Transcriptomic changes in the posterior pallium of male zebra finches associated with social niche conformance DOI Creative Commons
Sepand Riyahi, Navina D. Liebermann-Lilie, Arne Jacobs

et al.

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 2, 2024

Abstract Animals plastically adjust their physiological and behavioural phenotypes to conform social environment—social niche conformance. The degree of sexual competition is a critical part the environment which animals phenotypes, but underlying genetic mechanisms are poorly understood. We conducted study investigate how differences in sperm risk affect gene expression profiles testes two brain areas (posterior pallium optic tectum) breeding male zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis). In this pre-registered study, we investigated large sample 59 individual transcriptomes. compared experimental groups: males held single pairs (low competition) versus those (elevated per cage. Using weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), observed significant effects treatment all three tissues. However, only found were confirmed by an additional randomisation test for statistical robustness. Likewise, differential revealed posterior (ten genes) tectum (six genes). No testis at level. Thus, our experiments do not provide strong evidence transcriptomic adjustment specific manipulated risk. did observe adjustments pallium. These polygenic rather than based on few genes with effects. Our findings discussed relation accompanying paper using same animals, reports results consistent presented here.

Language: Английский

Seminal fluid and accessory male investment in sperm competition DOI Open Access
Steven A. Ramm

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 375(1813), P. 20200068 - 20200068

Published: Oct. 18, 2020

Sperm production and allocation strategies have been a central concern of sperm competition research for the past 50 years. But during ‘sexual cascade’ there may be strong selection alternative routes to maximizing male fitness. Especially with evolution internal fertilization, common by now well-studied example is accessory ejaculate investment represented seminal fluid, complex mixture proteins, peptides other components transferred females together sperm. How fluid should covary probably depends on mechanism action. If boost paternity success directly enhancing function or use, we might often expect positive correlation between two forms investment, whereas trade-offs seem more likely if acts independently This largely borne out broad taxonomic survey establish prevailing patterns animal evolution, in light which I discuss gaps that remain our understanding this key component its relationship before outlining promising approaches examining fluid-mediated competitiveness post-genomic era. article part theme issue ‘Fifty years competition’.

Language: Английский

Citations

50
The free-living flatworm Macrostomum lignano DOI Creative Commons
Jakub Wudarski, Bernhard Egger, Steven A. Ramm

et al.

EvoDevo, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: March 2, 2020

Abstract Macrostomum lignano is a free-living flatworm that emerging as an attractive experimental animal for research on broad range of biological questions. One feature setting it apart from other flatworms the successful establishment transgenesis methods, facilitated by steady supply eggs in form single-cell zygotes can be readily manipulated. This, combination with transparency and its small size, creates practical advantages imaging fluorescence-activated cell sorting studies related to stem biology regeneration. M. regenerate most body parts, including germline, thanks neoblasts, which represent system. Interestingly, neoblasts seem have high capacity cellular maintenance, survive up 210 Gy γ-irradiation, partially offset negative consequence ageing. As non-self-fertilizing simultaneous hermaphrodite reproduces sexual manner, also used study selection evolutionary aspects reproduction. Work over past several years has led development molecular resources tools, high-quality genome transcriptome assemblies, transcriptional profiling germline somatic gene knockdown, situ hybridization. The increasingly detailed characterization this resulted novel questions, such bio-adhesion based adhesion-release glands evolution due recent whole-genome duplication.

Language: Английский

Citations

43
Optimized protocols for RNA interference in Macrostomum lignano DOI Creative Commons
Stijn Mouton, Alexandra Mougel, Kirill Ustyantsev

et al.

G3 Genes Genomes Genetics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(5)

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

Abstract Macrostomum lignano, a marine free-living flatworm, has emerged as potent invertebrate model in developmental biology for studying stem cells, germline, and regeneration processes. In recent years, many tools have been developed to manipulate this worm facilitate genetic modification. RNA interference is currently the most accessible direct technique investigate gene functions. It obtained by soaking worms artificial seawater containing dsRNA targeting of interest. Although easy perform, original protocol calls daily exchange solutions, usually until phenotypes are observed, which both time- cost-consuming. work, we evaluated alternative delivery techniques, such electroporation osmotic shock, experiments with improved time cost efficiency. During our investigation optimize RNAi, demonstrated that, absence diatoms, regular single directly produced bacteria or synthesized vitro is, cases, sufficient induce knockdown several days step. Therefore, new highly simplified method allows very significant reduction consumption lab work. addition, it enables performing on larger number at minimal cost.

Language: Английский

Citations

5
Sperm competition-induced plasticity in the speed of spermatogenesis DOI Creative Commons
Athina Giannakara, Lukas Schärer, Steven A. Ramm

et al.

