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Published on: May 1, 2019
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Reduced physiological plasticity in a fish adapted to stable temperatures.
Rachael Morgan1,2, Anna H Andreassen1, Eirik R Åsheim1,3,4
1Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Summary
Domestication has reduced physiological plasticity in laboratory zebrafish, making them less able to cope with temperature changes compared to wild zebrafish. This loss of plasticity may be a trade-off for faster growth in stable lab conditions.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Physiological ecology
- Comparative genomics
Background:
- Organisms use physiological plasticity to maintain performance across environmental conditions.
- Plasticity's cost and trade-offs with performance under optimal conditions are not well understood.
- Fish utilize physiological plasticity to adjust functions against temperature-driven rate changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if domestication in laboratory zebrafish has reduced physiological plasticity compared to wild counterparts.
- To determine the cost of plasticity and potential trade-offs with performance in stable environments.
- To assess the impact of adaptation to laboratory conditions on various biological levels.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of wild and laboratory zebrafish acclimated to 15 temperatures (10°C–38°C).
- Measurement of diverse phenotypic traits: gene expression, physiology, and behavior.
- Analysis of differences in plasticity across a wide thermal range.
Main Results:
- Laboratory zebrafish exhibit reduced physiological plasticity compared to wild zebrafish.
- Laboratory fish are less capable of counteracting temperature effects on metabolic rates and thermal tolerance.
- Differences in plasticity are evident from gene expression to behavioral traits.
Conclusions:
- Adaptation to stable laboratory environments significantly impacts zebrafish biology, reducing physiological plasticity.
- A trade-off likely exists between rapid growth selection in labs and the maintenance of physiological plasticity.
- Reduced plasticity in lab zebrafish compromises their ability to respond to environmental temperature fluctuations.
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