Associations between Floral Asymmetry and Individual Genetic Variability Differ among Three Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios) Populations

While stress is expected to increase developmental instability (DI), not all studies confirm this. This heterogeneity could in part be due to the use of subtle differences between the left and right side of bilateral symmetrical organisms to quantify DI, leading to large sampling error obscuring ass...

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Main Authors: Philippe Helsen, Stefan Van Dongen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-10-01
Series:Symmetry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/8/11/116
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author Philippe Helsen
Stefan Van Dongen
author_facet Philippe Helsen
Stefan Van Dongen
author_sort Philippe Helsen
collection DOAJ
description While stress is expected to increase developmental instability (DI), not all studies confirm this. This heterogeneity could in part be due to the use of subtle differences between the left and right side of bilateral symmetrical organisms to quantify DI, leading to large sampling error obscuring associations with DI. Traits that develop simultaneously more than twice (such as flower petals or bird feathers) reflect individual DI more reliably, such that stronger associations are expected to emerge. Furthermore, some studies have shown differences in strengths of associations among populations. We studied the association between individual genetic diversity and DI in flower petals within three Opuntia echios populations inhabiting Galápagos. Quantifying individual DI through variation in length and width of a high number of petals within individual cacti, lead to a strong association between DI and genetic diversity in one population. We conclude that associations between individual DI and genetic diversity can be more easily revealed by measuring traits that develop repeatedly.
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spelling doaj.art-510892da280d4cef85c1ebd8f071329c2022-12-22T02:15:20ZengMDPI AGSymmetry2073-89942016-10-0181111610.3390/sym8110116sym8110116Associations between Floral Asymmetry and Individual Genetic Variability Differ among Three Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios) PopulationsPhilippe Helsen0Stefan Van Dongen1Centre for Research and Conservation-Conservation Genetics Lab, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp 2000, BelgiumEvolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, BelgiumWhile stress is expected to increase developmental instability (DI), not all studies confirm this. This heterogeneity could in part be due to the use of subtle differences between the left and right side of bilateral symmetrical organisms to quantify DI, leading to large sampling error obscuring associations with DI. Traits that develop simultaneously more than twice (such as flower petals or bird feathers) reflect individual DI more reliably, such that stronger associations are expected to emerge. Furthermore, some studies have shown differences in strengths of associations among populations. We studied the association between individual genetic diversity and DI in flower petals within three Opuntia echios populations inhabiting Galápagos. Quantifying individual DI through variation in length and width of a high number of petals within individual cacti, lead to a strong association between DI and genetic diversity in one population. We conclude that associations between individual DI and genetic diversity can be more easily revealed by measuring traits that develop repeatedly.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/8/11/116developmental instabilityflower morphologyfluctuating asymmetryradial asymmetryflowergenetic diversityOpuntia echiosprickly pear
spellingShingle Philippe Helsen
Stefan Van Dongen
Associations between Floral Asymmetry and Individual Genetic Variability Differ among Three Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios) Populations
Symmetry
developmental instability
flower morphology
fluctuating asymmetry
radial asymmetry
flower
genetic diversity
Opuntia echios
prickly pear
title Associations between Floral Asymmetry and Individual Genetic Variability Differ among Three Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios) Populations
title_full Associations between Floral Asymmetry and Individual Genetic Variability Differ among Three Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios) Populations
title_fullStr Associations between Floral Asymmetry and Individual Genetic Variability Differ among Three Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios) Populations
title_full_unstemmed Associations between Floral Asymmetry and Individual Genetic Variability Differ among Three Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios) Populations
title_short Associations between Floral Asymmetry and Individual Genetic Variability Differ among Three Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios) Populations
title_sort associations between floral asymmetry and individual genetic variability differ among three prickly pear opuntia echios populations
topic developmental instability
flower morphology
fluctuating asymmetry
radial asymmetry
flower
genetic diversity
Opuntia echios
prickly pear
url http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/8/11/116
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AT stefanvandongen associationsbetweenfloralasymmetryandindividualgeneticvariabilitydifferamongthreepricklypearopuntiaechiospopulations