Effects of sex and age on genotype x environment interaction for beef cattle body weight studied using reaction norm models

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genotype by environment interaction for 450-day weight of Nelore cattle analyzed by reaction norm models

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Reaction norm model to describe environmental sensitivity across first lactation in dairy cattle under tropical conditions

Reaction norm models have been widely used to study genotype by environment interaction (G × E) in animal breeding. The objective of this study was to describe environmental sensitivity across first lactation in Brazilian Holstein cows using a reaction norm approach. A total of 50,168 individual monthly test day (TD) milk yields (10 test days) from 7476 complete first lactations of Holstein cattle were analyzed. The statistical models for all traits (10 TDs and for 305-day milk yield) included the fixed effects of contemporary group, age of cow (linear and quadratic effects), and days in milk (linear effect), except for 305-day milk yield. A hierarchical reaction norm model (HRNM) based on the unknown covariate was used. The present study showed the presence of G × E in milk yield across first lactation of Holstein cows. The variation in the heritability estimates implies differences in the response to selection depending on the environment where the animals of this population are evaluated. In the average environment, the heritabilities for all traits were rather similar, in range from 0.02 to 0.63. The scaling effect of G × E predominated throughout most of lactation. Particularly during the first 2 months of lactation, G × E caused reranking of breeding values. It is therefore important to include the environmental sensitivity of animals according to the phase of lactation in the genetic evaluations of Holstein cattle in tropical environments.

Swift thermal reaction norm evolution in a key coccolithopore species: Reaction norm assay data from an experiment in Kiel from December 2012 to June 2015

Temperature has a profound effect on the species composition and physiology of marine phytoplankton, a polyphyletic group of microbes responsible for half of global primary production. Here, we ask whether and how thermal reaction norms in a key calcifying species, the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi, change as a result of 2.5 years of experimental evolution to a temperature about 2°C below its upper thermal limit. Replicate experimental populations derived from a single genotype isolated from Norwegian coastal waters were grown at two temperatures for 2.5 years before assessing thermal responses at 6 temperatures ranging from 15 to 26°C, with pCO2 (400/1100/2200 ?atm) as a fully factorial additional factor. The two selection temperatures (15°/26.3°C) led to a marked divergence of thermal reaction norms. Optimal growth temperatures were 0.7°C higher in experimental populations selected at 26.3°C than those selected at 15.0°C. An additional negative effect of high pCO2 on maximal growth rate (8% decrease relative to lowest level) was observed. Finally, the maximum persistence temperature (Tmax) differed by 1-3°C between experimental treatments, as a result of an interaction between pCO2 and the temperature selection. Taken together, we demonstrate that several attributes of thermal reaction norms in phytoplankton may change faster than the predicted progression of ocean warming.

Phenotypic plasticity of composite beef cattle performance using reaction norms model with unknown covariate

The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of genotype by environment interaction (G × E) and to characterize the phenotypic plasticity of birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), postweaning weight gain (PWG) and yearling scrotal circumference (SC) in composite beef cattle using the reaction norms model with unknown covariate. The animals were born between 1995 and 2008 on 33 farms located throughout all Brazilian biomes between latitude -7 and -31, longitude -40 and -63. The contemporary group was chosen as the environmental descriptor, that is, the environmental covariate of the reaction norms. In general, higher estimates of direct heritability were observed in extreme favorable environments. The mean of direct heritability across the environmental gradient ranged from 0.05 to 0.51, 0.09 to 0.43, 0.01 to 0.43 and from 0.12 to 0.26 for BW, WW, PWG and SC, respectively. The variation in direct heritability observed indicates a different response to selection according to the environment in which the animals of the population are evaluated. The correlation between the level and slope of the reaction norm for BW and PWG was high, indicating that animals with higher average breeding values responded better to improvement in environmental conditions, a fact characterizing a scale of G × E. Low correlation between the intercept and slope was obtained for WW and SC, implying re-ranking of animals in different environments. Genetic variation exists in the sensitivity of animals to the environment, a fact that permits the selection of more plastic or robust genotypes in the population studied. Thus, the G × E is an important factor that should be considered in the genetic evaluation of the present population of composite beef cattle. © The Animal Consortium 2012.

Genotype x environment interaction for age at first calving, scrotal circumference, and yearling weight in Nellore cattle using reaction norms in multitrait random regression models

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Thermal reaction norms of growth in Atlantic and Pacific silverside fishes

How organisms may adapt to rising global temperatures is uncertain, but concepts can emerge from studying adaptive physiological trait variations across existing spatial climate gradients. Many ectotherms, particularly fish, have evolved increasing genetic growth capacities with latitude (i.e. countergradient variation (CnGV) in growth), which are thought to be an adaptation primarily to strong gradients in seasonality. In contrast, evolutionary responses to gradients in mean temperature are often assumed to involve an alternative mode, 'thermal adaptation'. We measured thermal growth reaction norms in Pacific silverside populations (Atherinops affinis) occurring across a weak latitudinal temperature gradient with invariant seasonality along the North American Pacific coast. Instead of thermal adaptation, we found novel evidence for CnGV in growth, suggesting that CnGV is a ubiquitous mode of reaction-norm evolution in ectotherms even in response to weak spatial and, by inference, temporal climate gradients. A novel, large-scale comparison between ecologically equivalent Pacific versus Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia) revealed how closely growth CnGV patterns reflect their respective climate gradients. While steep growth reaction norms and increasing growth plasticity with latitude in M. menidia mimicked the strong, highly seasonal Atlantic coastal gradient, shallow reaction norms and much smaller, latitude-independent growth plasticity in A. affinis resembled the weak Pacific latitudinal temperature gradient.

