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Transcriptomic and macroevolutionary evidence for phenotypic uncoupling between frog life history phases

Author

Listed:
  • Katharina C. Wollenberg Valero

    (College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics, Bethune-Cookman University
    Present address: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK)

  • Joan Garcia-Porta

    (Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Campus of the Autonomous University of Barcelona)

  • Ariel Rodríguez

    (Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig
    Present address: Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany)

  • Mónica Arias

    (Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Faculty of Biology
    Institut Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, UMR 7205 MNHN-CNRS-EPHE-UPMC-Sorbonne Universités, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle)

  • Abhijeet Shah

    (Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Faculty of Biology
    Bielefeld University)

  • Roger Daniel Randrianiaina

    (Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig
    Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale)

  • Jason L. Brown

    (Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, Southern Illinois University)

  • Frank Glaw

    (Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM-SNSB), Sektion Herpetologie)

  • Felix Amat

    (Àrea d‘Herpetologia (BIBIO), Museu de Granollers-Ciències Naturals)

  • Sven Künzel

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology)

  • Dirk Metzler

    (Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Faculty of Biology)

  • Raphael D. Isokpehi

    (College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics, Bethune-Cookman University)

  • Miguel Vences

    (Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig)

Abstract

Anuran amphibians undergo major morphological transitions during development, but the contribution of their markedly different life-history phases to macroevolution has rarely been analysed. Here we generate testable predictions for coupling versus uncoupling of phenotypic evolution of tadpole and adult life-history phases, and for the underlying expression of genes related to morphological feature formation. We test these predictions by combining evidence from gene expression in two distantly related frogs, Xenopus laevis and Mantidactylus betsileanus, with patterns of morphological evolution in the entire radiation of Madagascan mantellid frogs. Genes linked to morphological structure formation are expressed in a highly phase-specific pattern, suggesting uncoupling of phenotypic evolution across life-history phases. This gene expression pattern agrees with uncoupled rates of trait evolution among life-history phases in the mantellids, which we show to have undergone an adaptive radiation. Our results validate a prevalence of uncoupling in the evolution of tadpole and adult phenotypes of frogs.

Suggested Citation

  • Katharina C. Wollenberg Valero & Joan Garcia-Porta & Ariel Rodríguez & Mónica Arias & Abhijeet Shah & Roger Daniel Randrianiaina & Jason L. Brown & Frank Glaw & Felix Amat & Sven Künzel & Dirk Metzler, 2017. "Transcriptomic and macroevolutionary evidence for phenotypic uncoupling between frog life history phases," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15213
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15213
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