Data from: Reversal of response to artificial selection on body size in a wild passerine bird

A general assumption in quantitative genetics is the existence of an intermediate phenotype with higher mean individual fitness in the average environment than more extreme phenotypes. Here we investigate the evolvability and presence of such a phenotype in wild bird populations from an eleven-year experiment with four years of artificial selection for long and short tarsus length, a proxy for body size. The experiment resulted in strong selection in the imposed directions. However, artificial selection was counteracted by reduced production of recruits in offspring of artificially selected parents. This resulted in weak natural selection against extreme trait values. Significant responses to artificial selection were observed at both the phenotypic and genetic level, followed by a significant return towards pre-experimental means. During artificial selection, the annual observed phenotypic response closely followed the predicted response from quantitative genetic theory (r_years = 0.96, r_cohorts = 0.56). The rapid return to pre-experimental means was induced by three interacting mechanisms: selection for an intermediate phenotype, immigration and recombination between selected and unselected individuals. The results of this study demonstrates the evolvability of phenotypes and that selection may favour an intermediate phenotype in wild populations.

数量遗传学（quantitative genetics）中的一项通用假设为：存在一类中间表型（intermediate phenotype），其在平均环境中的平均个体适合度高于更为极端的表型。本研究依托一项为期11年的野外实验，其中针对作为体型替代指标的跗跖长度（tarsus length）开展了为期4年的长、短方向人工选择，以此探究野生鸟类种群中该类中间表型的存在性与可演化性。该实验在预设选择方向上产生了强烈的选择效应。然而，人工选择的效果被人工选择亲本的后代补充个体产量降低所抵消，这使得针对极端性状值的自然选择作用较弱。研究在表型与遗传层面均观测到了对人工选择的显著响应，随后种群表型值显著向实验前均值回归。在人工选择阶段，年度观测到的表型响应与数量遗传学理论的预测响应高度吻合（r_年度=0.96，r_同龄群=0.56）。种群快速回归至实验前均值的现象由三种交互作用机制驱动：中间表型的定向选择、个体迁入，以及经选择与未经选择个体间的基因重组。本研究结果证实了表型的可演化性，同时表明在野生种群中，自然选择可能更青睐中间表型。