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3,484 results for “Plastic”
Data from: Plasticity in leaf litter traits partly mitigates the impact of thinning on forest floor carbon cycling
1. Reducing stand density by thinning intensification has been emphasized as an efficient strategy of forest adaptation to climate change as it improves stand resistance to drought. Yet, it is still unclear how it could affect litter C cycling processes. Recent evidence indicates that the plasticity of an oak tree species can lead to a decline in its leaf litter quality and decomposability following thinning. The consequences for litter decomposition and forest floor C storage at the ecosystem-scale remain largely unexplored. 2. In this study, we took advantage of a regional-scale, multi-site network of long-term thinning experiments in temperate oak (Quercus petraea) forests to address this issue. We measured ecosystem properties related to forest floor C cycling in 19 plots across eight experimental sites covering a large gradient of stand density and age. Though we expected thinning to affect in situ litter decomposition by altering oak leaf litter quality, we conducted complementary experiments exploring additional mechanisms, i.e. alterations of microenvironmental conditions and soil faunal activity. 3. Thinning intensification induced a strong decline in tree canopy leaf area index, aboveground tree litter production and forest floor decomposition rate in early 'aggradation' stage of forest development. This slower litter decomposition was mainly driven by plasticity of oak trees that produced leaf litter of poorer quality and decomposability following thinning, e.g. litter richer in secondary metabolites such as condensed tannins. Change in microenvironmental conditions also contributed to the slowdown of litter decomposition, likely as a result of the less buffered microclimate associated with larger tree canopy opening. No change in soil faunal effect induced by thinning was found. 4. Thinning resulted in a limited decrease in forest floor C stock. Indeed, the slower litter decomposition offset nearly half of the forest floor C loss associated to the reduced litterfall in 'aggradation' stage. 5. Our study demonstrated that phenotypic plasticity in leaf litter traits of a dominant tree species can strongly affect ecosystem functioning by slowing forest floor decomposition following thinning intensification, in turn partly mitigating the negative effect of thinning on forest floor C storage.
Data from: Decay patterns of invasive plants and plastic trash in urban streams
Urban streams are impacted by invasion of exotic riparian plants and the accumulation of plastic trash, which alter in-stream litter subsidies, and cause changes that cascade up the aquatic food web. The impacts of these factors on urban streams is poorly understood. We compared decay rates and invertebrate colonizers of 5 litter pack types in 4 urban streams in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Native Red alder (Alnus rubra) and Sitka willow (Salix sitchensis), invasive English ivy (Hedera sp.), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) and plastic trash (i.e. Styrofoam (polystyrene (PS)), plastic bag (high-density polyethylene (HDPE)), and Mylar (polyethylene terephthalate (PET). We tested 4 hypotheses: 1) exotic ivy and blackberry leaves would decay more slowly than native leaves; 2) exotic ivy and blackberry leaves would attract fewer and less diverse stream invertebrates than native leaves; 3) plastic trash would decay more slowly than leaves; and, 4) plastic trash would attract fewer and less diverse stream invertebrates than leaves. We found no difference between the leaf litter decay rates, however plastic trash decayed more slowly than leaves. Trash decay rates were faster than reported in marine environments, suggesting that plastic trash removal should be a management priority. Stream invertebrates colonized all pack types equally. We observed significant differences in litter decay rates and invertebrate assemblage alpha and Shannon–Wiener diversities across the 4 streams - likely related to differences in stream-specific environmental attributes including flashiness, stream discharge, and biological decay. We conclude that site-specific decay forces supersede litter quality in Pacific Coast urban streams.
Data from: Soil erodibility differs according to heritable trait variation and nutrient-induced plasticity in the salt marsh engineer Spartina alterniflora
Use of landform engineers for habitat restoration has often resulted in unanticipated outcomes. It is possible that departures from expectation arise because applications do not adequately account for the influence of heritable and non-heritable phenotypic variation on ecosystem attributes. In this study, we performed a common garden greenhouse experiment to determine whether soil shear strength—a characteristic linked to erosion resistance—varies according to heritable and plastic trait expression in Spartina alterniflora grown under contrasting nutrient regimes. We detected heritable variation across a broad spectrum of functional traits, including nutrient uptake. We also found that S. alterniflora exhibited trait-specific differences in nutrient-induced phenotypic plasticity. Heritable trait differences and plasticity together explained approximately 70% of the observed variation in soil shear strength. Soil shear strength increased when plants received more nutrients, but the influence of heritable variation on soil shear strength was equal to or larger than that of nutrient-induced plasticity. These findings illustrate that heritable and non-heritable trait expression can potentially govern the fate of marsh ecosystems, which suggests that consideration should be given to both factors when deploying landform engineers for coastal restoration.
Data from: Adult plasticity in African Cichlids: rapid changes in opsin expression in response to environmental light differences
Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to adapt quickly to local environmental conditions and could facilitate adaptive radiations. Cichlids have recently undergone an adaptive radiation in Lake Malawi where they inhabit diverse light environments and tune their visual sensitivity through differences in cone opsin expression. While cichlid opsin expression is known to be plastic over development, whether adults remain plastic is unknown. Adult plasticity in visual tuning could play a role in cichlid radiations by enabling survival in changing environments and facilitating invasion into novel environments. Here we examine the existence of and temporal changes in adult visual plasticity of two closely related species. In complementary experiments, wild adult Metriaclima mbenji from Lake Malawi were moved to the lab under UV-deficient fluorescent lighting; while lab raised M. benetos were placed under UV-rich lighting designed to mimic light conditions in the wild. Surprisingly, adult cichlids in both experiments showed significant changes in the expression of the UV-sensitive single cone opsin, SWS1, in only three days. Modeling quantum catches in the light environments revealed a possible link between the light available to the SWS1 visual pigment and SWS1 expression. We conclude that adult cichlids can undergo rapid and significant changes in opsin expression in response to environmental light shifts that are relevant to their habitat and evolutionary history in Lake Malawi. This could have contributed to the rapid divergence characteristic of these fantastic fishes.
Data from: When sensing is gambling: an experimental system reveals how plasticity can generate tunable bet-hedging strategies
Genotypes can persist in unpredictable environments by 'hedging their bets' and producing diverse phenotypes. Theoretical studies have shown that the phenotypic variability needed for a bet-hedging strategy can be generated by factors either inside or outside an organism. However, sensing the environment and bet hedging are frequently treated as distinct evolutionary strategies. Furthermore, nearly all empirical studies of the molecular underpinnings of bet-hedging strategies to date have focused on internal sources of variability. We took a synthetic approach and constructed an experimental system where a phenotypic trade-off is mediated by actively sensing a cue present in the environment. We show that active sensing can generate a diversified bet-hedging strategy. Mutations affecting the norm of reaction to the cue alter the diversification strategy, indicating that bet hedging by active sensing is evolvable. Our results indicate that a broader class of biological systems should be considered as potential examples of bet-hedging strategies, and that research into the structure of environmental variability is needed to distinguish bet-hedging strategies from adaptive plasticity.
Data from: Niche specialization influences adaptive phenotypic plasticity in threespine stickleback
Phenotypic plasticity may be favored in generalist populations if it increases niche width, even in temporally constant environments. Phenotypic plasticity can increase the frequency of extreme phenotypes in a population and thus allow it to make use of a wide resource spectrum. Here we test the prediction that generalist populations should be more plastic than specialists. In a common-garden experiment, we show that solitary, generalist populations of threespine sticklebacks inhabiting small coastal lakes of British Columbia have a higher degree of morphological plasticity than the more specialized sympatric limnetic and benthic species. The ancestral marine stickleback showed low levels of plasticity similar to those of sympatric sticklebacks, implying that the greater plasticity of the generalist population has evolved recently. Measurements of wild populations show that those with mean trait values intermediate between the benthic and limnetic values indeed have higher morphological variation. Our data indicate that plasticity can evolve rapidly after colonization of a new environment in response to changing niche use.
Data from: Dissecting the contributions of plasticity and local adaptation to the phenology of a butterfly and its host plants
Phenology affects the abiotic and biotic conditions that an organism encounters and consequently its fitness. For populations of high latitude species, spring phenology often occurs earlier in warmer years and regions. Here we apply a novel approach to decompose spatiotemporal covariation between spring temperature and the phenology of two flowering plants, Cardamine pratensis and Alliara petiolata, and a Lepidopteran herbivore, Anthocharis cardamines, across the UK, into the contributions of plasticity and local adaptation. All three species overlap in the time-window over which mean temperatures best predict variation in phenology and we find little evidence that the position of time-windows varies latitudinally, as expected if they were initiated by day-length. The focal species show pronounced temperature-mediated phenological plasticity of similar magnitude. While we find no evidence for local adaptation in the flowering times of the plants, geographic variation in the phenology of the butterfly reveals countergradient local adaptation. Geographic variation in the butterfly's phenology appears to be more sensitive to variation in temperature than the flowering times of the host plants and we find no evidence that coevolution has generated geographic variation in adaptive phenological plasticity.
Data from: Rapid evolution of thermal plasticity in mountain lake Daphnia populations
Populations at risk of extinction due to climate change may be rescued by adaptive evolution or plasticity. Selective agents, such as introduced predators, may enhance or constrain plastic or adaptive responses to temperature. We tested responses of Daphnia to temperature by collecting populations from lakes across an elevational gradient in the presence and absence of fish predators (long-term selection). We subsequently grew these populations at two elevations in field mesocosms over two years (short-term selection), followed by a common-garden experiment at two temperatures in the lab to measure life-history traits. Both long-term and short-term selection affected traits, suggesting that genetic variation of plasticity within populations enabled individuals to rapidly evolve plasticity in response to high temperature. We found that short-term selection by high temperature increased plasticity for growth rate in all populations. Fecundity was higher in populations from fishless lakes and body size showed greater plasticity in populations from warm lakes (long-term selection). Neither body size nor fecundity were affected by short-term thermal selection. These results demonstrate that plasticity is an important component of the life-history response of Daphnia, and that genetic variation within populations enabled rapid evolution of plasticity in response to selection by temperature.
Data from: Morphological change and phenotypic plasticity in native and non–native pumpkinseed sunfish in response to sustained water velocities
Phenotypic plasticity can contribute to the proliferation and invasion success of nonindigenous species by promoting phenotypic changes that increase fitness, facilitate range expansion and improve survival. In this study, differences in phenotypic plasticity were investigated using young-of-year pumpkinseed sunfish from colonies established with lentic and lotic populations originating in Canada (native) and Spain (non-native). Individuals were subjected to static and flowing water treatments for 80 days. Inter- and intra-population differences were tested using ancova and discriminant function analysis, and differences in phenotypic plasticity were tested through a manova of discriminant function scores. Differences between Iberian and North American populations were observed in dorsal fin length, pectoral fin position and caudal peduncle length. Phenotypic plasticity had less influence on morphology than genetic factors, regardless of population origin. Contrary to predictions, Iberian pumpkinseed exhibited lower levels of phenotypic plasticity than native populations, suggesting that canalization may have occurred in the non-native populations during the processes of introduction and range expansion.
Data from: Ocean acidification influences host DNA methylation and phenotypic plasticity in environmentally susceptible corals
As climate change challenges organismal fitness by creating a phenotype–environment mismatch, phenotypic plasticity generated by epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., DNA methylation) can provide a temporal buffer for genetic adaptation. Epigenetic mechanisms may be crucial for sessile benthic marine organisms, such as reef-building corals, where ocean acidification (OA) and warming reflect in strong negative responses. We tested the potential for scleractinian corals to exhibit phenotypic plasticity associated with a change in DNA methylation in response to OA. Clonal coral fragments of the environmentally sensitive Pocillopora damicornis and more environmentally robust Montipora capitata were exposed to fluctuating ambient pH (7.9–7.65) and low pH (7.6–7.35) conditions in common garden tanks for ~6 weeks. M. capitata responded weakly, or acclimated more quickly, to OA, with no difference in calcification, minimal separation of metabolomic profiles, and no change in DNA methylation between treatments. Conversely, P. damicornis exhibited diminished calcification at low pH, stronger separation in metabolomic profiles, and responsiveness of DNA methylation to treatment. Our data suggest corals differ in their temporal dynamics and sensitivity for environmentally triggered real-time epigenetic reprogramming. The generation of potentially heritable plasticity via environmental induction of DNA methylation provides an avenue for assisted evolution applications in corals under rapid climate change.
Data from: Phenological mismatch drives selection on elevation, but not on slope, of breeding time plasticity in a wild songbird
Phenotypic plasticity is an important mechanism for populations to respond to fluctuating environments, yet may be insufficient to adapt to a directionally changing environment. To study whether plasticity can evolve under current climate change, we quantified selection and genetic variation in both the elevation (RNE) and slope (RNS) of the breeding time reaction norm in a long-term (1973–2016) study population of great tits (Parus major). The optimal RNE (the caterpillar biomass peak date regressed against the temperature used as cue by great tits) changed over time, whereas the optimal RNS did not. Concordantly, we found strong directional selection on RNE, but not RNS, of egg-laying date in the second third of the study period; this selection subsequently waned, potentially due to increased between-year variability in optimal laying dates. We found individual and additive genetic variation in RNE but, contrary to previous studies on our population, not in RNS. The predicted and observed evolutionary change in RNE were, however, marginal, due to low heritability and the sex limitation of laying date. We conclude that adaptation to climate change can only occur via micro-evolution of RNE, but this will necessarily be slow and potentially hampered by increased variability in phenotypic optima.
Data from: Plasticity in incubation behavior and shading by king rails (Rallus elegans) in response to temperature
King rails experience a wide range of temperatures during the course of the breeding season throughout their rapidly contracting geographic range. Incubating parent birds are adapted to keep their eggs within a temperature range appropriate for embryo development, but king rail clutches are at risk of exceeding lethal temperatures in the latter half of the nesting season. We investigated whether behavioral plasticity during incubation enables parents to maintain clutch temperature within tolerable limits for embryo development. Video revealed that king rail parents interrupted incubation to stand above and shade their eggs. We tested the hypothesis that the onset of shading was a direct response to ambient temperature (adaptive plasticity). We monitored clutch temperature directly by experimentally adding into clutches a model egg embedded with a programmable iButton. We measured ambient temperature at the nest site simultaneously. Parents spent proportionately more time shading and less time incubating their eggs at higher ambient temperatures. Shading may primarily function in cooling the parent. The frequency and duration of shading bouts were significantly greater at higher ambient temperatures. Parents also took more frequent but shorter recesses in hotter conditions. Diurnal recesses exposed eggs to direct sunlight, and the highest clutch temperatures were recorded under these conditions. Complete hatching failure in at least one nest was attributable to high clutch temperature for an extended period. Because mean ambient temperature increases throughout the breeding season, we investigated seasonal patterns in onset of incubation and its effect on hatching rate. Later in the season, parents tended to initiate incubation earlier, and hatching asynchrony increased significantly. Together these results suggest that breeding king rails may be constrained in their ability to cope with sustained high temperatures should seasonal averages continue to rise as predicted.
Data from: Functional consequences of morphologically plastic jaws in juvenile purple sea urchins
Morphological plasticity is a critical mechanism that animals use to cope with variation in resource availability. During periods of food scarcity, sea urchins demonstrate an increase in jaw length relative to test diameter. This trait is thought to be reversible and adaptive by yielding an increase in feeding efficiency. We directly test the hypotheses that (1) there are reversible shifts in jaw length to test diameter ratios with food abundance in individual urchins, and (2) these shifts alter feeding efficiency. Purple sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, were placed in either high or low food treatments for 3 months, after which treatments were switched for 2 additional months. Measurements of jaw length to test diameter ratios were significantly higher in low compared to high food urchins, but this was due to test growth in the high food treatments. Ratios of low food urchins did not change following a switch to high food conditions, indicating that this trait is not reversible. Relatively longer jaws were also not correlated with increased feeding efficiency. We argue that jaw length plasticity is not adaptive and is simply a consequence of exposure to high food availability, as both jaw and test growth halt when food is scarce.
Data from: Adaptive maternal behavioral plasticity and developmental programming mitigate the transgenerational effects of temperature in dung beetles
Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to cope with rapid environmental change. Yet exactly when during ontogeny plastic responses are elicited, whether plastic responses produced in one generation influence phenotypic variation and fitness in subsequent generations, and the role of plasticity in shaping population divergences, remains overall poorly understood. Here, we use the dung beetle <i>Onthophagus taurus</i> to assess plastic responses to temperature at several life stages bridging three generations and compare these responses across three recently diverged populations. We find that beetles reared at hotter temperatures grow less than those reared at mild temperatures, and that this attenuated growth has transgenerational consequences by reducing offspring size and survival in subsequent generations. However, we also find evidence that plasticity may mitigate these consequences in two ways: (i) mothers modify the temperature of their offspring's developmental environment via behavioral plasticity and (ii) in one population, offspring exhibit accelerated growth when exposed to hot temperatures during very early development ("developmental programming"). Lastly, our study reveals that offspring responses to temperature diverged among populations in fewer than 100 generations, possibly in response to range-specific changes in climatic or social conditions.
Negative relationship between thermal tolerance and plasticity in tolerance emerges during experimental evolution in a widespread marine invertebrate
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Whether populations can adapt to predicted climate change conditions, and how rapidly, are critical questions for the management of natural systems. Experimental evolution has become an important tool to answer these questions. In order to provide useful, realistic insights into the adaptive response of populations to climate change, there needs to be careful consideration of how genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity interact to generate observed phenotypic changes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>We exposed three populations of the widespread copepod <i>Acartia tonsa </i>(Crustacea) to chronic, sub-lethal temperature selection for 15 generations. We generated thermal survivorship curves at regular intervals both during and after this period of selection to track the evolution of thermal tolerance. Using reciprocal transplants between ambient and warming conditions, we also tracked changes in the strength of phenotypic plasticity in thermal tolerance. We observed significant increases in thermal tolerance in the warming lineages, while plasticity in thermal tolerance was strongly reduced. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Data from: Reef-specific patterns of gene expression plasticity in eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica)
Understanding the interaction between phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary processes is important for predicting a species' response to changing environment. Strong recurrent selection each generation may be an important process in highly fecund species with broad dispersal and extensive early mortality. We tested whether selection was associated with spatial divergence in gene expression plasticity for osmoregulation in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). We collected adult oysters from high and low salinity reefs within a single estuary and after 9 weeks of acclimation at 10 and 30 salinity, measured gene expression in 24 oysters using next-generation RNA sequencing technology. The oysters had significantly different expression (DE) in response to salinity treatments for 7936 (18.9%) transcripts overall, with planned contrasts showing 8× more DE in oysters from the high-salinity reef and 15× more DE between reefs when tested at 10 salinity. The reef-by-treatment interaction was also genomically pervasive (5858 DE transcripts, 13.9%). Inter-reef F ST for transcript SNPs averaged 0.0025 with the top 1% between 0.29 and 0.73. Transcripts containing "outlier" SNPs were significantly enriched for osmoregulatory genes and showed patterns of variation consistent with selection on the low-salinity reef. Both phenotypic plasticity and recurrent selection seem to be important factors determining the realized niche of oysters within estuaries.
