Seasonal specialization drives divergent population dynamics in two closely related butterflies

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: June 20, 2023

Abstract Seasons impose different selection pressures on organisms through contrasting environmental conditions. How such seasonal evolutionary conflict is resolved in whose lives span across seasons remains underexplored. Through field experiments, laboratory work, and citizen science data analyses, we investigate this question using two closely related butterflies ( Pieris rapae P. napi ). Superficially, the appear highly ecologically similar. Yet, reveal that their fitness partitioned differently seasons. have higher population growth during summer season but lower overwintering success than do . We show these differences correspond to physiology behavior of butterflies. outperform at high temperatures several traits, reflected microclimate choice by ovipositing wild females. Instead, winter mortality conclude difference dynamics between driven specialization, manifested as strategies maximize gains minimize harm adverse seasons, respectively.

Language: Английский

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Seasonality of forest insects: why diapause matters

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(8), P. 757 - 770

Published: May 22, 2024

Insects have major impacts on forest ecosystems, from herbivory and soil-nutrient cycling to killing trees at a large scale. Forest insects temperate, tropical, subtropical regions evolved strategies respond seasonality; for example, by entering diapause, mitigate adversity synchronize lifecycles with favorable periods. Here, we show that distinct functional groups of insects; is, canopy dwellers, trunk-associated species, soil/litter-inhabiting insects, express variety diapause strategies, but do not systematic differences in strategy depending group. Due the overall similarities can better estimate anthropogenic change insect populations and, consequently, key ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Endocrine and enzymatic shifts during insect diapause: a review of regulatory mechanisms

Frontiers in Physiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: March 14, 2025

Insect diapause is a vital survival strategy that enables insects to enter state of suspended development, allowing them withstand unfavorable environmental conditions. During diapause, significantly lower their metabolic rate and build up energy reserves, which they gradually utilize throughout this period. The regulation involves complex interaction hormones enzymes. Juvenile (JHs) affect adults larvae differently; in adults, the absence JH typically triggers while larvae, presence encourages state. Ecdysteroids, regulate molting metamorphosis, are carefully controlled prevent premature development. Reduced signaling insulin-like peptides enhances stress resistance promotes storage. Several enzymes play crucial roles adjustments necessary for diapause. These include degradation JH, ecdysteroidogenic pathway, metabolism fatty acids, glycogen, cryoprotectants, responses. Understanding diapause's molecular biochemical mechanisms essential fundamental entomological research practical applications. Despite recent advances, many aspects regulation, especially interactions among hormonal pathways role enzymes, remain poorly understood. This review analyzes approximately 250 papers consolidate current knowledge on enzymatic It offers comprehensive overview key processes based studies suggests future directions fill gaps our understanding significant biological phenomenon. also lays groundwork enhancing pest control strategies ecological conservation by deepening mechanisms.

Language: Английский

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Thermal effects on metabolic rate in diapausing Pieris rapae butterflies

Current Research in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100111 - 100111

Published: April 1, 2025

As ectotherms, many insects spend the winter months in a state of suspended animation (i.e., diapause), lowering their metabolic rates to subsist on limited store energy reserves. The ability lower rate during diapause relies, part, cold temperatures intrinsically rate. Winter warming associated with global climate change may pose challenge diapausing by increasing rate, potentially leading exhaustion energetic We used stop-flow respirometry measure oxygen consumption response representative both acute and chronic scenarios Pieris rapae pupae. Metabolic increased temperature pupae, but depended pupal age severity, older pupae having overall. Despite increases recovered within 24-hours after short-term acute-warming exposure. In contrast, exposure over weeks led significant decreases later diapause, as well reductions mass. These results demonstrate that while respiration was thermally responsive, did not lead sustained Instead, P. appear acclimate higher warming. Overall, these patterns suggest this species could be resilient warming, at least context energetics. However, precise mechanisms underlying responses remain characterized. Thus, future research-e.g., genetic underpinnings energetics warming-could further elucidate relative vulnerability

Language: Английский

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Seasonal energetics: are insects constrained by energy during dormancy?

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 226(21)

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

In seasonal environments, many animals, including insects, enter dormancy, where they are limited to a fixed energy budget. The inability replenish energetic stores during these periods suggests insects should be constrained by pre-dormancy stores. Over the last century, community of researchers working on survival dormancy has operated under strong assumption that limitation is key fitness trait driving evolution strategies. That is, use minimized because otherwise run out and die or left with too little complete development, reproductive maturation other costly post-dormancy processes such as dispersal nest building. But if so strongly how can some - even within same species population dormant in very warm environments show prolonged for successive years? this Commentary, we discuss major assumptions regarding energetics outline cases appear align our do not. We then highlight several research directions could help link organismal landscape-level changes. Overall, optimal strategy might not simply minimize metabolic rate, but instead maintain level matches demands specific life-history strategy. Given influence temperature rates winter, understanding strategies critical order determine potential impacts climate change environments.

