Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a complex trait involving intrauterine environmental, maternal environmental, and genetic factors. However, the extent to which these factors contribute to the total variation in GWG is unclear. We therefore examined the genetic and environmental influences on the variation in GWG in the first and second pregnancy in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin moth...

Phenotypic differences among individuals are often linked to differential survival and mating success. Quantifying the relative influence of genetic and environmental variation on phenotype allows evolutionary biologists to make predictions about the potential for a given trait to respond to selection and various aspects of environmental variation. In particular, the environment individuals exp...

Phenotypic robustness, or canalization, has been extensively investigated both experimentally and theoretically. However, it remains unknown to what extent robustness varies between individuals, and whether factors buffering environmental variation also buffer genetic variation. Here we introduce a quantitative genetic approach to these issues, and apply this approach to data from three species...

AIMS To investigate the genetic and environmental contributions to age at first drink (AFD) and age first gambled (AFG), assess their overlap and examine sex differences. DESIGN Univariate twin models were fitted to decompose the variation in AFD and AFG into additive genetic, shared environmental and unique environmental factors. Bivariate genetic models were fitted to assess the genetic and...

Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) has gained widespread usage for taxonomically based biodiversity assessment. While interest in applying noninvasive eDNA monitoring population genetic assessments grown, its this sphere remains limited. One barrier to uptake is that the effectiveness detection below species level be determined multiple and environments. Here, we test utility emergent technol...