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The water flea's counterattack: how to exploit environmental challenges to alter gene expression in Daphnia pulex?
The scientific name of water flea is Daphnia pulex, which is a common plankton that is widely distributed in America, Europe, Australia and other places. Not only does this small creature have a unique ecological status, it has also become an important model species in scientific research because it is the first crustacean whose genome has been sequenced.
The correlation between Daphnia's ecology and gene expression is critical to understanding how the organism survives in a changing environment.
Morphological and ecological characteristics of water fleas
The body structure of D. pulex is relatively simple and the segmentation is not obvious, but its head is composed of six fused parts. This species has powerful tentacles for swimming and can survive in a variety of waters, from clear lakes to small pools of nutrient-rich water.
The color change of D. pulex is closely related to the nutrient concentration in the environment, which may affect its survival probability in the face of predators.
Effects of predation pressure on water fleas
As part of the food chain, D. pulex faces threats from a variety of predators. Research shows that predation has a significant impact on their population ecology, which not only changes their abundance but also promotes morphological evolution. When the presence of predators triggers certain chemical signals, water fleas are able to develop specific morphological characteristics to increase survival.
The protrusions on the neck of water fleas, known as "neck teeth", are features that evolved in response to pressure from predators and show the organism's adaptability.
Nutrition and growth of water fleas
The growth and morphology of water fleas are closely related to the nutrient supply in the environment. In a low-nutrient environment, the size and growth rate of D. pulex are limited, while higher nutrient concentrations not only promote its growth but may also increase its advantage in competition with predators.
The uniqueness of the genome
The genome of D. pulex has more than 31,000 genes, a number far greater than that of the human genome, showing its unique gene duplication phenomenon. Many of these genes are associated with environmental challenges such as predation pressure and nutritional changes, suggesting that environmental factors have a direct impact on gene expression.
This species has a compact genome and the ability to respond quickly to environmental changes, a trait that strongly supports its survival.
Diversity of reproduction methods
D. pulex can undergo periodic parthenogenesis and absolute parthenogenesis. In periodic parthenogenesis, the mother switches between sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis, demonstrating its survival strategies in different environments.
Conclusion
The reason why Daphnia has become an important model in biological research is not only its unique genome and ecological characteristics, but also its strong adaptability that enables it to survive in unpredictable environments. This reminds us that organisms not only change their behavior when faced with environmental stress, but may also change their gene expression. So, how many other creatures are silently using this adaptive ability to face challenges?
