De novo origins of multicellularity in response to predation

mentioning

confidence: 77%

“…Many studies have reported the advantages of becoming multicellular and large in avoiding predation (reviewed in Grosberg and Strathmann, ), including recent studies in various algae, such as Chlorella spp. and Scenedesmus obliquus (Kapsetaki et al., ) and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Herron et al., ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Digest: Banding together to battle adversaries has its consequences*

Sudianto

2019

“…; Herron et al. ). The mucilaginous matrix of groups can serve as storage for energy and trace elements (Lancelot et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Previous studies examining the benefits of multicellular group formation in algae have produced mixed results (Hessen and Van Donk ; Lürling ; Herron et al. ). In Scenedesmus acutus , S. obliquus , and Scenedesmus subspicatus , group formation has been suggested to reduce predation by the predators Brachionus calyciflorus (Lürling ), D. magna (Hessen and Van Donk ), and Daphnia cucullata (Lürling and Van Donk ; Lürling et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The costs and benefits of multicellular group formation in algae*

Kapsetaki

West

2019

The first step in the evolution of complex multicellular organisms involves single cells forming a cooperative group. Consequently, to understand multicellularity, we need to understand the costs and benefits associated with multicellular group formation. We found that in the facultatively multicellular algae Chlorella sorokiniana: (1) the presence of the flagellate Ochromonas danica or the crustacean Daphnia magna leads to the formation of multicellular groups; (2) the formation of multicellular groups reduces predation by O. danica, but not by the larger predator D. magna; (3) under conditions of relatively low light intensity, where competition for light is greater, multicellular groups grow slower than single cells; (4) in the absence of live predators, the proportion of cells in multicellular groups decreases at a rate that does not vary with light intensity. These results can explain why, in cases such as this algae species, multicellular group formation is facultative, in response to the presence of predators.

“…; Herron et al. ) and another green alga, Chlorella (Boraas et al. ), to evolve multicellular structures.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of altruistic cooperation among nascent multicellular organisms

Herron

2019

Self Cite

Cooperation is a classic solution to hostile environments that limit individual survival. In extreme cases this may lead to the evolution of new types of biological individuals (e.g., eusocial super‐organisms). We examined the potential for interindividual cooperation to evolve via experimental evolution, challenging nascent multicellular “snowflake yeast” with an environment in which solitary multicellular clusters experienced low survival. In response, snowflake yeast evolved to form cooperative groups composed of thousands of multicellular clusters that typically survive selection. Group formation occurred through the creation of protein aggregates, only arising in strains with high (>2%) rates of cell death. Nonetheless, it was adaptive and repeatable, although ultimately evolutionarily unstable. Extracellular protein aggregates act as a common good, as they can be exploited by cheats that do not contribute to aggregate production. These results highlight the importance of group formation as a mechanism for surviving environmental stress, and underscore the remarkable ease with which even simple multicellular entities may evolve—and lose—novel social traits.