Evolutionary mechnisms for thermal niche shift in Anolis lizards

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19KK0184
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 45:Biology at organismal to population levels and anthropology, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kawata Masakado 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 教授 (90204734)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 赤司 寛志 東京理科大学, 先進工学部生命システム工学科, 研究員 (00808644) ; 牧野 能士 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 教授 (20443442)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-10-07 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 温度適応 / アノールトカゲ / ニッチシフト / ゲノム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study aimed to elucidate the genetic basis associated with niche shifts to different temperature environments using Anolis lizards. The genomes of six species inhabiting hot-open and cool-forest habitats were sequenced to detect genes involved in temperature adaptation through genome analysis comparisons. The results of the genome analysis showed that species inhabiting hot-open habitat have higher rates of gene duplication. In addition, conserved and accelerated evolutionary genomic regions were detected in species with hot-open and cool-forest habitats. The results show that these genes predicted to be involved in circadian rhythms, visual development and genes related to lipid metabolism. The gene expression analysis indicated that high TRPV1 expression levels are maintained in lower temperature-preferring species compared to other species.

Free Research Field

進化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

温度ニッチシフト機構の解明は、温度環境への適応放散による種多様化機構と温度環境変化への生物の進化的反応の可能性を考える上で大きな意義を持つ。特に、近年温暖化の影響で、外温性脊椎動物である爬虫類の絶滅リスクの増大が危惧されている。本研究の成果は、温度適応に関わる遺伝的基盤を解明することで、どのような遺伝的基盤をもつ種が温度上昇に対して脆弱なのかを特定するための情報を提供する。それにより爬虫類の保全に寄与することが期待される。