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Individual variation in growth trajectories: phenotypic and genetic correlations in ontogeny of the house finch ( Carpodacus mexicanus )
Author(s) -
Badyaev,
" Martin
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2000.00172.x
Subject(s) - biology , finch , ontogeny , trait , population , allometry , zoology , phenotypic trait , fluctuating asymmetry , evolutionary biology , natural selection , ecology , phenotype , demography , genetics , sociology , computer science , gene , programming language
We studied patterns of growth in a recently established natural population of the house finch ( Carpodacus mexicanus ) to examine whether phenotypic and genetic covariation among age‐specific trait values is likely to constrain morphological change favoured by selection acting on adults. We found variable patterns of allometric relationships during ontogeny, and documented relatively weak covariations among ages or among traits in individual growth trajectories. Frequent compensatory growth largely cancelled out the initial differences among nestlings, potentially enabling house finches to raise offspring under diverse and unpredictable environmental conditions. Moderate levels of additive genetic variance in morphological traits throughout ontogeny, and relatively low and fluctuating phenotypic and genetic covariation among ages imply strong potential for evolutionary change in morphological traits under selection. This conclusion is consistent with the profound population‐level divergence in morphological patterns that accompanied very successful colonization of most of North America by the house finch over the last 50 years.