The prestigious Science Advances journal published a paper entitled “Marine-montane transitions coupled with gill and genetic convergence in extant crustacean” on June 23, 2023, shedding light on the morphological and genetic changes that occurred when animals evolved from living in the marine environment to leading a terrestrial way of life. The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Professors HOU Zhonge and LI Shuqiang of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

In evolutionary history, animals gained certain advantages when they left the sea and started exploring the land. However, along with these advantages came inevitable challenges. To investigate the marine-terrestrial transition and the resultant biological adaptations, the researchers studied a group of small crustaceans called talitrids found in various regions and habitats, including those living in the ocean, along the coast, and in mountainous areas. The researchers used cutting-edge genome-wide data to understand how talitrids have evolved.

Their findings indicate that talitrids originated in the sea and independently colonized mountain habitats at least four different times between the Oligocene and Miocene periods. The movement of tectonic plates and the formation of volcanic islands played a significant role in this transition, leading to the diversification of talitrid species in mountainous areas. These new habitats became centers of high biodiversity, with many endemic species unique to these regions. During the colonization of land, talitrids developed specific genetic adaptations (convergent variations) related to their breathing organs (gills) and energy metabolism. These adaptations helped them to survive in colder environments and establish themselves in different habitats around the world.

The researchers also used a gene-editing technique called CRISPR-Cas9 to confirm that a specific gene called SMC3 is responsible for the observed changes in the shape of talitrids' breathing organs, similar to structures found in other crustaceans.

Overall, their research advances our understanding on the biological origins of marine organisms and provides valuable insights into how talitrids have evolved and adapted to life on land, and how genes regulate their ability to survive in different environments.

Link：https://doi.org/eadg4011

Contact:

Zhonge Hou

Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences

Tel: 86-64807852      

E-mail: houze@ioz.ac.cn

Web: http://english.ioz.cas.cn/