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A genetic perspective on rapid evolution in cane toads (Rhinella marina)
Lee A Rollins1, Mark F Richardson, Richard Shine
1Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Geelong, Vic., 3217, Australia.
Molecular Ecology
|April 21, 2015
Summary
Biological invasions drive rapid evolution. Cane toads (Rhinella marina) in Australia show significant phenotypic and gene expression changes, particularly in metabolism and cellular repair, linked to faster dispersal.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Biological invasions present novel environmental pressures, driving rapid evolutionary changes in species.
- Cane toads (Rhinella marina) in Australia exemplify this, with documented phenotypic shifts over 80 years of invasion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic underpinnings of rapid phenotypic evolution in invasive cane toads.
- To correlate gene expression changes with observed phenotypic adaptations related to dispersal.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of gene expression between cane toads from the invasion front and long-colonized areas.
- Leveraging existing phenotypic and ecological data from previous studies.
Main Results:
- Significant upregulation of genes involved in metabolism and cellular repair was observed in invasion front toads.
- These gene expression shifts accompany the rapid phenotypic evolution, including enhanced dispersal traits.
Conclusions:
- Rapid phenotypic evolution in invasive cane toads is associated with substantial changes in gene expression.
- The cane toad invasion system provides a valuable model for studying the genetic basis of invasiveness and rapid adaptation.