Data from: Identification of candidate loci for adaptive phenotypic plasticity in natural populations of spadefoot toads
<p>Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to alter their phenotype in direct response to changes in the environment. Despite growing recognition of plasticity's role in ecology and evolution, few studies have probed plasticity's molecular bases—especially using natural populations. We investigated the genetic basis of phenotypic plasticity in natural populations of spadefoot toads (<i>Spea multiplicata</i>). <i>Spea</i> tadpoles normally develop into an 'omnivore' morph that is favored in long-lasting, low-density ponds. However, if tadpoles consume freshwater shrimp or other tadpoles, they can alternatively develop (via plasticity) into a 'carnivore' morph that is favored in shallow, high-density ponds. By combining natural variation in pond ecology and morph production with population genetic approaches, we identified candidate loci associated with morph (carnivores versus omnivores) and loci associated with adaptive phenotypic plasticity (adaptive versus maladaptive morph choice). Our candidate morph loci mapped to two genes, whereas our candidate plasticity loci mapped to 14 genes. In both cases, the identified genes tended to have functions related to their putative role in spadefoot tadpole biology. Our results thereby form the basis for future studies into the molecular mechanisms that mediate plasticity in spadefoots. More generally, these results illustrate how diverse loci might be deployed to mediate adaptive plasticity.Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to alter their phenotype in direct response to changes in the environment. Despite growing recognition of plasticity's role in ecology and evolution, few studies have probed plasticity's molecular bases—especially using natural populations. We investigated the genetic basis of phenotypic plasticity in natural populations of spadefoot toads (<i>Spea multiplicata</i>). <i>Spea</i> tadpoles normally develop into an 'omnivore' morph that is favored in long-lasting, low-density ponds. However, if tadpoles consume freshwater shrimp or other tadpoles, they can alternatively develop (via plasticity) into a 'carnivore' morph that is favored in shallow, high-density ponds. By combining natural variation in pond ecology and morph production with population genetic approaches, we identified candidate loci associated with morph (carnivores versus omnivores) and loci associated with adaptive phenotypic plasticity (adaptive versus maladaptive morph choice). Our candidate morph loci mapped to two genes, whereas our candidate plasticity loci mapped to 14 genes. In both cases, the identified genes tended to have functions related to their putative role in spadefoot tadpole biology. Our results thereby form the basis for future studies into the molecular mechanisms that mediate plasticity in spadefoots. More generally, these results illustrate how diverse loci might be deployed to mediate adaptive plasticity.</p>
Associations among cotyledon developmental stability, canalization and phenotypic plasticity in response to shading and burial depth in five herbaceous species at early seedling stage
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Premise of research. </span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Cotyledons have important functions in early seedling stage and have important effects on later stages, but we know little about the relationships among developmental stability, canalization and phenotypic plasticity in cotyledons. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Methodology. </span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>We conducted </span><span><span>a field</span></span><span> experiment with five herbaceous species, by subjecting them to contrasting light conditions and burial depths and measuring their cotyledon size and fluctuating asymmetry (random deviation from perfect bilateral symmetry, indicating developmental stability or instability), coefficient of variation and plasticity of cotyledon size,</span><span> </span><span>to investigate the relationships among</span><span> </span><span>cotyledon developmental stability, canalization and plasticity in response to shading and deep burial. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Pivotal </span><span><span>r</span></span><span>esults. </span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><em><span>Pharbitis purpurea</span></em><span>, </span><em><span>Convolvulus arvensis</span></em><span> and </span><em><span>Carpesium</span></em><span> </span><em><span>abrotanoides</span></em><span> had increased cotyledon size in response to shading at both burial depths;</span><em><span> Abutilon theophrasti</span></em><span> showed reduced cotyledon size in response to shading vs. full light at shallow depth, but greater cotyledon size </span><span>in response to </span><span>both shading and deep burial. </span><span>Shading increased cotyledon fluctuating asymmetry of</span><em><span> </span></em><em><span>P</span></em><em><span><span>.