McWhinnie, K., Negi, D., Tanner, E. and Parsons, K. J. (2023) Functional trait plasticity diverges between sexes in African cichlids: A contribution toward ecological sexual dimorphism? Ecology and Evolution, 13(11), e10702. (doi: 10.1002/ece3.10702) (PMID:38034329) (PMCID:PMC10682861)
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Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity enables development to produce multiple phenotypes in response to environmental conditions. Plasticity driven variation has been suggested to play a key role in adaptive divergence, and plasticity itself can evolve. However, the interaction of plasticity with the multiple levels involved with adaptive divergence is less understood. For example, sexual dimorphism can contribute adaptive variation through ecological sexual dimorphism (ESD), but the contribution of plasticity to this phenomenon is unknown. Therefore, to determine the potential contribution of plasticity to ESD, we used the adaptive radiation of Malawi cichlids. Two mouthbrooding species (Labeotropheus fuelleborni and Tropheops “Red Cheek”) with differences in foraging tactics underwent foraging experiments using benthic and limnetic treatments while accounting for sex. Plasticity in craniofacial shape and three functionally important traits were measured. Plasticity was shown, but without any sex-based differences in shape. However, for mechanical advantage traits of the mandible sex by diet interactions were found. This suggests that ESD, may be influenced by phenotypic plasticity that diverges between sexes. Given the involvement of the mandible in parental care in cichlids this may indicate that sexual divergence in plasticity may trade-off against maternal care tactics.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Negi, Deepti and McWhinnie, Kirsty and Parsons, Dr Kevin |
| Creator Roles: | McWhinnie, K.Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Visualization, Writing – original draft Negi, D.Formal analysis, Methodology Parsons, K.Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Resources, Supervision, Writing – review and editing |
| Authors: | McWhinnie, K., Negi, D., Tanner, E., and Parsons, K. J. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| ISSN: | 2045-7758 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2045-7758 |
| Published Online: | 28 November 2023 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright: © 2023 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Ecology and Evolution 13(11): e10702 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence |
| Data DOI: | 10.5061/dryad.1g1jwsv35 |
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