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Micro-evolutionary response of spring migration timing in a wild seabird
Maria Moiron1,2, Céline Teplitsky2, Birgen Haest3
1Life-history Biology Department, Institute of Avian Research, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
Evolution Letters
|February 19, 2024
Summary
Common terns are migrating earlier due to climate change, showing both plasticity and micro-evolutionary adaptation. This study offers rare evidence of micro-evolution driving adaptive responses in wild populations.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Climate Change Biology
Background:
- Phenological advance is a crucial adaptation to climate change, observed across many species.
- While phenotypic plasticity explains much of this change in vertebrates, evidence for micro-evolution is scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify phenotypic and genetic trends in the spring migration timing of common terns.
- To assess if observed trends align with micro-evolutionary responses to selection pressures.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 8,032 arrival dates from 1,715 individual common terns over 27 years.
- Application of the Breeder's equation and Robertson's Secondary Theorem of Selection to predict evolutionary responses.
Main Results:
- A significant phenotypic advance of 9.3 days in spring arrival.
- Approximately 5% of this advance was attributed to changes in breeding values, indicating micro-evolution.
- Theoretical predictions of evolutionary response were largely consistent with observed genetic patterns.
Conclusions:
- Provides rare empirical evidence for micro-evolution contributing to adaptive change in a wild vertebrate population.
- Demonstrates that a combination of micro-evolution and phenotypic plasticity enables earlier spring migration in common terns facing climate change.
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