Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi
Abstract Many bird species have been observed shifting their laying date to earlier in the year in response to climate change. However, the vast majority of these studies were performed on non‐threatened species, less impacted by reduced genetic diversity (which is expected to limit evolutionary res...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Evolutionary Applications |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12727 |
| _version_ | 1818272377004359680 |
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| author | Pierre deVillemereuil Alexis Rutschmann John G. Ewen Anna W. Santure Patricia Brekke |
| author_facet | Pierre deVillemereuil Alexis Rutschmann John G. Ewen Anna W. Santure Patricia Brekke |
| author_sort | Pierre deVillemereuil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Many bird species have been observed shifting their laying date to earlier in the year in response to climate change. However, the vast majority of these studies were performed on non‐threatened species, less impacted by reduced genetic diversity (which is expected to limit evolutionary response) as a consequence of genetic bottlenecks, drift and population isolation. Here, we study the relationship between lay date and fitness, as well as its genetic basis, to understand the evolutionary constraints on phenology faced by threatened species using a recently reintroduced population of the endangered New Zealand passerine, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta). A large discrepancy between the optimal laying date and the mode of laying date creates a strong selection differential of −11.24. The impact of this discrepancy on fitness is principally mediated through survival of offspring from hatchling to fledgling. This discrepancy does not seem to arise from a difference in female quality or a trade‐off with lifetime breeding success. We find that start of breeding season depends on female age and average temperature prior to the breeding season. Laying date is not found to be significantly heritable. Overall, our research suggests that this discrepancy is a burden on hihi fitness, which will not be resolved through evolution or phenotypic plasticity. More generally, these results show that threatened species introduced to restored habitats might lack adaptive potential and plasticity to adjust their phenology to their new environment. This constraint is also likely to limit their ability to face future challenges, including climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:41:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77855e507b0f4a3cba247332527514c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-4571 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:41:06Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evolutionary Applications |
| spelling | doaj.art-77855e507b0f4a3cba247332527514c82022-12-22T00:11:03ZengWileyEvolutionary Applications1752-45712019-03-0112348249710.1111/eva.12727Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihiPierre deVillemereuil0Alexis Rutschmann1John G. Ewen2Anna W. Santure3Patricia Brekke4School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New ZealandSchool of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New ZealandInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UKSchool of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New ZealandInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UKAbstract Many bird species have been observed shifting their laying date to earlier in the year in response to climate change. However, the vast majority of these studies were performed on non‐threatened species, less impacted by reduced genetic diversity (which is expected to limit evolutionary response) as a consequence of genetic bottlenecks, drift and population isolation. Here, we study the relationship between lay date and fitness, as well as its genetic basis, to understand the evolutionary constraints on phenology faced by threatened species using a recently reintroduced population of the endangered New Zealand passerine, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta). A large discrepancy between the optimal laying date and the mode of laying date creates a strong selection differential of −11.24. The impact of this discrepancy on fitness is principally mediated through survival of offspring from hatchling to fledgling. This discrepancy does not seem to arise from a difference in female quality or a trade‐off with lifetime breeding success. We find that start of breeding season depends on female age and average temperature prior to the breeding season. Laying date is not found to be significantly heritable. Overall, our research suggests that this discrepancy is a burden on hihi fitness, which will not be resolved through evolution or phenotypic plasticity. More generally, these results show that threatened species introduced to restored habitats might lack adaptive potential and plasticity to adjust their phenology to their new environment. This constraint is also likely to limit their ability to face future challenges, including climate change.https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12727conservation biologylaying dateNotiomystis cinctaphenologyquantitative genetics |
| spellingShingle | Pierre deVillemereuil Alexis Rutschmann John G. Ewen Anna W. Santure Patricia Brekke Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi Evolutionary Applications conservation biology laying date Notiomystis cincta phenology quantitative genetics |
| title | Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi |
| title_full | Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi |
| title_fullStr | Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi |
| title_short | Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi |
| title_sort | can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat no expected evolutionary response in lay date for the new zealand hihi |
| topic | conservation biology laying date Notiomystis cincta phenology quantitative genetics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12727 |
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