Speaker: Rebecca Hoyle, Dept. of Mathematics, University of Surrey

Title: Modelling maternal effects using quantitative genetics

Abstract:

Any response to a changing world needs to be rapid if individuals are to maintain successful reproduction. One way in which mothers ensure successful reproduction is by influencing their children's condition, either physiologically or behaviourally. This influence has often been considered as a way of accelerating this response, but we show here how the best influence a mother can have actually depends on the way in which the world is changing. By considering how mothers affect the mean and variance of the offspring, we show how a maternal influence that slows the response can actually be beneficial.

Lunch group: 3