Genetic and phenotypic evidence of a contact zone between divergent colour morphs of the iconic red‐eyed treefrog

Akopyan, Maria; Gompert, Zachariah; Klonoski, Karina; Vega, Andres; Kaiser, Kristine; Mackelprang, Rachel; Rosenblum, Erica Bree; Robertson, Jeanne M.

doi:10.1111/mec.15639

Cited by 15 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 102 publications

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“…New mutations can arise that change signal and receiver phenotypes [29,30] usually by directly changing metabolic networks, regulatory circuits or macromolecules [31] or through the recruitment or co-option of genes [32]. Hybridization can similarly generate novel signals [33][34][35] or signal combinations [36,37] through transgressive segregation [38] or new epistatic interactions [39]. Importantly, novelty can also arise very quickly without genetic change and could be incorporated into the genome at a later time, for instance via genetic accommodation [16].…”

Section: Novelty Arises Easily Through Many Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary novelty in communication between the sexes

et al. 2021

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The diversity of signalling traits within and across taxa is vast and striking, prompting us to consider how novelty evolves in the context of animal communication. Sexual selection contributes to diversification, and here we endeavour to understand the initial conditions that facilitate the maintenance or elimination of new sexual signals and receiver features. New sender and receiver variants can occur through mutation, plasticity, hybridization and cultural innovation, and the initial conditions of the sender, the receiver and the environment then dictate whether a novel cue becomes a signal. New features may arise in the sender, the receiver or both simultaneously. We contend that it may be easier than assumed to evolve new sexual signals because sexual signals may be arbitrary, sexual conflict is common and receivers are capable of perceiving much more of the world than just existing sexual signals. Additionally, changes in the signalling environment can approximate both signal and receiver changes through a change in transmission characteristics of a given environment or the use of new environments. The Anthropocene has led to wide-scale disruption of the environment and may thus generate opportunity to directly observe the evolution of new signals to address questions that are beyond the reach of phylogenetic approaches.

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Section: Novelty Arises Easily Through Many Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary novelty in communication between the sexes

et al. 2021

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“…Hybridisation can generate novel phenotypes (e.g. blue without UV); for example, admixture between treefrog lineages which have red and red/blue legs result in purple legs which are produced from the directional introgression of colour loci inherited from parental lineages (Akopyan et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When polymorphism and monomorphism meet: discordant genomic and phenotypic clines across a lizard contact zone

Dong

McLean

Elliott

et al. 2019

Preprint

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17Colour polymorphism can promote rapid evolution and speciation, particularly when 18 populations differ in the number or composition of morphs. The tawny dragon, Ctenophorus 19 decresii, is a compelling study system in which to examine evolutionary processes and 20 outcomes when polymorphic and monomorphic lineages meet. The species comprises a 21 northern lineage polymorphic for male throat coloration which lacks ultraviolet (UV) 22 reflectance and a monomorphic southern lineage with UV-blue throats. We characterised 23 genomic and phenotypic clines across the contact zone based on single nucleotide 24 polymorphisms, the mitochondrial ND4 gene, and male colour traits, and concurrently 25 assessed the phenotype of captive-bred F1 hybrids. Our results indicate that genomic 26 introgression is asymmetric, with high frequencies of backcrossing to the northern but not 27 southern lineage, accompanied by the prevalence of the northern mtDNA haplotype in 28 hybrids. The clines for throat phenotype are abrupt and displaced to the south, relative to the 29 genetic and dorsolateral phenotype clines. This suggests strong selection for the northern 30 throat phenotype within the contact zone, particularly for the absence of ultraviolet 31 reflectance, given the intermediate throat phenotype in captive-bred F1 hybrids. Our results 32 demonstrate that a polymorphic sexual signal is the target of selection during incipient 33 speciation and provide insight into the microevolutionary processes linking polymorphism 34 and speciation.35 36

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“…At each site, we captured frogs by hand and took digital photographs with a black-white-gray standard (QPcard 101, Adorama Camera Inc., New York, New York) of the posterior aspect of their legs (for samples collected before 2015, see Robertson & Robertson 2008, Robertson & Vega 2011; for samples collected in 2015 see Akopyan et al 2020b) We obtained a toe clip for genomic analyses, which was stored in 100% ethanol. Frogs were released within one day at the site of capture.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Loci with mean allele frequencies <0.5% and individuals with >70% missing data were not included in subsequent analyses. Pipeline and scripts are available online (Akopyan et al, 2020a).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Polymorphism often occurs at transition zones between distinct morphs (Planes & Doherty, 1997). In such contact zones, hybridization could increase phenotypic variation if hybrids have novel color phenotypes (Akopyan et al, 2020b; Anderson & Stebbins, 1954). While quantifying color-pattern variation can be straight-forward, determining the underlying evolutionary processes that generate and/or maintain variation presents a challenge and an opportunity to understand phenotypic evolution in natural systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic isolation by distance underlies color pattern divergence in red-eyed treefrogs (Agalychnis callidryas)

Clark

Bradburd

Akopyan

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Investigating the spatial distribution of genetic and phenotypic variation can provide insights into the evolutionary processes that shape diversity in natural systems. We characterized patterns of genetic and phenotypic diversity to learn about drivers of color-pattern diversification in red-eyed treefrogs (Agalychnis callidryas) in Costa Rica. Along the Pacific coast, red-eyed treefrogs have conspicuous leg color patterning that transitions from orange in the north to purple in the south. We measured phenotypic variation of frogs across Pacific sites, with increased sampling at sites where the orange-to-purple transition occurs. At the transition zone, we discovered the co-occurrence of multiple color-pattern morphs. To explore possible causes of this variation, we generated a SNP dataset with RAD sequencing to analyze population genetic structure, measure genetic diversity, and infer the processes that mediate genotype-phenotype dynamics. We investigated how patterns of genetic relatedness correspond with individual measures of color pattern along the coast, including testing for the role of hybridization in geographic regions where orange and purple phenotypic groups co-occur. We found no evidence that color-pattern polymorphism in the transition zone arose through recent hybridization or introgression. Instead, a strong pattern of genetic isolation by distance (IBD) indicates that color-pattern variation was retained through other processes such as ancestral color polymorphisms, ancient secondary contact or generated by novel mutations. We found that color phenotype changes along the Pacific coast more than would be expected from geographic distance alone. Combined, our results suggest the possibility of selective pressures acting on color pattern at a small geographic scale.

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Genetic and phenotypic evidence of a contact zone between divergent colour morphs of the iconic red‐eyed treefrog

Cited by 15 publications

References 102 publications

Evolutionary novelty in communication between the sexes

Evolutionary novelty in communication between the sexes

When polymorphism and monomorphism meet: discordant genomic and phenotypic clines across a lizard contact zone

Genetic isolation by distance underlies color pattern divergence in red-eyed treefrogs (Agalychnis callidryas)

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