Evolutionary mechanisms for individual variation of female choice in the guppy

• 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
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥17,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,140,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥5,720,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,320,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥5,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,350,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥6,370,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,470,000)
• Keywords: 性選択 / 可塑性 / DNAメチル化 / オプシン / グッピー / 可塑的変化 / 進化 / 色覚 / 雌選好性

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.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Spectral sensitivity of guppy visual pigments reconstituted in vitro to resolve association of opsins with cone cell types (2016)
  • Author(s): *Kawamura, S., Kasagi, S., Kasai, D., Tezuka, A., Shoji, A., Takahashi, A., Imai, H. and Kawata, M.
  • Journal Title: Vision Research Volume: 127 Pages: 67-73
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2016.06.013
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Effects of light environment during growth on the expression of cone opsin genes and behavioral spectral sensitivities in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). (2016)
  • Author(s): Sakai, Y., H. Ohtuki, S. Kasagi, S. Kawamura and M. Kawata
  • Journal Title: BMC Evolutionary Biology Volume: 2016 Issue: 1 Pages: 106-106
  • DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0679-z
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] グッピーにおいて錐体オプシン遺伝子の多型が 色覚およびメスの配偶者選好性に与える影響 (2017)
  • Author(s): 酒井祐輔、河村正二、河田雅圭
  • Organizer: 日本進化学会第19回大会
• [Presentation] Variation of absorption spectrum and gene expression pattern of red opsins under different light environments and its effect on behavioral spectral sensitivity in guppies, Poecilia reticulata. (2015)
  • Author(s): Sakai, Y., H. Ohtsuki, S. Kasagi, S. Kawamura, M. Kawata
  • Organizer: XVth Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology
  • Place of Presentation: Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Int'l Joint Research