Data from: Proximate mechanisms underlying the rapid modification of phenotypic traits in cane toads (Rhinella marina) across their invasive range within Australia

Biological invasions often involve rapid modification of phenotypic
traits, presumably in response to the host of novel pressures to which an
invader is exposed, but the proximate basis for those changes remains
unclear. Phenotypic changes may be generated by environmental factors (E),
genetic factors (G), or the interaction between these two processes (GE).
To explore this issue, we obtained eight clutches of the cane toad
(Rhinella marina) from three regions across its invaded range within
Australia, and raised the offspring under standard conditions (diet and/or
exercise level manipulations) to clarify the proximate underpinnings of
geographic divergence in phenotypic traits. Our results demonstrate that
phenotypic variation among Australia cane toad populations are affected by
genetics and environment, and an interaction of these two processes. Some
traits (e.g., sprint distance) differed among populations, suggesting a
heritable basis. Other traits (e.g., relative heart mass) were affected by
experimental treatments but not by population. Intriguingly, other traits
(e.g., growth rate) were affected by interactions between Population of
Origin and experimental treatments. The relative importance of G, E and GE
differs among traits, but all three mechanisms have contributed to the
rapid phenotypic divergence observed across the Australian range of
invasive cane toads.