scholarly journals Sex pheromone signal and stability covary with fitness

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 210180
Author(s):  
Thomas Blankers ◽  
Rik Lievers ◽  
Camila Plata ◽  
Michiel van Wijk ◽  
Dennis van Veldhuizen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
Chemical Signals ◽  
Condition Dependence ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
Mate Finding ◽  
Signal Stability

If sexual signals are costly, covariance between signal expression and fitness is expected. Signal–fitness covariance is important, because it can contribute to the maintenance of genetic variation in signals that are under natural or sexual selection. Chemical signals, such as female sex pheromones in moths, have traditionally been assumed to be species-recognition signals, but their relationship with fitness is unclear. Here, we test whether chemical, conspecific mate finding signals covary with fitness in the moth Heliothis subflexa . Additionally, as moth signals are synthesized de novo every night, the maintenance of the signal can be costly. Therefore, we also hypothesized that fitness covaries with signal stability (i.e. lack of temporal intra-individual variation). We measured among- and within-individual variation in pheromone characteristics as well as fecundity, fertility and lifespan in two independent groups that differed in the time in between two pheromone samples. In both groups, we found fitness to be correlated with pheromone amount, composition and stability, supporting both our hypotheses. This study is, to our knowledge, the first to report a correlation between fitness and sex pheromone composition in moths, supporting evidence of condition-dependence and highlighting how signal–fitness covariance may contribute to heritable variation in chemical signals both among and within individuals.

scholarly journals Sex pheromone signal and stability covary with fitness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Blankers ◽  
Rik Lievers ◽  
Camila Plata ◽  
Michiel van Wijk ◽  
Dennis van Veldhuizen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
Chemical Signals ◽  
Mate Preferences ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
Mate Finding ◽  
Signal Stability ◽  
Reproductive Life

ABSTRACTIf sexual signals are costly to produce or maintain, covariance between signal expression and fitness is expected. This signal-fitness covariance is important evolutionarily, because it can contribute to the maintenance of genetic variation in signal traits, despite selection from mate preferences. Chemical signals, such as moth sex pheromones, have traditionally been assumed to be stereotypical species-recognition signals, but their relationship with fitness is unclear. Here we test the hypothesis that for chemical signals that are primarily used for conspecific mate finding, there is covariation between signal properties and fitness in the noctuid moth Heliothis subflexa. Additionally, as moth signals are synthesized de novo every night throughout the female’s reproductive life, the maintenance of the signal can be costly. Therefore, we also hypothesized that fitness covaries with signal stability (i.e. the lack of intra-individual variation over time). We measured among- and within-individual variation in pheromone amount and composition as well as fecundity, fertility, and fitness in two independent groups of females that differed in the time in between two consecutive pheromone samples. In both groups, we found reproductive success and longevity to be correlated with pheromone amount, composition, and stability, supporting both our hypotheses. This study is the first to report a correlation between fitness and sex pheromone composition in moths, solidifying previous indications of condition-dependent moth pheromones and highlighting how signal-fitness covariance may contribute to heritable variation in chemical signals both among and within individuals.

scholarly journals Transcriptome profiling of Lymnaea stagnalis (Gastropoda) for ecoimmunological research

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto Seppälä ◽  
Jean-Claude Walser ◽  
Teo Cereghetti ◽  
Katri Seppälä ◽  
Tiina Salo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Lymnaea Stagnalis ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Transcriptome Profiling ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Immune Defence ◽  
Immune Activity ◽  
Self Recognition ◽  
Immune Assays

Abstract Background Host immune function can contribute to numerous ecological/evolutionary processes. Ecoimmunological studies, however, typically use one/few phenotypic immune assays and thus do not consider the complexity of the immune system. Therefore, “omics” resources that allow quantifying immune activity across multiple pathways are needed for ecoimmunological models. We applied short-read based RNAseq (Illumina NextSeq 500, PE-81) to characterise transcriptome profiles of Lymnaea stagnalis (Gastropoda), a multipurpose model snail species. We used a genetically diverse snail stock and exposed individuals to immune elicitors (injury, bacterial/trematode pathogens) and changes in environmental conditions that can alter immune activity (temperature, food availability). Results Immune defence factors identified in the de novo assembly covered elements broadly described in other gastropods. For instance, pathogen-recognition receptors (PRR) and lectins activate Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway and cytokines that regulate cellular and humoral defences. Surprisingly, only modest diversity of antimicrobial peptides and fibrinogen related proteins were detected when compared with other taxa. Additionally, multiple defence factors that may contribute to the phenotypic immune assays used to quantify antibacterial activity and phenoloxidase (PO)/melanisation-type reaction in this species were found. Experimental treatments revealed factors from non-self recognition (lectins) and signalling (TLR pathway, cytokines) to effectors (e.g., antibacterial proteins, PO enzymes) whose transcription depended on immune stimuli and environmental conditions, as well as components of snail physiology/metabolism that may drive these effects. Interestingly, the transcription of many factors (e.g., PRR, lectins, cytokines, PO enzymes, antibacterial proteins) showed high among-individual variation. Conclusions Our results indicate several uniform aspects of gastropod immunity, but also apparent differences between L. stagnalis and some previously examined taxa. Interestingly, in addition to immune defence factors that responded to immune elicitors and changes in environmental conditions, many factors showed high among-individual variation across experimental snails. We propose that such factors are highly important to be included in future ecoimmunological studies because they may be the key determinants of differences in parasite resistance among individuals both within and between natural snail populations.

scholarly journals Spontaneous rate of clonal mutations in Daphnia galeata

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Pfenninger ◽  
Halina Binde Doria ◽  
Jana Nickel ◽  
Anne Thielsch ◽  
Klaus Schwenk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mutation Rate ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Mutation Accumulation ◽  
Parental Genotype ◽  
De Novo Mutations ◽  
Daphnia Galeata ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
Nucleotide Mutation ◽  
Ultimate Source

AbstractMutations are the ultimate source of heritable variation and therefore the fuel for evolution, but direct estimates exist only for few species. We estimated the spontaneous nucleotide mutation rate among clonal generations in the waterflea Daphnia galeata with a short term mutation accumulation approach. Individuals from eighteen mutation accumulation lines over five generations were deep genome sequenced to count de novo mutations that were not present in a pool of F1 individuals, representing the parental genotype. We identified 12 new nucleotide mutations in 90 clonal generational passages. This resulted in an estimated haploid mutation rate of 0.745 x 10-9 (95% c.f. 0.39 x 10-9 − 1.26 x 10-9), which is slightly lower than recent estimates for other Daphnia species. We discuss the implications for the population genetics of Cladocerans.

scholarly journals Mate finding via a trail sex pheromone by a parasitoid wasp.

1995 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 900-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Fauvergue ◽  
K. R. Hopper ◽  
M. F. Antolin
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Parasitoid Wasp ◽  
Mate Finding

scholarly journals A Private 16q24.2q24.3 Microduplication in a Boy with Intellectual Disability, Speech Delay and Mild Dysmorphic Features

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orazio Palumbo ◽  
Pietro Palumbo ◽  
Ester Di Muro ◽  
Luigia Cinque ◽  
Antonio Petracca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Chromosome Region ◽  
Snp Array ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Speech Delay ◽  
Dysmorphic Features ◽  
Phenotype Comparison ◽  
Molecular Comparison ◽  
Snp Array Analysis

No data on interstitial microduplications of the 16q24.2q24.3 chromosome region are available in the medical literature and remain extraordinarily rare in public databases. Here, we describe a boy with a de novo 16q24.2q24.3 microduplication at the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)-array analysis spanning ~2.2 Mb and encompassing 38 genes. The patient showed mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, speech delay and mild dysmorphic features. In DECIPHER, we found six individuals carrying a “pure” overlapping microduplication. Although available data are very limited, genomic and phenotype comparison of our and previously annotated patients suggested a potential clinical relevance for 16q24.2q24.3 microduplication with a variable and not (yet) recognizable phenotype predominantly affecting cognition. Comparing the cytogenomic data of available individuals allowed us to delineate the smallest region of overlap involving 14 genes. Accordingly, we propose ANKRD11, CDH15, and CTU2 as candidate genes for explaining the related neurodevelopmental manifestations shared by these patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a clinical and molecular comparison among patients with overlapping 16q24.2q24.3 microduplication has been done. This study broadens our knowledge of the phenotypic consequences of 16q24.2q24.3 microduplication, providing supporting evidence of an emerging syndrome.

scholarly journals Evolutionary causes and consequences of consistent individual variation in cooperative behaviour

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1553) ◽  
pp. 2751-2764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Bergmüller ◽  
Roger Schürch ◽  
Ian M. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Animal Personality ◽  
Evolutionary Stability ◽  
Behavioural Syndrome ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Cooperative Behaviour ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
Fitness Consequences

Behaviour is typically regarded as among the most flexible of animal phenotypic traits. In particular, expression of cooperative behaviour is often assumed to be conditional upon the behaviours of others. This flexibility is a key component of many hypothesized mechanisms favouring the evolution of cooperative behaviour. However, evidence shows that cooperative behaviours are often less flexible than expected and that, in many species, individuals show consistent differences in the amount and type of cooperative and non-cooperative behaviours displayed. This phenomenon is known as ‘animal personality’ or a ‘behavioural syndrome’. Animal personality is evolutionarily relevant, as it typically shows heritable variation and can entail fitness consequences, and hence, is subject to evolutionary change. Here, we review the empirical evidence for individual variation in cooperative behaviour across taxa, we examine the evolutionary processes that have been invoked to explain the existence of individual variation in cooperative behaviour and we discuss the consequences of consistent individual differences on the evolutionary stability of cooperation. We highlight that consistent individual variation in cooperativeness can both stabilize or disrupt cooperation in populations. We conclude that recognizing the existence of consistent individual differences in cooperativeness is essential for an understanding of the evolution and prevalence of cooperation.

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