A1 Journal article (refereed)
Heterozygote advantage and pleiotropy contribute to intraspecific color trait variability (2022)

De Pasqual, C., Suisto, K., Kirvesoja, J., Gordon, S., Ketola, T., & Mappes, J. (2022). Heterozygote advantage and pleiotropy contribute to intraspecific color trait variability. Evolution, 76(10), 2389-2403. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14597

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: De Pasqual, Chiara; Suisto, Kaisa; Kirvesoja, Jimi; Gordon, Swanne; Ketola, Tarmo; Mappes, Johanna

Journal or series: Evolution

ISSN: 0014-3820

eISSN: 1558-5646

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 19/08/2022

Volume: 76

Issue number: 10

Pages range: 2389-2403

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14597

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83757

Abstract

The persistence of intrapopulation phenotypic variation typically requires some form of balancing selection since drift and directional selection eventually erode genetic variation. Heterozygote advantage remains a classic explanation for the maintenance of genetic variation in the face of selection. However, examples of heterozygote advantage, other than those associated with disease resistance are rather uncommon. Across most of its distribution, males of the aposematic moth Arctia plantaginis have two hindwing phenotypes determined by a heritable one locus-two allele polymorphism (genotypes: WW/Wy = white morph, yy = yellow morph). Using genotyped moths we show that the presence of one or two copies of the yellow allele affects several life-history traits. Reproductive output of both males and females, and female mating success are negatively affected by two copies of the yellow allele. Females carrying one yellow allele (i.e. Wy) have higher fertility, hatching success, and offspring survival than either homozygote, thus leading to strong heterozygote advantage. Our results indicate strong female contribution especially at the postcopulatory stage in maintaining the color polymorphism. The interplay between heterozygote advantage, yellow allele pleiotropic effect and morph-specific predation pressure may exert balancing selection on the color locus, suggesting that color polymorphism may be maintained through complex interactions between natural and sexual selection.

Keywords: warning coloration; variation (biology); phenotype; genotype; natural selection; sexual selection; wood tiger

Free keywords: heterozygote advantage; pleiotropy; wood tiger moth; life-history traits; intraspecific trait variation; color locus

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 3