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Ålund M, Cenzer M, Bierne N, Boughman JW, Cerca J, Comerford MS, Culicchi A, Langerhans B, McFarlane SE, Möst MH, North H, Qvarnström A, Ravinet M, Svanbäck R, Taylor SA. Anthropogenic Change and the Process of Speciation. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:a041455. [PMID: 37788888 PMCID: PMC10691492 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic impacts on the environment alter speciation processes by affecting both geographical contexts and selection patterns on a worldwide scale. Here we review evidence of these effects. We find that human activities often generate spatial isolation between populations and thereby promote genetic divergence but also frequently cause sudden secondary contact and hybridization between diverging lineages. Human-caused environmental changes produce new ecological niches, altering selection in diverse ways that can drive diversification; but changes also often remove niches and cause extirpations. Human impacts that alter selection regimes are widespread and strong in magnitude, ranging from local changes in biotic and abiotic conditions to direct harvesting to global climate change. Altered selection, and evolutionary responses to it, impacts early-stage divergence of lineages, but does not necessarily lead toward speciation and persistence of separate species. Altogether, humans both promote and hinder speciation, although new species would form very slowly relative to anthropogenic hybridization, which can be nearly instantaneous. Speculating about the future of speciation, we highlight two key conclusions: (1) Humans will have a large influence on extinction and "despeciation" dynamics in the short term and on early-stage lineage divergence, and thus potentially speciation in the longer term, and (2) long-term monitoring combined with easily dated anthropogenic changes will improve our understanding of the processes of speciation. We can use this knowledge to preserve and restore ecosystems in ways that promote (re-)diversification, increasing future opportunities of speciation and enhancing biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murielle Ålund
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75236, Sweden
| | - Meredith Cenzer
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Nicolas Bierne
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier 34095, France
| | - Janette W Boughman
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - José Cerca
- CEES - Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo 0316, Norway
| | | | - Alessandro Culicchi
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75236, Sweden
| | - Brian Langerhans
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - S Eryn McFarlane
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Markus H Möst
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Henry North
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Qvarnström
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75236, Sweden
| | - Mark Ravinet
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Svanbäck
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75236, Sweden
| | - Scott A Taylor
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
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2
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Iglesias-Carrasco M, Wong BBM, Jennions MD. In the shadows: wildlife behaviour in tree plantations. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:838-850. [PMID: 35710479 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Destruction of natural habitats for tree plantations is a major threat to wildlife. These novel environments elicit behavioural changes that can either be detrimental or beneficial to survival and reproduction, with population - and community - level consequences. However, compared with well-documented changes following other forms of habitat modification, we know little about wildlife behavioural responses to tree plantations, and even less about their associated fitness costs. Here, we highlight critical knowledge gaps in understanding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of behavioural shifts caused by tree plantations and discuss how wildlife responses to plantations could be critical in determining which species persist in these highly modified environments.
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3
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Riesch R, Araújo MS, Bumgarner S, Filla C, Pennafort L, Goins TR, Lucion D, Makowicz AM, Martin RA, Pirroni S, Langerhans RB. Resource competition explains rare cannibalism in the wild in livebearing fishes. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8872. [PMID: 35600676 PMCID: PMC9109233 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger Riesch
- Department of Biological Sciences Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Royal Holloway University of London Egham UK
| | - Márcio S. Araújo
- Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Rio Claro Brazil
| | - Stuart Bumgarner
- Department of Biological Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
| | - Caitlynn Filla
- Department of Biological Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
- Department of Anthropology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Laura Pennafort
- Department of Biological Sciences Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Royal Holloway University of London Egham UK
| | - Taylor R. Goins
- Department of Biological Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
| | - Darlene Lucion
- Department of Biological Sciences Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Royal Holloway University of London Egham UK
| | - Amber M. Makowicz
- Department of Biological Sciences Florida State University Tallahassee Florida USA
| | - Ryan A. Martin
- Department of Biology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - Sara Pirroni
- Department of Biological Sciences Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Royal Holloway University of London Egham UK
| | - R. Brian Langerhans
- Department of Biological Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
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4
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Evans AE, Zimova M, Giery ST, Golden HE, Pastore AL, Nadeau CP, Urban MC. An eco‐evolutionary perspective on the humpty‐dumpty effect and community restoration. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annette E. Evans
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
- Dept of Environmental Conservation, Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst MA USA
| | | | - Sean T. Giery
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
- Dept of Biology, The Pennsylvania State Univ. Univ. Park PA USA
| | - Heidi E. Golden
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
- Golden Ecology LLC Simsbury CT USA
| | - Amanda L. Pastore
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
| | - Christopher P. Nadeau
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
- Smith Conservation Research Fellow, Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern Univ. Nahant MA USA
| | - Mark C. Urban
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
- Center of Biological Risks, Univ. of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
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5
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Tschol M, Reid JM, Bocedi G. Strong spatial population structure shapes the temporal coevolutionary dynamics of costly female preference and male display. Evolution 2021; 76:636-648. [PMID: 34964487 PMCID: PMC9302702 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Female mating preferences for exaggerated male display traits are commonplace. Yet, comprehensive understanding of the evolution and persistence of costly female preference through indirect (Fisherian) selection in finite populations requires some explanation for the persistence of additive genetic variance (Va) underlying sexual traits, given that directional preference is expected to deplete Va in display and hence halt preference evolution. However, the degree to which Va, and hence preference‐display coevolution, may be prolonged by spatially variable sexual selection arising solely from limited gene flow and genetic drift within spatially structured populations has not been examined. Our genetically and spatially explicit model shows that spatial population structure arising in an ecologically homogeneous environment can facilitate evolution and long‐term persistence of costly preference given small subpopulations and low dispersal probabilities. Here, genetic drift initially creates spatial variation in female preference, leading to persistence of Va in display through “migration‐bias” of genotypes maladapted to emerging local sexual selection, thus fueling coevolution of costly preference and display. However, costs of sexual selection increased the probability of subpopulation extinction, limiting persistence of high preference‐display genotypes. Understanding long‐term dynamics of sexual selection systems therefore requires joint consideration of coevolution of sexual traits and metapopulation dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Tschol
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Jane M Reid
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Institutt for Biologi, NTNU, Realfagbygget, Gløshaugen, Høgskoleringen 5, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
| | - Greta Bocedi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
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6
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Jenkins MR, Cummings JM, Cabe AR, Hulthén K, Peterson MN, Langerhans RB. Natural and anthropogenic sources of habitat variation influence exploration behaviour, stress response, and brain morphology in a coastal fish. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2446-2461. [PMID: 34143892 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary ecology aims to better understand how ecologically important traits respond to environmental heterogeneity. Environments vary both naturally and as a result of human activities, and investigations that simultaneously consider how natural and human-induced environmental variation affect diverse trait types grow increasingly important as human activities drive species endangerment. Here, we examined how habitat fragmentation and structural habitat complexity affect disparate trait types in Bahamas mosquitofish Gambusia hubbsi inhabiting tidal creeks. We tested a priori predictions for how these factors might influence exploratory behaviour, stress reactivity and brain anatomy. We examined approximately 350 adult Bahamas mosquitofish from seven tidal-creek populations across Andros Island, The Bahamas that varied in both human-caused fragmentation (three fragmented and four unfragmented) and natural habitat complexity (e.g. fivefold variation in rock habitat). Populations that had experienced severe human-induced fragmentation, and thus restriction of tidal exchange from the ocean, exhibited greater exploration of a novel environment, stronger physiological stress responses to a mildly stressful event and smaller telencephala (relative to body size). These changes matched adaptive predictions based mostly on (a) reduced chronic predation risk and (b) decreased demands for navigating tidally dynamic habitats. Populations from sites with greater structural habitat complexity showed a higher propensity for exploration and a relatively larger optic tectum and cerebellum. These patterns matched adaptive predictions related to increased demands for navigating complex environments. Our findings demonstrate environmental variation, including recent anthropogenic impacts (<50 years), can significantly affect complex, ecologically important traits. Yet trait-specific patterns may not be easily predicted, as we found strong support for only six of 12 predictions. Our results further highlight the utility of simultaneously quantifying multiple environmental factors-for example had we failed to account for habitat complexity, we would not have detected the effects of fragmentation on exploratory behaviours. These responses, and their ecological consequences, may be complex: rapid and adaptive phenotypic responses to anthropogenic impacts can facilitate persistence in human-altered environments, but may come at a cost of population vulnerability if ecological restoration was to occur without consideration of the altered traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Jenkins
- Department of Biological Sciences and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - John M Cummings
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Alex R Cabe
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Kaj Hulthén
- Department of Biological Sciences and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - M Nils Peterson
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - R Brian Langerhans
- Department of Biological Sciences and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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7
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Langerhans RB, Goins TR, Stemp KM, Riesch R, Araújo MS, Layman CA. Consuming Costly Prey: Optimal Foraging and the Role of Compensatory Growth. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.603387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Some prey are exceptionally difficult to digest, and yet even non-specialized animals may consume them—why? Durophagy, the consumption of hard-shelled prey, is thought to require special adaptations for crushing or digesting the hard shells to avoid the many potential costs of this prey type. But many animals lacking specializations nevertheless include hard-bodied prey in their diets. We describe several non-mutually exclusive adaptive mechanisms that could explain such a pattern, and point to optimal foraging and compensatory growth as potentially having widespread importance in explaining costly-prey consumption. We first conducted a literature survey to quantify the regularity with which non-specialized teleost fishes consume hard-shelled prey: stomach-content data from 325 teleost fish species spanning 82 families (57,233 stomach samples) demonstrated that non-specialized species comprise ~75% of the total species exhibiting durophagy, commonly consuming hard-shelled prey at low to moderate levels (~10–40% as much as specialists). We then performed a diet survey to assess the frequency of molluscivory across the native latitudinal range of a small livebearing fish, Gambusia holbrooki, lacking durophagy specializations. Molluscivory was regionally widespread, spanning their entire native latitudinal range (>14° latitude). Third, we tested for a higher frequency of molluscivory under conditions of higher intraspecific resource competition in Bahamian mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.). Examining over 5,300 individuals, we found that molluscivory was more common in populations with higher population density, suggesting that food limitation is important in eliciting molluscivory. Finally, we experimentally tested in G. holbrooki whether molluscivory reduces growth rate and whether compensatory growth follows a period of molluscivory. We found that consumption of hard-shelled gastropods results in significantly reduced growth rate, but compensatory growth following prior snail consumption can quickly mitigate growth costs. Our results suggest that the widespread phenomenon of costly-prey consumption may be partially explained by its relative benefits when few alternative prey options exist, combined with compensatory growth that alleviates temporary costs.
