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Ontogenetic and phylogenetic simplification during white stripe evolution in clownfishes
Pauline Salis1, Natacha Roux1, Olivier Soulat2
1Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, UMR CNRS 7232 BIOM, Sorbonne Université Paris, 1, Avenue Pierre Fabre, 66650, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France.
BMC Biology
|September 6, 2018
Summary
Clownfish color patterns evolved through stripe loss during development and evolution. This developmental process, involving specialized cells called iridophores, drives diversity and aids species recognition in reef fish.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental biology
- Ichthyology
Background:
- Tropical reef fish exhibit remarkable color pattern diversity, but its evolutionary origins remain unclear.
- Studying simpler color patterns can illuminate the causes of this diversity.
- Clownfish (Pomacentridae) possess a simple color pattern of white stripes on a dark background, making them an ideal model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary origins and developmental mechanisms of color pattern diversity in clownfish.
- To understand how changes in developmental processes contribute to evolutionary diversification.
- To determine the role of color patterns in species recognition.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of stripe number in 30 clownfish species.
- Observation of stripe development during larval to juvenile transition.
- Pharmacological manipulation using TAE 684 to assess the role of iridophores.
- Comparative analysis of juvenile and adult stripe patterns across species.
Main Results:
- Clownfish color pattern diversification is driven by successive stripe losses from tail to head.
- White stripes are formed by iridophores, which initiate stripe formation during development.
- Juvenile clownfish often display extra stripes that are lost during maturation, mirroring evolutionary patterns.
- Developmental changes in stripe number correlate with evolutionary patterns of stripe loss.
Conclusions:
- Color pattern diversification in clownfish is shaped by modifications in developmental processes.
- Developmental, ecological, and social factors interact to drive color pattern evolution in reef fish.
- Striped patterns are crucial for species recognition within clownfish lineages.
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