abstract book - Site Principal APBE

Transcrição

Bem-vindos/Welcome
Welcome to the VIII Encontro Nacional de Biologia Evolutiva!
It is our pleasure to host you at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência.
The aim of the meeting is to bring together Evolutionary Biologists at all stages of their careers,
whether they are researchers working in Portugal, or Portuguese researchers working abroad.
This way, we can exchange experiences and ideas about research and teaching within
Evolutionary Biology, both at the national and international level.
So thank you for your presence and for making this meeting so successful once more.
Finally, we would like to encourage all non-members to join the recently created Associação
Portuguesa de Biologia Evolutiva (APBE). We rely on your contribution to build a stronger and
more dynamic APBE.
Together, we hope to give Evolutionary Biology a more prominent role in science and in
society in Portugal.
Enjoy the meeting!
1
Acknowledgments
This meeting would not have been possible without the help and support of:
Cláudia Vieira
Greta Martins
Sandra Cordeiro and Totalis
Liliana Rodrigues, Pedro Alves and the IGC Admin Team
José Barbosa
Jorge Costa
and our sponsors:
2
Schedule
09:00 - 09:30
Registration
09:30 - 09:40
Welcome Address - Isabel Gordo
Oral Presentations - Session 1 - Chaired by Ricardo Ramiro
09:40 - 10:00
Patrícia H. Brito
Evolution of AI-2 quorum sensing in Escherichia coli
10:00 - 10:20
Teresa I. Nogueira
Rapid Evolution of the Sequences and Gene Repertoires of Secreted Proteins in Bacteria
Francisco Dionisio
Mutualistic Parasites: when hosts and parasites have their interests aligned
10:20 - 10:40
10:40 - 11:20
Coffee-Break / Poster Session 1
Oral Presentations - Session 2 - Chaired by Nelson Martins
11:20 - 11:40
Ana Moleirinho
Evolutionary constraints in the β-globin cluster: the signature of purifying selection at the δ-globin (HBD) locus and its role in
developmental gene regulation
11:40 - 12:00
Luis F. Castro
Recurrent gene loss correlates with the evolution of stomach phenotypes in vertebrate history
12:00 - 14:00
Lunch Break
Oral Presentations - Session 3 - Chaired by Ivo Chelo
14:00 - 14:20
Bárbara R. Parreira
The genetic consequences of social structure: a simulation approach
14:20 - 14:40
Alexandra I. Sá Pinto
Barriers to gene flow in the Northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea: insights from two common limpet species
14:40 - 15:00
Bram Kuijper
The evolution of transgenerational effects: when should offspring listen to their parents and not to their genes?
15:00 - 15:45
Coffee and Wine-Break / Poster Session 2
Oral Presentations - Session 4 - Chaired by Lilia Perfeito
15:45 - 16:05
Ricardo J. Pereira
Ecological novelty by hybridization: experimental evidence for increased thermal tolerance by transgressive segregation in Tigriopus
californicus
16:05 - 16:25
Maria Emília Santos
The genetic basis of an evolutionary novelty in cichlid fishes
16:25 - 16:45
Renata Freitas
Fresh look to an old question: the origin of tetrapod limbs
16:45 - 16:55
Closing Remarks - Hugo Gante
17:00 -
APBE Council Meeting
3
List of Poster Presentations
Author
João Alpedrinha
João M. Alves
Tomás A. Azevedo
Margarida Bárbaro
Patrícia G. Brás
Rui Castanhinha
Ivo M. Chelo
Ana Maria A. Crespo
Inês R. Fragata
Sara I. Francisco
Romina P. Henriques
João V. Leite
André Levy
Mónica S. Lopes Marques
Cláudia Mendes
Migla Miskinyte
Ana Sara A. Monteiro
Sofia Nora
Vera B. Nunes
Isa Pais
João Pimenta
Rita Ponce
Rita Ponce
Vasco Ribeiro
Joana I. Robalo
António M. Rodrigues
Ana Sofia Rodrigues
Alexandra I. Sá Pinto
Title
Haplodiploidy and the evolution of eusociality: worker reproduction
Chromosomal inversions: Evolutionary brakes and/or accelerators?
A comparative view on zebrafish and chicken vertebral centrum
development
Evolutionary dynamics of reproductive isolation
Phylogeography of the tiger-fly, Coenosia attenuata (Diptera:
Muscidae)
A new early synapsid (dicynodontia) from the Permian of Mozambique
Balancing selection and associative overdominance simulations
recover unexpectedly high diversity observed in C. elegans
experimental populations
Phylogenetic analysis of parental care and parenting evolution in rayfinned fishes: Subdivision Osteoglossomorpha
Tug of war - the role of History, Selection and Chance in adaptation to
a new environment
In search of phylogeographic patterns in the northeastern Atlantic and
adjacent seas
The Benguela Current: a natural laboratory to study evolution in
marine fishes
Evolution and Biogeography of North-West African Foxes
Pattern, process and the evolution of meaning: species and units of
selection
The PPAR nuclear receptor in Bilaterians: an evolutionary and
functional approach
How does developmental plasticity contribute to phenotypic
evolution?
Increased survival of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli inside the
macrophages
Hox cluster: insights into fish temporal colinearity
Insights into the evolution of Iberian Calendula species depicted from
genome size and chromosome numbers
Conflicting patterns of genetic and acoustic variation in the cicada
genus Tettigettalna from southern Europe (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)
Genetic diversity in a little known lemur species from the north of
Madagascar (Microcebus tavaratra)
PRDM9 zinc finger variation in lemurs: characterizing a speciation
gene in a speciouse primate group
Novel Genes from Formation to Function
The effect of mate choice in mite populations
A new theropod eggsite in the Upper Jurassic of Casal da Rola,
Lourinhã, Portugal and the nesting preferences of basal theropod
dinosaurs
Phylogeography of the fivebeard rockling (Ciliata mustela, Linnaeus,
1758)
Does heterogeneity promote kin selection in viscous populations?
Genetic Bases of Colour Polymorphism in Philaenus Species
Teaching evolution in elementary schools: an impossible task or a
requirement for a deep understanding of biology contents?
Manuel A. Sapage
Reeta Sharma
Mauro F. Silva
Pedro Simões
Ana Rita Simões
Vitor Sousa
Kohtaro Tanaka
Emanuel Tschopp
Pedro Vale
Testing the “Commodity Selection Framework”: can conspecific cues
be the key to the evolution of coloniality in birds?
Addressing the genetic response of Bornean elephants to habitat loss
and fragmentation
Phylogeography and historical demography of Oceanodroma castro
and Oceanodroma monteiroi: contrasting anonymous nuclear and
mitochondrial loci.
Appearances can be deceiving: clinal variation of inversions and wing
traits in Drosophila subobscura
Disentangling the bindweeds: Systematics and Evolution of
Merremieae (Convolvulaceae)
Identifying loci under selection against gene flow in isolation with
migration models
cis-regulatory evolution and functional diversification of the Three
Finger Domain Protein family in Diptera
The evolutionary implications of the small-bodied diplodocid
Kaatedocus siberi (Dinosauria, Sauropoda)
Epidemiological and evolutionary consequences of host tolerance to
infection
2
Abstracts
Oral Presentations
3
Evolution of AI-2 quorum sensing in Escherichia coli
Patrícia H. Brito1, Eduardo P. Rocha2,3, Karina B. Xavier1,4, Isabel Gordo1
1
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
2
Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Département Génomes et Génétique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
3
Génétique des génomes, UMR-3525, CNRS, Paris, France
4
Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Oeiras, Portugal
e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
Bacteria are single-cell organisms that depend on numerous social traits to carry out functions
implicated in processes such as virulence and niche construction. Quorum sensing (QS) plays
an important role in regulating the onset of those social responses in function to cell density
but AI-2 (autoinducer 2) is a signal that has the peculiarity of mediating both intra-and
interspecies bacterial QS. We analyzed the diversity of all genome components of AI-2 quorum
sensing across 44 complete genomes of E. coli and Shigella strains. Our analysis revealed many
likely adaptive polymorphisms both in gene content and nucleotide sequence. All natural
strains possess the signal emitter (the luxS gene) but many lack a functional signal receptor
(complete lsr operon) and the ability to regulate extracellular signal concentrations. This result
is in striking contrast with the canonical species-specific QS systems. Our analysis suggests that
selection actively maintains a balanced polymorphism for the presence/absence of a
functional lsr operon suggesting diversifying selection on the regulation of signal accumulation
and recognition.
4
Rapid Evolution of the Sequences and Gene Repertoires of Secreted Proteins in
Bacteria
Teresa I. Nogueira1,2, Marie Touchon3, Eduardo Rocha3
1
2
Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
3
Institut Pasteur, Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, CNRS, UMR3525, F-75015 Paris, France
Abstract
Proteins secreted to the extracellular environment or to the periphery of the cell envelope, the
secretome, play essential roles in foraging, antagonistic and mutualistic interactions. We
hypothesize that arms races, genetic conflicts and varying selective pressures should lead to
the rapid change of sequences and gene repertoires of the secretome. The analysis of 42
bacterial pan-genomes shows that secreted, and especially extracellular proteins, are
predominantly encoded in the accessory genome, i.e. among genes not ubiquitous within the
clade. Genes encoding outer membrane proteins might engage more frequently in intrachromosomal gene conversion because they are more often in multi-genic families. The gene
sequences encoding the secretome evolve faster than the rest of the genome and in particular
at non-synonymous positions. Cell wall proteins in Firmicutes evolve particularly fast when
compared with outer membrane proteins of Proteobacteria. Virulence factors are overrepresented in the secretome, notably in outer membrane proteins, but cell localization
explains more of the variance in substitution rates and gene repertoires than sequence
homology to known virulence factors. Accordingly, the repertoires and sequences of the genes
encoding the secretome change fast in the clades of obligatory and facultative pathogens and
also in the clades of mutualists and free-living bacteria. Our study shows that cell localization
shapes genome evolution. In agreement with our hypothesis, the repertoires and the
sequences of genes encoding secreted proteins evolve fast. The particularly rapid change of
extracellular proteins suggests that these public goods are key players in bacterial adaptation.
5
Mutualistic Parasites: when hosts and parasites have their interests aligned
Francisco Dionisio1,2,3, João A. Gama1,2, Ana M. Reis3,4, Iolanda Domingues1,2, Helena MendesSoares5, Ana Margarida Matos4
1
2
3
Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
4
Center for Biodiversity, Functional & Integrative Genomics, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de
Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
5
Department of Biological Sciences and the Initiative for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies,
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
Abstract
In this communication I propose to discuss the possibility that hosts use their pathogens or
parasites as biological weapons to compete with other hosts of the same species. This
hypothesis was recently tested using a bacterial host, Escherichia coli and its λ virus. Lysogens
(cells carrying the virus) are immune to the virus and can release it upon induction. The virus
can kill susceptible non-lysogenic competitor cells. We performed competition experiments
between lysogenic and susceptible E. coli in two types of habitats: structured and
unstructured. In structured habitats, resources left by dead susceptible cells can be only
consumed by immune cells in the killing zone. However, in an unstructured medium, resources
are equally distributed by the whole population and therefore available to any kind of cell. Our
results show that lysogenic cells increased over time in structured habitats, but not in
unstructured habitats. However, such increase ceased after a few days of competition due to
the conversion of susceptible into lysogenic cells, which occurred after substantial
amplification of the virus. Such conversion implies that the susceptible population became
immune to the virus. Therefore, non-mobilizable and non-replicating toxin genes (the common
case of toxins) may be more reliable than viruses or any other “replicating toxin” because, in
the latter case, competitors may also have the ability to profit from replicating toxins as the
initial hosts. With these results we corroborated the hypothesis that hosts may, indeed, use
parasites as weapons against other hosts. However, the real impact and the generality of this
effect may strongly depend on biological details of the host-parasite system.
6
Evolutionary constraints in the β-globin cluster: the signature of purifying
selection at the δ-globin (HBD) locus and its role in developmental gene
regulation
Ana Moleirinho1, Susana Seixas1, Alexandra M. Lopes1, Maria J. Prata1,2, António Amorim1,2
1
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
2
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Abstract
Human hemoglobins, the oxygen carriers in the blood, are composed by two α-globin and two
β-globin monomers. The β-globin gene cluster located at 11p15.5 comprises one pseudogene
and five genes whose expression undergoes two critical switches: the embryonic-to-fetal and
fetal-to-adult transition. HBD encodes the δ-globin chain of the minor adult hemoglobin
(HbA2), which is assumed to be physiologically irrelevant. Paradoxically, reduced diversity
levels have been reported for this gene. In this study, we sought a detailed portrait of the
genetic variation within the β-globin cluster in a large human population panel from different
geographic backgrounds. We resequenced the coding and noncoding regions of the two adult
β-globin genes (HBD and HBB) in European and African populations, and analyzed the data
from the β-globin cluster (HBE, HBG2, HBG1, HBBP1, HBD and HBB) in 1092 individuals
representing 14 populations sequenced as part of the 1000 Genomes Project. Additionally, we
assessed the diversity levels in non-human primates using chimpanzee sequence data provided
by the PanMap Project. Comprehensive analyses, based on classic neutrality tests, empirical
and haplotype-based studies, revealed that HBD and its neighbor pseudogene HBBP1 have
mainly evolved under purifying selection, suggesting that their roles are essential and nonredundant. Moreover, in the light of recent studies on the chromatin conformation of the βglobin cluster, we present evidence sustaining that the strong functional constraints
underlying the decreased contemporary diversity at these two regions, were not driven by
protein function but instead were likely due to a regulatory role in ontogenic switches of gene
expression.
7
Recurrent gene loss correlates with the evolution of stomach phenotypes in
vertebrate history
Luis F. Castro1, Odete Gonçalves1,2, Sylvie Mazan3, Byrappa Venkatesh4, Jonathan M. Wilson1
1
Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, CIMAR Associate Laboratory,
University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
2
Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
3
Development and Evolution of Vertebrates, UMR-7150, UPMC-CNRS, Roscoff, France
4
Comparative Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR (Agency for
Science, Technology and Research), Singapore
Abstract
The vertebrate stomach represents a unique anatomical innovation, characterized by the
presence of acid and aspartic protease secreting glands. However, the presence of gastric
glands in vertebrate species is not universal. Since the XIXth century the French zoologist
Cuvier first noted that some teleost species lacked a stomach. Similarly, Chimaeriforms,
Dipnoids and Monotremas also lack acid secretion and a gastric cellular phenotype. Here we
investigate the specific contribution of gene loss to the widespread distribution of the agastric
condition. We establish that the stomach loss correlates with the persistent and complete
absence of the gastric gene kit in the analysed vertebrate species [H+/K+-ATPase (Atp4A and
Atp4B) and pepsinogens (Pga, Pgc, Cym)]. In gastric lineages, we find also that the pepsinogen
gene complement varies significantly (e.g. 2/4 in teleosts and tens in some mammals) with
events of pseudogenization identified in various lineages. This variable repertoire likely reflects
dietary driven episodes of expansion and contraction. We propose that episodes of negative or
neutral selection upon pepsinogen genes in response to dietary changes lead to the numerous
independent events of stomach loss. The apparent paradox suggested by the successful
retention of stomach and stomach-less species with similar dietary requirements hints that
various alternative adaptations have taken place to compensate for stomach loss.
8
The genetic consequences of social structure: a simulation approach
Bárbara R. Parreira1, Lounes Chikhi1,2
1
2
Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Unité Mixte de Recherche, Université Paul Sabatier,
Toulouse, France
Abstract
The vast majority of vertebrates typically occur in structured populations. Moreover, in many
species individuals tend to interact, during most of their lifetime, with related individuals in
social units that exhibit different breeding tactics and sex biased migration patterns. This fact
has been recognized as having consequences on the distribution of genetic diversity at
different population levels. In fact, studies in different species such as marmots, prairie dogs or
deer have confirmed this, and theoretical studies suggest that breeding tactics increase gene
correlations without invoking inbreeding. In order to quantify how genetic variability is
influenced by the social structure and by the connections between social groups (i.e. the
network structure) we performed simulations under different social group structures. Results
suggest that the social structure can maintain higher genetic diversity levels than randommating populations and that inbreeding and diversity statistics obtained in real data can be
reproduced when males and females have different gene flow patterns, without inbreeding
avoidance.
9
Barriers to gene flow in the Northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea:
insights from two common limpet species
Alexandra I. Sá Pinto1, Madalena S. Branco1, Paulo B. Alexandrino1,2, Michaël C. Fontaine3,4,
Stuart E. Baird1,5
1
Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
2
Departamento de Zoologia-Antropologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto,
Portugal
3
Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Sud & CNRS, Orsay, France
4
Ecoanthropology and Ethnobiology, UMR-5145, CNRS-MNHN-Université Paris 7, Paris, France
5
Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Population, Montpellier, France
Abstract
Although essential for understanding patterns of evolution and to delineate management
plans knowledge on the scale of dispersal and the mechanisms governing gene flow in marine
environments remains fragmentary. In the present work, the limpets Patella ulyssiponensis
and Patella rustica were used as models for studying patterns of gene flow and larval dispersal
in marine organisms across the Iberian and North African Atlantic shores and Mediterranean
Sea. A set of allozyme loci and a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome C oxidase
subunit I were screened for genetic variation through starch gel electrophoresis and DNA
sequencing, respectively. A clustering algorithm was used to discriminate genetic groups and
clinal analysis was performed to test for areas of rapid change. Sharp breaks in the genetic
composition of individuals were observed in the transitions between the Atlantic and the
Mediterranean and between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean. An additional break
within the Atlantic cluster separates samples from the Alboran Sea and Atlantic African shores
from those of the Iberian Atlantic shores. These genetic breaks appear to be associated with
dispersal barriers (like the Almeria-Oran Front) and with areas of unsuitable habitat (like sandy
shores). Our work further contributes to the growing de-mystification of the “seas of panmixis”
model of marine populations by suggesting oceanographic and habitat features that
correspond to the well understood notions of gene flow barriers and population density
troughs.
10
The evolution of transgenerational effects: when should offspring listen to
their parents and not to their genes?
Bram Kuijper1,2, Rufus A. Johnstone1
1
Behaviour & Evolution Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United
Kingdom
2
Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
Abstract
There is a growing realization that phenotypes are not always inherited from parents to
offspring via genetic means. Several nongenetic inheritance mechanisms have been identified,
such as DNA methylation, or the transmission of behaviours by social learning and imitation.
Since these nongenetic inheritance mechanisms are typically associated with higher mutation
rates and the inheritance of environmentally acquired characters, it begs the question under
which conditions nongenetic inheritance is adaptive. I present a theoretical model on the
evolution of a maternal modifier which allows offspring to copy their parental phenotype with
a certain fidelity, while the environment fluctuates over space and time. We show that highfidelity copying of parental phenotypes (i.e., conventional genetic inheritance) is the typical
evolutionary outcome, whereas low-fidelity copying (i.e., nongenetic inheritance) is only
selectively favored whenever different environments occur at roughly similar frequencies. The
evolution of nongenetic inheritance is, however, dependent on population demographical
details: increased interactions among kin are more conducive to nongenetic inheritance, since
selection at the family level favors relatives with a more diverse set of phenotypes. Also,
populations that endure mortality selection are more favourable to the evolution of
nongenetic inheritance than populations undergoing fecundity selection.
11
Ecological novelty by hybridization: experimental evidence for increased
thermal tolerance by transgressive segregation in Tigriopus californicus
Ricardo J. Pereira1, Felipe S. Barreto1, Ronald S. Burton1
1
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
Abstract
Although it is currently accepted that hybridization can lead both to the expression of genetic
incompatibilities and to phenotypic novelty in hybrid lineages, insights into the relative
importance of these two outcomes require experimental studies. Here, we use interpopulation
crosses and recombinant inbred lines of the copepod species Tigriopus californicus to evaluate
the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic selection in hybridization. We focus on variation in two
traits that are relevant for the diversification of this species: survivorship during development
and thermal tolerance. Our experimental crosses between two population pairs suggest that
hybridization is most beneficial when parental taxa are locally adapted to similar environments
and genetic divergence did not result in complex (intrinsic) genetic incompatibilities. Under
these conditions, we show that hybridization 1) frequently generates novel ecologically
relevant traits via transgressive segregation; 2) increases the range of phenotypes exposed to
intrinsic and extrinsic selection; and 3) can lead to evolutionarily stable hybrid lineages
characterized by high intrinsic and extrinsic fitness. These findings support the view that
hybridization can lead to the colonization of new niches previously underused by parental
taxa, providing a valuable source of evolutionary novelty, and that hybridization can allow
species to respond to quick and rapid environmental change.
12
The genetic basis of an evolutionary novelty in cichlid fishes
Maria Emília Santos1, Walter Salzburger1
1
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Abstract
The origin and modification of novel traits is a key topic in evolutionary biology. Yet, the
genetic and developmental mechanisms driving these processes remain largely unknown. The
spectacularly diverse adaptive radiations of cichlid fishes in the East Africa Great Lakes provide
an ideal system to study the molecular basis of evolutionary novelties in the context of
adaptation and explosive speciation. One characteristic innovation of the most species-rich
lineage of cichlids, the haplochromines, are brightly pigmented spots on male anal fins, known
as “egg-spots”. Egg-spots are a diverse trait (number, colour and shape) that plays a key role in
the territorial and breeding behaviour of about 1.500 species of cichlids. Here we report the
identification of several egg-spot candidate genes by quantitative next generation sequencing
of RNA from egg-spot tissue in the haplochromine cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni. We confirmed
these results in other haplochromine species through quantitative gene expression analysis
(qPCR), and narrowed down our study to one gene – an androgen receptor (AR) cofactor. A
comparative genomic analysis between haplochromines and egg-spot-less non-haplochromine
species reveals that the coding region of this gene cannot explain the origin and diversity of
this trait. However, the upstream regulatory region of the AR cofactor differs dramatically
between these groups: haplochromines bear a unique transposable element insertion in the
proximity of the transcription initiation site of the AR cofactor. We thus propose that this
transposable element insertion changed the expression pattern of the AR cofactor, thereby
initiating the morphogenesis of an evolutionary key innovation of one of the presumably
single-most species-rich lineages of vertebrates.
13
Fresh look to an old question: the origin of tetrapod limbs
Renata Freitas1,2
1
Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
2
Centro de Biomedecina Molecular e Estrutural, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
Abstract
Fossil data suggest that tetrapod limbs evolved from fish fins by sequential elaboration of their
distal endoskeleton, giving rise to the autopod close to the tetrapod origin. This elaboration
may have occurred by a simultaneous reduction of the distal ectodermal fold of fish fins.
Modulation of 5´Hoxd gene transcription, through tetrapod-specific digit enhancers, has been
suggested as a possible evolutionary mechanism involved in these morphological
transformations. Here, we overexpress hoxd13a in zebrafish to investigate the impact of
increasing 5´Hoxd expression during fin development. This overexpression causes increased
proliferation, distal expansion of chondrogenic tissue and finfold reduction. In addition, we
also show that the tetrapod specific 5´Hoxd enhancer CsC promotes similar expression in
zebrafish fins and mouse limbs. Our results support the idea that modulation of 5´Hoxd gene
expression, by acquisition of novel enhancer elements, offered the substrate for the evolution
of fins and the origin of tetrapod limbs. This work is currently accepted for publication in
Developmental Cell.
14
Poster Presentations
Haplodiploidy and the evolution of eusociality: worker reproduction
João Alpedrinha1,2,3, Stuart A. West2, Andy Gardner2,4
1
2
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
3
Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
4
Balliol College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Abstract
W.D. Hamilton’s “haplodiploidy hypothesis” suggests that the relatively higher relatedness of
full sisters in haplodiploid populations promoted altruistic sib rearing and, consequently, the
evolution of eusociality. This haplodiploidy effect may be relevant in populations where some
broods have a relatively female biased sex ratio and other broods have a relatively male biased
sex ratio, termed “split sex ratios”. There is empirical evidence for two scenarios having
potentially led to split sex ratios on the route to eusociality: unmated queens and queen
replacement. A recent theoretical quantification of the haplodiploidy effect in these two
scenarios has suggested that haplodiploidy can either promote or inhibit the evolution of
eusociality, and that the effect is usually small. However, this work made the simplifying
assumptions that there is only negligible reproduction by workers and that their offspring have
the same sex ratio as those produced by the queen. Here, we relax these assumptions, and
find that: (1) worker reproduction may extend the extent to which haplodiploidy may inhibit
altruism; and (2) sex ratio leads haplodiploidy to inhibit altruism, in particular if the population
sex ratio is female-biased. Overall, our results support the recent conclusion that other factors,
such as monogamy, have been more important drivers of the evolution of eusociality.
16
Chromosomal inversions: Evolutionary brakes and/or accelerators?
João M. Alves1,2,3, Alexandra M. Lopes2, Peter Heutink4, Lounes Chikhi1,5, António Amorim2,6
1
2
3
Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology, ICBAS, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
4
Department of Medical Genomics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
5
Toulouse, France
6
Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Abstract
The significance of genome rearrangements (structural modifications not involving loss or gain
of genetic material) in evolution and their consequences in human health have been long
recognized, in particular when involving large, cytogenetically detectable changes. However,
their importance in genetic research decreased for decades in favour of smaller mutational
changes of a different nature that could be studied at the populational level. Interestingly, with
the aid of improved genome sequencing technologies, one particular subtype of
rearrangement – inversions – was recently found to be far more common than predicted from
classical cytogenetics. This finding is difficult to reconcile with the classical interpretation of
inversions as a common mechanism causing subfertility or even reproductive isolation leading
ultimately to speciation. But their abundance in polymorphic proportions (at least in humans)
is not the only theoretically challenging data. For instance, one particularly large inversion (900
kb) described in humans and several Great Apes, namely 17q21.31, has been shown to exhibit
‘frozen’ haplotypes. This is not necessarily surprising since recombination is expected to be
limited between the two inverted haplotypes. However, two surprising results were also found
(i) age estimates of the inverted-associated haplotype (H2) are in the order of magnitude of
Millions of years, and (ii) cases were found in which the inversion status was in contradiction
with the molecular haplotype, i.e. some H2 haplotypes (as defined by specific mutations) were
in the same orientation as H1. Both these results suggest several surprising and exciting
explanations. One is that the inversion is either recurrent despite its size, or that the
polymorphism was kept during a large evolutionary timescale and resisted various speciation
processes since it is observed in other Apes. Another possibility would be that recombination
may occur between inverted and non-inverted chromosomes. In order to clarify the
theoretical conundrum resulting from this series of conflicting evidences we are currently
studying the 17q21.31 human polymorphic inversion, merging next-generation sequencing
data sets from 14 human populations with cytogenetic (e.g. Fluorescent in situ hybridization)
and molecular techniques (genotyping SNPs/Indels/STRs in 2 additional populations).
Furthermore, we will apply new population analyses tools, such as simulation tools employing
powerful Bayesian computation (ABC) methods, which will allow us to compare different
realistic models that might explain the complicated history of this inversion.
17
A comparative view on zebrafish and chicken vertebral centrum development
Tomás A. Azevedo1, P. E. Witten2, Isabel Palmeirim1,3
1
Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centro de Biomedicina Molecular e Estrutural,
Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
2
Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Biology Department, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
3
Regenerative Medicine Program, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do
Algarve, Faro, Portugal
Abstract
Vertebrate segmental body organization relies on correct somite segmentation. In the chick, it
has been proposed that the information for this segmentation is restricted to the most-medial
sclerotome cells (MMS). Contrastingly, zebrafish notochord (zfNo) seems to be the one
possessing segmental information. By performing chick notochord ablations at different AP
levels we seek to address notochord function in distinct steps of segmentation. In order to
establish evolutionary parallelisms on the role of zfNo/chick MMS cells in centra formation, we
propose a detailed study on the expression of genes involved in this process. Importantly, we
desire to address if Pax1 and/or zebrafish floating head could underlie the notochord-MMS
shift of segmental information. Overall, we aspire to determine if notochord and MMS belong
to a common developmental module, responsible for centra formation, and if this module is
physically located in teleost notochord, whereas in birds it has been displaced to MMS cells.
18
Evolutionary dynamics of reproductive isolation
Margarida Bárbaro1, Mário A. Mira1, Inês R. Fragata1, Pedro Simões1, Cristina M. Lima1, Miguel
L. Cunha1, B. Kellen1, Josiane Santos1, Margarida Matos1, Sara Magalhaes1
1
Abstract
When a population invades an environment already occupied by conspecifics the fate of the
introgression depends on both differences in relative fitness and reproductive isolation.
Evolutionary changes of fitness are at the heart of studies of local adaptation, but few studies
have analyzed the evolutionary dynamics of reproductive isolation. Changes in reproductive
isolation may occur due to direct selection (e.g. reinforcement) or as a by-product of local
adaptation. Here we present a study of the evolution of reproductive barriers of populations of
Drosophila subobscura founded from the extremes of the European cline, after introduction to
a common, laboratorial environment. We show that mating performance increased during the
first 17 generations of laboratory adaptation. In general populations derived from the North
performed better than southern populations, and this difference was maintained across
generations. Moreover there was an asymmetry in reproductive isolation, with the northern
females preferring to mate with males from their own populations while southern females
preferred males from the North. Whereas northern populations maintained their preference,
disassortative mating of the southern populations faded away during laboratory evolution.
This suggests that reproductive barriers may oppose the migration to the North that is
occurring as a consequence of climate change.
19
Phylogeography of the tiger-fly, Coenosia attenuata (Diptera: Muscidae)
Patrícia G. Brás1, Renata Martins1, Joana Martins2, Maria Teresa Rebelo3, José C. Franco4, Célia
Mateus4,5, Octávio S. Paulo1, Elizabete Figueiredo2, Sofia G. Seabra1
1
Computational Biology and Population Genomics Group, Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Departamento
de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
2
Centro de Engenharia dos Biossistemas, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de
Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
3
Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da
Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
4
Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Lisboa,
Portugal
5
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Oeiras, Portugal
Abstract
Coenosia attenuata Stein is a polyphagous predator that has been recognized as a potential
biological control agent, specially in greenhouse crops. Adults are the only known predators of
adult stage of important pests such as whiteflies and leafminers. Despite the importance of C.
attenuata as part of a crop protection strategy towards sustainability, some aspects of its
bioecology are not yet clarified, which denotes the necessity for more studies. With this
investigation we intend to study the patterns of genetic variation and differentiation across
the distribution range of the species, in order to characterize the existing genetic diversity and
to understand its evolutionary history. Cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene was
sequenced in individuals sampled in Europe, North and South America and western Asia. Low
haplotype and nucleotide diversities were found, suggesting a recent differentiation, although
the distribution of haplotypes across the populations revealed the existence of geographically
structured genetic variation in C. attenuata
20
A new early synapsid (dicynodontia) from the Permian of Mozambique
Rui Castanhinha1,2, Ricardo Araújo2,3, Luís Costa Júnior4, Kenneth Angielczyk5, Rui Martins6,
Gabriel G. Martins7
1
2
Museu da Lourinhã, Lourinhã, Portugal
3
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA
4
Museu Nacional de Geologia, Maputo, Mozambique
5
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
6
Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Lisboa, Portugal
7
Abstract
A nearly complete three-dimensionally preserved skull and mandible, with a series of 19
articulated dorsal, sacral and tail vertebrae, ribs, ilia, partial pubis and femur (ML1620) was
collected from the Late Permian Karoo sediments, Metangula Graben, northern Mozambique
(Niassa Province), Cádzi Formation. Micro-CT visualization of the internal cranial bones
combined with a phylogenetic analysis demonstrate a set of characters shared with
Emydopoidea, namely: broad skull roof; posterior located pineal foramen; biplanar postorbital;
medial expansion of the anterior orbital margin; palatine foramen; shovel-shaped jaw
symphysis; strong lateral dentary shelf; profile of the squamosal in posterior view. However,
ML1620 presents a unique combination of characters, namely: post canine teeth; welldeveloped posterior dentary sulcus; vascular canals in the dorsal surface of frontals; shoeshaped articular surface of quadrate; elongated palatine with two ventral depressions. This
specimen was collect as a result of an annual expedition that started in July 2009: The
PalNiassa project. Since then, important fossil sites have been discovered. The sediments are
Tatarian in age, which is equivalent to the Beaufort Group, possibly correlatable to the
Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone from South Africa. Thus, Mozambique offers a new window of
unstudied fossil sites suggesting that a complete faunal list from the East African Late Permian
is still far from being accomplished.
21
Balancing selection and associative overdominance simulations recover
unexpectedly high diversity observed in C. elegans experimental populations
Ivo M. Chelo1
1
Abstract
How can high diversity be maintained in populations in face of directional selection and drift is
a recurrent question in evolutionary genetics. In this study we subjected Caenorhabditis
elegans populations, that either reproduced exclusively by outcrossing (dioecy) or by partial
selfing and outcrossing (androdioecy), to laboratory adaptation for 100 generations. If we
assume that loci evolve independently, we find similar fitness effect distributions in both
mating systems. This is only possible because androdioecious populations maintain much
lower inbreeding than expected for their observed degree of assortative mating. In order to
explain this excess in heterozygosity, numerical simulations accounting for drift, recombination
and mating system were done to test for selection against partially-recessive loci or for
balancing selection. We find that associative overdominance can explain diversity changes
during the initial stages of evolution, but balancing selection is needed to explain later stages.
22
Phylogenetic analysis of parental care and parenting evolution in ray-finned
fishes: Subdivision Osteoglossomorpha
Ana Maria A. Crespo1, André Levy1, Joana I. Robalo1, Vitor C. Almada1
1
Eco-Ethology Research Unit, ISPA University Institute, Lisbon, Portugal
Abstract
Circa 20% of actinopterygian families display an unusually high diversity of parental behaviors
and all kinds of parenting are found (male-only, female-only and biparental care), with the
prevalence of male-only care, unlike terrestrial vertebrates. In order to study the evolution of
parental care and parenting in ray-finned fishes, we mapped the above behavioral traits upon
40 osteoglossomorphs mitogenomes, by using Mesquite version 2.75. Results supported the
following conclusions: (1) the absence of parental care showed to be the ancestral condition,
from which substratum guarding and male only care evolved; (2) mouthbrooding arose from
substratum guarding; (3) uniparental female care evolved from uniparental male care. Both
parental care and parenting traits revealed evolutionary instability, with character-state
changes and subsequent reversals, as reported in other studies concerning behavior evolution.
23
Tug of war - the role of History, Selection and Chance in adaptation to a new
environment
Inês R. Fragata1, Pedro Simões1, Miguel L. Cunha1, Margarida Lima1, B. Kellen1, Josiane Santos1,
Margarida Matos1
1
Abstract
The relative importance of chance, history and selection during adaptive evolution is a central
research topic in evolutionary biology. Despite the long-standing debate, few empirical studies
have actually tackled this issue. In this study we propose to measure the contributions of these
different processes using as scenario the adaptation to a common environment of Drosophila
subobscura populations initially differentiated due to contrasting histories. In particular we
characterized the evolutionary trajectories of fecundity during the first 22 generations of
laboratory adaptation of populations founded from 3 contrasting latitudes, for which genetic
and morphological differentiation has been previously described. Namely, we aim to test if the
uniform selective pressures of a common environment erase the prior genetic differences
between populations. We found convergence between the different populations despite clear
differentiation at the start, i.e. the historical effects that were observed in the initial stages of
laboratory evolution were overridden by subsequent selection under uniform conditions.
Furthermore, as a measure of the magnitude of the selective forces acting in our populations,
fast temporal changes driven by selection corresponded to around 50% of the initial historical
differentiation between populations.
24
In search of phylogeographic patterns in the northeastern Atlantic and
adjacent seas
Sara I. Francisco1, Joana I. Robalo1, Vitor C. Almada1
1
Abstract
We reviewed 54 studies on teleost fishes and crustaceans inhabiting European waters to test
for the emergence of phylogeographic patterns. Concerning variation of genetic diversity with
latitude we found that: 1) contrary to the predictions of the “central margin hypothesis”, only
a minority of species revealed higher genetic diversity in the center of their distribution; 2) an
important proportion of the fish had a peak of genetic diversity at their southern limit; 3)
another substantial fraction of species showed little or no variation of genetic diversity with
latitude. Genetic structure expressed by significant FSTs varied widely among species from
cases where Atlantic, North Sea and the Mediterranean seem to correspond to distinct
populations, to others where no structure could be detected across their entire range. Given
the heterogeneity in sampling schemes we suggest that regular sampling across entire species
ranges can improve our understanding of the marine phylogeography in Europe.
25
The Benguela Current: a natural laboratory to study evolution in marine fishes
Romina P. Henriques1,2, Paul Shaw2,3
1
2
School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, London, United Kingdom
3
Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom
Abstract
Oceanographic features such as currents, fronts and upwelling cells have been recognised as
possible factors driving population differentiation within species. The Benguela Current is one
of the oldest upwelling systems in the world, located off the west coast of Southern Africa, and
represents a biogeographical boundary between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. Previous
studies have reported the influence of this system in isolating several marine taxa between the
two oceans. However, few have been conducted within the Benguela Current boundaries, in
order to understand its role in shaping population genetic structure of fish species at a regional
level. The present study documents the influence of the Benguela Current oceanographic
features on the genetic differentiation, population connectivity and evolutionary history of five
coastal fish species (Diplodus capensis, Argyrosomus inodorus, Argyrosomus coronus,
Atractoscion aequidens and Lichia amia), and one oceanic pelagic fish species (Thunnus
albacares). Results for both mitochondrial and nuclear marker variation in all coastal species
revealed a similar geographical pattern of population genetic structuring despite distinct
differences in life history features. The oceanic species exhibited shallow population
differentiation between Atlantic and Indian Oceans. For coastal species, different depths of
differentiation were observed, ranging from speciation events (A. aequidens, A. coronus and A.
japonicus) to shallow structuring (A. inodorus and T. albacares). Furthermore, in these cases,
population structures were coincident with the Benguela Current oceanographic features,
suggesting that the system may represent a vicariant barrier to dispersal of coastal fish
species. Congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear markers suggests that population
isolation was not a single historical event, but has persisted over large timescales and is still
active. The existence of cryptic speciation events, and the high levels of genetic diversity and
differentiation documented make the Benguela Current a natural laboratory to study
evolutionary mechanisms shaping biodiversity and genetic population structure of marine fish
species.
26
Evolution and Biogeography of North-West African Foxes
João V. Leite1, Raquel Godinho1, José C. Brito1,2, Guillermo Velo-Antón1
1
2
Abstract
North-West Africa’s biodiversity is still poorly understood and the majority of existing studies
in the region have focused on the phylogeographic history of small, non-volant and low
dispersal taxa, for which barrier effects may be more pronounced. In this study, we combined
mtDNA markers (Cyt-b and D-loop) and autosomal microsatellites (22-29 loci) to infer for the
first time phylogenetic patterns and molecular diversity of four fox species: Vulpes pallida (for
which there were no previous molecular data), V. rueppellii, V. vulpes and V. zerda. The first
three mentioned species are morphologically similar and can be found in distinct, yet
successive, biogeographic regions, namely in the Sahelian (V. pallida), the Saharo-Sindian (V.
rueppellii) and Mediterranean regions (V. vulpes). A previous study using ecological nichebased models predicted broadly parapatric ranges and potential sympatry zones between V.
vulpes and V. rueppellii, and between V. rueppellii and V. pallida, where gene flow between
sympatric populations, and/or species competition and spatial exclusion may be happening,
due to environmental and human-related factors. Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA sequences
yielded surprising results, clustering V. rueppellii within one of two V. vulpes clades. All species
presented high haplotype diversity but no clear geographic structure (with the exception of V.
vulpes in the Maghreb). No signs of population differentiation or hybridization between
sympatric species were observed. The lack of significant evidence for strong biogeographical
structuring of genetic diversity within North African foxes attests for these species’ high
dispersal capacity. Concerning V. rueppellii, we hypothesize that it may represent a more arid
adapted ecotype of V. vVulpes.
27
Pattern, process and the evolution of meaning: species and units of selection
André Levy1
1
Abstract
Many of the fundamental concepts of biology lack consensual, precise definitions. Partly, this
is due to a contrast between our discrete language and the continuous character of nature.
Some debates over these concepts are confounded by the use of the same terms with
different specific meanings, indicating a possible need for an expanded scientific lexicon.
Words have their own histories, and frequently scientific terms with a vernacular origin retain
associated vestigial meanings. Even terms newly coined within science have histories and
changing meanings, which can lead to confusion among debaters. Debates over concepts are
further confounded when the same terms are used in different fields of biology, with distinct
(even conflicting) objectives, and by biologists with different approaches and perspectives. I
illustrate these issues by considering the debate over the concept of species and the unit of
selection.
28
The PPAR nuclear receptor in Bilaterians: an evolutionary and functional
approach
Mónica S. Lopes Marques1, Miguel M. Santos1,2, Ana André1, Maria A. Henriques1, Luis F.
