title: Divergence of dim-light vision among bats (order: Chiroptera) as estimated by molecular and electrophysiological methods.
abstract: Dim-light vision is present in all bats, but is divergent among species. Old-World fruit bats (Pteropodidae) have fully developed eyes; the eyes of insectivorous bats are generally degraded, and these bats rely on well-developed echolocation. An exception is the Emballonuridae, which are capable of laryngeal echolocation but prefer to use vision for navigation and have normal eyes. In this study, integrated methods, comprising manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI), f-VEP and RNA-seq, were utilized to verify the divergence. The results of MEMRI showed that Pteropodidae bats have a much larger superior colliculus (SC)/ inferior colliculus (IC) volume ratio (3:1) than insectivorous bats (1:7). Furthermore, the absolute visual thresholds (log cd/m(2)•s) of Pteropodidae (-6.30 and -6.37) and Emballonuridae (-3.71) bats were lower than those of other insectivorous bats (-1.90). Finally, genes related to the visual pathway showed signs of positive selection, convergent evolution, upregulation and similar gene expression patterns in Pteropodidae and Emballonuridae bats. Different results imply that Pteropodidae and Emballonuridae bats have more developed vision than the insectivorous bats and suggest that further research on bat behavior is warranted.
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China [2] Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China [3] University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: He-Qun
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China [2] Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China [3] University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Kuan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China [2] University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China [2] Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China [3] University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Shan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China [2] University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Qi
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China [2] University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rizak
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Qiang
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China [2] Joint Influenza Research Centre (SUMC/HKU), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Tian
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: 1] State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China [2] Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China [3] Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007245:Inferior Colliculi / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007313:Insecta; D008027:Light; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008345:Manganese; D010802:Phylogeny; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008345:Manganese