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Testing for microevolution in body size in three blue tit populations
Author(s) -
Charmantier A.,
Kruuk L. E. B.,
Blondel J.,
Lambrechts M. M.
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2004.00734.x
Subject(s) - biology , microevolution , selection (genetic algorithm) , parus , directional selection , natural selection , habitat , ecology , genetic variation , stabilizing selection , population , fledge , evolutionary biology , adaptation (eye) , trait , zoology , gene flow , genetics , predation , gene , demography , artificial intelligence , neuroscience , sociology , computer science , programming language
Quantifying the genetic variation and selection acting on phenotypes is a prerequisite for understanding microevolutionary processes. Surprisingly, long‐term comparisons across conspecific populations exposed to different environments are still lacking, hampering evolutionary studies of population differentiation in natural conditions. Here, we present analyses of additive genetic variation and selection using two body‐size traits in three blue tit ( Parus caeruleus ) populations from distinct habitats. Chick tarsus length and body mass at fledging showed substantial levels of genetic variation in the three populations. Estimated heritabilities of body mass increased with habitat quality. The poorer habitats showed weak positive selection on tarsus length, and strong positive selection on body mass, but there was no significant selection on either trait in the good habitat. However, there was no evidence of any microevolutionary response to selection in any population during the study periods. Potential explanations for this absence of a response to selection are discussed, including the effects of spatial heterogeneity associated with gene flow between habitats.