Evolution of Electric Organ Discharge (EOD) in African weakly electric fishes: Genomics and behavioral ecology of a magic trait

ACHTUNG! Der Vortrag wird in englischer Sprache gehalten! The mormyrids comprise a species-rich group of African weakly-electric fish which has undergone an enormous radiation. This is particularily true for the genus Campylomormyrus which consists of about 15 closely related species mostly restricted to the Congo basin. In a combined molecular, electrophysiological, and behavioural study, we demonstrate that (1) cryptic species are hidden behind morphometrically similar (but electrophysiologically divergent) morphotypes, (2) divergence in Electric Organ Discharge (EOD) is associated with small, but significant morphometric changes regarding the feeding apparatus, and (3) EOD is the trigger of mate recognition. In my talk, I will also highlight our most recent work on the histological and genomic basis of EOD evolution and divergence. I will discuss the idea that the EOD constitutes a "magic trait", i.e., a variable heritable trait which allows both for ecological diversification and species/mate recognition.

Foto: Karla Fritze