My research encompasses several topics in evolutionary biology, including the genetics of developmental stability, the limits and constraints upon adaptive evolution and the effect of inbreeding upon various traits and organisms. I am conducting experimental work on two model species: the guppy (Poecillia reticulata) in collaboration with Gunilla Rosenqvist (NTNU), and Dalechampia vines (D. scandens) in collaboration with Scott Armbruster (University of Portsmouth) and Thomas F. Hansen (University of Oslo). In both study systems, I use quantitative genetic methods and artificial selection to study the variability and evolvability of characters and relate this to adaptive diversity among populations and species. We currently hold National Science Foundation (USA) funding through Florida State University and the University of Alaska for work on Dalechampia, and grants from the Norwegian Research Council for work on the guppy. In recent experiments in collaboration with David Houle (Florida State University), we also used artificial selection on Drosophila wings to test the effect of several selection regimes on developmental stability.
Associated members of group
Line Kristin Larsen
PhD candidate: Effects of population size and breeding design on life history and behavioural traits in the guppy
Geir Hysing Bolstad
Graduate research assistant: Genetic architecture and inbreeding in the guppy
Emma Bengtsson
MSc student: Inbreeding depression in 2 populations of Dalechampia scandens with differing levels of self-pollination
Marit Gystøl
MSc student: Effect of inbreeding and purging upon courtship behaviour of male guppies
Svensson P.A., Pélabon C., Blount J.D., Surai P.F. & Amundsen T. 2006. Does female nuptial coloration reflect egg carotenoids and clutch quality in the Two-spotted goby (Gobiusculus flavescens, Gobiidae)? Functional Ecology 20, 689-698.
Hansen T.F., Carter A.J.R. & Pélabon C. 2006. On adaptive accuracy and precision in natural populations. American Naturalist 168, 168-181.
Pélabon C., Hansen T.F., Carter A.J.R. & Houle, D. 2006. Response of fluctuating and directional asymmetry to selection on wing shape in Drosophila melanogaster. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 19, 764-776.
Pélabon C., Hansen T.F., Carlson M.L. & Armbruster W.S. 2006. Pattern of asymmetry in the twining vine Dalechampia scandens (Euphorbiaceae): an ontogenetic and hierarchical perspective. New Phytologist 170, 65-74.
bio.ntnu.no