Genetic and thermal effects on the latitudinal variation in the timing of fin development of a fish Oryzias latipes

Heterochrony, an evolutionary change in developmental processes, is one of the major proximate causes of morphological diversity of organisms. It has been reported in the medaka Oryzias latipes that higher-latitude larvae have a genetic tendency to complete fin ray formation at larger body sizes, which results in relatively shorter anal and dorsal fins in adults. However, this latitudinal, heterochronic variation in fin length in the wild may be partially explained by latitudinal differences in thermal environments, if temperatures affect the timing of fin ray formation. Common-environment experiments revealed that the body size at which fin pterygiophore (a basal skeleton of fin rays) formation was completed was larger in higher-latitude larvae than in lower-latitude larvae at all temperatures examined, supporting the proposal that fin ray formation of the former is genetically delayed. However, phenotypic plasticity in response to temperature was also evident; lower temperatures caused delayed fin ray formation until a larger body size had been achieved in both high- and low-latitude larvae. These observations suggest that habitat temperatures also contribute to the latitudinal difference in the timing of fin development, magnifying phenotypic variation in fin length across latitudes. We discuss reasons for this positive covariance between genetic and environmental effects on the latitudinal, heterochronic variation, from the viewpoint of local adaptation and evolution of phenotypic plasticity. ► Northern medaka have a genetic tendency to finish fin ray formation at larger sizes. ► Lower temperatures delay fin ray formation of individuals from any latitudes. ► The thermal gradient across latitudes may magnify phenotypic variation in fin length.