scholarly journals Variation in levels of luteinizing hormone and reproductive photoresponsiveness in a population of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus)

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (6) ◽  
pp. R1543-R1548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Heideman ◽  
Julian T. Pittman ◽  
Kristin A. Schubert ◽  
Christen M. R. Dubois ◽  
Jennifer Bowles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Life History ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Artificial Selection ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Life History Trait ◽  
Selection Line ◽  
In The Wild

Natural genetic variation in reproduction and life history strategies is a manifestation of variation in underlying regulatory neuronal and endocrine systems. A test of the hypothesis that genetic variation in luteinizing hormone (LH) level could be related to a life history trait, seasonal reproduction, was conducted on artificial selection lines from a wild-source population of white-footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus ). Variation exists in the degree of suppression of reproduction by winter short-day photoperiods (SD) in wild-source individuals and in the laboratory population. In this population, most individuals from a photoperiod-responsive (R) artificial selection line are strongly suppressed reproductively in SD, while most individuals from a photoperiod-nonresponsive (NR) artificial selection line are only weakly reproductively suppressed in SD. We assayed levels of LH to test for genetic variation between lines that could contribute to variation in reproductive status in SD. Females from both lines were raised in long-day photoperiods (LD) or SD, ovariectomized under isoflurane anesthesia, and given estradiol implants. Levels of LH were significantly higher in the NR line than in the R line, indicating genetic variation for levels of LH. Levels of LH were higher in LD than in SD, indicating that levels of LH were sensitive to photoperiod treatment even with a controlled level of estradiol negative feedback. The results indicate that there is genetic variation in levels of LH that could be functionally important both in the laboratory in SD and in the wild population in winter. Thus genetic variation in levels of LH is a plausible causal factor determining winter reproductive phenotype in the wild population.

Response to selection for photoperiod responsiveness on the density and location of mature GnRH-releasing neurons

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (5) ◽  
pp. R1226-R1236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Avigdor ◽  
Shannon D. Sullivan ◽  
Paul D. Heideman
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Life History ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Short Photoperiod ◽  
Life History Trait ◽  
Complex Method ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Gnrh Neurons

Natural variation in neuroendocrine traits is poorly understood, despite the importance of variation in brain function and evolution. Most rodents in the temperate zones inhibit reproduction and other nonessential functions in short winter photoperiods, but some have little or no reproductive response. We tested whether genetic variability in reproductive seasonality is related to individual differences in the neuronal function of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone network, as assessed by the number and location of mature gonadotropin-releasing hormone-secreting neurons under inhibitory and excitatory photoperiods. The experiments used lines of Peromyscus leucopus previously developed by selection from a wild population. One line contained individuals reproductively inhibited by short photoperiod, and the other line contained individuals nonresponsive to short photoperiod. Expression of mature gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunoreactivity in the brain was detected using SMI-41 antibody in the single-labeled avidin-biotin-peroxidase-complex method. Nonresponsive mice had 50% more immunoreactive GnRH neurons than reproductively inhibited mice in both short- and long-day photoperiods. The greatest differences were in the anterior hypothalamus and preoptic areas. In contrast, we detected no significant within-lines differences in the number or location of immunoreactive GnRH neurons between photoperiod treatments. Our data indicate that high levels of genetic variation in a single wild population for a specific neuronal trait are related to phenotypic variation in a life history trait, i.e., winter reproduction. Variation in GnRH neuronal activity may underlie some of the natural reproductive and life history variation observed in wild populations of P. leucopus. Similar genetic variation in neuronal traits may be present in humans and other species.

scholarly journals Loci, genes, and gene networks associated with life history variation in a model ecological organism,Daphnia pulex(complex)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob W. Malcom ◽  
Thomas E. Juenger ◽  
Mathew A. Leibold
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Life History ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Life History Trait ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Trait Variation

ABSTRACTBackgroundIdentifying the molecular basis of heritable variation provides insight into the underlying mechanisms generating phenotypic variation and the evolutionary history of organismal traits. Life history trait variation is of central importance to ecological and evolutionary dynamics, and contemporary genomic tools permit studies of the basis of this variation in non-genetic model organisms. We used high density genotyping, RNA-Seq gene expression assays, and detailed phenotyping of fourteen ecologically important life history traits in a wild-caught panel of 32Daphnia pulexclones to explore the molecular basis of trait variation in a model ecological species.ResultsWe found extensive phenotypic and a range of heritable genetic variation (~0 < H2< 0.44) in the panel, and accordingly identify 75-261 genes—organized in 3-6 coexpression modules—associated with genetic variation in each trait. The trait-related coexpression modules possess well-supported promoter motifs, and in conjunction with marker variation at trans- loci, suggest a relatively small number of important expression regulators. We further identify a candidate genetic network with SNPs in eight known transcriptional regulators, and dozens of differentially expressed genes, associated with life history variation. The gene-trait associations include numerous un-annotated genes, but also support several a priori hypotheses, including an ecdysone-induced protein and several Gene Ontology pathways.ConclusionThe genetic and gene expression architecture ofDaphnialife history traits is complex, and our results provide numerous candidate loci, genes, and coexpression modules to be tested as the molecular mechanisms that underlieDaphniaeco-evolutionary dynamics.

scholarly journals RETRACTED ARTICLE: Novel life history strategy in a deep sea fish challenges assumptions about reproduction in extreme environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Randal A. Singer ◽  
Jon A. Moore ◽  
Edward L. Stanley
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Homogeneous System ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Life History Trait ◽  
Retracted Article ◽  
Sea Fish

Abstract The deep ocean is frequently assumed to be a homogeneous system lacking the same diverse life history strategies found in shallower waters. However, as our methods for exploring the deep ocean improve, common assumptions about dispersal, reproduction and behavior are constantly being challenged. Fishes exhibit the most diverse reproductive strategies among vertebrates. Understanding life history strategies in deep-sea environments is lacking for many species of fishes. Here, we report a novel reproductive strategy where a fish (Parazen pacificus) provides parental care via mouth brooding. This behavior is observed from a specimen collected with eggs present in the buccal cavity, along with other specimens exhibiting pre-brooding morphologies. This is the first description of this unique life history trait in a deep-sea fish and fills in a gap in the larval literature for this family of fishes and prompts further investigation into other novel reproductive modes of deep-sea fauna.

scholarly journals Artificial selection on male size depletes genetic variance but not covariance of life history traits in the yellow dung fly

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
WU Blanckenhorn ◽  
V Llaurens ◽  
C Reim ◽  
Y Teuschl ◽  
E Postma
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Artificial Selection ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Male Size ◽  
First Clutch

SUMMARYThe evolutionary potential of organisms depends on the presence of sufficient genetic variation for traits subject to selection, as well as on the genetic covariances among them. While genetic variation ultimately derives from mutation, theory predicts the depletion of genetic (co)variation under consistent directional or stabilizing selection in natural populations. We estimated and compared additive genetic (co)variances for several standard life history traits, including some for which this has never been assessed, before and after 24 generations of artificial selection on male size in the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria (Diptera: Scathophagidae) using a series of standard half-sib breeding experiments. As predicted, genetic variances (VA), heritabilities (h2) and evolvabilities (IA) of body size, development time, first clutch size, and female age at first clutch were lower after selection. As independent selection lines were crossed prior to testing, we can rule out that this reduction is due to genetic drift. In contrast to the variances, and against expectation, the additive genetic correlations between the sexes for development time and body size remained strong and positive (rA = 0.8–0.9), while the genetic correlation between these traits within the sexes tended to strengthen (but not significantly so). Our study documents that the effect of selection on genetic variance is predictable, whereas that on genetic correlations is not.

Personality Conditions

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael McGuire ◽  
Alfonso Troisi
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Life History ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Personality Disorders ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Adaptive Genetic Variation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Evolutionary Context

The chapter begins with discussions of adaptive genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity, life history strategies, short-term strategies, prevailing models of personality disorders, and traits. These topics introduce new points and briefly review key points discussed earlier in order to set the context for the second part of the chapter, where personality disorders are interpreted in an evolutionary context.

scholarly journals Longevity and ageing: appraising the evolutionary consequences of growing old

2005 ◽  
Vol 361 (1465) ◽  
pp. 119-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B Bonsall
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Life History Trait ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences

Senescence or ageing is an increase in mortality and/or decline in fertility with increasing age. Evolutionary theories predict that ageing or longevity evolves in response to patterns of extrinsic mortality or intrinsic damage. If ageing is viewed as the outcome of the processes of behaviour, growth and reproduction then it should be possible to predict mortality rate. Recent developments have shown that it is now possible to integrate these ecological and physiological processes and predict the shape of mortality trajectories. By drawing on the key exciting developments in the cellular, physiological and ecological process of longevity the evolutionary consequences of ageing are reviewed. In presenting these ideas an evolutionary demographic framework is used to argue how trade-offs in life-history strategies are important in the maintenance of variation in longevity within and between species. Evolutionary processes associated with longevity have an important role in explaining levels of biological diversity and speciation. In particular, the effects of life-history trait trade-offs in maintaining and promoting species diversity are explored. Such trade-offs can alleviate the effects of intense competition between species and promote species coexistence and diversification. These results have important implications for understanding a number of core ecological processes such as how species are divided among niches, how closely related species co-occur and the rules by which species assemble into food-webs. Theoretical work reveals that the proximate physiological processes are as important as the ecological factors in explaining the variation in the evolution of longevity. Possible future research challenges integrating work on the evolution and mechanisms of growing old are briefly discussed.

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