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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Correlation between nuptial colors and visual sensitivities tuned by opsins leads to species richness in sympatric Lake Victoria cichlid fishes
Molecular Biology and Evolution, Volume 29, No. 11, Year 2012
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Description
Reproductive isolation that prevents interspecific hybridization between closely related coexisting species maintains sympatric species diversity. One of the reproductive isolations is mate choice based on color signals (breeding color perceived by color vision). This is well known in several animal taxa, yet little is known about its genetic and molecular mechanism. Lake Victoria cichlid fishes are thought to be an example of sympatric species diversity. In the species inhabiting different light environments in rocky shore, speciation by sensory drive through color signals has been proposed by analyses of the long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsin gene and the male nuptial coloration. However, the genetic and molecular mechanism of how diversity of sympatric species occurring in the same habitat is maintained remains unknown. To address this issue, we determined nucleotide sequences of eight opsins of six sympatric species collected from a sandy-muddy shore-an ideal model system for studying sympatric species. Among eight opsins, the LWS and RH1 alleles were diversified and one particular allele is dominant or fixed in each species, and we propose that this is due to natural selection. The functions of their LWS alleles were also diversified as shown by absorption measurements of reconstituted visual pigments. To analyze the relationship between nuptial coloration and the absorption of LWS pigments, we systematically evaluated and defined nuptial coloration. We showed that the coloration was species specific with respect to hue and significantly differentiated by the index values of hue (dominant wavelength: λd). The λd value of the male nuptial coloration correlated with the absorption of LWS pigments from all the species, suggesting that reproductive isolation through mate choice using color signals may prevent sympatric interspecific hybridization, thereby maintaining the species diversity in sympatric species in Lake Victoria. © 2012 The Author.
Authors & Co-Authors
Miyagi, Ryutaro
Japan, Tokyo
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Terai, Yohey
Japan, Tokyo
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Aibara, Mitsuto
Japan, Tokyo
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Sugawara, Tohru
Japan, Kyoto
Kyoto University
Imai, Hiroo
Japan, Kyoto
Kyoto University
Tachida, Hidenori
Japan, Fukuoka
Kyushu University
Mzighani, Semvua Isa
Japan, Tokyo
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute Tafiri
Okitsu, Takashi
Japan, Kobe
Kobe Pharmaceutical University
Wada, Akimori
Japan, Kobe
Kobe Pharmaceutical University
Okada, Norihiro
Japan, Tokyo
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Statistics
Citations: 46
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/molbev/mss139
ISSN:
07374038
e-ISSN:
15371719
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Male