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32 results for “sensory evolution”
Evolution of left-right asymmetry in the sensory system and foraging behavior during adaptation to food-sparse cave environments
<p>Laterality in relation to behavior and sensory systems is found commonly in a variety of animal taxa. Despite the advantages conferred by laterality (e.g., the startle response and complex motor activities), little is known about the evolution of laterality and its plasticity in response to ecological demands. In the present study, a comparative study model, the Mexican tetra (<em>Astyanax mexicanus</em>), composed of two morphotypes, i.e., riverine surface fish and cave-dwelling cavefish, was used to address the relationship between environment and laterality. The use of a machine learning-based fish posture detection system and sensory ablation revealed that the left cranial lateral line significantly supports one type of foraging behavior, i.e., vibration attraction behavior, in one cave population. Additionally, left-right asymmetric approaches toward a vibrating rod became symmetrical after fasting in one cave population but not in the other populations. Based on these findings, we propose a model explaining how the observed sensory laterality and behavioral shift could help adaptation in terms of the tradeoff in energy gain and loss during foraging according to differences in food availability among caves.</p> <p>This repository contains all of raw videos used in this study.</p> <p>Please let us know if you have any question on these videos</p>
Datasets and scripts from: Sensory-based quantification of male colour patterns in Trinidadian guppies reveals no support for parallel phenotypic evolution in multivariate trait space
<p>Parallel evolution, in which independent populations evolve along similar phenotypic trajectories, offers insights into the repeatability of adaptive evolution. Here, we revisit a classic example of parallelism, that of repeated evolution of brighter males in the Trinidadian guppy (<em>Poecilia reticulata</em>). In guppies, colonisation of low predation habitats is associated with emergence of 'more colourful' phenotypes since predator-induced viability selection for crypsis weakens while sexual selection by female preference for conspicuousness remains strong. Our study differs from previous investigations in three respects. First, we adopt a multivariate phenotyping approach to characterise parallelism in multi-trait space. Second, we use ecologically-relevant colour traits defined by the visual systems of the two selective agents (i.e. guppy, predatory cichlid). Third, we estimate population genetic structure to test for adaptive (parallel) evolution against a model of neutral phenotypic divergence. We find strong phenotypic differentiation that is inconsistent with a neutral model but very limited support for the predicted pattern of greater conspicuousness at low predation. Effects of predation regime on each trait were in the expected direction, but weak, largely non-significant, and explained little among-population variation. In multi-trait space, phenotypic trajectories of lineages colonising low from high predation regimes were not parallel. Our results are consistent with reduced predation risk facilitating adaptive differentiation, potentially by female choice, but suggest that this proceeds in independent directions of multi-trait space across lineages. Pool-sequencing data also revealed SNPs showing greater differentiation than expected under neutrality, among which some are found in genes contributing to colour pattern variation, presenting opportunities for future genetic study.</p>
Simulated data for: The evolution of mating preferences for genetic attractiveness and quality in the presence of sensory bias
<p>This repository contains simulated datasets relating to the publication: </p> <p>Henshaw JM, Fromhage L, Jones AG (2022) The evolution of mating preferences for genetic attractiveness and quality in the presence of sensory bias. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (doi:10.1073/pnas.2206262119)</p> <p>In this paper, we simulate the evolution of female preferences for multiple male ornament types (e.g., 'Fisherian', 'handicap' and 'indicator' ornaments) that differ in their associations with genes for attractiveness and for general 'quality' (operationalized as the ability to acquire resources). We allowed for ornaments to differ in their saliency to females. We also analyze the causal mechanisms generating sexual selection (e.g., 'good genes' and 'sexy sons') using causal inference. </p> <p>Datasets are organised into ZIP files named after the corresponding figure in the publication. For further information see the publication and the file README.txt in this repository.</p>
Sensory evolution in a cavefish radiation: Patterns of neuromast distribution and associated behaviour in Sinocyclocheilus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)
<p><em>Sinocyclocheilus</em>, a large radiation of freshwater cavefish, are well-known for their presence of regressive features (e.g., variable eye reduction). Fewer constructive features are known, such as the expansion of the lateral line system (LLS) involved in detecting water movements. The precise relationship between LLS expansion and cave adaptation is not well understood. Here we examine morphological and behavioural features of the LLS in <em>Sinocyclocheilus</em> characterized by broad variation in eye size, habitat and geographic distribution. Using live-staining techniques and automated behavioural analyses, we examined 26 <em>Sinocyclocheilus</em> species and quantified neuromast organ numbers, positions, and laterality within a phylogenetic context. We then examined how these morphological features may relate to wall-following, an established cave-associated behaviour mediated by the lateral line. We show that most species demonstrated laterality (i.e., asymmetry) in neuromast organs on the head, often biased to the right. We also found that wall-following behaviour was distinctive within cavefish, particularly among eyeless species. These diverse patterns of LLS expansion appear to correlate with the degree of eye loss, as well as geographic distribution. This work reveals that constructive LLS evolution is convergent across distant cavefish taxa, and may mediate asymmetric behavioural features that enable survival in stark subterranean microenvironments.</p>
