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Genetic and phenotypic associations in morphological traits: a long term study of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Åkesson, Mikael LU ; Bensch, Staffan LU and Hasselquist, Dennis LU (2007) In Journal of Avian Biology 38(1). p.58-72
Abstract
We present estimates of standardized selection (directional and quadratic) differentials via reproductive success on eight morphological traits in a newly founded long-term study population of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus in Sweden. In order to predict the evolutionary response to selection in these traits we present estimates of heritabilities (h(2)), phenotypic (r(P)) and genetic (r(A)) correlations among the same traits. We also examined the extent of parental effects in the expression of the phenotypic traits. Overall, the population is subject to low levels of directional selection and higher levels of stabilizing selection. This makes us predict that the population is changing very little if anything, even though... (More)
We present estimates of standardized selection (directional and quadratic) differentials via reproductive success on eight morphological traits in a newly founded long-term study population of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus in Sweden. In order to predict the evolutionary response to selection in these traits we present estimates of heritabilities (h(2)), phenotypic (r(P)) and genetic (r(A)) correlations among the same traits. We also examined the extent of parental effects in the expression of the phenotypic traits. Overall, the population is subject to low levels of directional selection and higher levels of stabilizing selection. This makes us predict that the population is changing very little if anything, even though h(2) in many cases are considerable. Midparent-midoffspring h(2) ranged from 0.14 and 0.94 (mean 0.58) and were significant for seven of eight traits. We found indications of positive maternal effects in tarsus length. Phenotypic correlations between traits ranged from 0.02 to 0.43 (mean 0.15) and showed generally much lower values than the corresponding genetic correlations that ranged between 0.08 and 1.04 (mean 0.46). Overall, the correlation between r(P) and r(A) was significant, although moderate, but they tended to differ in magnitude, possibly due to overestimation of additive covariance between traits. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Avian Biology
volume
38
issue
1
pages
58 - 72
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000243295500007
  • scopus:33846106800
ISSN
0908-8857
DOI
10.1111/j.2006.0908-8857.03669.x
project
Long-term study of great reed warblers
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
900e8730-28bf-43f8-bd5c-fc9aa01fb59d (old id 679367)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:22:55
date last changed
2022-03-29 00:08:02
@article{900e8730-28bf-43f8-bd5c-fc9aa01fb59d,
  abstract     = {{We present estimates of standardized selection (directional and quadratic) differentials via reproductive success on eight morphological traits in a newly founded long-term study population of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus in Sweden. In order to predict the evolutionary response to selection in these traits we present estimates of heritabilities (h(2)), phenotypic (r(P)) and genetic (r(A)) correlations among the same traits. We also examined the extent of parental effects in the expression of the phenotypic traits. Overall, the population is subject to low levels of directional selection and higher levels of stabilizing selection. This makes us predict that the population is changing very little if anything, even though h(2) in many cases are considerable. Midparent-midoffspring h(2) ranged from 0.14 and 0.94 (mean 0.58) and were significant for seven of eight traits. We found indications of positive maternal effects in tarsus length. Phenotypic correlations between traits ranged from 0.02 to 0.43 (mean 0.15) and showed generally much lower values than the corresponding genetic correlations that ranged between 0.08 and 1.04 (mean 0.46). Overall, the correlation between r(P) and r(A) was significant, although moderate, but they tended to differ in magnitude, possibly due to overestimation of additive covariance between traits.}},
  author       = {{Åkesson, Mikael and Bensch, Staffan and Hasselquist, Dennis}},
  issn         = {{0908-8857}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{58--72}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Avian Biology}},
  title        = {{Genetic and phenotypic associations in morphological traits: a long term study of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2006.0908-8857.03669.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.2006.0908-8857.03669.x}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}