Evolution and molecular mechanisms of adaptive developmental plasticity

Aside from its selective role in filtering inter-individual variation during evolution by natural selection, the environment also plays an instructive role in producing variation during development. External environmental cues can influence developmental rates and/or trajectories and lead to the production of distinct phenotypes from the same genotype. This can result in a better match between adult phenotype and selective environment and thus represents a potential solution to problems posed by environmental fluctuation. The phenomenon is called adaptive developmental plasticity. The study of developmental plasticity integrates different disciplines (notably ecology and developmental biology) and analyses at all levels of biological organization, from the molecular regulation of changes in organismal development to variation in phenotypes and fitness in natural populations. Here, we focus on recent advances and examples from morphological traits in animals to provide a broad overview covering (i) the evolution of developmental plasticity, as well as its relevance to adaptive evolution, (ii) the ecological significance of alternative environmentally induced phenotypes, and the way the external environment can affect development to produce them, (iii) the molecular mechanisms underlying developmental plasticity, with emphasis on the contribution of genetic, physiological and epigenetic factors, and (iv) current challenges and trends, including the relevance of the environmental sensitivity of development to studies in ecological developmental biology, biomedicine and conservation biology.     

Untangling individual variation in natural populations: ecological, genetic and epigenetic correlates of long-term inequality in herbivory

Individual variation in ecologically important features of organisms is a crucial element in ecology and evolution, yet disentangling its underlying causes is difficult in natural populations. We applied a genomic scan approach using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to quantify the genetic basis of long‐term individual differences in herbivory by mammals at a wild population of the violet Viola cazorlensis monitored for two decades. In addition, methylation‐sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) analyses were used to investigate the association between browsing damage and epigenetic characteristics of individuals, an aspect that has been not previously explored for any wild plant. Structural equation modelling was used to identify likely causal structures linking genotypes, epigenotypes and herbivory. Individuals of V. cazorlensis differed widely in the incidence of browsing mammals over the 20‐year study period. Six AFLP markers (1.6% of total) were significantly related to herbivory, accounting altogether for 44% of population‐wide variance in herbivory levels. MSAP analyses revealed considerable epigenetic variation among individuals, and differential browsing damage was significantly related to variation in multilocus epigenotypes. In addition, variation across plants in epigenetic characteristics was related to variation in several herbivory‐related AFLP markers. Statistical comparison of alternative causal models suggested that individual differences in herbivory are the outcome of a complex causal structure where genotypes and epigenotypes are interconnected and have direct and indirect effects on herbivory. Insofar as methylation states of MSAP markers influential on herbivory are transgenerationally heritable, herbivore‐driven evolutionary changes at the study population will involve correlated changes in genotypic and epigenotypic distributions.     

Adaptation to climate change: contrasting patterns of thermal-reaction-norm evolution in Pacific versus Atlantic silversides

How organisms may adapt to rising global temperatures is uncertain, but concepts can emerge from studying adaptive physiological trait variations across existing spatial climate gradients. Many ectotherms, particularly fish, have evolved increasing genetic growth capacities with latitude (i.e. countergradient variation (CnGV) in growth), which are thought to be an adaptation primarily to strong gradients in seasonality. In contrast, evolutionary responses to gradients in mean temperature are often assumed to involve an alternative mode, 'thermal adaptation'. We measured thermal growth reaction norms in Pacific silverside populations (Atherinops affinis) occurring across a weak latitudinal temperature gradient with invariant seasonality along the North American Pacific coast. Instead of thermal adaptation, we found novel evidence for CnGV in growth, suggesting that CnGV is a ubiquitous mode of reaction-norm evolution in ectotherms even in response to weak spatial and, by inference, temporal climate gradients. A novel, large-scale comparison between ecologically equivalent Pacific versus Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia) revealed how closely growth CnGV patterns reflect their respective climate gradients. While steep growth reaction norms and increasing growth plasticity with latitude in M. menidia mimicked the strong, highly seasonal Atlantic coastal gradient, shallow reaction norms and much smaller, latitude-independent growth plasticity in A. affinis resembled the weak Pacific latitudinal temperature gradient.     

Individual-learning ability predicts social-foraging strategy in house sparrows

Social foragers can use either a ‘producer’ strategy, which involves searching for food, or a ‘scrounger’ strategy, which involves joining others'' food discoveries. While producers rely on personal information and past experience, we may ask whether the tendency to forage as a producer is related to being a better learner. To answer this question, we hand-raised house sparrow (Passer domesticus) nestlings that upon independence were given an individual-learning task that required them to associate colour signal and food presence. Following the testing phase, all fledglings were released into a shared aviary, and their social-foraging tendencies were measured. We found a significant positive correlation between individual''s performance in the individual-learning task and subsequent tendency to use searching (producing) behaviour. Individual-learning score was negatively correlated with initial fear of the test apparatus and with body weight. However, the correlation between individual learning and searching remained significant after controlling for these variables. Since it was measured before the birds entered a social group, individual-learning ability could not be the outcome of being a producer. However, the two traits may be initially associated, or individual learning could facilitate producing behaviour. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that associates individual-learning abilities with social-foraging strategies in animal groups.     

