Changing times, spaces, and faces: tests and implications of adaptive morphological plasticity in the fishes of northern postglacial lakes

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 1819-1833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beren W Robinson ◽  
Kevin J Parsons
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Phenotypic Diversity ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Freshwater Fishes ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Adaptive Divergence ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
Species Formation ◽  
Changing Times

The phenotypic diversity exhibited within and among populations of freshwater fishes in postglacial lakes has intrigued biologists for two reasons: (i) their high phenotypic variation and (ii) the apparently recent and rapid divergence of forms. Genetic and ecological studies of these taxa are shedding new light on mechanisms of divergence and species formation. Surprisingly, the roles of phenotypic plasticity in the origins, maintenance, and generation of phenotypic diversity in this system are rarely directly addressed. We synthesize the available literature on morphological plasticity in these fishes and, using a meta-analysis, test for adaptive plasticity. We conclude that (i) morphological plasticity is common in at least six families of northern freshwater fishes, (ii) plastic responses can often be induced by conditions related to littoral and pelagic lake environments, (iii) plasticity often represents adaptive responses to conditions in these habitats, and (iv) that although rarely tested, heritable variation in morphological plasticity is present. The rich amount of phenotypic plasticity has not constrained recent adaptive divergence and species formation in postglacial fishes, and instead plasticity may play a role in the notably high rates of divergence observed in these and other fishes currently undergoing adaptive radiation.

scholarly journals An experimental investigation of how intraspecific competition and phenotypic plasticity can promote the evolution of novel, complex phenotypes

2020 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-87
Author(s):  
Nicholas A Levis ◽  
Carly G Fuller ◽  
David W Pfennig
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Intraspecific Competition ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
Evolutionary Diversification ◽  
Evolutionary Innovation ◽  
Spadefoot Toad ◽  
Scaphiopus Holbrookii ◽  
Novel Complex

Abstract Intraspecific competition has long been considered a key driver of evolutionary diversification, but whether it can also promote evolutionary innovation is less clear. Here we examined the interplay between competition and phenotypic plasticity in fuelling the origins of a novel, complex phenotype – a distinctive carnivore morph found in spadefoot toad tadpoles (genus Spea) that specializes on fairy shrimp. We specifically sought to explore the possible origins of this phenotype by providing shrimp to Scaphiopus holbrookii tadpoles (the sister genus to Spea that does not produce carnivores) while subjecting them to competition for their standard diet of detritus. Previous research had shown that this species will eat shrimp when detritus is limited, and that these shrimp-fed individuals produce features that are redolent of a rudimentary Spea carnivore. In this study, we found that: (1) behavioural and morphological plasticity enabled some individuals to expand their diet to include shrimp; (2) there was heritable variation in this plasticity; and (3) individuals received a growth and development benefit by eating shrimp. Thus, novel resource use can arise via plasticity as an adaptive response to intraspecific competition. More generally, our results show how competition and plasticity may interact to pave the way for the evolution of complex, novel phenotypes, such as the distinctive carnivore morph in present-day Spea.

scholarly journals Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity for Life History and Less Fitness-Related Traits

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Acasuso-Rivero ◽  
Courtney J. Murren ◽  
Carl D. Schlichting ◽  
Ulrich K. Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Variable Environments ◽  
Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Adaptive Nature

ABSTRACTOrganisms are faced with variable environments and one of the most common solutions to cope with such variability is phenotypic plasticity, a modification of the phenotype to the environment. These modifications influence ecological and evolutionary processes and are assumed to be adaptive. The assumption of adaptive plasticity allows to derive the prediction that the closer to fitness a trait is, the less plastic it would be. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a meta-analysis of 213 studies and measured the plasticity of each reported trait as coefficient of variation (CV). Traits were categorised according to their relationship to fitness into life-history traits (LHt) including reproduction and survival related-traits, and non-life-history traits (N-LHt) including traits related to development, metabolism and physiology, morphology and behaviour. Our results showed, unexpectedly, that although traits differed in their amounts of plasticity, trait plasticity did not correlate with its proximity to fitness. These findings were independent of taxonomic groups or environmental types assessed and raise questions about the ubiquity of adaptive plasticity. We caution about generalising the assumption that all plasticity is adaptive with respect to evolutionary and ecological population processes. More studies are needed that test the adaptive nature of plasticity, and additional theoretical explorations on adaptive and non-adaptive plasticity are encouraged.

scholarly journals Adaptive phenotypic plasticity for life-history and less fitness-related traits

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1904) ◽  
pp. 20190653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Acasuso-Rivero ◽  
Courtney J. Murren ◽  
Carl D. Schlichting ◽  
Ulrich K. Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Evolutionary Theories ◽  
Variable Environments ◽  
Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Adaptive Nature

Organisms are faced with variable environments and one of the most common solutions to cope with such variability is phenotypic plasticity, a modification of the phenotype to the environment. These modifications are commonly modelled in evolutionary theories as adaptive, influencing ecological and evolutionary processes. If plasticity is adaptive, we would predict that the closer to fitness a trait is, the less plastic it would be. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a meta-analysis of 213 studies and measured the plasticity of each reported trait as a coefficient of variation. Traits were categorized as closer to fitness—life-history traits including reproduction and survival related traits, and farther from fitness—non-life-history traits including traits related to development, metabolism and physiology, morphology and behaviour. Our results showed, unexpectedly, that although traits differed in their amounts of plasticity, trait plasticity was not related to its proximity to fitness. These findings were independent of taxonomic groups or environmental types assessed. We caution against general expectations that plasticity is adaptive, as assumed by many models of its evolution. More studies are needed that test the adaptive nature of plasticity, and additional theoretical explorations on adaptive and non-adaptive plasticity are encouraged.

scholarly journals Repeatability of glucocorticoid hormones in vertebrates: A meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey L Schoenemann ◽  
Frances Bonier
Keyword(s):  
Individual Variation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Life History Stages ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Intensive Search ◽  
Sampling Season ◽  
Commercial Kit

We often expect that investigations of the patterns, causes, and consequences of among-individual variation in a trait of interest will reveal how selective pressures or ecological conditions influence that trait. However, many endocrine traits, such as concentrations of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones, exhibit adaptive plasticity and, therefore, do not necessarily respond to these pressures as predicted by among-individual phenotypic correlations. To improve our interpretations of among-individual variation in GC concentrations, we need more information about the repeatability of these traits within individuals. Many studies have already estimated the repeatability of baseline, stress-induced, and integrated GC measures, which provides an opportunity to use meta-analytic techniques to investigate 1) whether GC titers are generally repeatable across taxa, and 2) which biological or methodological factors may impact these estimates. From an intensive search of the literature, we collected 91 GC repeatability estimates from 47 studies. Overall, we found evidence that GC levels are repeatable, with mean repeatability estimates across studies ranging from 0.230 for baseline levels to 0.386 for stress-induced levels. We also noted several factors that predicted the magnitude of these estimates, including taxon, sampling season, and lab technique. Amphibians had significantly higher repeatability in baseline and stress-induced GCs than birds, mammals, reptiles, or bony fish. The repeatability of stress-induced GCs was higher when measured within, rather than across, life history stages. Finally, estimates of repeatability in stress-induced and integrated GC measures tended to be lower when GC concentrations were quantified using commercial kit assays rather than in-house assays. The extent to which among-individual variation in GCs may explain variation in organismal performance or fitness (and thereby inform our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes driving that variation) depends on whether measures of GC titers accurately reflect how individuals differ overall. Our findings suggest that while GC titers can reflect some degree of consistent differences among individuals, they frequently may not. We discuss how our findings contribute to interpretations of variation in GCs, and suggest routes for the design and analysis of future research.

scholarly journals Effects of Heterogeneous Environment After Deforestation on Plant Phenotypic Plasticity of Three Shrubs Based on Leaf Traits and Biomass Allocation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinniu Wang ◽  
Jing Gao ◽  
Yan Wu ◽  
Bo Xu ◽  
Fusun Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Carbon Content ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Principal Components ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Heterogeneous Environment

Phenotypic plasticity among natural plant populations is a species-specific ecological phenomenon of paramount importance that depends on their life forms, development stages, as well as environmental factors. While this phenomenon is broadly understood, it has hardly been observed in nature. This study aimed at understanding phenotypic plasticity and ecological adaptability in three shrubs (Salix etosia, Rubus setchuenensis, and Hydrangea aspera) affected by potential environmental variables after deforesting in sparse Larix spp. forest and tall shrub mixed secondary forests. Soil organic carbon content, total nitrogen content, and available nitrogen content were greater outside the forests, contrary to other measured factors whose availability was higher in the forest interiors. In case of leaf traits and stoichiometric indicators, there were significant interactions of leaf area (LA), leaf dry matter (DW), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf phosphorus content (LPC) between shrub species and heterogeneous environments (P < 0.05) but not for leaf C/N, N/P, and C/P. Principal components analysis (PCA) indicated that soil temperature, pH value, soil carbon content, soil nitrogen content, and MBC and MBN mainly constituted the first component. Summarized results indicated that TB and leaf C/P of S. etosia were significantly correlated with three principal components, but only marginal significant correlations existed between R/S and relevant components. SLA and R/S of R. setchuenensis had marginal significant relationships with independent variables. Both SLA and TB of H. aspera were significantly correlated with three principal components. Based on the pooled values of leaf functional traits and leaf stoichiometric indicators, R. setchuenensis (vining type) had better leaf traits plasticity to adapt to a heterogeneous environment. In descending order, the ranks of biomass allocation plasticity index of three shrubs were H. aspera (bunch type), R. setchuenensis (vining type), and S. etosia (erect type). The highest integrated plasticity values of leaf traits and biomass allocation was observed in H. aspera (bunch type), followed by R. setchuenensis, and by S. etosia with less adaptive plasticity in heterogeneous environments.

