Phenotypic plasticity's impacts on diversification and speciation
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity (the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes in response to variation in the environment) is commonplace. Yet its evolutionary significance remains controversial, especially in regard to whether and how it impacts diversification and speciation. Here, we review recent theory on how plasticity promotes: (i) the origin of novel phenotypes, (ii) divergence among populations and species, (iii) the formation of new species and (iv) adaptive radiation. We also discuss the latest empirical support for each of these evolutionary pathways to diversification and identify potentially profitable areas for future research. Generally, phenotypic plasticity can play a largely underappreciated role in driving diversification and speciation.
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The high phenotypic plasticity demonstrated by type I species may act as a brake on adaptive evolution and diversification, because highly plastic populations are likely to persist easily and undergo less genetic change.
“It is possible that the high phenotypic plasticity demonstrated by type I species may act as a brake on adaptive evolution and diversification, because highly plastic populations are likely to persist easily and undergo less genetic change (Price et al. , 2003; Pfennig et al. , 2010).”
From Why grow up? <scp>A</scp> perspective on insect strategies to avoid metamorphosis (2016) · cites this paper as Pfennig et al., 2010
Cites
The Ecology of Adaptive Radiation
Schluter, D. (2000) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198505235.001.0001 · Cited by 4,974 · see citing works
The role of phenotypic plasticity in driving genetic evolution
Price, T. D., Qvarnström, A., & Irwin, D. E. (2003) · Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2003.2372 · Cited by 1,466 · see citing works
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Under cover: causes, effects and implications of Hsp90‐mediated genetic capacitance
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The extended evolutionary synthesis: its structure, assumptions and predictions
Laland, K. N., Uller, T., Feldman, M. W., Sterelny, K., Müller, G. B., Moczek, A., Jablonka, E., & Odling-Smee, J. (2015) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.1019 · Cited by 1,399 · see citing works
Self-citationWhy grow up? <scp>A</scp> perspective on insect strategies to avoid metamorphosis
MCMAHON, D. P., & HAYWARD, A. (2016) · Ecological Entomology · doi:10.1111/een.12313 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Elliot, M. G., & Crespi, B. J. (2015) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2014.0069 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
- Authors
- Pfennig, D. W., Wund, M. A., Snell-Rood, E. C., Cruickshank, T., Schlichting, C. D., & Moczek, A. P.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Princeton University (US)
- Indiana University Bloomington (US)
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Corresponding author
- Pfennig, David W.
- Venue
- Trends in Ecology & Evolution
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-08
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 459-467
- ISSN
- 0169-5347 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2137621906
- Cited by
- 1,170
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 53 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 60 · 2021: 77 · 2020: 75 · 2019: 82 · 2018: 90 · 2017: 86 · 2016: 76 · 2015: 99 · 2014: 78 · 2013: 85 · 2012: 63
- FWCI
- 6.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trends in Ecology & Evolution (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Geometry and Topology › Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Keywords
- phenotypic plasticity, speciation, diversification, adaptive radiation, population divergence, novel phenotype, evolutionary pathways
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Physiological, Animals, Phenotype, Biodiversity, Genetic Speciation
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