Dataset Information

Morphological distinctness despite large-scale phenotypic plasticity--analysis of wild and pond-bred juveniles of allopatric populations of Tropheus moorii.

ABSTRACT: Cichlids are an excellent model to study explosive speciation and adaptive radiation. Their evolutionary success has been attributed to their ability to undergo rapid morphological changes related to diet, and their particular breeding biology. Relatively minor changes in morphology allow for exploitation of novel food resources. The importance of phenotypic plasticity and genetically based differences for diversification was long recognized, but their relationship and relative magnitude remained unclear. We compared morphology of individuals of four wild populations of the Lake Tanganyika cichlid Tropheus moorii with their pond-raised F(1) offspring. The magnitude of morphological change via phenotypic plasticity between wild and pond-bred F(1) fish exceeds pairwise population differences by a factor of 2.4 (mean Mahalanobis distances). The genetic and environmental effects responsible for among population differentiation in the wild could still be recognized in the pond-bred F(1) fish. All four pond populations showed the same trends in morphological change, mainly in mouth orientation, size and orientation of fins, and thickness of the caudal peduncle. As between population differentiation was lower in the wild than differentiation between pond-raised versus wild fish, we suggest the narrow ecological niche and intense interspecific competition in rock habitats is responsible for consistent shape similarity, even among long-term isolated populations.

SUBMITTER: Kerschbaumer M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3029815 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Morphological distinctness despite large-scale phenotypic plasticity--analysis of wild and pond-bred juveniles of allopatric populations of Tropheus moorii.

Kerschbaumer Michaela M Postl Lisbeth L Koch Martin M Wiedl Thomas T Sturmbauer Christian C

Die Naturwissenschaften 20101215 2

Cichlids are an excellent model to study explosive speciation and adaptive radiation. Their evolutionary success has been attributed to their ability to undergo rapid morphological changes related to diet, and their particular breeding biology. Relatively minor changes in morphology allow for exploitation of novel food resources. The importance of phenotypic plasticity and genetically based differences for diversification was long recognized, but their relationship and relative magnitude remaine ...[more]

PMID: 21161156

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Project description:Background and aimsReproductive isolation and local establishment are necessary for plant speciation. Polyploidy, the possession of more than two complete chromosome sets, creates a strong postzygotic reproductive barrier between diploid and tetraploid cytotypes. However, this barrier weakens between polyploids (e.g. tetraploids and hexaploids). Reproductive isolation may be enhanced by cytotype morphological and environmental differentiation. Moreover, morphological adaptations to local conditions contribute to plant establishment. However, the relative contributions of ploidy level and the environment to morphology have generally been neglected. Thus, the extent of morphological variation driven by ploidy level and the environment was modelled for diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid cytotypes of Campanula rotundifolia agg. Cytotype distribution was updated, and morphological and environmental differentiation was tested in the presence and absence of natural contact zones.MethodsCytotype distribution was assessed from 231 localities in Central Europe, including 48 localities with known chromosome counts, using flow cytometry. Differentiation in environmental niche and morphology was tested for cytotype pairs using discriminant analyses. A structural equation model was used to explore the synergies between cytotype, environment and morphology.Key resultsTremendous discrepancies were revealed between the reported and detected cytotype distribution. Neither mixed-ploidy populations nor interploidy hybrids were detected in the contact zones. Diploids had the broadest environmental niche, while hexaploids had the smallest and specialized niche. Hexaploids and spatially isolated cytotype pairs differed morphologically, including allopatric tetraploids. While leaf and shoot morphology were influenced by environmental conditions and polyploidy, flower morphology depended exclusively on the cytotype.ConclusionsReproductive isolation mechanisms vary between cytotypes. While diploids and polyploids are isolated postzygotically, the environmental niche shift is essential between higher polyploids. The impact of polyploidy and the environment on plant morphology implies the adaptive potential of polyploids, while the exclusive relationship between flower morphology and cytotype highlights the role of polyploidy in reproductive isolation.

Dataset Information

Morphological distinctness despite large-scale phenotypic plasticity--analysis of wild and pond-bred juveniles of allopatric populations of Tropheus moorii.

Publications

Morphological distinctness despite large-scale phenotypic plasticity--analysis of wild and pond-bred juveniles of allopatric populations of Tropheus moorii.

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