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Experimental evolution of environmental tolerance, acclimation, and physiological plasticity in a randomly
Marie Rescan1,2,3,4, Nicolas Leurs1,5, Daphné Grulois1
1CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD Montpellier 34090 France.
Evolution Letters
|December 29, 2022
Summary
Environmental predictability influences evolution of algae tolerance. Algae populations evolved to better handle fluctuating salinity, showing acclimation effects and changes in optimal salinity based on past environments.
Area of Science:
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Environmental tolerance curves assess fundamental niche and phenotypic plasticity.
- Dynamic plastic responses can lead to acclimation effects, where past environments influence current fitness.
- Theory suggests phenotypic plasticity evolves in predictably fluctuating environments, but experimental evidence is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally test the evolution of acclimation effects in response to environmental predictability.
- To investigate how fluctuating salinity impacts the evolution of environmental tolerance and plasticity in *Dunaliella salina*.
- To understand the role of phenotypic plasticity in adaptation to fluctuating environments.
Main Methods:
- Exposed 25 genetically diverse *Dunaliella salina* populations to constant or fluctuating salinities for over 200 generations.
- Fluctuating treatments varied in autocorrelation to manipulate environmental predictability.
- Measured acclimated tolerance surfaces (population growth rate vs. past and current salinity) and intracellular glycerol plasticity.
Main Results:
- Experimental salinity mean and variance drove evolution of niche position and breadth, considering both past and current salinity.
- Higher environmental predictability led to lower optimal salinities and stronger acclimation effects.
- Evolution of plasticity for intracellular glycerol was observed, though not in line with simple theoretical predictions.
Conclusions:
- Environmental fluctuations and predictability shape the evolution of niche characteristics and acclimation.
- Acclimation effects and niche evolution are influenced by both the mean/variance and predictability of environmental conditions.
- Further research is needed to integrate environmental dynamics and plasticity for a comprehensive understanding of adaptation in fluctuating environments.
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