Endocrine Flexibility: Optimizing Phenotypes in a Dynamic World?

Taff, Conor C.; Vitousek, Maren N.

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2016.03.005

Cited by 159 publications

(201 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…Clearly beyond the scope of the present paper, the possible patterns are discussed elsewhere (Gunderson et al. , Taff and Vitousek ).…”

Section: Theory and Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…In the first case, the species is sensitive to stressor coincidence (i.e., extreme co‐limiting factor values), even in the absence of physiological damage or compensatory responses (Gunderson et al. , Taff and Vitousek ), and covariance patterns potentially determine the spatiotemporal limits of the species distribution. In the second case, covariance will determine the species performance in its preferred habitat and covariance patterns potentially set the population growth rate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), and (3), the phenotypic plasticity of the organisms facing environmental changes (Gunderson et al. , Taff and Vitousek ) emerge as major research issues. Here, all these aspects are united into a common conceptual framework applicable for designing experiments, interpreting experimental and field data, and eventually predicting the biological impacts of ongoing global change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding and predicting physiological performance of organisms in fluctuating and multifactorial environments

Koussoroplis

Pincebourde

Wacker

2017

Ecological Monographs

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International audienceUnderstanding how variance in environmental factors affects physiological performance , population growth, and persistence is central in ecology. Despite recent interest in the effects of variance in single biological drivers, such as temperature, we have lacked a comprehensive framework for predicting how the variances and covariances between multiple environmental factors will affect physiological rates. Here, we integrate current theory on variance effects with co-limitation theory into a single unified conceptual framework that has general applicability. We show how the framework can be applied (1) to generate mathematically tractable predictions of the physiological effects of multiple fluctuating co-limiting factors , (2) to understand how each co-limiting factor contributes to these effects, and (3) to detect mechanisms such as acclimation or physiological stress when they are at play. We show that the statistical covariance of co-limiting factors, which has not been considered before, can be a strong driver of physiological performance in various ecological contexts. Our framework can provide powerful insights on how the global change-induced shifts in multiple environmental factors affect the physiological performance of organisms

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“…Clearly beyond the scope of the present paper, the possible patterns are discussed elsewhere (Gunderson et al. , Taff and Vitousek ).…”

Section: Theory and Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Understanding and predicting physiological performance of organisms in fluctuating and multifactorial environments

Koussoroplis

Pincebourde

Wacker

2017

Ecological Monographs

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show abstract

“…For endocrine traits, the most likely target for selection is an individual's ability to adaptively regulate and adjust its endocrine phenotype to match its current conditions, rather than any single point measure of circulating hormone concentrations [1,84,85]. To advance our field, we need an understanding of the way that selection has shaped the plasticity of endocrine traits [15]. Below, we suggest means of achieving this goal.…”

Section: Further Complications For Estimating Selection From Phenotypmentioning

confidence: 99%

How can we estimate natural selection on endocrine traits? Lessons from evolutionary biology

Bonier¹,

Martin²

2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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An evolutionary perspective can enrich almost any endeavour in biology, providing a deeper understanding of the variation we see in nature. To this end, evolutionary endocrinologists seek to describe the fitness consequences of variation in endocrine traits. Much of the recent work in our field, however, follows a flawed approach to the study of how selection shapes endocrine traits. Briefly, this approach relies on among-individual correlations between endocrine phenotypes (often circulating hormone levels) and fitness metrics to estimate selection on those endocrine traits. Adaptive plasticity in both endocrine and fitness-related traits can drive these correlations, generating patterns that do not accurately reflect natural selection. We illustrate why this approach to studying selection on endocrine traits is problematic, referring to work from evolutionary biologists who, decades ago, described this problem as it relates to a variety of other plastic traits. We extend these arguments to evolutionary endocrinology, where the likelihood that this flaw generates bias in estimates of selection is unusually high due to the exceptional responsiveness of hormones to environmental conditions, and their function to induce adaptive life-history responses to environmental variation. We end with a review of productive approaches for investigating the fitness consequences of variation in endocrine traits that we expect will generate exciting advances in our understanding of endocrine system evolution.

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“…Adaptive behavioural flexibility in dynamic environments is well supported (Taff & Vitousek, ). Although behavioural responses are often assumed to be mediated by physiological processes, our knowledge about the underlying physiological mechanisms is limited (Crossin, Love, Cooke, & Williams, ; Taff & Vitousek, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On again, off again: Acute stress response and negative feedback together predict resilience to experimental challenges

et al. 2019

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Individuals often vary markedly in their ability to cope with stressors, but the drivers of this variation remain poorly understood. Many studies have tested relationships among individual variation in glucocorticoid levels and the response to challenges—often finding inconsistent patterns; however, few have addressed whether variation in the capacity to terminate the stress response through negative feedback is associated with stress resilience. While conceptual models predict that interactions among different components of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis regulation may be important predictors of the phenotypic and fitness effects of stress, we are aware of no previous experimental tests of this hypothesis. We investigate whether individual variation in HPA axis regulation is related to resilience to experimental challenges in free‐living tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). We mimicked salient natural challenges by temporarily reducing flight efficiency or increasing perceived predation risk during incubation, and determined whether HPA axis responsiveness prior to treatments predicted resilience. Females that exhibited both a robust HPA axis activation and strong negative feedback were less likely to abandon nests during incubation. Our results suggest that exhibiting a strong HPA axis activation coupled with effective negative feedback may predict stress resilience. Therefore, the ability to turn on and then off the HPA axis efficiently may be important for fitness. Our results also suggest that the interactions between different components of the HPA axis may provide greater insight into differences in stress coping capacity. A plain language summary is available for this article.

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Endocrine Flexibility: Optimizing Phenotypes in a Dynamic World?

Cited by 159 publications

References 92 publications

Understanding and predicting physiological performance of organisms in fluctuating and multifactorial environments

Understanding and predicting physiological performance of organisms in fluctuating and multifactorial environments

How can we estimate natural selection on endocrine traits? Lessons from evolutionary biology

On again, off again: Acute stress response and negative feedback together predict resilience to experimental challenges

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