@article{delorenzo_mathews_brandon_joglekar_baez_moore_ciccotto_roberts_roberts_powder_2023, title={Genetic basis of ecologically relevant body shape variation among four genera of cichlid fishes}, volume={5}, ISSN={["1365-294X"]}, DOI={10.1111/mec.16977}, abstractNote={Divergence in body shape is one of the most widespread and repeated patterns of morphological variation in fishes and is associated with habitat specification and swimming mechanics. Such ecological diversification is the first stage of the explosive adaptive radiation of cichlid fishes in the East African Rift Lakes. We use two hybrid crosses of cichlids (Metriaclima sp. × Aulonocara sp. and Labidochromis sp. × Labeotropheus sp., >975 animals total) to determine the genetic basis of body shape diversification that is similar to benthic‐pelagic divergence across fishes. Using a series of both linear and geometric shape measurements, we identified 34 quantitative trait loci (QTL) that underlie various aspects of body shape variation. These QTL are spread throughout the genome, each explaining 3.2–8.6% of phenotypic variation, and are largely modular. Further, QTL are distinct both between these two crosses of Lake Malawi cichlids and compared to previously identified QTL for body shape in fishes such as sticklebacks. We find that body shape is controlled by many genes of small effect. In all, we find that convergent body shape phenotypes commonly observed across fish clades are most likely due to distinct genetic and molecular mechanisms.}, journal={MOLECULAR ECOLOGY}, author={DeLorenzo, Leah and Mathews, Destiny and Brandon, A. Allyson and Joglekar, Mansi and Baez, Aldo Carmona and Moore, Emily C. and Ciccotto, Patrick J. and Roberts, Natalie B. and Roberts, Reade B. and Powder, Kara E.}, year={2023}, month={May} }
 @article{delorenzo_debrock_baez_ciccotto_peterson_stull_roberts_roberts_powder_2022, title={Morphometric and Genetic Description of Trophic Adaptations in Cichlid Fishes}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2079-7737"]}, url={https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/8/1165}, DOI={10.3390/biology11081165}, abstractNote={Simple Summary Skull and jaw shape are critical to how an animal eats. The goal of this work was to examine how facial variation evolves and the genetic basis of these changes. We used two species of Lake Malawi cichlids with different facial shapes, one which has evolved to eat prey by suction feeding, a second that bites algae from rocks, as well as hybrid individuals generated by artificial mating of the two species. We found a series of changes in craniofacial structure including the shape of the lower jaw and throat region that impact how animals perform at suction feeding and biting. We then identified genetic regions that regulate these facial shapes. These genetic regions suggested that evolution of the senses, among other traits, may play an important role in facial evolution. Also, evolution of different parts of the face are controlled by distinct genetic regions. Despite this, cichlids that eat similar ways have similar facial shapes, suggesting that the function of jaw movement places certain limits on facial evolution in cichlid fishes. Overall, this work provides insights into how the face evolves, how these changes relate to feeding, and the genes and molecules that regulate craniofacial variation. Abstract Since Darwin, biologists have sought to understand the evolution and origins of phenotypic adaptations. The skull is particularly diverse due to intense natural selection on feeding biomechanics. We investigated the genetic and molecular origins of trophic adaptation using Lake Malawi cichlids, which have undergone an exemplary evolutionary radiation. We analyzed morphological differences in the lateral and ventral head shape among an insectivore that eats by suction feeding, an obligate biting herbivore, and their F2 hybrids. We identified variation in a series of morphological traits—including mandible width, mandible length, and buccal length—that directly affect feeding kinematics and function. Using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, we found that many genes of small effects influence these craniofacial adaptations. Intervals for some traits were enriched in genes related to potassium transport and sensory systems, the latter suggesting co-evolution of feeding structures and sensory adaptations for foraging. Despite these indications of co-evolution of structures, morphological traits did not show covariation. Furthermore, phenotypes largely mapped to distinct genetic intervals, suggesting that a common genetic basis does not generate coordinated changes in shape. Together, these suggest that craniofacial traits are mostly inherited as separate modules, which confers a high potential for the evolution of morphological diversity. Though these traits are not restricted by genetic pleiotropy, functional demands of feeding and sensory structures likely introduce constraints on variation. In all, we provide insights into the quantitative genetic basis of trophic adaptation, identify mechanisms that influence the direction of morphological evolution, and provide molecular inroads to craniofacial variation.}, number={8}, journal={BIOLOGY-BASEL}, author={DeLorenzo, Leah and DeBrock, Victoria and Baez, Aldo Carmona and Ciccotto, Patrick J. and Peterson, Erin N. and Stull, Clare and Roberts, Natalie B. and Roberts, Reade B. and Powder, Kara E.}, year={2022}, month={Aug} }
 @article{moore_ciccotto_peterson_lamm_albertson_roberts_2022, title={Polygenic sex determination produces modular sex polymorphism in an African cichlid fish}, volume={119}, ISSN={["1091-6490"]}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.2118574119}, abstractNote={For many vertebrates, a single genetic locus initiates a cascade of developmental sex differences in the gonad and throughout the organism, resulting in adults with two, phenotypically distinct sexes. Species with polygenic sex determination (PSD) have multiple interacting sex determination alleles segregating within a single species, allowing for more than two genotypic sexes, and scenarios where sex genotype at a given locus can be decoupled from gonadal sex. Here we investigate the effects of PSD on secondary sexual characteristics in the cichlid fish Metriaclima mbenjii, where one female (W) and one male (Y) sex determination allele interact to produce siblings with four possible sex classes: ZZXX females, ZWXX females, ZWXY females, and ZZXY males. We find that PSD in M. mbenjii produces an interplay of sex-linkage and sex-limitation resulting in modular variation in morphological and behavioral traits. Further, the evolution or introgression of a novel sex determiner creates additional axes of phenotypic variation for varied traits, including genital morphology, craniofacial morphology, gastrointestinal morphology, and home tank behaviors. In contrast to single-locus sex determination, which broadly results in sexual dimorphism, polygenic sex determination can induce higher-order sexual polymorphism. The modularity of secondary sexual characteristics produced by PSD provides novel context for understanding the evolutionary causes and consequences of maintenance, gain, or loss of sex determination alleles in populations. Significance Statement Sex differences in traits can occur when those traits are modified by genetic factors inherited on sex chromosomes. We investigated how sex differences emerge in a species with more than one set of sex chromosomes, measuring a variety of morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits. Rather than exhibiting sexual dimorphism associated with primary sex, the species has higher-order sexual polymorphism in secondary sexual characteristics, or more than two phenotypic sexes. Variation in secondary sexual characteristics is modular, involving the interplay of sex-linked and sex-limited traits. Our findings provide novel implications for how sex determination systems and whole-organism fitness traits co-evolve, including that significant creation or loss of variation in diverse traits can occur during transitions among sex chromosome systems.}, number={14}, journal={PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA}, author={Moore, Emily C. and Ciccotto, Patrick J. and Peterson, Erin N. and Lamm, Melissa S. and Albertson, R. Craig and Roberts, Reade B.}, year={2022}, month={Apr} }
 @article{mendelson_gumm_martin_ciccotto_2018, title={Preference for conspecifics evolves earlier in males than females in a sexually dimorphic radiation of fishes}, volume={72}, number={2}, journal={Evolution}, author={Mendelson, T. C. and Gumm, J. M. and Martin, M. D. and Ciccotto, P. J.}, year={2018}, pages={337–347} }
 @misc{ciccotto_page_2017, title={Comment on "on gonorynchus, gonorhynchus, gonorinchus, gonorhinchus, and gonorrhynchus, and some other names of labeonine fishes (teleostei: gonorhynchidae and cyprinidae)" by kottelat (2016)}, volume={4226}, number={3}, journal={Zootaxa}, author={Ciccotto, P. J. and Page, L. M.}, year={2017}, pages={447–448} }
 @article{ciccotto_pfeiffer_page_2017, title={Revision of the cyprinid genus Crossocheilus (tribe Labeonini) with description of a new species}, volume={105}, number={2}, journal={Copeia}, author={Ciccotto, P. J. and Pfeiffer, J. M. and Page, L. M.}, year={2017}, pages={269–292} }
 @article{ciccotto_mendelson_2017, title={The evolution of male nuptial colour in a sexually dimorphic group of fishes (Percidae: Etheostomatinae)}, volume={90}, number={5}, journal={Journal of Fish Biology}, author={Ciccotto, P. J. and Mendelson, T. C.}, year={2017}, pages={1768–1784} }