Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate
Abstract Background Over the past decade, theory and observations have suggested intraspecific variation, trait-based differences within species, as a buffer against biodiversity loss from multiple environmental changes. This buffering effect can only occur when different populations of the same spe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02241-2 |
| _version_ | 1797199729148297216 |
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| author | Tessa de Bruin Frederik De Laender Julie Jadoul Nicolas Schtickzelle |
| author_facet | Tessa de Bruin Frederik De Laender Julie Jadoul Nicolas Schtickzelle |
| author_sort | Tessa de Bruin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Over the past decade, theory and observations have suggested intraspecific variation, trait-based differences within species, as a buffer against biodiversity loss from multiple environmental changes. This buffering effect can only occur when different populations of the same species respond differently to environmental change. More specifically, variation of demographic responses fosters buffering of demography, while variation of trait responses fosters buffering of functioning. Understanding how both responses are related is important for predicting biodiversity loss and its consequences. In this study, we aimed to empirically assess whether population-level trait responses to multiple environmental change drivers are related to the demographic response to these drivers. To this end, we measured demographic and trait responses in microcosm experiments with two species of ciliated protists. For three clonal strains of each species, we measured responses to two environmental change drivers (climate change and pollution) and their combination. We also examined if relationships between demographic and trait responses existed across treatments and strains. Results We found different demographic responses across strains of the same species but hardly any interactive effects between the two environmental change drivers. Also, trait responses (summarized in a survival strategy index) varied among strains within a species, again with no driver interactions. Demographic and trait responses were related across all strains of both species tested in this study: Increasing intrinsic growth and self-limitation were associated with a shift in survival strategy from sit-and-wait towards flee. Conclusions Our results support the existence of a link between a population’s demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers in two species of ciliate. Future work could dive deeper into the specifics of phenotypical trait values, and changes therein, related to specific life strategies in different species of ciliate and other zooplankton grazers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:20:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01ccaf3d73e942aeb5a3068d80a00e4d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2730-7182 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:20:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-01ccaf3d73e942aeb5a3068d80a00e4d2024-04-21T11:03:54ZengBMCBMC Ecology and Evolution2730-71822024-04-0124111610.1186/s12862-024-02241-2Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliateTessa de Bruin0Frederik De Laender1Julie Jadoul2Nicolas Schtickzelle3Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de LouvainResearch Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life-Earth-Environment (ILEE), Namur Institute for Complex Systems (NAXYS), Université de NamurEarth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de LouvainEarth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de LouvainAbstract Background Over the past decade, theory and observations have suggested intraspecific variation, trait-based differences within species, as a buffer against biodiversity loss from multiple environmental changes. This buffering effect can only occur when different populations of the same species respond differently to environmental change. More specifically, variation of demographic responses fosters buffering of demography, while variation of trait responses fosters buffering of functioning. Understanding how both responses are related is important for predicting biodiversity loss and its consequences. In this study, we aimed to empirically assess whether population-level trait responses to multiple environmental change drivers are related to the demographic response to these drivers. To this end, we measured demographic and trait responses in microcosm experiments with two species of ciliated protists. For three clonal strains of each species, we measured responses to two environmental change drivers (climate change and pollution) and their combination. We also examined if relationships between demographic and trait responses existed across treatments and strains. Results We found different demographic responses across strains of the same species but hardly any interactive effects between the two environmental change drivers. Also, trait responses (summarized in a survival strategy index) varied among strains within a species, again with no driver interactions. Demographic and trait responses were related across all strains of both species tested in this study: Increasing intrinsic growth and self-limitation were associated with a shift in survival strategy from sit-and-wait towards flee. Conclusions Our results support the existence of a link between a population’s demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers in two species of ciliate. Future work could dive deeper into the specifics of phenotypical trait values, and changes therein, related to specific life strategies in different species of ciliate and other zooplankton grazers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02241-2Intraspecific trait variationEnvironmental change driversPopulation dynamicsCiliatesProtistsExperimental microcosms |
| spellingShingle | Tessa de Bruin Frederik De Laender Julie Jadoul Nicolas Schtickzelle Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate BMC Ecology and Evolution Intraspecific trait variation Environmental change drivers Population dynamics Ciliates Protists Experimental microcosms |
| title | Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate |
| title_full | Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate |
| title_fullStr | Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate |
| title_short | Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate |
| title_sort | intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate |
| topic | Intraspecific trait variation Environmental change drivers Population dynamics Ciliates Protists Experimental microcosms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02241-2 |
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