Biology subjects

Mouginot, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Mouginot, P..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Epigenetic variation causes heritable variation in complex traits in the mollusk Biomphalaria glabrata, vector of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni

DNA methylation variation may play a role in phenotypic variation as it can be directly affected by the environment and be inherited. DNA methylation variations were introduced into the parasite vector snail Biomphalaria glabrata with low genetic diversity by chemical treatment in F0 and followed over 3 generations using epigenetic recombinant inbred lines (epiRILs). We observed phenotypic variation in complex traits such as fecundity and susceptibility to infestation by Schistosoma mansoni and DNA methylation differences in F3. Both, increase and decrease of infestation success (up to 100% and down to 20% prevalence in epiRILs and from 86% to 94% in control RILs) indicated variation in complex resistance/compatibility trait. Average prevalence in control RILs was 84{+/-}5% but only 68{+/-}21 % in epiRILs. Fecundity also changed and was in average 47{+/-}7% in control RILs and 59{+/-}18% in epiRILs, being 12% higher in epiRILs. We found that the heritability h2 of the fecundity in the epiRILs was between 0.5 and 0.6 depending on the method used to estimate it. We developed a model for introducing epimutant offspring snails into resident susceptible populations. If genetic assimilation of the resistant phenotype occured in a small fraction of the introduced epimutant snails, we predict that the susceptible phenotype is replaced by the resistant phenotype after 50-70 generations.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2021

Rapid ecological and evolutionary divergence during a poleward range expansion

In response to climate change, a northward range expansion has been observed in many species. The wasp spider, Argiope bruennichi, has expanded from its historic range in the Mediterranean ("core"), now reaching as far as the Baltic States and Scandinavia ("edge"), even faster than the pace of climate change. We explored life history traits, adult phenotypes, offspring cold tolerance, and genomic patterns across the European range of A. bruennichi, and found origin-, environment- and life stage-specific responses to the cold northern climate. Wasp spiders have shifted their phenology at the edge, with females maturing earlier and at a smaller size, but maintaining similar pigmentation, clutch sizes, and hatching success compared to the core region. Using a reciprocal common garden experiment on overwintering offspring from the core and edge, we found evidence for genetic adaptation and considerable phenotypic plasticity. Overwintering survival was lower under the cold winter treatment for spiderlings from both origins. However, the edge-origin spiderlings that survived the winter had lower lethal temperatures and enhanced supercooling ability with reduced phenotypic plasticity in supercooling points compared to core spiderlings, while the chill coma recovery time was similar. Metabolomic analysis revealed accumulations of amino acids and myo-inositol in the cold winter treatment, particularly in spiderlings from the edge population, suggesting a role of these metabolites in improving cold tolerance. Genotype-environment tests showed strong genetic association across the genome to seasonality and minimum winter temperature. The population genomic analysis across the European range splits A. bruennichi into two distinct genetic clusters through the center of Germany, which roughly aligns with turnover from an oceanic to continental climate zone, complementing the genotype-environment test results. Overall, our study highlights the importance of integrating data on phenological shifts, changes in life-history, and life stage-specific phenotypic plasticity and genetic adaptation to understand the impacts of range expansions and shifts. The nuanced processes of acclimation and adaptation we uncovered advocate for holistic investigations of evolutionary fitness and fitness-related traits in the context of organismal responses to novel and changing environments.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2019

Differential oxidative costs of locomotory and genital damage in an orb-weaving spider

In animals that regularly experience tissue loss, physiological responses may have evolved to overcome the related costs. Changes in oxidative status may reflect such self-maintenance mechanisms. Here, we investigated how markers of oxidative status varied in female orb-weaving spiders (Larinia jeskovi) by mimicking two distinct types of tissue loss they may naturally encounter: damage to their locomotory system and damage to their external genital structure, as inflicted by males to females during copulation (external female genital mutilation). Damage to the locomotory system resulted in a significant shift in the oxidative status reflecting investment into self-maintenance. In contrast, the loss of the genital structure did not result in quantitative changes of oxidative markers. The lack of response to genital mutilation suggests that genital mutilation is physiologically not costly for female spiders. The cost incurred to females rather arises from genital mutilation preventing the females from remating with another male.

evolutionary biology↗