More Like this

1. A host driven parasitoid syndrome: Convergent evolution of multiple traits associated with woodboring hosts in Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea)

   https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311365  

   Dal_Pos, Davide; Sharanowski, Barbara J (September 2024, PLOS ONE)

   Khan, Salman (Ed.)

   The evolution of convergent phenotypes is of major interest in biology because of their omnipresence and ability to inform the study of evolutionary novelty and constraint. Convergent phenotypes can be combinations of traits that evolve concertedly, called syndromes, and these can be shaped by a common environmental pressure. Parasitoid wasps which use a wide variety of arthropod hosts have also repeatedly and convergently switched host use across their evolutionary history. They thus represent a natural laboratory for the evolution of trait syndromes that are associated with parasitism of specific hosts and host substrates. In this study, we tested the evolution of co-evolving characters in the highly diverse family Ichneumonidae associated with ovipositing in a specific and well-defined substrate: wood. Using a newly constructed phylogeny and an existing morphological dataset, we identified six traits correlated with the wood-boring lifestyle that demonstrate convergent evolution. At least one trait, the presence of teeth on the ovipositor, typically preceded the evolution of other traits and possibly the switch to parasitism of wood-boring hosts. For each trait, we provide a historical review of their associations with wood-boring parasitoids, reevaluate the function of some characters, and suggest future coding improvements. Overall, we demonstrate the convergent evolution of multiple traits associated with parasitism of woodboring hosts and propose a syndrome in a hyper diverse lineage of parasitoid wasps. 

   more » « less
2. Untangling the diversity and evolution of tentacles in scallops, oysters, and their relatives (Bivalvia: Pteriomorphia)

   https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1007/s13127-021-00482-3  

   Audino, Jorge A; Serb, Jeanne M; Marian, Jose E.A.R. (January 2021, Organisms diversity evolution)

   null (Ed.)

   Tentacles are fascinating, multifunctional organs found in many aquatic invertebrate groups. In bivalves, tentacles are morphologically diverse, performing protective and sensory roles in taxa from different ecological niches. Such diversity is particularly accentuated in Pteriomorphia, a clade comprising scallops, oysters, file clams, and relatives. However, little is known about the evolution of these organs and their role in bivalve radiation. To test hypotheses of convergent tentacular evolution and a possible association between tentacles and body orientation on the substrate, we first examined tentacle morphology in 108 preserved species representing 15 families across Pteriomorphia. Morphological descriptions of tentacle type (inner mantle fold tentacles, IFT; middle mantle fold tentacles, MFT) and position (marginal and submarginal) are provided, expanding the knowledge of less studied bivalve taxa. Then, we placed the morphological dataset under a molecular phylogenetic framework to estimate ancestral states. IFT had likely four independent origins, while MFT emerged twice independently. After being gained, tentacles have not been lost. In addition, evolution of MFT coincides with transitions in body position with the midsagittal plane parallel to the substrate in the clades of scallops (Pectinida) and oysters (Ostreida). Such a shift could be related to the increase of mantle exposure, favoring the emergence of serially repeated organs, such as tentacles. Altogether, our results support the convergent evolution of tentacles across different taxonomic levels, corroborating the plasticity of the molluscan body and the relevance of evolutionary convergences in the radiation of bivalves. 

   more » « less
3. Opsin expression varies across larval development and taxa in pteriomorphian bivalves

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1357873  

   Hasan, Md_Shazid; McElroy, Kyle E; Audino, Jorge A; Serb, Jeanne M (March 2024, Frontiers in Neuroscience)

