title: Facing environmental predictability with different sources of epigenetic variation.
abstract: Different sources of epigenetic changes can increase the range of phenotypic options. Environmentally induced epigenetic changes and stochastic epimutations are, respectively, associated with phenotypic plasticity and diversifying bet-hedging. Their relative contribution is thus expected to reflect the capacity of a genotype to face distinct changes since these strategies are differentially selected according to environmental uncertainty. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the sources of epigenetic changes on clonal fish from predictable (lakes) or unpredictable (intermittent streams) environments. DNA methylation of clones from natural conditions revealed contrasting contribution of environmentally induced versus stochastic changes according to their origins. These differences were validated in common garden experiments. Consistent with theoretical models, distinct sources of epigenetic variation prevail according to the environmental uncertainty. However, both sources act conjointly, suggesting that plasticity and random processes are complementary strategies. This represents a rigorous approach for further exploring the capacity of organisms to respond to environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences Université de Montréal C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville Montreal Quebec H3C 3J7 Canada.
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences Université de Montréal C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville Montreal Quebec H3C 3J7 Canada.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences Université de Montréal C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville Montreal Quebec H3C 3J7 Canada.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Angers
keywords: Bet‐hedging; Chrosomus eos‐neogaeus; clonal organisms; environmental variation; epigenetics; phenotypic plasticity