Data from: Nocturnal giants: evolution of the sensory ecology in elephant birds and other palaeognaths inferred from digital brain reconstructions
The recently-extinct Malagasy elephant birds (Palaeognathae, Aepyornithiformes) included the largest birds that ever lived. Elephant bird neuroanatomy is understudied but can shed light on the lifestyle of these enigmatic birds. Paleoneurological studies can provide clues to the ecologies and behaviors of extinct birds because avian brain shape is correlated with neurological function. We digitally reconstruct endocasts of two elephant bird species, Aepyornis maximus and A. hildebrandti, and compare them with representatives of all major extant and recently-extinct palaeognath lineages. Among palaeognaths, we find large olfactory bulbs in taxa generally occupying forested environments where visual cues used in foraging are likely to be limited. We detected variation in olfactory bulb size among elephant bird species, possibly indicating interspecific variation in habitat. Elephant birds exhibited extremely reduced optic lobes, a condition also observed in the nocturnal kiwi. Kiwi, the sister taxon of elephant birds, have effectively replaced their visual systems with hyperdeveloped olfactory, somatosensory and auditory systems useful for foraging. We interpret these results as evidence for nocturnality among elephant birds. Vision was likely deemphasized in the ancestor of elephant birds and kiwi. These results show a previously unreported trend toward decreased visual capacity apparently exclusive to flightless, nocturnal taxa endemic to predator-depauperate islands.
Data from: Nocturnal giants: evolution of the sensory ecology in elephant birds and other palaeognaths inferred from digital brain reconstructions
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Datasets and scripts from: Sensory-based quantification of male colour patterns in Trinidadian guppies reveals no support for parallel phenotypic evolution in multivariate trait space
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Sensory evolution in a cavefish radiation: Patterns of neuromast distribution and associated behaviour in Sinocyclocheilus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Simulated data for: The evolution of mating preferences for genetic attractiveness and quality in the presence of sensory bias
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: The evolution of anti-bat sensory illusions in moths
Prey transmit sensory illusions to redirect predatory strikes, creating a discrepancy between what a predator perceives and reality. We use the acoustic arms race between bats and moths to investigate the evolution and function of a sensory illusion. The spinning hindwing tails of silk moths (Saturniidae) divert bat attack by reflecting sonar to create a misleading echoic target. We characterized geometric morphometrics of moth hindwings across silk moths, mapped these traits onto a new, robust phylogeny, and found that elaborated hindwing structures have converged on four adaptive shape peaks. To test the mechanism underlying these anti-bat traits, we pit bats against three species of silk moths with experimentally altered hindwings that created a representative gradient of ancestral and extant hindwing shapes. High-speed videography of battles reveals that moths with longer hindwings and tails more successfully divert bat attack. We postulate that sensory illusions are widespread and are underappreciated drivers of diversity across systems.
Data from: Synergism, bifunctionality, and the evolution of a gradual sensory trade-off in hummingbird taste receptors
<p>Sensory receptor evolution can imply trade-offs between ligands, but the extent to which such trade-offs occur and the underlying processes shaping their evolution is not well understood. For example, hummingbirds have re-purposed their ancestral savory receptor (T1R1-T1R3) to detect sugars, but the impact of this sensory shift on amino acid perception is unclear. Here, we use functional and behavioral approaches to show that the hummingbird T1R1-T1R3 acts as a bifunctional receptor responsive to both sugars and amino acids. Our comparative analyses reveal substantial functional diversity across the hummingbird radiation and suggest an evolutionary timeline for T1R1-T1R3 re-tuning. Finally, we identify a novel form of synergism between sugars and amino acids in vertebrate taste receptors. This work uncovers an unexplored axis of sensory diversity, suggesting new ways in which nectar chemistry and pollinator preferences can coevolve.</p>
Can sensory drive explain the evolution of visual signal diversity in terrestrial species? A test with Anolis lizards
