Novel genetic sex markers reveal high frequency of sex reversal in wild populations of the agile frog (Rana dalmatina) associated with anthropogenic land use.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_8054FF669D7F
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Novel genetic sex markers reveal high frequency of sex reversal in wild populations of the agile frog (Rana dalmatina) associated with anthropogenic land use.
Journal
Molecular ecology
Author(s)
Nemesházi E., Gál Z., Ujhegyi N., Verebélyi V., Mikó Z., Üveges B., Lefler K.K., Jeffries D.L., Hoffmann O.I., Bókony V.
ISSN
1365-294X (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0962-1083
Publication state
Published
Issued date
10/2020
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
29
Number
19
Pages
3607-3621
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Populations of ectothermic vertebrates are vulnerable to environmental pollution and climate change because certain chemicals and extreme temperatures can cause sex reversal during early ontogeny (i.e. genetically female individuals develop male phenotype or vice versa), which may distort population sex ratios. However, we have troublingly little information on sex reversals in natural populations, due to unavailability of genetic sex markers. Here, we developed a genetic sexing method based on sex-linked single nucleotide polymorphism loci to study the prevalence and fitness consequences of sex reversal in agile frogs (Rana dalmatina). Out of 125 juveniles raised in laboratory without exposure to sex-reversing stimuli, 6 showed male phenotype but female genotype according to our markers. These individuals exhibited several signs of poor physiological condition, suggesting stress-induced sex reversal and inferior fitness prospects. Among 162 adults from 11 wild populations in North-Central Hungary, 20% of phenotypic males had female genotype according to our markers. These individuals occurred more frequently in areas of anthropogenic land use; this association was attributable to agriculture and less strongly to urban land use. Female-to-male sex-reversed adults had similar body mass as normal males. We recorded no events of male-to-female sex reversal either in the laboratory or in the wild. These results support recent suspicions that sex reversal is widespread in nature, and suggest that human-induced environmental changes may contribute to its pervasiveness. Furthermore, our findings indicate that sex reversal is associated with stress and poor health in early life, but sex-reversed individuals surviving to adulthood may participate in breeding.
Keywords
Adult, Animals, Breeding, Female, Genetic Markers, Genotype, Humans, Male, Ranidae/genetics, Sex Ratio, agricultural habitats, amphibians, genetic sex marker, masculinization, sex reversal, urbanization
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
15/09/2020 11:26
Last modification date
13/04/2024 7:05
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