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When three traits make a line: Evolution of phenotypic plasticity and genetic assimilation through linear reaction norms in stochastic environments

Torbjørn Ergon, Rolf Ergon
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/034256
Torbjørn Ergon
1Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
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  • For correspondence: t.h.ergon@ibv.uio.no
Rolf Ergon
2Telemark University College, Porsgrunn, Norway
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Abstract

Genetic assimilation results from selection on phenotypic plasticity, but quantitative genetics models of linear reaction norms considering intercept and slope as traits do not fully incorporate the process of genetic assimilation. We argue that intercept-slope reaction norm models are insufficient representations of genetic effects on linear reaction norms, and that defining the intercept as a trait is unfortunate. Instead we suggest a model with three traits representing genetic effects that respectively (1) are independent of the environment, (2) alter the sensitivity of the phenotype to the environment, and (3) determine how the organism perceives the environment. The model predicts that, given sufficient additive genetic variation in environmental perception, the environmental value at which reaction norms tend to cross will respond rapidly to selection, and eventually become equal to the mean environment. Hence, in this model, genetic assimilation in a new environment becomes complete without changes in genetic correlations, genetic drift or imposing any fitness costs on maintaining plasticity. The asymptotic evolutionary outcome of this three-trait linear reaction norm generally entails a lower degree of phenotypic plasticity than the two-trait model, and maximum expected fitness does not occur at the mean trait values in the population.

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license.
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Posted December 11, 2015.
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When three traits make a line: Evolution of phenotypic plasticity and genetic assimilation through linear reaction norms in stochastic environments
Torbjørn Ergon, Rolf Ergon
bioRxiv 034256; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/034256
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When three traits make a line: Evolution of phenotypic plasticity and genetic assimilation through linear reaction norms in stochastic environments
Torbjørn Ergon, Rolf Ergon
bioRxiv 034256; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/034256

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