Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
08:51
Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks
Published on: May 13, 2016
Niche specialization influences adaptive phenotypic plasticity in the threespine stickleback
Richard Svanbäck1, Dolph Schluter
1Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada. richard.svanback@ebc.uu.se
The American Naturalist
|June 8, 2012
Summary
Generalist populations exhibit greater phenotypic plasticity, allowing them to adapt to diverse resources. This increased adaptability evolved recently in threespine sticklebacks after colonizing new environments.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Ecology
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Phenotypic plasticity can enhance niche width in generalist populations, even in stable environments.
- Plasticity can increase the frequency of extreme phenotypes, broadening resource utilization.
- Generalist populations are predicted to be more plastic than specialist populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if generalist populations exhibit higher phenotypic plasticity than specialist populations.
- To investigate the evolution of plasticity in threespine sticklebacks.
- To determine the relationship between niche width and morphological variation.
Main Methods:
- Common-garden experiment with threespine sticklebacks from coastal lakes and ancestral marine populations.
- Morphological measurements of solitary generalist populations and sympatric limnetic and benthic species.
- Analysis of trait variation in wild populations with intermediate trait values.
Main Results:
- Solitary, generalist threespine sticklebacks showed significantly higher morphological plasticity than specialized sympatric species.
- The ancestral marine stickleback exhibited low plasticity, similar to sympatric populations.
- Greater plasticity in generalist populations appears to have evolved recently.
- Wild populations with intermediate trait values displayed higher morphological variation.
Conclusions:
- Phenotypic plasticity can evolve rapidly following colonization of new environments.
- Increased plasticity in generalist populations is linked to expanded niche use.
- The findings support the hypothesis that generalists should be more plastic than specialists.
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