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Morph-specific variation in intersexual genetic correlations in an intra-specific mimicry system

Abbott, Jessica LU orcid and Svensson, Erik LU orcid (2010) In Evolutionary Ecology Research 12(1). p.105-118
Abstract
Background: Positive intersexual genetic correlations are typically viewed as constraining the evolution of sexual dimorphism, when traits are subject to sexually antagonistic selection. Our study species, the damselfly Ischnura elegans, has a female-limited colour polymorphism with three female colour morphs (males are monomorphic), one of which is considered to be a male mimic. Questions: Are there morph-specific differences in the magnitude of intersexual genetic correlations in I. elegans? Specifically, do male-mimic (Androchrome) females have higher intersexual genetic correlations for morphological traits than non-mimic (Infuscans) females'? Methods: We collected copulating pairs in the field and raised offspring from these pairs in... (More)
Background: Positive intersexual genetic correlations are typically viewed as constraining the evolution of sexual dimorphism, when traits are subject to sexually antagonistic selection. Our study species, the damselfly Ischnura elegans, has a female-limited colour polymorphism with three female colour morphs (males are monomorphic), one of which is considered to be a male mimic. Questions: Are there morph-specific differences in the magnitude of intersexual genetic correlations in I. elegans? Specifically, do male-mimic (Androchrome) females have higher intersexual genetic correlations for morphological traits than non-mimic (Infuscans) females'? Methods: We collected copulating pairs in the field and raised offspring from these pairs in the laboratory. We measured five morphological traits in both parent and offspring generations and investigated their heritabilities and genetic correlations. Results: We found a negative overall relationship between the degree of sexual dimorphism for a trait and its intersexual genetic correlation. But the magnitude and direction of intersexual genetic correlations depended on the female morph. As expected, male mimic (Androchrome) females had higher intersexual genetic correlations. In addition, the genetic correlations between the morphs were in all cases significantly lower than unity. Male mimic (Androchrome) females had higher mother son covariances than the non-mimic (Infuscans) morph, and this difference is the proximate explanation for the difference in intersexual genetic correlations between the morphs. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
dimorphism, sexual, polymorphism, male mimic, damselflies, Ischnura elegans
in
Evolutionary Ecology Research
volume
12
issue
1
pages
105 - 118
publisher
Evolutionary Ecology Ltd
external identifiers
  • wos:000276475900007
  • scopus:76049110507
ISSN
1522-0613
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f2b49fea-1680-44d9-bdca-72cf664b80cd (old id 1603929)
alternative location
http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/issues/v12/n01/iiar2492.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:48:47
date last changed
2023-01-04 00:56:53
@article{f2b49fea-1680-44d9-bdca-72cf664b80cd,
  abstract     = {{Background: Positive intersexual genetic correlations are typically viewed as constraining the evolution of sexual dimorphism, when traits are subject to sexually antagonistic selection. Our study species, the damselfly Ischnura elegans, has a female-limited colour polymorphism with three female colour morphs (males are monomorphic), one of which is considered to be a male mimic. Questions: Are there morph-specific differences in the magnitude of intersexual genetic correlations in I. elegans? Specifically, do male-mimic (Androchrome) females have higher intersexual genetic correlations for morphological traits than non-mimic (Infuscans) females'? Methods: We collected copulating pairs in the field and raised offspring from these pairs in the laboratory. We measured five morphological traits in both parent and offspring generations and investigated their heritabilities and genetic correlations. Results: We found a negative overall relationship between the degree of sexual dimorphism for a trait and its intersexual genetic correlation. But the magnitude and direction of intersexual genetic correlations depended on the female morph. As expected, male mimic (Androchrome) females had higher intersexual genetic correlations. In addition, the genetic correlations between the morphs were in all cases significantly lower than unity. Male mimic (Androchrome) females had higher mother son covariances than the non-mimic (Infuscans) morph, and this difference is the proximate explanation for the difference in intersexual genetic correlations between the morphs.}},
  author       = {{Abbott, Jessica and Svensson, Erik}},
  issn         = {{1522-0613}},
  keywords     = {{dimorphism; sexual; polymorphism; male mimic; damselflies; Ischnura elegans}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{105--118}},
  publisher    = {{Evolutionary Ecology Ltd}},
  series       = {{Evolutionary Ecology Research}},
  title        = {{Morph-specific variation in intersexual genetic correlations in an intra-specific mimicry system}},
  url          = {{http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/issues/v12/n01/iiar2492.pdf}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}