Evolution and development in cave animals: from fish to crustaceans

Protas, Meredith E.; Jeffery, William R.

doi:10.1002/wdev.61

Cited by 142 publications

(118 citation statements)

References 105 publications

(223 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

112

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Reduction of function in cave-dwelling organisms is well-known across a wide spectrum of organisms including arachnids (Jäger, 2001), crustaceans (Villacorta et al, 2008), insects (Juan & Emerson, 2010), fishes (Chakrabarty et al, 2012) and amphibians (Sket, 1997). In many of these cases, the mechanisms for the secondary loss of eyes and colouration are due to a loss of function in the cave environment (Culver et al, 1995;Porter & Crandall, 2003;Protas et al, 2011;Protas & Jeffery, 2012). The diatom Diadesmis gallica, which also can produce rapheless valves, is also known to occur in caves (Granetti, 1978;Cox, 2006a;Poulícková & Hašler, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular data show the enigmatic cave-dwelling diatomDiprora(Bacillariophyceae) to be a raphid diatom

Kociolek

Stepanek

Lowe

et al. 2013

European Journal of Phycology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The diatom genus Diprora (Bacillariophyceae) was described from a cave on Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. Due to its lack of a raphe system and bilateral symmetry, the genus was first assigned to the Fragilariophycidae ('araphid diatoms'), but its systematic affinities were undetermined. We present a three-gene phylogeny, based on nuclear (SSU rDNA) and chloroplast (rbcL, psbC) genes, to determine the phylogenetic relationships of Diprora in the diatom tree of life. The concatenated multi-gene phylogenies, and the individual genes trees show Diprora to nest deep within the raphid diatoms, and in different analyses (of one-, two-and three-gene sequences) this diatom is shown to be most closely allied with taxa referred currently to the Sellaphoraceae, including Sellaphora or Fallacia. Hypothesis testing of the likelihood of Diprora being an 'araphid' diatom indicates rejection of the hypothesis that the phylogenetic position of D. haenaensis is within the araphid diatoms. Loss of the raphe system and reduction of other features may be related to its cave-dwelling habit.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular data show the enigmatic cave-dwelling diatomDiprora(Bacillariophyceae) to be a raphid diatom

Kociolek

Stepanek

Lowe

et al. 2013

European Journal of Phycology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Unique attributes of caves relative to the surface environment include darkness, high humidity, relatively constant temperature, absence of predators, and scarcity of food. Under these circumstances, many species of cave animals have evolved a suite of similar traits, including constructive traits such as heightened sensory systems and regressive traits such as loss of pigmentation and reduction in eye morphology (1). To study the evolution of cave-specific traits, we have focused on Astyanax mexicanus, the Mexican cavefish.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Convergence in feeding posture occurs through different genetic loci in independently evolved cave populations of Astyanax mexicanus

Kowalko

Rohner

Linden

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

123

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

When an organism colonizes a new environment, it needs to adapt both morphologically and behaviorally to survive and thrive. Although recent progress has been made in understanding the genetic architecture underlying morphological evolution, behavioral evolution is poorly understood. Here, we use the Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, to study the genetic basis for convergent evolution of feeding posture. When river-dwelling surface fish became entrapped in the caves, they were confronted with dramatic changes in the availability and type of food source and in their ability to perceive it. In this setting, multiple independent populations of cavefish exhibit an altered feeding posture compared with their ancestral surface forms. We determined that this behavioral change in feeding posture is not due to changes in cranial facial morphology, body depth, or to take advantage of the expansion in the number of taste buds. Quantitative genetic analysis demonstrates that two different cave populations have evolved similar feeding postures through a small number of genetic changes, some of which appear to be distinct. This work indicates that independently evolved populations of cavefish can evolve the same behavioral traits to adapt to similar environmental challenges by modifying different sets of genes.T he colonization of caves is an extreme example of a species entering a new environment. Unique attributes of caves relative to the surface environment include darkness, high humidity, relatively constant temperature, absence of predators, and scarcity of food. Under these circumstances, many species of cave animals have evolved a suite of similar traits, including constructive traits such as heightened sensory systems and regressive traits such as loss of pigmentation and reduction in eye morphology (1). To study the evolution of cave-specific traits, we have focused on Astyanax mexicanus, the Mexican cavefish. A. mexicanus exists in two forms, a cave-dwelling form and a river-dwelling surface form. Importantly, these forms are still interfertile (2), allowing one to take a genetic approach using quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for the mapping of cave traits. Furthermore, there are multiple, independently evolved cave populations (3-7) that in many cases have evolved similar traits, allowing for the study of convergent evolution.Populations of cave organisms have often been the subjects of studies on convergence. For example, loss of pigmentation evolved via disruptions in the first step of the melanin synthesis pathway in multiple species of cave organisms (8). Similarly, a decrease in the levels of melanin synthesis arose in multiple cave populations of A. mexicanus through different mutations in the same genes (9, 10). In contrast, crosses between multiple cave populations of A. mexicanus result in embryonic hybrid fish with larger, functional eyes, indicating that evolution of this trait is controlled by different genetic loci in different cave populations (2, 11).Among the most intriguing and least und...

show abstract

“…Cave dwelling adult Astyanax in La Tinaja is characterized by anophthalmy, complete loss of the lens as well as partial loss and reduction of the retina due to programmed cell death (for review, see Protas and Jeffery 2012). Movement in the retinal pigment epithelium in the reminiscent retina of Astyanax from Chica cave have been reported (Espinasa and Jeffery 2006), indicating that reminiscent retinae still presents clock functions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circadian rhythms and photic entrainment of swimming activity in cave-dwelling fishAstyanax mexicanus(Actinopterygii: Characidae), from El Sotano La Tinaja, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Caballero-Hernández

Hernández-Patricio

Sigala

et al. 2015

Biological Rhythm Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Running title: Circadian rhythms in cave-dwelling fish Astyanax Abstract:Circadian regulation has a profound adaptive meaning in timing the best performance of biological functions in a cyclic niche. However, in cave-dwelling animals (troglobiotic) a lack of photic cyclic environment may represent a disadvantage for persistence of circadian rhythms. There are different populations of cave-dwelling fish Astyanax mexicanus in caves of the Sierra El Abra, Mexico, with different evolutive history. In the present work we report that fish collected from El Sótano la Tinaja show circadian rhythms of swimming activity in laboratory conditions. Rhythms observed in some of the organisms entrain to either continuous light-dark cycles or discrete skeleton photoperiods tested. Our results indicate that circadian rhythm of swimming activity and their ability to entrain in discrete and continuous photoperiods persist in some organisms that might represent one of the oldest populations of cave-dwelling Astyanax mexicanus in the Sierra

show abstract

Evolution and development in cave animals: from fish to crustaceans

Cited by 142 publications

References 105 publications

Molecular data show the enigmatic cave-dwelling diatomDiprora(Bacillariophyceae) to be a raphid diatom

Molecular data show the enigmatic cave-dwelling diatomDiprora(Bacillariophyceae) to be a raphid diatom

Convergence in feeding posture occurs through different genetic loci in independently evolved cave populations of Astyanax mexicanus

Circadian rhythms and photic entrainment of swimming activity in cave-dwelling fishAstyanax mexicanus(Actinopterygii: Characidae), from El Sotano La Tinaja, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About