Fitness effects of spontaneous mutations in a warming world.

ABSTRACT: Spontaneous mutations fuel evolutionary processes and differ in consequence, but the consequences depend on the environment. Biophysical considerations of protein thermostability predict that warm temperatures may systematically increase the deleteriousness of mutation. We sought to test whether mutation reduced fitness more when measured in an environment that reflected climate change projections for temperature. We investigated the effects of spontaneous mutations on life history, size, and fitness in 21 mutation accumulation lines and 12 control lines of Daphnia pulex at standard and elevated (+4℃) temperatures. Warmer temperature accelerated life history and reduced body length and clutch sizes. Mutation led to reduced mean clutch sizes and fitness estimates at both temperatures. We fo

SUBMITTER: Davenport ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8252619 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature