Data from: Genetic and environmental factors shape rates of plasticity: the temporal dynamics of opsin gene expression in aquatic environments

Phenotypic plasticity allow organismal traits to react to environmental changes,

potentially enhancing survival under fluctuating conditions. While the capacity for

plasticity—the range of phenotypic change—has been extensively studied, the rate at

which plastic responses occur remains largely unexplored. The speed of plasticity is

crucial, as prolonged mismatches between phenotype and environment affect fitness.

However, evolutionary models typically assume constant rates of plasticity. Here, we

test this assumption by examining the temporal dynamics of opsin gene expression in

Nicaraguan convict cichlids (Amatitlania siquia) from distinct populations experiencing

changes in ambient light conditions. We show that rates of plasticity in opsin gene

expression vary among populations, developmental stages, and environmental

conditions. Contrary to expectations of a fixed rate, our results demonstrate that both

genetic background and environmental factors shape the speed of plastic responses.

Notably, fish from clear crater lakes, which experience episodic turbidity, exhibit faster

plastic responses than great lake cichlids when shifting to red-shifted environments but

slower responses when shifting to clear conditions. Additionally, younger fish show

faster opsin expression changes than older individuals, highlighting an interaction

between developmental and environmental plasticity. These findings challenge the

assumption of a universal plasticity rate and suggest that selection acts not only on the

capacity but also on the timing of plastic responses. Our study provides empirical

evidence that rates of plasticity can evolve rapidly, expanding our understanding of

phenotypic adaptation. Incorporating the evolution of rates into models should refine

our predictions of how organisms respond to environmental heterogeneity.