Genetic and environmental variation in the visual properties of bluefin killifish,<i>Lucania goodei</i>

TLDR

Animals use sensory systems to detect environmental information for mating, foraging, and predator avoidance, yet little is known about genetic versus environmental variation in sensory traits. The study demonstrates genetic and environmental variation in opsin expression in a population of bluefin killifish. Expression of five opsins was quantified by qRT‑PCR in offspring from a controlled breeding experiment raised under varied lighting conditions. Genetic sire effects influenced yellow opsin expression, dam effects influenced violet, blue, and red opsins, and lighting conditions altered all opsins except SWS2A, mirroring population patterns and underscoring that sensory systems are both plastic and evolvable.

Abstract

Animals use their sensory systems to detect information about the external environment in order to find mates, locate food and habitat and avoid predators. Yet, there is little understanding of the relative amounts of genetic and/or environmental variation in sensory system properties. In this paper, we demonstrate genetic and environmental variation in opsin expression in a population of bluefin killifish. We measured expression of five opsins (which correlates with relative frequency of corresponding cones) using quantitative, real-time polymerase chain reaction for offspring from a breeding study where offspring were raised under different lighting conditions. Sire (i.e. genetic) effects were present for opsin found in yellow photopigment. Dam effects were present for opsins that create violet, blue and red photopigment. Lighting conditions affected expression of all opsins except SWS2A and mimicked the pattern found among populations. These results highlight the fact that sensory systems are both plastic and yet readily evolvable traits.