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Condition, genotype-by-environment interaction, and correlational selection in lizard life-history morphs

Svensson, Erik LU orcid ; Sinervo, B and Comendant, T (2001) In Evolution 55(10). p.2053-2069
Abstract
We compared reproductive allocation and variation in condition and survivorship of two heritable female throat color morphs (orange and yellow) in a free-living population of side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana). Using path analysis and structural equation modeling, we investigated how variation in the social environment affected clutch size and egg mass and two condition traits (postlaying mass, immunological condition) and how these traits in turn affected female field survival. In the presence of many neighbors, both morphs increased their clutch sizes, although these effects were only significant in yellow females. In addition, yellow females increased their egg mass in the presence of many orange neighbors. Orange females... (More)
We compared reproductive allocation and variation in condition and survivorship of two heritable female throat color morphs (orange and yellow) in a free-living population of side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana). Using path analysis and structural equation modeling, we investigated how variation in the social environment affected clutch size and egg mass and two condition traits (postlaying mass, immunological condition) and how these traits in turn affected female field survival. In the presence of many neighbors, both morphs increased their clutch sizes, although these effects were only significant in yellow females. In addition, yellow females increased their egg mass in the presence of many orange neighbors. Orange females surrounded by many orange neighbors showed sign of stress in the form of immunosuppression, whereas this effect was less pronounced in yellow females. The morphs also differed in the impact of variation in clutch size and egg mass on both condition traits. Finally, female morphotype and immune responsiveness affected fitness interactively, and hence these two traits showed signs of fitness epistasis: Selection gradients on this trait were opposite in sign in the two morphs. The correlational selection gradient (gamma (throatxantibody) (response)) between female throat color and antibody responsiveness was -0.365. Our data thus reveal important interactive effects such as genotype-by-environment interaction toward the social environment and morph-specific trade-offs as well as the occurrence of correlational selection. We discuss the use of naturally occurring and conspicuous genetic polymorphisms in field studies of selection and life-history allocation. (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
in
Evolution
volume
55
issue
10
pages
2053 - 2069
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:0035543314
ISSN
1558-5646
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c7f755d3-6a4e-4005-968c-3310c150ccab (old id 145673)
alternative location
http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-document&issn=0014-3820&volume=055&issue=10&page=2053
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:09:22
date last changed
2023-01-05 05:35:20
@article{c7f755d3-6a4e-4005-968c-3310c150ccab,
  abstract     = {{We compared reproductive allocation and variation in condition and survivorship of two heritable female throat color morphs (orange and yellow) in a free-living population of side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana). Using path analysis and structural equation modeling, we investigated how variation in the social environment affected clutch size and egg mass and two condition traits (postlaying mass, immunological condition) and how these traits in turn affected female field survival. In the presence of many neighbors, both morphs increased their clutch sizes, although these effects were only significant in yellow females. In addition, yellow females increased their egg mass in the presence of many orange neighbors. Orange females surrounded by many orange neighbors showed sign of stress in the form of immunosuppression, whereas this effect was less pronounced in yellow females. The morphs also differed in the impact of variation in clutch size and egg mass on both condition traits. Finally, female morphotype and immune responsiveness affected fitness interactively, and hence these two traits showed signs of fitness epistasis: Selection gradients on this trait were opposite in sign in the two morphs. The correlational selection gradient (gamma (throatxantibody) (response)) between female throat color and antibody responsiveness was -0.365. Our data thus reveal important interactive effects such as genotype-by-environment interaction toward the social environment and morph-specific trade-offs as well as the occurrence of correlational selection. We discuss the use of naturally occurring and conspicuous genetic polymorphisms in field studies of selection and life-history allocation.}},
  author       = {{Svensson, Erik and Sinervo, B and Comendant, T}},
  issn         = {{1558-5646}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{2053--2069}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Evolution}},
  title        = {{Condition, genotype-by-environment interaction, and correlational selection in lizard life-history morphs}},
  url          = {{http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-document&issn=0014-3820&volume=055&issue=10&page=2053}},
  volume       = {{55}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}