Molecular and Ecological Adaptations: Evolution of Venoms and Feeding Specializations of Predatory Marine Gastropods

生态适应使物种能够以新的或不同的方式利用或获取资源，并与生物多样性的起源密切相关，但这些适应起源的遗传基础却鲜为人知。捕食性海洋腹足动物属Conus是热带蜗牛的一个极其多样化的群体，有500多个物种，在饮食上有巨大的差异。这些专门的猎人使用一种含有神经毒素的毒液来捕获猎物，这种毒液被称为螺毒素。芋螺毒素在物种内和物种间都有令人惊讶的多样性，芋螺毒素是被证明是治疗各种人类神经肌肉疾病的新型药物的来源。由于毒液与征服猎物的能力有错综复杂的关系，圆锥体毒液的进化可能会受到饮食专业化的强烈影响。这项研究的主要目的是检验关于圆锥体的毒液组成和食物专化性之间的联系的假设，并检验遗传和生态差异与圆锥体种群之间的毒液组成之间的相关性。该项目包括实地和实验室工作，以检查和比较三个密切相关的圆锥体物种不同种群的个体的饮食和毒液。来自热带太平洋研究地点附近学院和大学的历史上代表性不足群体的本科生以及密歇根大学的学生将参加实地和实验室研究。这项工作将极大地促进我们对生态适应、物种相互作用以及分子和生物进化的理解和欣赏。此外，对圆锥蛇毒进化的了解应该会加速从圆锥蛇毒到药物的开发。

Ecological adaptations enable species to utilize or acquire resources in new or different manners and are tightly linked to the origins of biodiversity, yet the genetic basis of the origins of these adaptations is poorly understood. The predatory marine gastropod genus Conus is an extremely diverse group of tropical snails with over 500 species, with tremendous differences in diets. These specialized hunters use a venom with neurotoxins, termed conotoxins, to capture prey. Conus venoms are amazingly diverse both within and between species and conotoxins are proven sources of novel pharmaceuticals for the treatment of various human neuromuscular disorders. Because venoms are intricately related to the ability to subdue prey, the evolution of Conus venoms is likely to be strongly influenced by dietary specializations. The main objective of this research is to test hypotheses about the link between venom composition and dietary specializations of Conus and to examine the correlations between genetic and ecological differences and venom composition among populations of Conus species. This project includes field and laboratory work to examine and compare diets and venoms of individuals of different populations of three closely related Conus species. Undergraduate students of historically underrepresented groups from colleges and universities near study sites in the tropical Pacific as well as students from the University of Michigan will participate in field and laboratory studies. This work will greatly boost our understanding and appreciation of ecological adaptations, species interactions and molecular and organismal evolution. Moreover, knowledge of the evolution of Conus venoms should speed the development of pharmaceuticals from Conus.