Long-wavelength-sensitive (lws) opsin gene expression, foraging and visual communication in coral reef fishes.

ABSTRACT: Coral reef fishes are diverse in ecology and behaviour and show remarkable colour variability. Investigating the visual pigment gene (opsin) expression in these fishes makes it possible to associate their visual genotype and phenotype (spectral sensitivities) to visual tasks, such as feeding strategy or conspecific detection. By studying all major damselfish clades (Pomacentridae) and representatives from five other coral reef fish families, we show that the long-wavelength-sensitive (lws) opsin is highly expressed in algivorous and less or not expressed in zooplanktivorous species. Lws is also upregulated in species with orange/red colours (reflectance >520 nm) and expression is highest in orange/red-coloured algivores. Visual models from the perspective of a typical damselfish indicate t

SUBMITTER: Stieb SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10065935 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature