Data from: Evolution of a butterfly dispersal syndrome

The existence of dispersal syndromes contrasting disperser from resident phenotypes within populations has been intensively documented across taxa. However, how such suites of phenotypic traits emerge and are maintained is largely unknown, although deciphering the processes shaping the evolution of dispersal phenotypes is a key in ecology and evolution. In this study, we created artificial populations of a butterfly, in which we controlled for individual phenotypes and measured experimentally the roles of selection and genetic constraints on the correlations between dispersal-related traits: flight performance and wing morphology. We demonstrate that (i) trait covariations are not due to genetic correlations, (ii) the effects of selection are sex-specific, and (iii) both divergent and stabilizing selection maintain specific flight performance phenotypes and wing morphologies. Interestingly, some trait combinations are also favoured, depending on sex and fitness components. Moreover, we provide evidence for the role of (dis)assortative mating in the evolution of these dispersal-related traits. Our results suggest that dispersal syndromes may have high evolutionary potential, but also that they may be easily disrupted under particular environmental conditions.

种群内存在与居留型表型相对的扩散型表型的扩散综合征（dispersal syndromes），已在多个生物类群中被广泛报道。然而，尽管解析塑造扩散表型演化的过程是生态学与演化生物学的核心研究议题之一，但这类表型性状组合的起源与维持机制目前仍知之甚少。本研究以一种蝴蝶为模式生物，构建了人工种群并对个体表型进行精准操控，通过实验量化了选择作用与遗传限制对扩散相关性状（飞行性能与翅膀形态）间相关性的调控效应。研究结果显示：其一，性状协变关系并非由遗传相关性所致；其二，选择作用具有性别特异性；其三，歧化选择与稳定选择共同维持了特定的飞行性能表型与翅膀形态。值得注意的是，依据性别与适合度组分的差异，部分性状组合也会受到正向选择偏好。此外，本研究证实了（非）选型交配在这类扩散相关性状演化中的关键作用。我们的研究结果提示，扩散综合征不仅具备较高的演化潜力，同时在特定环境条件下也极易被干扰打破。