Castro1
1
Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, CIMAR Associate Laboratory,
University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
2
Abstract
Nuclear Receptors (NRs) are critical components of the endocrine and hormonal systems in
metazoans. They represent a superfamily of ligand-dependent and independent transcription
factors that regulate numerous biological processes. However, NRs are also the prime targets
of endocrine disruption. The origin and evolution of the NRs superfamily is still today far from
fully understood. Although, they are found in all metazoan lineages, relevant NR gene families
were until recently considered deuterostome novelties. Significantly, recent studies have
indicated that some NR families emerged in bilaterian ancestry, such as the retinoic acid
receptor (RAR). Here we investigate the presence of peroxisome proliferator-activated
receptor (PPAR) gene sequences in major Bilaterian lineages. PPARs constitute an important
family of NRs which regulate energy balance as well as lipid and glucose homeostasis. We
combine extensive searches in the full genomes available with phylogenetic analysis. Our
findings indicate that PPAR evolved in bilaterian ancestry. Notably, we find clear orthologues in
lophotrocozoan molluscs, but not in annelids or ecdysozoans species, an indication of
secondary loss. We next undertook a comparative sequence analysis and 3D modelling
between deuterostome and protostome PPARs to infer that the later has a larger binding
pocket which may accommodate a wider set of ligands. Finally, we provide the first isolation
and basal characterization of a protostome PPAR in the mollusc limpet, Patella depressa. The
overall findings are discussed considering, the evolution of PPAR signalling pathways and
endocrine disruption mechanisms mediated by this NR gene family. This work was financed by
the Fundação para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) project PTDC/MAR/1
29
How does developmental plasticity contribute to phenotypic evolution?
Cláudia Mendes1, Christen Mirth1, Élio Sucena1,2
1
2
Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Abstract
The Drosophila ovary consists of parallel repetitive units called the ovarioles, which are
assembly lines for the production of eggs. The number of ovarioles is positively correlated with
egg production rate and therefore is a morphological trait closely related to fitness.
Interestingly, ovariole number exhibits both developmental plasticity and interspecific
variation among Drosophila species. These two features of ovariole number provide an
opportunity to address a long-standing question in evolutionary biology: what is the impact of
developmental plasticity on phenotypic evolution? To address this challenge, our approach is
to compare the developmental mechanisms underlying the plastic response with those
underlying genetic differences among related populations or species. Here, we discuss how
ovariole number plasticity is regulated in D. melanogaster. First, we describe how reduced
nutritional conditions affect ovariole number in carefully staged larvae. Our analysis revealed
that the number of ovarioles is severely reduced when early third instar larvae are deprived of
protein by feeding on a sucrose-only medium. Second, we present preliminary results using
several approaches to determine whether two hormonal pathways that have been shown to
affect ovariole number, the insulin and ecdysone pathways, regulate the nutritional-induced
plasticity in ovariole number in D. melanogaster. Using this powerful approach, we will shape
our understanding of how environmentally-induced plasticity contributes to the evolution of
phenotypic variation of this reproductive trait.
30
Increased survival of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli inside the
macrophages
Migla Miskinyte1, Isabel Gordo1
1
Abstract
Mutations causing antibiotic resistance usually incur a fitness cost in the absence of antibiotics.
The magnitude of such cost is known to vary with the environment. Little is known about the
fitness effects of antibiotic resistance mutations when bacteria confront the host’s immune
system. Here we study the fitness effects of mutations in the rpoB, rpsL and gyrA genes, which
confer resistance to rifampicin, streptomycin and nalidixic acid, respectively. These antibiotics
are frequently used in the treatment of bacterial infections. We measured two important
fitness traits – growth rate and survival ability – of twelve Escherichia coli K-12 strains, each
carrying a single resistance mutation, in the presence of macrophages. Strikingly, we found
that 67% of the mutants survived better than the susceptible bacteria in the intracellular niche
of the phagocytic cells. In particular, all E. coli streptomycin resistant mutants exhibit an
intracellular advantage. On the other hand, 42% of the mutants were costly when bacteria
were allowed to divide outside macrophages. This study shows that single non-synonymous
changes affecting fundamental processes in the cell can contribute to prolonged survival of E.
coli in the context of an infection.
31
Hox cluster: insights into fish temporal colinearity
Ana Sara A. Monteiro1,2, Renata Freitas1,3, Isabel Palmeirim4,5, F. Casares2
1
Centro de Biomedecina Molecular e Estrutural, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
2
Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
3
Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
4
Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centro de Biomedicina Molecular e Estrutural,
Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
5
Regenerative Medicine Program, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do
Algarve, Faro, Portugal
Abstract
Hox genes are arranged in clusters in most studied animals and play pivotal roles in patterning
animal body plans. The particular cluster arrangement of Hox genes in the genome of
organisms is of functional importance. In chordates the timing and expression domains of the
genes directly correlate with their position within the cluster (termed temporal and spatial
colinearity respectively) that, ultimately, will specify different fields of cell identity. It has been
hypothesized that temporal colinearity is the main constraining force on Hox cluster
organisation. Regulatory regions involved in at least some aspects of temporal colinearity are
known. In mouse, the telomeric side of HoxD cluster plays a positive effect (activates) the Hox
genes in a sequential manner. Though, the precise enhancer region is unknown. While mouse
has four Hox cluster (HoxA, HoxB, HoxC and HoxD) due to two rounds of genome duplication,
zebrafish possess seven (HoxAa, HoxAb, HoxBa, HoxBb, HoxCa, HoxCb, HoxDa) due to a third
genome duplication. We believe that this “recent” duplication in teleosts may give us the
opportunity to understand the relationship between temporal colinearity and Hox gene
clustering and to understand how changes in gene distance during evolution may have
modulate this mechanism in different paralogous Hox genes. Using a strategy that combines
bioinformatic comparative genomics and zebrafish gene expression studies we observed that
while temporal collinearity in zebrafish HoxAa and HoxAb cluster is present in HoxBa and
HoxBb it is disrupted. in HoxAa and HoxAb clusters the first onset of expression of HoxA13
seems to correlates with the distance between Hox genes and the telomeric region of the Hox
clusters. The telomeric region of zebrafish Hox cluster is poorly conserved regarding non
coding sequences when compared to human genome. While HoxAa and HoxAb cluster depict
conserved syntenic blocks in the telomeric side of the cluster, HoxBa and HoxBb region has
been highly rearranged.
32
Insights into the evolution of Iberian Calendula species depicted from genome
size and chromosome numbers
Sofia Nora1, Ana Carla Gonçalves2, Silvia Castro3, João Loureiro3, Helena Oliveira2, Mariana
Castro3, Conceição Santos2, Paulo C. Silveira4
1
Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
2
Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
3
Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
4
Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
e-mail:
Abstract
Calendula L. (Asteraceae) is a taxonomic and cytologically complex genus due to its high
morphological and karyological variation. To gather consistent cytological information to assist
taxonomic revisions and explore the evolutionary relationships among Calendula species, the
genome size and chromosome number of 11 Iberian Peninsula representatives of this genus
and 2 additional taxa from Morocco were assessed. The chromosome numbers obtained are in
agreement with the majority of the values cited in the bibliography. The genome size of
Calendula species was assessed for the first time. The obtained genome size values and their
variation are discussed in the light of the theories proposed for the speciation pathways for
the genus and support events of hybridization, genome duplications and dysploidy. This study
contributes with important basic scientific knowledge on genome size and chromosome
numbers in Calendula, consolidating the existing knowledge on the taxonomic relationships,
reviewing the hypotheses for the speciation process, and finally providing important
background information for the taxonomic revision of the genus.
33
Conflicting patterns of genetic and acoustic variation in the cicada genus
Tettigettalna from southern Europe (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)
Vera Nunes1, Raquel Mendes1, Eduardo Marabuto1, Bruno M. Novais1, J. A. Quartau1, Sofia G.
Seabra1, Octávio S. Paulo1, Paula C. Simões1
1
Abstract
The genus Tettigettalna includes nine species with similar morphology but distinct male calling
songs. Seven of these species are endemic of the southern Iberian Peninsula and are often
found in sympatry, suggesting an important role for acoustic behaviour in their diversification
and reproductive isolation. Most of these species have been recently described and are still
poorly investigated. The genetic divergence among these species was evaluated with
cytochrome oxidase I sequences, revealing unexpected conflicting patterns when compared
with acoustic data. Some species show deep genetic geographic structure without conspicuous
acoustic divergence: T. argentata, T. helianthemi galantei and T. defauti. In contrast, the
genetic distance was found to be very low between T. argentata and T. mariae or T. aneabi,
despite their considerable divergence in male calling songs. Detailed acoustic analysis of male
calling songs confirmed the distinction in species-specific calling songs but intra-specific
acoustic divergence is not in complete agreement with the genetic structure. Moreover, T.
argentata and T. mariae share some haplotypes in and around the locations where they are
sympatric. The genetic diversity and the distribution range are much smaller for T. mariae than
for T. argentata. Therefore, it is not clear if the genetic overlap between this pair of sibling
species is due to incomplete lineage sorting or recent introgression.
34
Genetic diversity in a little known lemur species from the north of Madagascar
(Microcebus tavaratra)
Isa Pais1, Jordi Salmona1, Célia Kun Rodrigues1, Samuel V. Meyler1, Clément Rabarivola2, Lounes
Chikhi1,3
1
2
Faculté des Sciences, Univ. de Mahajanga, Mahanjanga, Madagascar
3
Toulouse, France
Abstract
Species delimitation and population genetic studies can provide information on the evolution
of species, as well as their response to natural or anthropogenic pressures. However, for many
species these effects have not yet been studied and need further research. This is the case of
mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus) living in the forests of Daraina, north Madagascar. We
sequenced the mitochondrial DNA of 72 Microcebus individuals sampled in three forest
fragments, in order to determine if they were all members of the same species, the M.
tavaratra species previously identified in 2 individuals from this region. We also wanted to
understand how genetic diversity is distributed within and between populations for both
mitochondrial and nuclear genes (microsatellites), as the Manankolana river and other natural
features in Daraina have shown to play a role in the genetic structure of other lemur species
from this and other regions. Finally, we tried to identify genetic clusters despite the limited
number of nuclear loci and populations sampled in this study, and determine if these clusters
correspond to specific features of the habitat. The results suggest that all individuals belong to
the M. tavaratra species and that high genetic variation is maintained in populations from
Bekaraoka and Solaniampilana. However, the lack of genetic diversity in the Binara forest
across all mtDNA loci is surprising. Microsatellite data though, showed that the Binara
population actually exhibited similar levels of genetic variability compared to the other
sampled locations. Moreover, no clear clustering could be defined at the nuclear level. Despite
being probably the most geographically widespread study on Microcebus from Daraina up to
now, our results suggest that more research should be carried out across the whole region.
Studies like this one are important for the implementation of appropriate and effective
conservation plans of threatened species.
