Phenotypic Plasticity

• From Behavioural Ecology assigned reading (Chapter 1)
• This is the degree of change that can occur in a phenoype as a response to changing environmental conditions
• reaction norm = relationship between phenotype and environment

Example - bird breeding behaviour response to climate change

• Great tits in Wyndham Woods have adapted to begin laying eggs earlier (mean egg laying date advanced by 14 days). This seems to correlate with spring temperatures and caterpillar emergence
  • Micro-evolutionary change? Or just phenotypic plasticity?
  • Female tits