Properties of phenotypic plasticity in discrete threshold traits
Jane M Reid1,2, Paul Acker1
1Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Institutt for Biologi, NTNU, Trondheim, 7034, Norway.
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|December 7, 2021
Summary
Phenotypic plasticity, crucial for evolution, differs between continuous and discrete threshold traits. Understanding threshold trait plasticity is vital for predicting evolutionary and population dynamics in changing environments.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Quantitative genetics
- Ecology
Background:
- Phenotypic plasticity drives evolutionary and population responses to environmental changes.
- Most studies focus on continuously distributed traits with linear reaction norms.
- Environmentally sensitive traits often exist as discrete phenotypes (threshold traits).
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight differences in phenotypic plasticity between threshold traits and continuous traits.
- To identify theoretical developments needed for understanding plastic threshold traits.
- To explain phenotypic variation using threshold trait properties.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of phenotypic plasticity in threshold traits.
- Review of quantitative genetic principles for threshold traits.
- Summarizing methods for estimating quantitative genetic parameters.
Main Results:
- Plasticity, genetic variation, and selection outcomes differ for threshold traits compared to continuous traits.
- Threshold traits offer explanations for complex phenotypic variation patterns.
- Methods exist to estimate key genetic parameters for threshold traits.
Conclusions:
- Threshold traits require distinct theoretical frameworks for studying plasticity.
- Integrating threshold traits into plasticity research is essential for understanding evolutionary dynamics.
- This work sets the stage for dynamic discrete traits in plasticity research.
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