Thermal reaction norms in sperm performance of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

13 páginas, 6 figuras, 2 tablas[EN] Phenotypic plasticity occurs when a genotype produces variable phenotypes under different environments; the shapes of such responses are known as norms of reaction. The genetic scale at which reaction norms can be determined is restricted by the experimental unit that can be exposed to variable environments. This has limited their description beyond the family level in higher organisms, thus hindering our understanding of differences in plasticity at the scale of the individual. Using a three-year common-garden experiment, we quantify reaction norms in sperm performance of individual genotypes within different families of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Cod sperm showed phenotypic plasticity in swimming performance across temperatures (3, 6, 11, and 21 °C), but the pattern of the response depended upon how long sperm had been swimming (30, 60, 120, or 180 s), i.e., plasticity in plasticity. Sperm generally swam fastest at intermediate temperatures when first assessed at 30 s after activation. However, a significant genotype × environment interaction was present, indicating inter-individual differences in phenotypic plasticity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe variable sperm performance across environmental conditions as a reaction norm. The results have potential theoretical, conservation, and aquaculture implications[FR] Il se produit une plasticité phénotypique lorsqu’un génotype détermine des phénotypes qui varient en fonction des différents environnements; les formes de telles réactions sont connues sous le nom de normes de réaction. L’échelle génétique à laquelle les normes de réaction peuvent être déterminées est restreinte par l’unité expérimentale qui peut être exposée à des environnements variables. Cela a limité leur description au-delà du niveau de la famille chez les organismes supérieurs, ce qui a entravé notre compréhension des différences de plasticité à l’échelle des individus. Dans une expérience de trois ans en jardin commun, nous avons mesuré les normes de réaction dans la performance des spermatozoïdes de génotypes individuels dans différentes familles de morues franches (Gadus morhua) de l’Atlantique. Les spermatozoïdes de morues font montre de plasticité phénotypique dans leur performance de nage sur une gamme de températures (3, 6, 11, et 21 8C), mais le patron de la réaction dépend du temps que le spermatozoïde a déjà consacré à la nage (30, 60, 120, ou 180 s), c’est donc une plasticité dans la plasticité. Les spermatozoïdes nagent généralement le plus vite aux températures intermédiaires lorsqu’ils sont évalués 30 s après leur activation. Cependant, il existe une interaction significative génotype environnement, ce qui indique qu’il y a des différences de plasticité phénotypique entre les individus. À notre connaissance, notre étude est la premiére à décrire une performance variable des spermatozoïdes comme des normes de réaction sur une gamme de conditions du milieu. Nos résultats ont des incidences théoriques potentielles, mais aussi des conséquences sur la conservation et l’aquacultureFunding was provided by a faculty startup award from Memorial University of Newfoundland to C.F.P., the Atlantic Cod Genomics and Broodstock Development Program and the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aquaculture Collaborative Research Development Program to E.A.T., a scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to I.A.E.B, and a grant from Xunta de Galicia, inside de INCITE program, to A.A.- F. All animals were handled according to guidelines set by the Canadian Council on Animal CarePeer reviewe

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