Fluctuating population dynamics promotes the evolution of phenotypic plasticity

Abstract

An increasing number of studies are showing evidence in support of sympatric speciation. One basic question remains, however. When a population has undergone a branching in its phenotype, is this due to an evolutionary branching in the underlying genotype or due to phenotypic plasticity modifying a single genotype? Thus, phenotypic plasticity has come to be viewed as a trait subject to selection, just like any other phenotypic character1,2. Here we present a model addressing the conditions under which a predator phenotype experiencing selection for two alternative optimal phenotypes gives rise to genetically based phenotypic branching or to phenotypic plasticity, allowing the corresponding genotype to give rise to two alternative, well-adapted phenotypes.
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