Food Quality and Life‐History Genotype Influence Maturation and Reproductive Traits in Female Atlantic Salmon

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 24, 2025

Age at maturity is an important life-history trait, often showing sex-specific variation, contributing to diversity in many species. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are excellent model system investigate genetic and environmental factors affecting maturation, yet few laboratory studies have focused on females as they mature later than males, average. Using a 4-year common-garden experiment of salmon, we assessed the influence diet (low-fat vs. control) vgll3 (a candidate gene influencing maturation age) related phenotypic traits female derived from two second-generation hatchery populations. We found early-maturation associated E allele be additively with higher probability maturation. Heritability was estimated 0.295, vgll3's contribution variance being ~2%. In addition, body condition measured spring prior spawning influenced Body condition, turn, by population diet. The more northern Oulu low-fat were lower compared southern Neva control Moreover, there interaction between suggesting that populations may respond differently nutrient availability. These results broaden our understanding processes underlying sex- population-specific demonstrate genes environment age species displays variation

Language: Английский

---

An evolutionary shift to prioritizing mating over care is associated with consistently high androgen levels in male threespine stickleback

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 17, 2025

ABSTRACT Steroid hormones play a role in regulating social behaviors vertebrates, but how they mediate the evolution of these traits remains an open question. Here, we use liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to quantify panel steroids breeding males two recently diverged populations threespine stickleback. The common ecotype provides paternal care, while white has evolutionarily lost care. Hormone levels were quantified both ecotypes at three reproductive stages: (1) after completing nest, (2) soon mating, when commons start provide care and whites disperse embryos, (3) four days are performing parental no longer courting females not providing females. Androgens declined as began remained elevated across stages, possibly maintain production “spiggin,” androgen-dependent glue construct nests. Progestogen low lowest suggesting antagonistic relationship between progestogens sexual behavior. Both showed glucocorticoids stress axis may have ecotypes. Altogether, results evidence that regulate steroid differently support ways balance mating effort. Our data suggest variety mechanisms by which signaling regulation can change during early stages divergence behaviorally distinct populations.

Language: Английский

---

Adaptations in surprising places

Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387(6732), P. 358 - 359

Published: Jan. 23, 2025

Testosterone is controlled while it circulates in the bloodstream

Language: Английский

---

A shared gene but distinct dynamics regulate mimicry polymorphisms in closely related species

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 4, 2025

Sex-limited polymorphisms, such as mating strategies in male birds and mimicry female butterflies, are widespread across the tree of life frequently adaptive. Considerable work has been done exploring ecological pressures evolutionary forces that generate maintain genetic variation resulting alternative sex-limited morphs, yet little is known about their molecular developmental basis. A powerful system to investigate this Papilio butterflies: within subgenus Menelaides, multiple closely related species have female-limited polymorphism, with females developing either derived mimetic or ancestral non-mimetic wing color patterns. While patterns different between species, each polymorphism controlled by allelic doublesex ( dsx ). Across several we found develop male-like when knockdown expression, establishing controls both sexual dimorphism polymorphism. We also alleles unique spatiotemporal expression two lowii alphenor. To uncover downstream genes involved pattern switch used RNA-seq P. compared results previous alphenor . some canonical patterning differentially expressed temporal differential notably different. Our indicate that, despite putative co-option shared use among functions through distinct underlying mechanisms. Understanding how a largely genome can encode potential morphs while simultaneously restricting one sex long interest biologists. This phenomenon, called widespread, occurring organisms like crustaceans, insects, fish, birds, mammals. Recent empirical begun identify controlling phenotypes, but differences programs leading those phenotypes remain unclear. Here classic example - swallowtail butterflies compare evolved same gene, , development morphs. Using combination functional experiments, show genetics function quite differently last common ancestor approximately 15 million years ago.

Language: Английский

---

What birds can teach us about the ‘biological truth’ of sex

The Transmitter, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---