</span></span></em><em><span> purpurea</span></em><span> and </span><em><span>C</span></em><em><span><span>.</span></span></em><span> </span><em><span>abrotanoides</span></em><span>, while deep burial decreased it. Cotyledon fluctuating asymmetry had positive correlations with coefficient of variation and plasticity in response to shade in shading, with little correlation between coefficient of variation and plasticity. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span><span>C</span></span><span>onclusions. </span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Results suggested</span><span> </span><em><span>A</span></em><em><span><span>.</span></span></em><em><span> theophrasti</span></em><span> </span><span>may have greater tolerance for multiple stresses than the other species,</span><span> and deep burial may improve shade tolerance of cotyledons through moderate level of stress selection</span><span>. Both developmental instability</span><span> and decreased canalization may indicate </span><span><span>the</span></span><span> state of faster growth. </span><span>Developmental instability</span><span> can facilitate more-active response to shading in cotyledon, while the relationship between canalization and plasticity should be more complex. </span></p>
Associations between leaf developmental stability, variability, canalization and phenotypic plasticity in Abutilon theophrasti
<p>Developmental stability, canalization, and phenotypic plasticity are the most common sources of phenotypic variation, yet comparative studies investigating the relationships between these sources, specifically in plants, are lacking. To investigate the relationships among developmental stability or instability, developmental variability, canalization and plasticity in plants, we conducted a field experiment with Abutilon theophrasti, by subjecting plants to three densities under infertile vs. fertile soil conditions. We measured the leaf width (leaf size) and calculated fluctuating asymmetry (FA), coefficient of variation within and among individuals (CVintra and CVinter), and plasticity (PIrel) in leaf size at day 30, 50 and 70 of plant growth, to analyze the correlations among these variables in response to density and soil conditions, at each of or across all growth stages. Results showed increased density led to lower leaf FA, CVintra and PIrel and higher CVinter in fertile soil. A positive correlation between FA and PIrel occurred in infertile soil, while correlations between CVinter and PIrel and between CVinter and CVintra were negative at high density and/or in fertile soil, with non-significant correlations among them in other cases. Results suggested the complexity of responses of developmental instability, variability and canalization in leaf size as well as their relationships, which depend on the strength of stresses. Intense aboveground competition that accelerates the decrease in leaf size (leading to lower plasticity) will be more likely to reduce developmental instability, variability and canalization in leaf size. Increased developmental instability and intra- and inter-individual variability should be advantageous and facilitate adaptive plasticity in less stressful conditions, thus they are more likely to positively correlate with plasticity; whereas developmental stability and canalization with lower developmental variability should be beneficial for stabilizing plant performance in more stressful conditions, where they tend to have more negative correlations with plasticity. </p>
Dormant plasticity of rotifer diapausing eggs in relation to predator kairomones
<p>In freshwater ecosystems, dormant strategy of diapausing eggs under predation risk has important ecological implication for zooplanktons. Although kairomones released by predators can induce phenotypic responses of prey, hatching patterns of diapausing eggs in relation to kairomones have received contradictory conclusions in zooplanktons. Maternal effects may also affect hatching strategy of diapausing eggs during predator-prey interactions. We used classical Brachionus calyciflorus–Asplanchna models to determine timing and proportion of diapausing-egg hatchlings in association with parental and embryonic exposure to kairomones. Results obtained from two Brachionus clones supported hypothesis that diapausing eggs could detect Asplanchna kairomones and adjusted hatching patterns. Diapausing eggs showed early and synchronous hatching patterns in environment with kairomones. Data also supported prediction that Brachionus mothers could transmit environmental cues of Asplanchna to diapausing eggs and affect their hatching in relation to kairomones. Compared with diapausing eggs from mothers not exposed to kairomones, diapausing eggs produced by mothers experienced kairomones attained higher hatching rate when they hatched in the same environment either with kairomones or not. Our results suggest that diapausing eggs of B. calyciflorus possess dormant plasticity to defend against predation from Asplanchna, which may be influenced by maternal effects during asexual or sexual life cycles.</p>
ScienceDex guides
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.