Phenotypic Plasticity and Selection: Nonexclusive Mechanisms of Adaptation

Figure 1

Impact of selection and plasticity on genetic diversity according to the cost of plasticity. Different forms represent genetic diversity and different colours represent different phenotypes and the population size is kept constant. (a) Without plasticity: strong decline of genetic diversity; (b) with equal plasticity among genotypes and a very strong cost of plasticity: strong decline of genetic diversity; (c) with equal plasticity among genotypes and a medium cost of plasticity for the circles and strong cost for the rectangles: low decline of genetic diversity; (d) with equal plasticity among genotypes and no cost of plasticity: maintenance of genetic diversity.