Can we bridge the gap between theory and data in the study of phenotypic plasticity?
Scheiner, Samuel1, 1 National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA, USA ABSTRACT- Phenotypic plasticity was and is a field where conceptual and theoretical advances far outpace empirical work. The vast majority of empirical studies are descriptive, than than tests of theory. Few studies have compared alternative hypotheses. Instead, most theory-empirical connections have provided information about the ecological or genetic assumptions behind those theories. This disconnect exists, in part, because empirical studies of plasticity are logistically difficult, likely patterns are weak, and experimental manipulations are usually needed even to measure plasticity. Some theoretical issues are tractable, though, and could be addressed empirically.
