The evolutionary ecology of individual phenotypic plasticity in wild populations

The ability of individual organisms to alter morphological and life-history traits in response to the conditions they experience is an example of phenotypic plasticity which is fundamental to any population's ability to deal with short-term environmental change. We currently know little about the prevalence, and evolutionary and ecological causes and consequences of variation in life history plasticity in the wild. Here we outline an analytical framework, utilizing the reaction norm concept and random regression statistical models, to assess the between-individual variation in life history plasticity that may underlie population level responses to the environment at both phenotypic and genetic levels. We…

• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Award: NE/D008883/1
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Award: NE/D008883/1