Meeting Abstract

52.6  Jan. 6  Phenotypic plasticity and the origin of novel traits: butterflies modify behavior and morphology in response to a novel environment SNELL-ROOD, Emilie C; Univ. of Arizona emilies@email.arizona.edu

The origin of novel traits may allow organisms to expand into previously unfilled ecological space. Phenotypic plasticity, especially those forms occurring through somatic selection (trial-and-error) mechanisms, may facilitate the origin and stabilization of novel traits as organisms are exposed to novel environments. However, plasticity may come at a significant cost, specifically delays in reproduction associated with a learning-like developmental process. This research investigates why there is variation in the ability to express novel phenotypes to cope with novel environments. I test the prediction that more plastic genotypes will be more likely to produce appropriate behavior, physiology, and morphology in response to a novel resource, but this ability comes with reproductive costs. I present preliminary evidence that butterfly genotypes vary in their ability to learn to recognize a novel host plant, specifically, a red-colored host plant, which differs from their innate preference for green hosts. These genotypes also vary in developmental changes in neural and reproductive morphology associated with exposure to the novel resource. Understanding why organisms vary in their ability to cope with novel environments through the expression of novel traits is crucial to predicting how organisms will cope with rapid environmental change.