Data from: Evolutionary change in continuous reaction norms

Understanding the evolution of reaction norms remains a major challenge in
ecology and evolution. Investigating evolutionary divergence in reaction
norm shapes between populations and closely related species is one
approach to provide insights. Here we use a meta-analytic approach to
compare divergence in reaction norms of closely related species or
populations of animals and plants, across types of traits and
environments. We quantified mean-standardized differences in overall trait
means (Offset) and reaction norm shape (including both Slope and
Curvature). These analyses revealed that differences in shape (Slope and
Curvature together) were generally greater than differences in Offset.
Additionally, differences in Curvature were generally greater than
differences in Slope. The type of taxon contrast (species vs. population),
trait, organism, and the type and novelty of environments all contributed
to the best fitting models, especially for Offset, Curvature and the total
differences (Total) between reaction norms. Congeneric species had greater
differences in reaction norms than populations, and novel environmental
conditions increased the differences in reaction norms between populations
or species. These results show that evolutionary divergence of curvature
is common and should be considered an important aspect of plasticity
together with slope. Biological details about traits and environments,
including cryptic variation expressed in novel environmental conditions,
may be critical to understanding how reaction norms may evolve in novel
and rapidly changing environments.

解析反应规范（Reaction Norm）的演化机制，仍是生态学与进化生物学领域的核心难题之一。探究不同种群及近缘物种间反应规范形态的演化分化，是破解该难题的有效路径之一。本研究采用元分析（Meta-Analysis）方法，对比分析动植物近缘物种或种群的反应规范在不同性状类型与环境类型下的分化情况。我们量化了经均值标准化的整体性状均值差异（偏移量，Offset）以及反应规范形态差异（包含斜率Slope与曲率Curvature两部分）。分析结果显示，反应规范形态（斜率与曲率共同构成）的差异整体上大于偏移量的差异。此外，曲率的差异整体上大于斜率的差异。类群对比类型（物种 vs. 种群）、性状类别、研究生物类群，以及环境类型与环境新颖性，均为最优拟合模型的重要影响因子，尤其对偏移量、曲率及反应规范间的总差异（总差异，Total）影响显著。同属物种间的反应规范差异大于种群间差异，而新颖环境条件会放大种群或物种间的反应规范差异。本研究结果表明，曲率的演化分化普遍存在，其与斜率均为表型可塑性（Phenotypic Plasticity）的关键组成部分，需同等重视。有关性状与环境的生物学细节——包括在新颖环境中表达的隐性变异——或对解析反应规范在新颖且快速变化的环境中的演化规律至关重要。