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Developmental and evolutionary history affect survival in stressful environments
Gareth R Hopkins1, Edmund D Brodie1, Susannah S French1
1Department of Biology and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America.
Organismal survival depends on both developmental and evolutionary history. Early life exposure to salts like MgCl2 can stunt growth and reduce survival, especially for species lacking evolutionary adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Organisms face increasing environmental stressors.
- Coping mechanisms vary based on evolutionary and developmental history.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of developmental and evolutionary history on survival in stressful environments.
- To assess the effects of salinity exposure timing and type on freshwater vertebrate survival.
Main Methods:
- Compared survival rates of rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) larvae.
- Exposed embryos and/or larvae to NaCl or MgCl2 salinity.
- Analyzed carry-over effects of embryonic growth and salt type.
Main Results:
- Embryonic salinity exposure increased larval mortality compared to larval exposure alone.
- Reduced survival was linked to stunted embryonic growth.
- Larval survival was lower in MgCl2 than NaCl, indicating limited evolutionary history with MgCl2.
Conclusions:
- Both developmental stage and evolutionary history critically influence survival in saline environments.
- Implications for species survival in anthropogenically altered environments with novel stressors.
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