Variation in egg size and offspring phenotype among and within seven Arctic charr morphs

Abstract Maternal effects have the potential to alter early developmental processes of offspring and contribute to adaptive diversification. Egg size is a major contributor to offspring phenotype, which can influence developmental trajectories and potential resource use. However, to what extent intr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology and Evolution
Main Authors: Samantha V. Beck, Katja Räsänen, Bjarni K. Kristjánsson, Skúli Skúlason, Zophonías O. Jónsson, Markos Tsinganis, Camille A. Leblanc
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9427
https://doaj.org/article/d2a5883a614c4921abc48ef73255f7d7
Description
Summary:Abstract Maternal effects have the potential to alter early developmental processes of offspring and contribute to adaptive diversification. Egg size is a major contributor to offspring phenotype, which can influence developmental trajectories and potential resource use. However, to what extent intraspecific variation in egg size facilitates evolution of resource polymorphism is poorly understood. We studied multiple resource morphs of Icelandic Arctic charr, ranging from an anadromous morph—with a phenotype similar to the proposed ancestral phenotype—to sympatric morphs that vary in their degree of phenotypic divergence from the ancestral anadromous morph. We characterized variation in egg size and tested whether egg size influenced offspring phenotype at early life stages (i.e., timing of‐ and size at‐ hatching and first feeding [FF]). We predicted that egg size would differ among morphs and be less variable as morphs diverge away from the ancestral anadromous phenotype. We also predicted that egg size would correlate with offspring size and developmental timing. We found morphs had different egg size, developmental timing, and size at hatching and FF. Egg size increased as phenotypic proximity to the ancestral anadromous phenotype decreased, with larger eggs generally giving rise to larger offspring, especially at FF, but egg size had no effect on developmental rate. The interaction between egg size and the environment may have a profound impact on offspring fitness, where the resulting differences in early life‐history traits may act to initiate and/or maintain resource morphs diversification.