Jennifer Donelson - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Jennifer Donelson

Marine Biology, Mar 30, 2018

Tropical species are predicted to be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change giv... more Tropical species are predicted to be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change given the relatively narrow thermal range they naturally experience. Within the tropics, average temperature and thermal variation can differ among populations and consequently low-latitude populations may respond differently to increased temperatures than higher latitude tropical populations. In this study, we investigate the long-term effects of climate change relevant temperature increases on commonly measured condition metrics for a low-latitude population of damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus). Adult fish were randomly assigned to one of the three seasonally cycling treatments: (1) current average ocean temperatures for the collection locations, (2) 1.5 °C, or (3) 3 °C higher than current average temperatures. Treatments were maintained for approximately 10 months. At the end of the experimental period, Fulton's K and hepatosomatic index were calculated for fish from each treatment group and critical thermal limit (CT Max) was measured for a subset of fish at control temperatures. Fish mortality was recorded throughout the experimental period, as well as at the end of the experimental period after the introduction of a secondary exercise stressor. No significant effect of temperature was observed on fish condition (Fulton's K and hepatosomatic index); however, significant mortality was observed for fish maintained at 3 °C higher than current average temperatures. When a secondary exercise stressor was introduced, significant mortality was also observed at 1.5 °C higher than current average temperatures. Acute exposure to higher temperatures (CT Max) suggested a much higher thermal tolerance for this population than long-term mortality, producing a thermal limit of 37.1 °C compared with a chronic thermal limit of 33 °C. Our results show that some basic measures of fish condition may not be capable of detecting lethal and sublethal effects of increased temperature. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that low-latitude species are already living close to their thermal maximum.

Coral Reefs, Mar 27, 2012

Changes to tropical sea surface temperature and plankton communities are expected to occur over t... more Changes to tropical sea surface temperature and plankton communities are expected to occur over the next 100 years due to climate change. There is a limited understanding of how these environmental changes are likely to impact coral reef fishes, especially in terms of population replenishment through the quality of progeny produced. The present study investigated the effect that elevated sea water temperature and changes to food availability may have on the production of offspring by the reef fish Acanthochromis polyacanthus (Pomacentridae), as well as the performance of progeny in environments of varying food availability. An orthogonal design of three water temperatures and two food availabilities (high and low ration) was used, with water temperatures being the current-day average for the collection location (28.5°C), ?1.5°C (30.0°C) and ?3.0°C (31.5°C), representing likely temperatures by 2100. Generally, an increase in the water temperature for adults resulted in a reduction in the size, weight and amount of yolk possessed by newly hatched offspring. Offspring whose parents were maintained under elevated temperature (30.0°C high ration) had lower survival than offspring produced by parents at the currentday temperature (28.5°C high ration) at 15 days posthatching, but only when juveniles were reared under conditions of low food availability. In contrast, by 30 days post-hatching, the growth and condition of these offspring produced by parents held under elevated temperature (30.0°C high ration) were the best of all treatment groups in all levels of juvenile food availability. This result illustrates the potential for initial parental effects to be modified by compensatory growth early in life (within 1 month) and that parental effects are not necessarily long lasting. These findings suggest that the performance of juvenile reef fish in future ocean conditions may not only depend on initial parental effects, but the interaction between their parentally mediated phenotype and their present food availability.

Nature Climate Change, Dec 4, 2011

Understanding the capacity of species to acclimate and adapt to expected temperature increases is... more Understanding the capacity of species to acclimate and adapt to expected temperature increases is critical for making predictions about the biological impacts of global warming, yet it is one of the least certain aspects of climate change science 1-4. Tropical species are considered to be especially sensitive to climate change because they live close to their thermal maximum and exhibit limited capacity for acclimation 5-7. Here, we demonstrate that a tropical reef fish is highly sensitive to small increases in water temperature, but can rapidly acclimate over multiple generations. Acute exposure to elevated temperatures (+1.5 • C and +3.0 • C) predicted to occur this century caused a 15% and 30% respective decrease in individual's maximum ability to perform aerobic activities such as swimming or foraging, known as aerobic scope. However, complete compensation in aerobic scope occurred when both parents and offspring were reared throughout their lives at elevated temperature. Such acclimation could reduce the impact of warming temperatures and allow populations to persist across their current range. This study reveals the importance of transgenerational acclimation as a mechanism for coping with rapid climate change and highlights that single generation studies risk underestimating the potential of species to cope. Ocean temperatures are expected to become adverse for many marine species within the next 50-100 years because of global warming 8,9 , however acclimation and adaptation could allow future populations to adjust to increased temperatures 4,5,10. Although acclimation of physiological processes, such as metabolic function, usually occurs within a generation 11 , parental effects (influences on offspring phenotype that are not solely due to offspring genotype) can also facilitate some acclimatory processes between generations (termed transgenerational effects 12,13). Tropical species are expected to have less capacity for thermal acclimation than temperate species because they have evolved in a more stable thermal environment 5-7. There is also some evidence that plasticity and capacity for genetic adaptation may be linked 14 , indicating that limited capacity for thermal acclimation may relate to restricted potential for long-term adaptation to global warming. For water-breathing ectotherms, such as fish, the capacity to meet increased oxygen demands at elevated temperature will determine their persistence across locations with ocean warming 15. Specifically, as ambient temperature increases, a greater rise in resting metabolic rate (RMR) occurs relative to maximum metabolic rate (MMR), reducing scope for aerobic activity 15. This decline in aerobic scope affects critical biological functions, including behaviour, growth and reproduction, owing to limited capacity of circulatory and ventilatory systems to match oxygen demands 15,16. At present we have a limited understanding of how aquatic species might be able to alter their

