Red Queen revisited: Immune gene diversity and parasite load in the asexual Poecilia formosa versus its sexual host species P. mexicana

Gösser, Fabian; Schartl, Manfred; León, Francisco J. Garcı́a de; Tollrian, Ralph; Lampert, Kathrin P.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219000

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 63 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The role of selection by parasites is well established for the major histocompatibility (MHC) gene complex in jawed vertebrates and resistance (R) genes in plants (5)(6)(7), both of which have remarkably high genetic diversity (8,9). In particular, selection by parasites is linked to increased host diversity (10,11), and high diversity at resistance genes has been shown to be advantageous against parasites (8,(12)(13)(14)(15).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic slippage after sex maintains diversity for parasite resistance in a natural host population

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although parasite-mediated selection is a major driver of host evolution, its influence on genetic variation for parasite resistance is not yet well understood. We monitored resistance in a large population of the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna over 8 years, as it underwent yearly epidemics of the bacterial pathogen Pasteuria ramosa . We observed cyclic dynamics of resistance: Resistance increased throughout the epidemics, but susceptibility was restored each spring when hosts hatched from sexual resting stages. Host resting stages collected across the year showed that largely resistant host populations can produce susceptible sexual offspring. A genetic model of resistance developed for this host-parasite system, based on multiple loci and strong epistasis, is in partial agreement with our findings. Our results reveal that, despite strong selection for resistance in a natural host population, genetic slippage after sexual reproduction can be a strong factor for the maintenance of genetic diversity of host resistance.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic slippage after sex maintains diversity for parasite resistance in a natural host population

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…low genetic diversity) may represent a support for the previously mentioned genetic immunocompetence explanation. Thus, more genetic diversity may imply a better immune response and a lower parasite load (Gösser et al, 2019). Indeed, the observed higher developmental stability (low FA level) in colonising individuals was also related to an elevated genetic diversity (Almeida et al, 2008; Parsons, 1992), which may broaden their environmental tolerance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing morphological, parasitological, and genetic traits of an invasive minnow between intermittent and perennial stream reaches

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Invasive fishes are a major environmental issue at the global scale, particularly for their impacts on freshwater ecosystems via the mechanisms of hybridisation, competition, predation, and disease transmission. This is of special conservation concern on the Iberian Peninsula due to the high level of endemism. With the aim to improve our knowledge on the invasion process of non‐native fishes, the present study consists of analysing key biological traits potentially related to their colonisation capacity: morphology, parasite communities, and genetic diversity. A non‐native population of Languedoc minnow Phoxinus septimaniae (leuciscid species native to south‐east France) was assessed in Tordera Stream (north‐eastern Iberian Peninsula). Fish were sampled in mid‐May (reproductive period) 2018 and 2019. Biological traits were compared between colonising and resident individuals from stream reaches of intermittent and perennial flow, respectively. After adjusting for fish size/body mass with analysis of covariance, body condition and health status (external and internal examination) tended to be better in the intermittent reach. Parasite load (number) and diversity (Shannon index) were significantly higher in the perennial reach. Fish development was also more stable in colonising minnow, as detected by low levels of fluctuating asymmetry for the eye diameter and the length of pectoral fins (adjusted for bilateral character size). Genetic diversity (microsatellite markers) was lower in resident minnow. Minnow genetic homozygosity (index of internal relatedness) was positively associated with parasite load and developmental instability (high fluctuating asymmetry levels). Our results show that colonising minnows display particular profiles of morphological, parasitological, and genetic traits that apparently allow these individuals to increase their dispersal capacity to survive and reproduce in harsher environmental conditions. The potential mechanisms may be related to a wider physiological tolerance, better immune response, parasite resistance/tolerance, and genetic diversity in colonising specimens. Such information reveals the specific traits of successful fish invaders under a seasonal colonisation dynamic. These data are relevant for environmental managers, to predict and identify areas vulnerable to invasion, in order to establish monitoring programmes for early detection, which will help to reduce the spread of non‐native fish populations.

show abstract

“…One way to obtain variation in an asexual population is through clonal lineages (Schartl et al, 1995b;Stöck et al, 2010;Alberici da Barbiano et al, 2013;Warren et al, 2018). Populations of Amazon mollies may contain multiple clonal lineages (Lampert et al, 2006;Stöck et al, 2010;Gösser et al, 2019); it is currently unknown how many clonal lineages existed or developed since the introduction of Amazon mollies to our study site in the 1950s (Schlupp et al, 2002). However, it is possible that our sample contains individuals from multiple clonal lineages thus leading to higher-than-expected levels of variation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic Variation in an Asexual-Sexual Fish System: Visual Lateralization

Connelly

Ryan

2021

Front. Ecol. Evol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sexual reproduction is nearly ubiquitous in the vertebrate world, yet its evolution and maintenance remain a conundrum due to the cost of males. Conversely, asexually reproducing species should enjoy a twofold population increase and thus replace sexual species all else being equal, but the prevalence of asexual species is rare. However, stable coexistence between asexuals and sexuals does occur and can shed light on the mechanisms asexuals may use in order to persist in this sex-dominated world. The asexual Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) is required to live in sympatry with one of its sexual sperm hosts –sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) and Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana)—and are ecological equivalents to their host species in nearly every way except for reproductive method. Here, we compare the visual lateralization between Amazon mollies and sailfin mollies from San Marcos, Texas. Neither Amazon mollies nor sailfin mollies exhibited a significant eye bias. Additionally, Amazon mollies exhibited similar levels of variation in visual lateralization compared to the sailfin molly. Further investigation into the source of this variation –clonal lineages or plasticity—is needed to better understand the coexistence of this asexual-sexual system.

show abstract

Red Queen revisited: Immune gene diversity and parasite load in the asexual Poecilia formosa versus its sexual host species P. mexicana

Cited by 8 publications

References 63 publications

Genetic slippage after sex maintains diversity for parasite resistance in a natural host population

Genetic slippage after sex maintains diversity for parasite resistance in a natural host population

Comparing morphological, parasitological, and genetic traits of an invasive minnow between intermittent and perennial stream reaches

Phenotypic Variation in an Asexual-Sexual Fish System: Visual Lateralization

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About