Differences in chemosensory response between eyed and eyeless Astyanax mexicanus of the Rio Subterráneo cave

EvoDevo

Sylvie Rétaux²  Stéphane Père²  Laurent Legendre²  Hélène Hinaux²  Maryline Blin²  Masato Yoshizawa³  Luis Espinasa¹  Alexandre Alié²  Jonathan Bibliowicz² 

[1] School of Science, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA;Equipe Développement Evolution du Cerveau Antérieur, UPR3294 N&D, CNRS, Institut Alfred Fessard, Gif-sur-Yvette F-91198, France;Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

关键词: Vision;    Sensory system;    Olfaction;    Micos;    Hybrid population;    Evolution;    Cavefish;    Behavior;   

Others  :  806146
DOI  :  10.1186/2041-9139-4-25

 received in 2013-07-01, accepted in 2013-07-26,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

In blind cave-dwelling populations of Astyanax mexicanus, several morphological and behavioral shifts occurred during evolution in caves characterized by total and permanent darkness. Previous studies have shown that sensory systems such as the lateral line (mechanosensory) and taste buds (chemosensory) are modified in cavefish. It has long been hypothesized that another chemosensory modality, the olfactory system, might have evolved as well to provide an additional mechanism for food-searching in troglomorphic Astyanax populations.

Findings

During a March 2013 cave expedition to the Sierra de El Abra region of San Luís Potosi, Mexico, we tested chemosensory capabilities of the Astyanax mexicanus of the Rio Subterráneo cave. This cave hosts a hybrid population presenting a wide range of troglomorphic and epigean mixed phenotypes. During a behavioral test performed in situ in the cave, a striking correlation was observed between the absence of eyes and an increased attraction to food extract. In addition, eyeless troglomorphic fish possessed significantly larger naris size than their eyed, nontroglomorphic counterparts.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that chemosensory capabilities might have evolved in cave-dwelling Astyanax mexicanus and that modulation of naris size might at least partially underlie this likely adaptive change.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Bibliowicz et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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