Ontogeny and Population Biology of a Sex-Limited Colour Polymorphism

Jessica Abbott

Ontogeny and Population Biology of a Sex-Limited Colour Polymorphism

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis (compilation)

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Abstract

This study has involved investigation of number of populations of the damselfly Ischnura elegans over several years, looking at frequency changes over time, morphological differences between the sexes and the morphs, differences in growth rate and development time, differences in fecundity between the morphs, and genetic differentiation between populations. I. elegans is a small annual damselfly with three female colour morphs (Androchrome, Infuscans, and Infuscans-obsoleta), one of which (the Androchrome) is considered a male mimic; males are monomorphic.

Empirically estimated selection coefficients were used in a population genetic and dynamic model with environmental variation which predicted coexistence of the three morphs. This suggests that negative frequency-dependence on fecundity mediated by male mating harassment is sufficient to explain coexistence of the morphs. Field data also showed that fecundity decreased with increasing frequency in the population for all three morphs. Investigation of sexual dimorphism revealed that the sexes differed in development time, growth rates, and adult size and shape and that sexual size dimorphism is produced in I. elegans by a combination of development time and development rate acting in concert. The female morphs also differed in development time, growth rates, and adult size and shape, although in this case effects of development time and development rate cancelled each other out. In addition, male-like body shape had a negative effect on fecundity in Infuscans-obsoleta females but not in Androchrome or Infuscans females. Quantitative genetic parameters for morphological traits showed that an evolutionary response to selection on body shape is possible. Comparisons of Fst-values and the lack of isolation by distance both suggest that this is a highly dynamic non-equilibrium system, and genetic diversity appears to be influenced by wind direction.

The results in this study indicate that the morphs are subject to negative frequency-dependent selection via male mating harassment, and that the differences between the morphs are part of their identity as alternative adaptive strategies.

Original language	English
Qualification	Doctor
Awarding Institution	Department of Biology
Supervisors/Advisors	Svensson, Erik I., Supervisor, External person
Award date	2006 Nov 23
Publisher	Xanto Grafiska AB
ISBN (Print)	91-7105-243-7
Publication status	Published - 2006

Bibliographical note

Defence details

Date: 2006-11-23
Time: 09:00
Place: Blue Hall, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, Lund

External reviewer(s)

Name: Promislow, Daniel
Title: Dr.
Affiliation: University of Georgia, USA

---

<div class="article_info">E.I. Svensson, J. Abbott and R. Härdling. <span class="article_issue_date">2005</span>. <a href="javascript:downloadFile(547434)" class="article_link">Female polymorphism, frequency dependence, and rapid evolutionary dynamics in natural populations.</a> <span class="journal_series_title">Am. Nat.</span>, <span class="journal_pages">pp 567-576</span>. <span class="journal_distributor">University of Chicago Press</span></div>
<div class="article_info">J. Abbott and E.I. Svensson. <span class="article_issue_date">2005</span>. <a href="javascript:downloadFile(547435)" class="article_link">Phenotypic and genetic variation in emergence and development time of a trimorphic damselfly.</a> <span class="journal_series_title">J. Evol. Biol.</span>, <span class="journal_pages">pp 1464-1470</span>. <span class="journal_distributor">Blackwell</span></div>
<div class="article_info">J.K. Abbott and E.I. Svensson. <span class="article_issue_date">2006</span>. <span class="article_title">Ontogeny of sexual dimorphism and phenotypic intergration in heritable morphs.</span> (submitted)</div>
<div class="article_info">J.K. Abbott, E.I. Svensson and T. Gosden. <span class="article_issue_date"></span>. <span class="article_title">Adaptive morphological variation in an intraspecific mimicry system.</span> (manuscript)</div>
<div class="article_info">E.I. Svensson and J. Abbott. <span class="article_issue_date">2005</span>. <a href="javascript:downloadFile(547439)" class="article_link">Evolutionary dynamics and population biology of a polymorphic insect.</a> <span class="journal_series_title">J. Evol. Biol.</span>, <span class="journal_pages">pp 1503-1514</span>. <span class="journal_distributor">Blackwell</span></div>
<div class="article_info">J.K. Abbott, S. Bensch, T. Gosden and E.I. Svensson. <span class="article_issue_date"></span>. <span class="article_title">Rapid evolutionary dynamics in a polymorphic non-equilibrium system.</span> (manuscript)</div>

