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Eliciting and Analyzing Male Mouse Ultrasonic Vocalization USV Songs

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Contrasting patterns of adaptive sequence convergence among echolocating mammals.

Matthew J Lambert¹, Alexander A Nevue¹, Christine V Portfors¹

¹School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University Vancouver, United States.

|December 25, 2016

Summary

Convergent evolution in auditory genes like Otoferlin (Otof) and Cadherin 23 (Cdh23) was investigated between echolocating bats and dolphins. Results suggest independent evolution of echolocation in bat suborders, driven by hearing frequency thresholds.

Keywords:

Chiroptera Convergent evolution Echolocation

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Molecular evolution
Comparative genomics

Background:

Recent studies suggest adaptive sequence convergence in auditory genes between echolocating bats and dolphins.
Previous findings for Otoferlin (Otof), Cadherin 23 (Cdh23), and Protocadherin 15 (Pcdh15) were based on limited phylogenetic evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

To clarify whether echolocating bats and dolphins exhibit true adaptive sequence convergence in key auditory genes.
To investigate the patterns of convergent and divergent amino acid substitutions across a deep mammalian phylogeny for Otof, Cdh23, and Pcdh15.

Main Methods:

Phylogenetic analysis of 22-32 mammalian species for Otof, Cdh23, and Pcdh15.
Estimation of convergent and divergent amino acid substitutions along independent evolutionary branches.
Comparison of convergence patterns between bat suborders (Yangochiroptera, Yinpterochiroptera) and dolphins.

Main Results:

No significant convergence was found for Pcdh15 between bats and dolphins.
Minimal convergence for Otof was observed between Yinpterochiroptera and dolphins.
High convergence for Cdh23 was detected between dolphins and Yinpterochiroptera, and unique convergence between dolphins and high-frequency Yangochiroptera bats.
Contrasting convergence patterns suggest independent evolution of echolocation in the two bat suborders.

Conclusions:

Convergent evolution of Cdh23 likely resulted from selection for high-frequency hearing.
The distinct patterns of gene convergence support the hypothesis of independent origins of echolocation in Yangochiroptera and Yinpterochiroptera bats.
This study provides molecular evidence for the independent evolution of complex traits like echolocation.