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359 results for “trait associations”
Ecophysiology and specialized metabolite trait data for the sunflower association mapping population
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Data from: Tropical ant communities under agroforestry can be diverse but lack trait-and-environment associations
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Data for: Dissecting the genetic architecture of leaf morphology traits in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wizcek) using genome‐wide association study
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Data and code for: Relative testis size is associated with vagina length but not sperm storage traits in Galliformes
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Data from: Neural responses to kills/deaths in real MOBA games are associated with addiction-related traits and subjective pleasant/unpleasant experiences
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Milkweed trait values associated with aridity gradients and drought-induced changes in hostplant quality
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Data from: Experimental migration upward in elevation is associated with strong selection on life history traits
One of the strongest biological impacts of climate change has been the movement of species poleward and upward in elevation. Yet, what is not clear, is the extent to which the spatial distribution of locally adapted lineages and ecologically important traits may also shift with continued climate change. Here, we take advantage of a transplant experiment mimicking up-slope seed dispersal for a suite of ecologically-diverse populations of yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus sensu lato) into a high-elevation common garden during an extreme drought period in the Sierra Nevada mountains, California, USA. We use a demographic approach to quantify fitness and test for selection on life history traits in local vs. lower-elevation populations and in normal vs. drought years to test the potential for up-slope migration and phenotypic selection to alter the distribution of key life history traits in montane environments. We find that lower-elevation populations tend to outperform local populations, confirming the potential for up-slope migration. Although selection generally favored some local montane traits, including larger flowers and larger stem size at flowering, drought conditions tended to select for earlier flowering typical of lower elevation genotypes. Taken together, this suggests that monkeyflower lineages moving upward in elevation could experience selection for novel trait combinations, particularly under warmer and drier conditions that are predicted to occur with continued climate change.
Experimental evolution of virulence and associated traits in a Drosophila melanogaster – Wolbachia symbiosis
<p>Evolutionary theory predicts that vertically transmitted symbionts are selected for low virulence, as their fitness is directly correlated to that of their host. In contrast with this prediction, the <em>Wolbachia</em> strain <em>w</em>MelPop drastically reduces its <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> host lifespan at high rearing temperatures. It is generally assumed that this feature is maintained because the <em>D. melanogaster</em>–<em>w</em>MelPop symbiosis is usually not exposed to environmental conditions in which the symbiont is virulent. To test this hypothesis, we submitted <em>w</em>MelPop-infected <em>D. melanogaster</em> lines to 17 generations of experimental evolution at a high temperature, while enforcing late reproduction. The fly survival was measured at different time points, as well as two traits that have been proposed to be causally responsible for <em>w</em>MelPop virulence: its relative density and the mean number of octomom copies present in its genome. We hypothesised that these conditions would select for a reduced <em>w</em>MelPop virulence, a reduced <em>w</em>MelPop density, and a reduced octomom copy number. Our results indicate that density, octomom copy number and virulence are correlated. However, contrary to our expectations, we could not detect any reduction in virulence during the course of evolution. We discuss the significance of our results with respect to the evolutionary causes of <em>w</em>MelPop virulence and propose that intra-host selection could explain this conundrum.</p>
Negative trait-based association between abundance of nitrogen fixing trees and long-term tropical forest biomass accumulation
<p>1. Plant functional traits are thought to drive biomass production and biogeochemical cycling in tropical forests, but it remains unclear how nitrogen (N)-fixing legumes influence the functional traits of neighboring trees and forest-wide biomass dynamics. Further, the degree to which effects of N-fixers are density-dependent and may depend on stem size and spatial scale remain largely unknown.</p> <p>2. Here, we examine 30-years of stem demography data for ~20,000 trees in a lowland tropical forest in Trinidad that span a wide range of functional traits thought to drive aboveground biomass (AGB) dynamics.</p> <p>3. These forests show positive but decreasing long-term net AGB accumulation resulting from constant average productivity but increasing mortality of non-fixing trees over time. We find that high abundance of N-fixing trees is associated with compositional shifts in non-fixer functional traits that confer lower competitive performance and biomass accumulation. Across tree size classes, most interactions between N-fixers and non-fixers were negative, density dependent, and strongest at smaller spatial scales.</p> <p>4. Synthesis. Overall, our findings suggest that local trait-based interactions between N-fixing and non-fixing trees can influence long-term carbon accumulation in tropical forests.</p>
Global gradients in intraspecific variation in vegetative and floral traits are partially associated with climate and species richness
