The aposematic phenotype: a geno- by phenotype perspective from poison frogs

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Heike Pröhl; Dr. Ariel Rodríguez
• Subject Area: Evolution, Anthropology ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 459443707

Aposematism and crypsis are two contrasting anti-predator strategies. Aposematic animals often possess a conspicuous warning coloration to signal their predators harmful phenotypes (chemical defences, spines, etc.), while cryptic animals are camouflaged and generally non-harmful. In Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) many species are colour polypytic, with populations showing different colour morphs which vary in conspicuousness. In the well-studied strawberry poison frog O. pumilio the more conspicuous colour morphs are more toxic, thus presenting an aposematic phenotype while more cryptic colour morphs are less toxic. In our previous studies, we found that the expression of genes involved in pigment production and structural coloration differs between colour morphs in O. pumilio. Here we extend on these findings by investigating the genomic link between coloration and toxicity in detail. We will characterize the alkaloids and pigments as well as underlying expression and genetic variation of coloration- and alkaloid-related genes in three Oophaga species. The central question of this project is whether genotype and phenotype are similarly correlated between the red and green colour morphs in the three Oophaga species thus providing evidences on whether the evolutionary trajectories of aposematic traits resulted from deterministic and predictable or idiosyncratic and unpredictable evolution. This genotype by phenotype interaction analysis of a diverse set of aposematic traits have been rarely assessed by evolutionary biologists. The expected genomic insights on the evolution of aposematism will propel similar genotype by phenotype studies in other aposematic groups and ultimately advance our understanding of aposematism evolution. The project will include extensive transfer of knowledge and capacity building between European and Latin American labs, involving scientists of different ages, sexes/gender and origins. The applied methodologies and collaboration strategies are expected to boost the scientific outputs of all participants while strengthening their human integration.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Costa Rica
• Partner Organisation: Consejo Nacional de Rectores
• Cooperation Partner: Professorin Dr. Giselle Tamayo-Castillo