1
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van den Berg CP, Santon M, Endler JA, Cheney KL. Highly defended nudibranchs "escape" to visually distinct background habitats. Behav Ecol 2024; 35:arae053. [PMID: 39086666 PMCID: PMC11289952 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arae053] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The "escape and radiate" hypothesis predicts that once species have evolved aposematism, defended species can utilize more visually diverse visual backgrounds as they "escape" the need to be well camouflaged. This enables species to explore new ecological niches, resulting in increased diversification rates. To test this hypothesis "escape" component, we examined whether the background habitats of 12 nudibranch mollusk species differed among species depending on the presence and strength of chemical defenses. We obtained a rich array of color pattern statistics using quantitative color pattern analysis to analyze backgrounds viewed through the eyes of a potential predator (triggerfish, Rhinecanthus aculeatus). Color pattern analysis was done at viewing distances simulating an escalating predation sequence. We identified 4 latent factors comprising 17 noncorrelated color pattern parameters, which captured the among-species variability associated with differences in chemical defenses. We found that chemically defended species, indeed, were found on visually distinct backgrounds with increased color and luminance contrast, independent of viewing distance. However, we found no evidence for increased among-species background diversity coinciding with the presence and strength of chemical defenses. Our results agree with the "escape and radiate" hypothesis, suggesting that potent chemical defenses in Dorid nudibranchs coincide with spatiochromatic differences of visual background habitats perceived by potential predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric P van den Berg
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, University Drive, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Matteo Santon
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - John A Endler
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Karen L Cheney
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, University Drive, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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2
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Stieb SM, Cortesi F, Mitchell L, Jardim de Queiroz L, Marshall NJ, Seehausen O. Short-wavelength-sensitive 1 ( SWS1) opsin gene duplications and parallel visual pigment tuning support ultraviolet communication in damselfishes (Pomacentridae). Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11186. [PMID: 38628922 PMCID: PMC11019301 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) are one of the most behaviourally diverse, colourful and species-rich reef fish families. One remarkable characteristic of damselfishes is their communication in ultraviolet (UV) light. Not only are they sensitive to UV, they are also prone to have UV-reflective colours and patterns enabling social signalling. Using more than 50 species, we aimed to uncover the evolutionary history of UV colour and UV vision in damselfishes. All damselfishes had UV-transmitting lenses, expressed the UV-sensitive SWS1 opsin gene, and most displayed UV-reflective patterns and colours. We find evidence for several tuning events across the radiation, and while SWS1 gene duplications are generally very rare among teleosts, our phylogenetic reconstructions uncovered two independent duplication events: one close to the base of the most species-rich clade in the subfamily Pomacentrinae, and one in a single Chromis species. Using amino acid comparisons, we found that known spectral tuning sites were altered several times in parallel across the damselfish radiation (through sequence change and duplication followed by sequence change), causing repeated shifts in peak spectral absorbance of around 10 nm. Pomacentrinae damselfishes expressed either one or both copies of SWS1, likely to further finetune UV-signal detection and differentiation. This highly advanced and modified UV vision among damselfishes, in particular the duplication of SWS1 among Pomacentrinae, might be seen as a key evolutionary innovation that facilitated the evolution of the exuberant variety of UV-reflectance traits and the diversification of this coral reef fish lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Stieb
- Center for Ecology, Evolution and BiogeochemistryEAWAG Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyKastanienbaumSwitzerland
- Institute for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Queensland Brain InstituteThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Queensland Brain InstituteThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- School of the EnvironmentThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Laurie Mitchell
- Queensland Brain InstituteThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Marine Eco‐Evo‐Devo UnitOkinawa Institute of Science and TechnologyOnna sonOkinawaJapan
| | - Luiz Jardim de Queiroz
- Center for Ecology, Evolution and BiogeochemistryEAWAG Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyKastanienbaumSwitzerland
- Institute for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain InstituteThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Ole Seehausen
- Center for Ecology, Evolution and BiogeochemistryEAWAG Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyKastanienbaumSwitzerland
- Institute for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
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3
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Chau KD, Hauser FE, Van Nynatten A, Daane JM, Harris MP, Chang BSW, Lovejoy NR. Multiple Ecological Axes Drive Molecular Evolution of Cone Opsins in Beloniform Fishes. J Mol Evol 2024; 92:93-103. [PMID: 38416218 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-024-10156-1] [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: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Ecological and evolutionary transitions offer an excellent opportunity to examine the molecular basis of adaptation. Fishes of the order Beloniformes include needlefishes, flyingfishes, halfbeaks, and allies, and comprise over 200 species occupying a wide array of habitats-from the marine epipelagic zone to tropical rainforest rivers. These fishes also exhibit a diversity of diets, including piscivory, herbivory, and zooplanktivory. We investigated how diet and habitat affected the molecular evolution of cone opsins, which play a key role in bright light and colour vision and are tightly linked to ecology and life history. We analyzed a targeted-capture dataset to reconstruct the evolutionary history of beloniforms and assemble cone opsin sequences. We implemented codon-based clade models of evolution to examine how molecular evolution was affected by habitat and diet. We found high levels of positive selection in medium- and long-wavelength beloniform opsins, with piscivores showing increased positive selection in medium-wavelength opsins and zooplanktivores showing increased positive selection in long-wavelength opsins. In contrast, short-wavelength opsins showed purifying selection. While marine/freshwater habitat transitions have an effect on opsin molecular evolution, we found that diet plays a more important role. Our study suggests that evolutionary transitions along ecological axes produce complex adaptive interactions that affect patterns of selection on genes that underlie vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine D Chau
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Frances E Hauser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander Van Nynatten
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Jacob M Daane
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Belinda S W Chang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nathan R Lovejoy
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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4
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Margetts BM, Stuart‐Fox D, Franklin AM. Red vision in animals is broadly associated with lighting environment but not types of visual task. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10899. [PMID: 38304263 PMCID: PMC10828735 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Red sensitivity is the exception rather than the norm in most animal groups. Among species with red sensitivity, there is substantial variation in the peak wavelength sensitivity (λmax) of the long wavelength sensitive (LWS) photoreceptor. It is unclear whether this variation can be explained by visual tuning to the light environment or to visual tasks such as signalling or foraging. Here, we examine long wavelength sensitivity across a broad range of taxa showing diversity in LWS photoreceptor λmax: insects, crustaceans, arachnids, amphibians, reptiles, fish, sharks and rays. We collated a list of 161 species with physiological evidence for a photoreceptor sensitive to red wavelengths (i.e. λmax ≥ 550 nm) and for each species documented abiotic and biotic factors that may be associated with peak sensitivity of the LWS photoreceptor. We found evidence supporting visual tuning to the light environment: terrestrial species had longer λmax than aquatic species, and of these, species from turbid shallow waters had longer λmax than those from clear or deep waters. Of the terrestrial species, diurnal species had longer λmax than nocturnal species, but we did not detect any differences across terrestrial habitats (closed, intermediate or open). We found no association with proxies for visual tasks such as having red morphological features or utilising flowers or coral reefs. These results support the emerging consensus that, in general, visual systems are broadly adapted to the lighting environment and diverse visual tasks. Links between visual systems and specific visual tasks are commonly reported, but these likely vary among species and do not lead to general patterns across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryony M. Margetts
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Amanda M. Franklin
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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5
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Lupše N, Kłodawska M, Truhlářová V, Košátko P, Kašpar V, Bitja Nyom AR, Musilova Z. Developmental changes of opsin gene expression in ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221855. [DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish often change their habitat and trophic preferences during development. Dramatic functional differences between embryos, larvae, juveniles and adults also concern sensory systems, including vision. Here, we focus on the photoreceptors (rod and cone cells) in the retina and their gene expression profiles during development. Using comparative transcriptomics on 63 species, belonging to 23 actinopterygian orders, we report general developmental patterns of opsin expression, mostly suggesting an increased importance of the rod opsin (
RH1
) gene and the long-wavelength-sensitive cone opsin, and a decreasing importance of the shorter wavelength-sensitive cone opsin throughout development. Furthermore, we investigate in detail ontogenetic changes in 14 selected species (from Polypteriformes, Acipenseriformes, Cypriniformes, Aulopiformes and Cichliformes), and we report examples of expanded cone opsin repertoires, cone opsin switches (mostly within
RH2
) and increasing rod : cone ratio as evidenced by the opsin and phototransduction cascade genes. Our findings provide molecular support for developmental stage-specific visual palettes of ray-finned fishes and shifts between, which most likely arose in response to ecological, behavioural and physiological factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nik Lupše
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Kłodawska
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Truhlářová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Prokop Košátko
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Kašpar
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Arnold Roger Bitja Nyom
- Department of Management of Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems, University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 7236, Cameroon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré P.O. Box 454, Cameroon
| | - Zuzana Musilova
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
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6
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Ul-Hassan H, Mahboob S, Masood Z, Riaz MN, Rizwan S, Al-Misned F, Abdel-Aziz MFA, Al-Ghanim KA, Gabol K, Chatta AM, Khan NA, Saeed, Waqar M. Biodiversity of commercially important finfish species caught by mid-water and bottom trawls from two different coasts of Arabian Sea: Threats and conservation strategies. BRAZ J BIOL 2021; 83:e249211. [PMID: 34730605 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.249211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to estimate the diversity and the occurrence of commercially important finfish species collected by twenty fish sampling site of Sindh and Baluchistan coasts of the Arabian Sea in Pakistan from January to December 2019. Additionally, physicochemical characteristics of seawater were analyzed from these selected sites and found to be within suitable ranges required for fish growth and survive. A total of 81287 fish individuals were collected and identified as 49 species belonging to 26 families in our study. The most diversified family was Sparidae (13 species) followed by Carangidae and Lutjanidae (4 species), Mullidae, Serranidae, Ariidae (3 species), and Sciaenidae (2 species). The remaining 20 families were represented by only one species. The values of Shannon diversity index calculated for the four selected habitats revealed that high fish diversity was reported at Sonmiani Coast (H'=1.81), while less at Ormara Coast (H'=0.23). Likewise, Evenness index (E) was high at Sonmiani Coast (E=0.50) and less fish diversity was reported at Ormara Coast (E=0.06). Reducing risks to threatened marine species in coastal habitats also requires conservation actions at multiple scales. Thus, it was concluded that our study could be valuable in providing the more information's regarding to the diversity of finfish species and their occurrence along the Pakistan Coast. Further, to better understand the effects, regular monitoring and conservation measures should be taken to mitigate the influence of anthropogenic activities and protect finfish diversity from further decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Ul-Hassan
- University of Karachi, Department of Zoology, Karachi, Pakistan.,Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Fisheries Development Board, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - S Mahboob
- King Saud University, College of Science, Department of Zoology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Z Masood
- SBK Women University Quetta, Department of Zoology, Baluchistan, Pakistan
| | - M N Riaz
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - S Rizwan
- Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - F Al-Misned
- King Saud University, College of Science, Department of Zoology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - M F A Abdel-Aziz
- National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries - NIOF, Aquculture Division, Cairo, Egypt
| | - K A Al-Ghanim
- King Saud University, College of Science, Department of Zoology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - K Gabol
- University of Karachi, Department of Zoology, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - A M Chatta
- Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Fisheries Development Board, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - N A Khan
- Sindh Madressa-tul-Islam University, Department of Environmental Sciences, Karachi Pakistan
| | - Saeed
- University of Karachi, Department of Zoology, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - M Waqar
- University of Karachi, Department of Zoology, Karachi, Pakistan
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7
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Zolkaply SZ, Do TD, Asaduzzaman M, Seah YG, Hurwood D, Mather P, Rahman MM, Wong LL. Evolutionary History and Taxonomic Reappraisal of Coral Reef Rabbitfishes (Siganidae): Patterns of Lineage Diversification and Speciation. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111109. [PMID: 34827102 PMCID: PMC8615046 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Herbivorous fish are recognized as being ecologically important to the health and survival of coral reef ecosystems because they remove algal turfs growing on corals. Apart from being one of the major components of herbivorous fish communities, rabbitfish are also characterized by possessing rabbit-like mouths. A total of 29 species of rabbitfish are confined to a single genus, Siganus, fish that are highly sought after for the aquarium trade and for food by humans. Natural hybridization between some species that have parapatric distributions across the Indo-West Pacific region may have homogenized their genotypic and morphological features. Relatively little is known, however, about how environmental factors may affect phylogenetic relationships among these siganid species. Based on sequencing of eight siganid species collected from the South China Sea and meta-analysis of sequences from ten siganid species retrieved from the NCBI database, we applied an integrated morphological–molecular approach to elucidate phylogenetic relationships and demographic histories of these species. Our results highlight that diversification and speciation of siganid species were influenced by a series of paleo-climatic events, changes to natural geographical distributions, and associated environmental changes. The target species were differentiated by body shape, and two morphometric parameters, notably body depth and snout length. Our results provide considerable baseline knowledge for strategizing improvement of both breeding and conservation programs for rabbitfish. Abstract Rabbitfish (Siganidae) are coral reef fish that are distributed across diverse habitats that include estuaries, mangroves, reefs, and even seaweed mats. Given their ecological diversity and natural widespread distributions across the Indo-Pacific region, we were interested to investigate the evolutionary history of this group and patterns of divergence that have contributed to their present-day distributions. In the present study, samples were collected from the South China Sea to study taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships, and divergence times. We investigated the taxonomic relationships among modern rabbitfish species, reconstructed their molecular phylogeny, and estimated divergence times among selected lineages based on a fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and sequences of the nuclear rhodopsin retrogene (RHO). Our results indicate that modern rabbitfish likely originated in the Indo-West Pacific during the late Eocene [37.4 million years ago (mya)], following which they diverged into three major clades during the Pliocene/Pleistocene. Subsequent diversification and origins of the majority of siganids may likely be associated with episodes of paleo-oceanographic events, including greenhouse and glaciation events (Eocene–Miocene) as well as major plate tectonic events (Pliocene–Pleistocene). Some modern siganid species may naturally hybridize with congeneric species where their geographical ranges overlap. A comprehensive taxonomic analysis revealed that the phylogeny of Siganidae (cladogenesis of Clades I, II, and III) is characterized by divergence in several external morphological characters and morphometric parameters. Our study demonstrates that morphological characteristics, geographical heterogeneity, and environmental change have contributed to siganids’ historical diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti Zulaiha Zolkaply
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia;
- Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia;
| | - Thinh Dinh Do
- Institute of Marine Environment and Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Haiphong 04000, Vietnam;
| | - Md Asaduzzaman
- Department of Marine Bioresource Science, Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh;
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Ying Giat Seah
- Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia;
- South China Sea Repository and Reference Centre, Institute Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia
| | - David Hurwood
- Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia;
| | - Peter Mather
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia;
| | - Md Moshiur Rahman
- Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh;
| | - Li Lian Wong
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia;
- UMT-OUC Joint Academic Center for Marine Studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +60-9-6683671
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8
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Schwartz ST, Alfaro ME. Sashimi
: A toolkit for facilitating high‐throughput organismal image segmentation using deep learning. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shawn T. Schwartz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Michael E. Alfaro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles California USA
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9
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Cox KD, Woods MB, Reimchen TE. Regional heterogeneity in coral species richness and hue reveals novel global predictors of reef fish intra-family diversity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18275. [PMID: 34521952 PMCID: PMC8440613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97862-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat heterogeneity shapes biological communities, a well-known process in terrestrial ecosystems but substantially unresolved within coral reef ecosystems. We investigated the extent to which coral richness predicts intra-family fish richness, while simultaneously integrating a striking aspect of reef ecosystems-coral hue. To do so, we quantified the coral richness, coral hue diversity, and species richness within 25 fish families in 74 global ecoregions. We then expanded this to an analysis of all reef fishes (4465 species). Considering coral bleaching as a natural experiment, we subsequently examined hue's contribution to fish communities. Coral species and hue diversity significantly predict each family's fish richness, with the highest correlations (> 80%) occurring in damselfish, butterflyfish, emperors and rabbitfish, lower (60-80%) in substrate-bound and mid-water taxa such as blennies, seahorses, and parrotfish, and lowest (40-60%) in sharks, morays, grunts and triggerfish. The observed trends persisted globally. Coral bleaching's homogenization of reef colouration revealed hue's contribution to maintaining fish richness, abundance, and recruit survivorship. We propose that each additional coral species and associated hue provide added ecological opportunities (e.g. camouflage, background contrast for intraspecific display), facilitating the evolution and co-existence of diverse fish assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran D Cox
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Cunningham 202, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Hakai Institute, Heriot Bay, BC, V0P 1H0, Canada.
| | - Mackenzie B Woods
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Cunningham 202, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Thomas E Reimchen
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Cunningham 202, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada.