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8
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Côte J, Pilisi C, Morisseau O, Veyssière C, Perrault A, Jean S, Blanchet S, Jacquin L. Water turbidity affects melanin-based coloration in the gudgeon: a reciprocal transplant experiment. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Human activities cause rapid eutrophication and increased water turbidity in aquatic ecosystems, but their effects on fish communication and colour signals remain of debate. In particular, melanin-based coloration in fish has been understudied, because it was believed to be less costly to display than carotenoid-based colours. Here, we measured the phenotypic divergence of melanin-based coloration in 17 populations of gudgeon (Gobio occitaniae) along a turbidity gradient. We also tested the short-term plasticity of coloration using a reciprocal transplant experiment. We found strong variability in melanin-based coloration along the turbidity gradient: interpopulation divergence in coloration was higher than predicted by genetic drift, and fish were paler with increasing levels of turbidity. Finally, a reciprocal transplant experiment revealed that fish transplanted into more turbid habitats expressed a paler melanin-based coloration, suggesting that melanin-based coloration was highly plastic in the short term. Overall, our results suggest that eutrophication in human-altered rivers can rapidly alter melanin-based coloration, with potential consequences for fish visual communication and sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Côte
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique EDB, Université de Toulouse; Toulouse, France
| | - Camille Pilisi
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique EDB, Université de Toulouse; Toulouse, France
| | - Océane Morisseau
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique EDB, Université de Toulouse; Toulouse, France
| | - Charlotte Veyssière
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique EDB, Université de Toulouse; Toulouse, France
| | - Annie Perrault
- Laboratoire EcoLab, CNRS; INPT; UPS; ENSAT, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Séverine Jean
- Laboratoire EcoLab, CNRS; INPT; UPS; ENSAT, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Simon Blanchet
- Station d’Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale SETE; Moulis, France
| | - Lisa Jacquin
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique EDB, Université de Toulouse; Toulouse, France
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Giery ST, Layman CA. Dissolved organic carbon and unimodal variation in sexual signal coloration in mosquitofish: a role for light limitation? Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0163. [PMID: 28381625 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural selection plays an important role in the evolution of sexual communication systems. Here, we assess the effect of two well-known selection agents, transmission environment and predation, on interpopulation variation in sexual signals. Our model system is a series of 21 populations of Bahamian mosquitofish subjected to independent variation in optical conditions and predation risk. We show that optically diverse environments, caused by locally variable dissolved organic carbon concentrations, rather than spatial variation in predation, drove divergence in fin coloration (fin redness). We found a unimodal pattern of phenotypic variation along the optical gradient indicating a threshold-type response of visual signals to broad variation in optical conditions. We discuss evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that may drive such a pattern as well as the implications of non-monotonic clines for evolutionary differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean T Giery
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Craig A Layman
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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10
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Tüzün N, Op de Beeck L, Stoks R. Sexual selection reinforces a higher flight endurance in urban damselflies. Evol Appl 2017; 10:694-703. [PMID: 28717389 PMCID: PMC5511363 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is among the most important and globally rapidly increasing anthropogenic processes and is known to drive rapid evolution. Habitats in urbanized areas typically consist of small, fragmented and isolated patches, which are expected to select for a better locomotor performance, along with its underlying morphological traits. This, in turn, is expected to cause differentiation in selection regimes, as populations with different frequency distributions for a given trait will span different parts of the species' fitness function. Yet, very few studies considered differentiation in phenotypic traits associated with patterns in habitat fragmentation and isolation along urbanization gradients, and none considered differentiation in sexual selection regimes. We investigated differentiation in flight performance and flight-related traits and sexual selection on these traits across replicated urban and rural populations of the scrambling damselfly Coenagrion puella. To disentangle direct and indirect paths going from phenotypic traits over performance to mating success, we applied a path analysis approach. We report for the first time direct evidence for the expected better locomotor performance in urban compared to rural populations. This matches a scenario of spatial sorting, whereby only the individuals with the best locomotor abilities colonize the isolated urban populations. The covariation patterns and causal relationships among the phenotypic traits, performance and mating success strongly depended on the urbanization level. Notably, we detected sexual selection for a higher flight endurance only in urban populations, indicating that the higher flight performance of urban males was reinforced by sexual selection. Taken together, our results provide a unique proof of the interplay between sexual selection and adaptation to human-altered environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nedim Tüzün
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and ConservationUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Lin Op de Beeck
