Natural selection on plasticity of thermal traits in a highly seasonal environment.

ABSTRACT: For ectothermic species with broad geographical distributions, latitudinal/altitudinal variation in environmental temperatures (averages and extremes) is expected to shape the evolution of physiological tolerances and the acclimation capacity (i.e., degree of phenotypic plasticity) of natural populations. This can create geographical gradients of selection in which environments with greater thermal variability (e.g., seasonality) tend to favor individuals that maximize performance across a broader range of temperatures compared to more stable environments. Although thermal acclimation capacity plays a fundamental role in this context, it is unknown whether natural selection targets this trait in natural populations. Additionally, understanding whether and how selection acts on thermal phys

SUBMITTER: Bacigalupe LD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6231472 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature