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Comparative Embryology and Transcriptomics of Asellus infernus, an Isopod Crustacean From Sulfidic Groundwater
Haeli J Lomheim1,2, Lizet Reyes Rodas1, Devon Price1
1Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California, USA.
Evolution & Development
|August 1, 2025
Summary
Asellus infernus from sulfidic caves show embryonic lack of pigmentation and larger size. Molecular analysis reveals genes for sulfide metabolism and phototransduction, indicating adaptation to extreme environments.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Sulfidic caves are extreme environments with low oxygen, pH, and high hydrogen sulfide.
- Asellus infernus, found in Movile Cave and Romanian wells, is a model organism for studying adaptation to sulfidic ecosystems.
- Previous research on lab-reared Asellus infernus populations is limited due to rearing difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop resources for Asellus infernus, a cave-dwelling crustacean.
- To investigate morphological differences between cave and surface Asellus infernus.
- To explore the influence of environment (lab-reared vs. wild-caught) on size characteristics.
- To identify genes and pathways with differential expression between cave and surface Asellus infernus.
Main Methods:
- Comparative morphological analysis of embryonic and juvenile Asellus infernus.
- Environmental influence assessment on size characteristics in wild-caught and lab-reared individuals.
- Differential gene expression analysis between cave and surface samples.
- Allele-specific expression studies in F1 hybrids.
Main Results:
- Asellus infernus embryos lack pigmentation; juveniles exhibit increased body length and longer antenna II compared to surface individuals.
- Environmental factors influenced size characteristics in wild-caught versus lab-reared juveniles.
- Differential gene expression identified genes involved in sulfide metabolism and phototransduction.
- Molecular convergence in sulfide detoxification genes was observed between Asellus infernus and Poecilia mexicana.
Conclusions:
- Development of embryonic and genomic tools for Asellus infernus.
- Asellus infernus provides a model for understanding adaptation to cave and sulfidic environments.
- Evidence of convergent evolution in response to sulfidic conditions.
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