Phenotypic plasticity, heritability, and genotype-by-environment interactions in an insect dispersal polymorphism
Lilian Cabon1, Mahendra Varma2,3, Gabe Winter2
1Population Ecology Group, Institute of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, 07743, Jena, Germany. lilian.cabon@uni-jena.de.
BMC Ecology and Evolution
|September 16, 2025
Summary
Dispersal dimorphism in flightless insects, like the meadow grasshopper, can be influenced by both genetics and environment. Rearing density significantly impacts wing development, showing adaptive plasticity for niche choice.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Ecology
- Genetics
Background:
- Phenotypic plasticity is crucial for adapting to environmental changes.
- Dispersal limitations in flightless insects often lead to dispersal dimorphisms.
- The interplay between genetic and environmental factors in dispersal dimorphism is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic basis and environmental influences on dispersal dimorphism in Pseudochorthippus parallelus.
- To understand the role of rearing density and tactile stimulation in wing development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a full-sib half-sib breeding design.
- Analyzed density-dependent plasticity in wing development.
- Examined genotype-by-environment interactions.
Main Results:
- Wing development in Pseudochorthippus parallelus is strongly influenced by rearing density, likely due to tactile stimulation.
- Heritable variation exists in both the tendency for long wings and the response to density.
- Environmental effects dominate at high and low densities, while genetic variation is most significant at intermediate densities.
Conclusions:
- Induced dimorphisms enhance adaptive phenotypic plasticity and active niche choice.
- Both genetic and induced dispersal dimorphisms facilitate niche exploration.
- Niche-related polymorphisms can evolve through selection on sensitivity thresholds.
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