scholarly journals Divergent sensory investment mirrors potential speciation via niche partitioning across Drosophila

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian W Keesey ◽  
Veit Grabe ◽  
Markus Knaden ◽  
Bill S Hansson
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Sensory Organs ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Ecological Mechanisms ◽  
Microhabitat Preferences ◽  
Close Relatedness

The examination of phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics of the nervous system, such as behavior and neuroanatomy, can be utilized as a means to assess speciation. Recent studies have proposed a fundamental tradeoff between two sensory organs, the eye and the antenna. However, the identification of ecological mechanisms for this observed tradeoff have not been firmly established. Our current study examines several monophyletic species within the obscura group, and asserts that despite their close relatedness and overlapping ecology, they deviate strongly in both visual and olfactory investment. We contend that both courtship and microhabitat preferences support the observed inverse variation in these sensory traits. Here, this variation in visual and olfactory investment seems to provide relaxed competition, a process by which similar species can use a shared environment differently and in ways that help them coexist. Moreover, that behavioral separation according to light gradients occurs first, and subsequently, courtship deviations arise.

scholarly journals Niche partitioning as a selective pressure for the evolution of theDrosophilanervous system

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian W. Keesey ◽  
Veit Grabe ◽  
Markus Knaden ◽  
Bill S. Hansson
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Functional Connection ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Animal Diversity ◽  
Evolutionary Variation ◽  
Microhabitat Preferences

The ecological and developmental selective pressures associated with evolution have shaped most animal traits, such as behavior, morphology and neurobiology. As such, the examination of phylogenetic characteristics of the nervous system can be utilized as a means to assess these traits, and thus, to evaluate the underlying selective pressures that produce evolutionary variation between species. Recent studies across a multitude ofDrosophilahave hypothesized the existence of a fundamental tradeoff between two primary sensory organs, the eye and the antenna. However, the identification of any potential ecological mechanisms for this observed tradeoff have not been firmly established. Our current study examines two monophyletic species within theobscuragroup, and asserts that despite their close relatedness and overlapping ecology, they deviate strongly in both visual and olfactory investment. Here we contend that both courtship and microhabitat preferences mirror and support the observed inverse variation in these sensory traits. Moreover, that this variation in visual and olfactory investment between closely-related species seems to provide relaxed competition, a process by which similar species can use a shared environment differently and in ways that help them both coexist. The nervous system has a unique role in evolution as it provides the functional connection between morphology, physiology, and behavior. As such, characterizing any tradeoffs between costs and benefits for the nervous system may be essential to our understanding of animal diversity, as well as vital to our understanding of the selective forces that have shaped the natural world.

Vol. 3: Nervous System and Sensory Organs

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner Kahle ◽  
Michael Frotscher
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Sensory Organs

scholarly journals Three-dimensional niche partitioning between two colonially nesting ardeid species in central China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanxing Ye ◽  
Canshi Hu ◽  
Yiting Jiang ◽  
Geoffrey W. H. Davison ◽  
Changqing Ding
Keyword(s):  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Central China ◽  
Paddy Fields ◽  
Shaanxi Province ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Wetland Birds ◽  
Cattle Egret ◽  
River Banks

Abstract Background Interspecific competition is known to be strongest between those species that are both closely related and sympatric. Egrets are colonially nesting wetland birds that often overlap and can therefore be expected to compete in roosting and nesting habitat as well as in diet. According to the niche partitioning hypothesis, it is to be expected that these similar species would show differentiation in at least one of the main niche dimensions to reduce competition. We tested niche partitioning between the colonially nesting Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) and Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) in temporal, spatial and trophic dimensions. Methods Field study was conducted in three mixed egret colonies in Yangxian County, southwest Shaanxi Province, central China. For each nest colony we recorded its spatial location, the height of nesting trees and of nests, the height of roosting trees and of roosting individuals within the trees. We determined the first egg-laying and first hatching dates of the two species. Craw dissection of storm-killed egret nestlings was used to measure the diet. Six transects were surveyed to study foraging habitat selection. Results We found that hatching time of Little Egrets peaked earlier (by about 1 month) than that of Cattle Egrets. Cattle Egrets nested and roosted higher than Little Egrets. The foraging habitats used by Little Egrets were dominated by river banks (73.49%), followed by paddy fields (13.25%) and reservoirs (10.84%), whereas Cattle Egret foraging sites were characterized by grasslands (44.44%), paddy fields (33.33%) and river banks (22.22%). Little Egrets consumed more fishes (65.66%) and Odonata larvae (13.69%) than Cattle Egrets, while Cattle Egrets were found feeding mainly on Coleoptera (29.69%) and Orthoptera (23.29%). Little Egrets preyed on larger mean biomasses of food items than Cattle Egrets. Conclusions Our results confirm the niche partitioning hypothesis as a mechanism for coexistence among ecologically similar species. In two coexisting egret species, niche partitioning is multidimensional, such that the two coexistent species occupy differing ecological space based on all three temporal, spatial and trophic niche dimensions.

scholarly journals A Gain-of-Function Screen for Genes That Affect the Development of the Drosophila Adult External Sensory Organ

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 733-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salim Abdelilah-Seyfried ◽  
Yee-Ming Chan ◽  
Chaoyang Zeng ◽  
Nicholas J Justice ◽  
Susan Younger-Shepherd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Peripheral Nervous System ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
P Element ◽  
External Support ◽  
Sensory Organ ◽  
Sensory Organs ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
Asymmetric Cell Divisions ◽  
Single Precursor

Abstract The Drosophila adult external sensory organ, comprising a neuron and its support cells, is derived from a single precursor cell via several asymmetric cell divisions. To identify molecules involved in sensory organ development, we conducted a tissue-specific gain-of-function screen. We screened 2293 independent P-element lines established by P. Rørth and identified 105 lines, carrying insertions at 78 distinct loci, that produced misexpression phenotypes with changes in number, fate, or morphology of cells of the adult external sensory organ. On the basis of the gain-of-function phenotypes of both internal and external support cells, we subdivided the candidate lines into three classes. The first class (52 lines, 40 loci) exhibits partial or complete loss of adult external sensory organs. The second class (38 lines, 28 loci) is associated with increased numbers of entire adult external sensory organs or subsets of sensory organ cells. The third class (15 lines, 10 loci) results in potential cell fate transformations. Genetic and molecular characterization of these candidate lines reveals that some loci identified in this screen correspond to genes known to function in the formation of the peripheral nervous system, such as big brain, extra macrochaetae, and numb. Also emerging from the screen are a large group of previously uncharacterized genes and several known genes that have not yet been implicated in the development of the peripheral nervous system.

Some fly sensory organs are gliogenic and require glide/gcm in a precursor that divides symmetrically and produces glial cells

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (17) ◽  
pp. 3735-3743 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Van De Bor ◽  
R. Walther ◽  
A. Giangrande
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Peripheral Nervous System ◽  
Glial Cell ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Sensory Organ ◽  
Asymmetric Distribution ◽  
Sensory Organs ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Glial Precursor

In flies, the choice between neuronal and glial fates depends on the asymmetric division of multipotent precursors, the neuroglioblast of the central nervous system and the IIb precursor of the sensory organ lineage. In the central nervous system, the choice between the two fates requires asymmetric distribution of the glial cell deficient/glial cell missing (glide/gcm) RNA in the neuroglioblast. Preferential accumulation of the transcript in one of the daughter cells results in the activation of the glial fate in that cell, which becomes a glial precursor. Here we show that glide/gcm is necessary to induce glial differentiation in the peripheral nervous system. We also present evidence that glide/gcm RNA is not necessary to induce the fate choice in the peripheral multipotent precursor. Indeed, glide/gcm RNA and protein are first detected in one daughter of IIb but not in IIb itself. Thus, glide/gcm is required in both central and peripheral glial cells, but its regulation is context dependent. Strikingly, we have found that only subsets of sensory organs are gliogenic and express glide/gcm. The ability to produce glial cells depends on fixed, lineage related, cues and not on stochastic decisions. Finally, we show that after glide/gcm expression has ceased, the IIb daughter migrates and divides symmetrically to produce several mature glial cells. Thus, the glide/gcm-expressing cell, also called the fifth cell of the sensory organ, is indeed a glial precursor. This is the first reported case of symmetric division in the sensory organ lineage. These data indicate that the organization of the fly peripheral nervous system is more complex than previously thought.

Postembryonic patterns of expression of cut, a locus regulating sensory organ identity in Drosophila

Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Blochlinger ◽  
L.Y. Jan ◽  
Y.N. Jan
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Malpighian Tubules ◽  
Follicle Cells ◽  
Wing Margin ◽  
Sensory Organs ◽  
Tracheal System ◽  
Organ Identity ◽  
The Central Nervous System

The cut locus is both necessary and sufficient to specify the identity of a class of sensory organs in Drosophila embryos. It is also expressed in and required for the development of a number of other embryonic tissues, such as the central nervous system, the Malpighian tubules and the tracheal system. We here describe the expression of cut in the precursors of adult sensory organs. We also show that cut is expressed in cells of the prospective wing margin and correlate the wing margin phenotype caused by two cut mutations with altered cut expression patterns. Finally, we observe cut-expressing cells in other adult tissues, including Malpighian tubules, muscles, the central nervous system and ovarian follicle cells.

Homeotic genes have specific functional roles in the establishment of the Drosophila embryonic peripheral nervous system

Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.G. Heuer ◽  
T.C. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Peripheral Nervous System ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Homeotic Genes ◽  
Sensory Organs ◽  
Sex Combs Reduced ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Visceral Mesoderm ◽  
Control Segment

The Drosophila embryonic peripheral nervous system (PNS) contains segment-specific spatial patterns of sensory organs which derive from the ectoderm. Many studies have established that the homeotic genes of Drosophila control segment specific characteristics of the epidermis, and more recently these genes have also been shown to control gut morphogenesis through their expression in the visceral mesoderm (Tremml, G. and Bienz, M. (1989), EMBO J. 8, 2677–2685). We report here the roles of homeotic genes in establishing the spatial patterns of sensory organs in the embryonic PNS. The PNS was examined in embryos homozygous for mutations in the homeotic genes Sex combs reduced (Scr), Antennapedia (Antp), Ultrabithorax (Ubx), abdominal-A (abd-A) and Abdominal-B (Abd-B) with antibodies that label specific subsets of sensory organs. Our results suggest that the homeotic genes have specific roles in establishing the correct spatial patterns of sensory organs in their normal domains of expression. In addition, we also report the effects of ectopic expression of the homeotic genes labial (lab), Deformed (Dfd), Scr, Antp or Ubx on the normal development of sensory organs in the embryonic PNS. Interestingly, while previous studies have concluded that ectopic expression of the homeotic genes Dfd, Scr and Antp has no effect on the segmental identity of the abdominal segments, our results demonstrate that this is not true. We show that ectopic expression of these genes does result in the disruption of the developing PNS in the abdomen. Our results are suggestive of a role for the homeotic gene products in regulating genes which are necessary for generating sensory progenitor cells in the developing PNS.

Steering and Communication: Nervous System and Sensory Organs

2013 ◽  
pp. 71-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Finsterer ◽  
Hanna Schöpper ◽  
Sabine Breit
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Sensory Organs

scholarly journals Perch Selection by Three Cooccurring Species ofCelithemis(Odonata: Libellulidae): Testing for a Competitive Hierarchy among Similar Species

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wade B. Worthen ◽  
Parker H. Morrow
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Open Water ◽  
The Other ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Anatomical Characters ◽  
Relative Abundances ◽  
Imagej Software

In many communities of perching dragonflies (Odonata: Libellulidae), a size-dependent competitive hierarchy creates a positive relationship between male body size and perch height. We tested for this pattern among three similar-sized species:Celithemis elisa,C. fasciata, andC. ornata.Males were caught and photographed from May to July 2015 at Ashmore Heritage Preserve, Greenville County, SC, USA, and perch heights and perch distance to open water were measured. Five indices of body size were measured with ImageJ software: abdomen length, forewing length, hindwing length, area of forewing, and area of hindwing.Celithemis fasciatawas significantly larger than the other two species for all five anatomical characters and used perches that were significantly taller and closer to open water than the other species, though these differences changed over the summer. Aggressive interactions between and within species were tallied and compared to expected distributions based on mean relative abundances derived from hourly abundance counts. Patterns of interspecific aggression were also consistent with a size-dependent hierarchy: the largeC. fasciatawas attacked less frequently, and the smallC. ornatamore frequently, than predicted by their relative abundances. We conclude that even small differences in body size may contribute to niche partitioning in perch selection.

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