<p>Animal signal colors evolve to efficiently stimulate conspecific visual systems. The sensory drive hypothesis proposes that species differences in habitat light conditions favor the evolution of color diversity. The strongest support comes from aquatic systems, while terrestrial systems offer fewer convincing examples. Anolis lizards occupy diverse habitats and signal with a colorful dewlap. Dewlap visibility depends on perceived chromatic contrast with the background. Visual-system modeling has shown that red dewlaps are most visible in most habitat types. However, a majority of species possess white or yellow dewlaps. In a recent behavioral study we showed that low light conditions can sometimes make yellow and white colors more visible, by altering chromatic contrast perception with the background. Using 17 Caribbean Anolis species we showed that cut-on wavelength, a measure of dewlap color in a white-to-red continuum, correlates with habitat light intensity. Pairwise comparisons revealed that red dewlaps are most visible in bright habitats, whereas yellow and white are more visible in darker habitats. We conclude that sensory drive has contributed to the evolution of dewlap color differences through the interactive effects of total habitat light intensity and chromatic contrast perception and may provide a mechanism for speciation among anoles.</p>
Cambrian comb jellies from Utah illuminate the early evolution of nervous and sensory systems in ctenophores - Phylogenetic dataset
<p>Ctenophores are a group of predatory macroinvertebrates whose controversial phylogenetic position has prompted several competing hypotheses regarding the evolution of animal organ systems. Although ctenophores date back at least to the Cambrian, they have a poor fossil record due to their gelatinous bodies. Here, we describe two ctenophore species from the Cambrian of Utah, which illuminate the early evolution of nervous and sensory features in the phylum. Thalassostaphylos elegans has 16 comb rows, an oral skirt, and an apical organ with polar fields. Ctenorhabdotus campanelliformis has 24 comb rows, an oral skirt, an apical organ enclosed by a capsule and neurological tissues preserved as carbonaceous films. These are concentrated around the apical organ and ciliated furrows, which connect to a circumoral nerve ring via longitudinal axons. C. campanelliformis deviates from the neuroanatomy of living ctenophores, and demonstrates a substantial complexity in the nervous system of Cambrian ctenophores.</p>
Figure 10 in Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus
Figure 10. Log-log plots of A, total endocranial volume and body size; B, cerebral volume and body size; C, cerebral volume and total endocranial volume. Closed circles indicate penguin taxa. Paraptenodytes is shown as a closed star. All other avian taxa are indicated by open circles. Dashed lines indicate 95% confidence intervals.
Figure 9 in Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus
Figure 9. Computed tomography slices of the skull of A, Spheniscus humboldti and B, Paraptenodytes antarcticus in 1, sagittal and 2–3, coronal planes. Abbreviations: atr, anterior tympanic recess; cc, cranial carotid artery; pt, pituitary space; ta, tuba auditiva.
Figure 7 in Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus
Figure 7. Virtual endocasts of the labyrinth of A, Gavia immer (common loon); B, Phoebastria immutabilis (Laysan albatross); C, Paraptenodytes antarcticus (fossil stem penguin); D, Spheniscus humboldti (Humboldt penguin); E, Aptenodytes patagonicus (king penguin); and F, Pygoscelis antarctica (chinstrap penguin) in posterior aspect. Abbreviations: aa, ampulla of anterior semicircular canal; asc, anterior semicircular canal; cc, common crus; ed, endolymphatic duct; ha, ampulla of horizontal semicircular canal; hsc, horizontal semicircular canal; lc, lagenar canal; pa, ampulla of posterior semicircular canal; psc, posterior semicircular canal; vf, vestibular foramen.
Figure 8 in Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus
Figure 8. Virtual endocasts of the brain and labyrinth of A, Paraptenodytes antarcticus (fossil stem penguin) and B, Aptenodytes patagonicus (king penguin) in lateral aspect, illustrating relative size of the labyrinth.
Figure 6 in Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus
Figure 6. Virtual endocasts of A, Gavia immer (common loon); B, Phoebastria immutabilis (Laysan albatross); C, Paraptenodytes antarcticus (fossil stem penguin); D, Spheniscus humboldti (Humboldt penguin); E, Aptenodytes patagonicus (king penguin); and F, Pygoscelis antarctica (chinstrap penguin) in posterior aspect. Abbreviations: c, cerebrum; cb, cerebellum; cca, cranial carotid artery; eov, external occipital vein; fl, floccular lobe; mcv, middle cerebral vein; os, occipital sinus; se, sagittal eminence; II-XI, cranial nerves II-XI.
Figure 5 in Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus
Figure 5. Virtual endocasts of A, Gavia immer (common loon); B, Phoebastria immutabilis (Laysan albatross); C, Paraptenodytes antarcticus (fossil stem penguin); D, Spheniscus humboldti (Humboldt penguin); E, Aptenodytes patagonicus (king penguin); and F, Pygoscelis antarctica (chinstrap penguin) in ventral aspect. Abbreviations: c, cerebrum; cca, cranial carotid artery; fl, floccular lobe; ob, olfactory bulb; ol, optic lobe; pb, pituitary body; II-XI, cranial nerves II-XI.
Figure 4 in Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus
Figure 4. Virtual endocasts of A, Gavia immer (common loon); B, Phoebastria immutabilis (Laysan albatross); C, Paraptenodytes antarcticus (fossil stem penguin); D, Spheniscus humboldti (Humboldt penguin); E, Aptenodytes patagonicus (king penguin); and F, Pygoscelis antarctica (chinstrap penguin) in lateral aspect. Abbreviations: c, cerebrum; cb, cerebellum; cca, cranial carotid artery; fl, floccular lobe; mcv, middle cerebral vein; ob, olfactory bulb; ol, optic lobe; pb, pituitary body; se, sagittal eminence; II-XI, cranial nerves II-XI.
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.