BMC Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: March 8, 2016

Background: Sperm competition between rival ejaculates over the fertilization of ova typically selects for production large numbers sperm.An obvious way to increase sperm is testis size, and most empirical work has focussed on this parameter.Adaptive plasticity in rate could also arise due variation speed with which each spermatozoon produced, but whether animals can respond relevant environmental conditions by modulating kinetics spermatogenesis not been experimentally investigated.Results: Here we demonstrate that simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano exhibits substantial spermatogenesis, depending social context: worms raised under higher levels produce faster.Conclusions: Our findings overturn prevailing view a static property genotype, profound impact exert upon key developmental process.We thus identify, our knowledge, novel mechanism through maximised competition.

Language: Английский

Citations

39
The hidden ageing costs of sperm competition DOI
Jean‐François Lemaître, Jean‐Michel Gaillard, Steven A. Ramm

et al.

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 23(11), P. 1573 - 1588

Published: Sept. 9, 2020

Abstract Ageing and sexual selection are intimately linked. There is by now compelling evidence from studies performed across diverse organisms that males allocating resources to mating competition incur substantial physiological costs, ultimately increasing ageing. However, although insightful, we argue here date these cover only part of the relationship linking Crucially, allocation traits important in post‐copulatory selection, sperm competition, has been largely ignored. As demonstrate, such could potentially explain much diversity male female ageing patterns observed both within among species. We first review how as seminal fluid production depends on quality available can be associated with a wide range deleterious effects affecting somatic tissues germline, thus modulate survival reproductive terms. further hypothesise common biological features plasticity, prudent seasonality ejaculate might have evolved counter‐adaptations limit costs competition. Finally, discuss implications emerging for current research evolutionary ecology

Language: Английский

Citations

36
Genetic and environmental variation in transcriptional expression of seminal fluid proteins DOI Open Access
Bahar Patlar, Michael Weber, Steven A. Ramm

et al.

Heredity, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 122(5), P. 595 - 611

Published: Oct. 24, 2018

Language: Английский

Citations

33
A phylogenetically informed search for an alternative Macrostomum model species, with notes on taxonomy, mating behavior, karyology, and genome size DOI Open Access
Lukas Schärer, Jeremias N. Brand, Pragya Singh

et al.

Journal of Zoological Systematics & Evolutionary Research, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 58(1), P. 41 - 65

Published: Dec. 18, 2019

The free-living flatworm Macrostomum lignano is used as a model in range of research fields—including aging, bioadhesion, stem cells, and sexual selection—culminating the establishment genome assemblies transgenics. However, community has run into roadblock following discovery an unusual organization M. lignano, which could now impair development additional resources tools. Briefly, undergone whole-genome duplication, followed by rediploidization 2n = 8 karyotype (distinct from canonical 6 genus). Although this appears visually diploid, it fact hidden tetraploid (with rarer 9 10 individuals being pentaploid hexaploid, respectively). Here, we report on phylogenetically informed search for close relatives aimed at uncovering alternative models with simple organization. We taxonomically describe three new species: first, janickei n. sp., closest known relative shares its derived organization; second, mirumnovem even more organization, highly variable based base pattern; third, cliftonensis does not only show karyotype, but also performs well under standard laboratory culture conditions fulfills many other requirements. viable candidate replacing primary model, outcrossing having estimated haploid size 231 Mbp.

Language: Английский

Citations

29
Seminal Fluid-Mediated Manipulation of Post-mating Behavior in a Simultaneous Hermaphrodite DOI Creative Commons
Bahar Patlar, Michael Weber, Tim Temizyürek

et al.

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 30(1), P. 143 - 149.e4

Published: Dec. 12, 2019

Language: Английский

Citations

28
Strategic adjustment of ejaculate quality in response to variation of the socio-sexual environment DOI
Martina Magris

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 75(6)

Published: May 14, 2021

Language: Английский

Citations

18
Successful mating and hybridisation in two closely related flatworm species despite significant differences in reproductive morphology and behaviour DOI Creative Commons
Pragya Singh, Daniel Ballmer,

Max Laubscher

et al.

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: July 30, 2020

Abstract Reproductive traits are some of the fastest diverging characters and can serve as reproductive barriers. The free-living flatworm Macrostomum lignano , its congener M. janickei closely related, but differ substantially in their male intromittent organ (stylet) morphology. Here, we examine whether these morphological differences accompanied by behavioural traits, could represent barriers to successful mating hybridization between two species. Our data shows that species many aspects behaviour. Despite differences, mate readily with each other heterospecific pairings. Although both have similar fecundity conspecific pairings, pairings revealed clear postmating barriers, few produced F1 hybrids. These hybrids had a stylet morphology was intermediate parental species, they were fertile. Finally, using choice experiment, show nearly two-fold higher rate caused it more conspecifics, leading assortative mating, while ended up heterospecifics. Thus, hybridize, possibly lead fitness costs for compared .

Language: Английский

Citations

17