濒危植物马蹄参枝叶形态变异与环境因子的相关性分析

调查马蹄参在湖南、广东、广西、云南4省9个天然种群20项枝叶的形态指标在种群内和种群间的表型变异,运用相关分析揭示枝和叶形态指标间以及与环境因子之间的相关性,并进行聚类分析(UPGMA)和主成分分析.结果表明:各性状在种群内和种群间均存在一定变异性.广西花坪自然保护区两个种群(HP1,HP2)枝叶形态性状(尤其是枝)的...     

盐城自然保护区射阳河口潮间带大型底栖动物空间分布与季节变化

2008年11月—2009年10月,在盐城自然保护区射阳河口潮间带按月份对大型底栖动物群落进行取样。共得到大型底栖动物16种,隶属3门4纲15科,为软体动物、节肢动物甲壳类和环节动物多毛类,其中,潮间带米草丛6种,高潮带光滩7种,中潮带光滩13种,低潮带光滩7种。对潮间带各样点的物种数、密度、生物量以及不同样点的生物多样性指数Margalef指数(S)、Shannon指数(H)、Pielou指数(J)和Simpson指数(D)进行样点-季节间无重复双因素方差分析,发现样点间物种数、密度和生物量差异极显著(所有P<0.01),三者季节间差异均不显著;样点间H、D和S差异显著(所有P<0.05),季节间差异均不显著;而季节间和样点间J差异均不显著。对四季4个样点的群落进行聚类和排序分析发现,中、高潮带光滩界限不明显,潮间带米草丛和低潮带光滩界限明显。结果表明:生境条件的不同是潮间带大型底栖动物群落组成差异的主要原因,同一生境大型底栖动物群落季节间差异不显著。     

种植条件下海滨盐土理化性状与生物学特征

以苏北海滨盐土种植实验区7个不同特征的地块为对象,研究了海滨盐土基本理化性状及其生物学特征的季节变化,以及其与植物种植和植被条件的关系.结果表明:海滨盐土的土壤性状随种莓年限和植被状况的不同有较大的变异性,种植耐盐植物地块平均土壤电导率(0.95 dS·m-1)低于自然植被地块(2.77 dS·m-1),但部分地块电导率水平较种植前有所升高;土壤肥力普遍较低,水解性氮含量平均低于50 mg·kg-1,有效磷含量(除施肥地块)平均低于3 mg·kg-1,有机质含量低于1%,种植耐盐植物地块因施肥而有所改善.土壤电导率和养分水平是影响盐土植被生长与分布的主要因素,前者尤为关键;土壤氮磷含量与微生物数量密切相关.不同植被和干扰状况下土壤性状的季节变化差异明显,植被盖度高、人为干扰少的土壤环境相对稳定,反之则波动剧烈.     

SHIV-XJ02170感染恒河猴后期的传代特点和env基因变异

目的研究SHIV-XJ02170在中国恒河猴感染后期传代过程中病毒和宿主的变化特点,并分析env基因的序列变异。方法将感染中国恒河猴G0401V后期（5年）的SHIV-XJ02170病毒垂直传代2只猴（G0401V→G0402V→0403V）,同时,剔除G0401V猴CD8＋T细胞使潜伏的病毒大量复制后传代1只猴（G0401V→G0404V）,应用流式细胞术、病毒载量测定、序列分析等方法研究该病毒在猴体内长期适应后的病毒和免疫学指标及序列变异特点。结果 G0401V在感染后期仍能稳定传代,且表现出毒力增强的特点。其传代猴G0402V在传代后41 d死亡,外周血CD4＋T淋巴细胞衰竭,仅为43个/mL,符合艾滋病感染猴快速进展型的特征。剔除体内CD8＋T细胞之后的传代猴G0404V的表现类似G0401V,即长期低水平的病毒血症水平。env基因序列分析发现SHIV-XJ02170在G0401V体内长期适应后发生了可遗传的序列变异,并引起糖基化位点的改变。结论 SHIV-XJ02170在猴体长期适应后的传代过程中表现出向强毒株过渡的特征,为进行SHIV-XJ02170感染性克隆的构建奠定了良好的实验基础。     

60Co-γ射线诱变连麦2号M3代主要农艺性状的变异及多元分析

用60Co-γ射线诱变小麦连麦2号,对M3代292个穗行进行了主要农艺性状的变异及多元分析.结果表明:各性状的变异幅度是不同的,变异系数从大到小依次为:穗数＞千粒重＞穗长＞小穗数＞株高＞行粒重＞退化小穗数＞穗粒数＞穗粒重;变异率从大到小依次为:穗数＞千粒重＞株高=行粒重＞穗粒数＞穗长＞穗粒重＞小穗数＞退化小穗数.穗数、...     

大杯香菇辐射选育新株系主要营养价值的遗传分析

对大杯香菇中20个（品种和辐射选育新株系）的蛋白质营养价值6项评价指标进行了遗传变异分析、相关性分析和主成分分析.结果表明,变异系数最大的为氨基酸比值系数分,达到22.70％;其次为氨基酸评分,变异系数为18.08％;其它变异系数较小分别为化学评分、生物价、营养指数和必需氨基酸指数为4.18％、3.76％、3.37％和...