scholarly journals A review of length-weight relationships of freshwater fishes in Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amonodin Mohamad Radhi ◽  
Mohd-Fadzil Nurul Fazlinda ◽  
Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal ◽  
Hashim Rohasliney
Keyword(s):  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Freshwater Fishes ◽  
Clarias Batrachus ◽  
Ecological Health ◽  
Allometric Growth ◽  
Freshwater Fish Species

Abstract This manuscript reviews the length-weight relationships (LWRs) of freshwater fishes in Malaysia. A total of 102 LWRs of fishes gathered from literature pertaining to 64 freshwater fish species were analysed. A meta-analysis from 13 previous reports showed that the b values was ranged from 2.19 (Clarias batrachus) to 4.106 (Barbodes binotatus). Out of 64 observed species, 47 species (11 families) experienced positive allometric growth, while another 23 species (eight families) and 31 species (12 families) were recorded under isometric and negative allometric growth, respectively. The fish LWRs observed can be used as an indicator of environmental changes and fish ecological health for freshwater fishes in Malaysia.

scholarly journals Heritable variation in colour patterns mediating individual recognition

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 161008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Sheehan ◽  
Juanita Choo ◽  
Elizabeth A. Tibbetts
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Balancing Selection ◽  
Phenotypic Diversity ◽  
Individual Recognition ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
Pattern Diversity ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Colour Patterns

Understanding the developmental and evolutionary processes that generate and maintain variation in natural populations remains a major challenge for modern biology. Populations of Polistes fuscatus paper wasps have highly variable colour patterns that mediate individual recognition. Previous experimental and comparative studies have provided evidence that colour pattern diversity is the result of selection for individuals to advertise their identity. Distinctive identity-signalling phenotypes facilitate recognition, which reduces aggression between familiar individuals in P. fuscatus wasps. Selection for identity signals may increase phenotypic diversity via two distinct modes of selection that have different effects on genetic diversity. Directional selection for increased plasticity would greatly increase phenotypic diversity but decrease genetic diversity at associated loci. Alternatively, heritable identity signals under balancing selection would maintain genetic diversity at associated loci. Here, we assess whether there is heritable variation underlying colour pattern diversity used for facial recognition in a wild population of P. fuscatus wasps. We find that colour patterns are heritable and not Mendelian, suggesting that multiple loci are involved. Additionally, patterns of genetic correlations among traits indicated that many of the loci underlying colour pattern variation are unlinked and independently segregating. Our results support a model where the benefits of being recognizable maintain genetic variation at multiple unlinked loci that code for phenotypic diversity used for recognition.

scholarly journals Inducible competitors and adaptive diversification

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beren W. Robinson ◽  
David W. Pfennig
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
The Other ◽  
Competitive Interactions ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Evolutionary Divergence ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Adaptive Diversification ◽  
Divergent Natural Selection

Abstract Identifying the causes of diversification is central to evolutionary biology. The ecological theory of adaptive diversification holds that the evolution of phenotypic differences between populations and species—and the formation of new species—stems from divergent natural selection, often arising from competitive interactions. Although increasing evidence suggests that phenotypic plasticity can facilitate this process, it is not generally appreciated that competitively mediated selection often also provides ideal conditions for phenotypic plasticity to evolve in the first place. Here, we discuss how competition plays at least two key roles in adaptive diversification depending on its pattern. First, heterogenous competition initially generates heterogeneity in resource use that favors adaptive plasticity in the form of “inducible competitors”. Second, once such competitively induced plasticity evolves, its capacity to rapidly generate phenotypic variation and expose phenotypes to alternate selective regimes allows populations to respond readily to selection favoring diversification, as may occur when competition generates steady diversifying selection that permanently drives the evolutionary divergence of populations that use different resources. Thus, competition plays two important roles in adaptive diversification—one well-known and the other only now emerging—mediated through its effect on the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.

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