Temperature and Diet Acclimation Modify the Acute Thermal Performance of the Largest Extant Amphibian
The Chinese giant salamander (<i>Andrias davidianus</i>), one of the largest extant amphibian species, has dramatically declined in the wild. As an ectotherm, it may be further threatened by climate change. Therefore, understanding the thermal physiology of this species should be the pri...
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/4/531 |
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| author | Chun-Lin Zhao Tian Zhao Jian-Yi Feng Li-Ming Chang Pu-Yang Zheng Shi-Jian Fu Xiu-Ming Li Bi-Song Yue Jian-Ping Jiang Wei Zhu |
| author_facet | Chun-Lin Zhao Tian Zhao Jian-Yi Feng Li-Ming Chang Pu-Yang Zheng Shi-Jian Fu Xiu-Ming Li Bi-Song Yue Jian-Ping Jiang Wei Zhu |
| author_sort | Chun-Lin Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Chinese giant salamander (<i>Andrias davidianus</i>), one of the largest extant amphibian species, has dramatically declined in the wild. As an ectotherm, it may be further threatened by climate change. Therefore, understanding the thermal physiology of this species should be the priority to formulate related conservation strategies. In this study, the plasticity in metabolic rate and thermal tolerance limits of <i>A. davidianus</i> larvae were studied. Specifically, the larvae were acclimated to three temperature levels (7 °C, cold stress; 15 °C, optimum; and 25 °C, heat stress) and two diet items (red worm or fish fray) for 20 days. Our results indicated that cold-acclimated larvae showed increased metabolic capacity, while warm-acclimated larvae showed a decrease in metabolic capacity. These results suggested the existence of thermal compensation. Moreover, the thermal tolerance windows of cold-acclimated and warm-acclimated larvae shifted to cooler and hotter ranges, respectively. Metabolic capacity is not affected by diet but fish-fed larvae showed superiority in both cold and heat tolerance, potentially due to the input of greater nutrient loads. Overall, our results suggested a plastic thermal tolerance of <i>A. davidianus</i> in response to temperature and diet variations. These results are meaningful in guiding the conservation of this species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:47:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8eac6931dd54548b9f1b47b663326ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:47:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8eac6931dd54548b9f1b47b663326ed2023-11-23T18:26:44ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-02-0112453110.3390/ani12040531Temperature and Diet Acclimation Modify the Acute Thermal Performance of the Largest Extant AmphibianChun-Lin Zhao0Tian Zhao1Jian-Yi Feng2Li-Ming Chang3Pu-Yang Zheng4Shi-Jian Fu5Xiu-Ming Li6Bi-Song Yue7Jian-Ping Jiang8Wei Zhu9Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu 610041, ChinaLaboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 400047, ChinaLaboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 400047, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu 610041, ChinaThe Chinese giant salamander (<i>Andrias davidianus</i>), one of the largest extant amphibian species, has dramatically declined in the wild. As an ectotherm, it may be further threatened by climate change. Therefore, understanding the thermal physiology of this species should be the priority to formulate related conservation strategies. In this study, the plasticity in metabolic rate and thermal tolerance limits of <i>A. davidianus</i> larvae were studied. Specifically, the larvae were acclimated to three temperature levels (7 °C, cold stress; 15 °C, optimum; and 25 °C, heat stress) and two diet items (red worm or fish fray) for 20 days. Our results indicated that cold-acclimated larvae showed increased metabolic capacity, while warm-acclimated larvae showed a decrease in metabolic capacity. These results suggested the existence of thermal compensation. Moreover, the thermal tolerance windows of cold-acclimated and warm-acclimated larvae shifted to cooler and hotter ranges, respectively. Metabolic capacity is not affected by diet but fish-fed larvae showed superiority in both cold and heat tolerance, potentially due to the input of greater nutrient loads. Overall, our results suggested a plastic thermal tolerance of <i>A. davidianus</i> in response to temperature and diet variations. These results are meaningful in guiding the conservation of this species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/4/531<i>Andrias davidianus</i>animal conservationmetabolic compensationphysiological plasticityrespiration ratethermal limits |
| spellingShingle | Chun-Lin Zhao Tian Zhao Jian-Yi Feng Li-Ming Chang Pu-Yang Zheng Shi-Jian Fu Xiu-Ming Li Bi-Song Yue Jian-Ping Jiang Wei Zhu Temperature and Diet Acclimation Modify the Acute Thermal Performance of the Largest Extant Amphibian Animals <i>Andrias davidianus</i> animal conservation metabolic compensation physiological plasticity respiration rate thermal limits |
| title | Temperature and Diet Acclimation Modify the Acute Thermal Performance of the Largest Extant Amphibian |
| title_full | Temperature and Diet Acclimation Modify the Acute Thermal Performance of the Largest Extant Amphibian |
| title_fullStr | Temperature and Diet Acclimation Modify the Acute Thermal Performance of the Largest Extant Amphibian |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temperature and Diet Acclimation Modify the Acute Thermal Performance of the Largest Extant Amphibian |
| title_short | Temperature and Diet Acclimation Modify the Acute Thermal Performance of the Largest Extant Amphibian |
| title_sort | temperature and diet acclimation modify the acute thermal performance of the largest extant amphibian |
| topic | <i>Andrias davidianus</i> animal conservation metabolic compensation physiological plasticity respiration rate thermal limits |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/4/531 |
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