8 research outputs found
Predation life history responses to increased temperature variability
The evolution of life history traits is regulated by energy expenditure, which is, in turn, governed by temperature. The
forecasted increase in temperature variability is expected to impose greater stress to organisms, in turn influencing the
balance of energy expenditure and consequently life history responses. Here we examine how increased temperature
variability affects life history responses to predation. Individuals reared under constant temperatures responded to different
levels of predation risk as appropriate: namely, by producing greater number of neonates of smaller sizes and reducing the
time to first brood. In contrast, we detected no response to predation regime when temperature was more variable. In
addition, population growth rate was slowest among individuals reared under variable temperatures. Increased
temperature variability also affected the development of inducible defenses. The combined effects of failing to respond
to predation risk, slower growth rate and the miss-match development of morphological defenses supports suggestions
that increased variability in temperature poses a greater risk for species adaptation than that posed by a mean shift in
temperature