Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Nov. 20, 2024

Abstract Habitat transitions have shaped the evolutionary trajectory of many clades. Sea catfishes (Ariidae) repeatedly undergone ecological transitions, including colonizing freshwaters from marine environments, leading to an adaptive radiation in Australia and New Guinea alongside non-radiating freshwater lineages elsewhere. Here, we generate analyze one long-read reference genome 66 short-read whole assemblies, conjunction with genomic data for 54 additional species. We investigate how three major variation among ariids over their ~ 50 million-year history. Our results show that relatively younger exhibit a higher incidence positive selection than more ancient counterparts. They also display larger disparity body shapes, trend correlates heightened occurrence on genes associated size elongation. Although does not stand out compared overall, across prolactin gene family during marine-to-freshwater transition suggests strong osmoregulatory adaptations may facilitated colonization radiation. findings underscore significant role shaping organismal traits response habitat shifts macroevolutionary scales.

Language: Английский