Complex and lasting impacts of heatwaves on life-history traits and fitness in Daphnia magna.

ABSTRACT: Rapid climatic fluctuations, such as heatwaves, are key drivers of ecological disruption and pose significant physiological challenges to ectothermic organisms, yet their capacity for short- or long-term adaptation and transgenerational effects remain poorly understood. Using the model freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna, we experimentally tested the physiological resilience, acclimation and evolutionary responses in D. magna across multiple generations under simulated heatwave conditions. Heatwaves significantly compromised the development and reproduction function of D. magna, with detrimental effects amplified under low food availability. Moreover, general temperature responses (stable warming) failed to predict heatwave responses, even within the same temperature range. This appears t

SUBMITTER: Xiao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12517341 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature