ORBi: Whiteman Howard - Larval growth in polyphenic salamanders: making the best of a bad lot

Reference : Larval growth in polyphenic salamanders: making the best of a bad lot


	Document type :	Scientific journals : Article
	Discipline(s) :	Life sciences : Aquatic sciences & oceanology Life sciences : Environmental sciences & ecology Life sciences : Zoology
	To cite this reference:	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/97214

Title :	Larval growth in polyphenic salamanders: making the best of a bad lot
Language :	English
Author, co-author :	Whiteman, Howard [Murray State University, KY, USA > > > >]
	Wissinger, Scott A. [Allegheny College, PA, USA > > > >]
	Denoël, Mathieu [Université de Liège - ULg > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale >]
	Mecklin, C. J. [Murray State University, KY, USA > > > >]
	Gerlanc, N. M. [Murray State University, KY, USA > > > >]
	Gutrich, J. J. [Southern Oregon University, OR, USA > > > >]
Publication date :	2012
Journal title :	Oecologia
Publisher :	Springer Science & Business Media B.V.
Volume :	168
Issue/season :	1
Pages :	109-118
Peer reviewed :	Yes (verified by ORBi)
Audience :	International
ISSN :	0029-8549
e-ISSN :	1432-1939
City :	New York
Country :	NY
Keywords :	[en] Polyphenism ; Density dependence ; Size structure ; Facultative paedomorphosis ; Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum ; Tiger salamander ; Body condition ; Fitness ; Metamorphosis ; Life history ; Heterochrony ; Phenotypic plasticity ; Best of a bad lot ; Proximate causes ; Capture-Mark-Recapture ; CMR ; Polymorphism ; Mexican Cut ; RMBL ; Rocky Mountains ; Evolution
Abstract :	[en] Polyphenisms are excellent models for studying phenotypic variation, yet few studies have focused on natural populations. Facultative paedomorphosis is a polyphenism in which salamanders either metamorphose or retain their larval morphology and eventually become paedomorphic. Paedomorphosis can result from selection for capitalizing on favorable aquatic habitats (paedomorph advantage), but could also be a default strategy under poor aquatic conditions (best of a bad lot). We tested these alternatives by quantifying how the developmental environment influences the ontogeny of wild Arizona tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum). Most paedomorphs in our study population arose from slow-growing larvae that developed under high density and size-structured conditions (best of a bad lot), although a few faster-growing larvae also became paedomorphic (paedomorph advantage). Males were more likely to become paedomorphs than females and did so under a greater range of body sizes than females, signifying a critical role for gender in this polyphenism. Our results emphasize that the same phenotype can be adaptive under different environmental and genetic contexts and that studies of phenotypic variation should consider multiple mechanisms of morph production.
Funders :	Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (Communauté française de Belgique) - F.R.S.-FNRS ; Fulbright ; National Science Foundation
Target :	Researchers ; Professionals
Permalink :	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/97214
DOI :	10.1007/s00442-011-2076-z
Mentions required by the publisher for OA :	This paper is published by Springer and is available at http://www.springer.com

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