Patterns of genetic variation in desiccation tolerance in embryos of the terrestrial-breeding frog, Pseudophryne guentheri

Environmental change often requires evolutionary responses, and therefore understanding the genetic architecture of susceptible populations is essential for predicting their capacity to respond adaptively. However, quantitative genetic studies are rarely targeted at populations considered vulnerable to such environmental perturbations. Here, we assess the level of heritable variation in the ability of embryos to tolerate desiccation stress in Pseudophryne guentheri, a terrestrial-breeding frog that is currently experiencing a drying climate. We applied a North Carolina II breeding design to identify sources of genetic and environmental variance, and genotype-by-environment interactions (GEIs), underlying the expression of embryo survival, hatching times, hatchling mass, size and shape. Our analysis revealed highly significant effects of water potential and maternal effects on all measured traits, while additive genetic effects were significant for hatchling shape and non-additive effect...

环境变化往往会引发生物的进化响应，因此解析易感种群的遗传架构，对于预测其适应性响应能力至关重要。然而，针对此类易受环境扰动影响的种群开展的数量遗传学研究却寥寥无几。本研究以当前正经历气候干旱化的陆栖繁殖蛙类——冈氏澳蟾（Pseudophryne guentheri）为研究对象，评估其胚胎耐受脱水胁迫能力的可遗传变异水平。我们采用北卡罗来纳II（North Carolina II）育种设计，解析胚胎存活率、孵化时长、幼体体重、体型及形态表达背后的遗传方差、环境方差来源，以及基因型-环境互作（GEIs）效应。分析结果显示，水势与母本效应对所有测定性状均存在极显著影响；而加性遗传效应对幼体形态具有显著作用，非加性效应……