Basal metabolic rate can evolve independently of morphological and behavioural traits

Abstract

Quantitative genetic analyses of basal metabolic rate (BMR) can inform us about the evolvability of the trait by providing estimates of heritability, and also of genetic correlations with other traits that may constrain the ability of BMR to respond to selection. Here, we studied a captive population of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) in which selection lines for male courtship rate have been established. We measure BMR in these lines to see whether selection on male sexual activity would change BMR as a potentially correlated trait. We find that the genetic correlation between courtship rate and BMR is practically zero, indicating that the two traits can evolve independently of each other. Interestingly, we find that the heritability of BMR in our population (h 2 ¼ 0.45) is markedly higher than was previously reported for a captive zebra finch population from Norway. A comparison of the two studies shows that additive genetic variance in BMR has been largely depleted in the Norwegian population, especially the genetic variance in BMR that is independent of body mass. In our population, the slope of BMR increase with body mass differs not only between the sexes but also between the six selection lines, which we tentatively attribute to genetic drift and/or founder effects being strong in small populations. Our study therefore highlights two things. First, the evolvability of BMR may be less constrained by genetic correlations and lack of independent genetic variation than previously described. Second, genetic drift in small populations can rapidly lead to different evolvabilities across populations.

Stress‐induced peak (but not resting) metabolism correlates with mating display intensity in male guppies

“…Despite the recent interest in metabolism as a possible proximate mechanism of behavioral variation, there is still limited empirical evidence at the among-individual (intraspecific) level. Some recent studies have indeed found a positive correlation between metabolic rate and behavior (e.g., Metcalfe et al 1995;Huntingford et al 2010;Careau et al 2011;Martins et al 2011), whereas others have failed to find a significant relationship (Timonin et al 2011;Le Galliard et al 2013;Mathot et al 2013;Merritt et al 2013;Gifford et al 2014; see also reviews in Biro and Stamps 2010;and Careau and Garland 2012). Of the studies that have found a relationship, it is often fairly weak and/or variable across contexts or groups (Lantov a et al 2011;Reid et al 2011Reid et al , 2012Killen et al 2012;Bouwhuis et al 2013;Pang et al 2015).…”

Daily energy expenditure during lactation is strongly selected in a free‐living mammal

“…; Mathot et al . ; Schimpf, Matthews & White ; for reviews see – Konarzewski & Książek ; White & Kearney ). The majority of the information regarding the heritability of energetic traits in free‐ranging animals comes from estimates of repeatability, which sets an upper limit to heritability (Falconer & Mackay ; but see Dohm ).…”

“…additive genetic variance, V A ; Falconer & Mackay 1996; but see Bonduriansky, Crean & Day 2012 for a review of non-genetic inheritance). Currently, we have a poor understanding of the heritability of energy expenditure in free-ranging animals because the heritability of energetic traits has primarily been estimated in captivity (Lacy & Lynch 1979;Lynch & Sulzbach 1984;Garland & Bennett 1990;Dohm, Hayes & Garland 1996Lerman et al 2002;Nespolo, Bacigalupe & Bozinovic 2003;Bacigalupe et al 2004;Khazaeli, Van Voorhies & Curtsinger 2005;Konarzewski, Ksia z _ zek & apo 2005;Nespolo et al 2005;Sadowska et al 2005;Nespolo, Castañeda & Roff 2007;Rønning et al 2007;Ketola & Kotiaho 2009;Sadowska et al 2009;Tieleman et al 2009;Wone et al 2009;Careau et al 2011;Mathot et al 2013;Schimpf, Matthews & White 2013; for reviews see -…”

Spontaneous activity rates and resting metabolism: Support for the allocation model of energy management at the among‐individual level

“…Presently, empirical evidence for among-individual correlations between behavior and metabolism, if present, is equivocal. Several studies have reported positive correlations between metabolic rate and behavior (e.g., (Careau et al, 2011;Huntingford et al, 2010;Martins, Castanheira, Engrola, Costas, & Conceição, 2011;Metcalfe et al, 1995;Myles-Gonzalez, Fox, Burness, Rooke, & Yavno, 2015), while others have not (e.g., Farwell & McLaughlin, 2009, Timonin et al, 2011, Le Galliard, Paquet, Cisel, & Montes-Poloni, 2013, Mathot, Martin, Kempenaers, & Forstmeier, 2013, Merritt, Matthews, & White, 2013, Gifford, Clay, & Careau, 2014; see also reviews in Biro & Stamps, 2010, and Baktoft et al, 2016, Biro, Fanson, & Santostefano, 2016. Amongst studies that do report on significant correlations, these are weak or differ amongst contexts or groups (Lantová, Zub, Koskela, Šíchová, & Borowski, 2011, Reid, Armstrong, & Metcalfe, 2011, Killen, Marras, Ryan, Domenici, & McKenzie, 2012, Reid, Armstrong, & Metcalfe, 2012, Bouwhuis et al, 2014, Pang, Fu, & Zhang, 2015.…”