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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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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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Amdekar MS, Thaker M. Colours of stress in male Indian rock agamas predict testosterone levels but not performance. Horm Behav 2022; 144:105214. [PMID: 35696781 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Rapid physiological colour change offers dynamic signalling opportunities that can reveal distinct information to receivers in different contexts. Information content in dynamic colours, however, is largely unexplored. In males of the Indian rock agama (Psammophilus dorsalis), stressful events, including male-male agonistic interactions, induce a colour change, wherein the dorsal band turns yellow and the lateral bands turn orange. We aimed to determine whether these pigment-based dynamic colours convey information about individual quality. Using an agamid-specific visual model, we first quantified the chromatic and achromatic contrasts of each colour component displayed by males during handling stress, which induces the maximal response of aggression-typical colours. We then measured baseline testosterone levels, morphology (body mass and size), and performance measures (bite force and sprint speed) of these lizards. Chromatic contrasts of the dorsal yellow and lateral orange bands, individually and relative to each other (internal pair), were negatively correlated with testosterone levels, while the chromatic contrast of the internal pair was positively correlated with body condition. The lack of an association between colour contrasts and both bite force and sprint speed indicate that the conspicuousness of colours expressed during stressful events, such as agonistic interactions, do not reveal male performance ability. Despite our expectations of a positive relationship with testosterone, morphology (body condition), and performance (bite force, sprint speed), we find that for P. dorsalis, the conspicuousness of stress-induced colours provide only some information about individual quality. We speculate that the dynamicity of physiological colours may influence their function as content-containing signals in social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura S Amdekar
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Maria Thaker
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India.
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Lattanzio MS. Climate mediates color morph turnover in a species exhibiting alternative reproductive strategies. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8474. [PMID: 35589926 PMCID: PMC9120169 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12300-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual selection is considered the primary driver of morph turnover in many color polymorphic taxa, yet the potential for other factors (like climate) to contribute to polymorphism maintenance and evolution remains unclear. Appreciation for a role of environmental conditions in the maintenance and evolution of color polymorphisms has grown in recent years, generating evidence suggesting that color morphs linked to sexual selection may also diverge in climate sensitivity. Focusing on the three color components contributing to the male tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) color morphs, I reveal a marked concordance between patterns of turnover over space and time, with a general affinity of orange- and yellow-colored males to hotter, more variable conditions, and blue colored males to wetter, cooler conditions. An assessment of long-term turnover in the blue color component in response to recent climate change over the past 60 years reinforces these findings. Overall, behavioral asymmetries attributed to sexual selection likely expose competing morphs to divergent environmental conditions in heterogeneous habitats, creating opportunity for natural selection to shape climate sensitivities that also drive turnover in morph color composition. Ultimately, these processes may favor stark asymmetries in morph persistence over the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Lattanzio
- Department of Organismal and Environmental Biology, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA, 23606, USA.
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Stuart‐Fox D, Aulsebrook A, Rankin KJ, Dong CM, McLean CA. Convergence and divergence in lizard colour polymorphisms. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:289-309. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Anne Aulsebrook
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Katrina J. Rankin
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Caroline M. Dong
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
- Sciences Department Museums Victoria 11 Nicholson Street Carlton Gardens VIC 3053 Australia
| | - Claire A. McLean
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
- Sciences Department Museums Victoria 11 Nicholson Street Carlton Gardens VIC 3053 Australia
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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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Lewis AC, Rankin KJ, Pask AJ, Stuart-Fox D. Stress-induced changes in color expression mediated by iridophores in a polymorphic lizard. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:8262-8272. [PMID: 29075447 PMCID: PMC5648675 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 06/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important potential factor mediating a broad range of cellular pathways, including those involved in condition‐dependent (i.e., honest) color signal expression. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the relationship between stress and color expression are largely unknown. We artificially elevated circulating corticosterone levels in male tawny dragon lizards, Ctenophorus decresii, to assess the effect of stress on the throat color signal. Corticosterone treatment increased luminance (paler throat coloration) and decreased the proportion of gray, thereby influencing the gray reticulations that produce unique patterning. The magnitude of change in luminance for corticosterone‐treated individuals in our study was around 6 “just noticeable differences” to the tawny dragon visual system, suggesting that lizards are likely to be able to perceive the measured variation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of iridophore cells indicated that luminance increased with increasing density of iridophore cells and increased spacing (and/or reduced size) of crystalline guanine platelets within them. Crystal spacing within iridophores also differed between skin colors, being greater in cream than either gray or yellow skin and greater in orange than yellow skin. Our results demonstrate that stress detectably impacts signal expression (luminance and patterning), which may provide information on individual condition. This effect is likely to be mediated, at least in part, by structural coloration produced by iridophore cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Lewis
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia
| | - Katrina J Rankin
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia
| | - Andrew J Pask
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic Australia
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Yewers MSC, Jessop TS, Stuart-Fox D. Endocrine differences among colour morphs in a lizard with alternative behavioural strategies. Horm Behav 2017; 93:118-127. [PMID: 28478216 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Alternative behavioural strategies of colour morphs are expected to associate with endocrine differences and to correspond to differences in physical performance (e.g. movement speed, bite force in lizards); yet the nature of correlated physiological and performance traits in colour polymorphic species varies widely. Colour morphs of male tawny dragon lizards Ctenophorus decresii have previously been found to differ in aggressive and anti-predator behaviours. We tested whether known behavioural differences correspond to differences in circulating baseline and post-capture stress levels of androgen and corticosterone, as well as bite force (an indicator of aggressive performance) and field body temperature. Immediately after capture, the aggressive orange morph had higher circulating androgen than the grey morph or the yellow morph. Furthermore, the orange morph maintained high androgen following acute stress (30min of capture); whereas androgen increased in the grey and yellow morphs. This may reflect the previously defined behavioural differences among morphs as the aggressive response of the yellow morph is conditional on the colour of the competitor and the grey morph shows consistently low aggression. In contrast, all morphs showed an increase in corticosterone concentration after capture stress and morphs did not differ in levels of corticosterone stress magnitude (CSM). Morphs did not differ in size- and temperature-corrected bite force but did in body temperature at capture. Differences in circulating androgen and body temperature are consistent with morph-specific behavioural strategies in C. decresii but our results indicate a complex relationship between hormones, behaviour, temperature and bite force within and between colour morphs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim S Jessop
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
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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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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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Pérez i de Lanuza G, Font E, Carretero MÁ. Colour assortative pairing in a colour polymorphic lizard is independent of population morph diversity. Naturwissenschaften 2016; 103:82. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-016-1407-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Rankin KJ, McLean CA, Kemp DJ, Stuart-Fox D. The genetic basis of discrete and quantitative colour variation in the polymorphic lizard, Ctenophorus decresii. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:179. [PMID: 27600682 PMCID: PMC5012029 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0757-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colour polymorphic species provide invaluable insight into processes that generate and maintain intra-specific variation. Despite an increasing understanding of the genetic basis of discrete morphs, sources of colour variation within morphs remain poorly understood. Here we use the polymorphic tawny dragon lizard Ctenophorus decresii to test simple Mendelian models for the inheritance of discrete morphs, and to investigate the genetic basis of continuous variation among individuals across morphs. Males of this species express either orange, yellow, orange surrounded by yellow, or grey throats. Although four discrete morphs are recognised, the extent of orange and yellow varies greatly. We artificially elevated testosterone in F0 females and F1 juveniles to induce them to express the male throat colour polymorphism, and quantified colour variation across the pedigree. Results Inheritance of discrete morphs in C. decresii best fit a model whereby two autosomal loci with complete dominance respectively determine the presence of orange and yellow. However, a single locus model with three co-dominant alleles for orange, yellow and grey could not be definitively rejected. Additionally, quantitative expression of the proportion of orange and yellow on the throat was strongly heritable (orange: h2 = 0.84 ± 0.14; yellow: h2 = 0.67 ± 0.19), with some evidence for covariance between the two. Conclusions Our study supports the theoretical prediction that polymorphism should be governed by few genes of major effect, but implies broader genetic influence on variation in constituent morph traits. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0757-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina J Rankin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Claire A McLean
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Department of Sciences, Museum Victoria, Carlton Gardens, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - Darrell J Kemp
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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