The integrated genomic architecture and evolution of dental divergence in East African Cichlid Fishes (Haplochromis chilotes x H. nyererei)

11Citations
Citations of this article
22Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

The independent evolution of the two toothed jaws of cichlid fishes is thought to have promoted their unparalleled ecological divergence and species richness. However, dental divergence in cichlids could exhibit substantial genetic covariance and this could dictate how traits like tooth numbers evolve in different African Lakes and on their two jaws. To test this hypothesis, we used a hybrid mapping cross of two trophically divergent Lake Victoria species (Haplochromis chilotes · Haplochromis nyererei) to examine genomic regions associated with cichlid tooth diversity. Surprisingly, a similar genomic region was found to be associated with oral jaw tooth numbers in cichlids from both Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria. Likewise, this same genomic location was associated with variation in pharyngeal jaw tooth numbers. Similar relationships between tooth numbers on the two jaws in both our Victoria hybrid population and across the phylogenetic diversity of Malawi cichlids additionally suggests that tooth numbers on the two jaws of haplochromine cichlids might generally coevolve owing to shared genetic underpinnings. Integrated, rather than independent, genomic architectures could be key to the incomparable evolutionary divergence and convergence in cichlid tooth numbers.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Hulsey, C. D., Machado-Schiaffino, G., Keicher, L., Ellis-Soto, D., Henning, F., & Meyer, A. (2017). The integrated genomic architecture and evolution of dental divergence in East African Cichlid Fishes (Haplochromis chilotes x H. nyererei). G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 7(9), 3195–3202. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.117.300083

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free