Pubblicazione scientifica

Behavioral evolution contributes to hindbrain diversification among Lake Malawi cichlid fish

FILONE TECNOLOGICO	TEMA
trasformazione e commercializzazione

RIASSUNTO

The evolutionary diversification of animal behavior is often associated with changes in the structure and function of nervous systems. Such evolutionary changes arise either through alterations of individual neural components (“mosaically”) or through scaling of the whole brain (“concertedly”). Here we show that the evolution of a courtship behavior in Malawi cichlid fish is associated with rapid, extensive, and specific diversification of orosensory, gustatory centers in the hindbrain. We find that hindbrain volume varies significantly between species that build pit (depression) compared to castle (mound) type bowers and that this trait is evolving rapidly among castle-building species. Molecular analyses of neural activity via immediate early gene expression indicate a functional role for hindbrain structures during bower building. Finally, comparisons of bower building species in neighboring Lake Tanganyika suggest parallel patterns of neural diversification to those in Lake Malawi. Our results suggest that mosaic brain evolution via alterations to individual brain structures is more extensive and predictable than previously appreciated.

DATA

Data di pubblicazione: 27/12/2019

AUTORI

YORK RYAN A
BYRNE ALLIE
ABDILLEH KAWTHER
PATIL CHINAR
STREELMAN TODD
FINGER THOMAS E
FERNALD RUSSELL D

RIVISTA

Scientific Reports, 9, 19994

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