Thesis
Phenotypic plasticity under the effects of variation in multiple environmental variables
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000000060
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/119283
Abstract
Global change, range expansion, and species invasion expose organisms to new
conditions across multiple environmental variables, yet our understanding of phenotypically
plastic responses mainly focuses on variation in one environmental variable. Evaluating reaction
norms across multiple co-varying environmental variables of fitness-related traits can provide
new insight into the fate of populations in the face of environmental changes. This study used an
asexual invasive freshwater snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, to investigate the effects of
multiple variables in a reaction norm framework. Using a lab common garden experiment and a
split-brood design, clonal replicates were exposed to a full factorial design of low and high
temperatures and salinities. First, the single and combined treatment effects of temperature and
salinity on mean trait values of life-history traits’ reaction norms were examined. Second,
within- and across-variable genetic correlations were calculated to determine the potential for
responses to one environmental variable to constrain reaction norm evolution in response to the
other variable. High temperature and high salinity additively affected most growth traits, but
synergistically interacted to reduce asymptotic size. Within- and across-variable correlations differed in both magnitude and orientation for asymptotic size, while no significant correlations
were found between any of the other life-history traits. Non-additive, synergistic responses to
different environmental variables and significant across- variable correlations demonstrate the
importance of considering multiple variable effects on reaction norms and their potential
evolution.
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Details
- Title
- Phenotypic plasticity under the effects of variation in multiple environmental variables
- Creators
- Abigail Hudak
- Contributors
- MARK DYBDAHL (Degree Supervisor) - Washington State University, Biological Sciences, School ofPATRICK ANDREW CARTER (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Biological Sciences, School ofW. Wesley Dowd (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Biological Sciences, School of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 43
- Identifiers
- 99900591263601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis