Male sexual signal predicts phenotypic plasticity in offspring: implications for the evolution of plasticity and local adaptation.

ABSTRACT: In a rapidly changing world, understanding the processes that influence a population's ability to respond to natural selection is critical for identifying how to preserve biodiversity. Two such processes are phenotypic plasticity and sexual selection. Whereas plasticity can facilitate local adaptation, sexual selection potentially impedes local adaptation, especially in rapidly changing or variable environments. Here we hypothesize that, when females preferentially choose males that sire plastic offspring, sexual selection can actually facilitate local adaptation to variable or novel environments by promoting the evolution of adaptive plasticity. We tested this hypothesis by evaluating whether male sexual signals could indicate plasticity in their offspring and, concomitantly, their offspr

SUBMITTER: Kelly PW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6365869 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature