BD, Collier R, Takyar A, Vong SJ, López-Chong OG, Driver R, Loaiza JR, De León LF, Saltonstall K, Lipshutz SE, Arcila D, Brock KM, Miller MJ. Comparative phylogeography reveals widespread cryptic diversity driven by ecology in Panamanian birds. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 36993716 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.26.525769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Widespread species often harbor unrecognized genetic diversity, and investigating the factors associated with such cryptic variation can help us better understand the forces driving diversification. Here, we identify potential cryptic species based on a comprehensive dataset of COI mitochondrial DNA barcodes from 2,333 individual Panamanian birds across 429 species, representing 391 (59%) of the 659 resident landbird species of the country, as well as opportunistically sampled waterbirds. We complement this dataset with additional publicly available mitochondrial loci, such as ND2 and cytochrome b, obtained from whole mitochondrial genomes from 20 taxa. Using barcode identification numbers (BINs), we find putative cryptic species in 19% of landbird species, highlighting hidden diversity in the relatively well-described avifauna of Panama. Whereas some of these mitochondrial divergence events corresponded with recognized geographic features that likely isolated populations, such as the Cordillera Central highlands, the majority (74%) of lowland splits were between eastern and western populations. The timing of these splits are not temporally coincident across taxa, suggesting that historical events, such as the formation of the Isthmus of Panama and Pleistocene climatic cycles, were not the primary drivers of cryptic diversification. Rather, we observed that forest species, understory species, insectivores, and strongly territorial species-all traits associated with lower dispersal ability-were all more likely to have multiple BINs in Panama, suggesting strong ecological associations with cryptic divergence. Additionally, hand-wing index, a proxy for dispersal capability, was significantly lower in species with multiple BINs, indicating that dispersal ability plays an important role in generating diversity in Neotropical birds. Together, these results underscore the need for evolutionary studies of tropical bird communities to consider ecological factors along with geographic explanations, and that even in areas with well-known avifauna, avian diversity may be substantially underestimated. LAY SUMMARY - What factors are common among bird species with cryptic diversity in Panama? What role do geography, ecology, phylogeographic history, and other factors play in generating bird diversity?- 19% of widely-sampled bird species form two or more distinct DNA barcode clades, suggesting widespread unrecognized diversity.- Traits associated with reduced dispersal ability, such as use of forest understory, high territoriality, low hand-wing index, and insectivory, were more common in taxa with cryptic diversity. Filogeografía comparada revela amplia diversidad críptica causada por la ecología en las aves de Panamá. RESUMEN Especies extendidas frecuentemente tiene diversidad genética no reconocida, y investigando los factores asociados con esta variación críptica puede ayudarnos a entender las fuerzas que impulsan la diversificación. Aquí, identificamos especies crípticas potenciales basadas en un conjunto de datos de códigos de barras de ADN mitocondrial de 2,333 individuos de aves de Panama en 429 especies, representando 391 (59%) de las 659 especies de aves terrestres residentes del país, además de algunas aves acuáticas muestreada de manera oportunista. Adicionalmente, complementamos estos datos con secuencias mitocondriales disponibles públicamente de otros loci, tal como ND2 o citocroma b, obtenidos de los genomas mitocondriales completos de 20 taxones. Utilizando los números de identificación de código de barras (en ingles: BINs), un sistema taxonómico numérico que proporcina una estimación imparcial de la diversidad potencial a nivel de especie, encontramos especies crípticas putativas en 19% de las especies de aves terrestres, lo que destaca la diversidad oculta en la avifauna bien descrita de Panamá. Aunque algunos de estos eventos de divergencia conciden con características geográficas que probablemente aislaron las poblaciones, la mayoría (74%) de la divergencia en las tierras bajas se encuentra entre las poblaciones orientales y occidentales. El tiempo de esta divergencia no coincidió entre los taxones, sugiriendo que eventos históricos tales como la formación del Istmo de Panamá y los ciclos climáticos del pleistoceno, no fueron los principales impulsores de la especiación. En cambio, observamos asociaciones fuertes entre las características ecológicas y la divergencia mitocondriale: las especies del bosque, sotobosque, con una dieta insectívora, y con territorialidad fuerte mostraton múltiple BINs probables. Adicionalmente, el índice mano-ala, que está asociado a la capacidad de dispersión, fue significativamente menor en las especies con BINs multiples, sugiriendo que la capacidad de dispersión tiene un rol importamente en la generación de la diversidad de las aves neotropicales. Estos resultos demonstran la necesidad de que estudios evolutivos de las comunidades de aves tropicales consideren los factores ecológicos en conjunto con las explicaciones geográficos. Palabras clave: biodiversidad tropical, biogeografía, códigos de barras, dispersión, especies crípticas.
