Abstract
The role of stoichiometric food quality in influencing genotype coexistence and competitive interactions between clones of the freshwater microcrustacean, Daphnia pulex, was examined in controlled laboratory microcosm experiments. Two genetically distinct clones of D. pulex, which show variation in their ribosomal (r)DNA structure, as well as differences in a number of previously characterized growth-rate-related features (i.e., life-history features), were allowed to compete in two different arenas: (1) batch cultures differing in algal food quality (i.e., high vs. low carbon:phosphorus (C:P ratio) in the green alga, Scenedesmus acutus); (2) continuous flow microcosms receiving different light levels (i.e., photosynthetically active radiation) that affected algal C:P ratios. In experiment 1, a clear genotype × environment interaction was determined with clone 1 out-competing clone 2 under high nutrient (i.e., low food C:P) conditions, while the exact opposite pattern was observed under low nutrient (i.e., high C:P) conditions. In experiment 2, clone 1 dominated over clone 2 under high light (higher C:P) conditions, but clonal coexistence was observed under low light (low C:P) conditions. These results indicate that food (nutrient) quality effects (hitherto an often overlooked factor) may play a role in microevolutionary (genotypic) responses to changing stoichiometric conditions in natural populations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 537-547 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Oecologia |
| Volume | 143 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2005 |
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Keywords
- Clones
- Competition
- Daphniids
- Elemental ratios
- Nutrients
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology
Cite this
Genotype × environment interactions, stoichiometric food quality effects, and clonal coexistence in Daphnia pulex. / Weider, Lawrence J.; Makino, Wataru; Acharya, Kumud; Glenn, Karen L.; Kyle, Marcia; Urabe, Jotaro; Elser, James.
In: Oecologia, Vol. 143, No. 4, 08.2005, p. 537-547.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Genotype × environment interactions, stoichiometric food quality effects, and clonal coexistence in Daphnia pulex
AU - Weider, Lawrence J.
AU - Makino, Wataru
AU - Acharya, Kumud
AU - Glenn, Karen L.
AU - Kyle, Marcia
AU - Urabe, Jotaro
AU - Elser, James
PY - 2005/8
Y1 - 2005/8
N2 - The role of stoichiometric food quality in influencing genotype coexistence and competitive interactions between clones of the freshwater microcrustacean, Daphnia pulex, was examined in controlled laboratory microcosm experiments. Two genetically distinct clones of D. pulex, which show variation in their ribosomal (r)DNA structure, as well as differences in a number of previously characterized growth-rate-related features (i.e., life-history features), were allowed to compete in two different arenas: (1) batch cultures differing in algal food quality (i.e., high vs. low carbon:phosphorus (C:P ratio) in the green alga, Scenedesmus acutus); (2) continuous flow microcosms receiving different light levels (i.e., photosynthetically active radiation) that affected algal C:P ratios. In experiment 1, a clear genotype × environment interaction was determined with clone 1 out-competing clone 2 under high nutrient (i.e., low food C:P) conditions, while the exact opposite pattern was observed under low nutrient (i.e., high C:P) conditions. In experiment 2, clone 1 dominated over clone 2 under high light (higher C:P) conditions, but clonal coexistence was observed under low light (low C:P) conditions. These results indicate that food (nutrient) quality effects (hitherto an often overlooked factor) may play a role in microevolutionary (genotypic) responses to changing stoichiometric conditions in natural populations.
AB - The role of stoichiometric food quality in influencing genotype coexistence and competitive interactions between clones of the freshwater microcrustacean, Daphnia pulex, was examined in controlled laboratory microcosm experiments. Two genetically distinct clones of D. pulex, which show variation in their ribosomal (r)DNA structure, as well as differences in a number of previously characterized growth-rate-related features (i.e., life-history features), were allowed to compete in two different arenas: (1) batch cultures differing in algal food quality (i.e., high vs. low carbon:phosphorus (C:P ratio) in the green alga, Scenedesmus acutus); (2) continuous flow microcosms receiving different light levels (i.e., photosynthetically active radiation) that affected algal C:P ratios. In experiment 1, a clear genotype × environment interaction was determined with clone 1 out-competing clone 2 under high nutrient (i.e., low food C:P) conditions, while the exact opposite pattern was observed under low nutrient (i.e., high C:P) conditions. In experiment 2, clone 1 dominated over clone 2 under high light (higher C:P) conditions, but clonal coexistence was observed under low light (low C:P) conditions. These results indicate that food (nutrient) quality effects (hitherto an often overlooked factor) may play a role in microevolutionary (genotypic) responses to changing stoichiometric conditions in natural populations.
KW - Clones
KW - Competition
KW - Daphniids
KW - Elemental ratios
KW - Nutrients
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=23944486917&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=23944486917&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00442-005-0003-x
DO - 10.1007/s00442-005-0003-x
M3 - Article
VL - 143
SP - 537
EP - 547
JO - Oecologia
JF - Oecologia
SN - 0029-8519
IS - 4
ER -