Meeting Abstract

49.2  Monday, Jan. 5  Rapid visual system evolution within the cichlid species flock of Lake Malawi O’QUIN, Kelly E.*; MARSHALL, Justin; CRONIN, Thomas; CARLETON, Karen L.; Univ. of Maryland, College Park; Univ. of Queensland; Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County; Univ. of Maryland, College Park koquin@umd.edu

Members of the cichlid species flock of Lake Malawi have evolved extensive morphological and behavioral diversity in only 1 -2 million years. We measured opsin gene expression in 56 cichlid species from Lake Malawi in order to estimate the diversity of retinal photoreceptor sensitivities in this group. Our results reveal significant divergence in visual sensitivities among many closely related cichlid species. We also show that the evolution of single cone photoreceptor sensitivities is significantly correlated with the evolution of both divergent foraging preferences and lens transmissivity. These correlated evolution of these traits suggest that the observed patterns of differential opsin gene expression among the cichlids species of Lake Malawi may be the result of natural selection to meet specific visual challenges. These changes could in turn have important implications for cichlid mate choice and speciation.