Are animals shrinking due to climate change? Temperature-mediated selection on body mass in mountain wagtails

Oecologia
Jorinde ProkoschRes Altwegg

Abstract

Climate change appears to affect body size of animals whose optimal size in part depends on temperature. However, attribution of observed body size changes to climate change requires an understanding of the selective pressures acting on body size under different temperatures. We examined the link between temperature and body mass in a population of mountain wagtails (Motacilla clara) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, between 1976 and 1999, where temperature increased by 0.18 [Formula: see text]C. The wagtails became lighter by 0.035 g per year. Partitioning this trend, we found that only a small part of the effect (0.009 g/year) was due to individuals losing weight and a large part (0.027 g/year) was due to lighter individuals replacing heavier ones. Only the latter component was statistically significant. Apparently, the wagtails were reacting to selection for reduced weight. Examining survival, we found that selection was temperature-mediated, i.e., lighter individuals survived better under high temperatures, whereas heavier individuals survived better under low temperatures. Our results thus support the hypothesis that temperature drove the decline in body mass in this wagtail population and provides one of the first demonstra...Continue Reading

References

May 24, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Y Yom-Tov
Mar 29, 2002·Nature·Gian-Reto WaltherFranz Bairlein
May 17, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Guy WoodwardPhilip H Warren
Sep 2, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Céline TeplitskyJuha Merilä
Apr 8, 2011·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Janet L GardnerRobert Heinsohn
Jan 24, 2014·Evolutionary Applications·Celine Teplitsky, Virginie Millien
Oct 8, 2016·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Glenn J TattersallMatthew R E Symonds
May 10, 2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Janet L GardnerLyanne Brouwer
Oct 1, 2000·The American Naturalist·Kyle G AshtonAlan de Queiroz

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 22, 2021·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Marketa ZimovaBrian C Weeks
Nov 12, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Aleksandra Walczyńska, Mateusz Sobczyk

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

R package ‘ mgcv ’
R package dlm
R
MARK

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.