Larval growth in polyphenic salamanders: making the best of a bad lot
Project Author
Issue Date
2012-07-28
Authors
Whiteman, Howard H.
Wissinger, Scott A.
Denoël, Mathieu
Mecklin, Christopher J.
Gerlanc, Nicole M.
Gutrich, John J.
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Keywords
Polyphenism , density dependence , size structure , facultative paedomorphosis
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Abstract
Polyphenisms are excellent models for studying phenotypic variation, yet few studies have focused on natural populations. Facultative paedomorphosis is a polyphenism in which salamanders either metamorphose or retain their larval morphology and eventually become paedomorphic. Paedomorphosis can result from selection for capitalizing on favorable aquatic habitats (paedomorph advantage), but could also be a default strategy under poor aquatic conditions (best of a bad lot). We tested these alternatives by quantifying how the developmental environment influences the ontogeny of wild Arizona tiger
salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum). Most paedomorphs in our study population arose from slow-growing
larvae that developed under high density and size-structured conditions (best of a bad lot), although a few fastergrowing
larvae also became paedomorphic (paedomorph advantage). Males were more likely to become paedomorphs
than females and did so under a greater range of body sizes than females, signifying a critical role for
gender in this polyphenism. Our results emphasize that the same phenotype can be adaptive under different environmental
and genetic contexts and that studies of phenotypic variation should consider multiple mechanisms of morph production.
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Department
Biology
Environmental Science / Studies
Environmental Science / Studies
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License
This article was selected and published in Oecologia © 2012 Whiteman, Wissinger, Denoël, Mecklin, Gerlanc, and Gutrich. All rights reserved.
Citation
Whiteman, H.H., et al. (2012). Larval growth in polyphenic salamanders: making the best of a bad lot. Oecologia 168: 109-118. doi: 10.1007/s00442-011-2076-z
Version
Original manuscript prior to peer review (preprint)
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Publisher
Springer