Data from: Genetic variation in social influence on mate preferences

Patterns of phenotypic variation arise in part from plasticity owing to social interactions, and these patterns contribute, in turn, to the form of selection that shapes the variation we observe in natural populations. This proximate–ultimate dynamic brings genetic variation in social environments to the forefront of evolutionary theory. However, the extent of this variation remains largely unknown. Here, we use a member of the Enchenopa binotata species complex of treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) to assess how mate preferences are influenced by genetic variation in the social environment. We used full-sibling split-families as ‘treatment’ social environments, and reared focal females alongside each treatment family, describing the mate preferences of the focal females. With this method, we detected substantial genetic variation in social influence on mate preferences. The mate preferences of focal females varied according to the treatment families along with which they grew up. We discuss the evolutionary implications of the presence of such genetic variation in social influence on mate preferences, including potential contributions to the maintenance of genetic variation, the promotion of divergence, and the adaptive evolution of social effects on fitness-related traits.表型变异的模式部分源于社会互动介导的表型可塑性，而此类模式反过来又会塑造选择的作用形式，进而决定自然种群中观测到的变异格局。这种近因-远因的动态关联将社会环境中的遗传变异推至进化理论的核心前沿，但目前该类变异的分布广度仍鲜为人知。本研究以角蝉（Hemiptera: Membracidae，半翅目：角蝉科）二斑恩蝉（Enchenopa binotata）物种复合体的一个类群为实验材料，探究社会环境中的遗传变异如何影响配偶偏好。实验采用全同胞拆分家系作为"处理组"社会环境，将目标雌性个体与各处理家系共同饲养，并对目标雌性的配偶偏好进行了量化表征。通过该实验范式，我们检测到社会因素对配偶偏好的调控效应存在显著的遗传变异：目标雌性的配偶偏好会随其发育阶段所处的处理家系差异而发生显著变化。本研究还探讨了这类影响配偶偏好的社会效应存在遗传变异这一现象的进化意义，包括其对维持种群遗传变异、推动种群分化，以及对与适合度相关性状的社会效应适应性进化的潜在贡献。