A role for phenotypic plasticity in the evolution of aposematism. Export

@article{citeulike:2786075, abstract = {The evolution of warning coloration (aposematism) has been difficult to explain because rare conspicuous mutants should suffer a higher cost of discovery by predators relative to the cryptic majority, while at frequencies too low to facilitate predator aversion learning. Traditional models for the evolution of aposematism have assumed conspicuous prey phenotypes to be genetically determined and constitutive. By contrast, we have recently come to understand that warning coloration can be environmentally determined and mediated by local prey density, thereby reducing the initial costs of conspicuousness. The expression of density-dependent colour polyphenism is widespread among the insects and may provide an alternative pathway for the evolution of constitutive aposematic phenotypes in unpalatable prey by providing a protected intermediate stage. If density-dependent aposematism can function as an adaptive intermediate stage for the evolution of constitutive aposematic phenotypes, differential reaction norm evolution is predicted among related palatable and unpalatable prey populations. Here, I present empirical evidence that indicates that (i) the expression of density-dependent colour polyphenism has differentially evolved between palatable and unpalatable populations of the grasshopper Schistocerca emarginata (= lineata) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), and (ii) variation in plasticity between these populations is commensurate with the expected costs of conspicuousness.}, address = {Brackenridge Field Laboratory, University of Texas, Austin 78712, USA. gsword@sidney.ars.usda.gov}, author = {Sword, G. A.}, citeulike-article-id = {2786075}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2060}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12204123}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=12204123}, citeulike-linkout-3 = {http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au/Sword/Publications/assets/Sword(2002)PRS.pdf}, day = {22}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2002.2060}, issn = {0962-8452}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society}, keywords = {aposematic, camouflage, evolution, plasticity}, month = {August}, number = {1501}, pages = {1639--1644}, posted-at = {2008-05-12 01:49:55}, priority = {2}, title = {A role for phenotypic plasticity in the evolution of aposematism.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2060}, volume = {269}, year = {2002} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2786075 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2786075 N2 - The evolution of warning coloration (aposematism) has been difficult to explain because rare conspicuous mutants should suffer a higher cost of discovery by predators relative to the cryptic majority, while at frequencies too low to facilitate predator aversion learning. Traditional models for the evolution of aposematism have assumed conspicuous prey phenotypes to be genetically determined and constitutive. By contrast, we have recently come to understand that warning coloration can be environmentally determined and mediated by local prey density, thereby reducing the initial costs of conspicuousness. The expression of density-dependent colour polyphenism is widespread among the insects and may provide an alternative pathway for the evolution of constitutive aposematic phenotypes in unpalatable prey by providing a protected intermediate stage. If density-dependent aposematism can function as an adaptive intermediate stage for the evolution of constitutive aposematic phenotypes, differential reaction norm evolution is predicted among related palatable and unpalatable prey populations. Here, I present empirical evidence that indicates that (i) the expression of density-dependent colour polyphenism has differentially evolved between palatable and unpalatable populations of the grasshopper Schistocerca emarginata (= lineata) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), and (ii) variation in plasticity between these populations is commensurate with the expected costs of conspicuousness. IS - 1501 JF - Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society SN - 0962-8452 AD - Brackenridge Field Laboratory, University of Texas, Austin 78712, USA. gsword@sidney.ars.usda.gov EP - 1644 TI - A role for phenotypic plasticity in the evolution of aposematism. VL - 269 SP - 1639 KW - aposematic KW - camouflage KW - evolution KW - plasticity AU - Sword, GA PY - 2002/08/22/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2060 ER -