Ontogenetic and evolutionary effects of predation and competition on nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) body size.

摘要: Summary 1. Individual- and population-level variation in body size growth often correlates with many fitness traits. Predation food availability are expected to affect as important agents of both natural selection phenotypic plasticity. How differences predation size/growth during ontogeny populations adapted different competition regimes is rarely studied. 2. Nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) originating from habitats varying levels known be locally their respective terms growth. Here, we studied how perceived risk the reaction norms (i) marine pond (ii) sexes. We reared nine-spined a factorial experiment under two (present/absent) (high/low supply). 3. We found divergence at levels: predation-adapted had stronger reactions predatory cues than intraspecific competition-adapted stickleback, latter being more sensitive available fish females reacting strongly treatments males. 4. The repeated, habitat-dependent nature suggests that agent behind observed patterns. Our results suggest genetic adaptation certain environmental factors also involves an increase range expressible support for this phenomenon across driven by habitat type within sex.