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Miller SM, Stuart KC, Burke NW, Rollins LA, Bonduriansky R. Genetic and Phenotypic Consequences of Local Transitions between Sexual and Parthenogenetic Reproduction in the Wild. Am Nat 2024; 203:73-91. [PMID: 38207137 DOI: 10.1086/727511] [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: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
AbstractTransitions from sexual to asexual reproduction have occurred in numerous lineages, but it remains unclear why asexual populations rarely persist. In facultatively parthenogenetic animals, all-female populations can arise when males are absent or become extinct, and such populations could help to understand the genetic and phenotypic changes that occur in the initial stages of transitions to asexuality. We investigated a naturally occurring spatial mosaic of mixed-sex and all-female populations of the facultatively parthenogenetic Australian phasmid Megacrania batesii. Analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms indicated multiple independent transitions between reproductive modes. All-female populations had much lower heterozygosity and allelic diversity than mixed-sex populations, but we found few consistent differences in fitness-related traits between population types. All-female populations exhibited more frequent and severe deformities in their (flight-incapable) wings but did not show higher rates of appendage loss. All-female populations also harbored more ectoparasites in swamp (but not beach) habitats. Reproductive mode explained little variation in female body size, fecundity, or egg hatch rate. Our results suggest that transitions to parthenogenetic reproduction can lead to dramatic genetic changes with little immediate effect on performance. All-female M. batesii populations appear to consist of high-fitness genotypes that might be able to thrive for many generations in relatively constant and benign environments but could be vulnerable to environmental challenges, such as increased parasite abundance.
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Suetsugu K, Nozaki T, Hirota SK, Funaki S, Ito K, Isagi Y, Suyama Y, Kaneko S. Phylogeographical evidence for historical long-distance dispersal in the flightless stick insect Ramulus mikado. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231708. [PMID: 37817589 PMCID: PMC10565398 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1708] [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: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Exploring how organisms overcome geographical barriers to dispersal is a fundamental question in biology. Passive long-distance dispersal events, although infrequent and unpredictable, have a considerable impact on species range expansions. Despite limited active dispersal capabilities, many stick insect species have vast geographical ranges, indicating that passive long-distance dispersal is vital for their distribution. A potential mode of passive dispersal in stick insects is via the egg stage within avian digestive tracts, as suggested by experimental evidence. However, detecting such events under natural conditions is challenging due to their rarity. Therefore, to indirectly assess the potential of historical avian-mediated dispersal, we examined the population genetic structure of the flightless stick insect Ramulus mikado across Japan, based on a multifaceted molecular approach [cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) haplotypes, nuclear simple sequence repeat markers and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms]. Subsequently, we identified unique phylogeographic patterns, including the discovery of identical COI genotypes spanning considerable distances, which substantiates the notion of passive long-distance genotypic dispersal. Overall, all the molecular data revealed the low and mostly non-significant genetic differentiation among populations, with identical or very similar genotypes across distant populations. We propose that long-distance dispersal facilitated by birds is the plausible explanation for the unique phylogeographic pattern observed in this flightless stick insect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Suetsugu
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Tomonari Nozaki
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Shun K. Hirota
- Botanical Gardens, Osaka Metropolitan University, 2000 Kisaichi, Katano City, Osaka 576-0004, Japan
- Field Science Center, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
| | - Shoichi Funaki
- Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, 200 Monobeotsu, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, Japan
| | - Katsura Ito
- Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, 200 Monobeotsu, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, Japan
| | - Yuji Isagi
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Suyama
- Field Science Center, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
| | - Shingo Kaneko
- Graduate School of Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1296, Japan
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Trewick SA, Henderson IM, Pohe SR, Morgan-Richards M. Spatial Variation of Acanthophlebia cruentata (Ephemeroptera), a Mayfly Endemic to Te Ika-a-Māui—North Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13070567. [PMID: 35886743 PMCID: PMC9316242 DOI: 10.3390/insects13070567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Patterns of variation within a widespread species can provide evidence of population history. Adjacent stable populations with gene flow show clinal genetic divergence forming a pattern of isolation by distance. Populations that have grown due to an increase in potential habitat such as forest cover since the last glacial maximum will have low genetic variation showing patterns of range expansion. The mayfly Acanthophlebia cruentata of Aotearoa, New Zealand, is widespread in streams of North Island but absent from the cooler South Island. Mayfly nymphs are restricted to streams but adults fly, facilitating gene flow among catchments. We detected higher genetic diversity at lower latitudes of this mayfly’s range compared to most of its distribution, concordant with predictions of limited forest cover in New Zealand during Pleistocene glacial periods. A signature of recent range expansion was observed in the higher latitudes. Despite initial observation suggesting mayfly size correlated with latitude, we found sex, elevation and sampling date were significant predictors of size, and some size variation is also explained by three regional groups based on haplotype distribution. Abstract The mayfly Acanthophlebia cruentata of Aotearoa, New Zealand, is widespread in Te Ika-a-Māui North Island streams, but has never been collected from South Island despite land connection during the last glacial maximum. Population structure of this mayfly might reflect re-colonisation after volcanic eruptions in North Island c1800 years ago, climate cycling or conceal older, cryptic diversity. We collected population samples from 33 locations to estimate levels of population genetic diversity and to document phenotypic variation. Relatively low intraspecific haplotype divergence was recorded among mitochondrial cytb sequences from 492 individuals, but these resolved three geographic-haplotype regions (north, west, east). We detected a signature of isolation by distance at low latitudes (north) but evidence of recent population growth in the west and east. We did not detect an effect of volcanic eruptions but infer range expansion into higher latitudes from a common ancestor during the last glacial period. As judged from wing length, both sexes of adult mayflies were larger at higher elevation and we found that haplotype region was also a significant predictor of Acanthophlebia cruentata size. This suggests that our mitochondrial marker is concordant with nuclear genetic differences that might be explained by founder effect during range expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A. Trewick
- Wildlife & Ecology Group, School of Natural Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; (I.M.H.); (M.M.-R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Ian M. Henderson
- Wildlife & Ecology Group, School of Natural Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; (I.M.H.); (M.M.-R.)
| | | | - Mary Morgan-Richards
- Wildlife & Ecology Group, School of Natural Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; (I.M.H.); (M.M.-R.)
