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Climate change and mammals: evolutionary versus plastic responses.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Climate Change Biology

Background:

  • Organisms adapt to local conditions via phenotypic plasticity and microevolution.
  • The balance between plasticity and evolution influences adaptive responses to climate change.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Evaluate if climate change causes observed phenotypic shifts in wild mammals.
  • Determine if these shifts are adaptive.
  • Assess the roles of evolution and plasticity in these responses.

Main Methods:

  • Reviewed twelve studies on mammal phenology, body weight, and litter size changes.
  • Assessed causality, adaptiveness, and underlying mechanisms (plasticity vs. evolution).

Main Results:

  • Observed phenotypic changes in mammals were predominantly driven by plasticity.
  • One study suggested contemporary evolution in American red squirrels, but climate change was later ruled out as the cause.
  • Limited data exists on evolutionary potential for climate-associated traits.

Conclusions:

  • Phenotypic plasticity is the primary driver of rapid adaptive changes in wild mammals.
  • Conclusive evidence for contemporary evolution in response to climate change in mammals is currently lacking.
  • Further research is required to demonstrate evolutionary responses to climate change in wild mammals.