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Evolutionary dynamics and population biology of a polymorphic insect

Svensson, Erik LU orcid and Abbott, Jessica LU orcid (2005) In Journal of evolutionary biology 18(6). p.1503-1514
Abstract
Conspicuous heritable polymorphisms are useful to address the question if morph frequencies are stable or whether they fluctuate between generations. Ecological geneticists have studied colour polymorphisms in the past, but there are few long-term studies of genetic dynamics across multiple generations. We studied morph-frequency dynamics and female fecundity in the trimorphic blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans). The morphs include a male-coloured (androchrome) type of female, which is thought to be maintained by frequency-dependent sexual conflict. Morph frequencies changed significantly between years across all populations. There was evidence for directional frequency change since androchrome females increased in 9 of 10 populations... (More)
Conspicuous heritable polymorphisms are useful to address the question if morph frequencies are stable or whether they fluctuate between generations. Ecological geneticists have studied colour polymorphisms in the past, but there are few long-term studies of genetic dynamics across multiple generations. We studied morph-frequency dynamics and female fecundity in the trimorphic blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans). The morphs include a male-coloured (androchrome) type of female, which is thought to be maintained by frequency-dependent sexual conflict. Morph frequencies changed significantly between years across all populations. There was evidence for directional frequency change since androchrome females increased in 9 of 10 populations across a 4-year period. There was heterogeneity between populations in their evolutionary trajectories, partly caused by population age: androchrome frequencies were initially high in young populations but gradually decreased and approached the level of old populations. We discuss the possible causes of morph-frequency fluctuations, and the role of morph-specific fecundity, dispersal and other forces influencing evolutionary dynamics in this system. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of evolutionary biology
volume
18
issue
6
pages
1503 - 1514
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000233146000014
  • pmid:16313463
  • scopus:28444471208
  • pmid:16313463
ISSN
1420-9101
DOI
10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.00946.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6160fb0b-3b47-48c1-a6f5-e5bf21343a34 (old id 149125)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:46:53
date last changed
2023-01-10 18:31:39
@article{6160fb0b-3b47-48c1-a6f5-e5bf21343a34,
  abstract     = {{Conspicuous heritable polymorphisms are useful to address the question if morph frequencies are stable or whether they fluctuate between generations. Ecological geneticists have studied colour polymorphisms in the past, but there are few long-term studies of genetic dynamics across multiple generations. We studied morph-frequency dynamics and female fecundity in the trimorphic blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans). The morphs include a male-coloured (androchrome) type of female, which is thought to be maintained by frequency-dependent sexual conflict. Morph frequencies changed significantly between years across all populations. There was evidence for directional frequency change since androchrome females increased in 9 of 10 populations across a 4-year period. There was heterogeneity between populations in their evolutionary trajectories, partly caused by population age: androchrome frequencies were initially high in young populations but gradually decreased and approached the level of old populations. We discuss the possible causes of morph-frequency fluctuations, and the role of morph-specific fecundity, dispersal and other forces influencing evolutionary dynamics in this system.}},
  author       = {{Svensson, Erik and Abbott, Jessica}},
  issn         = {{1420-9101}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{1503--1514}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Journal of evolutionary biology}},
  title        = {{Evolutionary dynamics and population biology of a polymorphic insect}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.00946.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.00946.x}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}