A speciation gene for left-right reversal in snails results in anti-predator adaptation

How speciation genes can spread in a population is poorly understood. In land snails, a single gene for left–right reversal could be responsible for instant speciation, because dextral and sinistral snails have difficulty in mating. However, the traditional two-locus speciation model predicts that a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2010-12, Vol.1 (9), p.133-133, Article 133
Main Authors: Hoso, Masaki, Kameda, Yuichi, Wu, Shu-Ping, Asami, Takahiro, Kato, Makoto, Hori, Michio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/158/856
631/181/757
631/181/759
631/601
Adaptation, Physiological - genetics
Animals
Colubridae - physiology
Humanities and Social Sciences
multidisciplinary
Predatory Behavior
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Snails - genetics
Snails - physiology
Snakes - physiology
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Summary:How speciation genes can spread in a population is poorly understood. In land snails, a single gene for left–right reversal could be responsible for instant speciation, because dextral and sinistral snails have difficulty in mating. However, the traditional two-locus speciation model predicts that a mating disadvantage for the reversal should counteract this speciation. In this study, we show that specialized snake predation of the dextral majority drives prey speciation by reversal. Our experiments demonstrate that sinistral Satsuma snails (Stylommatophora: Camaenidae) survive predation by Pareas iwasakii (Colubroidea: Pareatidae). Worldwide biogeography reveals that stylommatophoran snail speciation by reversal has been accelerated in the range of pareatid snakes, especially in snails that gain stronger anti-snake defense and reproductive isolation from dextrals by sinistrality. Molecular phylogeny of Satsuma snails further provides intriguing evidence of repetitive speciation under snake predation. Our study demonstrates that a speciation gene can be fixed in populations by positive pleiotropic effects on survival. A single gene results in either dextral or sinistral snail shell coiling and snails with different coils cannot copulate. Here, the authors provide evidence of how such an allele can become fixed in a population by showing that snails with a counterclockwise sinistral coil are protected from predators.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/ncomms1133