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Extended phenotypes: buffers or amplifiers of climate change?
H Arthur Woods1, Sylvain Pincebourde2, Michael E Dillon3
1Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|June 20, 2021
Summary
Organisms influence their climate through behavior and extended phenotypes, creating microclimates. Understanding these extended phenotypes is crucial for predicting species
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Climate Change Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Traditional views of climate change impacts focus on external climate factors affecting organisms.
- Organismal behavior, such as movement within microclimates, influences their climate exposure.
- Extended phenotypes, structures built or induced by organisms, also shape their thermal environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the underappreciated role of extended phenotypes in organismal climate responses.
- To emphasize the importance of microclimates generated by organisms for predicting fitness.
- To integrate behavioral plasticity and evolutionary adaptation in understanding climate change impacts.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual synthesis of existing research on organismal behavior and extended phenotypes.
- Argument for incorporating microclimate generation by organisms into ecological models.
- Discussion of the roles of phenotypic plasticity and evolution in shaping microclimatic niches.
Main Results:
- Organisms actively modify their thermal environments through behavioral and structural means.
- Extended phenotypes create unique microclimatic niches that influence organismal performance.
- Plasticity and evolution are key mechanisms by which organisms adapt to or modify their climate.
Conclusions:
- Predicting species' responses to climate change requires understanding organism-generated microclimates.
- Extended phenotypes are critical determinants of organismal fitness in changing environments.
- Future research should integrate extended phenotypes and microclimate dynamics into climate change vulnerability assessments.
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