35
PRDM9 zinc finger variation in lemurs: characterizing a speciation gene in a
speciouse primate group
João Pimenta1, Isa Pais2, Jordi Salmona2, Clément Rabarivola3, Rebecca Lewis4, António
Amorim1,5, Lounes Chikhi2,6, Alexandra M. Lopes1
1
2
3
Faculté des Sciences, Univ. de Mahajanga, Mahanjanga, Madagascar
4
University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
5
6
Toulouse, France
Abstract
PRDM9 is thought to be a major regulator of meiotic recombination and fertility in mammals
and is the only ‘speciation gene’ described as such in vertebrates. The largest isoform of the
PRDM9 protein contains one KRAB and one SET-domain followed by several zinc fingers (ZnF)
in the C-terminal region. The ZnFs mediate the DNA-binding function of the protein and their
number and sequence are highly variable across and within species. This work aimed at
characterizing the sequence and allelic variation of the PRDM9 ZnFs region in four species of
wild lemurs, three sifakas (genus Propithecus): P. verreauxi (n=18), P. coronatus (n=4), P.
coquereli (n=4) and one mouse lemur (genus Microcebus): M. tavaratra (n=10). We developed
new primers for PRDM9’s last exon based on the M. murinus reference genome, and analyzed
all individuals for repeat length by long-range PCR. Overall, we observed considerable ZnF
repeat length variation, ranging from 6 to 10 repeats in sifakas (Propithecus) and from 12 to 14
in M. tavaratra, with overlapping alleles between species of the former group. Sanger
sequencing of 16 individuals (five M. tavaratra, six P. verreauxi, two P. coquereli and three P.
coronatus) allowed the identification of 24 unique zinc finger sequences at the aminoacid
level, seven shared between all Propithecus and one common to Microcebus and Propithecus.
In our sample we did not find any shared alleles between species, at the protein sequence
level. Overall and in agreement with previous studies in chimpanzee and bonobos, PRDM9
ZnFs display high sequence variability in the group of primates here analyzed. While not
contradicting a possible role for PRDM9 in lemur speciation, our results cast doubt on the role
played by repeat size differences in hybrid sterility, at least in sifakas.
36
Novel Genes from Formation to Function
Rita Ponce1, Lene Martinsen2, Luis M. Vicente3, Daniel L. Hartl2
1
2
Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, USA
3
Abstract
The study of the evolution of novel genes generally focuses on the formation of new coding
sequences. However, equally important in the evolution of novel functional genes are the
formation of regulatory regions that allow the expression of the genes as well as the effects of
the new genes in the organism. We will review the current knowledge on the evolution of
novel functional genes, focusing on youngest genes discovered. Young genes are especially
important, since they may have not yet lost the signature of the events that took place during
their formation, therefore conveying valuable information about those events. We will further
examine a very recent and rapidly evolving cluster of duplicated genes, the Sdic gene cluster,
an excellent model for the evolution of novel genes, as it is very recent and may still be in the
process of evolving.
37
The effect of mate choice in mite populations
Rita Ponce1, Salomé G. Clemente1, Ricardo Ramirez1, Ana Leonor R. Rodrigues1, Sara
Magalhaes1
1
Abstract
Reproductive interference can play an important role in the coexistence of species, being
especially important in the fate of introduced exotic species and in pest management. With
the aim to test the occurrence of reproductive interference, we studied the sexual interactions
between the spider mites Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus evansi. In mate choice
experiments, we found that T. evansi males and T. urticae females preferred to mate
assortatively, whereas no preference was found in the other crosses. In no-choice
experiments, time to mate in heterospecific crosses was longer than in conspecific crosses.
Females also took longer to accept a second mating, except when they had first mated with a
heterospecific male, in which case they behaved as virgins. For both species, in conspecific
crosses, the duration of the second copulation was shorter than that of the first. However, in
heterospecific crosses, this pattern was not observed. Therefore, we concluded that females
from both species can distinguish homospecific from heterospecific males. No offspring was
produced in crosses between T. urticae and T. evansi. Given that mating with a different
species may entail a cost, further investigation on the consequences of these heterospecific
mating in terms of fecundity and offspring sex ratio is necessary.
38
A new theropod eggsite in the Upper Jurassic of Casal da Rola, Lourinhã,
Portugal and the nesting preferences of basal theropod dinosaurs
Vasco Ribeiro1,2, Femke Holwerda1,2
1
Museu da Lourinhã, Lourinhã, Portugal
2
Faculdade de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
e-mail:
Abstract
A new Upper Jurassic (uppermost Late Kimmeridgian) dinosaur eggsite at Casal da Rola near
Lourinhã, central-west Portugal is described. The eggshell macro- and microstructure are
positively comparable with those from a nest assigned to the basal theropod Lourinhanosaurus
antunesi from Paimogo eggsite, about 8km NNW of Casal da Rola, on coeval strata. Eggs from
both sites share the following characters: Egg dimension, eggshell thickness, smooth outer
surface, semi round simple oblique pores, pore relative area, dimensional relations between
mammillary layer, prismatic layer and eggshell thickness. These similarities suggest a similar
taxonomic origin of the eggshells. A thinner type of eggshell was also found, as in Paimogo,
which is identified as crocodiloid type.The high porosity of both type of eggshells suggests a
moisture saturated nesting environment. The eggs were laid in mud and silt characteristic to
distal floodplain sediments, with carbonate concretions indicating paleosol development
already observed in three independent occurrences. These features are related with
paleoenvironmental conditions indicating marked seasonal drought and flooding, which led us
to believe that nesting would occur at the beginning of the dry season in the case of basal
theropod dinosaurs as Lourinhanosaurus.
39
Phylogeography of the fivebeard rockling (Ciliata mustela, Linnaeus, 1758)
Joana I. Robalo1, Cristina M. Lima2, Sara I. Francisco1, Frederico Almada1, Rafael Banõn3, David
Villegas-Ríos4, Vitor C. Almada1
1
2
3
Servizo de Planificación, Dirección Xeral de Desenvolvemento Pesqueiro, Consellería do Mar e Medio
Rural, Xunta de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
4
Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
Abstract
In the present paper we use one mitochondrial and one nuclear marker to assess the
phylogeographic patterns and processes of Ciliata mustela with samples ranging from Central
Portugal to Gullmars fjord in Sweden. Two features are salient in the results of the present
work: 1) there is no detectable subdivision separating Atlantic and North Sea samples, and 2)
at the northern and southern extremes of the area studied, which are close to the distribution
limits of the species, there are no sharp drops of genetic diversity. The data also support
persistence during one or several glacial cycles and a rapid expansion about 10 thousand years
ago. It is proposed that the low thermal preference of the species may have allowed the use of
almost every unglaciated area as refugia and rapid tracking of improving conditions, as some
source populations would not be far from the retreating ice.
40
Does heterogeneity promote kin selection in viscous populations?
António M. Rodrigues1
1
University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Abstract
The evolution of cooperation is favoured if interactions occur mostly among close relatives.
Three mechanisms can promote interactions among relatives: green-beard effects, kin
discrimination and population viscosity. In viscous populations individuals tend to remain near
their place of origin. Due to its simplicity, population viscosity is likely to be an important
mechanism driving the evolution of indiscriminate cooperation among close relatives.
However, population viscosity also promotes competition among relatives, and simple models
of kin selection in viscous populations have shown that the kin competition effects fully negate
the kin selected benefits. These models assume homogeneous populations, where all patches
are identical. By contrast, natural populations evolve in environments where subpopulations
are not equal. Here, I show that heterogeneity between subpopulations decouples the kin
selected benefits from the kin competition effects, thus favouring kin selection in viscous
populations.
41
Genetic Bases of Colour Polymorphism in Philaenus Species
Ana Sofia Rodrigues1, Sara E. Silva1, Eduardo Marabuto1, Francisco Pina Martins1,2, J. Fino1, J.
Silva1, K. Gharbi3, M Blaxter3, M. Castro4, João Loureiro4, P. A.V. Borges1,5, C. Jiggins6, Octávio S.
Paulo1, Sofia G. Seabra1
1
2
Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
3
The GenePool, , The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
4
Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
5
Grupo da Biodiversidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade dos Açores,
Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
6
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Abstract
The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (Insecta, Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) and its
related species are a potential good model system to test hypothesis about adaptation,
maintenance of polymorphism and speciation. Most species of this genus show a similar dorsal
colour/pattern balanced polymorphism. The main objective of this work is to study the genetic
bases of colour polymorphism in Philaenus spumarius by identifying candidate genomic
regions that can be associated with the colour variation. These genes will also be analysed for
the other species of the genus to assess the evolutionary history of this polymorphism.
42
Teaching evolution in elementary schools: an impossible task or a requirement
for a deep understanding of biology contents?
Alexandra I. Sá Pinto1, Rita Campos1
1
Abstract
Evolution is considered the unifying concept of Biology and is also a key underlying theory to
many areas of human societies. Acknowledging the importance of understanding evolution,
several countries have recently proposed biology curriculum to be organized around this
unifying concept and that it should be explored transversally as early as kindergarten.
However, very few studies have focused on the ability of such young children to understand
evolution. To test if elementary school students are able to understand evolutionary
mechanisms and apply such knowledge in new biological scenarios we've developed activities
that can be explored in the frame of portuguese elementary school curricula. These activities
have been explored in seven classes from two elementary schools (Porto and Mangualde),
including at least one class per elementary school grade. The ability of students to predict the
evolutionary outcome of a given biological scenario was tested before and after their exposure
to such activities. Our results show that with adequate activities children can understand and
apply knowledge on natural selection and genetic drift even since the first grade. This further
encourages for an early introduction of evolution in elementary school curriculum.
43
Testing the “Commodity Selection Framework”: can conspecific cues be the key
to the evolution of coloniality in birds?
Manuel A. Sapage1, Susana A. Varela1, Manuel A. Vicente1, Richard H. Wagner2, Éttienne
Danchin3
1
2
Konrad-Lorenz-Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of
Veterinarian Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
3
Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR CNRS-UPS 5174, Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse III),
Toulouse, France
Abstract
Colonial breeding is a widespread phenomenon in animals, especially in birds, where 13% to
19% of the species live in colonies. The classical hypotheses predict colony formation when the
benefits, like reduced predation and enhanced food finding, at least balance the costs of
breeding in aggregations. This approach has not, however, provided general answers to the
origins of coloniality. As an alternative, the Commodity Selection Framework (CSF), states that
coloniality has not been selected per se. It is rather a by-product of fitness-affecting decisionmaking processes during habitat selection. Because it is physically impossible for each
individual to evaluate all the fitness-affecting commodities of one habitat while prospecting for
a breeding site, animals may use social cues that indicate the reproductive success of
conspecifics, and choose to breed near the most successful ones. This would lead to the
formation of breeding aggregations, thus secondarily generating costs and benefits of group
living that lead colonies to grow or not. The scope of this project was to test the CSF using
Pagel’s general method of comparative analysis for discrete variables that tests correlations of
trait evolution along phylogenetic trees. We tested correlations between breeding dispersion
and two types of conspecific cues related to breeding success and to their level of
detectability: nest site and nest type. Our preliminary results suggest that nest type seem not
to be correlated with coloniality, but for some categories of nest site (prominent features and
opened vegetation) there is an agreement with the CSF predictions, which state that solitary
avian species are more prone to evolve colonial breeding if they have traits that make their
nests and consequently their reproductive success more easily detectable by conspecifics.
