Genetic variation in parental effects contribute to the evolutionary potential of prey responses to predation risk

Abstract

23Despite the ubiquity of parental effects and their potential impact on evolutionary dynamics, 24 their contribution to the evolution of ecologically relevant adaptations remains poorly 25 understood. Using quantitative genetics, here we demonstrate that parental effects contribute 26 substantially to the evolutionary potential of larval antipredator responses in a leaf beetle 27 (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Previous research showed that larger L. decemlineata larvae elicit 28 stronger antipredator responses, and mothers perceiving predators improved offspring responses 29 by increasing intraclutch cannibalism -an extreme form of offspring provisioning. We now 30 report substantial additive genetic variation underlying maternal ability to induce intraclutch 31 cannibalism, indicating the potential of this adaptive maternal effect to evolve by natural 32 selection. We also show that paternal size, a heritable trait, impacted larval responses to 33 predation risk, but that larval responses themselves had little additive genetic variation. Together, 34 these results demonstrate how larval responses to predation risk can evolve via two types of 35 parental effects, both of which provide indirect sources of genetic variation for offspring traits.36 37 38 39

Baby makes three: Maternal, paternal, and zygotic genetic effects shape larval phenotypic evolution

“…This finding is consistent with our earlier line-cross study of larval size (Zakas and Rockman 2014), which found statistical evidence for more-thanmaternal genetics, including negative effects of lecithotrophic paternity on larval size, at least in some maternal backgrounds. Paternal genetic effects in species without parental care are rare but not unprecedented (Crean and Bonduriansky 2014;Tigreros et al 2019). The biology of Streblospio benedicti permits several possible mechanisms of paternal effect.…”

“…Paternal genetic effects in species without parental care are rare but not unprecedented (Crean and Bonduriansky 2014 ; Tigreros et al. 2019 ). The biology of Streblospio benedicti permits several possible mechanisms of paternal effect.…”

Baby makes three: maternal, paternal, and zygotic genetic effects shape larval phenotypic evolution

“…This finding is consistent with our earlier line-cross study of larval size (Zakas and Rockman 2014), which found statistical evidence for more-than-maternal genetics, including negative effects of lecithotrophic paternity on larval size, at least in some maternal backgrounds. Paternal genetic effects in species without parental care are rare but not unprecedented (Crean and Bonduriansky 2014;Tigreros et al 2019). The biology of Streblospio benedicti permits several possible mechanisms of paternal effect.…”

Evolutionary rescue via transgenerational plasticity: Evidence and implications for conservation

“…There is some evidence of genetic variation accumulating in populations that display transgenerational plasticity. For instance, additive genetic variation underlies transgenerational plasticity in antipredator responses of the leaf beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata ; Tigreros et al, 2019). Regardless of whether this genetic accumulation results from the exposure of cryptic genetic variants or from the decoupling of genotypes and phenotypes across generations (as discussed above), such accumulation of genetic variation may allow for canalization of the adaptive plastic responses.…”