REAL

Rapid temporal change in the expression and age-related information content of a sexually selected trait

Hegyi, Gergely and Török, János and Tóth, László and Garamszegi, László Zsolt and Rosivall, Balázs (2006) Rapid temporal change in the expression and age-related information content of a sexually selected trait. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 19 (1). pp. 228-238. ISSN 1010-061X (print), 1420-9101 (online)

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Abstract

The expression of sexual signals is often phenotypically plastic and also evolves rapidly. Few studies have considered the possibility that proximate determination - the pathway between genes and trait expression - may also be subject to both phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary change. We examined long-term patterns in size, condition- and age-dependence, repeatability and heritability of forehead patch size, a sexually selected plumage trait in male collared flycatchers. We also estimated survival and sexual selection on the phenotypic value of the trait. Forehead patch size linearly declined during the 15 years, probably due to the significantly negative survival selection. In addition, the expression of genetic variation for the ornament apparently underwent an age-limited change, which implies a change in the information content of the signal to receivers. The persistent lack of condition-dependence makes phenotypic plasticity an unlikely explanation to our results. This raises the possibility of a microevolutionary change of both expression and proximate determination during the study period.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz > QH301 Biology / biológia
Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz > QH426 Genetics / genetika, örökléstan
Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz > QH540 Ecology / ökológia
Depositing User: Erika Bilicsi
Date Deposited: 27 Feb 2013 12:06
Last Modified: 27 Feb 2013 12:06
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/4315

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