Meeting Abstract
Among major vertebrate groups, anurans are understudied with regards to their visual systems and how they function. In this study, we sampled North American anurans representing diverse evolutionary and life histories and which likely possess visual systems adapted to meet different ecological needs. Using standard molecular techniques, we obtained sequences for rhodopsin (Rh1) and three cone opsins (LWS, SWS1, and SWS2A) expressed in anuran retinas. Changes to the amino acid sequence of opsins can result in shifts in the wavelength sensitivity of a visual pigment and thus can alter dim-light and color vision. We identified variable sites, including those with polarity changes, by comparing specific amino acid positions across taxa. Variation within the transmembrane regions of each opsin indicate possible spectral tuning sites, suggesting variation in dim-light and color vision among anuran clades. Current phylogenetics do not fully explain patterns of anuran opsin evolution. Preliminary results suggest that selective pressures relating to ecology and light environment may be driving changes to anuran visual systems. This work provides an exciting framework to further our understanding of anuran vision.
