PO2_Expt2.csv from Male sexual signal predicts phenotypic plasticity in offspring: implications for the evolution of plasticity and local adaptation.

In a rapidly changing world, understanding the processes that influence a population's ability to respond to natural selection is critical for identifying how to preserve biodiversity. Two such processes are phenotypic plasticity and sexual selection. Whereas plasticity can facilitate local adaptation, sexual selection potentially impedes local adaptation, especially in rapidly changing or variable environments. Here we hypothesize that, when females preferentially choose males that sire plastic offspring, sexual selection can actually facilitate local adaptation to variable or novel environments by promoting the evolution of adaptive plasticity. We tested this hypothesis by evaluating whether male sexual signals could indicate plasticity in their offspring and, concomitantly, their offspring's ability to produce locally adapted phenotypes. Using spadefoot toads (<i>Spea multiplicata</i>) as our experimental system, we show that a male sexual signal predicts plasticity in his offspring's resource-use morphology. Specifically, faster-calling males (which are preferred by females) produce more plastic offspring; such plasticity, in turn, enables these males' offspring to respond adaptively to the spadefoots’ highly variable environment. The association between a preferred male signal and adaptive plasticity in his offspring suggests that female mate choice can favour the evolution and maintenance of phenotypic plasticity and thereby foster adaptation to a variable environment.This article is part of the theme issue ‘The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid environmental change’.

在瞬息万变的世界中，解析影响种群应对自然选择（natural selection）能力的核心过程，对于明确生物多样性保护路径至关重要。其中表型可塑性（phenotypic plasticity）与性选择（sexual selection）是两类关键进程。尽管表型可塑性可推动本地适应，但性选择却可能阻碍本地适应，尤其在快速变化或异质性环境中这一效应更为显著。在此背景下，我们提出假说：当雌性优先选择能产生可塑性后代的雄性时，性选择实际上可通过促进适应性可塑性的演化，助力种群适应异质性或全新环境。为验证该假说，我们通过探究雄性的性信号能否反映其后代的可塑性，以及后代产生本地适应性表型的能力，展开了实验。本研究以西部锄足蟾（*Spea multiplicata*）为实验体系，结果表明雄性的性信号可预测其后代的资源利用形态可塑性。具体而言，鸣叫速率更快的雄性（此类雄性更受雌性青睐）所产生的后代可塑性更强；而这类可塑性可使该雄性的后代适应性地响应锄足蟾所处的高度异质性环境。雌性偏好的雄性信号与后代适应性可塑性之间的关联表明，雌性择偶偏好可推动适应性可塑性的演化与维持，进而助力种群适应异质性环境。本文隶属于‘可塑性在表型适应快速环境变化中的作用’专题栏目。