From: OIST, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japon

Will give a seminar entitled:

An Eco-Evo-Devo analysis of white bars in anemonefish

White bar patterns in anemonefish are both a striking morphological trait and an important cue for species recognition and territorial behavior. We show that anemonefish use the number of white bars to distinguish potential competitors sharing the same host. At the molecular level, we identify the gene underlying the Snowflake phenotype in which the border between color bars is abnormal, and demonstrate its role using CRISPR/Cas9 and transgenesis. Comparative analyses with zebrafish reveal conserved functions of pigment cell communication in teleost pigment pattern formation. Together, these results integrate ecological, evolutionary, and developmental perspectives on the function and formation of white bars in anemonefish.

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