Data from: Elevational divergence in pigmentation plasticity is associated with selection and pigment biochemistry
Description
Phenotypic plasticity is predicted to evolve in environmentally variable habitats, or those experiencing a high frequency of strong selection. However, the evolution of plasticity may be constrained by costs or physiological constraints. In flowers, UV-absorbing pigmentation ameliorates UV damage to pollen, and is linked with elevated UV exposure. Whether plasticity contributes to this pattern remains unclear. Petals of Argentina anserina have larger UV-absorbing petal areas at high elevations where they experience higher and more variable UV exposure compared to low elevations. We measured UV-induced pigmentation plasticity in high- and low-elevation populations (hereafter, 'high, 'low'), and selection on pigmentation via male fitness. We dissected UV pigment biochemistry using metabolomics to explore biochemical mechanisms underlying plasticity. High displayed positive UV-induced pigmentation plasticity but low lacked plasticity. Selection favored elevated pigmentation under UV in high, supporting adaptive plasticity. In high, UV-absorption was conferred by flavonoids produced in one flavonoid pathway branch. However, in low, UV-absorption was associated with many compounds spanning many branches. Elevated plasticity was thus associated with reduced pigment diversity. Results are consistent with adaptive floral pigmentation plasticity in more extreme and variable environments. We discuss how biochemical underpinnings of pigmentation may permit or constrain the evolution of pigmentation plasticity.
Publication Date
12-19-2021
Publisher
Zenodo
DOI
10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9grj
Document Type
Data Set
Recommended Citation
Koski, Matthew (2021), "Data from: Elevational divergence in pigmentation plasticity is associated with selection and pigment biochemistry", Zenodo, doi: 10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9grj
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9grj
Identifier
5792217
Embargo Date
12-19-2021
Version
1