1
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Dong CM, Johnston GR, Stuart-Fox D, Moussalli A, Rankin KJ, McLean CA. Elevation of Divergent Color Polymorphic and Monomorphic Lizard Lineages (Squamata: Agamidae) to Species Level. ICHTHYOLOGY AND HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1643/h2020064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M. Dong
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; (DSF) ; and (KJR)
| | - Greg R. Johnston
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5042, Australia; South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia;
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; (DSF) ; and (KJR)
| | - Adnan Moussalli
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton Gardens, Victoria, 3053, Australia; (AM) ; and (CAM)
| | - Katrina J. Rankin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; (DSF) ; and (KJR)
| | - Claire A. McLean
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; (DSF) ; and (KJR)
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2
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Dickerson AL, Rankin KJ, Cadena V, Endler JA, Stuart-Fox D. Rapid beard darkening predicts contest outcome, not copulation success, in bearded dragon lizards. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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3
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Nagloo N, Coimbra JP, Hoops D, Hart NS, Collin SP, Hemmi JM. Retinal topography and microhabitat diversity in a group of dragon lizards. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:542-558. [PMID: 31576574 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The well-studied phylogeny and ecology of dragon lizards and their range of visually mediated behaviors provide an opportunity to examine the factors that shape retinal organization. Dragon lizards consist of three evolutionarily stable groups based on their shelter type, including burrows, shrubs, and rocks. This allows us to test whether microhabitat changes are reflected in their retinal organization. We examined the retinae of three burrowing species (Ctenophorus pictus, C. gibba, and C. nuchalis), and three species that shelter in rock crevices (C. ornatus, C. decresii, and C. vadnappa). We used design-based stereology to sample both the photoreceptor array and neurons within the retinal ganglion cell layer to estimate areas specialized for acute vision. All species had two retinal specializations mediating enhanced spatial acuity: a fovea in the retinal center and a visual streak across the retinal equator. Furthermore, all species featured a dorsoventrally asymmetric photoreceptor distribution with higher photoreceptor densities in the ventral retina. This dorsoventral asymmetry may provide greater spatial summation of visual information in the dorsal visual field. Burrow-dwelling species had significantly larger eyes, higher total numbers of retinal cells, higher photoreceptor densities in the ventral retina, and higher spatial resolving power than rock-dwelling species. C. pictus, a secondary burrow-dwelling species, was the only species that changed burrow usage over evolutionary time, and its retinal organization revealed features more similar to rock-dwelling species than other burrow-dwelling species. This suggests that phylogeny may play a substantial role in shaping retinal organization in Ctenophorus species compared to microhabitat occupation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Nagloo
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,The Oceans Institute and Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Japan
| | - João Paulo Coimbra
- School of Anatomical Sciences, The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Daniel Hoops
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Nathan S Hart
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,The Oceans Institute and Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shaun P Collin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,The Oceans Institute and Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Life Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jan M Hemmi
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.,The Oceans Institute and Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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4
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Abramjan A, Baranová V, Frýdlová P, Landová E, Frynta D. Ultraviolet reflectance and pattern properties in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Behav Processes 2020; 173:104060. [PMID: 31991157 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104060] [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] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Complex visual signaling through various combinations of colors and patterns has been well documented in a number of diurnal reptiles. However, there are many nocturnal species with highly sensitive vision, being able to discriminate colors in night conditions, as was shown in geckos. Because of their sensitivity to chromatic signals, including UV (ultraviolet), they may have potential hidden features in their coloration, which may play role in intraspecific communication (e.g. mate choice) or interspecific signals (e.g. antipredatory function). We explored this hypothesis in nocturnal Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius), a species using visual signals in both antipredation defense and courtship, having ontogenetic color change accompanied by a shift in behavior. We used UV photography and visual modeling in order to compare various aspects of their coloration (luminance, contrast, color proportions) between sexes, age groups and populations. We found that Leopard geckos have considerable UV reflectance in white patches on their tails (and on the head in juveniles). Though, no prominent differences were detected in their coloration between various groups. We hypothesize that the limitation of UV reflectance to the head and tail, which are both actively displayed during defense, especially in juveniles, might potentially boost the effect of antipredation signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andran Abramjan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12844, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Baranová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12844, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Frýdlová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12844, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Landová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12844, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12844, Prague, Czech Republic
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5
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Osorio D. The evolutionary ecology of bird and reptile photoreceptor spectral sensitivities. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2019.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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6
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Yovanovich CAM, Pierotti MER, Rodrigues MT, Grant T. A dune with a view: the eyes of a neotropical fossorial lizard. Front Zool 2019; 16:17. [PMID: 31198433 PMCID: PMC6558795 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-019-0320-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lizards are excellent models to study the adaptations of the visual system to different scenarios, and surface-dwelling representatives have been relatively well studied. In contrast, very little is known about the functional anatomy of the eyes of fossorial lineages, and properties such as the light transmission by the ocular media have never been characterised in any fossorial species. Some lizards in the family Gymnophthalmidae endemic to the sand dunes of North Eastern Brazil have evolved sand-burrowing habits and nocturnal activity. Lizards in the sister group to Gymnophthalmidae, the family Teiidae, have decidedly diurnal and epigeal lifestyles, yet they are equally poorly known in terms of visual systems. We focussed on the eye anatomy, photoreceptor morphology and light transmittance properties of the ocular media and oil droplets in the gymnophthalmid Calyptommatus nicterus and the teiid Ameivula ocellifera. Results The general organisation of the eyes of the fossorial nocturnal C. nicterus and the epigeal diurnal A. ocellifera is remarkably similar. The lenses are highly transmissive to light well into the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. The photoreceptors have the typical cone morphology, with narrow short outer segments and oil droplets. The main difference between the two species is that C. nicterus has only colourless oil droplets, whereas A. ocellifera has colourless as well as green-yellow and pale-orange droplets. Conclusions Our results challenge the assumption that fossorial lizards undergo loss of visual function, a claim that is usually guided by the reduced size and external morphology of their eyes. In the case of C. nicterus, the visual system is well suited for vision in bright light and shows specialisations that improve sensitivity in dim light, suggesting that they might perform some visually-guided behaviour above the surface at the beginning or the end of their daily activity period, when light levels are relatively high in their open dunes habitat. This work highlights how studies on the functional anatomy of sensory systems can provide insights into the habits of secretive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola A M Yovanovich
- 1Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michele E R Pierotti
- 1Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,2Naos Marine Laboratories, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | | | - Taran Grant
- 1Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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7
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Yewers MSC, Stuart‐Fox D, McLean CA. Space use and genetic structure do not maintain color polymorphism in a species with alternative behavioral strategies. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:295-306. [PMID: 30680114 PMCID: PMC6342114 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Space use including territoriality and spatial arrangement within a population can reveal important information on the nature, dynamics, and evolutionary maintenance of alternative strategies in color polymorphic species. Despite the prevalence of color polymorphic species as model systems in evolutionary biology, the interaction between space use and genetic structuring of morphs within populations has rarely been examined. Here, we assess the spatial and genetic structure of male throat color morphs within a population of the tawny dragon lizard, Ctenophorus decresii. Male color morphs do not differ in morphology but differ in aggressive and antipredator behaviors as well as androgen levels. Despite these behavioral and endocrine differences, we find that color morphs do not differ in territory size, with their spatial arrangement being essentially random with respect to each other. There were no differences in genetic diversity or relatedness between morphs; however, there was significant, albeit weak, genetic differentiation between morphs, which was unrelated to geographic distance between individuals. Our results indicate potential weak barriers to gene flow between some morphs, potentially due to nonrandom pre- or postcopulatory mate choice or postzygotic genetic incompatibilities. However, space use, spatial structure, and nonrandom mating do not appear to be primary mechanisms maintaining color polymorphism in this system, highlighting the complexity and variation in alternative strategies associated with color polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Claire Alice McLean
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Sciences Department, Museum VictoriaCarlton GardensVictoriaAustralia
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8
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Hoops D, Desfilis E, Ullmann JFP, Janke AL, Stait-Gardner T, Devenyi GA, Price WS, Medina L, Whiting MJ, Keogh JS. A 3D MRI-based atlas of a lizard brain. J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:2511-2547. [PMID: 29931765 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an established technique for neuroanatomical analysis, being particularly useful in the medical sciences. However, the application of MRI to evolutionary neuroscience is still in its infancy. Few magnetic resonance brain atlases exist outside the standard model organisms in neuroscience and no magnetic resonance atlas has been produced for any reptile brain. A detailed understanding of reptilian brain anatomy is necessary to elucidate the evolutionary origin of enigmatic brain structures such as the cerebral cortex. Here, we present a magnetic resonance atlas for the brain of a representative squamate reptile, the Australian tawny dragon (Agamidae: Ctenophorus decresii), which has been the subject of numerous ecological and behavioral studies. We used a high-field 11.74T magnet, a paramagnetic contrasting-enhancing agent and minimum-deformation modeling of the brains of thirteen adult male individuals. From this, we created a high-resolution three-dimensional model of a lizard brain. The 3D-MRI model can be freely downloaded and allows a better comprehension of brain areas, nuclei, and fiber tracts, facilitating comparison with other species and setting the basis for future comparative evolution imaging studies. The MRI model and atlas of a tawny dragon brain (Ctenophorus decresii) can be viewed online and downloaded using the Wiley Biolucida Server at wiley.biolucida.net.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hoops
