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Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks
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Life-history plasticity in female threespine stickleback.

J A Baker1, M A Wund2, D C Heins3

  • 1Department of Biology, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA.

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Female threespine stickleback exhibit life-history plasticity in reproductive traits. This review explores plasticity in maturation, reproductive effort, and egg/clutch size, contrasting lab and field findings.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Ecology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) show adaptive radiation, with significant divergence in behavior and morphology.
  • Life-history divergence is well-studied, but plasticity's role in these traits remains less understood.
  • Female reproductive traits are key to understanding life-history plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize current knowledge on life-history plasticity in female threespine stickleback.
  • To examine plasticity in age/size at maturation, reproductive effort, egg size, and clutch size.
  • To consider plasticity within an ontogenetic framework and explore potential environmental cues.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing laboratory and field studies on threespine stickleback.
  • Analysis of plasticity in four key reproductive traits.
  • Exploration of potential environmental cues and costs/benefits of plasticity.

Main Results:

  • Life-history plasticity in female threespine stickleback is evident across multiple reproductive traits.
  • Laboratory and field studies often yield different insights into plasticity.
  • Potential cues and trade-offs associated with expressed plasticity are identified.

Conclusions:

  • Life-history plasticity is a crucial factor in threespine stickleback adaptive radiation.
  • Understanding plasticity requires considering ontogenetic and environmental contexts.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of plasticity in stickleback evolution.