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Published on: October 25, 2016
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Sex differences in dispersal syndrome are modulated by environment and evolution
Abhishek Mishra1, Sudipta Tung1, P M Shreenidhi1
1Population Biology Laboratory, Biology Division, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411 008, India.
Summary
Sex differences in dispersal syndromes are environment-dependent and change with dispersal evolution. These findings impact understanding of local adaptation and the use of dispersal syndromes as proxies for dispersal in species like Drosophila melanogaster.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Ecology
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Dispersal syndromes, phenotypic traits linked to dispersal, can influence local adaptation.
- Sexual dimorphism in life history or behavior may lead to sex-specific dispersal syndromes.
- Empirical data on sex differences in dispersal syndromes and their response to environmental change or evolution is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in dispersal syndromes in Drosophila melanogaster.
- To examine how environmental factors (nutrition) modulate these sex differences.
- To assess the impact of dispersal evolution on sex-specific dispersal syndromes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two same-generation studies and a long-term selection experiment (over 70 generations) on laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster.
- Analyzed phenotypic correlates of dispersal in relation to sex and environmental conditions.
- Investigated changes in dispersal syndromes following dispersal evolution via spatial sorting.
Main Results:
- A significant difference in dispersal syndromes between males and females was observed, influenced by nutrition availability.
- Dispersal evolution altered sex differences in traits like desiccation resistance and body size.
- Ecological dispersal syndromes (same-generation) proved environment-dependent and poor predictors of evolutionary dispersal syndromes.
Conclusions:
- Sex differences in dispersal syndromes are likely environment-dependent.
- Evolutionary dispersal syndromes may differ significantly from ecological dispersal syndromes.
- Findings have implications for understanding local adaptation, sex-biased dispersal, and the utility of dispersal syndromes as proxies.
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