Adaptive Plasticity as a Fitness Benefit of Mate Choice

That offspring plasticity can serve as a fitness benefit of mate choice is relatively underexplored, but the ubiquity both adaptive and suggests it may be common. In contrast to some models sexual selection, when choice, environmental variation need not erode associations between traits fitness. Thus, hypothesis that help resolve longstanding questions regarding has important implications for evolution in novel or variable environments plasticity. Phenotypic selection each promote adaptation environments, their combined influence on well understood. We propose facilitate individuals prefer mates produce adaptively plastic offspring. develop this review existing studies showing diverse groups display nonsexual traits. could widespread unappreciated choice. describe methods opportunities test how might foster phenotypic Understanding interplay predict which species will adapt rapidly changing world. genetic expressed phenotypically under normal conditions. Such revealed population experiences new environment (i.e., through plasticity). any sensory, behavioral, other trait choosing sex shapes, part, individuals’ likelihoods mating with members opposite express certain phenotypes. one various epigenetic factors (e.g., patterns DNA methylation), behavioral cultural transmission), noncoding RNAs microorganisms) that, independently sequence variation, phenotype production, transmitted across generations, mediate evolutionary change. capacity an individual organism alter its features direct response changes conditions; sometimes used synonymously developmental Although often assumed enhance individual’s fitness), be. process occurs change triggers via ancestral lineage pre-existing subsequently refined by into derived lineage; referred plasticity-first evolution. graphical representation set phenotypes single genotype produces specific variable(s); show if reaction norm nonhorizontal. behaviors, ornaments, success mating-related contexts.