Adaptive Plasticity as a Fitness Benefit of Mate Choice. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kelly, Patrick W.; Pfennig, David W.; Pfennig, Karin S.
• Is Part Of: Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 36:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 294
• Page End: 307
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: indicator mechanisms -- local adaptation -- mate choice -- phenotypic plasticity -- sexual selection; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.01.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5347

Abstract

Abstract : Phenotypic plasticity and sexual selection can each promote adaptation in variable environments, but their combined influence on adaptive evolution is not well understood. We propose that sexual selection can facilitate adaptation in variable environments when individuals prefer mates that produce adaptively plastic offspring. We develop this hypothesis and review existing studies showing that diverse groups display both sexual selection and plasticity in nonsexual traits. Thus, plasticity could be a widespread but unappreciated benefit of mate choice. We describe methods and opportunities to test this hypothesis and describe how sexual selection might foster the evolution of phenotypic plasticity. Understanding this interplay between sexual selection and phenotypic plasticity might help predict which species will adapt to a rapidly changing world. Highlights: That offspring plasticity can serve as a fitness benefit of mate choice is relatively underexplored, but the ubiquity of both adaptive plasticity and mate choice suggests it may be common. In contrast to some models of sexual selection, when offspring plasticity is a benefit of mate choice, environmental variation need not erode associations between sexual traits and offspring fitness. Thus, the hypothesis that offspring plasticity can serve as a fitness benefit of mate choice may help resolve longstanding questions regarding associations between sexual traits and offspring fitness. That offspring plasticity can serve as a fitness benefit of mate choice has important implications for adaptive evolution in novel or variable environments and for the evolution of plasticity.