The genetics and evolutionary dynamics of reproductive mode in tadpole shrimps

蝌蚪虾生殖方式的遗传学和进化动力学

• 批准号: NE/G012318/1
• 金额: $ 8.47万
• 依托单位: University of Hull
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Training Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2009 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FG012318%2F1
• 关键词: genetics; evolutionary; dynamics; reproductive; mode

Since the time of Darwin the diversity of reproductive modes and mating systems has attracted great interest. This is because changes in reproductive mode and mating strategy can be an adaptive response to environmental challenges. Also, changes in reproductive mode have important consequences for the genetics, ecology and future evolutionary potential of species. Notostracans, the tadpole shrimps (a group of freshwater crustaceans), are 'living fossils' whose morphology has remained stable for over 300 million years. However, in contrast their reproductive mode is highly variable. For example some populations have both males and females (dioecy), others just hermaphrodites, or others a mixture of hermaphrodites and males (androdioecy, AD). Such variation makes the group a very good system to investigate the evolutionary dynamics of reproductive mode. The aim of this project is to investigate the evolutionary history and genetic control of reproductive mode variation in notostracans. This will be done by: 1) Building an evolutionary tree using DNA sequences and then mapping the reproductive mode onto the tree. Using this information the change of one reproductive mode to another can be traced. 2) Investigating the genetic inheritance of reproductive mode by controlled breeding experiments of one notostracan, Triops cancriformis, and the formation of a genetic map of reproductive mode. The completion of this project will greatly increase knowledge of the dynamics of reproductive mode change. Furthermore, Triops cancriformis is a declining species worldwide and is a UK Biodiversity Action plan species. Understanding the breeding biology and ecology of species is essential to their successful management and so the results of this project will be useful in future conservation efforts aimed at protecting this species.

自达尔文时代以来，生殖方式和交配系统的多样性引起了人们极大的兴趣。这是因为繁殖模式和交配策略的变化可以是对环境挑战的适应性反应。此外，繁殖模式的变化对物种的遗传学、生态学和未来进化潜力有重要影响。背介类，蝌蚪虾（一组淡水甲壳动物），是“活化石”，其形态保持稳定超过3亿年。然而，相比之下，它们的繁殖模式是高度可变的。例如，一些种群既有雄性又有雌性（雌雄同体），另一些种群只有雌雄同体，或者另一些种群是雌雄同体和雄性的混合体（雌雄同体，AD）。这种变异使该群体成为研究繁殖模式进化动力学的一个很好的系统。本研究旨在探讨背介类生殖方式变异的演化历史及遗传控制。这将通过以下方式完成：1）使用DNA序列构建进化树，然后将生殖模式映射到树上。利用这一信息，可以追踪一种生殖方式向另一种生殖方式的转变。2)通过对南极虾Triops cercriformis的控制繁殖试验，研究了南极虾繁殖方式的遗传规律，并构建了南极虾繁殖方式遗传图谱。该项目的完成将大大增加对生殖方式变化动态的了解。此外，Triops cancriformis是全球范围内正在减少的物种，是英国生物多样性行动计划的物种。了解物种的繁殖生物学和生态学对于成功管理至关重要，因此该项目的结果将有助于未来旨在保护该物种的保护工作。