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Divergence in rates of phenotypic plasticity among ectotherms
  • Sigurd Einum,
  • Tim Burton
Sigurd Einum
Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Tim Burton
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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Abstract

An individual’s fitness cost associated with environmental change likely depends on the rate of adaptive phenotypic plasticity, and yet our understanding of plasticity rates in an ecological and evolutionary context remains limited. We provide the first quantitative synthesis of existing plasticity rate data, focusing on acclimation of temperature tolerance in ectothermic animals, where we demonstrate applicability of a recently proposed analytical approach. The analyses reveal considerable variation in plasticity rates of this trait among species, with half-times (how long it takes for the initial deviation from the acclimated phenotype to be reduced by 50% when individuals are shifted to a new environment) ranging from 3.7 to 770.2 h. Furthermore, rates differ among higher taxa, being higher for amphibians and reptiles than for crustaceans and fishes, and with insects being intermediate. We argue that a more comprehensive understanding of phenotypic plasticity will be attained through increased focus on the rate parameter.
19 Oct 2022Submitted to Ecology Letters
20 Oct 2022Submission Checks Completed
20 Oct 2022Assigned to Editor
20 Oct 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Oct 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Nov 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
02 Nov 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Nov 20221st Revision Received
02 Nov 2022Submission Checks Completed
02 Nov 2022Assigned to Editor
03 Nov 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
04 Nov 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Nov 20222nd Revision Received
04 Nov 2022Submission Checks Completed
04 Nov 2022Assigned to Editor
04 Nov 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Jan 2023Published in Ecology Letters volume 26 issue 1 on pages 147-156. 10.1111/ele.14147