loading page

The spotted parrotfish genome provides evolutionary insight into the ecological adaptation of a keystone dietary specialist
  • +6
  • Yi-Kai Tea,
  • Yulu Zhou,
  • Kyle Ewart ,
  • Guo Cheng,
  • Kazuhiko Kawasaki,
  • Joseph Dibattista,
  • Simon Ho,
  • Nathan Lo,
  • Shaohua Fan
Yi-Kai Tea
University of Sydney

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Yulu Zhou
Fudan University
Author Profile
Kyle Ewart
University of Sydney
Author Profile
Guo Cheng
Fudan University
Author Profile
Kazuhiko Kawasaki
The Pennsylvania State University Department of Anthropology
Author Profile
Joseph Dibattista
Australian Museum Research Institute
Author Profile
Simon Ho
University of Sydney
Author Profile
Nathan Lo
University of Sydney
Author Profile
Shaohua Fan
Fudan University
Author Profile

Abstract

Adaptive radiation as a result of ecological opportunity can have profound effects on the evolutionary outcome of species. On coral reefs, parrotfishes have been considered as one of the most dramatic examples of adaptive radiation unique in their extreme dietary specialisation. Using abrasion-resistant biomineralized teeth, parrotfishes are able to mechanically extract protein-rich micro-photoautotrophs growing in and amongst reef carbonate material. This unique ability to exploit a previously untapped trophic resource is thought to have led to the early diversification of the parrotfishes. In order to better understand the key evolutionary innovations leading to the success of these dietary specialists, we sequenced and analysed the genome of the spotted parrotfish (Cetoscarus ocellatus). Our findings reveal significant expansion, selection, and duplication within several gene families responsible for detoxification, including the cytochrome p450 gene family and non-cyp450 carboxylesterases. We find preliminary evidence that the structural mechanism responsible for the extreme hardness and biomineralization of parrotfish teeth may be a result of poly-glutamine expansion in the enamel protein ameloblastin. We also detect expansion and selection for several genes related to pigmentation and sequential hermaphroditism. Together, these results highlight a potentially complex interplay of adaptive radiation and sexual selection operating on coral reef ecosystems.
13 Sep 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
14 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
14 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Jan 20241st Revision Received
31 Jan 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
31 Jan 2024Submission Checks Completed
31 Jan 2024Assigned to Editor
05 Feb 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Feb 20242nd Revision Received
26 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
26 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
26 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Mar 2024Editorial Decision: Accept