   Many marine organisms have a biphasic life cycle that transitions between a swimming larva with a more sedentary adult form. At the end of the first phase, larvae must identify suitable sites to settle and undergo a dramatic morphological change. Environmental factors, including photic and chemical cues, appear to influence settlement, but the sensory receptors involved are largely unknown. We targeted the protein receptor, opsin, which belongs to large superfamily of transmembrane receptors that detects environmental stimuli, hormones, and neurotransmitters. While opsins are well-known for light-sensing, including vision, a growing number of studies have demonstrated light-independent functions. We therefore examined opsin expression in the Pteriomorphia, a large, diverse clade of marine bivalves, that includes commercially important species, such as oysters, mussels, and scallops. Methods Genomic annotations combined with phylogenetic analysis show great variation of opsin abundance among pteriomorphian bivalves, including surprisingly high genomic abundance in many species that are eyeless as adults, such as mussels. Therefore, we investigated the diversity of opsin expression from the perspective of larval development. We collected opsin gene expression in four families of Pteriomorphia, across three distinct larval stages, i.e., trochophore, veliger, and pediveliger, and compared those to adult tissues.Results We found larvae express all opsin types in these bivalves, but opsin expression patterns are largely species-specific across development. Few opsins are expressed in the adult mantle, but many are highly expressed in adult eyes. Intriguingly, opsin genes such as retinochrome, xenopsins, and Go-opsins have higher levels of expression in the later larval stages when substrates for settlement are being tested, such as the pediveliger. Conclusion Investigating opsin gene expression during larval development provides crucial insights into their intricate interactions with the surroundings, which may shed light on how opsin receptors of these organisms respond to various environmental cues that play a pivotal role in their settlement process. 

   more » « less
4. Convergence without divergence in North American red-flowering Silene

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.945806  

   Berardi, Andrea E.; Betancourt Morejón, Ana C.; Hopkins, Robin (September 2022, Frontiers in Plant Science)

   Combinations of correlated floral traits have arisen repeatedly across angiosperms through convergent evolution in response to pollinator selection to optimize reproduction. While some plant groups exhibit very distinct combinations of traits adapted to specific pollinators (so-called pollination syndromes), others do not. Determining how floral traits diverge across clades and whether floral traits show predictable correlations in diverse groups of flowering plants is key to determining the extent to which pollinator-mediated selection drives diversification. The North AmericanSilenesectionPhysolychnisis an ideal group to investigate patterns of floral evolution because it is characterized by the evolution of novel red floral color, extensive floral morphological variation, polyploidy, and exposure to a novel group of pollinators (hummingbirds). We test for correlated patterns of trait evolution that would be consistent with convergent responses to selection in the key floral traits of color and morphology. We also consider both the role of phylogenic distance and geographic overlap in explaining patterns of floral trait variation. Inconsistent with phenotypically divergent pollination syndromes, we find very little clustering of North AmericanSileneinto distinct floral morphospace. We also find little evidence that phylogenetic history or geographic overlap explains patterns of floral diversity in this group. White- and pink-flowering species show extensive phenotypic diversity but are entirely overlapping in morphological variation. However, red-flowering species have much less phenotypic disparity and cluster tightly in floral morphospace. We find that red-flowering species have evolved floral traits that align with a traditional hummingbird syndrome, but that these trait values overlap with several white and pink species as well. Our findings support the hypothesis that convergent evolution does not always proceed through comparative phenotypic divergence, but possibly through sorting of standing ancestral variation. 

   more » « less
5. A trait dataset for freshwater mussels of the United States of America

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02635-9  

   Hopper, Garrett W.; Bucholz, Jamie R.; DuBose, Traci P.; Fogelman, Kaelyn J.; Keogh, Sean M.; Kubala, Megan E.; Lodato, Matthew B.; Nichols, David H.; Sánchez González, Irene; Pfeiffer, John M.; et al (December 2023, Scientific Data)

   Abstract The United States of America has a diverse collection of freshwater mussels comprising 301 species distributed among 59 genera and two families (Margaritiferidae and Unionidae), each having a unique suite of traits. Mussels are among the most imperilled animals and are critical components of their ecosystems, and successful management, conservation and research requires a cohesive and widely accessible data source. Although trait-based analysis for mussels has increased, only a small proportion of traits reflecting mussel diversity in this region has been collated. Decentralized and non-standardized trait information impedes large-scale analysis. Assembling trait data in a synthetic dataset enables comparison across species and lineages and identification of data gaps. We collated data from the primary literature, books, state and federal reports, theses and dissertations, and museum collections into a centralized dataset covering information on taxonomy, morphology, reproductive ecology and life history, fish hosts, habitats, thermal tolerance, geographic distribution, available genetic information, and conservation status. By collating these traits, we aid researchers in assessing variation in mussel traits and modelling ecosystem change. 

   more » « less