<p><span><b>Aim</b></span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span>Intraspecific trait variation (ITV) within natural plant communities can be large, influencing local ecological processes and dynamics. Here, we shed light on how ITV in vegetative and floral traits responds to large-scale abiotic and biotic gradients (i.e. climate and species richness). Specifically, we tested if associations of ITV with temperature, precipitation and species richness were consistent with any of from four hypotheses relating to stress-tolerance and competition. Furthermore, we estimated the degree of correlation between ITV in vegetative and floral traits and how they vary along the gradients. </span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span><b>Location</b></span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span>Global.</span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span><b>Time period</b></span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span>1975-2016.</span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span><b>Major taxa studied</b></span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span>Herbaceous and woody plants.</span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span><b>Methods</b></span></p> <p class="SemEspaamento1"><span>We compiled a dataset of 18,112 measurements of the absolute extent of ITV (measured as coefficient of variation) in nine vegetative and seven floral traits from 2,774 herbaceous and woody species at 2,306 locations. </span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span><b>Results</b></span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span>Large-scale associations between ITV and climate were trait-specific and more prominent for vegetative traits, especially leaf morphology, than for floral traits. ITV showed pronounced associations with climate, with lower ITV values in colder areas and higher values in drier areas. The associations of ITV with species richness were inconsistent across traits. Species-specific associations across gradients were often idiosyncratic and covariation in ITV was weaker between vegetative and floral traits than within the two trait groups.</span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span><b>Main conclusions</b></span></p> <p class="CuerpoA"><span>Our results show that, depending on the traits considered, ITV either increased or decreased with climate stress and species richness, suggesting that both factors can constrain or enhance ITV, which might foster plant-population persistence under stressful conditions. Given the species-specific responses and covariation in ITV, associations can be hard to predict for traits and species not yet studied. We conclude that considering ITV can improve our understanding of how plants cope with stressful conditions and environmental change across spatial and biological scales. </span></p>
Data from: Genome-wide association mapping of phenotypic traits subject to a range of intensities of natural selection in Timema cristinae
The genetic architecture of adaptive traits can reflect the evolutionary history of populations and also shape divergence among populations. Despite this central role in evolution, relatively little is known regarding the genetic architecture of adaptive traits in nature, particularly for traits subject to known selection intensities. Here we quantitatively describe the genetic architecture of traits that are subject to known intensities of differential selection between host plant species in Timema cristinae stick insects. Specifically, we used phenotypic measurements of 10 traits and 211,004 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to conduct multilocus genome-wide association mapping. We identified a modest number of SNPs that were associated with traits and sometimes explained a large proportion of trait variation. These SNPs varied in their strength of association with traits, and both major and minor effect loci were discovered. However, we found no relationship between variation in levels of divergence among traits in nature and variation in parameters describing the genetic architecture of those same traits. Our results provide a first step toward identifying loci underlying adaptation in T. cristinae. Future studies will examine the genomic location, population differentiation, and response to selection of the trait-associated SNPs described here.
Data from: Association between inbreeding depression and floral traits in a generalist-pollinated plant
Individual variation in the magnitude of inbreeding depression (ID) in plants and its association with phenotypic traits may have important consequences for mating system evolution. This association has been investigated only scarcely, and always considering traits functionally related to autogamy. Here, we explore the association between individual variation in ID and plant traits associated with pollinator attractiveness (related to plant size, corolla size and corolla shape) in two populations of Erysimum mediohispanicum (Brassicaceae). ID was calculated along the entire life cycle of the plants. In addition, we also explored the relationship between phenotypic traits and the individual levels of heterozygosity. We found significant associations between ID and corolla diameter and stalk height, being taller plants with larger corollas those undergoing a lower intensity of ID. Furthermore, we found a negative relationship between corolla diameter and heterozygosity, suggesting that plants with large flowers have purged their genetic load. Finally, we found a significant effect of corolla diameter on the intrapopulation genetic structure. All these findings suggest that plants with large flowers have secularly suffered frequent inbreeding in the study populations. Because corolla diameter is a trait frequently selected by pollinators in E. mediohispanicum, we believe that the observed relationship between this trait and ID could be mediated by pollinators, probably throughout an increasing in biparental inbreeding, geitonogamy or autogamy.
