Evolution of hemoglobin function in tropical air‐breathing catfishes. Issue 9 (12th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andersen, Niels Christian Moth; Fago, Angela; Damsgaard, Christian
• Other Names: Pelster Bernd guestEditor.; Val Adalberto L. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental zoology. Volume 335:Issue 9/10(2021)
• Page Start: 814
• Page End: 819
• Publication Date: 2021-07-12
• Subjects: Bohr effect -- fish -- gas‐exchange -- oxygen affinity; Zoology -- Periodicals; Zoology; Animal Population Groups -- physiology; Zoology; Electronic journals; Periodical; Periodicals; 590
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.2504
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2471-5646

Abstract

Abstract: The evolution of hemoglobin function in the transition from water‐ to air‐breathing has been highly debated but remains unresolved. Here, we characterized the hemoglobin function in five closely related water‐ and air‐breathing catfishes. We identify distinct directions of hemoglobin evolution in the clades that evolved air‐breathing, and we show strong selection on hemoglobin function within the catfishes. These findings show that the lack of a general direction in hemoglobin function in the transition from water‐ to air‐breathing may have resulted from divergent selection on hemoglobin function in independent clades of air‐breathing fishes. Abstract : Research highlights: 1. We show that the evolution of air‐breathing resulted in distinct changes in hemoglobin function. 2. This illustrates that the adaptations to air‐breathing cannot be generalized across independent groups of air‐breathing fishes.