Plasticity is a locally adapted trait with consequences for ecological dynamics in novel environments.

ABSTRACT: Phenotypic plasticity is predicted to evolve in more variable environments, conferring an advantage on individual lifetime fitness. It is less clear what the potential consequences of that plasticity will have on ecological population dynamics. Here, we use an invertebrate model system to examine the effects of environmental variation (resource availability) on the evolution of phenotypic plasticity in two life history traits-age and size at maturation-in long-running, experimental density-dependent environments. Specifically, we then explore the feedback from evolution of life history plasticity to subsequent ecological dynamics in novel conditions. Plasticity in both traits initially declined in all microcosm environments, but then evolved increased plasticity for age-at-maturation, sign

SUBMITTER: Bond MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8366859 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature