Variation of Gene Expression in the Endemic Dinaric Karst Cave-Dwelling Bivalve Mollusk <i>Congeria kusceri</i> during the Summer Season
The cave systems of the Neretva River basin in the Dinaric Karst are home to <i>Congeria kusceri</i>, one of the very few known examples of stygobiotic bivalve mollusks, which displays several unique life history traits and adaptations that allowed its adaptation to the subterranean envi...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/707 |
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| author | Annalisa Scapolatiello Chiara Manfrin Samuele Greco Tomislav Rončević Alberto Pallavicini Sanja Puljas Marco Gerdol |
| author_facet | Annalisa Scapolatiello Chiara Manfrin Samuele Greco Tomislav Rončević Alberto Pallavicini Sanja Puljas Marco Gerdol |
| author_sort | Annalisa Scapolatiello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The cave systems of the Neretva River basin in the Dinaric Karst are home to <i>Congeria kusceri</i>, one of the very few known examples of stygobiotic bivalve mollusks, which displays several unique life history traits and adaptations that allowed its adaptation to the subterranean environment. This endemic species is undergoing rapid decline, most likely linked with habitat degradation, which might seriously threaten its survival in the next few decades. Unfortunately, the urgent need for effective conservation efforts is hampered by the lack of effective regulations aimed at preserving remnant populations as well as by our limited knowledge of the biology of this species. Although the precise factors underlying the disappearance of <i>C. kusceri</i> from its type locations are not entirely clear, the alteration of seasonal changes in water temperatures and alkalinity is most likely involved, as these are the main drivers of shell growth, spawning, and the onset and progression of the new gametogenic cycle. While these aspects have so far only been studied using morphological and physiological observations, future conservation efforts would certainly benefit from an integrated multidisciplinary approach. Here, using RNA-sequencing, we provide an overview of the modulation of gene expression recorded in five key tissues (the mantle, gonads, gills, adductor muscle, and digestive gland) between early June and late September. We highlight the presence of markedly tissue-specific responses, with the most dramatic changes affecting the gonads, mantle, and gills. We further identified a drastic switch in the use of energy budgets between the two periods, with evidence of ongoing shell growth and high metabolic activity in the mantle and gills at the early time point, followed by a massive redirection of all available energy to the gonads for the generation of new gamete primordia in early autumn. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:34:16Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:34:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-0554914810944cecad21f3cf03db7d352023-11-18T10:02:23ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-05-0115670710.3390/d15060707Variation of Gene Expression in the Endemic Dinaric Karst Cave-Dwelling Bivalve Mollusk <i>Congeria kusceri</i> during the Summer SeasonAnnalisa Scapolatiello0Chiara Manfrin1Samuele Greco2Tomislav Rončević3Alberto Pallavicini4Sanja Puljas5Marco Gerdol6Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyFaculty of Science, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyFaculty of Science, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, ItalyThe cave systems of the Neretva River basin in the Dinaric Karst are home to <i>Congeria kusceri</i>, one of the very few known examples of stygobiotic bivalve mollusks, which displays several unique life history traits and adaptations that allowed its adaptation to the subterranean environment. This endemic species is undergoing rapid decline, most likely linked with habitat degradation, which might seriously threaten its survival in the next few decades. Unfortunately, the urgent need for effective conservation efforts is hampered by the lack of effective regulations aimed at preserving remnant populations as well as by our limited knowledge of the biology of this species. Although the precise factors underlying the disappearance of <i>C. kusceri</i> from its type locations are not entirely clear, the alteration of seasonal changes in water temperatures and alkalinity is most likely involved, as these are the main drivers of shell growth, spawning, and the onset and progression of the new gametogenic cycle. While these aspects have so far only been studied using morphological and physiological observations, future conservation efforts would certainly benefit from an integrated multidisciplinary approach. Here, using RNA-sequencing, we provide an overview of the modulation of gene expression recorded in five key tissues (the mantle, gonads, gills, adductor muscle, and digestive gland) between early June and late September. We highlight the presence of markedly tissue-specific responses, with the most dramatic changes affecting the gonads, mantle, and gills. We further identified a drastic switch in the use of energy budgets between the two periods, with evidence of ongoing shell growth and high metabolic activity in the mantle and gills at the early time point, followed by a massive redirection of all available energy to the gonads for the generation of new gamete primordia in early autumn.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/707transcriptomeRNA-sequencingexpression levelKarstsubterraneanBivalvia |
| spellingShingle | Annalisa Scapolatiello Chiara Manfrin Samuele Greco Tomislav Rončević Alberto Pallavicini Sanja Puljas Marco Gerdol Variation of Gene Expression in the Endemic Dinaric Karst Cave-Dwelling Bivalve Mollusk <i>Congeria kusceri</i> during the Summer Season Diversity transcriptome RNA-sequencing expression level Karst subterranean Bivalvia |
| title | Variation of Gene Expression in the Endemic Dinaric Karst Cave-Dwelling Bivalve Mollusk <i>Congeria kusceri</i> during the Summer Season |
| title_full | Variation of Gene Expression in the Endemic Dinaric Karst Cave-Dwelling Bivalve Mollusk <i>Congeria kusceri</i> during the Summer Season |
| title_fullStr | Variation of Gene Expression in the Endemic Dinaric Karst Cave-Dwelling Bivalve Mollusk <i>Congeria kusceri</i> during the Summer Season |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variation of Gene Expression in the Endemic Dinaric Karst Cave-Dwelling Bivalve Mollusk <i>Congeria kusceri</i> during the Summer Season |
| title_short | Variation of Gene Expression in the Endemic Dinaric Karst Cave-Dwelling Bivalve Mollusk <i>Congeria kusceri</i> during the Summer Season |
| title_sort | variation of gene expression in the endemic dinaric karst cave dwelling bivalve mollusk i congeria kusceri i during the summer season |
| topic | transcriptome RNA-sequencing expression level Karst subterranean Bivalvia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/707 |
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