Gastropod Feeding Systems: Evolution of Neural Circuits that Generate Diverse Behaviors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Benjamin ◽  
Michael Crossley
Keyword(s):  
Neural Control ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Neural Circuitry ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Feeding Behaviors ◽  
Behavioral Switching ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Motor Actions ◽  
Feeding Systems

It is conceptually reasonable to explore how the evolution of behavior involves changes in neural circuitry. Progress in determining this evolutionary relationship has been limited in neuroscience because of difficulties in identifying individual neurons that contribute to the evolutionary development of behaviors across species. However, the results from the feeding systems of gastropod mollusks provide evidence for this concept of co-evolution because the evolution of different types of feeding behaviors in this diverse group of mollusks is mirrored by species-specific changes in neural circuitry. The evolution of feeding behaviors involves changes in the motor actions that allow diverse food items to be acquired and ingested. The evolution in neural control accompanies this variation in food and the associated changes in flexibility of feeding behaviors. This is present in components of the feeding network that are involved in decision making, rhythm generation, and behavioral switching but is absent in background mechanisms that are conserved across species, such as those controlling arousal state. These findings show how evolutionary changes, even at the single neuron level, closely reflect the details of behavioral evolution.

scholarly journals We should be prepared to smallpox re-emergence

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 206-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Shchelkunov ◽  
G. A. Shchelkunova
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Smallpox Vaccination ◽  
Natural Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Long Time ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ancient Civilizations ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Archive Data

The review contains a brief analysis of the results of investigations conducted during 40 years after smallpox eradication and directed to study genomic organization and evolution of variola virus (VARV) and development of modern diagnostics, vaccines and chemotherapies of smallpox and other zoonotic orthopoxviral infections of humans. Taking into account that smallpox vaccination in several cases had adverse side effects, WHO recommended ceasing this vaccination after 1980 in all countries of the world. The result of this decision is that the mankind lost the collective immunity not only to smallpox, but also to other zoonotic orthopoxvirus infections. The ever more frequently recorded human cases of zoonotic orthopoxvirus infections force to renew consideration of the problem of possible smallpox reemergence resulting from natural evolution of these viruses. Analysis of the available archive data on smallpox epidemics, the history of ancient civilizations, and the newest data on the evolutionary relationship of orthopoxviruses has allowed us to hypothesize that VARV could have repeatedly reemerged via evolutionary changes in a zoonotic ancestor virus and then disappeared because of insufficient population size of isolated ancient civilizations. Only the historically last smallpox pandemic continued for a long time and was contained and stopped in the 20th century thanks to the joint efforts of medics and scientists from many countries under the aegis of WHO. Thus, there is no fundamental prohibition on potential reemergence of smallpox or a similar human disease in future in the course of natural evolution of the currently existing zoonotic orthopoxviruses. Correspondingly, it is of the utmost importance to develop and widely adopt state-of-the-art methods for efficient and rapid species-specific diagnosis of all orthopoxvirus species pathogenic for humans, VARV included. It is also most important to develop new safe methods for prevention and therapy of human orthopoxvirus infections.

scholarly journals Glycosylation at an evolutionary nexus: the brittle star Ophiactis savignyi expresses both vertebrate and invertebrate N-glycomic features

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (10) ◽  
pp. 3173-3188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Eckmair ◽  
Chunsheng Jin ◽  
Niclas G. Karlsson ◽  
Daniel Abed-Navandi ◽  
Iain B. H. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sialic Acid ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Phylogenetic Group ◽  
Brittle Star ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Oligosaccharide Structures ◽  
High Diversity

Echinoderms are among the most primitive deuterostomes and have been used as model organisms to understand chordate biology because of their close evolutionary relationship to this phylogenetic group. However, there are almost no data available regarding the N-glycomic capacity of echinoderms, which are otherwise known to produce a diverse set of species-specific glycoconjugates, including ones heavily modified by fucose, sulfate, and sialic acid residues. To increase the knowledge of diversity of carbohydrate structures within this phylum, here we conducted an in-depth analysis of N-glycans from a brittle star (Ophiactis savignyi) as an example member of the class Ophiuroidea. To this end, we performed a multi-step N-glycan analysis by HPLC and various exoglyosidase and chemical treatments in combination with MALDI-TOF MS and MS/MS. Using this approach, we found a wealth of hybrid and complex oligosaccharide structures reminiscent of those in higher vertebrates as well as some classical invertebrate glycan structures. 70% of these N-glycans were anionic, carrying either sialic acid, sulfate, or phosphate residues. In terms of glycophylogeny, our data position the brittle star between invertebrates and vertebrates and confirm the high diversity of N-glycosylation in lower organisms.

scholarly journals Emergent modular neural control drives coordinated motor actions

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1122-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan M. Lemke ◽  
Dhakshin S. Ramanathan ◽  
Ling Guo ◽  
Seok Joon Won ◽  
Karunesh Ganguly
Keyword(s):  
Neural Control ◽  
Motor Actions

scholarly journals Why are There so Many Bee-Orchid Species? Adaptive Radiation by Intraspecific Competition for Mnemonic Pollinators

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Baguette ◽  
Joris Bertrand ◽  
Virginie M. Stevens ◽  
Bertrand Schatz
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Radiation ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Local Diversity ◽  
Pollinator Species ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Adaptive Radiations ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
Species Specific

Adaptive radiations occur mostly in response to environmental variation through the evolution of key eco-morphological innovations that allow emerging species to occupy new ecological niches. However, rapid phenotypic evolution and the evolution of key novelties are likely to also occur when a couple or few species are engaged into narrow ecological interactions. To demonstrate coevolution is a difficult task; only elusive evidences confirm that coevolution is a driver of speciation and diversification. Here we propose that the adaptive radiation of the Mediterranean orchid genus Ophrys, which gave rise to ca. 350 species since the apparition of the genus is due to the particular co-evolutionary dynamics between these plants and their pollinators. We suggest that the pollination by sexual swindle used by Ophrys orchids is the main driver of this coevolution. Flowers of each Ophrys species mimic sexually receptive females of one particular insect species, mainly bees. Male bees are attracted by pseudo-pheromones emitted by Ophrys flowers that are similar to the sexual pheromones of their females. Males lured by the flower shape, color and hairiness attempt to copulate with the flower, which glues pollen on their bodies. Pollen is eventually transferred to the stigma of another flower of the same Ophrys species during similar copulation attempts. Three observations led us to propose the scenario of an asymmetric co-evolutionary relationship between Ophrys and their pollinators. Firstly, there is a strong intra-specific competition among Ophrys individuals for the attraction of their species-specific pollinators, which is due to the high learning and memorization abilities of bees that record the pheromone signatures of kin or of previously courted partner to avoid (further) copulation attempts. Mnemonic pollinators induce thus a strong selective pressure for variation in the pseudo-pheromones emitted by individual flowers, which will potentially generate shifts in pollinator species, and hence Ophrys speciation. These pollinator shifts are adaptive for new Ophrys species because they may benefit from a competitor-free space. Secondly, such shifts in pollinator species are due to the random crossing of peaks in the olfactory landscape of the pollinator guild that is syntopic to each particular Ophrys population. This selective process on individual, random variation in pseudo-pheromone bouquets is followed by directional selection on flower phenotypes that will reinforce the attraction of the new pollinator. Thirdly, pollinators use the pseudo-pheromones emitted by Ophrys to locate suitable habitats from a distance within complex landscapes. Pollinators stay fixed for a while in these habitats by the local diversity of pseudo-pheromones, which increases their probability of encounter with a receptive female and hence the reproduction probability of both sexes. Conversely, pollinators disperse out of small suitable habitats once they have memorized the local diversity of sexual pseudo-pheromone bouquet or if fecundated Ophrys flowers repel pollinators, which decreases the probability of geitonogamy (plant advantage) but limit pollinator mating with locally emergent insect females, thus limiting inbreeding and favoring gene flow (pollinator advantage). Finally, we propose several research avenues that emerged according to this scenario of adaptive radiation by assymetric coevolution between Ophrys species and their pollinators.

scholarly journals Transport and logistic infrastructure of the Eurasian union: principles and factors of evolutional development

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-241
Author(s):  
N. A. Podobed ◽  
Yu. I. Enin
Keyword(s):  
Open Economies ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Small Open Economies ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Logistics Services ◽  
Transport Complex

The article is devoted to a wide range of problems associated with the processes of evolutionary development of the infrastructure of the Eurasian Union. The essence, classification, principles and tools of the evolutionary development of transport and logistics infrastructure are considered, factors contributing to evolutionary changes in the transport complex, as well as the key benefits of creating a single transport and logistics infrastructure for small open economies are identified. The main tools and basic elements of the development of the digital market of transport and logistics services are structured. A special role in attracting and retaining transit cargo flows assigned to the objects of transport and logistics infrastructure has been identified and designated.

scholarly journals GENESIS AND EVOLUTION OF ONE MYTHOPOETIC MOTIVE (COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE KABARDIAN AND KARACHAY-BALKARIAN VERSIONS)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
З.Ж. КУДАЕВА
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Cultural Traditions ◽  
Patron Saint ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
National Science ◽  
Spatial Level ◽  
Main Plot ◽  
The Subject

Исследование мифопоэтических представлений, лежащих в основе фольклорных мотивов и образов, сравнительно-типологическоеизучение семантики основных знаков и символов, принадлежащих к различным этническимтрадиция, наблюдение над процессом трансформации образов мифологических божественных персонажей являются одними из наиболее актуальных направлений исследованийв отечественной науки о фольклоре. Выявление типологически сходных явлений в традиционной этнической культуре адыгов, карачаевцев и балкарцев,исследование образов божества плодородия и покровителя овец, анализ «зооморфного кода»,присущего данным этническим культурным традициям, сопоставительное изучение эволюционных изменений мотивов и образов в адыгском и карачаево-балкарском фольклоре – все эти вопросы не становились предметом отдельного исследования в отечественной науке о фольклоре. В соответствии с этим основная цель и задача данной работы – сравнительное изучение различных этнических версий сюжета легенды об озерах (кабардинской легенды об озере Шатхурей и карачаево-балкарских легенд об озерах Хурла-кель, Чирик-кель, Тюпсюз-кель), выявление мифопоэтических воззрений, лежащих в основе схожих мотивов и образов,и изменений, происходящих в процессе эволюционного развитияосновного сюжетообразующего мотива и образа. В статье также прослеживается процесс формирования различных жанровых воплощений исследуемого архаического сюжета. Комплексный, системный подход к изучаемым явлениямобусловил необходимость использованиясравнительно-исторического и структурно-семиотического методов исследования. Выявлено, что в исследуемых этнических вариантах и версиях сюжета легенд воплощены представления, связанные с образами божеств (Амыша и Аймуша), покровителей овец и мелкого рогатого скота; выяснена знаковая семантика образов «белых баранов» (кабардинская версия) и «златорогого барана» (карачаево-балкарская версии) в различных его модификациях. Баран в исследуемых этнических традициях предстают символами жизни и плодородия, выступает в функции медиаторов между различными пространственными уровневыми структурами мифопоэтической модели мира. The study of mythopoetic representations underlying folklore motifs and images, the comparative typological study of the semantics of the main signs and symbols belonging to different ethnic traditions, the observation of the process of transformation of images of mythological divine characters are one of the most relevant areas of research in the national science of folklore. The identification of typologically similar phenomena in the traditional ethnic culture of the Circassians, Karachais and Balkars, the study of the images of the deity of fertility and the patron saint of sheep, the analysis of the “zoomorphic code” inherent in these ethnic cultural traditions, a comparative study of the evolutionary changes in motives and images in Adyghe and Karachay-Balkarian folklore – all these questions did not become the subject of a separate study in the national science of folklore. In accordance with this, the main goal and objective of this work is a comparative study of various ethnic versions of the plot of the legend of lakes (Kabardian legend of Lake Shathurei and Karachay-Balkarian legends of Lakes Khurla-kel, Chirik-kel, Tupsuz-kel), the identification of mythological and poetic views underlying similar motives and images, and changes occurring in the process of evolutionary development of the main plot-forming motive and image. The article also traces the process of formation of various genre incarnations of the investigated archaic plot. An integrated, systematic approach to the phenomena under study necessitated the use of comparative-historical and structural-semiotic research methods. It was revealed that in the studied ethnic variants and versions of the plot of legends representations associated with the images of deities (Amysh and Aymush), patrons of sheep and small cattle are embodied; the semantic semantics of the images of “white rams” (Kabardian version) and “golden-horned ram” (Karachay-Balkar version) in its various modifications are clarified. In the studied ethnic traditions, the ram appears as symbols of life and fertility, acts as mediators between various spatial level structures of the mythopoetic model of the world.

An Explanation for How FGFs Predict Species-Specific Tooth Cusp Patterns

2018 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 828-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Li ◽  
Q. Tang ◽  
H.-J.E. Kwon ◽  
Z. Wu ◽  
E.-J. Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Expression Pattern ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
The Future ◽  
Predictive Role ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Enamel Knots ◽  
Inner Dental Epithelium

Species-specific cusp patterns result from the iterative formation of enamel knots, the epithelial signaling centers, at the future cusp positions. The expressions of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), especially Fgf4, in the secondary enamel knots in the areas of the future cusp tips are generally used to manifest the appearance of species-specific tooth shapes. However, the mechanism underlying the predictive role of FGFs in species-specific cusp patterns remains obscure. Here, we demonstrated that gerbils, which have a lophodont pattern, exhibit a striped expression pattern of Fgf4, whereas mice, which have a bunodont pattern, have a spotted expression pattern, and these observations verify the predictive role of Fgf4 in species-specific cusp patterns. By manipulating FGFs’ signaling in the inner dental epithelium of gerbils, we provide evidence for the intracellular participation of FGF signaling, specifically FGF4 and FGF20, in Rac1- and RhoA-regulated cellular geometry remolding during the determination of different cusp patterns. Our study presents a novel explanation of how different FGF expression patterns produce different cusp patterns and implies that a conserved intracellular FGF-GTPase signaling module might represent an underlying developmental basis for evolutionary changes in cusp patterns.

scholarly journals The complex evolution of the metazoan HSP70 gene family

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Er-meng Yu ◽  
Tatsuki Yoshinaga ◽  
Frank L. Jalufka ◽  
Hashimul Ehsan ◽  
David B. Mark Welch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Molecular Chaperones ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Purifying Selection ◽  
Hsp70 Family ◽  
Number Of Genes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractThe metazoan 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) family contains several members localized in different subcellular compartments. The cytosolic members have been classified into inducible HSP70s and constitutive heat shock cognates (HSC70s), but their distinction and evolutionary relationship remain unclear because of occasional reports of “constitutive HSP70s” and the lack of cross-phylum comparisons. Here we provide novel insights into the evolution of these important molecular chaperones. Phylogenetic analyses of 125 full-length HSP70s from a broad range of phyla revealed an ancient duplication that gave rise to two lineages from which all metazoan cytosolic HSP70s descend. One lineage (A) contains a relatively small number of genes from many invertebrate phyla, none of which have been shown to be constitutively expressed (i.e., either inducible or unknown). The other lineage (B) included both inducible and constitutive genes from diverse phyla. Species-specific duplications are present in both lineages, and Lineage B contains well-supported phylum-specific clades for Platyhelminthes, Rotifera, Nematoda, Porifera/Cnidaria, and Chordata. Some genes in Lineage B have likely independently acquired inducibility, which may explain the sporadic distribution of “HSP70” or “HSC70” in previous phylogenetic analyses. Consistent with the diversification history within each group, inducible members show lower purifying selection pressure compared to constitutive members. These results illustrate the evolutionary history of the HSP70 family, encouraging us to propose a new nomenclature: “HSP70 + subcellular localization + linage + copy number in the organism + inducible or constitutive, if known.” e.g., HSP70cA1i for cytosolic Lineage A, copy 1, inducible.

scholarly journals Behavioral and environmental contributions to drosophilid social networks

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (21) ◽  
pp. 11573-11583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob A. Jezovit ◽  
Rebecca Rooke ◽  
Jonathan Schneider ◽  
Joel D. Levine
Keyword(s):  
Social Distance ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Behavioral Approach ◽  
Common Ancestry ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Past Climate ◽  
The Social ◽  
Species Specific

Animals interact with each other in species-specific reproducible patterns. These patterns of organization are captured by social network analysis, and social interaction networks (SINs) have been described for a wide variety of species including fish, insects, birds, and mammals. The aim of this study is to understand the evolution of social organization inDrosophila. Using a comparative ecological, phylogenetic, and behavioral approach, the different properties of SINs formed by 20 drosophilids were compared. We investigate whether drosophilid network structures arise from common ancestry, a response to the species’ past climate, other social behaviors, or a combination of these factors. This study shows that differences in past climate predicted the species’ current SIN properties. The drosophilid phylogeny offered no value to predicting species’ differences in SINs through phylogenetic signal tests. This suggests that group-level social behaviors in drosophilid species are shaped by divergent climates. However, we find that the social distance at which flies interact correlated with the drosophilid phylogeny, indicating that behavioral elements of SINs have remained largely unchanged in their evolutionary history. We find a significant correlation of leg length to social distance, outlining the interdependence of anatomy and complex social structures. Although SINs display a complex evolutionary relationship across drosophilids, this study suggests that the ecology, and not common ancestry, contributes to diversity in social structure inDrosophila.

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