Impacts of limits to adaptation on population and community persistence in a changing environment

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 380(1917)

Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2025

A key issue in predicting how ecosystems will respond to environmental change is understanding why populations and communities are able live reproduce some parts of ecological geographical space, but not others. The limits adaptation that cause niches vary position width across taxa contexts determine emerge from selection on phenotypes genomes. Ecological trade-offs mean can only be optimal environments unless these reshaped through evolution. However, the amount rate evolution limited by genetic architectures, developmental systems (including phenotypic plasticity) legacies recent evolutionary history. Here, we summarize adaptive their consequences time (evolutionary rescue) space (species’ range limits), relating theoretical predictions empirical tests. We then highlight avenues for future research this area, better connections between demography analysing genomic architecture adaptation, dynamics plasticity interactions biotic abiotic environment. Progress questions help us understand when where allow species persist face rapid change. This article part discussion meeting ‘Bending curve towards nature recovery: building Georgina Mace's legacy a biodiverse future’.

Язык: Английский

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Trait-mediated processes and per capita contributions to ecosystem functioning depend on conspecific density and climate conditions

Communications Earth & Environment, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 5(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 12, 2024

Abstract The ecological consequences of environmental change are highly dependent on the functional contributions surviving community, but categorical descriptors commonly used to project ecosystem futures fail capture context response variability. Here, we show that intraspecific variability for a range sediment-dwelling marine invertebrates is moderated by changes in density conspecifics and/or climatic conditions. Although these trait-mediated result modifications properties, find individuals functioning not necessarily additive but, instead, alterations per capita performance. Our findings also indicate trait variation within species can exert greater influence than between species. Hence, projections likely outcomes scale from mean values unlikely be robust, highlighting need account how and when results context-dependent community responses change.

Язык: Английский

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High Capacity for Physiological Plasticity Occurs at a Slow Rate in Ectotherms

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 28(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Phenotypic plasticity enables organisms to express a phenotype that is optimal in their current environment. The ability of obtain the optimum determined by (i) capacity for plasticity, which facilitates phenotypic adjustment corresponding amplitude environmental change but also (ii) rate because this determines if expressed lags behind changes optimum. How of‐ and have co‐evolved will thus be critical resilience under different patterns change. To evaluate direction evolved relationship between capacity, we reanalysed experiments documenting time course thermal tolerance acclimation temperature across species ectothermic animals. We found with responds plastically are negatively correlated, pattern inconsistent theory regarding evolution plasticity.

Язык: Английский

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The evolution of sensitive periods beyond early ontogeny: Bridging theory and data

Functional Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Июль 14, 2024

Abstract Sensitive periods, in which experiences have a large impact on phenotypic development, are most common early ontogeny. Yet, they may also occur at later ontogenetic stages, such as adolescence. At present, however, we know little about why natural selection favours sensitive periods for some traits ontogeny and others This article synthesizes recent mathematical models empirical studies that explore beyond Across models, observe two general patterns. First, emerge when an organism's uncertainty the environment‐phenotype fit increases developmental stages. Second, cues stages reduce this more than earlier do. In literature, showing tend to be social traits, particularly among mammals. Connecting theory data, hypothesize mammals evolved expect reliable information from peers adolescence current future environment (e.g. dominance, mate value). Finally, highlight gaps our understanding suggest directions strengthening bridges between theoretical of periods. Ultimately, hope synthesis will contribute towards integrative science across biological sciences. Read free Plain Language Summary Journal blog.

Язык: Английский

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The evolution of constitutively active humoral immune defenses in Drosophila populations under high parasite pressure

PLoS Pathogens, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 20(1), С. e1011729 - e1011729

Опубликована: Янв. 11, 2024

Both constitutive and inducible immune mechanisms are employed by hosts for defense against infection. Constitutive immunity allows a faster response, but it comes with an associated cost that is always present. This trade-off between speed fitness costs leads to the theoretical prediction will be favored where parasite exposure frequent. We selected populations of Drosophila melanogaster under high pressure from parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi. With RNA sequencing, we found evolution resistance in these was them developing constitutively active humoral immunity, mediated larval fat body. Furthermore, evolved were also able induce gene expression response infection greater level, which indicates overall more activated parasitization. The anti-parasitoid relies on JAK/STAT signaling pathway being muscles following infection, this induced only seen had pressure. cytokine Upd3, induces expressed immature lamellocytes. cells became present when resistance, potentially explaining why they gained ability activate signaling. Thus, intense parasitism, increasing both defenses, there likely interplay two forms immunity.

