Environment couples selection and heritability
In Soay sheep, strong selection on birthweight occurs when heritability is lowest, limiting evolutionary response.
Source
Environmental coupling of selection and heritability limits evolution
What they did
Used random-regression animal models across years of varying neonatal mortality quality.
What they found
Maternal genetic variance and selection differentials both depend on environment and covary negatively.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Observational wild population; unmeasured confounders may remain.
Key terms
- Heritability
- Fraction of variance that is genetic.
- Selection differential
- Mean phenotypic change by selection.
- Maternal genetic effect
- Genetic influence via mother.
- Animal model
- Mixed model using pedigree.
- Environmental quality
- Year quality via neonatal survival.
- Soay sheep
- Wild island study population.
Flashcards
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Topic:
Common questions
Species?
Soay sheep.
Trait?
Birthweight.
Coupling?
Selection vs heritability.
Limit?
Evolutionary response.
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