Abstract:Adaptive phenotypic plasticity may improve the response of individuals when faced with new environmental conditions. Typically, empirical evidence for plasticity is based on phenotypic reaction norms obtained in reciprocal transplant experiments. In such experiments, individuals from their native environment are transplanted into a different environment, and a number of trait values, potentially implicated in individuals' response to the new environment, are measured. However, the interpretations of reaction n… Show more
“…Adaptive plasticity can act as a buffer response against environmental fluctuations, providing resilience to climate change (Gibert et al, 2019;Gibbin et al, 2017b). For an adaptive trait, it is expected that reaction norms express plasticity when the optimal phenotype differs between two contrasting environments (Morita et al, 2009;Eriksson et al, 2022). At warmer temperatures, S. colias and T.…”
Section: Warming Effects On Smpf In An Isolated Jurisdictionmentioning
Small pelagics are suitable candidates to identify regime shifts in fish
stocks. They respond rapidly to ocean climate changes, specifically with
a fast growth and early maturation in warm waters. This work examines
landings data of small pelagics over a 40-year period (1980-2019), and
auction and laboratory data of two species (Scomber colias and Trachurus
picturatus) from Madeira (NE Atlantic Ocean). Integrated data on Sea
Surface Temperature Anomaly (SSTA) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)
is also discussed. General Additive Models (GAMs) showed that a regime
shift occurred in 2002, within a 2000-2003 transition period. SSTA and
NAO data explained up to 88.2% of the community shift.
Temperature-driven changes are not limited to a decrease of landings but
also to a low gonadosomatic index (GSI) and first maturity size, as well
as an increase in natural mortality of both species. This trend was
relentless despite the implemented stock management actions. An urgent
need to consider ocean warming in the management of fish stocks is
required.
“…Adaptive plasticity can act as a buffer response against environmental fluctuations, providing resilience to climate change (Gibert et al, 2019;Gibbin et al, 2017b). For an adaptive trait, it is expected that reaction norms express plasticity when the optimal phenotype differs between two contrasting environments (Morita et al, 2009;Eriksson et al, 2022). At warmer temperatures, S. colias and T.…”
Section: Warming Effects On Smpf In An Isolated Jurisdictionmentioning
Small pelagics are suitable candidates to identify regime shifts in fish
stocks. They respond rapidly to ocean climate changes, specifically with
a fast growth and early maturation in warm waters. This work examines
landings data of small pelagics over a 40-year period (1980-2019), and
auction and laboratory data of two species (Scomber colias and Trachurus
picturatus) from Madeira (NE Atlantic Ocean). Integrated data on Sea
Surface Temperature Anomaly (SSTA) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)
is also discussed. General Additive Models (GAMs) showed that a regime
shift occurred in 2002, within a 2000-2003 transition period. SSTA and
NAO data explained up to 88.2% of the community shift.
Temperature-driven changes are not limited to a decrease of landings but
also to a low gonadosomatic index (GSI) and first maturity size, as well
as an increase in natural mortality of both species. This trend was
relentless despite the implemented stock management actions. An urgent
need to consider ocean warming in the management of fish stocks is
required.
Adaptive phenotypic plasticity may improve the response of individuals when faced with new environmental conditions. Typically, empirical evidence for plasticity is based on phenotypic reaction norms obtained in reciprocal transplant experiments. In such experiments, individuals from their native environment are transplanted into a different environment, and a number of trait values, potentially implicated in individuals' response to the new environment, are measured. However, the interpretations of reaction norms may differ depending on the nature of the assessed traits, which may not be known beforehand. For example, for traits that contribute to local adaptation, adaptive plasticity implies non-zero slopes of reaction norms. By contrast, for traits that are correlated to fitness, high tolerance to different environments (possibly due to adaptive plasticity in traits that contribute to adaptation) may, instead, imply flat reaction norms. Here we investigate the shape of reaction norms for adaptive versus fitness-correlated traits, and how they may affect the conclusions regarding the contribution of plasticity. To this end, we first simulate range expansion along an environmental gradient where plasticity evolves to different values locally and then perform reciprocal transplant experiments in silico. We show that reaction norms alone cannot inform us whether the assessed trait exhibits locally adaptive, maladaptive, neutral or no plasticity, without any additional knowledge of the traits assessed and species' biology. We use the insights from the model to analyse and interpret empirical data from reciprocal transplant experiments involving the marine isopod Idotea balthica sampled from two environments with different salinities, concluding that the low-salinity population likely has reduced adaptive plasticity relative to the high-salinity population. Overall, we conclude that, when interpreting results from reciprocal transplant experiments, it is necessary to consider whether traits assessed are locally adaptive with respect to the environmental variable accounted for in the experiments, or correlated to fitness.
The Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology (CeMEB) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, was established in 2008 through a 10‐year research grant of 8.7 m€ to a team of senior researchers. Today, CeMEB members have contributed >500 scientific publications, 30 PhD theses and have organised 75 meetings and courses, including 18 three‐day meetings and four conferences. What are the footprints of CeMEB, and how will the centre continue to play a national and international role as an important node of marine evolutionary research? In this perspective article, we first look back over the 10 years of CeMEB activities and briefly survey some of the many achievements of CeMEB. We furthermore compare the initial goals, as formulated in the grant application, with what has been achieved, and discuss challenges and milestones along the way. Finally, we bring forward some general lessons that can be learnt from a research funding of this type, and we also look ahead, discussing how CeMEB’s achievements and lessons can be used as a springboard to the future of marine evolutionary biology.
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