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Phenotypic plasticity and contemporary evolution in introduced populations: evidence from translocated populations of white sands pupfish (Cyrpinodon tularosa)

  • Special Issue
  • Evolution in biological invasion
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Abstract

Contemporary evolution has been shown in a few studies to be an important component of colonization ability, but seldom have researchers considered whether phenotypic plasticity facilitates directional evolution from the invasion event. In the current study, we evaluated body shape divergence of the New Mexico State-threatened White Sands pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa) that were introduced to brackish, lacustrine habitats at two different time in the recent past (approximately 30 years and 1 year previously) from the same source population (saline river environment). Pupfish body shape is correlated with environmental salinity: fish from saline habitats are characterized by slender body shapes, whereas fish from fresher, yet brackish springs are deep-bodied. In this study, lacustrine populations consisted of an approximately 30-year old population and several 1-year old populations, all introduced from the same source. The body shape divergence of the 30-year old population was significant and greater than any of the divergences of the 1-year old populations (which were for the most part not significant). Nonetheless, all body shape changes exhibited body deepening in less saline environments. We conclude that phenotypic plasticity potentially facilitates directional evolution of body deepening for introduced pupfish populations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank D. Rogowski for assistance with the field collections and fish processing and T. Krabbenhoft for assistance in aging fish. We are grateful to R. Myers (Range Geologist, Environmental Stewardship Division) and T. A. Ladd (Director, Environment and Safety Directorate, US. Army, White Sands Missile Range) for arranging range visitations. Public release of this article was approved by the White Sands Missile Range with distribution unlimited, by Operations Security (OPSEC) review on 18 June, 2003. Laboratory support was provided by Holloman Air Force Base. The research was supported by a US. Department of Defense legacy grant to C.A.S., administered by M.H.R. and a US. Environmental Protection Agency Star Fellowship (U-91597601-1) to M.L.C.

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Author notes

  1. M. Hildegard Reiser

    Present address: Chihuahuan Desert Network, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, MSC 3OGC Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Stevens Hall, Fargo, ND, 58105, USA

    Michael L. Collyer, Craig A. Stockwell & M. Hildegard Reiser

  2. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, and Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, 253 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Michael L. Collyer & Dean C. Adams

  3. 49th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Environmental Flight, 49 CES/CEV, 550 Tabosa Ave, Holloman AFB, NM, 88330, USA

    M. Hildegard Reiser

Authors
  1. Michael L. Collyer
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  2. Craig A. Stockwell
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  3. Dean C. Adams
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  4. M. Hildegard Reiser
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Correspondence to Craig A. Stockwell.

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Collyer, M.L., Stockwell, C.A., Adams, D.C. et al. Phenotypic plasticity and contemporary evolution in introduced populations: evidence from translocated populations of white sands pupfish (Cyrpinodon tularosa). Ecol Res 22, 902–910 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-007-0385-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-007-0385-9

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