Open AccessHabitat preference among amylase genotypes in Asellus aquaticus (Isopoda, Crustacea)
Author(s) -
CHRISTENSEN BENT
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
hereditas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1601-5223
pISSN - 0018-0661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1977.tb01240.x
Subject(s) - biology , isopoda , willow , beech , amylase , habitat , heterozygote advantage , ecology , zoology , crustacean , genotype , genetics , biochemistry , gene , enzyme
Differential migration of amylase genotypes in Asellus aquaticus was observed in a small pond where decaying beech leaves were the dominating food resources in one section and decaying willow leaves in another. Laboratory experiments confirmed the field observations. In addition, a decline in the frequency of heterozygotes was observed in two consecutive winters with long periods of ice cover. It is proposed that at least two factors are involved in maintaining the amylase polymorphism: 1) Relative distribution of food resources through frequency‐dependent selection and 2) low temperatures causing high mortality among heterozygotes.