Genetic Variation for Larval Anuran (Scaphiopus couchii) Development Time in an Uncertain Environment
Newman RA. 1988. Genetic Variation for Larval Anuran (Scaphiopus couchii) Development Time in an Uncertain Environment. Evolution. 42(4):763-773
Couch's spadefoot toads (Scaphiopus couchii) breed in ponds of uncertain duration. In natural ponds, larvae exhibit considerable variation in growth, size at metamorphis, and development time. Phenotypic differences in the development time may dramatically affect survivorship in these ponds. A quantitative-genetic analysis of larval traits was undertaken to determine the potential evolutionary relevance of phenotypic variation observed in the field. Additive genetic variance was detected for development time, but not for any other trait. Some variation in early growth was attributed to maternal effects; maternal effects, however, were not statistically significant for any trait, but the nonsignificance of these effects must be interpreted cautiously, as the sample of females was relatively small and the mating design used is not very effective for detecting interactions. Genetic variation in development time in this population is most likely maintained by variability in the direction of selection as a consequence of variation in pond duration.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Newman, Robert
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, couch's spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchi) - Anura - Pelobatidae, Genetics, Mortality