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10
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Musilova Z, Salzburger W, Cortesi F. The Visual Opsin Gene Repertoires of Teleost Fishes: Evolution, Ecology, and Function. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2021; 37:441-468. [PMID: 34351785 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-120219-024915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Visual opsin genes expressed in the rod and cone photoreceptor cells of the retina are core components of the visual sensory system of vertebrates. Here, we provide an overview of the dynamic evolution of visual opsin genes in the most species-rich group of vertebrates, teleost fishes. The examination of the rich genomic resources now available for this group reveals that fish genomes contain more copies of visual opsin genes than are present in the genomes of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The expansion of opsin genes in fishes is due primarily to a combination of ancestral and lineage-specific gene duplications. Following their duplication, the visual opsin genes of fishes repeatedly diversified at the same key spectral-tuning sites, generating arrays of visual pigments sensitive from the ultraviolet to the red spectrum of the light. Species-specific opsin gene repertoires correlate strongly with underwater light habitats, ecology, and color-based sexual selection. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, Volume 37 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Musilova
- Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague 128 44, Czech Republic;
| | | | - Fabio Cortesi
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia;
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11
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Roberts NS, Mendelson TC. Identifying female phenotypes that promote behavioral isolation in a sexually dimorphic species of fish Etheostoma zonale. Curr Zool 2020; 67:225-236. [PMID: 33854540 PMCID: PMC8026156 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In sexually dimorphic species characterized by exaggerated male ornamentation, behavioral isolation is often attributed to female preferences for conspecific male signals. Yet, in a number of sexually dimorphic species, male mate choice also results in behavioral isolation. In many of these cases, the female traits that mediate species boundaries are unclear. Females in sexually dimorphic species typically lack many of the elaborate traits that are present in males and that are often used for taxonomic classification of species. In a diverse and largely sexually dimorphic group of fishes called darters (Percidae: Etheostoma), male mate choice contributes to behavioral isolation between a number of species; however, studies addressing which female traits males prefer are lacking. In this study, we identified the dominant female pattern for two sympatric species, Etheostoma zonale and Etheostoma barrenense, using pattern energy analysis, and we used discriminate function analysis to identify which aspects of female patterning can reliably classify species. We then tested the role of female features in male mate choice for E. zonale, by measuring male preference for computer animations displaying the identified (species-specific) conspecific features. We found that the region above the lateral line is important in mediating male mate preferences, with males spending a significantly greater proportion of time with animations exhibiting conspecific female patterning in this region than with animations exhibiting heterospecific female patterning. Our results suggest that the aspects of female phenotypes that are the target of male mate choice are different from the conspicuous male phenotypes that traditionally characterize species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie S Roberts
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA
| | - Tamra C Mendelson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA
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12
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Neto JGB, Rodrigues FL, Ortega I, Rodrigues LDS, Lacerda ALDF, Coletto JL, Kessler F, Cardoso LG, Madureira L, Proietti MC. Ingestion of plastic debris by commercially important marine fish in southeast-south Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 267:115508. [PMID: 32916433 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Rising concentrations of plastics in the oceans are leading to increasing negative interactions with marine biota, including ingestion by endangered and/or economically important seafood species such as fish. In this paper, we visually evaluated plastic debris ingestion by 965 specimens of eight commercially exploited fish species from different marine habitats off the southeast-south coast of Brazil. All species ingested plastics, with pelagic animals having higher amounts, frequency of occurrence, diversity and sizes of ingested items than demersal-pelagic and demersal animals. Highest frequency of occurrence (FO%) of plastic ingestion (25.8%) was observed for the pelagic skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis (Scombridae), and lowest (5%) for the demersal bluewing searobin Prionotus punctatus (Triglidae). Microplastics predominated in all species, and fibers/lines and fragments were the main items found, possibly derived from fishing materials. The most abundant plastic colors were transparent, black and blue, and the most common polymers were polyamide and polyurethane. With the available data, no relationship between the size of the individuals and amount of ingested plastics was observed. Considering the negative impacts of plastic ingestion on marine fish, and potentially on human health due to their consumption, understanding ingestion patterns is critical for better evaluating their origin and possible causes, and consequently for helping define prevention strategies for this problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gabriel B Neto
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Oceanografia Biológica/Projeto Lixo Marinho, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Fábio L Rodrigues
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnológicos e Marinhos (CECLIMAR), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Campus Litoral Norte, 95625-000, Imbé, RS, Brazil
| | - Ileana Ortega
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Lucas Dos S Rodrigues
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana L D F Lacerda
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Oceanografia Biológica/Projeto Lixo Marinho, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Juliano L Coletto
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Oceanografia Biológica/Projeto Lixo Marinho, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Felipe Kessler
- Escola de Química e Alimentos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Luis G Cardoso
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Oceanografia Biológica/Projeto Lixo Marinho, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Lauro Madureira
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Maíra C Proietti
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Pós-graduação em Oceanografia Biológica/Projeto Lixo Marinho, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália Km 08, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
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13
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van den Berg CP, Hollenkamp M, Mitchell LJ, Watson EJ, Green NF, Marshall NJ, Cheney KL. More than noise: context-dependent luminance contrast discrimination in a coral reef fish ( Rhinecanthus aculeatus). J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb232090. [PMID: 32967998 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.232090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Achromatic (luminance) vision is used by animals to perceive motion, pattern, space and texture. Luminance contrast sensitivity thresholds are often poorly characterised for individual species and are applied across a diverse range of perceptual contexts using over-simplified assumptions of an animal's visual system. Such thresholds are often estimated using the receptor noise limited model (RNL). However, the suitability of the RNL model to describe luminance contrast perception remains poorly tested. Here, we investigated context-dependent luminance discrimination using triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) presented with large achromatic stimuli (spots) against uniform achromatic backgrounds of varying absolute and relative contrasts. 'Dark' and 'bright' spots were presented against relatively dark and bright backgrounds. We found significant differences in luminance discrimination thresholds across treatments. When measured using Michelson contrast, thresholds for bright spots on a bright background were significantly higher than for other scenarios, and the lowest threshold was found when dark spots were presented on dark backgrounds. Thresholds expressed in Weber contrast revealed lower thresholds for spots darker than their backgrounds, which is consistent with the literature. The RNL model was unable to estimate threshold scaling across scenarios as predicted by the Weber-Fechner law, highlighting limitations in the current use of the RNL model to quantify luminance contrast perception. Our study confirms that luminance contrast discrimination thresholds are context dependent and should therefore be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric P van den Berg
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Michelle Hollenkamp
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Laurie J Mitchell
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Erin J Watson
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Naomi F Green
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - N Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Karen L Cheney
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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14
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Cortesi F, Mitchell LJ, Tettamanti V, Fogg LG, de Busserolles F, Cheney KL, Marshall NJ. Visual system diversity in coral reef fishes. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 106:31-42. [PMID: 32593517 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are one of the most species rich and colourful habitats on earth and for many coral reef teleosts, vision is central to their survival and reproduction. The diversity of reef fish visual systems arises from variations in ocular and retinal anatomy, neural processing and, perhaps most easily revealed by, the peak spectral absorbance of visual pigments. This review examines the interplay between retinal morphology and light environment across a number of reef fish species, but mainly focusses on visual adaptations at the molecular level (i.e. visual pigment structure). Generally, visual pigments tend to match the overall light environment or micro-habitat, with fish inhabiting greener, inshore waters possessing longer wavelength-shifted visual pigments than open water blue-shifted species. In marine fishes, particularly those that live on the reef, most species have between two (likely dichromatic) to four (possible tetrachromatic) cone spectral sensitivities and a single rod for crepuscular vision; however, most are trichromatic with three spectral sensitivities. In addition to variation in spectral sensitivity number, spectral placement of the absorbance maximum (λmax) also has a surprising degree of variability. Variation in ocular and retinal anatomy is also observed at several levels in reef fishes but is best represented by differences in arrangement, density and distribution of neural cell types across the retina (i.e. retinal topography). Here, we focus on the seven reef fish families most comprehensively studied to date to examine and compare how behaviour, environment, activity period, ontogeny and phylogeny might interact to generate the exceptional diversity in visual system design that we observe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Cortesi
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
| | - Laurie J Mitchell
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Valerio Tettamanti
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Lily G Fogg
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Fanny de Busserolles
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Karen L Cheney
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - N Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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15
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Carleton KL, Escobar-Camacho D, Stieb SM, Cortesi F, Marshall NJ. Seeing the rainbow: mechanisms underlying spectral sensitivity in teleost fishes. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb193334. [PMID: 32327561 PMCID: PMC7188444 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.193334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Among vertebrates, teleost eye diversity exceeds that found in all other groups. Their spectral sensitivities range from ultraviolet to red, and the number of visual pigments varies from 1 to over 40. This variation is correlated with the different ecologies and life histories of fish species, including their variable aquatic habitats: murky lakes, clear oceans, deep seas and turbulent rivers. These ecotopes often change with the season, but fish may also migrate between ecotopes diurnally, seasonally or ontogenetically. To survive in these variable light habitats, fish visual systems have evolved a suite of mechanisms that modulate spectral sensitivities on a range of timescales. These mechanisms include: (1) optical media that filter light, (2) variations in photoreceptor type and size to vary absorbance and sensitivity, and (3) changes in photoreceptor visual pigments to optimize peak sensitivity. The visual pigment changes can result from changes in chromophore or changes to the opsin. Opsin variation results from changes in opsin sequence, opsin expression or co-expression, and opsin gene duplications and losses. Here, we review visual diversity in a number of teleost groups where the structural and molecular mechanisms underlying their spectral sensitivities have been relatively well determined. Although we document considerable variability, this alone does not imply functional difference per se. We therefore highlight the need for more studies that examine species with known sensitivity differences, emphasizing behavioral experiments to test whether such differences actually matter in the execution of visual tasks that are relevant to the fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Carleton
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | | | - Sara M Stieb
- Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072 QLD, Australia
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072 QLD, Australia
| | - N Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072 QLD, Australia
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16
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Luehrmann M, Cortesi F, Cheney KL, Busserolles F, Marshall NJ. Microhabitat partitioning correlates with opsin gene expression in coral reef cardinalfishes (Apogonidae). Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Luehrmann
- Sensory Neurobiology Group Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Sensory Neurobiology Group Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Karen L. Cheney
- Sensory Neurobiology Group Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Fanny Busserolles
- Sensory Neurobiology Group Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Sensory Neurobiology Group Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
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17
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Franklin AM, Marshall J, Feinstein AD, Bok MJ, Byrd AD, Lewis SM. Differences in signal contrast and camouflage among different colour variations of a stomatopod crustacean, Neogonodactylus oerstedii. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1236. [PMID: 31988305 PMCID: PMC6985165 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57990-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal colouration is often a trade-off between background matching for camouflage from predators, and conspicuousness for communication with con- or heterospecifics. Stomatopods are marine crustaceans known to use colour signals during courtship and contests, while their overall body colouration may provide camouflage. However, we have little understanding of how stomatopods perceive these signals in their environment or whether overall body coloration does provide camouflage from predators. Neogonodactylus oerstedii assess meral spot colour during contests, and meral spot colour varies depending on local habitat. By calculating quantum catch for N. oerstedii's 12 photoreceptors associated with chromatic vision, we found that variation in meral spot total reflectance does not function to increase signal contrast in the local habitat. Neogonodactylus oerstedii also show between-habitat variation in dorsal body colouration. We used visual models to predict a trichromatic fish predator's perception of these colour variations. Our results suggest that sandy and green stomatopods are camouflaged from a typical fish predator in rubble fields and seagrass beds, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate signal contrast and camouflage in a stomatopod. These results provide new insight into the function and evolution of colouration in a species with a complex visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Franklin
- Biology Department, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA. .,School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | - Justin Marshall
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | | | - Michael J Bok
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Anya D Byrd
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA
| | - Sara M Lewis
- Biology Department, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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18
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Marshall NJ, Cortesi F, de Busserolles F, Siebeck UE, Cheney KL. Colours and colour vision in reef fishes: Past, present and future research directions. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2019; 95:5-38. [PMID: 30357835 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Many fishes, both freshwater or marine, have colour vision that may outperform humans. As a result, to understand the behavioural tasks that vision enables; including mate choice, feeding, agonistic behaviour and camouflage, we need to see the world through a fish's eye. This includes quantifying the variable light environment underwater and its various influences on vision. As well as rapid loss of light with depth, light attenuation underwater limits visual interaction to metres at most and in many instances, less than a metre. We also need to characterize visual sensitivities, fish colours and behaviours relative to both these factors. An increasingly large set of techniques over the past few years, including improved photography, submersible spectrophotometers and genetic sequencing, have taken us from intelligent guesswork to something closer to sensible hypotheses. This contribution to the special edition on the Ecology of Fish Senses under a shifting environment first reviews our knowledge of fish colour vision and visual ecology, past, present and very recent, and then goes on to examine how climate change may impinge on fish visual capability. The review is limited to mostly colour vision and to mostly reef fishes. This ignores a large body of work, both from other marine environments and freshwater systems, but the reef contains examples of many of the challenges to vision from the aquatic environment. It is also a concentrate of life, perhaps the most specious and complex on earth, suffering now catastrophically from the consequences of our lack of action on climate change. A clear course of action to prevent destruction of this habitat is the need to spend more time in it, in the study of it and sharing it with those not fortunate enough to see coral reefs first-hand. Sir David Attenborough on The Great Barrier Reef: "Do we really care so little about the Earth upon which we live that we don't wish to protect one of its greatest wonders from the consequences of our behaviours?"
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Affiliation(s)
- N Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fanny de Busserolles
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Uli E Siebeck
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karen L Cheney
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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19
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Luehrmann M, Carleton KL, Cortesi F, Cheney KL, Marshall NJ. Cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) show visual system adaptations typical of nocturnally and diurnally active fish. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:3025-3041. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Luehrmann
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | | | - Fabio Cortesi
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Karen L. Cheney
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
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20
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Tettamanti V, de Busserolles F, Lecchini D, Marshall NJ, Cortesi F. Visual system development of the spotted unicornfish, Naso brevirostris (Acanthuridae). J Exp Biol 2019; 222:jeb.209916. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.209916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ontogenetic changes of the visual system are often correlated to shifts in habitat and feeding behaviour of animals. Coral reef fishes begin their lives in the pelagic zone and then migrate to the reef. This habitat transition frequently involves a change in diet and light environment as well as major morphological modifications. The spotted unicornfish, Naso brevirostris, is known to shift diet from zooplankton to algae and back to mainly zooplankton when transitioning from larval to juvenile and then to adult stages. Concurrently, N. brevirostris also moves from an open pelagic to a coral-associated habitat before migrating up in the water column when reaching adulthood. Using retinal mapping techniques, we discovered that the distribution and density of ganglion and photoreceptor cells in N. brevirostris mostly changes during the transition from the larval to the juvenile stage, with only minor modifications thereafter. Similarly, visual gene (opsin) expression based on RNA sequencing, although qualitatively similar between stages (all fishes mainly expressed the same three cone opsins; SWS2B, RH2B, RH2A), also showed the biggest quantitative difference when transitioning from larvae to juveniles. The juvenile stage in particular seems mismatched with its reef-associated ecology, which may be due to this stage only lasting a fraction of the lifespan of these fishes. Hence, the visual ontogeny found in N. brevirostris is very different from the progressive changes found in other reef fishes calling for a thorough analysis of visual system development of the reef fish community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Tettamanti
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fanny de Busserolles
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - David Lecchini
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
- Laboratoire d'Excellence “CORAIL”, Paris, France
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
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21