44
Addressing the genetic response of Bornean elephants to habitat loss and
fragmentation
Reeta Sharma1, Benoit Goossens2,3, Célia Kun Rodrigues1, Tatiana Teixeira1, Nurzhafarina
Othman2,3, Jason Q. Boone4, Nathaniel K. Jue5, Craig Obergfell5, Rachel J. O’Neill5, Lounes
Chikhi1,6
1
2
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
3
Danau Girang Field Centre, Sabah Wildlife Department, Wisma Muis, Sabah, Malaysia
4
Floragenex, Inc., Eugene, OR, USA
5
Molecular & Cell Biology, BH 323A, University of Connecticut, USA
6
Toulouse, France
Abstract
Biodiversity loss due to habitat destruction and habitat degradation poses a major threat to
the rainforests of Borneo. The abundance and distribution of various species have been
affected in these forests due to anthropogenic factors. Forest fragmentation can have a
dramatic effect on landscape connectivity and the dispersal of animals, potentially reducing
gene flow between populations, which could lead to significant inbreeding and loss of genetic
diversity within fragments. We are studying the effect of habitat fragmentation on the genetic
diversity of Bornean elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis). The Bornean elephants are
critically endangered; smaller than other mainland Asian elephants and are found only in the
north of Borneo, in the State of Sabah, Malaysia, and across the border of Sabah and
Kalimantan, Indonesia. These elephants are physically and behaviourally different from the
other elephants of mainland Asia and are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red list. They are
generally smaller with shorter trunks, straight tusks and a long tail. We used two different
sequencing platforms, the Roche 454 FLX (shotgun) and Illumina, GAIIx (Restriction site
associated DNA, RAD) to evaluate the feasibility of the two methodologies for the discovery of
de novo markers (single nucleotide polymorphism, SNPs and microsatellites) using low
coverage data. We found around 2000 SNPs as potential candidates for genotyping assay using
plexes. Approximately, 6,683 (shotgun) and 14,724 (RAD) SNPs were detected within our
elephant sequence dataset. Genotyping of a representative sample of 194 SNPs resulted in a
SNP validation rate of, 83 to 94% and 17% of the loci were polymorphic with a low diversity
(Ho=0.057). Different numbers of microsatellites were identified through shotgun (27,226) and
RAD (868) techniques. Out of all di-, tri-, and tetra-microsatellite loci, 1,706 loci had sufficient
flanking regions (shotgun) while only 7 were found with RAD. All microsatellites were
monomorphic in the Bornean but polymorphic in another elephant subspecies. Despite using
different sample sizes, and the well-known differences in the two platforms used regarding
sequence length and throughput, the two approaches showed high validation rate. The
approaches used here for marker development in a threatened species demonstrate the utility
of high throughput sequencing technologies as a starting point for the development of
genomic tools in a non-model species and in particular for a species with low genetic diversity.
45
Phylogeography and historical demography of Oceanodroma castro and
Oceanodroma monteiroi: contrasting anonymous nuclear and mitochondrial
loci.
Mauro F. Silva1
1
Abstract
Phylogeography has proved to be a powerful tool for understanding the origin, dispersal and
geographic structure of taxa over time and space based on the evolutionary genetic footprints
left by historical processes. Taking advantage of recent coalescent based methods, the
phylogeography and historical demography of two Procellariiformes species, Oceanodroma
castro (sampled from the Azores, Madeira, Galapagos and Japan) and Oceanodroma monteiroi
(sampled from Azores), are studied using a multi-locus approach based on 12 nuclear
anonymous loci and a previously surveyed mitochondrial locus (Control Region). Despite lower
structuring levels of the anonymous loci (ΦST nuclear= 0.43, P < 0.0001) relative to the
Control Region (ΦST Control Region= 0.76, P < 0.0001), they were informative and also
suggested that all populations are genetically differentiated. Furthermore, the nuclear loci
uncovered an ancestral relationship between O. castro population from Japan and O.
monteiroi that was not detected by the mitochondrial locus. Multi-locus coalescent analyses
suggested that all the divergence events (except between O. castro populations from NE
Atlantic archipelagos) occurred within the Pleistocene. Significant levels of gene flow are
unlikely to have occurred during the diversification process, even within ocean basins,
supporting that factors other than geological barriers, such as paleo-oceanographical
conditions, phylopatry and specialization to foraging/non-breeding areas, act as important
mechanisms of population divergence in pelagic seabirds.
46
Disentangling the bindweeds: Systematics and Evolution of Merremieae
(Convolvulaceae)
Ana Rita Simões1, Mark Carine1
1
Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Abstract
Tribe Merremieae has always challenged taxonomists and systematists working in family
Convolvulaceae. The lack of good morphological characters to define it and the increase in the
number of published species in floristic accounts has turned the tribe into an aggregation of
questionably related taxa. Recently published phylogenetic studies based on molecular data of
Convolvulaceae have indicated that the tribe is not monophyletic, and that its largest genus
Merremia Hall. f. is polyphyletic. The morphological variation in this tribe is overwhelming,
even among characters that have been used for generic and tribal circumscription such as
pollen and fruit types. No taxonomic account exists for the tribe, nor for the genus Merremia,
so a comprehensive revision of the Merremieae has been lacking to help get the taxonomy in
order. The present study aims to investigate the evolutionary relationships in Merremieae, to
study the evolution of its interestingly variable morphological traits, and ultimately to produce
a taxonomic revision of the group. A thorough morphological survey of taxa from across the
whole distribution range of the tribe has been undertaken and a large number of
macromorphological, palynological and molecular characters have been used. The molecular
phylogeny of the group will be presented, with a discussion of the main relationships as well as
inferences on biogeography and character evolution.
47
Appearances can be deceiving: clinal variation of inversions and wing traits in
Drosophila subobscura
Pedro Simões1, Inês R. Fragata1, Miguel L. Cunha1, Cristina M. Lima1, B. Kellen1, Margarida
Bárbaro1, Mauro Santos1, Margarida Matos1
1
Abstract
Latitudinal clines for chromosomal inversion frequencies as well as wing size and shape have
been found in Drosophila subobscura in both Old (Europe) and New (America) World
populations. Particularly it has been found that standard arrangements increase in frequency
towards higher latitudes, where flies are also bigger. The rapid formation of both clines after
the colonization event, suggested that the wing traits cline had been driven by the inversion
polymorphism. Previous studies tried to test this hypothesis and have found an intrapopulation association between wing traits and standard chromosomal inversions.
Nevertheless, it had opposite signs in one European population (Adraga) and one South
American population (Puerto Montt). This is probably due to a bottleneck effect following the
colonization of the Americas. Despite this interesting finding it is still unknown if this is a
generalized difference between continents. To answer this question we here tested for the
consistency of the association between wing traits and inversions in 3 populations along the
cline of each continent. Surprisingly we found no clear association between wing size and the
number of standard inversions in either continent. On the other hand, we confirmed that the
previously reported negative association between wing shape and standard dose of Puerto
Montt spread with latitude through South America. This contrasts with the positive sign of the
cline for both wing shape and inversions. Taken together, these results suggest that contrary
to previous expectations the inversion and wing clines in D. subobscura evolved
independently.
48
Identifying loci under selection against gene flow in isolation with migration
models
Vitor Sousa1, Miguel Carneiro2, Nuno Ferrand2, Jody Hey1
1
Rutgers University, USA
2
Abstract
Populations can diverge in the presence of gene flow due to the action of natural selection,
which prevents gene flow on genomic regions involved in adaptations or genetic
incompatibilities. However, most methods for studying population divergence assume that all
loci share the same demographic parameters, including migration rates. We describe a method
based on clustering loci into distinct groups characterized by different sets of parameters, thus
relaxing the assumption that all loci share the same demography. The method is an adaptation
of a general Isolation with Migration model in which loci are grouped into common sets that
differ in their demographic history. We extended the IMa2 program by implementing an
inference framework that: (i) classifies loci into different groups, detecting loci potentially
under selection without prior information; (ii) estimates the parameters of the different
groups, quantifying the differences between migration rates and/or effective sizes among
groups of loci; and (iii) performs likelihood ratio tests to assess the fit of different models to
the data. Thus, it is possible to identify loci affected by selection, and to also obtain accurate
estimates of demographic parameters for neutral loci. We investigate the performance of this
method with a simulation study, and we apply it to the divergence of two sub-species of
European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
49
cis-regulatory evolution and functional diversification of the Three Finger
Domain Protein family in Diptera
Kohtaro Tanaka1, Alexis Hazbun1, Barbara Vreede1, Fernando Roch2, Élio Sucena1,3
1
2
Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
3
Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Abstract
Gene duplication plays a major role in evolution of novel gene functions as it provides a
material basis for variation and selection. We are interested in elucidating how cis-regulatory
changes contribute to functional diversification ensuing gene duplication. To address this
question we are studying the Three-Fingered-Domain Protein (TFDP)/Ly6 gene family in
insects. These genes encode different GPI-anchored membrane proteins and are fully
conserved across drosophilids. Our survey and phylogenetic analysis of the gene family in the
sequenced insect genomes indicate that a subset of these genes are unique to higher
dipterans and arose from lineage-specific duplications of orthologues found in other clades.
We are focusing our analysis on nine paralogues in Drosophila and their unduplicated
orthologues in non-drosophilid insects representing different nodes in the phylogeny and
stages of duplication. In order to determine how the expression domains of the ancestral
unduplicated genes diversified following the duplication events, we are currently
characterizing expression patterns of these genes in the embryos in Drosophila, the
Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, the scuttle fly, Megaselia abdita, the mosquito
Anopheles and the butterfly, Bicyclus anynana. We find that the subset of the paralogues
retain the tissue-specificity of the unduplicated orthologues, while the other paralogues
acquire novel tissue-specific expression suggesting neofunctionalization. Our goal is to identify
the cis-regulatory elements of the duplicated genes and the unduplicated orthologues to
elucidate the cis-regulatory mechanism underlying the divergent expression patterns.
