Exploring the diversity of sexual systems in barnacles

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03284
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45030:Biodiversity and systematics-related
• Research Institution: Nara Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Yusa Yoichi 奈良女子大学, 自然科学系, 教授 (60355641)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山口 幸 東京女子大学, 現代教養学部, 講師 (20709191) ; 關野 正志 国立研究開発法人水産研究・教育機構, 水産資源研究所(横浜), グループ長 (90371799)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 性システム / 性表現 / フジツボ / フクロムシ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sexual systems in the animal kingdom (such as hermaphroditism and dioecy) are extremely diverse, yet theoretical and empirical research has not provided sufficient answers about which sex systems evolve under specific environmental conditions. In this study, we adopted a multifaceted approach to investigate the diversity of sexual systems and the factors determining them in barnacles in a broad sense (Thecostraca). Specifically, we 1) elucidated the sexual systems of several barnacle species, 2) conducted empirical studies on the relationship between sexual systems and environmental factors as well as the mechanisms in some model species, 3) clarified the evolutionary process and factors determining sexual systems through interspecific comparisons, and 4) built a theoretical framework that explains the diverse sexual systems of barnacles.

Free Research Field

生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

フジツボ類は，理論・実証面ともに動物における性システム研究のモデル系と目されている。本研究の結果，繁殖集団サイズが性システムの進化と維持に重要であることが示された。特に，雄・雌雄同体に加え，機能的な雌が共存する種が発見された。また，フクロムシの性決定に関して，従来の説とは異なる知見が得られた。本研究の成果は，フジツボ類のみならず，動物全体における性システムおよびその進化的要因の解明に役立つだろう。