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Takahashi-Kariyazono S, Sakai K, Terai Y. Presence-Absence Polymorphisms of Highly Expressed FP Sequences Contribute to Fluorescent Polymorphisms in Acropora digitifera. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:1715-1729. [PMID: 30016429 PMCID: PMC6048989 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite many hypotheses regarding the roles of fluorescent proteins (FPs), their biological roles and the genetic basis of FP-mediated color polymorphisms in Acropora remain unclear. In this study, we determined the genetic mechanism underlying fluorescent polymorphisms in A. digitifera. Using a high-throughput sequencing approach, we found that FP gene sequences in FP multigene family exhibit presence-absence polymorphism among individuals. A few particular sequences in short-to-middle wavelength emission and middle-to-long wavelength emission clades were highly expressed in adults, and different sequences were highly expressed in larvae. These highly expressed sequences were absent in the genomes of individuals with low total FP gene expression. In adults, presence-absence differences of the highly expressed FP sequences were consistent with measurements of emission spectra of corals, suggesting that presence-absence polymorphisms of these FP sequences contributed to the fluorescent polymorphisms. The functions of recombinant FPs encoded by highly expressed sequences in adult and larval stages were different, suggesting that expression of FP sequences with different functions may depend on the life-stage of A. digitifera. Highly expressed FP sequences exhibited presence-absence polymorphisms in subpopulations of A. digitifera, suggesting that presence-absence status is maintained during the evolution of A. digitifera subpopulations. The difference in FPs between adults and larvae and the polymorphisms of highly expressed FP genes may provide key insight into the biological roles of FPs in corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiho Takahashi-Kariyazono
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, Shonan Village, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Sakai
- Department of Coral Reef and Biological Science, Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Motobu, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yohey Terai
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, Shonan Village, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Japan
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Abstract
As land-locked animals, when we visualise the ocean our mind's eye may see crashing waves or a vast blue expanse stretching to the horizon, a raft of torpedoing penguins, a glimpse of colourful coral reef fish from the shark-free safety of a sandy beach. Underwater, the crystal-clear, and in fact not at all silent, world of Jacques Cousteau, or more recently David Attenborough, is a wonderland that some cannot wait to witness first hand as divers, while others are content to see it on a screen. Spend a bit of time underwater, in the English Channel for example, and a few facts emerge. Most obviously, much of this underwater realm is visually very different to land and indeed to the cherry-picked clear waters of documentaries. It may be disappointingly murky and monochromatic. Perhaps surprisingly, therefore, on close inspection the diversity of eye designs and light sensing mechanisms that evolved in the ocean are more varied than on land, reflecting the greater range of light environments and lifestyles of the marine world. Particularly in the last ten years, the destructive influence we are having on the oceans has become visibly obvious, not just to fisheries biologists and ecologists, but to anyone returning to a favourite dive spot or reef resort. Climate change, as a result of burning fossil fuels, human greed and carelessness with plastic disposal, are rapidly degrading entire oceanic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Marshall
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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23
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Harant UK, Santon M, Bitton PP, Wehrberger F, Griessler T, Meadows MG, Champ CM, Michiels NK. Do the fluorescent red eyes of the marine fish Tripterygion delaisi stand out? In situ and in vivo measurements at two depths. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:4685-4694. [PMID: 29760908 PMCID: PMC5938470 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of red fluorescence in fish, much effort has been invested to elucidate its potential functions, one of them being signaling. This implies that the combination of red fluorescence and reflection should generate a visible contrast against the background. Here, we present in vivo iris radiance measurements of Tripterygion delaisi under natural light conditions at 5 and 20 m depth. We also measured substrate radiance of shaded and exposed foraging sites at those depths. To assess the visual contrast of the red iris against these substrates, we used the receptor noise model for chromatic contrasts and Michelson contrast for achromatic calculations. At 20 m depth, T. delaisi iris radiance generated strong achromatic contrasts against substrate radiance, regardless of exposure, and despite substrate fluorescence. Given that downwelling light above 600 nm is negligible at this depth, we can attribute this effect to iris fluorescence. Contrasts were weaker in 5 m. Yet, the pooled radiance caused by red reflection and fluorescence still exceeded substrate radiance for all substrates under shaded conditions and all but Jania rubens and Padina pavonia under exposed conditions. Due to the negative effects of anesthesia on iris fluorescence, these estimates are conservative. We conclude that the requirements to create visual brightness contrasts are fulfilled for a wide range of conditions in the natural environment of T. delaisi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike K Harant
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution and Ecology Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany
| | - Matteo Santon
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution and Ecology Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany
| | - Pierre-Paul Bitton
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution and Ecology Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany
| | - Florian Wehrberger
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution and Ecology Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany
| | - Thomas Griessler
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution and Ecology Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany
| | - Melissa G Meadows
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution and Ecology Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany.,Present address: Department of Biology Saint Francis University Loretto PA USA
| | - Connor M Champ
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution and Ecology Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany
| | - Nico K Michiels
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution and Ecology Department of Biology Faculty of Science University of Tuebingen Tuebingen Germany
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Marshall J, Johnsen S. Fluorescence as a means of colour signal enhancement. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0335. [PMID: 28533452 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence is a physico-chemical energy exchange where shorter-wavelength photons are absorbed by a molecule and are re-emitted as longer-wavelength photons. It has been suggested a means of communication in several taxa including flowers, pitcher plants, corals, algae, worms, squid, spiders, stomatopods, fish, reptiles, parrots and humans. The surface or object that the pigment molecule is part of appears to glow due to its setting rather than an actual production of light, and this may enhance both signals and, in some cases, camouflage. This review examines some known uses of fluorescence, mainly in the context of visual communication in animals, the challenge being to distinguish when fluorescence is a functional feature of biological coloration or when it is a by-product of a pigment or other molecule. In general, we conclude that most observations of fluorescence lack enough evidence to suggest they are used in visually driven behaviours.This article is part of the themed issue 'Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Sonke Johnsen
- Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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Whitney JL, Donahue MJ, Karl SA. Niche divergence along a fine‐scale ecological gradient in sympatric color morphs of a coral reef fish. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L. Whitney
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawai'i at Mānoa P.O. Box 1346 Kāne'ohe Hawai'i 96744 USA
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research University of Hawai'i at Mānoa 1000 Pope Road Honolulu Hawai'i 96822 USA
| | - Megan J. Donahue
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawai'i at Mānoa P.O. Box 1346 Kāne'ohe Hawai'i 96744 USA
| | - Stephen A. Karl
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawai'i at Mānoa P.O. Box 1346 Kāne'ohe Hawai'i 96744 USA
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Luehrmann M, Stieb SM, Carleton KL, Pietzker A, Cheney KL, Marshall NJ. Short term colour vision plasticity on the reef: Changes in opsin expression under varying light conditions differ between ecologically distinct reef fish species. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:jeb.175281. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.175281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Vision mediates important behavioural tasks such as mate choice, escape from predators and foraging. In fish, photoreceptors are generally tuned to specific visual tasks and/or to their light environment according to depth or water colour to ensure optimal performance. Evolutionary mechanisms acting on opsin genes, the protein component of the photopigment, can influence the spectral sensitivity of photoreceptors. Opsin genes are known to respond to environmental conditions on a number of time scales including shorter time frames due to seasonal variation, or through longer term evolutionary tuning. There is also evidence for ‘on-the-fly’ adaptations in adult fish in response to rapidly changing environmental conditions, however, results are contradictory. Here we investigated the ability of three reef fish species that belong to two ecologically distinct families, Yellow-striped cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus cyanosoma, Ambon damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis, and Lemon damselfish, Pomacentrus moluccensis, to alter opsin-gene expression as an adaptation to short-term (weeks to months) changes of environmental light conditions, and attempted to characterize the underlying expression regulation principles. We report the ability for all species to alter opsin gene expression within months and even a few weeks, suggesting that opsin expression in adult reef fish is not static. Furthermore, we found that opsin expression changes in single cones generally occurred more rapidly than in double cones, and identified different responses of RH2 opsin gene expression between the ecologically distinct reef fish families. Quantum catch correlation analysis suggested different regulation mechanisms for opsin expression dependent on gene class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Luehrmann
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Sensory Neurobiology Group, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sara M. Stieb
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Sensory Neurobiology Group, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Karen L. Carleton
- Department of Biology, The University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Alisa Pietzker