Data from: Trait-associated loss of frugivores in fragmented forest does not affect seed removal rates
Seed dispersal by frugivorous animals forms the basis for regeneration of numerous plant species. Habitat fragmentation has been found to be one major factor perturbing frugivore communities and dependent plant species. Yet, community-wide consequences of fragmentation for both frugivore and plant communities are still hardly understood. Here, we studied the effects of habitat fragmentation on the seed removal by frugivorous birds and mammals from nine fleshy-fruited plant species in Białowieża Forest (Eastern Poland). This last relict of old-growth lowland forest in Europe poses an exceptional reference site for studying the impact of habitat fragmentation on seed dispersal processes in temperate forest ecosystems. In particular, (i) we tested for associations between forest fragmentation and response traits of frugivores, that is forest specialization and body mass; (ii) we studied the relationship between frugivore response and effect traits, that is centrality (number of consumed plant species) and interaction type (mutualistic vs. antagonistic); and (iii) we assessed the feedback of fragmentation-induced changes on plant–frugivore interactions and seed removal rates. We found that fragmentation led to shifts in the frugivore community, associated with the response traits forest specialization and body mass, with fewer forest specialists and large-bodied frugivores in fragmented than in continuous forests. However, forest generalists and small-bodied frugivores were more central in the plant–frugivore associations than forest specialists and large-bodied frugivores. Therefore, the loss of vulnerable species did not result in reduced seed removal rates in fragmented compared with continuous forest. Synthesis. These results indicate that seed removal may be relatively robust in spite of shifts in the frugivore community in forest fragments. The correlation between response and effect traits of frugivores highlights the importance of forest generalists and small-bodied frugivores for maintaining dispersal processes in fragmented forests in temperate regions. Yet, future studies should aim at quantifying the consequences of seed disperser loss on other aspects of dispersal, such as long-distance dispersal, spatial patterns of seed deposition, seed germination and plant regeneration.
Data from: Ecological factors and morphological traits are associated with repeated genomic differentiation between lake and stream stickleback
The repeated evolution of similar phenotypes in independent populations (i.e. parallel or convergent evolution) provides an opportunity to identify genetic and ecological factors that influence the process of adaptation. Threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are an excellent model for such studies, as they have repeatedly adapted to divergent habitats across the Northern hemisphere. Here, we use genomic, ecological and morphological data from 16 independent pairs of stickleback populations adapted to divergent lake and stream habitats. We combine a population genomic approach to identify regions of the genome that are likely under selection in these divergent habitats with an association mapping approach to identify regions of the genome that underlie variation in ecological factors and morphological traits. Over 37% of genomic windows are repeatedly differentiated across lake–stream pairs. Similarly, many genomic windows are associated with variation in abiotic factors, diet items and morphological phenotypes. Both the highly differentiated windows and candidate trait windows are non-randomly distributed across the genome and show some overlap. However, the overlap is not significant on a genome-wide scale. Together, our data suggest that adaptation to divergent food resources and predation regimes are drivers of differentiation in lake–stream stickleback, but that additional ecological factors are also important.
Data from: Incomplete datasets obscure associations between traits affecting dispersal ability and geographic range size of reef fishes in the Tropical Eastern Pacific
Dispersal is thought to be an important process determining range size, especially for species in highly spatially structured habitats, such as tropical reef fishes. Despite intensive research efforts, there is conflicting evidence about the role of dispersal on determining range size. We hypothesize that traits related to dispersal drive range sizes, but that complete and comprehensive datasets are essential for detecting relationships between species' dispersal ability and range size. We investigate the roles of six traits affecting several stages of dispersal (adult mobility, spawning mode, pelagic larval duration (PLD), body size, aggregation behaviour and circadian activity), in explaining range size variation of reef fishes in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP). All traits, except for PLD (148 species), had data for all 497 species in the region. Using a series of models, we investigated which traits were associated with large range sizes, when analysing all TEP species or only species with PLD data. Furthermore, using null models, we analysed whether the PLD-subset is representative of the regional species pool. Several traits affecting dispersal ability were strongly associated with range size, although these relationships could not be detected when using the PLD-data subset. Pelagic spawners (allowing for passive egg dispersal) had on average 56% larger range sizes than non-pelagic spawners. Species with medium or high adult mobility had on average a 25% or 33% larger range, respectively, than species with low mobility. Null models showed that the PLD-subset was non-representative of the regional species pool, explaining why model outcomes using the PLD-subset differed from the ones based on the complete dataset. Our results show that in the TEP, traits affecting dispersal ability are important in explaining range size variation. Using a regionally complete dataset was crucial for detecting the theoretically expected, but so far empirically unresolved, relationship between dispersal and range size.
Data from: Genome wide association mapping of floral traits in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Floral morphology and pigmentation are both charismatic and economically relevant traits associated with cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Recent work has linked floral morphology and pigmentation to pollinator efficiency and seed yield. Understanding the genetic architecture of such traits is essential for crop improvement, and gives insight into the role of genetic constraints in shaping floral diversity. A diversity panel of 288 sunflower genotypes was phenotyped for a variety of morphological, phenological, and color traits in both a greenhouse and a field setting. Association mapping was performed using 5788 SNP markers using a mixed linear model approach. Several dozen markers across ten linkage groups were significantly associated with variation in morphological and color trait variation. Substantial trait plasticity was observed between greenhouse and field phenotyping, and associations differed between environments. Color traits mapped more strongly than morphology in both settings, with markers together explaining 16% of petal carotenoid content in the greenhouse, and 17% and 24% of variation in disc anthocyanin presence in the field and greenhouse, respectively. Morphological traits like disc size mapped more strongly in the field, with markers together explaining up to 19% of disc size variation. Loci identified here through association mapping within cultivated germplasm differ from those identified through biparental crosses between modern cultivated sunflower and either its wild progenitor or domesticated landraces. Several loci lie within genomic regions involved in domestication. Differences between phenotype expression under greenhouse and field conditions highlight the importance of plasticity in determining floral morphology and pigmentation.
Data from: Sexually antagonistic association between paternal phenotype and offspring viability reinforces total selection on a sexually selected trait
The evolution of conspicuous sexually selected traits, such as horns or antlers, has fascinated biologists for more than a century. Elaborate traits can only evolve if they substantially increase reproduction, because they probably incur survival costs to the bearer. Total selection on these traits, however, includes sexual selection on sires and viability selection on offspring and can be influenced by changes in each of these components. Non-random associations between paternal phenotype and offspring viability may thus affect total selection on sexually selected traits. Long-term data on wild bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) provide the first evidence in nature that association between paternal phenotype and lamb viability strengthens total selection on horn size of adult rams, a sexually selected trait. The association of paternal horn length and offspring viability was sexually antagonistic: long-horned males sired sons with high viability but daughters of low viability. These results shed new light on the evolutionary dynamics of an iconic sexually selected trait and have important implications for sustainable wildlife management.
Data from: Evidence for contemporary and historical gene flow between guppy populations in different watersheds, with a test for associations with adaptive traits
In dendritic river systems, gene flow is expected to occur primarily within watersheds. Yet, rare cross‐watershed transfers can also occur, whether mediated by (often historical) geological events or (often contemporary) human activities. We explored these events and their potential evolutionary consequences by analyzing patterns of neutral genetic variation (microsatellites) and adaptive phenotypic variation (male color) in wild guppies (Poecilia reticulata) distributed across two watersheds in northern Trinidad. We found the expected signatures of within‐watershed gene flow; yet we also inferred at least two instances of cross‐watershed gene flow—one in the upstream reaches and one further downstream. The upstream cross‐watershed event appears to be very recent (41 ± 13 years), suggesting dispersal via recent flooding or undocumented human‐mediated transport. The downstream cross‐watershed event appears to be considerably older (577 ± 265 years), suggesting a role for rare geological or climatological events. Alongside these strong signatures of both contemporary and historical gene flow, we found little evidence of impacts on presumably adaptive phenotypic differentiation, except perhaps in the one instance of very recent cross‐watershed gene flow. Selection in this system seems to overpower gene flow—at least on the spatiotemporal scales investigated here.
Data from: Disruptive viability selection on a black plumage trait associated with dominance
Traits used in communication, such as colour signals, are expected to have positive consequences for reproductive success, but their associations with survival are little understood. Previous studies have mainly investigated linear relationships between signals and survival, but both hump-shaped and U-shaped relationships can also be predicted, depending on the main costs involved in trait expression. Furthermore, few studies have taken the plasticity of signals into account in viability selection analyses. The relationship between signal expression and survival is of particular interest in melanin-based traits, because their main costs are still debated. Here, we first determined the main factors explaining variability in a melanin-based trait linked to dominance: the bib size of a colonial bird, the sociable weaver Philetairus socius. We then used these analyses to obtain a measure representative of the individual mean expression of bib size. Finally, we used capture-recapture models to study how survival varied in relation to bib size. Variation in bib size was strongly affected by year and moderately affected by age, body condition and colony size. In addition, individuals bearing small and large bibs had higher survival than those with intermediate bibs, and this U-shaped relationship between survival and bib size appeared to be more pronounced in some years than others. These results constitute a rare example of disruptive viability selection, and point towards the potential importance of social costs incurred by the dominance signalling function of badges of status.
Dataset for Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Lodging in Dry Field Peas. Data for PR Population (Carerra x Striker).
<p>Dataset for Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Lodging in Dry Field Peas. Data for PR Population (Carerra x Striker). Here is data on lodging, height, stem diameter, side branch diameter, and epicotyl diameter for both site years with the PR population.</p>
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.