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From crypsis to mimicry: changes in colour and the configuration of the visual system during ontogenetic habitat transitions in a coral reef fish
- Source :
- Journal of Experimental Biology, J Exp Biol
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Animals often change their habitat throughout ontogeny; yet, the triggers for habitat transitions and how these correlate with developmental changes – e.g. physiological, morphological, and behavioural – remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated how ontogenetic changes in body colouration and of the visual system relate to habitat transitions in a coral-reef fish. Adult dusky dottybacks, Pseudochromis fuscus, are aggressive mimics that change colour to imitate various fishes in their surroundings; however, little is known about the early life stages of this fish. Using a developmental time-series in combination with the examination of wild caught specimens we uncover that dottybacks change colour twice during development: (i) nearly translucent cryptic pelagic larvae change to a grey camouflage colouration when settling on coral reefs; and (ii) juveniles change to mimic yellow or brown coloured fishes when reaching a size capable of consuming juvenile fish prey. Moreover, microspectrophotometric (MSP) and quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) experiments show developmental changes of the dottyback visual system, including the use of a novel adult specific visual gene (RH2 opsin). This gene is likely to be coexpressed with other visual pigments to form broad spectral sensitivities that cover the medium-wavelength part of the visible spectrum. Surprisingly, the visual modifications precede changes in habitat and colour, possibly because dottybacks need to first acquire the appropriate visual performance before transitioning into novel life stages.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Time Factors
genetic structures
Physiology
Coral reef fish
Color
Aquatic Science
Biology
Visual system
Models, Biological
03 medical and health sciences
Quantitative Trait, Heritable
Animals
Visual Pathways
14. Life underwater
skin and connective tissue diseases
Molecular Biology
Ecosystem
Phylogeny
Vision, Ocular
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Skin
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
Opsins
Coral Reefs
Pigmentation
Ecology
Biological Mimicry
Australia
Fishes
Pelagic zone
Coral reef
Juvenile fish
Pseudochromis fuscus
biology.organism_classification
Adaptation, Physiological
030104 developmental biology
Gene Expression Regulation
Predatory Behavior
Insect Science
Crypsis
Mimicry
Animal Science and Zoology
sense organs
Subjects
Details
- Volume :
- 219
- Issue :
- 16
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Experimental Biology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9fab7e6cecb9c06707f626090642b997
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.139501