QTL analysis of behavior in nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius)

The genetic architecture of behavioral traits is yet relatively poorly understood in most non-model organisms. Using an F2-intercross (n = 283 offspring) between behaviorally divergent nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) populations, we tested for and explored the genetic basis of different behavioral traits with the aid of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses based on 226 microsatellite markers. The behaviors were analyzed both separately (viz. feeding activity, risk-taking and exploration) and combined in order to map composite behavioral type. Two significant QTL—explaining on average 6 % of the phenotypic variance—were detected for composite behavioral type on the experiment-wide level, located on linkage groups 3 and 8. In addition, several suggestive QTL located on six other linkage groups were detected on the chromosome-wide level. Apart from providing evidence for the genetic basis of behavioral variation, the results provide a good starting point for finer-scale an...

多数非模式生物的行为性状遗传架构仍相对未被充分解析。本研究以行为趋异的九棘刺鱼（Pungitius pungitius）种群间构建的F2互交群体（共283个子代）为材料，借助基于226个微卫星标记（microsatellite markers）的数量性状位点（quantitative trait locus, QTL）分析方法，检测并探究了不同行为性状的遗传基础。研究分别对各项行为性状（即摄食活动、风险承担行为与探索行为）进行单独分析，并将其整合以绘制复合行为类型的遗传图谱。在全实验范围内，共检测到2个与复合行为类型相关的显著性QTL，分别位于连锁群3和8上，平均可解释6%的表型方差。此外，在全染色体水平上，于另外6个连锁群中检测到多个提示性QTL。本研究不仅为行为变异的遗传基础提供了实证依据，同时也为后续更高精度的……