Mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental change
Frank Seebacher1, Alexander G Little2
1School of Life and Environmental Sciences A08, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
|November 10, 2025
Summary
Phenotypic plasticity allows animals to adapt to changing environments through regulated gene expression. This review outlines how animals acquire environmental information, integrate signals, and alter phenotypes, highlighting neuroendocrine and epigenetic interactions.
Area of Science:
- Animal physiology and adaptation
- Ecology and evolutionary biology
- Environmental science
Background:
- Human impact necessitates understanding ecosystem resilience.
- Phenotypic plasticity is key for animals to adapt to environmental changes.
- Mechanisms of plasticity determine adaptation speed and persistence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity in animals.
- To provide an accessible overview of plasticity regulation for a broader audience.
- To highlight the interplay between environmental sensing, signal integration, and phenotypic response.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of neuroendocrine and molecular mechanisms.
- Overview of environmental information acquisition via sensors and cellular energy levels (AMP-activated protein kinase - AMPK).
- Summary of signal integration by neural and endocrine axes (autonomic, HPA/I, HPT, HPS) and epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone modifications, microRNAs).
Main Results:
- Environmental information is acquired through sensors and cellular energy status.
- Signal integration involves major neuroendocrine axes and epigenetic processes.
- These regulatory processes interact in a network manner to control phenotypic expression.
Conclusions:
- Understanding plasticity mechanisms is crucial for predicting animal responses to environmental change.
- The integration of neuroendocrine and epigenetic pathways is central to phenotypic plasticity.
- Further research into these complex interactions will advance our understanding of evolution and ecological adaptation.
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