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Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

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Evolution of phenotypic plasticity in extreme environments.

Luis-Miguel Chevin¹, Ary A Hoffmann²

¹CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS-Université de Montpellier, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier, EPHE, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, CEDEX 5, France luis-miguel.chevin@cefe.cnrs.fr.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences

|May 10, 2017

Summary

Phenotypic plasticity can help species adapt to extreme conditions. However, it may be maladaptive if genetic factors don't align with environmental changes, highlighting the need for more research.

Keywords:

adaptation environmental stress environmental tolerance extreme environments genetic constraints phenotypic plasticity

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Ecology
Climate change science

Background:

Phenotypic plasticity can be adaptive, enabling species to cope with environmental extremes.
Extreme environments may exert limited selection on reaction norms, potentially leading to maladaptive plasticity.
Species from variable environments often exhibit higher plasticity, possibly preadapting them to extremes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the adaptive potential of phenotypic plasticity in extreme environments.
To explore conditions under which plasticity might be maladaptive.
To emphasize the need for empirical data linking plastic responses to ecologically relevant extreme conditions.

Main Methods:

Review of empirical evidence on phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental extremes.
Analysis of theoretical conditions for adaptive plasticity (genetic correlations, smooth optima).
Discussion of limitations in current research, including lack of focus on asymmetrical fluctuations.

Main Results:

Plasticity may not always be adaptive in extreme environments due to selection pressures and genetic constraints.
Genetic variance for plastic responses can be limited and may not be expressed under extreme conditions.
Existing research often lacks connection to ecologically relevant scenarios like asymmetrical temperature fluctuations.

Conclusions:

Evolved plastic responses are crucial for species facing increasing climate extremes.
Urgent need for empirical data collection and integration with model predictions.
Understanding plasticity is vital for both natural and agricultural species in a changing climate.