Adaptive paternal effects? Experimental evidence that the paternal environment affects offspring performance
Angela J Crean1, John M Dwyer2, Dustin J Marshall2
1School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. a.crean@unsw.edu.au
Ecology
|January 10, 2014
Summary
Fathers can adaptively influence offspring development and survival through nongenetic paternal effects. Paternal density manipulation in Styela plicata altered sperm, impacting offspring performance and fitness.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Maternal effects on offspring phenotype are well-established.
- Nongenetic paternal effects and their transgenerational consequences remain largely unexplored.
- Sperm phenotype plasticity in males in response to environmental conditions is known.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transgenerational consequences of male sperm plasticity.
- To determine if fathers can adaptively influence offspring phenotype via nongenetic effects.
- To explore the role of paternal environmental conditions on offspring performance.
Main Methods:
- Manipulated paternal density of Styela plicata (a solitary ascidian).
- Conducted in vitro fertilizations excluding maternal effects.
- Assessed offspring performance (development, hatching success, survival) under natural conditions.
Main Results:
- Offspring sired by males from low-density populations showed faster development and higher hatching success.
- Offspring survival in the field was higher when their environment matched their father's environmental conditions.
- Environmentally induced paternal effects unequivocally influenced offspring performance.
Conclusions:
- Nongenetic paternal effects can adaptively influence offspring phenotype and fitness.
- Sperm plasticity in response to environmental factors, like sperm competition, has transgenerational implications.
- Adaptive nongenetic paternal effects may be more prevalent than previously recognized in diverse species.
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