Fluctuating selection maintains distinct species phenotypes in an ecological community in the wild

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(42)

Published: Oct. 9, 2023

Species’ phenotypic characteristics often remain unchanged over long stretches of geological time. Stabilizing selection—in which fitness is highest for intermediate phenotypes and lowest the extremes—has been widely invoked as responsible this pattern. At community level, such stabilizing selection acting individually on co-occurring species expected to produce a rugged landscape different occupy distinct peaks. However, even with an explosion microevolutionary field studies past four decades, evidence persistent driving long-term stasis lacking. Nonetheless, biologists continue invoke major factor explaining macroevolutionary patterns. Here, by directly measuring natural in wild, we identified complex community-wide surface Anolis lizard each peak close their mean phenotype. The presence local optima within species, valleys between presents barrier adaptive evolutionary change acts maintain differences through instead continuously operating selection, found that were maintained these peaks combination many independent periods among fluctuated form, strength, direction, or existence rarely occurred. Our results suggest lack substantial time may be result but not classically envisioned.

Language: Английский

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Heat tolerance of reptile embryos: Current knowledge, methodological considerations, and future directions

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 335(1), P. 45 - 58

Published: Aug. 5, 2020

Abstract Aspects of global change result in warming temperatures that threaten biodiversity across the planet. Eggs non‐avian, oviparous reptiles (henceforth “reptiles”) are particularly vulnerable to due a lack parental care during incubation and limited ability behaviorally thermoregulate. Because will cause increases both mean variance nest temperatures, it is crucial consider embryo responses chronic acute heat stress. Although many studies have considered survival constant (i.e., stress) response brief exposure extreme stress), there no standard metrics or terminology for determining stress embryos. This impedes comparisons species hinders our predict how respond change. In this review, we compare various methods been used assess embryonic tolerance provide new quantifying We apply these recommendations data from literature 16 squamates, turtles, five crocodilians, tuatara nine squamates one turtle. Our results indicate relatively large variation species, outline directions future research, calling more thermal stress, integrate predictive models, identify mechanisms determine tolerance.

Language: Английский

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Effects of Urbanization on Ventral Patch Size and Phenotypic Correlates of Patch Expression in Male Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(2)

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

ABSTRACT In some animals, males use colorful ornaments or badges to visually communicate with conspecifics. These traits can be condition‐dependent, suggesting that environmental changes could impact the intensity of male sexual signals. Drastic habitat caused by urbanization act as physiological stressors, potentially affecting signaling through condition immune function. Here, we quantified effects on ventral patch size and correlates expression, namely body size, condition, corticosterone concentrations, ectoparasites in Western Fence Lizards ( Sceloporus occidentalis ). We compared three aspects color patches between urban natural populations: area throat patch, total paired belly patches, black borders patches. All measurements across both types were positively related was indicating these may signal competitive ability and/or quality. Males from populations had larger than those after controlling for size. This difference associated a probability ectoparasite infection, but not differences concentrations populations. Our results indicate an effect function although this idea remains untested. Overall, show traits, which have repercussions visual communication environments.

Language: Английский

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Flight initiation distance changes across landscapes and habitats in a successful urban coloniser

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 23(4), P. 785 - 791

Published: March 7, 2020

Language: Английский

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Nestled in the city heat: urban nesting behavior enhances embryo development of an invasive lizard

Journal of Urban Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2020

Abstract Urbanization transforms many aspects of natural landscapes and poses new challenges for individual survival population persistence. Thus, urbanization provides an opportunity to examine how organisms deal with novel environmental change. Many studies provide evidence phenotypic adaptation urban environments, but few focus on responses during early life stages. Filling this information gap is important, because stages are particularly sensitive abiotic factors, no sustainable without successful embryo development. We tested the hypotheses that (i) embryos tolerate warmer temperature conditions urbanized areas (ii) maternal nesting behavior protects from potentially lethal thermal in habitats. studied introduced populations a subtropical lizard, Anolis cristatellus, suburban forested Miami, Florida. In each habitat, we measured microenvironment variables locations females used vs. they did not use. then incubated eggs both under mimicked unused sites. Nests site were than forest; however, site, relatively cool compared used. found adapted their respective or rather nest-site choice enhanced development habitat. Maternal likely important factor persistence major changes, key contributor establishment spread invasive across landscapes.

Language: Английский

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Observing character displacement from process to pattern in a novel vertebrate community

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Nov. 14, 2024

Ecological character displacement, whereby shifts in resource use the presence of competing species leads to adaptive evolutionary divergence, is widely considered an important process community assembly and radiation. However, most evidence for displacement has been inferred from macro-scale geographic or phylogenetic patterns; direct tests underlying hypothesis divergent natural selection driving wild are rare. Here, we document between two ecologically similar lizards (Anolis sagrei A. cristatellus) experiencing novel contact. We identify directional during incipient stages sympatry a new that corresponds repeated trait divergence across multiple established sympatric communities. By identifying role as unfolds, connect how operating at short timescales may drive broader patterns distributions larger spatial temporal scales. When coexist, they often evolve differences reduce competition, called displacement. This study provides rare action, showing drives rapid changes when competitor arrives.

Language: Английский

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Behavioural responses to warming differentially impact survival in introduced and native dung beetles

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 90(1), P. 273 - 281

Published: Oct. 10, 2020

Abstract Anthropogenic changes are often studied in isolation but may interact to affect biodiversity. For example, climate change could exacerbate the impacts of biological invasions if differentially affects invasive and native species. Behavioural plasticity mitigate some change, species vary their degree behavioural plasticity. In particular, have greater than since helps establish spread new environments. This make invasives better able cope with change. Here our goal was examine whether reproductive behaviours between an introduced a Onthophagus dung beetle response warming temperatures how differences behaviour influence offspring survival. Using repeated measures design, we exposed small colonies O. taurus hecate three temperature treatments, including control, low high treatment, then measured behaviours, number, size burial depth brood balls. We reared balls developmental that matched those ball quantify found produced more larger balls, buried deeper all treatments. However, two did not warming. Differences survival such had effect on compared . Overall, results suggest one mechanism through which negative invasions.

Language: Английский

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Use of human-made structures facilitates persistence of a non-native ectotherm

Biological Invasions, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 22(6), P. 2017 - 2031

Published: Feb. 28, 2020

Language: Английский

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Aspects of the ecology and behaviour of a potential urban exploiter, the southern tree agama, Acanthocercus atricollis

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 24(5), P. 905 - 914

Published: Jan. 5, 2021

Language: Английский

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Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance of Natural Habitats on the Feeding Ecology of Moorish Geckos

Animals, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(8), P. 1413 - 1413

Published: April 20, 2023

Urbanization and anthropic influences can drastically modify a natural habitat transform it into an easily recognizable "urban habitat". Human activities also induce less severe modifications of what apparently might still look like habitats. Therefore, these subtle alterations may be hidden but cause important negative effects on plant animals. In contrast, some species seem able to take advantage alterations. Here, we examined the possible anthropogenic disturbance apparent feeding ecology body condition Moorish geckos,

Language: Английский

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