Fish facing global change: are early stages the lifeline?

Abstract

The role of phenotypic plasticity in the acclimation and adaptive potential of an organism to global change is not currently accounted for in prediction models. The high plasticity of marine fishes is mainly attributed to their early stages, during which morphological, structural and behavioural functions are particularly sensitive to environmental constraints. This developmental plasticity can determine later physiological performances and fitness, and may further affect population dynamics and ecosystem functioning. This review asks the essential question of what role early stages play in the ability of fish to later cope with the effects of global change, considering three key environmental factors (temperature, hypoxia and acidification). After having identified the carry-over effects of early exposure reported in the literature, we propose areas that we believe warrant the most urgent attention for further research to better understand the role of developmental plasticity in the responses of marine organisms to global change.

From gametogenesis to spawning: How climate‐driven warming affects teleost reproductive biology

“…As most teleosts are poikilotherms, ambient temperature directly impacts metabolic rate, reproductive performance (Vagner et al ., 2019; Wang et al ., 2010), body growth, natural mortality and recruitment success (so‐called “vital parameters” in population dynamics), and thereby ultimately population (stock) productivity (Kjesbu et al ., 2014). Depending on the species and life stages, fish sensitivity to thermal fluctuations varies due to their window of thermal tolerance (Pörtner & Farrell, 2008; Dahlke et al ., 2020).…”

Differential sensitivity to warming and hypoxia during development and long-term effects of developmental exposure in early life stage Chinook salmon

“…Early life stages of fishes undergo substantial changes in physiology and morphology during development, which can allow for organisms to better tailor their physiology to their environment. Acclimation through physiological and developmental plasticity can result in changes to survival, growth, swimming performance, behaviour, physiology or fitness ( Vagner et al , 2019 ). While acclimation resulting from physiological plasticity is reversible and repeatable, developmental plasticity is specific to early life stages and has persistent phenotypic effects on later stages ( Angilletta, 2009 ).…”

“…Through carry-over effects, the influence of earlier developmental stressors can be observed in the phenotypes of juvenile or adult life stages, even when the stressors are no longer present. Carry-over effects in response to warming ( Hanson et al , 2008 ; Macqueen et al , 2008 ; Scott and Johnston, 2012 ; Campos et al , 2013 ; Schnurr et al , 2014 ) or hypoxia ( Johnston et al , 2013 ; Robertson et al , 2014 ; Vanderplancke et al , 2015 ; Cadiz et al , 2017 ; Zambonino-Infante et al , 2017 ) experienced during early fish development have both been investigated as individual stressors in numerous fish species ( Vagner et al , 2019 ). In contrast, very few studies have focused on the persistent, carry-over effects of multiple stressors following developmental exposure, particularly in fishes ( Zambonino-Infante et al , 2013 ).…”

Footprints of global change in marine life: Inferring past environment based on DNA methylation and gene expression marks

“…Phenotypic plasticity has been suggested as a means of biological adaptation to climate change, because it may allow organisms to face a changing environment while maintaining fitness (Beaman et al., 2016). The early developmental environment is able to induce plastic responses that permanently alter the adult phenotype (Beaman et al., 2016) on a variety of traits including, but not limited to, morphology, growth, muscle development, behaviour, sex determination and differentiation (Jonsson & Jonsson, 2014; Pittman et al., 2013; Vagner et al., 2019). Such plastic responses may be maladaptive, depending on whether there is match or mismatch between the environment encountered during early development and in adulthood and on the existence of parental effects on the performance of the offspring (Beaman et al., 2016; Consuegra & Rodríguez López, 2016; Piferrer, 2016).…”