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Shared neural transcriptomic patterns underlie the repeated evolution of mutualistic cleaning behaviour in Labridae
Rebecca L Young1, Chelsea A Weitekamp1, Zegni Triki2
1Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|June 2, 2026
Summary
Convergent evolution of cooperative cleaning behavior in wrasses is linked to shared brain gene expression patterns. This suggests conserved genomic mechanisms can drive the independent evolution of complex traits.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Neurogenomics
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Convergent evolution leads to similar traits in unrelated species.
- Conserved genomic mechanisms may underlie convergent traits, challenging previous assumptions.
- Labridae wrasses exhibit varying degrees of mutualistic cleaning behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate if neurotranscriptomes differ among wrasse species with distinct cleaning behaviors.
- Determine if independently evolved facultative cleaning shares neurotranscriptomic patterns.
- Assess if transcriptomic signatures of facultative cleaning are present in obligate cleaners.
Main Methods:
- Forebrain transcriptome generation from six sympatric Labridae wrasse species.
- Differential gene expression analysis.
- Co-expression and phylogenetic comparative analyses.
Main Results:
- Identified shared neurotranscriptomic patterns in the convergent evolution of facultative cleaning, including 25 novel candidate genes.
- Found transcriptomic patterns associated with facultative cleaning are shared in obligate cleaner species.
- Observed concordant expression patterns in obligate and facultative cleaners for more genes than expected by chance.
Conclusions:
- Convergent evolution of cooperative behavior in wrasses is underpinned by shared neuromolecular mechanisms.
- Comparative transcriptomics can predict and reveal the genetic basis of complex, repeatedly evolved phenotypes.
- The study illuminates the neurogenomic basis of cooperative behavior and convergent evolution.
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