Molecular Ecology · 6 authors, 3 centres
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This laboratory study exposed juvenile and adult convict surgeonfish to unnatural light conditions and found rapid, reversible changes in retinal gene expression and cell structure, with the most substantial changes occurring under constant dim light.
The study investigated phenotypic plasticity in the visual system of diurnal convict surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus) across ontogeny. Juvenile and adult fish were exposed to short-term unnatural light conditions: constant dim light, constant bright light, and simulated artificial light at night. The central result was that the most substantial changes occurred under constant dim light. Specifically, both juveniles and adults increased absolute expression of cone opsin genes (sws2a, rh2c, lws) within a few days. Juveniles also decreased densities of cones, inner nuclear layer cells, and ganglion cells under this condition. A rescue experiment on adults showed that shifts in opsin expression reverted within 24 hours. The study concludes that plasticity is most pronounced when conditions are extremely different from the natural environment (e.g., constant night for a diurnal fish) and is reversible.
