Phenotypic covariation predicts diversification in an adaptive radiation
of pupfishes
Abstract
Phenotypic covariation among suites of traits may constrain or promote
diversification both within and between species, yet few studies have
empirically investigated this relationship. In this study we investigate
whether phenotypic covariation of craniofacial traits is associated with
diversification in an adaptive radiation of pupfishes found only on San
Salvador Island, Bahamas (SSI). The full radiation of pupfishes includes
generalist, durophagous, and lepidophagous pupfish species. We compare
phenotypic variation and covariation (i.e., P matrix) between 1)
allopatric populations of generalist pupfish from neighboring islands
and estuaries in the Caribbean, 2) SSI pupfish populations not
containing the full radiation of fishes, and 3) SSI pupfish populations
containing the full radiation in sympatry. Additionally, we interrogate
the patterns observed in the P-matrices of two independent F2 hybrid
crosses derived from the two most morphologically distinct members of
the radiation to make inferences about the underlying mechanisms
contributing to the variation in craniofacial traits in SSI pupfishes.
We found that the P matrix of SSI generalist populations not found in
sympatry with specialists exhibited higher levels of mean trait
correlation, constraints, and integration with simultaneously lower
levels of flexibility compared to generalist populations on other
Caribbean islands and sympatric populations of all three species found
on SSI. We also document that while many craniofacial traits appear to
be produced via additive genetic effects, variation in key traits such
as head depth, maxilla length, and lower jaw length may be produced via
non-additive genetic mechanisms. Ultimately, this study suggests that
differences in phenotypic covariation significantly contribute to
producing and maintaining organismal diversity.