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Raya-García E, Suazo-Ortuño I, Campos-García J, Martín J, Alvarado-Díaz J, Mendoza-Ramírez E. Chemical signal divergence among populations influences behavioral discrimination in the whiptail lizard Aspidoscelis lineattissimus (squamata: teiidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02931-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Colosimo G, Di Marco G, D'Agostino A, Gismondi A, Vera CA, Gerber GP, Scardi M, Canini A, Gentile G. Chemical signatures of femoral pore secretions in two syntopic but reproductively isolated species of Galápagos land iguanas (Conolophus marthae and C. subcristatus). Sci Rep 2020; 10:14314. [PMID: 32868803 PMCID: PMC7458923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71176-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The only known population of Conolophus marthae (Reptilia, Iguanidae) and a population of C. subcristatus are syntopic on Wolf Volcano (Isabela Island, Galápagos). No gene flow occurs suggesting that effective reproductive isolating mechanisms exist between these two species. Chemical signature of femoral pore secretions is important for intra- and inter-specific chemical communication in squamates. As a first step towards testing the hypothesis that chemical signals could mediate reproductive isolation between C. marthae and C. subcristatus, we compared the chemical profiles of femoral gland exudate from adults caught on Wolf Volcano. We compared data from three different years and focused on two years in particular when femoral gland exudate was collected from adults during the reproductive season. Samples were processed using Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). We identified over 100 different chemical compounds. Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS) was used to graphically represent the similarity among individuals based on their chemical profiles. Results from non-parametric statistical tests indicate that the separation between the two species is significant, suggesting that the chemical profile signatures of the two species may help prevent hybridization between C. marthae and C. subcristatus. Further investigation is needed to better resolve environmental influence and temporal reproductive patterns in determining the variation of biochemical profiles in both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliano Colosimo
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, 92027-7000, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Di Marco
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia D'Agostino
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Gismondi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlos A Vera
- Galápagos National Park Directorate, Technical Biodiversity Research, Av. C. Darwin, Puerto Ayora, 200350, Isla Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Glenn P Gerber
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, 92027-7000, USA
| | - Michele Scardi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Canini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Gentile
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy.
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Tellkamp F, Lang F, Ibáñez A, Abraham L, Quezada G, Günther S, Looso M, Tann FJ, Müller D, Cemic F, Hemberger J, Steinfartz S, Krüger M. Proteomics of Galápagos Marine Iguanas Links Function of Femoral Gland Proteins to the Immune System. Mol Cell Proteomics 2020; 19:1523-1532. [PMID: 32581039 PMCID: PMC8143647 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra120.001947] [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: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Communication between individuals via molecules, termed chemosignaling, is widespread among animal and plant species. However, we lack knowledge on the specific functions of the substances involved for most systems. The femoral gland is an organ that secretes a waxy substance involved in chemical communication in lizards. Although the lipids and volatile substances secreted by the femoral glands have been investigated in several biochemical studies, the protein composition and functions of secretions remain completely unknown. Applying a proteomic approach, we provide the first attempt to comprehensively characterize the protein composition of femoral gland secretions from the Galápagos marine iguana. Using samples from several organs, the marine iguana proteome was assembled by next-generation sequencing and MS, resulting in 7513 proteins. Of these, 4305 proteins were present in the femoral gland, including keratins, small serum proteins, and fatty acid-binding proteins. Surprisingly, no proteins with discernible roles in partner recognition or inter-species communication could be identified. However, we did find several proteins with direct associations to the innate immune system, including lysozyme C, antileukoproteinase (ALP), pulmonary surfactant protein (SFTPD), and galectin (LGALS1) suggesting that the femoral glands function as an important barrier to infection. Furthermore, we report several novel anti-microbial peptides from the femoral glands that show similar action against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis such as oncocin, a peptide known for its effectiveness against Gram-negative pathogens. This proteomics data set is a valuable resource for future functional protein analysis and demonstrates that femoral gland secretions also perform functions of the innate immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Tellkamp
- CECAD Research Center Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Franziska Lang
- TRON - Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Alejandro Ibáñez
- Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Lena Abraham
- CECAD Research Center Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Galo Quezada
- Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Stefan Günther
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Mario Looso
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Jannik Tann
- Institute for Biochemical Engineering and Analytics (IBVA), Giessen, Germany
| | - Daniela Müller
- Institute for Biochemical Engineering and Analytics (IBVA), Giessen, Germany
| | - Franz Cemic
- Institute for Biochemical Engineering and Analytics (IBVA), Giessen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hemberger
- Institute for Biochemical Engineering and Analytics (IBVA), Giessen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Steinfartz
- Molecular Evolution and Systematics of Animals, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Marcus Krüger
- CECAD Research Center Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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Ortega J, Martín J, Crochet PA, López P, Clobert J. Seasonal and interpopulational phenotypic variation in morphology and sexual signals of Podarcis liolepis lizards. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211686. [PMID: 30875384 PMCID: PMC6419997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Widespread species often show extensive phenotypic variation due to the contrasting abiotic and biotic factors that shape selective pressures in different environments. In this context, the gradual and predictable patterns of variation in climatic and environmental conditions found in mountain areas offer a great opportunity to explore intraspecific phenotypic variation. For instance, temperature is negatively correlated with altitude and virtually all aspects of the behavior and physiology of ectotherms are sensitive to body temperature. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that morphology, dorsal and ventral coloration and the chemical profile of femoral secretions show interpopulational and seasonal variation in the lacertid lizard (Podarcis liolepis). We compared lizards from three populations inhabiting lowland and highland habitats in the French Pyrenees that were closely related genetically. We found that highland lizards were larger, stockier, had longer heads and more femoral pores and had a darker dorsal coloration than lowland ones. In addition, we detected interpopulational differences in both the abundance and the richness of chemical compounds in the glandular secretions, and we also found seasonal variation in the overall chemical composition. Dorsal and ventral coloration differed seasonally and between populations. Ventral and dorsal brightness were higher in lowland than in highland lizards in the reproductive season whereas the reversed trend was found in the non-reproductive season but only for dorsal brightness. In addition, all lizards had browner dorsal coloration in the non-reproductive season, and lowland lizards were greener in the reproductive season. By integrating information from both visual and chemical systems, our works offers a comprehensive view of how these lizards communicate in a multimodal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Ortega
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - José Martín
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain
| | - Pierre-André Crochet
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Montpellier, CNRS-UMR 5175, France
| | - Pilar López
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain
| | - Jean Clobert
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, Moulis, France
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Jara M, Frias-De-Diego A, García-Roa R, Saldarriaga-Córdoba M, Harvey LP, Hickcox RP, Pincheira-Donoso D. The Macroecology of Chemical Communication in Lizards: Do Climatic Factors Drive the Evolution of Signalling Glands? Evol Biol 2018; 45:259-267. [PMID: 30147195 PMCID: PMC6096677 DOI: 10.1007/s11692-018-9447-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Chemical communication plays a pivotal role in shaping sexual and ecological interactions among animals. In lizards, fundamental mechanisms of sexual selection such as female mate choice have rarely been shown to be influenced by quantitative phenotypic traits (e.g., ornaments), while chemical signals have been found to potentially influence multiple forms of sexual and social interactions, including mate choice and territoriality. Chemical signals in lizards are secreted by glands primarily located on the edge of the cloacae (precloacal glands, PG) and thighs (femoral glands), and whose interspecific and interclade number ranges from 0 to > 100. However, elucidating the factors underlying the evolution of such remarkable variation remains an elusive endeavour. Competing hypotheses suggest a dominant role for phylogenetic conservatism (i.e., species within clades share similar numbers of glands) or for natural selection (i.e., their adaptive diversification results in deviating numbers of glands from ancestors). Using the prolific Liolaemus lizard radiation from South America (where PG vary from 0 to 14), we present one of the largest-scale tests of both hypotheses to date. Based on climatic and phylogenetic modelling, we show a clear role for both phylogenetic inertia and adaptation underlying gland variation: (i) solar radiation, net primary productivity, topographic heterogeneity and precipitation range have a significant effect on PG variation, (ii) humid and cold environments tend to concentrate species with a higher number of glands, (iii) there is a strong phylogenetic signal that tends to conserve the number of PG within clades. Collectively, our study confirms that the inertia of niche conservatism can be broken down by the need of species facing different selection regimes to adjust their glands to suit the demands of their specific environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Jara
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology of Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Campus, Lincoln, LN6 7DL UK
- Present Address: Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA USA
| | - Alba Frias-De-Diego
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology of Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Campus, Lincoln, LN6 7DL UK
| | - Roberto García-Roa
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology of Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Campus, Lincoln, LN6 7DL UK
- Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Saldarriaga-Córdoba
- Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lilly P. Harvey
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Rachel P. Hickcox
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology of Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Campus, Lincoln, LN6 7DL UK
| | - Daniel Pincheira-Donoso
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology of Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Campus, Lincoln, LN6 7DL UK
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Characterization of lipid structures in femoral secretions of Galápagos marine iguanas by shotgun lipidomics. CHEMOECOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-018-0251-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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García‐Roa R, Sáiz J, Gómara B, López P, Martín J. How to tackle chemical communication? Relative proportions versus semiquantitative determination of compounds in lizard chemical secretions. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:2032-2040. [PMID: 29468022 PMCID: PMC5817153 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge about chemical communication in some vertebrates is still relatively limited. Squamates are a glaring example of this, even when recent evidences indicate that scents are involved in social and sexual interactions. In lizards, where our understanding of chemical communication has considerably progressed in the last few years, many questions about chemical interactions remain unanswered. A potential reason for this is the inherent complexity and technical limitations that some methodologies embody when analyzing the compounds used to convey information. We provide here a straightforward procedure to analyze lizard chemical secretions based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry that uses an internal standard for the semiquantification of compounds. We compare the results of this method with those obtained by the traditional procedure of calculating relative proportions of compounds. For such purpose, we designed two experiments to investigate if these procedures allowed revealing changes in chemical secretions 1) when lizards received previously a vitamin dietary supplementation or 2) when the chemical secretions were exposed to high temperatures. Our results show that the procedure based on relative proportions is useful to describe the overall chemical profile, or changes in it, at population or species levels. On the other hand, the use of the procedure based on semiquantitative determination can be applied when the target of study is the variation in one or more particular compounds of the sample, as it has proved more accurate detecting quantitative variations in the secretions. This method would reveal new aspects produced by, for example, the effects of different physiological and climatic factors that the traditional method does not show.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto García‐Roa
- Departamento de Ecología EvolutivaMuseo Nacional de Ciencias NaturalesSpanish Research Council (MNCN‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Jorge Sáiz
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental ChemistrySpanish Research Council (IQOG‐ CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Belén Gómara
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental ChemistrySpanish Research Council (IQOG‐ CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Pilar López
- Departamento de Ecología EvolutivaMuseo Nacional de Ciencias NaturalesSpanish Research Council (MNCN‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - José Martín
- Departamento de Ecología EvolutivaMuseo Nacional de Ciencias NaturalesSpanish Research Council (MNCN‐CSIC)MadridSpain
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