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ester Desfilis
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Fundació Dr. Pifarré (IRBLleida), University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Jeremy F P Ullmann
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew L Janke
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Timothy Stait-Gardner
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Gabriel A Devenyi
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - William S Price
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Loreta Medina
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Fundació Dr. Pifarré (IRBLleida), University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Martin J Whiting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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9
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Wang LY, Huang WS, Tang HC, Huang LC, Lin CP. Too hard to swallow: a secret secondary defence of an aposematic insect. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.172486. [PMID: 29180599 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.172486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Anti-predator strategies are significant components of adaptation in prey species. Aposematic prey are expected to possess effective defences that have evolved simultaneously with their warning colours. This study tested the hypothesis of the defensive function and ecological significance of the hard body in aposematic Pachyrhynchus weevils pioneered by Alfred Russel Wallace nearly 150 years ago. We used predation trials with Japalura tree lizards to assess the survivorship of 'hard' (mature) versus 'soft' (teneral) and 'clawed' (intact) versus 'clawless' (surgically removed) weevils. The ecological significance of the weevil's hard body was evaluated by assessing the hardness of the weevils, the local prey insects, and the bite forces of the lizard populations. The existence of toxins or deterrents in the weevil was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). All 'hard' weevils were instantly spat out after being bitten once and survived attacks by the lizards. In contrast, the 'soft' weevils were chewed and subsequently swallowed. The results were the same regardless of the presence or absence of the weevil's tarsal claws. The hardness of 'hard' Pachyrhynchus weevils was significantly higher than the average hardness of other prey insects in the same habitat and the mean bite forces of the local lizards. The four candidate compounds of the weevil identified by GC-MS had no known toxic or repellent functions against vertebrates. These results reveal that the hardness of aposematic prey functions as an effective secondary defence, and they provide a framework for understanding the spatio-temporal interactions between vertebrate predators and aposematic insect prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Yi Wang
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - Wen-San Huang
- Department of Biology, National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung 40453, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chieh Tang
- Department of Conservation and Research Center, Taipei Zoo, Taipei 11656, Taiwan
| | - Lung-Chun Huang
- Department of Conservation and Research Center, Taipei Zoo, Taipei 11656, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Ping Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan .,Laboratory of Forest Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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10
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Frohnwieser A, Pike TW, Murray JC, Wilkinson A. Perception of artificial conspecifics by bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Integr Zool 2018; 14:214-222. [PMID: 29316228 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Artificial animals are increasingly used as conspecific stimuli in animal behavior research. However, researchers often have an incomplete understanding of how the species under study perceives conspecifics, and, hence, which features are needed for a stimulus to be perceived appropriately. To investigate the features that bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) attend to, we measured their lateralized eye use when assessing a successive range of stimuli. These ranged through several stages of realism in artificial conspecifics, to see how features such as color, the presence of eyes, body shape and motion influence behavior. We found differences in lateralized eye use depending on the sex of the observing bearded dragon and the artificial conspecific, as well as the artificial conspecific's behavior. Therefore, this approach can inform the design of robotic animals that elicit biologically-meaningful responses in live animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas W Pike
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - John C Murray
- School of Computer Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.,Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Batabyal A, Thaker M. Lizards assess complex social signals by lateralizing colour but not motion detection. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:jeb.173252. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.173252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrates lateralize many behaviours including social interactions. Social displays typically comprise multiple components, yet our understanding of how these are processed come from studies that typically examine responses to the dominant component or the complex signal as a whole. Here, we examine laterality in lizard responses to determine whether receivers separate the processing of motion and colour signal components in different brain hemispheres. In Psammophilus dorsalis, males display colours that dynamically change during courtship and aggressive interactions. We tested the visual grasp reflex of both sexes using robotic stimuli that mimicked two signal components: (1) multiple speeds of head-bobbing behaviour and (2) multiple colours. We find no laterality in response to different motion stimuli, indicating that motion similarly attracts attention from both visual fields across sexes. Notably, receivers showed left visual field dominance to colours, especially when males were exposed to “aggression-specific” colours and females to “courtship-specific” colours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Batabyal
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Maria Thaker
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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12
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Venuleo M, Raven JA, Giordano M. Intraspecific chemical communication in microalgae. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017; 215:516-530. [PMID: 28328079 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Contents 516 I. 516 II. 518 III. 518 IV. 521 V. 523 VI. 523 VII. 526 526 References 526 SUMMARY: The relevance of infochemicals in the relationships between organisms is emerging as a fundamental aspect of aquatic ecology. Exchanges of chemical cues are likely to occur not only between organisms of different species, but also between conspecific individuals. Especially intriguing is the investigation of chemical communication in microalgae, because of the relevance of these organisms for global primary production and their key role in trophic webs. Intraspecific communication between algae has been investigated mostly in relation to sexuality and mating. The literature also contains information on other types of intraspecific chemical communication that have not always been explicitly tagged as ways to communicate to conspecifics. However, the proposed role of certain compounds as intraspecific infochemicals appears questionable. In this article, we make use of this plethora of information to describe the various instances of intraspecific chemical communication between conspecific microalgae and to identify the common traits and ecological significance of intraspecific communication. We also discuss the evolutionary implications of intraspecific chemical communication and the mechanisms by which it can be inherited. A special focus is the genetic diversity among conspecific algae, including the possibility that genetic diversity is an absolute requirement for intraspecific chemical communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Venuleo
- Laboratory of Algal and Plant Physiology, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
| | - John A Raven
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, Invergowrie, DD2 5DA, UK
- Functional Plant Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Mario Giordano
- Laboratory of Algal and Plant Physiology, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
- Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Algatech, 379 81, Trebon, Czech Republic
- National Research Council, Institute of Marine Science, 30122, Venice, Italy
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13
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Batabyal A, Thaker M. Signalling with physiological colours: high contrast for courtship but speed for competition. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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14
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15
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McLean CA, Lutz A, Rankin KJ, Stuart-Fox D, Moussalli A. Revealing the Biochemical and Genetic Basis of Color Variation in a Polymorphic Lizard. Mol Biol Evol 2017; 34:1924-1935. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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16
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Intraspecific geographic variation in rod and cone visual pigment sensitivity of a parrot, Platycercus elegans. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41445. [PMID: 28128324 PMCID: PMC5269728 DOI: 10.1038/srep41445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in wavelength sensitivity among subspecies is unknown among vertebrates. The parrot Platycercus elegans has extreme plumage variation between subspecies ranging from pale yellow to crimson which, with differences in background colour and light environment between subspecies, makes it a good candidate for the evolution of within-species differences in vision. We report differences in visual pigments between populations of P. elegans from two subspecies, providing the first known support for population and subspecies variation in visual pigments within a vertebrate species; it is also the first instance of intraspecific variation in rod sensitivity within any vertebrate species. Differences in wavelength sensitivity of rods and cones corresponded to geographic differences in plumage colour. Between study populations, visual pigments varied but not oil droplets. Adaptive functions for the visual pigment differences are untested but they could cause divergence in behaviours associated with colour as well as in dim light, and provide insights into the role of senses in divergence and speciation.
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17
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Klomp DA, Stuart-Fox D, Cassidy EJ, Ahmad N, Ord TJ. Color pattern facilitates species recognition but not signal detection: a field test using robots. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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18
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Smith KR, Cadena V, Endler JA, Kearney MR, Porter WP, Stuart-Fox D. Color Change for Thermoregulation versus Camouflage in Free-Ranging Lizards. Am Nat 2016; 188:668-678. [DOI: 10.1086/688765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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19
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Hoops D, Ullmann JFP, Janke AL, Vidal-Garcia M, Stait-Gardner T, Dwihapsari Y, Merkling T, Price WS, Endler JA, Whiting MJ, Keogh JS. Sexual selection predicts brain structure in dragon lizards. J Evol Biol 2016; 30:244-256. [PMID: 27696584 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic traits such as ornaments and armaments are generally shaped by sexual selection, which often favours larger and more elaborate males compared to females. But can sexual selection also influence the brain? Previous studies in vertebrates report contradictory results with no consistent pattern between variation in brain structure and the strength of sexual selection. We hypothesize that sexual selection will act in a consistent way on two vertebrate brain regions that directly regulate sexual behaviour: the medial preoptic nucleus (MPON) and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN). The MPON regulates male reproductive behaviour whereas the VMN regulates female reproductive behaviour and is also involved in male aggression. To test our hypothesis, we used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging combined with traditional histology of brains in 14 dragon lizard species of the genus Ctenophorus that vary in the strength of precopulatory sexual selection. Males belonging to species that experience greater sexual selection had a larger MPON and a smaller VMN. Conversely, females did not show any patterns of variation in these brain regions. As the volumes of both these regions also correlated with brain volume (BV) in our models, we tested whether they show the same pattern of evolution in response to changes in BV and found that the do. Therefore, we show that the primary brain nuclei underlying reproductive behaviour in vertebrates can evolve in a mosaic fashion, differently between males and females, likely in response to sexual selection, and that these same regions are simultaneously evolving in concert in relation to overall brain size.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hoops
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - J F P Ullmann
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - A L Janke
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - M Vidal-Garcia
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - T Stait-Gardner
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Y Dwihapsari
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - T Merkling
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - W S Price
- Nanoscale Organization and Dynamics Group, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - J A Endler
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Vic., Australia
| | - M J Whiting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Discipline of Brain, Behavior and Evolution, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J S Keogh
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
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20
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Delroisse J, Mallefet J, Flammang P. De Novo Adult Transcriptomes of Two European Brittle Stars: Spotlight on Opsin-Based Photoreception. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152988. [PMID: 27119739 PMCID: PMC4847921 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology allows to obtain a deeper and more complete view of transcriptomes. For non-model or emerging model marine organisms, NGS technologies offer a great opportunity for rapid access to genetic information. In this study, paired-end Illumina HiSeqTM technology has been employed to analyse transcriptomes from the arm tissues of two European brittle star species, Amphiura filiformis and Ophiopsila aranea. About 48 million Illumina reads were generated and 136,387 total unigenes were predicted from A. filiformis arm tissues. For O. aranea arm tissues, about 47 million reads were generated and 123,324 total unigenes were obtained. Twenty-four percent of the total unigenes from A. filiformis show significant matches with sequences present in reference online databases, whereas, for O. aranea, this percentage amounts to 23%. In both species, around 50% of the predicted annotated unigenes were significantly similar to transcripts from the purple sea urchin, the closest species to date that has undergone complete genome sequencing and annotation. GO, COG and KEGG analyses were performed on predicted brittle star unigenes. We focused our analyses on the phototransduction actors involved in light perception. Firstly, two new echinoderm opsins were identified in O. aranea: one rhabdomeric opsin (homologous to vertebrate melanopsin) and one RGR opsin. The RGR-opsin is supposed to be involved in retinal regeneration while the r-opsin is suspected to play a role in visual-like behaviour. Secondly, potential phototransduction actors were identified in both transcriptomes using the fly (rhabdomeric) and mammal (ciliary) classical phototransduction pathways as references. Finally, the sensitivity of O.aranea to monochromatic light was investigated to complement data available for A. filiformis. The presence of microlens-like structures at the surface of dorsal arm plate of O. aranea could potentially explain phototactic behaviour differences between the two species. The results confirm (i) the ability of these brittle stars to perceive light using opsin-based photoreception, (ii) suggest the co-occurrence of both rhabdomeric and ciliary photoreceptors, and (iii) emphasise the complexity of light perception in this echinoderm class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Delroisse
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jérôme Mallefet
- Catholic University of Louvain-La-Neuve, Marine Biology Laboratory, Place croix du Sud, Louvain-La-Neuve–Belgium
| | - Patrick Flammang
- University of Mons—UMONS, Research Institute for Biosciences, Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics, Mons, Belgium
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21
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Yewers MSC, Pryke S, Stuart-Fox D. Behavioural differences across contexts may indicate morph-specific strategies in the lizard Ctenophorus decresii. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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22
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Merkling T, Hamilton DG, Cser B, Svedin N, Pryke SR. Proximate mechanisms of colour variation in the frillneck lizard: geographical differences in pigment contents of an ornament. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Merkling
- Division of Ecology; Evolution & Genetics; Research School of Biology; The Australian National University; 44 Daley Rd ACTON ACT 2601 Australia
| | - David G. Hamilton
- Division of Ecology; Evolution & Genetics; Research School of Biology; The Australian National University; 44 Daley Rd ACTON ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Borbala Cser
- Division of Ecology; Evolution & Genetics; Research School of Biology; The Australian National University; 44 Daley Rd ACTON ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Nina Svedin
- Division of Ecology; Evolution & Genetics; Research School of Biology; The Australian National University; 44 Daley Rd ACTON ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Sarah R. Pryke
- Division of Ecology; Evolution & Genetics; Research School of Biology; The Australian National University; 44 Daley Rd ACTON ACT 2601 Australia
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