Язык: Английский

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Assessing the evidence for treating developmental plasticity and phenotypic flexibility as different phenomena

Functional Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Июнь 5, 2024

Abstract Phenotypic plasticity has long played a central role in eco‐evolutionary theory, but it was not until 20 years ago that proposed the term encompasses two distinct phenomena—developmental and phenotypic flexibility. While this terminology since been adopted by some, question of whether they are phenomena remains contentious both frequently lumped under umbrella ‘plasticity.’ Here, we treat dichotomy between developmental flexibility as hypothesis, put forth set predictions follow from review support for hypothesis literature. We predict that, if result separate phenomena, developmentally plastic phenotypically flexible traits should differ in: (1) environmental context which evolve, (2) their mechanisms regulation, (3) costs production, (4) how selection acts on them (5) influence population's evolutionary trajectory. In general, most evidence supports treating much to be learned, few studies have specifically investigated potential differences. particular, explorations well trait production reversal needed. Given hypothesized link plasticity, resiliency face rapid change, is an urgent topic will further our understanding evolution across contexts. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Язык: Английский

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Phenotypic plasticity and the effects of thermal fluctuations on specialists and generalists

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 291(2025)

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2024

Classical theories predict that relatively constant environments should generally favour specialists, while fluctuating be selected for generalists. However, theoretical and empirical results have pointed out generalist organisms might, on the contrary, perform poorly under fluctuations. In particular, if generalism is underlaid by phenotypic plasticity, performance of generalists modulated temporal characteristics environmental Here, we used experiments in microcosms Tetrahymena thermophila ciliates a mathematical model to test whether period or autocorrelation thermal fluctuations mediate links between level experiment, consistently impeded compared with conditions. intensity this effect depended generalism: more specialist strains performed better fast negatively autocorrelated fluctuations, plastic slow positively Our suggests these effects organisms’ may result from time delay expression restricting its benefits enough This study points need further investigate dynamics plasticity fitness consequences

Язык: Английский

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Reflections on the Role of Differentiation Processes in Forming Behavioral Phenotypes: Can These Processes Replace the Concepts of Plastic Phenotype and Reversible Plastic Phenotype?

Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 14(2), С. 187 - 187

Опубликована: Фев. 12, 2025

This essay presents two lines of argument to suggest that the extension into adulthood specific phenotypic differentiation processes, typical early development, is fundamental evolution cognition. The first these organized in three steps. step reviews various studies human highlighting it has slowed down throughout compared great apes. second explores relationship between this development and third discusses evolutionary comparative analyses show a correlation cognitive processes developmental changes. line examines concepts phenotype. First, phenotype are reviewed correspondence meanings word plasticity (i.e., as ability alternate or shape), concluded all phenotypes -rigid, plastic, reversible-fit meaning shaping. It proposed phenotypical process can be seen continuous series functional differentiations occur at different times during life organism contextual points, both inside outside organism. Finally, brief recapitulation presented focused on supporting formation behavioral sequence shaping environmental interactions from most general particular.

Язык: Английский

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The Role of Phenotypic Plasticity and Within‐Environment Trait Variability in the Assembly of the Nectar Microbiome and Plant–Microbe–Animal Interactions

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(3)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

ABSTRACT The study of the rules that govern relationship between phenotypic plasticity, genetic structure, and ecological success has traditionally focused on animals, plants, a few model microbial species, whereas non‐model microorganisms have received much less attention in this regard. floral nectar angiosperms is an ephemeral, island‐like habitat for different highly adapted yeasts bacteria. growth depends their ability to efficiently use available nutrients tolerate challenging physicochemical conditions, including high osmotic pressures, unbalanced carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratios, presence diverse defensive compounds plant origin. production alternative states response environmental cues (i.e., plasticity) or independently from these (within‐environment trait variability) might be particularly relevant nectar, which rapid needed population persistence improve chance animal‐mediated dispersal. In article, we microbiome as example encourage further research causes consequences plasticity within‐environment variability microbes. We review previous work mechanisms potential significance displayed by Additionally, provide overview some topics require attention, trade‐offs traits are adaptation dynamic environments direct indirect effects fitness flower‐visiting other conclude microbes essential get better understanding community assembly establishment interactions similar strongly selective habitats.

Язык: Английский

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Resilience and robustness: from sub-organismal responses to communities

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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