Sensory trait variation in an echolocating bat suggests roles for both selection and plasticity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Across heterogeneous environments selection and gene flow interact to influence the rate and extent of adaptive trait evolution. This complex relationship is further influenced by the rarely considered role of phenotypic plasticity in the evolution of adaptive population variation. Plasticity can be adaptive if it promotes colonization and survival in novel environments and in doing so may increase the potential for future population differentiation via selection. Gene flow between selectively divergent environments may favour the evolution of phenotypic plasticity or conversely, plasticity itself may promote gene flow, leading to a pattern of trait differentiation in the presence of gene flow. Variation in sensory traits is particularly informative in testing the role o

SUBMITTER: Odendaal LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3986686 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature