Evolution under unpredictable environmental conditions: Quantitative genetics of larval life-history traits in a myobatrachid frog Crinia georgiana

Michael J. Smith, Yikweon Jang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The southwestern Australian frog Crinia georgiana (Anura; Myobatrachidae) inhabits ephemeral pools in which the tadpoles often face desiccation. Under these conditions selection on tadpoles can be severe and can directly affect fitness during the aquatic as well as the terrestrial developmental stages. A quantitative genetic study using a half-sib breeding design was conducted to understand the genetic effects on larval life-history traits. We found no significant additive genetic variance in any of larval traits. Except for hatching period, heritability estimates based on females were high in egg size, larval period, snout-vent length, and weight at metamorphosis, suggesting non-additive genetic effects. These results indicate that any response to selection during hatching and larval periods should be predominately governed by non-additive genetic effects in C. georgiana.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)425-430
Number of pages6
JournalAnimal Cells and Systems
Volume16
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012

Keywords

  • additive genetic variation
  • larval period
  • maternal effect
  • multiple mating

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