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Clark DL, Macedonia JM, Neyer EE, Mish AME, Rowe JW, Valle CA. Display Responses of Galápagos Lava Lizards ( Microlophus bivittatus) to Manipulation of Male Shoulder Epaulets on Conspecific-Mimicking Robots. HERPETOLOGICA 2023. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-22-00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - John W. Rowe
- Department of Biolog Alma College Alma MI 48801 USA
| | - Carlos A. Valle
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Campus Cumbayá Av. Diego de Robles S/N e Interoceánica, Quito, Ecuador
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Leitão HG, Diedericks G, Broeckhoven C, Baeckens S, Svardal H. Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Cape Cliff Lizard (Hemicordylus capensis). Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:6980485. [PMID: 36624992 PMCID: PMC9907493 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Squamates represent a highly diverse and species-rich vertebrate group that is remarkably understudied from a genomic perspective. A scarcity of genomic data is particularly evident for scincomorph lizards, which encompass over 10% of all living squamates, and for which high-quality genomic resources are currently lacking. To address this knowledge gap, we present the first chromosome-level reference genome for this group, generated from a male Cape cliff lizard (Hemicordylus capensis), using highly accurate PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing data, long-range Omni-C chromosomal conformation capture data and transcriptomic data for annotation. The rHemCap1.1 genome assembly spans 2.29 Gb, with a scaffold N50 of 359.65 Mb, and includes 25,300 protein-coding genes, with a BUSCO completeness score of 95.5% (sauropsida_odb10). We have generated the most contiguous and complete chromosome-level squamate reference genome assembly publicly available to date. Furthermore, we used short-read resequencing of 35 males and females and applied a differential coverage approach to infer the sex-determination system of the species, which was previously unknown. Our results suggest this species has XX/XY sex chromosomes, representing the first evidence of sex determination in the family Cordylidae. This reference genome will help to establish this species as an evolutionary model for studying variation in body armor, a key trait in cordylids and other squamate groups. Lastly, this is the first squamate reference genome from a continental African species and, as such, represents a valuable resource not only for further evolutionary research in cordylids but also in closely related groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Genevieve Diedericks
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium,Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | | | - Simon Baeckens
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium,Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Male color polymorphism in populations of reef geckos (Sphaerodactylus notatus) reduces the utility of visual signals in sex recognition. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03272-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
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Colour Variation in the Crocodile Lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) and Its Relationship to Individual Quality. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11091314. [PMID: 36138793 PMCID: PMC9495974 DOI: 10.3390/biology11091314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary This study examines colour variation in the highly endangered crocodile lizard, Shinisaurus crocodilurus. Both males and females vary in the extent to which their throats and venters are red. Their colouration is easily visible to a lizard receiver, and we found evidence that colour signals individual quality. Females with red venters had larger heads while females with red throats had greater bite force. In males, redder individuals were older. Finally, we found links between colour and fitness in males but not females. Aspects of male colouration were linked to reproductive output such that they sired offspring from heavier litters. The potential fitness consequences of colour should be considered in captive breeding and release programs. Abstract Colour plays a key role in animal social communication including as an indicator of individual quality. Using spectrophotometry, we examined colour variation in the throat and venter of the crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus), an endangered species native to southern China and northern Vietnam. We detected two broad colour variants, individuals with and without red, for each body region and each sex. A cluster analysis of spectral colour measurements (hue, chroma, luminance) revealed discrete throat and ventral morphs when measured in a single snapshot in time. However, photographic evidence revealed that the amount of red relative to body size increased as they got older. Individuals with red were equally likely to be male or female and throat colour was unrelated to ventral colour. Therefore, it is premature to claim that crocodile lizards have discrete colour morphs. We used visual modelling to show that the throat and venter were easily discriminable to a lizard visual system, suggesting they function in social communication. We also asked whether colour variation signalled individual quality. Females with red throats had greater bite force while males with red throats were older. In addition, females with red venters had larger heads. We also detected differences in morphology linked to colour. Females with red throats had slender bodies and longer tails, while individuals lacking red on their throats were stouter and had shorter tails. Finally, throat and ventral colour were unrelated to reproductive output (litter size and mass) in females. Males with greater ventral luminance contrast sired offspring from litters with greater litter mass (including stillborns), while males with greater ventral chromatic contrast sired offspring whose collective live mass (excluding stillborns) was greater. Males with greater luminance contrast also sired more live offspring (excluding stillborns). Collectively, these results suggest that male ventral colour signals individual quality in males. Conservation initiatives should take colour variation into account when planning future captive breeding and release programs for this endangered species.
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Colour morph predicts social behaviour and contest outcomes in a polymorphic lizard (Podarcis erhardii). Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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BeVier GT, Ayton C, Brock KM. It ain’t easy being orange: lizard colour morphs occupying highly vegetated microhabitats suffer greater ectoparasitism. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-bja10097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Intraspecific colour morphs usually differ in more traits than just colour. These traits can manifest as differences in morph physiology, behaviour, and ecology. Ecological differences among colour morphs, such as the degree of parasitism, can influence the evolution, maintenance, and loss of morphs from populations. High ectoparasite load can directly and deleteriously impact host fitness, and thus could influence colour morph persistence in populations if certain morphs are more frequently exposed to parasites or are more susceptible to parasitism. The Aegean wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii, is a colour polymorphic island lizard that is parasitized externally by ticks and mites. These ectoparasites can affect aspects of host lizard behaviour and physiology – including thermoregulation and body mass – and therefore are an important factor influencing the ecology and fitness of P. erhardii. We find that among sympatric colour morphs, ectoparasite loads differ; namely, monochromatic orange morphs have the highest numbers of ectoparasites, and in general, morphs with orange alleles (orange, orange-white, and orange-yellow) are more heavily parasitized by ticks and mites than the other morphs. Our results indicate that morphs with orange alleles tend to occupy microhabitats with significantly more vegetation cover and thus may increase their exposure to ticks and mites. Ecological differences between morphs could be an important factor contributing to demonstrated patterns of orange morph rarity and loss in P. erhardii populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cole Ayton
- Department of Life and Environmental Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Kinsey M. Brock
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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18
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Abstract
Abstract
Variation in color morph behavior is an important factor in the maintenance of color polymorphism. Alternative anti-predator behaviors are often associated with morphological traits such as coloration, possibly because predator-mediated viability selection favors certain combinations of anti-predator behavior and color. The Aegean wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii, is color polymorphic and populations can have up to three monochromatic morphs: orange, yellow, and white. We investigated whether escape behaviors differ among coexisting color morphs, and if morph behaviors are repeatable across different populations with the same predator species. Specifically, we assessed color morph flight initiation distance (FID), distance to the nearest refuge (DNR), and distance to chosen refuge (DR) in two populations of Aegean wall lizards from Naxos island. We also analyzed the type of refugia color morphs selected and their re-emergence behavior following a standardized approach. We found that orange morphs have different escape behaviors from white and yellow morphs, and these differences are consistent in both populations we sampled. Orange morphs have shorter FIDs, DNRs, and DRs; select different refuge types; and re-emerge less often after being approached compared to white and yellow morphs. Observed differences in color morph escape behaviors support the idea that morphs have evolved alternative behavioral strategies that may play a role in population-level morph maintenance and loss.
Significance statement
Color polymorphic species often differ in behaviors related to reproduction, but differences in other behaviors are relatively underexplored. In this study, we use an experimental approach in two natural populations of color populations of color polymorphic lizards to determine that color morphs have diverged in their escape behaviors. By conducting our experiments in two different populations with similar predator regimes, we show for the first time that behavioral differences among intra-specific color morphs are repeatable across populations, suggesting that alternative behavioral strategies have evolved in this species. Using this experimental approach, we demonstrate that the brightest orange morph stays closer to refuge than other morphs, uses a different refuge type (vegetation) more often than other morphs (wall crevices), and take much longer to emerge from refuge after a simulated predation event than other morphs. Thus, selective pressures from visual predators may differ between morphs and play a role in the evolution and maintenance of color polymorphisms in these types of systems. Our study species, Podarcis erhardii, belongs to a highly color polymorphic genus (19/23 spp. are color polymorphic) that contains the same three color morphs, thus we believe our results may be relevant to more than just P. erhardii.
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Aguilar P, Andrade P, Afonso S, Carretero MÁ, Pérez i de Lanuza G, Pinho C. No genomic repercussions of assortative pairing in a colour polymorphic lizard. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:648-656. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Prem Aguilar
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources InBIO Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
| | - Pedro Andrade
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources InBIO Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal
| | - Sandra Afonso
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources InBIO Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal
| | - Miguel Á. Carretero
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources InBIO Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
| | - Guillem Pérez i de Lanuza
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources InBIO Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal
- Ethology Lab Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva Universitat de València València Spain
| | - Catarina Pinho
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources InBIO Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal
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Brock KM, McTavish EJ, Edwards DL. Color Polymorphism is a Driver of Diversification in the Lizard Family Lacertidae. Syst Biol 2021; 71:24-39. [PMID: 34146110 PMCID: PMC8677543 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Color polymorphism-two or more heritable color phenotypes maintained within a single breeding population-is an extreme type of intraspecific diversity widespread across the tree of life. Color polymorphism is hypothesized to be an engine for speciation, where morph loss or divergence between distinct color morphs within a species results in the rapid evolution of new lineages, and thus, color polymorphic lineages are expected to display elevated diversification rates. Multiple species in the lizard family Lacertidae are color polymorphic, making them an ideal group to investigate the evolutionary history of this trait and its influence on macroevolution. Here, we produce a comprehensive species-level phylogeny of the lizard family Lacertidae to reconstruct the evolutionary history of color polymorphism and test if color polymorphism has been a driver of diversification. Accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty with multiple phylogenies and simulation studies, we estimate an ancient origin of color polymorphism (111 Ma) within the Lacertini tribe (subfamily Lacertinae). Color polymorphism most likely evolved few times in the Lacertidae and has been lost at a much faster rate than gained. Evolutionary transitions to color polymorphism are associated with shifts in increased net diversification rate in this family of lizards. Taken together, our empirical results support long-standing theoretical expectations that color polymorphism is a driver of diversification.[Color polymorphism; Lacertidae; state-dependent speciation extinction models; trait-dependent diversification.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinsey M Brock
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced 5400 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95340 USA
- Quantitative & Systems Biology Graduate Group, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced 5400 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95340 USA
| | - Emily Jane McTavish
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced 5400 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95340 USA
| | - Danielle L Edwards
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced 5400 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95340 USA
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Renn SC, Hurd PL. Epigenetic Regulation and Environmental Sex Determination in Cichlid Fishes. Sex Dev 2021; 15:93-107. [PMID: 34433170 PMCID: PMC8440468 DOI: 10.1159/000517197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying environmental sex determination (ESD) in cichlids provides a phylogenetic and comparative approach to understand the evolution of the underlying mechanisms, their impact on the evolution of the overlying systems, and the neuroethology of life history strategies. Natural selection normally favors parents who invest equally in the development of male and female offspring, but evolution may favor deviations from this 50:50 ratio when environmental conditions produce an advantage for doing so. Many species of cichlids demonstrate ESD in response to water chemistry (temperature, pH, and oxygen concentration). The relative strengths of and the exact interactions between these factors vary between congeners, demonstrating genetic variation in sensitivity. The presence of sizable proportions of the less common sex towards the environmental extremes in most species strongly suggests the presence of some genetic sex-determining loci acting in parallel with the ESD factors. Sex determination and differentiation in these species does not seem to result in the organization of a final and irreversible sexual fate, so much as a life-long ongoing battle between competing male- and female-determining genetic and hormonal networks governed by epigenetic factors. We discuss what is and is not known about the epigenetic mechanism behind the differentiation of both gonads and sex differences in the brain. Beyond the well-studied tilapia species, the 2 best-studied dwarf cichlid systems showing ESD are the South American genus Apistogramma and the West African genus Pelvicachromis. Both species demonstrate male morphs with alternative reproductive tactics. We discuss the further neuroethology opportunities such systems provide to the study of epigenetics of alternative life history strategies and other behavioral variation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter L Hurd