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and ConservationUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Robby Stoks
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and ConservationUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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11
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Zastavniouk C, Weir LK, Fraser DJ. The evolutionary consequences of habitat fragmentation: Body morphology and coloration differentiation among brook trout populations of varying size. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:6850-6862. [PMID: 28904765 PMCID: PMC5587476 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A reduction in population size due to habitat fragmentation can alter the relative roles of different evolutionary mechanisms in phenotypic trait differentiation. While deterministic (selection) and stochastic (genetic drift) mechanisms are expected to affect trait evolution, genetic drift may be more important than selection in small populations. We examined relationships between mature adult traits and ecological (abiotic and biotic) variables among 14 populations of brook trout. These naturally fragmented populations have shared ancestry but currently exhibit considerable variability in habitat characteristics and population size (49 < Nc < 10,032; 3 < Nb < 567). Body size, shape, and coloration differed among populations, with a tendency for more variation among small populations in both trait means and CV when compared to large populations. Phenotypic differences were more frequently and directly linked to habitat variation or operational sex ratio than to population size, suggesting that selection may overcome genetic drift at small population size. Phenotype-environment associations were also stronger in females than males, suggesting that natural selection due to abiotic conditions may act more strongly on females than males. Our results suggest that natural and sexual-selective pressures on phenotypic traits change during the process of habitat fragmentation, and that these changes are largely contingent upon existing habitat conditions within isolated fragments. Our study provides an improved understanding of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of habitat fragmentation and lends insight into the ability of some small populations to respond to selection and environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura K Weir
- Department of Biology Saint Mary's University Halifax NS Canada
| | - Dylan J Fraser
- Department of Biology Concordia University Montreal QC Canada
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12
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Langerhans RB. Predictability and Parallelism of Multitrait Adaptation. J Hered 2017; 109:59-70. [DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esx043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
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13
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Stroud JT, Losos JB. Ecological Opportunity and Adaptive Radiation. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2016. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-121415-032254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 271] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James T. Stroud
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, Florida 33156;
| | - Jonathan B. Losos
- Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 01238;
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14
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Riesch R, Easter T, Layman CA, Langerhans RB. Rapid human-induced divergence of life-history strategies in Bahamian livebearing fishes (family Poeciliidae). J Anim Ecol 2015; 84:1732-43. [PMID: 26237432 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC) can have dramatic impacts on ecosystems, leading to rapid trait changes in some organisms and extinction in others. Such changes in traits signify that human actions can lead to cases of increased phenotypic diversity and consequently can strongly impact population-, community- and ecosystem-level dynamics. Here, we examine whether the ecological consequences of habitat fragmentation have led to changes in the life histories of three native species of mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.) inhabiting tidal creeks on six different Bahamian islands. We address two important questions: (i) How predictable and parallel are life-history changes in response to HIREC across islands and species, and (ii) what is the relative importance of shared (i.e. parallel) responses to fragmentation, differences between species or islands and species- or island-specific responses to fragmentation? Phenotypic differences between fragmentation regimes were as great or greater than differences between species or islands. While some adult life histories (lean weight and fat content) showed strong, shared responses to fragmentation, offspring-related life histories (embryo fat and fecundity) exhibited idiosyncratic, island-specific responses. While shared responses to fragmentation appeared largely driven by a reduction in piscivorous fish density, increased conspecific density and changes in salinity, we found some evidence that among-population variation in male reproductive investment and embryo fat content may have arisen via variation in conspecific density. Our results suggest that phenotypic responses to HIREC can be complex, with the predictability of response varying across traits. We therefore emphasize the need for more theoretical and empirical work to better understand the predictability of phenotypic responses to human-induced disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger Riesch
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Tara Easter
- Department of Biological Sciences, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7617, USA
- Center for Biological Diversity, PO Box 11374, Portland, OR, 97211-0374, USA
| | - Craig A Layman
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7617, USA
| | - Randall Brian Langerhans
- Department of Biological Sciences, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7617, USA
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