Month: September 2022

"SIDEDNESS POLYMORPHISM in flatfish has been linked to ecological selection between morphs. However, the alternate hypothesis that morphological differences between right- and left-sided forms may be due to errors during development, as a consequence of disturbed homeostasis, which still remains largely unexplored." https://lnkd.in/d6Bcfrh View in LinkedIn

FLIP-FLOPPER. "We examined the case of Platichthys flesus (flounder), a polymorphic flatfish exhibiting large and clinal variation in the frequency of the left-sided morph, which is the reversed condition in this generally right-sided species. Morphological differences were observed between morphs, which are in agreement with previous findings in a congeneric species (Platichthys stellatus)." https://lnkd.in/d6Bcfrh View in LinkedIn

FLOUNDER MORPH DIFFERENCES. "In parallel, significant differences in feeding choices were detected, suggesting a coherent association between subtle morphological differences between morphs and their use of trophic resources." https://lnkd.in/d6Bcfrh View in LinkedIn

REVERSE MORPH FREQUENCY. "The proportion of flatfish displaying reversed morphology and behavior in a natural population varies among species from virtually none in the tonguefishes (Cynoglosidae) to as high as 100% in some starry flounder." https://lnkd.in/d9EMwRb View in LinkedIn

LOWER FITNESS. "There are no reports of reversed southern flounder in nature, though we show 16% reversal when this species is raised in the laboratory. This suggests that reversed (dextral) southern flounder have low survival in nature, but enhanced survival in the laboratory when they are identified early and segregated from their sinistral siblings." https://lnkd.in/d9EMwRb View in LinkedIn

MORPH CLONE. "The genetics of flatfish reversal are not well understood. Hashimoto et al. (2002) have isolated a Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) clonal line (reversed, ‘rev’) whose offspring display a relatively high (20–30%) frequency of reversal. They have proposed that the directionality of metamorphic asymmetry is determined by the rev locus in a manner independent from the control of visceral asymmetry." https://lnkd.in/d9EMwRb View in LinkedIn

BALANCE CHANGES. "Interestingly, all flatfish except for the most primitive display nearly omni-directional hair-cell polarization of the inner ear’s saccular and lagenar otoliths. This pattern, which is unique amongst vertebrates, is thought to accommodate, but not necessarily induce, the adult flatfish posture." https://lnkd.in/d9EMwRb View in LinkedIn

CHEMICAL ASYMMETRY. "We observed that paired winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) sagittae are not morphologically or chemically identical. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) chemical asymmetry was detected between the sagittae in five of eight elements (with three other elements, Sr, I, and Sn not statistically different). The blind-side otolith exhibited higher mean concentrations of Ba, Mn, Mg, Cu, and Zn trace elements than the eyed-side otolith." https://lnkd.in/d-8wmCG View in LinkedIn

AMPHIBIAN METAMORPHOSIS. "It is well established that THs directly or indirectly stimulate apoptosis and resorption of larval tissue and also promote growth, differentiation and remodelling of tissues that are crucial for the adult life form. For instance, THs are involved in the control of muscle fibre apoptosis in the amphibian tail during its regression and also promote development of the limbs." (THs = thyroid hormones). https://lnkd.in/du68ipH View in LinkedIn

FEEDING CHANGES. "In amphibians the change in feeding habit from herbivore to carnivore during the transition from tadpole to frog is associated with thyroid hormone driven remodelling of the intestine that changes from a long coiled tube into a complex differentiated organ." https://lnkd.in/du68ipH View in LinkedIn