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The Journal of Experimental Biology 206, 2611-2617 (2003)
doi: 10.1242/jeb.00472

Polymorphism of the rod visual pigment between allopatric populations of the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus): a microspectrophotometric study

Mirka Jokela1,*, Annika Vartio1, Lars Paulin2, Nanna Fyhrquist-Vanni1 and Kristian Donner1

1 Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), FIN-00014, Finland
2 Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), FIN-00014, Finland

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: mirka.jokela{at}helsinki.fi)

Accepted 30 April 2003

Absorbance spectra were measured by microspectrophotometry in retinal rods of sand gobies (Pomatoschistus minutus) from four allopatric populations (Baltic Sea, Swedish west coast, English Channel and Adriatic Sea). Mean (± S.E.M.) wavelengths of maximum absorbance ({lambda}max) were 508.3±0.5 nm, 505.4±0.2 nm, 506.2±0.3 nm and 503.0±0.3 nm, respectively. Pairwise comparison between the populations (post-ANOVA Scheffe's test) shows that each of the {lambda}max differences, except that between the Swedish west coast and the English Channel, is statistically significant (P<0.05). The shapes of the absorbance spectra indicated that the pigments were A1 rhodopsins with no measurable admixture of the A2 chromophore. Thus, the differences indicate polymorphism in the protein part (opsin) of the pigment. Convolution of A1 templates for {lambda}max values 508.3 nm and 503.0 nm with quantum spectra of the downwelling light at two locations at the south-west coast of Finland indicated that a 13-19% improvement in quantum catch would accrue in the Baltic environment from the 5.3 nm red-shift of the rod pigment of Baltic compared with Adriatic sand gobies.

Key words: microspectrophotometry, rod photoreceptor, retina sand, goby, Pomatoschistus minutus, polymorphism, vision




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