50
The evolutionary implications of the small-bodied diplodocid Kaatedocus siberi
(Dinosauria, Sauropoda)
Emanuel Tschopp1, Octávio Mateus1
1
Centro de Investigação em Ciência e Engenharia Geológica, Faculdade de Ciência e Tecnologia,
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Abstract
Diplodocid sauropods are among the most iconic dinosaurs. With their greatly elongated necks
and tails, diplodocids best represent the typical body shape of sauropods. Besides the popular
and well-known taxa Diplodocus and Apatosaurus, several other genera have been named. At
present, about 12 to 15 different species are considered valid, among them also the
Portuguese species Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis. The vast majority of diplodocid species,
however, comes from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of the Western United States.
The high variety of this clade in this area is surprising, given that the Morrison Formation is
usually interpreted to have been formed in arid conditions. Nonetheless, new genera continue
to be discovered. Kaatedocus siberi, a recently described diplodocid from North Central
Wyoming, USA, fills both a spatial and temporal gap in the knowledge of diplodocid evolution
and paleobiogeography. It is one of only few species recovered from the northern exposures of
the formation, and was found low in stratigraphy. A phylogenetic analysis recovers Kaatedocus
as basal diplodocine. Its distinction from the other taxa is supported by three unambiguous
and eight local autapomorphies. The holotype specimen of Kaatedocus siberi (SMA 0004)
contains a well-preserved and partially articulated cervical column, as well as a disarticulated,
but almost complete skull. It shows an interesting combination of adult and juvenile
morphological features. Besides the small size, the relatively large orbit, and the incomplete
fusion of skull bones are generally interpreted as signs of young age. On the other hand, the
cervical vertebrae show a complete fusion between the centra, neural arches, and cervical
ribs, which usually only occurs in adult individuals. The retention of juvenile traits in the skull
therefore might represent heterochronic development, possibly related to the smaller body
size, compared to the more derived Diplodocus or Barosaurus. The fact that Kaatedocus was
recovered as basal diplodocine goes well with the low stratigraphic position of the type
locality. Additionally, with its small body size, it makes a good example of Cope's Rule, which
predicts increasing body sizes throughout the evolution of single clades. The phylogenetic
analysis performed with Kaatedocus also has implications for the systematic position of
Dinheirosaurus. Whereas Dinheirosaurus was recovered as basal diplodocine in earlier
phylogenies, the addition of Kaatedocus results in a more basal position of Dinheirosaurus.
Together with Supersaurus, Dinheirosaurus now forms the sisterclade to Apatosaurus +
Diplodocinae, and represents thus the most basal Diplodocidae.
51
Epidemiological and evolutionary consequences of host tolerance to infection
Pedro Vale1
1
CIIE, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Abstract
In the battle against infection hosts have evolved two distinct defences: resistance
mechanisms that target pathogens to reduce infection loads, and tolerance mechanisms that
reduce the damage caused by infection without directly targeting pathogen numbers. In
contrast to resistance, the mechanisms underlying tolerance, and its epidemiological and
evolutionary consequences, remain poorly understood. First, tolerating infection may affect
disease spread: because tolerance allows hosts to survive longer with higher infection loads,
tolerant hosts are one potential source of super-shedding hosts. I’ll show how experimental
infections may be useful to test if some environmental conditions, by promoting tolerance to
infection, are more likely to foster extremely infectious individual hosts. Second, unlike
resistance, tolerance does not target pathogens directly, making its consequences for virulence
evolution unclear. I’ll describe experiments I will carry out using Drosophila melanogaster lines
infected with Drosophila C virus (DCV) that will reveal levels of genetic variation in tolerance to
DCV, the genetic basis of this variation, and ultimately allow to test theoretical predictions
about pathogen evolution under variable tolerance. By studying how tolerance influences
disease spread and evolution, we may ultimately aim to understand how individual host
variation impacts on the epidemiological and evolutionary outcomes of infectious disease.
52
List of Participants
Name
Maria Ana Aboim
Bruno Afonso
Marta R Alba
João Alpedrinha
Carolina Alves
Filipa Alves
Renato J Alves
João M Alves
Ana Rita Amaral
Tomás A Azevedo
Margarida Bárbaro
João M Batista
Patrícia Beldade
Catarina B Bourgard
Pedro Branco
Sara Branco
Patrícia G Brás
Patrícia H Brito
Marta S Cálix
Paula Campos
Rita Campos
Luís M Cardoso
Sara C Carona
André F Carvalho
Inês C Carvalho
Luís M Carvalho
Maria Carvalho
Sara N Carvalho
Rui Castanhinha
Luis F Castro
Ivo M Chelo
Lounes Chikhi
Salomé G Clemente
Pedro D Coelho
Ana Maria A Crespo
Miguel L Cunha
André M Dias
Francisco Dionisio
Iolanda Domingues
Ana Catarina G Dourado
Ana Duarte
Rui M Faria
Ana Mafalda S Ferreira
Rute Fonseca
Inês R Fragata
Sara I Francisco
Renata Freitas
João P Gama
Paulo J Gama Mota
Hugo Gante
Nathalie Gontier
Luís M Gonzalez
Isabel Gordo
Rasmus Heller
Romina P Henriques
Femke Holwerda
Angela Inácio
Tiago F Jesus
email
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Affiliation
CBA-UL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
University of Oxford, UK / IGC, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
GABBA / IPATIMUP, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
IBB - Ualg, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands
UC - Berkeley, USA
CoBiG2 - CBA, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
Museu da Ciência - UC, Portugal
CIBIO/UP, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
APCM, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC / Museu da Lourinhã, Portugal
CIIMAR, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal / CNRS, France
CBA-UL, Portugal
ISPA, Portugal
ISPA, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
Universidade Lusofona, Portugal
IGC / CBA-UL, Portugal
IGC / CBA-UL, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
University of Cambridge, UK
CIBIO/UP, Portugal
CIIMAR, Portugal
Copenhagen University, Denmark
CBA-UL, Portugal
ISPA, Portugal
CBME / IBMC, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
CIBIO-UC, Portugal
University of Basel, Switzerland
AppEEL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
Royal Holloway University of London, UK
FCT-UNL / Museu da Lourinhã, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
Roberto Keller
Jessica King
Bram Kuijper
Elvira Lafuente
Telma G Laurentino
Alexandre C Leitão
João V Leite
André Levy
Cristina M Lima
Pedro T Lima
Alexandra M Lopes
Mónica S Lopes Marques
Marta M Lourenço
Ana Paula O Machado
Sara Magalhaes
Isabel T Magalhães
Susanna C Manrubia
Eduardo Marabuto
Marta Marialva
Nelson Martins
Catarina S Mateus
Octávio Mateus
Ana Rita Mateus
Gonçalo S Matos
Margarida Matos
José Melo-Ferreira
Cláudia Mendes
Madalena C Mendes
Sara M Mendes
Mário A Mira
António L Miranda
Migla Miskinyte
Inês S Modesto
Ana Moleirinho
André F Monteiro
Ana Sara A Monteiro
Ana Carolina D Moraes
Juliana S Nascimento
Susana S Neves
Teresa I Nogueira
Carolina B Nunes
Vera L Nunes
Isa Pais
Daniel Pardejo
Bárbara R Parreira
José R Paula
Margarida Pereira
Ricardo J Pereira
Lilia Perfeito
João Pimenta
Francisco Pina Martins
Joana Pinho
Catarina J Pinto
Rita Ponce
Ricardo Ramiro
Ana Margarida B Raposo
Rita Rasteiro
Carla Ribeiro
Ana Rita M Ribeiro
Mariana Ricca
Joana I Robalo
Rita G Rocha
Sara R Rocha
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54
IGC, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
University of Cambridge / ExeterUniversity, UK
IGC, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
CIBIO/UP, Portugal
ISPA, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IPATIMUP, Portugal
CIIMAR, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
UC, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
UC, Portugal
INTA-CSIC, Spain
FCUL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
FCT-UNL / Museu da Lourinhã, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
CIBIO/UP, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
DBA-UL, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
FCUL / IGC, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
ITQB / CBA-UL, Portugal
IPATIMUP, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
CSIC, Spain / CBME, Portugal
UTL, Portugal
UESB, Brasil
ITQB, Portugal
CBA-UL / IGC, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
UTAD, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
ISPA, Portugal
FCT-UNL, Portugal
SIO - UCSD, USA
IGC, Portugal
IPATIMUP, Portugal
CoBiG2 - CBA / CESAM-Aveiro, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
UAlg, Portugal
University of Leicester, UK
CBA-UL, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
University of Zurich, Switzerland
ISPA, Portugal
CESAM-Aveiro, Portugal
Universidad de Vigo, Spain
Ana Sofia Rodrigues
António M Rodrigues
Ana Leonor R Rodrigues
Alexandra I Sá Pinto
Jordi Salmona
Ana Sofia C Santos
Manuel Santos
Maria Emília Santos
Manuel A Sapage
Klaus Schliep
Sofia G Seabra
Rita S Severino
Reeta Sharma
André Silva
Carolina P Silva
Diogo N Silva
Gonçalo F Silva
Mauro F Silva
Mónica S Silva
Pedro Silva
Sara E Silva
Teresa L Silva
Ana Catarina A Silva
Paulo C Silveira
Pedro Simões
Ana Rita Simões
André Soares
Jorge Sousa
Vitor Sousa
Ana Margarida Sousa
Élio Sucena
Kohtaro Tanaka
Yan Torres
Sandra C Trigo
Emanuel Tschopp
Pedro Vale
Reinaldo V Valle
Susana A Varela
Beatriz Viçoso
Bruno Vieira
Lindi Wahl
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55
University of Oxford, UK
CBA-UL, Portugal
CIBIO/UP, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
UAv, Portugal
University of Basel, Switzerland
CESAM-Lisboa, Portugal
Universidad de Vigo, Spain
FCUL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
FCUL, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
CIBIO/UP, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
UAv, Portugal
CBA-UL, Portugal
Natural History Museum - London, UK
UAlg, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
Rutgers University, USA
IGC, Portugal
IGC / FCUL, Portugal
IGC, Portugal
CIIMAR, Portugal
CIBIO-UC, Portugal
CICEGe, Portugal
CIIE - University of Edinburgh, UK
UFSC, Brasil
CESAM-Lisboa, Portugal
UC - Berkeley, USA
Western University, Canada

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