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<p><i>Asplanchna brightwellii</i> rotifers have a diet-induced polyphenism; they develop different morphological and life history traits depending upon maternal ingestion of vitamin E. Here, we empirically induce the polyphenism to determine if this multivariate plasticity varies among clonal lines and populations (ponds) and to evaluate whether and how the component traits are integrated. Consistent with previous work, vitamin E induces larger, humped females, some of which reproduce sexually rather than asexually and have lower rates of population growth than the ‘default’ smaller, sac-shaped, asexual morphotype. Clonal lines vary in morphological and life history plasticity within ponds; morphological plasticity also varies among ponds. The correlation of traits across morphs and of plasticity across environments indicates that morphs vary in trait integration and that plasticity of these traits tends to respond to environmental changes independently. We describe how this study provides insights into the developmental and evolutionary mechanisms of this and perhaps similar polyphenisms.</p>

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Diet-induced polyphenism in Asplanchna brightwellii rotifers: developmental and evolutionary implications of trait variation and integration

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月19日

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  • Emily A. Harmon,
  • David W. Pfennig

摘要

Asplanchna brightwellii rotifers have a diet-induced polyphenism; they develop different morphological and life history traits depending upon maternal ingestion of vitamin E. Here, we empirically induce the polyphenism to determine if this multivariate plasticity varies among clonal lines and populations (ponds) and to evaluate whether and how the component traits are integrated. Consistent with previous work, vitamin E induces larger, humped females, some of which reproduce sexually rather than asexually and have lower rates of population growth than the ‘default’ smaller, sac-shaped, asexual morphotype. Clonal lines vary in morphological and life history plasticity within ponds; morphological plasticity also varies among ponds. The correlation of traits across morphs and of plasticity across environments indicates that morphs vary in trait integration and that plasticity of these traits tends to respond to environmental changes independently. We describe how this study provides insights into the developmental and evolutionary mechanisms of this and perhaps similar polyphenisms.