The consequences of phenotypic plasticity for ecological speciation
Authored by X Thibert-Plante, A P Hendry
Date Published: 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02169.x
Sponsors:
National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
United States Department of Homeland Security
United States National Science Foundation (NSF)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
We use an individual-based numerical simulation to study the effects of
phenotypic plasticity on ecological speciation. We find that adaptive
plasticity evolves readily in the presence of dispersal between
populations from different ecological environments. This plasticity
promotes the colonization of new environments but reduces genetic
divergence between them. We also find that the evolution of plasticity
can either enhance or degrade the potential for divergent selection to
form reproductive barriers. Of particular importance here is the timing
of plasticity in relation to the timing of dispersal. If plasticity is
expressed after dispersal, reproductive barriers are generally weaker
because plasticity allows migrants to be better suited for their new
environment. If plasticity is expressed before dispersal, reproductive
barriers are either unaffected or enhanced. Among the potential
reproductive barriers we considered, natural selection against migrants
was the most important, primarily because it was the earliest-acting
barrier. Accordingly, plasticity had a much greater effect on natural
selection against migrants than on sexual selection against migrants or
on natural and sexual selection against hybrids. In general, phenotypic
plasticity can strongly alter the process of ecological speciation and
should be considered when studying the evolution of reproductive
barriers.
Tags
sexual selection
Natural-selection
Gene flow
Local adaptation
Heterogeneous environment
Reproductive isolation
Sympatric
speciation
Host-plant adaptation
Individual-based simulations
Contemporary adaptation