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Sensory Neurobiology Group, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Karen L. Cheney
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Sensory Neurobiology Group, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Sensory Neurobiology Group, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Holveck MJ, Grégoire A, Guerreiro R, Staszewski V, Boulinier T, Gomez D, Doutrelant C. Kittiwake eggs viewed by conspecifics and predators: implications for colour signal evolution. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Phillips GAC, How MJ, Lange JE, Marshall NJ, Cheney KL. Disruptive colouration in reef fish: does matching the background reduce predation risk? J Exp Biol 2017; 220:1962-1974. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.151480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Animals use disruptive colouration to prevent detection or recognition by potential predators or prey. Highly contrasting elements within colour patterns, including vertical or horizontal bars, are thought to be effective at distracting attention away from body form and reducing detection likelihood. However, it is unclear whether such patterns need to be a good match to the spatial characteristics of the background to gain cryptic benefits. We tested this hypothesis using the iconic vertically barred humbug damselfish, Dascyllus aruanus (Linneaus 1758), a small reef fish that lives among the finger-like projections of branching coral colonies. Using behavioural experiments, we demonstrated that the spatial frequency of the humbug pattern does not need to exactly match the spatial frequency of the coral background to reduce the likelihood of being attacked by two typical reef fish predators: slingjaw wrasse, Epibulus insidiator (Pallas 1770), and coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus (Lacépède 1802). Indeed, backgrounds with a slightly higher spatial frequency than the humbug body pattern provided more protection from predation than well-matched backgrounds. These results were consistent for both predator species, despite differences in their mode of foraging and visual acuity, which was measured using anatomical techniques. We also showed that a slight mismatch in the orientation of the vertical bars did not increase the chances of detection. However, the likelihood of attack did increase significantly when the bars were perpendicular to the background. Our results provide evidence that fish camouflage is more complex than it initially appears, with likely many factors influencing the detection likelihood of prey by relevant predators.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin J. How
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Julia E. Lange
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Karen L. Cheney
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Escobar-Camacho D, Marshall J, Carleton KL. Behavioral color vision in a cichlid fish: Metriaclima benetos. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:2887-2899. [PMID: 28546509 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.160473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Color vision is the capacity to discriminate color regardless of brightness. It is essential for many fish species as they rely on color discrimination for numerous ecological tasks. The study of color vision is important because it can unveil the mechanisms that shape coloration patterns, visual system sensitivities and, hence, visual signals. In order to better understand the mechanisms underlying color vision, an integrative approach is necessary. This usually requires combining behavioral, physiological and genetic experiments with quantitative modeling, resulting in a distinctive characterization of the visual system. Here, we provide new data on the color vision of a rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Malawi: Metriaclima benetos. For this study we used a behavioral approach to demonstrate color vision through classical conditioning, complemented with modeling of color vision to estimate color contrast. For our experiments we took into account opsin coexpression and considered whether cichlids exhibit a dichromatic or a trichromatic visual system. Behavioral experiments confirmed color vision in M. benetos; most fish were significantly more likely to choose the trained over the distracter stimuli, irrespective of brightness. Our results are supported by visual modeling that suggests that cichlids are trichromats and achieve color vision through color opponency mechanisms, which are a result of three different photoreceptor channels. Our analyses also suggest that opsin coexpression can negatively affect perceived color contrast. This study is particularly relevant for research on the cichlid lineage because cichlid visual capabilities and coloration patterns are implicated in their adaptive radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Karen L Carleton
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Torres-Dowdall J, Pierotti ME, Härer A, Karagic N, Woltering JM, Henning F, Elmer KR, Meyer A. Rapid and Parallel Adaptive Evolution of the Visual System of Neotropical Midas Cichlid Fishes. Mol Biol Evol 2017; 34:2469-2485. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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Bitton PP, Harant UK, Fritsch R, Champ CM, Temple SE, Michiels NK. Red fluorescence of the triplefin Tripterygion delaisi is increasingly visible against background light with increasing depth. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:161009. [PMID: 28405391 PMCID: PMC5383848 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.161009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The light environment in water bodies changes with depth due to the absorption of short and long wavelengths. Below 10 m depth, red wavelengths are almost completely absent rendering any red-reflecting animal dark and achromatic. However, fluorescence may produce red coloration even when red light is not available for reflection. A large number of marine taxa including over 270 fish species are known to produce red fluorescence, yet it is unclear under which natural light environment fluorescence contributes perceptively to their colours. To address this question we: (i) characterized the visual system of Tripterygion delaisi, which possesses fluorescent irides, (ii) separated the colour of the irides into its reflectance and fluorescence components and (iii) combined these data with field measurements of the ambient light environment to calculate depth-dependent perceptual chromatic and achromatic contrasts using visual modelling. We found that triplefins have cones with at least three different spectral sensitivities, including differences between the two members of the double cones, giving them the potential for trichromatic colour vision. We also show that fluorescence contributes increasingly to the radiance of the irides with increasing depth. Our results support the potential functionality of red fluorescence, including communicative roles such as species and sex identity, and non-communicative roles such as camouflage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Paul Bitton
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike K. Harant
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Roland Fritsch
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Connor M. Champ
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Shelby E. Temple
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Nico K. Michiels
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Stieb SM, Cortesi F, Sueess L, Carleton KL, Salzburger W, Marshall NJ. Why UV vision and red vision are important for damselfish (Pomacentridae): structural and expression variation in opsin genes. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:1323-1342. [PMID: 27997050 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Revised: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Coral reefs belong to the most diverse ecosystems on our planet. The diversity in coloration and lifestyles of coral reef fishes makes them a particularly promising system to study the role of visual communication and adaptation. Here, we investigated the evolution of visual pigment genes (opsins) in damselfish (Pomacentridae) and examined whether structural and expression variation of opsins can be linked to ecology. Using DNA sequence data of a phylogenetically representative set of 31 damselfish species, we show that all but one visual opsin are evolving under positive selection. In addition, selection on opsin tuning sites, including cases of divergent, parallel, convergent and reversed evolution, has been strong throughout the radiation of damselfish, emphasizing the importance of visual tuning for this group. The highest functional variation in opsin protein sequences was observed in the short- followed by the long-wavelength end of the visual spectrum. Comparative gene expression analyses of a subset of the same species revealed that with SWS1, RH2B and RH2A always being expressed, damselfish use an overall short-wavelength shifted expression profile. Interestingly, not only did all species express SWS1 - a UV-sensitive opsin - and possess UV-transmitting lenses, most species also feature UV-reflective body parts. This suggests that damsels might benefit from a close-range UV-based 'private' communication channel, which is likely to be hidden from 'UV-blind' predators. Finally, we found that LWS expression is highly correlated to feeding strategy in damsels with herbivorous feeders having an increased LWS expression, possibly enhancing the detection of benthic algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Stieb
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Sueess
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Karen L Carleton
- Department of Biology, The University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | | | - N J Marshall
- Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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34
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Reply to Gagnon et al.: All color vision is more difficult in turbid water. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E6910. [PMID: 27803334 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1614994113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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35
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Stubbs AL, Stubbs CW. Spectral discrimination in color blind animals via chromatic aberration and pupil shape. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:8206-11. [PMID: 27382180 PMCID: PMC4961147 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1524578113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a mechanism by which organisms with only a single photoreceptor, which have a monochromatic view of the world, can achieve color discrimination. An off-axis pupil and the principle of chromatic aberration (where different wavelengths come to focus at different distances behind a lens) can combine to provide "color-blind" animals with a way to distinguish colors. As a specific example, we constructed a computer model of the visual system of cephalopods (octopus, squid, and cuttlefish) that have a single unfiltered photoreceptor type. We compute a quantitative image quality budget for this visual system and show how chromatic blurring dominates the visual acuity in these animals in shallow water. We quantitatively show, through numerical simulations, how chromatic aberration can be exploited to obtain spectral information, especially through nonaxial pupils that are characteristic of coleoid cephalopods. We have also assessed the inherent ambiguity between range and color that is a consequence of the chromatic variation of best focus with wavelength. This proposed mechanism is consistent with the extensive suite of visual/behavioral and physiological data that has been obtained from cephalopod studies and offers a possible solution to the apparent paradox of vivid chromatic behaviors in color blind animals. Moreover, this proposed mechanism has potential applicability in organisms with limited photoreceptor complements, such as spiders and dolphins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander L Stubbs
