Phenological mismatch drives selection on elevation, but not on slope, of breeding time plasticity in a wild songbird.

ABSTRACT: Phenotypic plasticity is an important mechanism for populations to respond to fluctuating environments, yet may be insufficient to adapt to a directionally changing environment. To study whether plasticity can evolve under current climate change, we quantified selection and genetic variation in both the elevation (RN_E ) and slope (RN_S ) of the breeding time reaction norm in a long-term (1973-2016) study population of great tits (Parus major). The optimal RN_E (the caterpillar biomass peak date regressed against the temperature used as cue by great tits) changed over time, whereas the optimal RN_S did not. Concordantly, we found strong directional selection on RN_E , but not RN_S , of egg-laying date in the second third of the st

SUBMITTER: Ramakers JJC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6519030 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature