Kako Ohbayashi

Evolution of Mirror Images by Sexually Asymmetric Mating Behavior in Hermaphroditic Snails

Directionally asymmetric animals generally exhibit no variation in handedness of whole‐body architecture. In contrast, reversed chirality in both coil and entire anatomy has frequently evolved in snails. We demonstrate a nonrandom pattern and deterministic process of chiral evolution, as predicted by the following hypothesis. Bimodal shell shapes are associated with discrete mating behaviors in hermaphroditic pulmonates. Flat‐shelled species mate reciprocally, face‐to‐face. This sexual symmetry prevents interchiral mating because genitalia exposed by a sinistral on its left side cannot be joined with those exposed by a dextral on its right. Thus, selection against the chiral minority, resulting from mating disadvantage, stabilizes chiral monomorphism. Tall‐shelled species mate nonreciprocally: the ‘male’ copulates by mounting the ‘females’ shell, mutually aligned in the same direction. This sexual asymmetry permits interchiral copulation with small behavioral adjustments. Therefore, the positive frequency‐dependent selection is relaxed, and reversal alleles persist longer in populations of tall‐shelled species. We verified both the assumption and the prediction of this hypothesis: significantly lower interchiral mating success in a low‐spired species and higher chiral evolution rate in high‐spired taxa. Sexual asymmetry is the key to understanding the accelerated chiral evolution in high‐spired pulmonates.

Species-specific responses of freshwater diatoms to solar ultraviolet radiation

We studied species-specific growth responses of freshwater algae to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) by measuring growth-irradiance curves (G-E curves) of 17 algal diatoms (isolated from a periphyton community in a lotic system) in a solar simulator under photosynthetically available radiation plus UVR and minus UVR radiation condition. Algal growth responses to UVR were highly species-specific, and the photoinhibition parameter (β) of the +UVR condition differed greatly among species. We compared the degree of UVR effect on algal growth (UVR inhibition index: difference in between +UVR and -UVR conditions) with parameters derived from the G-E curve and with algal cell morphology. UVR inhibition indexes significantly correlated with the initial slope of light-limited portion of G-E curve (a) and with the irradiance at which the growth rate starts to saturate (E k ), but not with the cell surface to volume ratios. Low-light-adapted algae tended to be more susceptible to growth inhibition by UVR than high-light-adapted ones. Algae that formed dense colonies in the growth medium were relatively tolerant of UVR irrespective of E k values. Although past studies have emphasized that UVR effects on algae are algal-size dependent, the growth strategies dealing with solar radiation and algal growth forms appear to be more valid in correctly interpreting species-specific responses of algae to solar UVR.

Genotypic composition and the relationship between genotypic composition and geographical proximity of the cyanobacterium microcystis aeruginosa in western Japan

Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the bloom-forming harmful algae in freshwater ecosystems. We genetically characterized Microcystis populations during bloom-forming periods in various reservoirs, lakes, and ponds in Japan during 2009. Using phylogenetic analysis, we evaluated the relationship between current genotype expansions and geographic location within western Japan and intraspecific variation. Microcystis aeruginosa colonies were isolated at 15 sites and were analyzed by sequencing the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal operon, and the potential to produce toxins was assessed by PCR-based detection of the microcystin synthetase gene mcyG. In total, 171 colonies were separated into 41 genotypes. The highest genotypic composition was detected in the south basin of Lake Biwa and the lowest in Lagoon Iba. Cluster analysis indicated no obvious association between genotypic composition and geographic distance. Thus, clear genetic differentiation accompanied by geographic origins was not found in western Japan. The resulting neighbor-joining tree revealed 3 clusters, 2 of which contained strains that showed both nonamplification and amplification of the mcyG gene.

A massive tsunami promoted gene flow and increased genetic diversity in a near threatened plant species

The magnitude and frequency of disturbances affect species diversity and spatial distributions, but the direct effects of large-scale disturbances on genetic diversity are poorly understood. On March 11, 2011, the Great Tohoku Earthquake in Japan caused a massive tsunami that resulted in substantial alteration of community compositions. Populations of a near-threatened tidal marsh Carex rugulosa inhabiting brackish sandbars was also affected. We found four out of six remnant C. rugulosa populations along the Pacific Ocean had become completely extinct. Newly emergent post-tsunami populations, however, had higher allelic numbers than pre-tsunami populations, indicating higher genetic diversity after the tsunami. In addition, genetic differentiation (Fst) between post-tsunami populations was significantly lower than that of pre-tsunami populations. We therefore conclude that the tsunami enhanced gene flow. Seeds of many Carex species persist for long periods in soil, which suggests that seed banks are important genetic resources for post-disturbance recovery of genetic diversity. When its brackish sandbar habitat is no longer subject to disturbance and changes to the land, C. rugulosa is outcompeted by terrestrial plant competitors and eliminated. Disturbance is a driving force for the recovery and maintenance of populations of species such as C. rugulosa—even after near-complete eradication.

DNA barcoding supports reclassification of Japanese Chironomus species (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Non‐biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) adapt to species‐specific environmental conditions and hence are promising bioindicators for aquatic and ecotoxicological monitoring. Although their utility for these purposes was historically limited by difficulties in their morphological identification, DNA barcoding offers a possible solution. Here, eight Japanese species of the genus Chironomus, which is characterized by its worldwide distribution and abundance among Chironomidae, were subjected to DNA barcoding using cytochromec oxidase subunit I (COI). To examine whether this DNA barcode is a useful indicator for Japanese species of Chironomus, we calculated genetic distances within and between the COI sequences of Chironomus species both from this study and worldwide and constructed phylogenetic trees. Based on 415 bp COI sequences and the Kimura two‐parameter model, the average genetic distances within 37 species and between 72 species were 2.6% and 17.2%, respectively. Although the ranges of genetic distances within and between species overlapped from 0.8% to 17.3%, 99.7% of average genetic distances between species were >3.0%. Some of this overlap is attributable to distances within species that were “too large” as well as those between species that were “too small”. Of eight Japanese species examined, two showed genetic distances between species that were below a 3.0% threshold, and four had distances within species that were greater than 3.0%. These results suggest a possible reclassification of these species and the need for further sampling to unveil biogeographic variations among different countries and regions.