Differences among families in craniofacial shape at early life-stages of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Background Organismal fitness can be determined at early life-stages, but phenotypic variation at these early life-stages has rarely been considered in studies on evolutionary diversification. The trophic apparatus has been shown to contribute to sympatric resource-mediated divergence in several taxa. However, processes underlying this diversification are poorly understood. Using a phenotypically variable morph of Icelandic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), we reared offspring from multiple families under standardized laboratory conditions and tested to what extent family (i.e. direct genetic and maternal effects) contributes to offspring morphology at hatching (H) and first feeding (FF). To understand the underlying mechanisms behind early life-stage variation in morphology, we examined how craniofacial shape varied according to family, egg size, offspring size and individual candidate genes related to craniofacial development. Finally, we assessed whether craniofacial shape and expression of genes related to craniofacial development covaried. Results We found effects of family for offspring craniofacial shape at both H and FF, whilst relative expression levels of Sgk1 (a gene involved in craniofacial shape divergence) correlated with craniofacial shape at FF. However, there were no evidence to suggest that mean egg size or individual offspring size influenced offspring morphology. Conclusions This study provides evidence for within population family effects for phenotypic variation in trophic morphology, indicating the potential for genetic and/or maternal effects to facilitate resource polymorphism.