Evolutionary mechanisms for individual variation of female choice in the guppy

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H04419
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: KAWATA MASAKADO 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 教授 (90204734)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MAKINO Takashi 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 准教授 (20443442) ; KAWAMURA Shoji 東京大学, 新領域創成科学研究科, 教授 (40282727) ; KARINO Kenji 東京学芸大学, 教育学部, 教授 (40293005)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 性選択 / 可塑性 / DNAメチル化 / オプシン / グッピー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined the effects of genotypes and DNA methylation variations on visual sensitivity and female preference to male body colors, focusing on light environments during growth and carotenoid intakes in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata. The results showed that genetic polymorphism and light environment in habitats can contribute to variation in opsin gene expression levels and subsequent visual sensitivity and female preference for male body color. The genotype and environmental interactions were partly caused by difference in DNA methylation rates of CG sequences along controlling regions of opsin genes. The whole genome bisulfie sequence analysis showed that in the brains and eyes in Guppies fed by high concentration of carotenoid foods, genes for light sensitivity and regulating synaptic membranes were detected genes with higher h DNA methylation rates.

Free Research Field

進化生態学