Heritability of dispersal-related larval traits in the clown anemonefish Amphiprion percula

A major goal of marine ecology is to identify the drivers of variation in larval dispersal. Larval traits are emerging as an important potential source of variation in dispersal outcomes, but little is known about how the evolution of these traits might shape dispersal patterns. Here, we consider the potential for adaptive evolution in two possibly dispersal-related traits by quantifying the heritability of larval size and swimming speed in the clown anemonefish (Amphiprion percula). Using a laboratory population of wild-caught A. percula, we measured the size and swimming speed of larvae from 24 half-sibling families. Phenotypic variance was partitioned into genetic and environmental components using a linear mixed-effects model. Importantly, by including half-siblings in the breeding design, we ensured that our estimates of genetic variance do not include nonheritable effects shared by clutches of full-siblings, which could lead to significant overestimates of heritability. We find unequivocal evidence for the heritability of larval body size (estimated between 0.21 and 0.34) and equivocal evidence for the heritability of swimming speed (between 0.05 and 0.19 depending on the choice of prior). From a methodological perspective, this work demonstrates the importance of evaluating sensitivity to prior distribution in Bayesian analysis. From a biological perspective, it advances our understanding of potential dispersal-related larval traits by quantifying the extent to which they can be inherited and thus have the potential for adaptive evolution.

Automated summary

This study investigates the potential for adaptive evolution in larval size and swimming speed, two traits that may be related to dispersal outcomes in clown anemonefish. The researchers found strong evidence for the heritability of larval body size, but less conclusive evidence for the heritability of swimming speed. This work highlights the importance of considering prior distribution in Bayesian analysis and advances our understanding of potential dispersal-related larval traits.