Understanding complex responses of multiple character suites (e.g. behaviour, life history, morphology) across multifarious environments is a challenging task. Here we use a multivariate approach (partial least squares structural equation modelling) to disentangle environmental drivers (i.e. predation, resource availability and population demographics) of population divergence in life history and morphology. We further employ a two‐block partial least squares analysis in a novel approach to uncovering integrated and independent aspects of divergence in correlated character suites. Examining Bahamas mosquitofish Gambusia hubbsi inhabiting blue holes, we found phenotypic divergence mainly resulted from differences in predation regimes, but demography and resources also proved important in particular aspects of divergence. We uncovered significant covariation among life histories and morphologies, and revealed that phenotypic divergence between predation regimes involved both integrated and independent responses. For instance, female life histories strongly diverged independently of morphology, while some morphological shifts (abdominal distension) resulted from changes in fecundity; males showed strong morphological divergence independent of life history, but much of their life‐history shifts reflected joint morphological changes (lean weight and body shape). Our study illustrates the utility of gathering disparate data types from multiple populations/species to better understand the causes and nature of phenotypic divergence in the wild.

中文翻译：

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多种特征和多种多样的环境：形态和生活史的综合差异

了解跨多种环境的多个角色套件（例如行为，生活史，形态）的复杂响应是一项艰巨的任务。在这里，我们使用多元方法（偏最小二乘结构方程模型）来分解生活史和形态上人口差异的环境驱动因素（即掠食，资源可利用性和人口统计学）。我们还采用一种新颖的方法对两部分偏最小二乘进行了分析，以揭示相关字符集中差异的集成且独立的方面。检查巴哈马蚊子Gambusia hubbsi在蓝洞中，我们发现表型差异主要是由捕食方式的差异引起的，但是人口统计学和资源在差异的某些方面也很重要。我们发现了生活史和形态之间的显着协变，并揭示了捕食制度之间的表型差异涉及整合反应和独立反应。例如，女性的生活史与形态无关地存在很大差异，而某些形态的变化（腹胀）则是由生殖力的变化引起的。男性表现出与生活史无关的强烈形态差异，但其许多生活史变化反映出关节的形态变化（瘦体重和体形）。