Data from: Genotype-by-environment interactions for cuticular hydrocarbon expression in Drosophila simulans

Genotype-by-environment interactions (G x Es) describe genetic variation for phenotypic plasticity. Recent interest in the role of these interactions in sexual selection has identified G x Es across a diverse range of species and sexual traits. Additionally, theoretical work predicts that G x Es in sexual traits could help to maintain genetic variation, but could also disrupt the reliability of these traits as signals of mate quality. However, empirical tests of these theoretical predictions are scarce. We reared iso-female lines of Drosophila simulans across two axes of environmental variation (diet and temperature) in a fully factorial design and tested for G x Es in the expression of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), a multivariate sexual trait in this species. We find sex-specific environmental, genetic and G x E effects on CHC expression, with G x Es for diet in both male and female CHC profile and a G x E for temperature in females. We also find some evidence for ecological crossover in these G x Es, and by quantifying variance components, genetic correlations and heritabilities, we show the potential for these G x Es to help maintain genetic variation and cause sexual signal unreliability in D. simulans CHC profiles.

基因型-环境互作（Genotype-by-environment interactions, G×E）指代表型可塑性的遗传变异基础。近年来学界对这类互作在性选择中的作用给予了广泛关注，已在多个类群的物种与多种性征中均检测到G×E互作现象。此外，相关理论研究预测，性征中的G×E互作既可能助力维持种群的遗传变异，也可能破坏这些性征作为配偶质量信号的可靠性。但针对这些理论预测的实证检验仍较为匮乏。本研究采用完全因子实验设计，在饮食与温度两个环境变异维度下饲养拟果蝇（Drosophila simulans）的单雌系，并针对该物种的多变量性征——表皮碳氢化合物（CHCs）的表达情况开展G×E互作检测。研究结果表明，环境、遗传及G×E互作效应对CHC表达存在性别特异性影响：雌雄个体的CHC谱均受到饮食相关G×E互作的调控，而雌性个体的CHC谱还存在温度相关G×E互作。本研究还在这类G×E互作中发现了一定的生态交叉现象；通过量化方差组分、遗传相关与遗传力，我们证实了这类G×E互作在拟果蝇CHC谱中具备维持遗传变异并引发性信号不可靠性的潜力。