Language: Английский

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The impact of metabolic plasticity on winter energy use models

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 31, 2022

Understanding energetic consequences of climate change is critical to identifying organismal vulnerabilities, particularly for dormant organisms relying on finite energy budgets. Ecophysiological use models predict long-term from metabolic rates, but we don't know the degree which plasticity in metabolism impacts estimates. We quantified rate-temperature relationships willow leaf beetles (Chrysomela aeneicollis) monthly February May under constant and variable acclimation treatments. Metabolic rates increased as diapause progressed, conditions altered both intensity thermal sensitivity. However, incorporating these two types into did not improve estimates, validated by empirical measurements stores. While rate temperature are plastic during winter, magnitude inter-individual variability stores overshadows effects models, highlighting importance within-population variation reserves.

Language: Английский

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Burrowing depth mediates the extent of metabolic suppression in a soil‐overwintering insect

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(10), P. 2718 - 2733

Published: Sept. 4, 2023

Abstract Conserving energy through winter is important for the fitness of temperate insects. While insects can use buffered microhabitats, metabolic suppression or decreases in thermal sensitivity rate to override seasonal‐scale trends, relative importance these strategies limiting by overwintering soil remains underexplored. We used a combined laboratory, field and simulation approach investigate energetics western bean cutworm ( Striacosta albicosta ), univoltine lepidopteran pest dry beans corn that overwinters underground as dormant prepupa. hypothesised (1) selection thermally microhabitats (i.e. deeper sites) reduces early autumn late spring, (2) changes rate–temperature relationship reduce impact elevated temperatures on use. provide evidence during warmest parts winter, S. prepupae had burrowed deep benefited from cool, stable microclimate, whereas those near surface appeared rely maintain their stores. Although laboratory depleted reserves, appear sufficient limit drain under natural conditions field. suggest small‐scale variation depth refuges may mediate interaction between risk soil‐overwintering Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Temperature dependence of gas exchange patterns shift as diapause progresses in the butterfly Pieris napi

Journal of Insect Physiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 151, P. 104585 - 104585

Published: Nov. 17, 2023

Insects have the capacity to significantly modify their metabolic rate according environmental conditions and physiological requirement. Consequently, respiratory patterns can range from continuous gas exchange (CGE) discontinuous (DGE). In latter, spiracles are kept closed during much of time, occurs only short periods when opened. While ultimate causes benefits DGE remain debated, it is often seen insect diapause, a deep resting stage that insects induce survive unfavourable conditions, such as winter. The present study explores shifts between CGE diapause by performing long respirometry measurements at multiple temperatures key stages in green-veined white butterfly Pieris napi. primary goal explore pattern non-invasive method assess whether pupae or transitioned post-diapause. Respiratory also provide insight into endogenous processes taking place prolonged duration allows for detailed thermal dependence pattern. Pupae change few days after pupation, this shift coincides with suppression initiation. Once maintain even elevated increase CO

Language: Английский

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Soilscapes of mortality risk suggest a Goldilocks effect for overwintering ectotherms

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. E000 - E000

Published: Sept. 18, 2024

AbstractChanging climates are driving population declines in diverse animals worldwide. Winter conditions may play an important role these but often overlooked. Animals must not only survive winter also preserve body condition, a key determinant of growing season success. We hypothesized that ectotherms overwintering soil face trade-off between risks cold damage (including freezing) near the surface and elevated energy use at deeper depths. To test this hypothesis, we developed landscapes mortality risk across depth for bumble bee queens. These critical pollinators decline part because climate change, little is known about how affects mortality. mechanistic modeling approach combining measurements freezing points temperature dependence metabolic rates with temperatures from United States to estimate under historic several change scenarios. Under current conditions, queens Goldilocks effect: can be too shallow depths substantial hot deep where they prematurely exhausting lipid stores. Models suggest increases mean seasonal daily variation will increase overwinter Better predictions effects changing on dormant require more physiological responses during dormancy taxa.

Language: Английский

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Bigger isn't always better: Challenging assumptions about the associations between diapause, body weight, and overwintering survival

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Abstract During the winter, animals face limited food availability. Many enter dormancy to reduce their winter energy expenditure. Most insects spend in diapause, a state of programmed dormancy. It is often assumed that diapausing need nutrient stores fuel many months basal metabolism and must grow heavier than non‐diapause‐programmed counterparts. However, extent which limitation affects body weight during overwintering preparation as well likelihood duration diapause remains unclear. We feeding period thus total quantity available diapause‐destined larvae pupal‐diapausing flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis , test how context programming. also tested deprivation affect diapause. hypothesized more quickly pupariate at non‐diapause larvae. dramatically reduced by limitations when larva for Finally, we with lighter (i.e., limited) are less likely pupal stay shorter heavier, well‐fed, individuals. Contrary our hypotheses non‐diapausing counterparts, found pupae weighed pupae, especially received food. light did not abort program. In both was positively correlated simulated survival. above threshold, no longer affected survival pupae. predictions general consensus much literature, stayed Overall, results challenge precept associated. The relationship between complex may be availability before after high‐quality sites, life history particular insect.

Language: Английский

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