Investigation into Adaptation in Genes Associated with Response to Estrogenic Pollution in Populations of Roach (Rutilus rutilus) Living in English Rivers

Abstract

Exposure of male fish to estrogenic substances from wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) results in feminization and reduced reproductive fitness. Nevertheless, selfsustaining populations of roach (Rutilus rutilus) inhabit river stretches polluted with estrogenic WwTW effluents. In this study we examine whether such roach populations have evolved adaptations to tolerate estrogenic pollution by comparing frequency differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between

Novel genetic sex markers reveal unexpected lack of, and similar susceptibility to, sex reversal in free‐living common toads in both natural and anthropogenic habitats

“…Nemesházi et al, 2020 or with taxonomy (Senior & Nakagawa, 2013). Even when a clear correlation is present, the underlying mechanisms are difficult to ascertain: for example, oestrogenic pollution in river stretches is associated with a high frequency of intersex in fish but not with polymorphisms in genes involved in responses to EDCs (Hamilton et al, 2020). Our present results with common toads add to this complex picture, emphasizing the need for further research on sex reversal in a wide diversity of species.…”

“…For example, artificial selection for increased fecundity in females can indirectly affect male sensitivity to oestrogenic disruption of testis development and spermatogenesis (Spearow et al, 1999). Such selection pressures may force populations to evolve or plastically modulate any element involved in the biochemical pathway that translates environmental stimuli into sex (Castelli et al, 2020), such as by mutation of genes encoding hormone receptors (Castañeda Cortés et al, 2019; Hamilton et al, 2020). Thus, the vulnerability of phenotypic sex development may be shaped by multiple forces, which might explain why researchers have had mixed success in finding clear‐cut relationships of sex‐reversal rate with environmental factors such as climate (e.g., Castelli et al, 2021 vs. Dissanayake et al, 2021) and urbanization (Lambert et al, 2019 vs. Nemesházi et al, 2020) or with taxonomy (Senior & Nakagawa, 2013).…”

Novel genetic sex markers reveal unexpected lack of, and similar susceptibility to, sex reversal in free-living common toads in both natural and anthropogenic habitats

“…Nemesházi et al, 2020 or with taxonomy (Alistair M Senior & Nakagawa, 2013). Even when a clear correlation is present, the underlying mechanisms are difficult to ascertain: for example, estrogenic pollution in river stretches is associated with high frequency of intersex in fish but not with polymorphisms in genes involved in responses to EDCs (Hamilton et al, 2020). Our present results with common toads add to this complex picture, emphasizing the need for further research on sex reversal in a wide diversity of species.…”

“…Such selection pressures may force populations to evolve or plastically modulate any element involved in the biochemical pathway that translates environmental stimuli into sex (Castelli, Whiteley, Georges, & Holleley, 2020), e.g. by mutation of genes encoding hormone receptors (Castañeda Cortés, Arias Padilla, Langlois, Somoza, & Fernandino, 2019;Hamilton et al, 2020). Thus, the vulnerability of phenotypic sex development may be shaped by multiple forces, which might explain why researchers so far had mixed success in finding clear-cut relationships of sex-reversal rate with environmental factors such as climate (e.g.…”

Metavirome Survey of Eight Ray-Finned Fishes Revealed Domination of Giant Viral Members of Pandoravirus and Megaviricetes

“…Rutilus rutilus (common roach), as one of the studied ray-nned shes, live primarily in freshwater and has a length up to 500 mm, which is endemic in most parts of Europe and western Asia [54,55]. Common roach feeds on a variety of food sources in its natural environment [56,57].…”