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Clonal diversity driven by parasitism in a freshwater snail
Y Dagan1, K Liljeroos, J Jokela
1Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|October 15, 2013
Summary
Parasites drive genetic diversity in freshwater snails (Melanoides tuberculata), promoting asexual reproduction. This parasite-driven clonal diversity may reduce the evolutionary advantage of sexual reproduction in these populations.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Ecology
- Genetics
Background:
- Sexual reproduction's prevalence is debated, with parasites potentially favoring genetic diversity.
- Asexual lineages may be tracked by parasites, leading to negative frequency-dependent selection.
- High clonal diversity in asexual hosts could erode the advantage of sexual reproduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if parasite-mediated selection promotes clonal diversity in the freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata.
- To determine the relationship between parasite infection prevalence and clonal diversity versus male frequency.
- To assess the influence of ecological factors and population density on clonal diversity.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 22 natural populations of Melanoides tuberculata.
- Assessed infection prevalence and clonal diversity within populations.
- Examined the relationship between infection prevalence, clonal diversity, and male frequency.
- Investigated the role of population density and ecological factors (fish presence, habitat type/geography).
- Mapped clonal genotype sharing among populations.
Main Results:
- Infection prevalence significantly explained variation in clonal diversity of M. tuberculata.
- No relationship was found between infection prevalence and male frequency.
- Clonal diversity and male frequency were independent of snail population density.
- Ecological factors did not improve the predictive models for clonal diversity.
- 11% of clonal genotypes were shared across multiple populations, indicating interconnectedness.
Conclusions:
- Parasite-mediated selection, combined with host dispersal, promotes clonal diversity in M. tuberculata.
- Increased clonal diversity may diminish the evolutionary advantage of sexual reproduction in this species.
- The findings highlight the role of parasites in shaping host reproductive strategies and genetic diversity.
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