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Maintaining heritable variation via sex-limited temporally fluctuating selection: a phenotypic model accommodating non-Mendelian epigenetic effects

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Summary

Using a phenotypic model, we show that significant heritable variation can be maintained in a population subjected to temporally fluctuating selection if only one sex is subject to selection. In fact, more variation is maintained with sex-limited selection at a given selection intensity than if both sexes are subject to half that selection intensity. This result is commensurate with existing population genetic models. However, genetic models may be inappropriate for sexually selected traits because many of them may be of non-genetic origin, such as maternal effects or — more likely — epigenetic effects. Phenotypic models obviate this problem by accommodating both genetic and epigenetic effects, as well as maternal effects. Our phenotypic model of sex-limited temporally fluctuating selection shows that substantial heritable variation can be maintained and thereby provides impetus to develop population epigenetic models.

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  1. Department of Biology, Arizona State University, 85287-1501, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Root Gorelick & Susan M. Bertram

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  1. Root Gorelick
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Correspondence to Root Gorelick.

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Both authors contributed equally.

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Gorelick, R., Bertram, S.M. Maintaining heritable variation via sex-limited temporally fluctuating selection: a phenotypic model accommodating non-Mendelian epigenetic effects. Theory Biosci. 122, 321–338 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12064-003-0061-8

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