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）的演化仍是生态学与进化生物学领域的一大核心挑战。探究种群与近缘物种间反应规范形状的演化分化，是获取相关研究认知的重要路径之一。本研究采用元分析（meta-analysis）方法，对比了动植物的近缘物种或种群的反应规范在不同性状与环境类型下的分化情况。我们量化了经均值标准化后的整体性状均值差异（Offset，偏移量）与反应规范形状差异（涵盖斜率Slope与曲率Curvature）。分析结果显示，反应规范形状（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，均对最优拟合模型存在显著贡献，尤其在偏移量、曲率以及反应规范间的总差异（Total，总差值）方面表现突出。同属物种的反应规范差异大于种群间的差异，且新颖环境条件会加剧种群或物种间的反应规范差异。本研究结果表明，曲率的演化分化较为普遍，其与斜率均应被视为表型可塑性的重要组成部分。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秘变异——或对理解反应规范在新颖且快速变化的环境中的演化机制至关重要。