Variable stressor exposure shapes fitness within and across generations
Lee, Marcus LU
(2025)
In Scientific Reports
15.
- Abstract
Environmental variation has long been considered a key driver of evolutionary change, predicted to shape different strategies, such as genetic specialization, plasticity, or bet-hedging to maintain fitness. However, little evidence is available with regards to how the periodicity of stressors may impact fitness across generations. To address this gap, I conducted a reciprocal split-brood experiment using the freshwater crustacean, Daphnia magna, and an ecologically relevant environmental stressor, ultraviolet radiation (UVR). I exposed one group to constant and another group to fluctuating UVR conditions. Despite receiving the same dose of UVR, the first experimental generation displayed significant treatment-by-genotype interactions... (More)
Environmental variation has long been considered a key driver of evolutionary change, predicted to shape different strategies, such as genetic specialization, plasticity, or bet-hedging to maintain fitness. However, little evidence is available with regards to how the periodicity of stressors may impact fitness across generations. To address this gap, I conducted a reciprocal split-brood experiment using the freshwater crustacean, Daphnia magna, and an ecologically relevant environmental stressor, ultraviolet radiation (UVR). I exposed one group to constant and another group to fluctuating UVR conditions. Despite receiving the same dose of UVR, the first experimental generation displayed significant treatment-by-genotype interactions with respect to survival and reproductive output, as well as a delayed reproductive maturity under fluctuating UVR conditions. In the following experimental generation individuals exposed to fluctuating UVR exhibited higher fitness than those in a constant UVR regime. The ancestral conditions, i.e., maternal environment, however affected the survival probability and reproductive output, but did not significantly influence the maturation date. Overall, I demonstrate that the delivery of a stressor, not just its intensity, can have profound fitness consequences across generations, with important implications for seasonal succession of genotype–phenotype patterns in natural environments.
(Less)
- author
- Lee, Marcus
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-01-29
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Clonal variation, Daphnia, Environmental heterogeneity, Life-history trade-offs, Multigenerational, Stressor delivery
- in
- Scientific Reports
- volume
- 15
- article number
- 3626
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:39880940
- scopus:85217357029
- ISSN
- 2045-2322
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-025-87334-8
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 4b666203-5e00-40a8-99ae-3762d9dd10b9
- date added to LUP
- 2025-04-07 12:13:30
- date last changed
- 2025-07-14 19:46:05
@article{4b666203-5e00-40a8-99ae-3762d9dd10b9,
abstract = {{<p>Environmental variation has long been considered a key driver of evolutionary change, predicted to shape different strategies, such as genetic specialization, plasticity, or bet-hedging to maintain fitness. However, little evidence is available with regards to how the periodicity of stressors may impact fitness across generations. To address this gap, I conducted a reciprocal split-brood experiment using the freshwater crustacean, Daphnia magna, and an ecologically relevant environmental stressor, ultraviolet radiation (UVR). I exposed one group to constant and another group to fluctuating UVR conditions. Despite receiving the same dose of UVR, the first experimental generation displayed significant treatment-by-genotype interactions with respect to survival and reproductive output, as well as a delayed reproductive maturity under fluctuating UVR conditions. In the following experimental generation individuals exposed to fluctuating UVR exhibited higher fitness than those in a constant UVR regime. The ancestral conditions, i.e., maternal environment, however affected the survival probability and reproductive output, but did not significantly influence the maturation date. Overall, I demonstrate that the delivery of a stressor, not just its intensity, can have profound fitness consequences across generations, with important implications for seasonal succession of genotype–phenotype patterns in natural environments.</p>}},
author = {{Lee, Marcus}},
issn = {{2045-2322}},
keywords = {{Clonal variation; Daphnia; Environmental heterogeneity; Life-history trade-offs; Multigenerational; Stressor delivery}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Scientific Reports}},
title = {{Variable stressor exposure shapes fitness within and across generations}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87334-8}},
doi = {{10.1038/s41598-025-87334-8}},
volume = {{15}},
year = {{2025}},
}