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QUANTITATIVE GENETICS AND THE EVOLUTION OF REACTION NORMS
Author(s) -
Gomulkiewicz Richard,
Kirkpatrick Mark
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1992.tb02047.x
Subject(s) - biology , norm (philosophy) , evolutionary biology , variation (astronomy) , evolutionary dynamics , human evolutionary genetics , selection (genetic algorithm) , biological evolution , quantitative genetics , genetic variation , phylogenetics , computer science , genetics , epistemology , artificial intelligence , population , philosophy , physics , demography , sociology , astrophysics , gene
We extend methods of quantitative genetics to studies of the evolution of reaction norms defined over continuous environments. Our models consider both spatial variation (hard and soft selection) and temporal variation (within a generation and between generations). These different forms of environmental variation can produce different evolutionary trajectories even when they favor the same optimal reaction norm. When genetic constraints limit the types of evolutionary changes available to a reaction norm, different forms of environmental variation can also produce different evolutionary equilibria. The methods and models presented here provide a framework in which empiricists may determine whether a reaction norm is optimal and, if it is not, to evaluate hypotheses for why it is not.