The effect of selection on a long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsin gene of Lake Victoria cichlid fishes

Yohey Terai, Werner E. Mayer, Jan Klein, Herbert Tichy, Norihiro Okada

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

In East African Lake Victoria >200 endemic species of haplochromine fishes have been described on the basis of morphological and behavioral differences. Yet molecular analysis has failed to reveal any species-specific differences among these fishes in either mitochondrial or nuclear genes. Although the genes could be shown to vary, the variations represent trans-species polymorphisms not yet assorted along species lines. Nevertheless, fixed genetic differences must exist between the species at loci responsible for the adaptive characters distinguishing the various forms from one another. Here we describe variation and fixation at the long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsin locus, which is selection-driven, adaptive, and if not species- then at least population-specific. Because color is one of the characters distinguishing species of haplochromine fishes and color perception plays an important part in food acquisition and mate choice, we suggest that the observed variation and fixation at the LWS opsin locus may have been involved in the process that has led to the spectacular species divergence of haplochromine fishes in Lake Victoria.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)15501-15506
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume99
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 26 2002

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effect of selection on a long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsin gene of Lake Victoria cichlid fishes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this