Phenotypic covariation predicts diversification in an adaptive radiation
of pupfishes
Abstract
Phenotypic covariation among suites of traits may constrain or promote
diversification both within and between species, yet few studies have
empirically investigated this relationship. In this study we investigate
whether phenotypic covariation of craniofacial traits is associated with
diversification in an adaptive radiation of pupfishes found only on San
Salvador Island, Bahamas. The full radiation of pupfishes includes
generalist, durophagous, and lepidophagous pupfish species. We compare
phenotypic variation and covariation (i.e., P matrix) between 1)
allopatric populations of generalist pupfish from neighboring islands
and estuaries in the Caribbean, 2) San Salvador Island pupfish
populations not containing the full radiation of fishes, and 3) San
Salvador Island pupfish populations containing the full radiation in
sympatry. Additionally, we explore whether phenotypic covariation varies
between purebred and hybrid pupfish. We found that the P matrix of SSI
generalist populations not found in sympatry with specialists exhibited
higher levels of mean trait correlation, higher levels of constraints,
and lower levels of flexibility compared to generalist populations on
other Caribbean islands and sympatric populations of all three species
found on SSI. We also documented significant differences between hybrid
and purebred phenotypic covariation, where hybrids displayed lower
correlations between traits and higher levels of flexibility, which may
produce differential fitness in the wild. Ultimately, this study
suggests that differences in phenotypic covariation significantly
contribute to producing and maintaining organismal diversity.