Seeing in the Deep: Evolution of the Opsin Gene Expression in Bermin Crater Lake Cichlids.

ABSTRACT: Cichlid visual systems can evolve rapidly during adaptive radiations. The Bermin crater lake species flock in Cameroon, comprising 13 (nine valid and four undescribed) Coptodon species, offers an ideal model to investigate visual adaptation to the deep-water light environments. Here, we examine visual opsin genes sequences and expression using 109 retina transcriptomes, focusing on interspecific variation with habitat depth, as well as on seasonal changes in the migratory species between depths. All species possess a multichromatic system with at least five cone opsins. While opsin coding sequences show limited divergence-consistent with the flock's recent origin-opsin expression profiles vary substantially. Deep-water species showed reduced sws1 and sws2b expression, in line with lower UV

SUBMITTER: Klodawska M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12641091 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature