Data from: Selection in a fluctuating environment and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus

Hallsson, Lára R., Uppsala University

Björklund, Mats, Uppsala University

Published Apr 24, 2012 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j3459

Cite this dataset

Hallsson, Lára R.; Björklund, Mats (2012). Data from: Selection in a fluctuating environment and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j3459

Abstract

Temperature changes in the environment, which realistically include environmental fluctuations, can create both plastic and evolutionary responses of traits. Sexes might differ in either or both of these responses for homologous traits, which in turn has consequences for sexual dimorphism and its evolution. Here we investigate both immediate changes in and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in response to a changing environment (with and without fluctuations) using the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus. We investigate sex differences in plasticity and also the genetic architecture of body mass and developmental time dimorphism to test two existing hypothesis on sex differences in plasticity (adaptive canalization hypothesis and condition dependence hypothesis). We found a decreased sexual size dimorphism in higher temperature and females responded more plastically than males, supporting the condition dependence hypothesis. However, selection in a fluctuating environment altered sex specific patterns of genetic and environmental variation, indicating support for the adaptive canalization hypothesis. Genetic correlations between sexes (r_MF) were affected by fluctuating selection, suggesting facilitated independent evolution of the sexes. Thus, the selective past of a population is highly important for the understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of sexual dimorphism.

Usage notes

JEB-2012-00106.R1_data_body mass at emergence

Body mass at emergence of C. maculatus collected in the laboratory. Presented are four selection treatments (C = Control, T = Trend, R = Red noise, W = White noise). split temp = two temperature environments the beetles were exposed to during the split brood experiment. replicate: replicate is nested within treatment(4 replicates per treatment). time point: time point of beetle collection during their emergence period (1 = early, 2 = intermediate, 3 = late hatching individuals). Fam = Family nested within replicate and treatment, per replicate 10 families were investigated. sex = sex of the individual measured. body mass = dry weight of beetle.

JEB-2012-00106.R1_data_developmental_time

Developmental time of C. maculatus collected in the laboratory. Presented are four selection treatments (C = Control, T = Trend, R = Red noise, W = White noise). split temp = two temperature environments the beetles were exposed to during the split brood experiment. replicate: replicate is nested within treatment (4 replicates per treatment). Fam = Family nested within replicate and treatment, per replicate 10 families were investigated. sex = sex of the individual measured. emergence day = egg to adult developmental time, i.e. number of days after egg laying until emergence of adult beetle.