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Animal Ecology (Closed 2011) (011012001)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Ecology

Free keywords

embryologi
ontogeni
animal morphology
embryology
Utvecklingsbiologi
Damselflies
Colour polymorphism
Development
Frequency-dependence
Morphology
growth (animal)
ontogeny
Animal anatomy
Development biology
Djurs anatomi och morfologi
Population divergence
Animal ecology
Djurekologi

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Cite this

@phdthesis{c8cdd4b36970462a80ed2814b9727df4,

title = "Ontogeny and Population Biology of a Sex-Limited Colour Polymorphism",

abstract = "This study has involved investigation of number of populations of the damselfly Ischnura elegans over several years, looking at frequency changes over time, morphological differences between the sexes and the morphs, differences in growth rate and development time, differences in fecundity between the morphs, and genetic differentiation between populations. I. elegans is a small annual damselfly with three female colour morphs (Androchrome, Infuscans, and Infuscans-obsoleta), one of which (the Androchrome) is considered a male mimic; males are monomorphic. Empirically estimated selection coefficients were used in a population genetic and dynamic model with environmental variation which predicted coexistence of the three morphs. This suggests that negative frequency-dependence on fecundity mediated by male mating harassment is sufficient to explain coexistence of the morphs. Field data also showed that fecundity decreased with increasing frequency in the population for all three morphs. Investigation of sexual dimorphism revealed that the sexes differed in development time, growth rates, and adult size and shape and that sexual size dimorphism is produced in I. elegans by a combination of development time and development rate acting in concert. The female morphs also differed in development time, growth rates, and adult size and shape, although in this case effects of development time and development rate cancelled each other out. In addition, male-like body shape had a negative effect on fecundity in Infuscans-obsoleta females but not in Androchrome or Infuscans females. Quantitative genetic parameters for morphological traits showed that an evolutionary response to selection on body shape is possible. Comparisons of Fst-values and the lack of isolation by distance both suggest that this is a highly dynamic non-equilibrium system, and genetic diversity appears to be influenced by wind direction. The results in this study indicate that the morphs are subject to negative frequency-dependent selection via male mating harassment, and that the differences between the morphs are part of their identity as alternative adaptive strategies.",

keywords = "embryologi, ontogeni, animal morphology, embryology, Utvecklingsbiologi, Damselflies, Colour polymorphism, Development, Frequency-dependence, Morphology, growth (animal), ontogeny, Animal anatomy, Development biology, Djurs anatomi och morfologi, Population divergence, Animal ecology, Djurekologi",

author = "Jessica Abbott",

note = "Defence details Date: 2006-11-23 Time: 09:00 Place: Blue Hall, Ecology Building, S{\"o}lvegatan 37, Lund External reviewer(s) Name: Promislow, Daniel Title: Dr. Affiliation: University of Georgia, USA --- <div class={"}article_info{"}>E.I. Svensson, J. Abbott and R. H{\"a}rdling. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}>2005</span>. <a href={"}javascript:downloadFile(547434){"} class={"}article_link{"}>Female polymorphism, frequency dependence, and rapid evolutionary dynamics in natural populations.</a> <span class={"}journal_series_title{"}>Am. Nat.</span>, <span class={"}journal_pages{"}>pp 567-576</span>. <span class={"}journal_distributor{"}>University of Chicago Press</span></div> <div class={"}article_info{"}>J. Abbott and E.I. Svensson. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}>2005</span>. <a href={"}javascript:downloadFile(547435){"} class={"}article_link{"}>Phenotypic and genetic variation in emergence and development time of a trimorphic damselfly.</a> <span class={"}journal_series_title{"}>J. Evol. Biol.</span>, <span class={"}journal_pages{"}>pp 1464-1470</span>. <span class={"}journal_distributor{"}>Blackwell</span></div> <div class={"}article_info{"}>J.K. Abbott and E.I. Svensson. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}>2006</span>. <span class={"}article_title{"}>Ontogeny of sexual dimorphism and phenotypic intergration in heritable morphs.</span> (submitted)</div> <div class={"}article_info{"}>J.K. Abbott, E.I. Svensson and T. Gosden. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}></span>. <span class={"}article_title{"}>Adaptive morphological variation in an intraspecific mimicry system.</span> (manuscript)</div> <div class={"}article_info{"}>E.I. Svensson and J. Abbott. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}>2005</span>. <a href={"}javascript:downloadFile(547439){"} class={"}article_link{"}>Evolutionary dynamics and population biology of a polymorphic insect.</a> <span class={"}journal_series_title{"}>J. Evol. Biol.</span>, <span class={"}journal_pages{"}>pp 1503-1514</span>. <span class={"}journal_distributor{"}>Blackwell</span></div> <div class={"}article_info{"}>J.K. Abbott, S. Bensch, T. Gosden and E.I. Svensson. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}></span>. <span class={"}article_title{"}>Rapid evolutionary dynamics in a polymorphic non-equilibrium system.</span> (manuscript)</div> The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Animal Ecology (Closed 2011) (011012001)",

year = "2006",

language = "English",

isbn = "91-7105-243-7",

publisher = "Xanto Grafiska AB",

type = "Doctoral Thesis (compilation)",

school = "Department of Biology",

}

TY - THES

T1 - Ontogeny and Population Biology of a Sex-Limited Colour Polymorphism

AU - Abbott, Jessica

N1 - Defence details Date: 2006-11-23 Time: 09:00 Place: Blue Hall, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, Lund External reviewer(s) Name: Promislow, Daniel Title: Dr. Affiliation: University of Georgia, USA --- <div class="article_info">E.I. Svensson, J. Abbott and R. Härdling. <span class="article_issue_date">2005</span>. <a href="javascript:downloadFile(547434)" class="article_link">Female polymorphism, frequency dependence, and rapid evolutionary dynamics in natural populations.</a> <span class="journal_series_title">Am. Nat.</span>, <span class="journal_pages">pp 567-576</span>. <span class="journal_distributor">University of Chicago Press</span></div> <div class="article_info">J. Abbott and E.I. Svensson. <span class="article_issue_date">2005</span>. <a href="javascript:downloadFile(547435)" class="article_link">Phenotypic and genetic variation in emergence and development time of a trimorphic damselfly.</a> <span class="journal_series_title">J. Evol. Biol.</span>, <span class="journal_pages">pp 1464-1470</span>. <span class="journal_distributor">Blackwell</span></div> <div class="article_info">J.K. Abbott and E.I. Svensson. <span class="article_issue_date">2006</span>. <span class="article_title">Ontogeny of sexual dimorphism and phenotypic intergration in heritable morphs.</span> (submitted)</div> <div class="article_info">J.K. Abbott, E.I. Svensson and T. Gosden. <span class="article_issue_date"></span>. <span class="article_title">Adaptive morphological variation in an intraspecific mimicry system.</span> (manuscript)</div> <div class="article_info">E.I. Svensson and J. Abbott. <span class="article_issue_date">2005</span>. <a href="javascript:downloadFile(547439)" class="article_link">Evolutionary dynamics and population biology of a polymorphic insect.</a> <span class="journal_series_title">J. Evol. Biol.</span>, <span class="journal_pages">pp 1503-1514</span>. <span class="journal_distributor">Blackwell</span></div> <div class="article_info">J.K. Abbott, S. Bensch, T. Gosden and E.I. Svensson. <span class="article_issue_date"></span>. <span class="article_title">Rapid evolutionary dynamics in a polymorphic non-equilibrium system.</span> (manuscript)</div> The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Animal Ecology (Closed 2011) (011012001)

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - This study has involved investigation of number of populations of the damselfly Ischnura elegans over several years, looking at frequency changes over time, morphological differences between the sexes and the morphs, differences in growth rate and development time, differences in fecundity between the morphs, and genetic differentiation between populations. I. elegans is a small annual damselfly with three female colour morphs (Androchrome, Infuscans, and Infuscans-obsoleta), one of which (the Androchrome) is considered a male mimic; males are monomorphic. Empirically estimated selection coefficients were used in a population genetic and dynamic model with environmental variation which predicted coexistence of the three morphs. This suggests that negative frequency-dependence on fecundity mediated by male mating harassment is sufficient to explain coexistence of the morphs. Field data also showed that fecundity decreased with increasing frequency in the population for all three morphs. Investigation of sexual dimorphism revealed that the sexes differed in development time, growth rates, and adult size and shape and that sexual size dimorphism is produced in I. elegans by a combination of development time and development rate acting in concert. The female morphs also differed in development time, growth rates, and adult size and shape, although in this case effects of development time and development rate cancelled each other out. In addition, male-like body shape had a negative effect on fecundity in Infuscans-obsoleta females but not in Androchrome or Infuscans females. Quantitative genetic parameters for morphological traits showed that an evolutionary response to selection on body shape is possible. Comparisons of Fst-values and the lack of isolation by distance both suggest that this is a highly dynamic non-equilibrium system, and genetic diversity appears to be influenced by wind direction. The results in this study indicate that the morphs are subject to negative frequency-dependent selection via male mating harassment, and that the differences between the morphs are part of their identity as alternative adaptive strategies.

AB - This study has involved investigation of number of populations of the damselfly Ischnura elegans over several years, looking at frequency changes over time, morphological differences between the sexes and the morphs, differences in growth rate and development time, differences in fecundity between the morphs, and genetic differentiation between populations. I. elegans is a small annual damselfly with three female colour morphs (Androchrome, Infuscans, and Infuscans-obsoleta), one of which (the Androchrome) is considered a male mimic; males are monomorphic. Empirically estimated selection coefficients were used in a population genetic and dynamic model with environmental variation which predicted coexistence of the three morphs. This suggests that negative frequency-dependence on fecundity mediated by male mating harassment is sufficient to explain coexistence of the morphs. Field data also showed that fecundity decreased with increasing frequency in the population for all three morphs. Investigation of sexual dimorphism revealed that the sexes differed in development time, growth rates, and adult size and shape and that sexual size dimorphism is produced in I. elegans by a combination of development time and development rate acting in concert. The female morphs also differed in development time, growth rates, and adult size and shape, although in this case effects of development time and development rate cancelled each other out. In addition, male-like body shape had a negative effect on fecundity in Infuscans-obsoleta females but not in Androchrome or Infuscans females. Quantitative genetic parameters for morphological traits showed that an evolutionary response to selection on body shape is possible. Comparisons of Fst-values and the lack of isolation by distance both suggest that this is a highly dynamic non-equilibrium system, and genetic diversity appears to be influenced by wind direction. The results in this study indicate that the morphs are subject to negative frequency-dependent selection via male mating harassment, and that the differences between the morphs are part of their identity as alternative adaptive strategies.

KW - embryologi

KW - ontogeni

KW - animal morphology

KW - embryology

KW - Utvecklingsbiologi

KW - Damselflies

KW - Colour polymorphism

KW - Development

KW - Frequency-dependence

KW - Morphology

KW - growth (animal)

KW - ontogeny

KW - Animal anatomy

KW - Development biology

KW - Djurs anatomi och morfologi

KW - Population divergence

KW - Animal ecology

KW - Djurekologi

M3 - Doctoral Thesis (compilation)

SN - 91-7105-243-7

PB - Xanto Grafiska AB

ER -

Ontogeny and Population Biology of a Sex-Limited Colour Polymorphism

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Free keywords

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