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720;
| | - Christopher W Stubbs
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138; Department of Astronomy, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
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36
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Stieb SM, Carleton KL, Cortesi F, Marshall NJ, Salzburger W. Depth-dependent plasticity in opsin gene expression varies between damselfish (Pomacentridae) species. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:3645-61. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Stieb
- Zoological Institute; University of Basel; Basel 4051 Switzerland
- Queensland Brain Institute; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Karen L. Carleton
- Department of Biology; University of Maryland; College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Zoological Institute; University of Basel; Basel 4051 Switzerland
- Queensland Brain Institute; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
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Wilkins L, Marshall NJ, Johnsen S, Osorio D. Modelling colour constancy in fish: implications for vision and signalling in water. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:1884-92. [PMID: 27045090 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.139147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Colour vision and colour signals are important to aquatic animals, but light scattering and absorption by water distorts spectral stimuli. To investigate the performance of colour vision in water, and to suggest how photoreceptor spectral sensitivities and body colours might evolve for visual communication, we model the effects of changes in viewing distance and depth on the appearance of fish colours for three teleosts: a barracuda, Sphyraena helleri, which is dichromatic and two damselfishes, Chromis verater and Chromis hanui, which are trichromatic. We assume that photoreceptors light-adapt to the background, thereby implementing the von Kries transformation, which can largely account for observed colour constancy in humans and other animals, including fish. This transformation does not, however, compensate for light scattering over variable viewing distances, which in less than a metre seriously impairs dichromatic colour vision, and makes judgement of colour saturation unreliable for trichromats. The von Kries transformation does substantially offset colour shifts caused by changing depth, so that from depths of 0 to 30 m modelled colour changes (i.e. failures of colour constancy) are sometimes negligible. However, the magnitudes and directions of remaining changes are complex, depending upon the specific spectral sensitivities of the receptors and the reflectance spectra. This predicts that when judgement of colour is important, the spectra of signalling colours and photoreceptor spectral sensitivities should be evolutionarily linked, with the colours dependent on photoreceptor spectral sensitivities, and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Wilkins
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
| | - N Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Sönke Johnsen
- Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - D Osorio
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
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Bellwood DR, Goatley CHR, Bellwood O. The evolution of fishes and corals on reefs: form, function and interdependence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:878-901. [PMID: 26970292 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Coral reefs are renowned for their spectacular biodiversity and the close links between fishes and corals. Despite extensive fossil records and common biogeographic histories, the evolution of these two key groups has rarely been considered together. We therefore examine recent advances in molecular phylogenetics and palaeoecology, and place the evolution of fishes and corals in a functional context. In critically reviewing the available fossil and phylogenetic evidence, we reveal a marked congruence in the evolution of the two groups. Despite one group consisting of swimming vertebrates and the other colonial symbiotic invertebrates, fishes and corals have remarkably similar evolutionary histories. In the Paleocene and Eocene [66-34 million years ago (Ma)] most modern fish and coral families were present, and both were represented by a wide range of functional morphotypes. However, there is little evidence of diversification at this time. By contrast, in the Oligocene and Miocene (34-5.3 Ma), both groups exhibited rapid lineage diversification. There is also evidence of increasing reef area, occupation of new habitats, increasing coral cover, and potentially, increasing fish abundance. Functionally, the Oligocene-Miocene is marked by the appearance of new fish and coral taxa associated with high-turnover fast-growth ecosystems and the colonization of reef flats. It is in this period that the functional characteristics of modern coral reefs were established. Most species, however, only arose in the last 5.3 million years (Myr; Plio-Pleistocene), with the average age of fish species being 5.3 Myr, and corals just 1.9 Myr. While these species are genetically distinct, phenotypic differences are often limited to variation in colour or minor morphological features. This suggests that the rapid increase in biodiversity during the last 5.3 Myr was not matched by changes in ecosystem function. For reef fishes, colour appears to be central to recent diversification. However, the presence of pigment patterns in the Eocene suggests that colour may not have driven recent diversification. Furthermore, the lack of functional changes in fishes or corals over the last 5 Myr raises questions over the role and importance of biodiversity in shaping the future of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Bellwood
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Christopher H R Goatley
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Orpha Bellwood
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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Pauers MJ, Kuchenbecker JA, Joneson SL, Neitz J. Correlated Evolution of Short Wavelength Sensitive Photoreceptor Sensitivity and Color Pattern in Lake Malawi Cichlids. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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40
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Phillips GAC, Carleton KL, Marshall NJ. Multiple Genetic Mechanisms Contribute to Visual Sensitivity Variation in the Labridae. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 33:201-15. [PMID: 26464127 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are one of the most spectrally diverse environments, both in terms of habitat and animal color. Species identity, sex, and camouflage are drivers of the phenotypic diversity seen in coral reef fishes, but how the phenotypic diversity is reflected in the genotype remains to be answered. The labrids are a large, polyphyletic family of coral reef fishes that display a diverse range of colors, including developmental color morphs and extensive behavioral ecologies. Here, we assess the opsin sequence and expression diversity among labrids from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. We found that labrids express a diverse palette of visual opsins, with gene duplications in both RH2 and LWS genes. The majority of opsins expressed were within the mid-to-long wavelength sensitive classes (RH2 and LWS). Three of the labrid species expressed SWS1 (ultra-violet sensitive) opsins with the majority expressing the violet-sensitive SWS2B gene and none expressing SWS2A. We used knowledge about spectral tuning sites to calculate approximate spectral sensitivities (λmax) for individual species' visual pigments, which corresponded well with previously published λmax values for closely related species (SWS1: 356-370 nm; SWS2B: 421-451 nm; RH2B: 452-492 nm; RH2A: 516-528 nm; LWS1: 554-555 nm; LWS2: 561-562 nm). In contrast to the phenotypic diversity displayed via color patterns and feeding ecology, there was little amino acid diversity within the known opsin sequence tuning sites. However, gene duplications and differential expression provide alternative mechanisms for tuning visual pigments, resulting in variable visual sensitivities among labrid species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - N Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Garza-Gisholt E, Kempster RM, Hart NS, Collin SP. Visual Specializations in Five Sympatric Species of Stingrays from the Family Dasyatidae. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2015; 85:217-32. [DOI: 10.1159/000381091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The eyes of five ray species (Taeniura lymma, Neotrygon kuhlii, Pastinachus atrus, Himantura uarnak and Urogymnus asperrimus) from the same taxonomic family (Dasyatidae) and the same geographic region (Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia) were studied to identify differences in retinal specializations that may reflect niche specialization. The topographic distributions of photoreceptors (rods and all cones) and ganglion cells were assessed and used to identify localized peaks in cell densities that indicate specializations for acute vision. These data were also used to calculate summation ratios of photoreceptors to ganglion cells in each species and estimate the anatomical spatial resolving power of the eye. Subtle differences in the distribution of retinal neurons appear to be related to the ecology of these closely related species of stingrays. The main specialization in the retinal cell density distribution is the dorsal streak that allows these animals to scan the substrate for potential prey. The blue-spotted fantail ray, T. lymma, showed the highest peak density of rods (86,700 rods mm-2) suggesting a specialization for scotopic vision. The highest peak density of cones (9,970 cones mm-2) was found in H. uarnak, and the highest peak density of ganglion cells (4,500 cells mm-2) was found in P. atrus. The proportion of rods to cones in the dorsal streak was higher in the two smaller species (12.5-14:1 in T. lymma and N. kuhlii) than the larger stingrays (6-8:1 in P. atrus, H. uarnak and U. asperrimus). Visual specializations in different sympatric species are subtle but may reflect specializations to specific ecological niches.
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Marshall J, Carleton KL, Cronin T. Colour vision in marine organisms. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2015; 34:86-94. [PMID: 25725325 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2015.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Colour vision in the marine environment is on average simpler than in terrestrial environments with simple or no colour vision through monochromacy or dichromacy. Monochromacy is found in marine mammals and elasmobranchs, including whales and sharks, but not some rays. Conversely, there is also a greater diversity of colour vision in the ocean than on land, examples being the polyspectral stomatopods and the many colour vision solutions found among reef fish. Recent advances in sequencing reveal more opsin (visual pigment) types than functionally useful at any one time. This diversity arises through opsin duplication and conversion. Such mechanisms allow pick-and-mix adaptation that tunes colour vision on a variety of very short non-evolutionary timescales. At least some of the diversity in marine colour vision is best explained as unconventional colour vision or as neutral drift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4070, Australia.
| | - Karen L Carleton
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Thomas Cronin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
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Harrington KA, Hrabik TR, Mensinger AF. Visual sensitivity of deepwater fishes in Lake Superior. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116173. [PMID: 25646781 PMCID: PMC4315459 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The predator-prey interactions in the offshore food web of Lake Superior have been well documented, but the sensory systems mediating these interactions remain unknown. The deepwater sculpin, (Myoxocephalus thompsoni), siscowet (Salvelinus namaycush siscowet), and kiyi (Coregonus kiyi) inhabit low light level environments. To investigate the potential role of vision in predator-prey interactions, electroretinography was used to determine visual sensitivity for each species. Spectral sensitivity curves revealed peak sensitivity at 525 nm for each species which closely corresponds to the prevalent downwelling light spectrum at depth. To determine if sufficient light was available to mediate predator-prey interactions, visual sensitivity was correlated with the intensity of downwelling light in Lake Superior to construct visual depth profiles for each species. Sufficient daytime irradiance exists for visual interactions to approximately 325 m for siscowet and kiyi and 355 m for the deepwater sculpin during summer months. Under full moon conditions, sufficient irradiance exists to elicit ERG response to light available at approximately 30 m for the siscowet and kiyi and 45 m for the deepwater sculpin. Visual interactions are therefore possible at the depths and times when these organisms overlap in the water column indicating that vision may play a far greater role at depth in deep freshwater lakes than had been previously documented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A. Harrington
- Biology Department, University of Minnesota Duluth, 1035 Kirby Drive, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Thomas R. Hrabik
- Biology Department, University of Minnesota Duluth, 1035 Kirby Drive, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Allen F. Mensinger
- Biology Department, University of Minnesota Duluth, 1035 Kirby Drive, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
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Gerlach T, Sprenger D, Michiels NK. Fairy wrasses perceive and respond to their deep red fluorescent coloration. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 281:rspb.2014.0787. [PMID: 24870049 PMCID: PMC4071555 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence enables the display of wavelengths that are absent in the natural environment, offering the potential to generate conspicuous colour contrasts. The marine fairy wrasse Cirrhilabrus solorensis displays prominent fluorescence in the deep red range (650–700 nm). This is remarkable because marine fishes are generally assumed to have poor sensitivity in this part of the visual spectrum. Here, we investigated whether C. solorensis males can perceive the fluorescence featured in this species by testing whether the presence or absence of red fluorescence affects male–male interactions under exclusive blue illumination. Given that males respond aggressively towards mirror-image stimuli, we quantified agonistic behaviour against mirrors covered with filters that did or did not absorb long (i.e. red) wavelengths. Males showed significantly fewer agonistic responses when their fluorescent signal was masked, independent of brightness differences. Our results unequivocally show that C. solorensis can see its deep red fluorescent coloration and that this pattern affects male–male interactions. This is the first study to demonstrate that deep red fluorescent body coloration can be perceived and has behavioural significance in a reef fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Gerlach
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Group, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28 E, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dennis Sprenger
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Group, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28 E, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nico K Michiels
- Animal Evolutionary Ecology Group, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28 E, Tübingen, Germany
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COLLIN SP, HART NS. Vision and photoentrainment in fishes: The effects of natural and anthropogenic perturbation. Integr Zool 2015; 10:15-28. [DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shaun P. COLLIN
- School of Animal Biology and the Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Nathan S. HART
- School of Animal Biology and the Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia Australia
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Horodysky AZ, Brill RW, Crawford KC, Seagroves ES, Johnson AK. Comparative visual ecophysiology of mid-Atlantic temperate reef fishes. Biol Open 2013; 2:1371-81. [PMID: 24285711 PMCID: PMC3863422 DOI: 10.1242/bio.20136825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The absolute light sensitivities, temporal properties, and spectral sensitivities of the visual systems of three mid-Atlantic temperate reef fishes (Atlantic spadefish [Ephippidae: Chaetodipterus faber], tautog [Labridae: Tautoga onitis], and black sea bass [Serranidae: Centropristis striata]) were studied via electroretinography (ERG). Pelagic Atlantic spadefish exhibited higher temporal resolution but a narrower dynamic range than the two more demersal foragers. The higher luminous sensitivities of tautog and black sea bass were similar to other benthic and demersal coastal mid-Atlantic fishes. Flicker fusion frequency experiments revealed significant interspecific differences at maximum intensities that correlated with lifestyle and habitat. Spectral responses of the three species spanned 400-610 nm, with high likelihood of cone dichromacy providing the basis for color and contrast discrimination. Significant day-night differences in spectral responses were evident in spadefish and black sea bass but not tautog, a labrid with characteristic structure-associated nocturnal torpor. Atlantic spadefish responded to a wider range of wavelengths than did deeper-dwelling tautog or black sea bass. Collectively, these results suggest that temperate reef-associated fishes are well-adapted to their gradient of brighter to dimmer photoclimates, representative of their unique ecologies and life histories. Continuing anthropogenic degradation of water quality in coastal environments, at a pace faster than the evolution of visual systems, may however impede visual foraging and reproductive signaling in temperate reef fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrij Z Horodysky
- Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23664, USA
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Natural selection in novel environments: predation selects for background matching in the body colour of a land fish. Anim Behav 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Hanlon RT, Chiao CC, Mäthger LM, Marshall NJ. A fish-eye view of cuttlefish camouflage usingin situspectrometry. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roger T. Hanlon
- Program in Sensory Physiology and Behavior; Marine Biological Laboratory; 7 MBL Street; Woods Hole; MA; 02543; USA
| | | | - Lydia M. Mäthger
- Program in Sensory Physiology and Behavior; Marine Biological Laboratory; 7 MBL Street; Woods Hole; MA; 02543; USA
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute; University of Queensland; Brisbane; Qld; 4072; Australia
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Cheney K, Newport C, McClure E, Marshall J. Colour vision and response bias in a coral reef fish. J Exp Biol 2013; 216:2967-73. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.087932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Summary
Animals use coloured signals for a variety of communication purposes, including to attract potential mates, recognize individuals, defend territories and warn predators of secondary defences (aposematism). To understand the mechanisms that drive the evolution and design of such visual signals, it is important to understand the visual systems and potential response biases of signal receivers. Here, we provide raw data on the spectral capabilities of a coral reef fish, Picasso triggerfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus, which are potentially trichromatic with three cone sensitivities of 413 nm (single cone), 480 nm (double cone, medium sensitivity), 528 nm (double cone, long sensitivity) and a rod sensitivity of 498 nm. The ocular media have a 50% transmission cut off at 405 nm. Behavioural experiments confirmed colour vision over their spectral range; triggerfish were significantly more likely to choose coloured stimuli over grey distractors, irrespective of luminance. We then examined whether response biases existed towards coloured and patterned stimuli to provide insights into how visual signals - in particular, aposematic colouration - may evolve. Triggerfish showed a preferential foraging response bias to red and green stimuli, in contrast to blue and yellow, irrespective of pattern. There was no response bias to patterned over monochromatic non-patterned stimuli. A foraging response bias towards red in fish differs to that of avian predators, who often avoid red food items. Red is frequently associated with warning colouration in terrestrial environments (ladybirds, snakes, frogs), whilst blue is used in aquatic environments (blue-ringed octopus, nudibranchs); whether the design of warning (aposematic) displays is a cause or consequence of response biases is unclear.
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Akkaynak D, Allen JJ, Mäthger LM, Chiao CC, Hanlon RT. Quantification of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) camouflage: a study of color and luminance using in situ spectrometry. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2012; 199:211-25. [PMID: 23254307 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-012-0785-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2012] [Revised: 11/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cephalopods are renowned for their ability to adaptively camouflage on diverse backgrounds. Sepia officinalis camouflage body patterns have been characterized spectrally in the laboratory but not in the field due to the challenges of dynamic natural light fields and the difficulty of using spectrophotometric instruments underwater. To assess cuttlefish color match in their natural habitats, we studied the spectral properties of S. officinalis and their backgrounds on the Aegean coast of Turkey using point-by-point in situ spectrometry. Fifteen spectrometry datasets were collected from seven cuttlefish; radiance spectra from animal body components and surrounding substrates were measured at depths shallower than 5 m. We quantified luminance and color contrast of cuttlefish components and background substrates in the eyes of hypothetical di- and trichromatic fish predators. Additionally, we converted radiance spectra to sRGB color space to simulate their in situ appearance to a human observer. Within the range of natural colors at our study site, cuttlefish closely matched the substrate spectra in a variety of body patterns. Theoretical calculations showed that this effect might be more pronounced at greater depths. We also showed that a non-biological method ("Spectral Angle Mapper"), commonly used for spectral shape similarity assessment in the field of remote sensing, shows moderate correlation to biological measures of color contrast. This performance is comparable to that of a traditional measure of spectral shape similarity, hue and chroma. This study is among the first to quantify color matching of camouflaged cuttlefish in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derya Akkaynak
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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