Developmental thermal plasticity of prey modifies the impact of predation

Abstract

Environmental conditions during embryonic development can influence the mean expression of phenotypes as well as phenotypic responses to environmental change later in life. The resulting phenotypes may be better matched to their environment and more resilient to environmental change, including human-induced climate change. However, whether plasticity does improve success in an ecological context is unresolved. In a microcosm experiment, we show that developmental plasticity in embryos of the frog Limnodynastes peronii is beneficial by increasing survivorship of tadpoles in the presence of predators when egg incubation (15 or 25°C) and tadpole acclimation temperature in microcosms (15 or 25°C) coincided at 15°C. Tadpoles that survived predation were smaller, and had faster burst swimming speeds than those kept in no-predator control conditions, but only at high (25°C) egg incubation or subsequent microcosm temperatures. Metabolic rates were determined by a three-way interaction between incubation and microcosm temperatures and predation; maximal glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolic capacities (enzyme activities) were lower in survivors from predation compared with controls, particularly when eggs were incubated at 25°C. We show that thermal conditions experienced during early development are ecologically relevant by modulating survivorship from predation. Importantly, developmental thermal plasticity also impacts population phenotypes indirectly by modifying species interactions and the selection pressure imposed by predation.

Temperature dependence of predation stress and the nutritional ecology of a generalist herbivore

“…Our analysis revealed that the degree of Melanoplus femurrubrum stress response to perceived predation risk varied with rearing temperature. This is consistent with growing evidence from aquatic species that the nature and degree of plasticity in prey responses due to predation stress is dependent upon the thermal environment prey experience during their development (Culler et al 2014, Matassa and Trussell 2015, Seebacher and Grigalchik 2015.…”

“…This is consistent with growing evidence from aquatic species that the nature and degree of plasticity in prey responses due to predation stress is dependent upon the thermal environment prey experience during their development (Culler et al. , Matassa and Trussell , Seebacher and Grigalchik ).…”

“…, Matassa and Trussell , Matzelle et al. , Seebacher and Grigalchik ). The interplay between perceived predation risk and temperature could thus cause synergistic or antagonistic effects on the total amount of resource consumed by prey as well as their dietary nutrient selection (Rosenblatt and Schmitz ).…”

“…A further complicating factor is that environmental effects on organismal physiology do not operate in isolation (Todgham and Stillman 2013, Kaplan et al 2014, Miller et al 2014, Rosenblatt and Schmitz 2014, Clissold and Simpson 2015, Matzelle et al 2015. Indeed, the nature of prey physiological responses to perceived predation risk could be temperature dependent (Stoks et al 2012, Culler et al 2014, Miller et al 2014, Matassa and Trussell 2015, Matzelle et al 2015, Seebacher and Grigalchik 2015. The interplay between perceived predation risk and temperature could thus cause synergistic or antagonistic effects on the total amount of resource consumed by prey as well as their dietary nutrient selection (Rosenblatt and Schmitz 2014).…”

Multiple stressors, state-dependence and predation risk — foraging trade-offs: toward a modern concept of trait-mediated indirect effects in communities and ecosystems

“…Experiments examining additional stressors like toxins, pollutants or rising temperature, layer on these stressors by factorially combining them with levels of predator cues [e.g. [30][31][32][33][34].…”