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CA
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CA
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22
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Aguilar P, Andrade P, Pérez I DE Lanuza G. Epistatic interactions between pterin and carotenoid genes modulate intra-morph color variation in a lizard. Integr Zool 2021; 17:44-53. [PMID: 34216104 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12570] [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] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Color polymorphisms have become a major topic in evolutionary biology and substantial efforts have been devoted to the understanding of the mechanisms responsible for originating such colorful systems. Within-morph continuous variation, on the other hand, has been neglected in most of the studies. Here, we combine spectrophotometric/visual modeling and genetic data to study the mechanisms promoting continuous variation within categorical color morphs of Podarcis muralis. Our results suggest that intra-morph variability in the pterin-based orange morph is greater compared to white and yellow morphs. We also show that continuous variation within the orange morph is partially discriminable by conspecifics. Genotyping results indicate that allelic variants at the BCO2 locus (responsible for deposition of yellow carotenoids) contribute to generate continuous variation in orange individuals. However, other intrinsic and/or extrinsic mechanisms, such as body size, might be involved, opening a new avenue for future research on the drivers of continuous variation within-morphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prem Aguilar
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Andrade
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Guillem Pérez I DE Lanuza
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Ethology Lab, Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, València, Spain
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Friesen CR, Wilson M, Rollings N, Sudyka J, Giraudeau M, Whittington CM, Olsson M. Exercise training has morph-specific effects on telomere, body condition and growth dynamics in a color-polymorphic lizard. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.242164. [PMID: 33785504 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are correlated suites of sexually selected traits that are likely to impose differential physiological costs on different individuals. While moderate activity might be beneficial, animals living in the wild often work at the margins of their resources and performance limits. Individuals using ARTs may have divergent capacities for activity. When pushed beyond their respective capacities, they may experience condition loss, oxidative stress, and molecular damage that must be repaired with limited resources. We used the Australian painted dragon lizard that exhibits color polymorphism as a model to experimentally test the effect of exercise on body condition, growth, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and telomere dynamics - a potential marker of stress and aging and a correlate of longevity. For most males, ROS levels tended to be lower with greater exercise; however, males with yellow throat patches - or bibs - had higher ROS levels than non-bibbed males. At the highest level of exercise, bibbed males exhibited telomere loss, while non-bibbed males gained telomere length; the opposite pattern was observed in the no-exercise controls. Growth was positively related to food intake but negatively correlated with telomere length at the end of the experiment. Body condition was not related to food intake but was positively correlated with increases in telomere length. These results, along with our previous work, suggest that aggressive - territory holding - bibbed males suffer physiological costs that may reduce longevity compared with non-bibbed males with superior postcopulatory traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mark Wilson
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Nicky Rollings
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Joanna Sudyka
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-060 Krakow, Poland
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, F34394 Montpellier, France.,CREES Centre for Research on the Ecology and Evolution of Disease, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Camilla M Whittington
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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24
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A fully segmented 3D anatomical atlas of a lizard brain. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:1727-1741. [PMID: 33929568 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02282-z] [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: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
As the relevance of lizards in evolutionary neuroscience increases, so does the need for more accurate anatomical references. Moreover, the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evolutionary neuroscience is becoming more widespread; this represents a fundamental methodological shift that opens new avenues of investigative possibility but also poses new challenges. Here, we aim to facilitate this shift by providing a three-dimensional segmentation atlas of the tawny dragon brain. The tawny dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is an Australian lizard of increasing importance as a model system in ecology and, as a member of the agamid lizards, in evolution. Based on a consensus average 3D image generated from the MRIs of 13 male tawny dragon heads, we identify and segment 224 structures visible across the entire lizard brain. We describe the relevance of this atlas to the field of evolutionary neuroscience and propose further experiments for which this atlas can provide the foundation. This advance in defining lizard neuroanatomy will facilitate numerous studies in evolutionary neuroscience. The atlas is available for download as a supplementary material to this manuscript and through the Open Science Framework (OSF; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UJENQ ).
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25
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Nicolaï MPJ, D'Alba L, Goldenberg J, Gansemans Y, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Clusella-Trullas S, Shawkey MD. Untangling the structural and molecular mechanisms underlying colour and rapid colour change in a lizard, Agama atra. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2262-2284. [PMID: 33772941 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
With functions as diverse as communication, protection and thermoregulation, coloration is one of the most important traits in lizards. The ability to change colour as a function of varying social and environmental conditions is thus an important innovation. While colour change is present in animals ranging from squids, to fish and reptiles, not much is known about the mechanisms behind it. Traditionally, colour change was attributed to migration of pigments, in particular melanin. More recent work has shown that the changes in nanostructural configuration inside iridophores are able to produce a wide palette of colours. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying colour, and colour change in particular, remain unstudied. Here we use a combination of transcriptomic and microscopic data to show that melanin, iridophores and pteridines are the main colour-producing mechanisms in Agama atra, and provide molecular and structural data suggesting that rapid colour change is achieved via melanin dispersal in combination with iridophore organization. This work demonstrates the power of combining genotypic (gene expression) and phenotypic (microscopy) information for addressing physiological questions, providing a basis for future studies of colour change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël P J Nicolaï
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liliana D'Alba
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Goldenberg
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yannick Gansemans
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Susana Clusella-Trullas
- Department of Botany and Zoology & Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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26
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Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Burridge CP, Castelli MA, Clulow S, Dissanayake DSB, Dong CM, Doody JS, Edwards DL, Ezaz T, Friesen CR, Gardner MG, Georges A, Higgie M, Hill PL, Holleley CE, Hoops D, Hoskin CJ, Merry DL, Riley JL, Wapstra E, While GM, Whiteley SL, Whiting MJ, Zozaya SM, Whittington CM. Australian lizards are outstanding models for reproductive biology research. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Australian lizards are a diverse group distributed across the continent and inhabiting a wide range of environments. Together, they exhibit a remarkable diversity of reproductive morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours that is broadly representative of vertebrates in general. Many reproductive traits exhibited by Australian lizards have evolved independently in multiple lizard lineages, including sociality, complex signalling and mating systems, viviparity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Australian lizards are thus outstanding model organisms for testing hypotheses about how reproductive traits function and evolve, and they provide an important basis of comparison with other animals that exhibit similar traits. We review how research on Australian lizard reproduction has contributed to answering broader evolutionary and ecological questions that apply to animals in general. We focus on reproductive traits, processes, and strategies that are important areas of current research, including behaviours and signalling involved in courtship; mechanisms involved in mating, egg production, and sperm competition; nesting and gestation; sex determination; and finally, birth in viviparous species. We use our review to identify important questions that emerge from an understanding of this body of research when considered holistically. Finally, we identify additional research questions within each topic that Australian lizards are well suited for reproductive biologists to address.
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