Complex heterochrony underlies the evolution of Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite sex allocation

Hermaphroditic organisms are key models in sex allocation research, yet the developmental processes by which hermaphrodite sex allocation can evolve remain largely unknown. Here we use experimental evolution of hermaphrodite-male (androdioecious) Caenorhabditis elegans populations to quantify the de...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evolution 2016-10, Vol.70 (10), p.2357-2369
Main Authors: Poullet, Nausicaa, Vielle, Anne, Gimond, Clotilde, Carvalho, Sara, Teotónio, Henrique, Braendle, Christian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological
Animal reproduction
Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans - growth & development
Evolution
evolution of development
Evolution, Molecular
experimental evolution
hermaphrodite
Hermaphroditic Organisms - genetics
Hermaphroditic Organisms - growth & development
Life Sciences
mating system evolution
Nematodes
Oogenesis
Self-Fertilization
Sexual Maturation - genetics
Sperm
Spermatogenesis
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Summary:Hermaphroditic organisms are key models in sex allocation research, yet the developmental processes by which hermaphrodite sex allocation can evolve remain largely unknown. Here we use experimental evolution of hermaphrodite-male (androdioecious) Caenorhabditis elegans populations to quantify the developmental changes underlying adaptive shifts in hermaphrodite sex allocation. We show that the experimental evolution of increased early-life self-fertility occurred through modification of a suite of developmental traits: increased self-sperm production, accelerated oogénesis and ovulation, and increased embryo retention. The experimental evolution of increased self-sperm production delayed entry into oogenesis—as expected, given the sequentially coupled production of self-spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Surprisingly, however, delayed oogénesis onset did not delay reproductive maturity, nor did it trade-off with gamete or embryo size. Comparing developmental time dynamics of germline and soma indicates that the evolution of increased sperm production did not delay reproductive maturity due to a globally accelerated larval development during the period of self-spermatogenesis. Overall, heterochrony in gametogenesis and soma can explain adaptive shifts in hermaphrodite sex allocation.
ISSN:0014-3820
1558-5646
DOI:10.1111/evo.13032