Data from: Female-limited colour polymorphism in the crab spider Synema globosum (Araneae: Thomisidae)

Conspicuous colour variation, caused by the influence of the environment on phenotype or by genetic differences among individuals, is frequently observed in nature. If genetic in origin, colour variation can facilitate the study of mechanisms that contribute to the maintenance of true polymorphisms. Here we describe, for the first time, the female-limited colour polymorphism in the crab spider, Synema globosum. We looked for associations between life-history traits and female colour morph, and identified potential agents of selection that could influence the maintenance of the polymorphism. Our results showed that the polymorphism is discrete and heritable, and that differences in colour among morphs are likely to be detectable by honeybees, birds, and conspecifics. We found limited evidence of differences among morphs in morphology and ecology, and found no differences in components of reproduction. Based on the lines of evidence obtained in this study, we suggest that selection exerted by prey, predators, and/or mates is likely to influence the maintenance of the polymorphism observed in S. globosum.环境对表型的影响或个体间的遗传差异可引发显著体色变异，此类现象在自然界中屡见不鲜。若体色变异由遗传因素主导，则可为研究维持真实多态性的内在机制提供便利。本研究首次报道了蟹蛛（Synema globosum）的雌性限定型体色多态性。我们系统探究了生活史特征与雌体色型之间的关联，并鉴定出可能影响该多态性维持的潜在选择因子。研究结果表明，该多态性为离散型且可遗传，不同色型间的体色差异大概率可被蜜蜂、鸟类及同种个体感知。我们仅发现少量证据支持不同色型在形态学与生态学特征上存在差异，且未观察到繁殖相关性状存在显著差异。基于本研究获取的一系列证据，我们认为猎物、捕食者及配偶所施加的选择压力，或可影响S. globosum体色多态性的维持。