An Evaluation of the Role of Sensory Drive in the Evolution of Lake Malawi Cichlid Fishes

Figure 6

Relative quantum catch calculations for each of the primary cone opsin pigment classes for different light environments. The 10 K and 5.5 K bulbs were combined for a single simulated sunlight treatment, and pilot trials indicated no difference between the two in their effects on gene expression. However, the combination of these two had significant impact on gene expression when compared to fish raised under fluorescent lighting. Furthermore, the absolute difference in relative catch across treatments in the lab required to induce plasticity is much greater than that observed along the wild depth gradients where Smith et al. [14] collected samples for studies on wild expression plasticity. Relative Qc represents the quantum catch (photons) of each cone pigment normalized to the total quantum catch for all pigments.