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Burke NW, Bonduriansky R. Sexually but not parthenogenetically produced females benefit from mating in a stick insect. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W. Burke
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Institute of Zoology, Department of Biology, University of Hamburg Hamburg Germany
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
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Shepherd L, Simon C, Langton-Myers S, Morgan-Richards M. Insights into Aotearoa New Zealand’s biogeographic history provided by the study of natural hybrid zones. J R Soc N Z 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2061020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lara Shepherd
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Chris Simon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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Wu C, Twort VG, Newcomb RD, Buckley TR. Divergent Gene Expression Following Duplication of Meiotic Genes in the Stick Insect Clitarchus hookeri. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6245840. [PMID: 33885769 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Some animal groups, such as stick insects (Phasmatodea), have repeatedly evolved alternative reproductive strategies, including parthenogenesis. Genomic studies have found modification of the genes underlying meiosis exists in some of these animals. Here we examine the evolution of copy number, evolutionary rate, and gene expression in candidate meiotic genes of the New Zealand geographic parthenogenetic stick insect Clitarchus hookeri. We characterized 101 genes from a de novo transcriptome assembly from female and male gonads that have homology with meiotic genes from other arthropods. For each gene we determined copy number, the pattern of gene duplication relative to other arthropod orthologs, and the potential for meiosis-specific expression. There are five genes duplicated in C. hookeri, including one also duplicated in the stick insect Timema cristinae, that are not or are uncommonly duplicated in other arthropods. These included two sister chromatid cohesion associated genes (SA2 and SCC2), a recombination gene (HOP1), an RNA-silencing gene (AGO2) and a cell-cycle regulation gene (WEE1). Interestingly, WEE1 and SA2 are also duplicated in the cyclical parthenogenetic aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum and Daphnia duplex, respectively, indicating possible roles in the evolution of reproductive mode. Three of these genes (SA2, SCC2, and WEE1) have one copy displaying gonad-specific expression. All genes, with the exception of WEE1, have significantly different nonsynonymous/synonymous ratios between the gene duplicates, indicative of a shift in evolutionary constraints following duplication. These results suggest that stick insects may have evolved genes with novel functions in gamete production by gene duplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wu
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.,Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand.,New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Victoria G Twort
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.,Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand.,Zoology Unit, Finnish Museum of Natural History, LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Richard D Newcomb
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.,New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thomas R Buckley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.,Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
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Hojsgaard D, Schartl M. Skipping sex: A nonrecombinant genomic assemblage of complementary reproductive modules. Bioessays 2020; 43:e2000111. [PMID: 33169369 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The unusual occurrence and developmental diversity of asexual eukaryotes remain a puzzle. De novo formation of a functioning asexual genome requires a unique assembly of sets of genes or gene states to disrupt cellular mechanisms of meiosis and gametogenesis, and to affect discrete components of sexuality and produce clonal or hemiclonal offspring. We highlight two usually overlooked but essential conditions to understand the molecular nature of clonal organisms, that is, a nonrecombinant genomic assemblage retaining modifiers of the sexual program, and a complementation between altered reproductive components. These subtle conditions are the basis for physiologically viable and genetically balanced transitions between generations. Genomic and developmental evidence from asexual animals and plants indicates the lack of complementation of molecular changes in the sexual reproductive program is likely the main cause of asexuals' rarity, and can provide an explanatory frame for the developmental diversity and lability of developmental patterns in some asexuals as well as for the discordant time to extinction estimations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Hojsgaard
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Department of Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.,The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
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Behling AH, Shepherd LD, Cox MP. The importance and prevalence of allopolyploidy in Aotearoa New Zealand. J R Soc N Z 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2019.1676797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna H. Behling
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Lara D. Shepherd
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Murray P. Cox
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Morgan-Richards M, Langton-Myers SS, Trewick SA. Loss and gain of sexual reproduction in the same stick insect. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:3929-3941. [PMID: 31386772 PMCID: PMC6852293 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The outcome of competition between different reproductive strategies within a single species can be used to infer selective advantage of the winning strategy. Where multiple populations have independently lost or gained sexual reproduction it is possible to investigate whether the advantage is contingent on local conditions. In the New Zealand stick insect Clitarchus hookeri, three populations are distinguished by recent change in reproductive strategy and we determine their likely origins. One parthenogenetic population has established in the United Kingdom and we provide evidence that sexual reproduction has been lost in this population. We identify the sexual population from which the parthenogenetic population was derived, but show that the UK females have a post‐mating barrier to fertilisation. We also demonstrate that two sexual populations have recently arisen in New Zealand within the natural range of the mtDNA lineage that otherwise characterizes parthenogenesis in this species. We infer independent origins of males at these two locations using microsatellite genotypes. In one population, a mixture of local and nonlocal alleles suggested males were the result of invasion. Males in another population were most probably the result of loss of an X chromosome that produced a male phenotype in situ. Two successful switches in reproductive strategy suggest local competitive advantage for outcrossing over parthenogenetic reproduction. Clitarchus hookeri provides remarkable evidence of repeated and rapid changes in reproductive strategy, with competitive outcomes dependent on local conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Steven A Trewick
- Wildlife & Ecology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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