No evidence for genetic differentiation in juvenile traits between Belgian and French populations of the invasive tree Robinia pseudoacacia

Background – The role of evolution in biological invasion studies is often overlooked. In order to evaluate the evolutionary mechanisms behind invasiveness, both quantitative and population genetics studies are underway on Robinia pseudoacacia L., one of the worst invasive tree species in Europe.Methods – A controlled experiment was set up using 2000 seeds from ten populations in Southern France and ten populations in Belgium. Seedlings were cultivated in two climatic chambers set at 18°C and 22°C. Early development life history traits (e.g. seedling phenology) and functional traits (e.g. growth rates) were monitored. Genotyping using SNP markers was used to evaluate the genetic differentiation among the populations and a QST – FST comparison was done in order to test for the role of selection.Results – Populations exhibited a strong plasticity to temperature for all measured traits, the warmer environment being generally more suitable, irrespective of their origin. No significant departure from neutral evolution was evidenced by the QST – FST comparisons, although we found a slightly significant differentiation at the molecular level. Conclusion – Plasticity for the functional and life history traits was evidenced but no genetic interaction suggesting no possible evolution of plasticity at those traits. Moreover, no support for genetic differentiation and local adaptation was found among studied populations within invasive range, raising two main questions: first, what is the role of selection on functional and life-history traits; and second, is the elapsed time since first introduction sufficient to allow evolution and local adaptation?

Download Full-text

Microgeographic local adaptation and ecotype distributions: The role of selective processes on early life‐history traits in sympatric, ecologically divergent Symphonia populations

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.6731 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (19) ◽

pp. 10735-10753

Author(s):

Niklas Tysklind ◽

Marie‐Pierre Etienne ◽

Caroline Scotti‐Saintagne ◽

Alexandra Tinaut ◽

Maxime Casalis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Local Adaptation ◽

Early Life ◽

Life History Traits ◽

Early Life History

Download Full-text

Microgeographic local adaptation and species distributions: the role of selective processes on early life history traits in the Symphonia syngameon.

Authorea ◽

10.22541/au.158705417.70708833 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Niklas Tysklind ◽

Marie Pierre Etienne ◽

Caroline Scotti Saintagne ◽

Alexandra Tinaut ◽

Valerie Troispoux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Local Adaptation ◽

Early Life ◽

Life History Traits ◽

Species Distributions ◽

Early Life History

Download Full-text

Hormones and Behavior

The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology and Behavioral Endocrinology ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190649739.013.2 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 11-26

Author(s):

Maren N. Vitousek ◽

Laura A. Schoenle

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Life Histories ◽

Life History Traits ◽

Developmental Plasticity ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Phenotypic Traits ◽

Social Environments ◽

Trade Offs ◽

And Behavior

Hormones mediate the expression of life history traits—phenotypic traits that contribute to lifetime fitness (i.e., reproductive timing, growth rate, number and size of offspring). The endocrine system shapes phenotype by organizing tissues during developmental periods and by activating changes in behavior, physiology, and morphology in response to varying physical and social environments. Because hormones can simultaneously regulate many traits (hormonal pleiotropy), they are important mediators of life history trade-offs among growth, reproduction, and survival. This chapter reviews the role of hormones in shaping life histories with an emphasis on developmental plasticity and reversible flexibility in endocrine and life history traits. It also discusses the advantages of studying hormone–behavior interactions from an evolutionary perspective. Recent research in evolutionary endocrinology has provided insight into the heritability of endocrine traits, how selection on hormone systems may influence the evolution of life histories, and the role of hormonal pleiotropy in driving or constraining evolution.

Download Full-text

The Ecology of Stress: linking life-history traits with physiological control mechanisms in free-living guanacos

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2640 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e2640 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ramiro J.A. Ovejero Aguilar ◽

Graciela A. Jahn ◽

Mauricio Soto-Gamboa ◽

Andrés J. Novaro ◽

Pablo Carmanchahi

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Seasonal Variation ◽

Reproductive Success ◽

Hpa Axis ◽

Life History Traits ◽

Mating Period ◽

Entire Study ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Animal Populations

BackgroundProviding the context for the evolution of life-history traits, habitat features constrain successful ecological and physiological strategies. In vertebrates, a key response to life’s challenges is the activation of the Stress (HPA) and Gonadal (HPG) axes. Much of the interest in stress ecology is motivated by the desire to understand the physiological mechanisms in which the environment affects fitness. As reported in the literature, several intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect variability in hormone levels. In both social and non-social animals, the frequency and type of interaction with conspecifics, as well as the status in social species, can affect HPA axis activity, resulting in changes in the reproductive success of animals. We predicted that a social environment can affect both guanaco axes by increasing the secretion of testosterone (T) and Glucocorticoid (GCs) in response to individual social interactions and the energetic demands of breeding. Assuming that prolonged elevated levels of GCs over time can be harmful to individuals, it is predicted that the HPA axis suppresses the HPG axis and causes T levels to decrease, as GCs increase.MethodsAll of the data for individuals were collected by non-invasive methods (fecal samples) to address hormonal activities. This is a novel approach in physiological ecology because feces are easily obtained through non-invasive sampling in animal populations.ResultsAs expected, there was a marked adrenal (p-value = .3.4e−12) and gonadal (p-value = 0.002656) response due to seasonal variation inLama guanicoe. No significant differences were found in fecal GCs metabolites between males/females*season for the entire study period (p-value = 0.2839). Despite the seasonal activity variation in the hormonal profiles, our results show a positive correlation (p-value = 1.952e−11, COR = 0.50) between the adrenal and gonadal system. The marked endocrine (r2 = 0.806) and gonad (r2 = 0.7231) response due to seasonal variation in male guanaco individuals highlights the individual’s energetic demands according to life-history strategies. This is a remarkable result because no inhibition was found between the axes as theory suggests. Finally, the dataset was used to build a reactive scope model for guanacos.DiscussionGuanacos cope with the trade-off between sociability and reproductive benefits and costs, by regulating their GCs and T levels on a seasonal basis, suggesting an adaptive role of both axes to different habitat pressures. The results presented here highlight the functional role of stress and gonad axes on a critical phase of a male mammal’s life—the mating period—when all of the resources are at the disposal of the male and must be used to maximize the chances for reproductive success.

Download Full-text