异质性环境中两种匍匐茎草本植物的克隆可塑性

　　克隆植物常常生长在资源异质性分布的环境中，克隆植物特有的生活史特征使其对环境和资源变化产生的反应规范（Reaction norm）具有特殊的表现和适应意义。本文以匍匐茎草本植物蛇莓(Duchesnea indica)和活血丹(Glechoma longituba)为材料，研究克隆植物在不同异质性环境中的反应规范，即可塑性（plasticity）和克隆分株间相互作用（即克隆整合（clonal integration））对表型的影响及其适应意义。 蛇莓和活血丹是具有不同分枝类型的两种匍匐茎草本植物。对于匍匐茎草本植物而言，生境中光资源分布在时间和空间上的变化极为丰富。本文主要研究在不同环境中，这两种克隆植物克隆分株间的相互作用是如何通过影响其形态特征，从而影响其光资源获取策略。 实验涉及了4种光照条件，分为5个部分，分别在大棚和野外进行。 1．同质光环境中蛇莓和活血丹克隆片段的可塑性 在大棚中，将整个克隆片段（clonal fragment）都放置在光照强度分别为自然光照PPFD（Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density）的100％、50％和10％三种不同的同质光环境中，目标是通过比较不同光照强度同质环境中不同基因型的形态特征，揭示匍匐茎草本克隆植物的反应规范及遗传差异。实验结果发现，当光照强度从100% PPFD 降到 50% PPFD时，活血丹增加对地上部分生物量投资，增加部分多投入到匍匐茎上，用于支持匍匐茎实现觅食行为，叶片和叶柄的变化不大。同样条件下，蛇莓的生物量投资却向根部转移，地上部分叶片和叶柄形态上的变化比匍匐茎的形态变化显著，出现增强对光资源吸收能力的变化。当光照强度从50%降到 10%时，活血丹继续增加对地上部分的生物量投资，但由于光照强度弱，几乎不足以维持新的匍匐茎的发生，所有增加的生物量部分都投入到叶片和叶柄的变化上。这种条件下，蛇莓的生物量投资依然向根部转移，叶片和叶柄为增加对光资源吸收能力而发生了相应变化，匍匐茎的新增数减少，形态变化也不大。实验证明，可能由于匍匐茎的发生方式不同，活血丹的匍匐茎节间长度，叶片和叶柄的关联程度比蛇莓相应性状的关联程度强。不同基因型的蛇莓和活血丹对光照梯度的反应有显著差异。 2．异质光环境中蛇莓克隆片段的可塑性 针对克隆植物分株间在相当长的时间里形体相连，而环境异质性可能存在于分株大小的空间尺度，设置异质环境，将蛇莓的不同相连分株放置在不同的光资源斑块中，研究其整合作用在适应异质性环境过程中的作用及其对表型的影响。首先设置同一种资源（光资源）的梯度差异斑块。 在光斑块中，整合作用发生与否、作用方式与资源梯度、分株自身所处斑块的资源条件和分株的年龄结构有关。在不同的条件下，整合作用可能造成对表型的不同影响，从而可能加剧或削弱分株对本地资源的反应（局部反应，local response）。整合作用对分株局部反应的影响强度和方向，在不同基因型间存在明显差异。这些基因型间的差异暗示，整合作用可能也是具有遗传基础的一种独立性状。 3．光块斑和养分斑块共存环境中活血丹克隆片段的可塑性 设置光和养分的资源互补性斑块。将相连分株种植在不同斑块中。当生长在高光低养斑块中的分株与其互补斑块（低光高养斑块）的分株相连时，其适合度相关性状的值增加，根冠比是可塑的，通过相应的形态变化，高光照斑块中的分株捕获光资源的能力增强，但两种斑块中植株的吸收养分的能力却没有大的变化。收益－损耗分析显示整合作用有益于异质环境中的植株，低光高养斑块中植株的生物量获益。实验结果证明了异质环境中相连分株间存在光合产物和养分传递。在这种环境种，分株形态的变化对本地斑块发生趋富反应，形态的改变有助于对本地丰富资源的吸收。这种反应有利于克隆片段对资源的吸收。 4．野外环境中蛇莓克隆片段的可塑性 基于大棚实验资料，对野外林下蛇莓种群进行监测。首先对单株在林下复杂的光环境中的表现进行了跟踪，结果发现，随着分株数目的增加，适合度相关性状值有所提高，而处于不同位置的相连分株在形态上的差异不显著。大棚实验中发现的显著形态变化在具有显著差异的自然环境条件下没有发生，这可能暗示着在资源条件变化频率较高的环境中整合作用的作用方式。分株不是对某一时刻资源条件进行形态特化，而是通过对所扩展的总体区域的总的环境条件调整表型。这样，从克隆片段的水平上看，资源的吸收可能达到较高水平。在密度增大，植株间互相荫蔽使得光照减弱的情况下，匍匐茎的变化没有表现出觅食行为，叶片和叶柄出现增大增长等增强吸收光能力的相应表型变化，证明叶片叶柄是克服光照不足的主要器官。这些结果与大棚实验结果一致。蛇莓基株对于相连分株内部可能具有密度调节功能，从而通过减弱叶片增大的趋势，增长匍匐茎，分散新生分株，使密度保持在一定程度，不对种群的发展造成阻碍作用。非相连分株间随着密度的增大，相互间的作用方式类似于非克隆植物：出现叶片增大，叶柄增长的现象，同时密度制约了适合度相关性状如分株数目等的增加。 5．野外环境中蛇莓种群格局动态 最后，在进化的单位，种群水平上对蛇莓种群在自然界的动态进行了调查。Spearman相关分析，没有发现光资源和测量指标在量上的相关。在自然界中整合作用使大量分散分布、相互连接的分株相互作用，以促进基株对资源的获取。Moran’s I指数分析显示，随时间的推进，各个指标在相关尺度上有所增加。这暗示了整合作用的存在，分株间联系的加强。大棚实验中观察到的关于各个器官的作用的结论在自然界中得到进一步的验证。蛇莓匍匐茎在遮荫环境中不是作为觅食器官。为了争取对更多光资源的吸收，蛇莓在叶片数和叶形态上发生改变。对分株数、叶片数、匍匐茎数目的分布格局的调查显示出没有一定的规律性，而且处于不断的变化中。这一结果可能暗示种群发展过程中处理异质性分布资源的对策的变化。 此外，本文还揭示了可塑性和整合作用在基因型间的差异，针对所发现的现象，从作用的遗传机制上对可塑性及其适应意义进行了讨论。结合分子生物学和地统计学等学科的研究成果，对进一步的实验提出了方法和路线。

Pathogen-induced hatching and population-specific life-history response to water-borne cues in brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Hatching is an important niche shift, and embryos in a wide range of taxa can either accelerate or delay this life-history switch in order to avoid stage-specific risks. Such behavior can occur in response to stress itself and to chemical cues that allow anticipation of stress. We studied the genetic organization of this phenotypic plasticity and tested whether there are differences among populations and across environments in order to learn more about the evolutionary potential of stress-induced hatching. As a study species, we chose the brown trout (Salmo trutta; Salmonidae). Gametes were collected from five natural populations (within one river network) and used for full-factorial in vitro fertilizations. The resulting embryos were either directly infected with Pseudomonas fluorescens or were exposed to waterborne cues from P. fluorescens-infected conspecifics. We found that direct inoculation with P. fluorescens increased embryonic mortality and induced hatching in all host populations. Exposure to waterborne cues revealed population-specific responses. We found significant additive genetic variation for hatching time, and genetic variation in trait plasticity. In conclusion, hatching is induced in response to infection and can be affected by waterborne cues of infection, but populations and families differ in their reaction to the latter.

Estimation of genetic variance for macro- and micro-environmental sensitivity using double hierarchical generalized linear models

Background: Genetic variation for environmental sensitivity indicates that animals are genetically different in their response to environmental factors. Environmental factors are either identifiable (e.g. temperature) and called macro-environmental or unknown and called micro-environmental. The objectives of this study were to develop a statistical method to estimate genetic parameters for macro- and micro-environmental sensitivities simultaneously, to investigate bias and precision of resulting estimates of genetic parameters and to develop and evaluate use of Akaike’s information criterion using h-likelihood to select the best fitting model. Methods: We assumed that genetic variation in macro- and micro-environmental sensitivities is expressed as genetic variance in the slope of a linear reaction norm and environmental variance, respectively. A reaction norm model to estimate genetic variance for macro-environmental sensitivity was combined with a structural model for residual variance to estimate genetic variance for micro-environmental sensitivity using a double hierarchical generalized linear model in ASReml. Akaike’s information criterion was constructed as model selection criterion using approximated h-likelihood. Populations of sires with large half-sib offspring groups were simulated to investigate bias and precision of estimated genetic parameters. Results: Designs with 100 sires, each with at least 100 offspring, are required to have standard deviations of estimated variances lower than 50% of the true value. When the number of offspring increased, standard deviations of estimates across replicates decreased substantially, especially for genetic variances of macro- and micro-environmental sensitivities. Standard deviations of estimated genetic correlations across replicates were quite large (between 0.1 and 0.4), especially when sires had few offspring. Practically, no bias was observed for estimates of any of the parameters. Using Akaike’s information criterion the true genetic model was selected as the best statistical model in at least 90% of 100 replicates when the number of offspring per sire was 100. Application of the model to lactation milk yield in dairy cattle showed that genetic variance for micro- and macro-environmental sensitivities existed. Conclusion: The algorithm and model selection criterion presented here can contribute to better understand genetic control of macro- and micro-environmental sensitivities. Designs or datasets should have at least 100 sires each with 100 offspring.

Interação genótipo x ambiente, adaptabilidade e estabilidade em genótipos de cana-de-açúcar

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas) - FCAV

Estudo da interação genótipo ambiente em búfalos leiteiros do Brasil e da Colômbia

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV