Abstract
Color polymorphism is a classic study system for evolutionary genetics. One of the most color-polymorphic animal taxa is mollusks, but the investigation of the genetic basis of color determination is often hindered by their life history and the limited availability of genetic resources. Here, we report on the discovery of shell color polymorphism in a much-used model species, the great pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. While their shell is usually beige, some individuals from a Greek population show a distinct red shell color, which we nicknamed Ginger. Moreover, we found that the inheritance fits simple, single-locus Mendelian inheritance with dominance of the Ginger allele. We also compared crucial life-history traits between Ginger and wild-type individuals, and found no differences between morphs. We conclude that the relative simplicity of this polymorphism will provide new opportunities for a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of shell color polymorphism and its evolutionary origin.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e10678 |
Journal | Ecology and Evolution |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 12 |
Early online date | 6 Dec 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2023 |
Funding
We appreciate Dr. Marianthi Hatziioannou and Dr. Theodoros Naziridis for helping with collection of snails, Omar Bellaoui and Xaver Bartels for taking care of the snails, Cathy Levesque for the picture, and an anonymous reviewer for constructive comments. This research was supported by Netherlands Organization for Scientific research (NWO) Open Competition Klein to JMK and YN.
Funders | Funder number |
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Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek |