Patterns of genome size variation in snapping shrimp

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology
• Marine Biology

Background:

• Crustaceans exhibit wide genome size variation, but its ecological and evolutionary implications are poorly understood due to limited large-scale datasets.
• Understanding genome size variation is crucial for deciphering evolutionary trajectories and ecological adaptations in diverse taxa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate interspecific, intraspecific, and intracolony genome size variation within the crustacean genus Synalpheus.
• To establish one of the largest genome size datasets for a single crustacean genus to date.
• To explore potential relationships between genome size, body size, chromosome characteristics, and geographic distribution in Synalpheus.

Main Methods:

• Quantified genome size across 39 species of Synalpheus shrimps.
• Analyzed genome size in relation to body size, chromosome number, and chromosome size.
• Examined intraspecific variation in Synalpheus idios across geographic regions and intracolony variation in Synalpheus duffyi.

Main Results:

• Genome size exhibited a 4-fold range across Synalpheus species with minimal phylogenetic signal and no correlation with body size.
• Genome size correlated with chromosome size but not chromosome number, suggesting diploidy rather than polyploidy.
• Significant intraspecific variation (35%) was observed in S. idios, and intracolony variation (30%) in S. duffyi.

Conclusions:

• Genome size in Synalpheus is highly variable, with substantial intraspecific and intracolony fluctuations.
• The findings challenge simple correlations between genome size and ecological factors, highlighting the complexity of genome evolution in crustaceans.
• This extensive dataset provides a foundation for future research into the ecological and evolutionary roles of genome size variation in marine invertebrates.