Nature Climate Change, Apr 30, 2018

Global Change Biology, Oct 12, 2017

Phenotypic plasticity, both within and across generations, is an important mechanism that organis... more Phenotypic plasticity, both within and across generations, is an important mechanism that organisms use to cope with rapid climate change. While an increasing number of studies show that plasticity across generations (transgenerational plasticity or TGP) may occur, we have limited understanding of key aspects of TGP, such as the environmental conditions that may promote it, its relationship to withingeneration plasticity (WGP) and its role in evolutionary potential. In this review, we consider how the detection of TGP in climate change experiments is affected by the predictability of environmental variation, as well as the timing and magnitude of

Impacts of ocean warming on echinoderms: A meta‐analysis

Ecology and Evolution, Aug 1, 2023

Rising ocean temperatures are threatening marine species and populations worldwide, and ectotherm... more Rising ocean temperatures are threatening marine species and populations worldwide, and ectothermic taxa are particularly vulnerable to warming. Echinoderms are an ecologically important phylum of marine ectotherms and shifts in their population dynamics can have profound impacts on the marine environment. The effects of warming on echinoderms are highly variable across controlled laboratory-based studies. Accordingly, synthesis of these studies will facilitate the better understanding of broad patterns in responses of echinoderms to ocean warming. Herein, a meta-analysis incorporating the results of 85 studies (710 individual responses) is presented, exploring the effects of warming on various performance predictors. The mean responses of echinoderms to all magnitudes of warming were compared across multiple biological responses, ontogenetic life stages, taxonomic classes, and regions, facilitated by multivariate linear mixed effects models. Further models were conducted which only incorporated responses to warming greater than the projected end-of-century mean annual temperatures at the collection sites. This meta-analysis provides evidence that ocean warming will generally accelerate metabolic rate (+ 32%) and reduce survival (– 35%) in echinoderms, and echinoderms from sub-tropical (– 9%) and tropical (– 8%) regions will be the most vulnerable. The relatively high vulnerability of echinoderm larvae to warming (– 20%) indicates that this life stage may be a significant developmental bottleneck in the near-future, likely reducing successful recruitment into populations. Furthermore, asteroids appear to be the class of echinoderms that are most negatively affected by elevated temperature (– 30%). When considering only responses to magnitudes of warming representative of end-of-century climate change projections, the negative impacts on asteroids, tropical species and juveniles were exacerbated (– 51%, – 34%, and – 40% respectively). The results of these analyses enable better predictions of how keystone and invasive echinoderm species may perform in a warmer ocean, and the possible consequences for populations, communities, and ecosystems.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Apr 20, 2022

Biodiversity and Climate Change in the Oceans

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd eBooks, Sep 22, 2017

The chapter summarizes global biodiversity patterns in oceans, with comments on estuaries and fre... more The chapter summarizes global biodiversity patterns in oceans, with comments on estuaries and freshwater habitats, and the influence climate change may have on these patterns. Biodiversity patterns at a global scale owe much to climate and dispersal capabilities of individual organisms. The ocean constitutes over 90% of the habitable space on the planet. Thirty per cent of extant phylogenic groups are exclusively marine, whereas only one phylum (Arachnida) is exclusively terrestrial. However, of the estimated 8.7 million species on Earth, 2.2 million are estimated to be marine with 90% yet to be described (Mora et al., 2011). The Achi Biodiversity Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity aim to conserve 17% of land and freshwater and 10% of marine and coastal areas by 2020. Presently, approximately 12% of the land area is protected, against <1% of the world's oceans and adjacent seas, representing roughly 70% and 10% of the 2020 conservation goals set by the Achi targets. The abundance of life in oceans is extremely variable, with high species diversity and biomass on many continental shelf seas particularly the western equatorial Pacific region where coral reefs support a rich biodiversity (Tittensor et al., 2010), estimated over 1,000 species per m2. Oceans are major sources of global wealth, and ocean fisheries provide over 15% of human dietary intake of animal protein. However, they are all vulnerable to impacts of different types – commercial overexploitation of the world's fish stocks is so severe that it has been estimated that up to 13% of global fisheries have collapsed. This chapter will discuss the major climate change‐linked stressors that affect ocean biodiversity, and how these act via direct and indirect means to affect fish populations and assemblages. We will look at a range of approaches to understanding climate change responses, including empirical, physiological, behavioral, and modeling.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Jan 28, 2019

One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid... more One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid environmental change'.

Nature Climate Change, Sep 1, 2017

he unprecedented rate of environmental change that characterizes the Anthropocene 1 has raised co... more he unprecedented rate of environmental change that characterizes the Anthropocene 1 has raised concerns over whether the pace of organismal adaptation will be sufficient to mitigate projected detrimental effects on populations, communities and ecosystems 2. The appearance and fixation of new adaptive genetic mutations generally requires many generations, suggesting that only organisms with short generation times will be able to adapt at rates matching the pace of environmental change. However, genetic adaptation can sometimes occur remarkably rapidly-within just a few generations-when standing genetic variation and recombination rates are high 3 (Box 1). Furthermore, it is increasingly recognized that acclimatization through phenotypic plasticity may buffer populations against rapid environmental change, allowing genetic adaptation to catch up over the longer term 4. The fate of tropical coral reefs is of particular concern due to their high social, ecological and economic value, and their sensitivity to environmental change 5. Hermatypic scleractinians (reef-building corals), the ecosystem engineers of coral reefs, live close to their upper thermal limits, and elevated summer temperatures can cause mass coral bleaching and mortality 6. Some reef-building corals are also sensitive to the declining saturation state of carbonate ions

CRC Press eBooks, Sep 6, 2022

Marine Biology, 2019

As climate change advances, coastal marine ecosystems are predicted to experience increasingly fr... more As climate change advances, coastal marine ecosystems are predicted to experience increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. At the same time, already variable CO 2 levels in coastal habitats will be exacerbated by ocean acidification. High temperature and elevated CO 2 levels can be stressful to marine organisms, especially during critical early life stages. Here, we used a fully cross-factored experiment to test the effects of simulated heatwave conditions (+ 4 °C) and elevated CO 2 (1000 µatm) on the aerobic physiology and swimming performance of juvenile Australasian snapper, Chrysophrys auratus, an ecologically and economically important mesopredatory fish. Both elevated temperature and elevated CO 2 increased resting metabolic rate of juvenile snapper, by 21-22% and 9-10%, respectively. By contrast, maximum metabolic rate was increased by elevated temperature (16-17%) and decreased by elevated CO 2 (14-15%). The differential effects of elevated temperature and elevated CO 2 on maximum metabolic rate resulted in aerobic scope being reduced only in the elevated CO 2 treatment. Critical swimming speed also increased with elevated temperature and decreased with elevated CO 2 , matching the results for maximum metabolic rate. Periods of elevated CO 2 already occur in the coastal habitats occupied by juvenile snapper, and these events will be exacerbated by ongoing ocean acidification. Our results show that elevated CO 2 has a greater effect on metabolic rates and swimming performance than heatwave conditions for juvenile snapper, and could reduce their overall performance and potentially have negative consequences for population recruitment.

Global change biology, Jul 1, 2018

Climate change is expected to pose a significant risk to species that exhibit strong behavioural ... more Climate change is expected to pose a significant risk to species that exhibit strong behavioural preferences for specific habitat types, with generalist species assumed to be less vulnerable. In this study, we conducted habitat choice experiments to determine how water temperature influences habitat preference for three common species of coral reef damselfish (Pomacentridae) that differ in their levels of habitat specialisation. The lemon damselfish Pomacentrus moluccensis, a habitat specialist, consistently selected complex coral habitat across all temperature treatments (selected based on local average seasonal temperatures naturally experienced in situ: ambient winter 22°C; ambient summer 28°C; and elevated 31°C). Unexpectedly, the neon damselfish Pomacentrus coelestis and scissortail sergeant Abudefduf sexfasciatus, both of which have more generalist habitat associations, developed strong habitat preferences (for complex coral and boulder habitat, respectively) at the elevated t...

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Jan 28, 2019

One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid... more One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid environmental change'.

Molecular responses of brains to cross-generational warming in a coral reef fish

Ocean warming is a threat to marine biodiversity, as it can push marine species beyond their phys... more Ocean warming is a threat to marine biodiversity, as it can push marine species beyond their physiological limits. Detrimental effects can occur when marine poikilotherms are exposed to conditions beyond their optimal thermal range. However, acclamatory mechanisms, such as plasticity, may enable compensation of detrimental effects if warming is experienced during development or across generations. Studies evaluating the molecular responses of fishes to warming have mostly focused on liver, muscle and gonads, and consequently little is known about the effects on other vital organs, including the brain. This study evaluated the transcriptional program of the brain in the coral reef fish Acanthochromis polyacanthus, exposed to two different warming scenarios: +1.5°C and +3.0°C, across successive generations. Fish were exposed to these conditions in both developmental (F1 and F2) and transgenerational settings (F2 only), as well as a treatment with step-wise warming between generations....

Metabolic Responses of Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Stars (Acanthastersp.) to Acute Warming

The Biological Bulletin, 2021

Climate change and population irruptions of crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) are two o... more Climate change and population irruptions of crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) are two of the most pervasive threats to coral reefs. Yet there has been little consideration regarding the synergies between ocean warming and the coral-feeding sub-adult and adult stages of this asteroid. Here we explored the thermosensitivity of the aforementioned life stages by assessing physiological responses to acute warming. Thermal sensitivity was assessed based on the maximal activity of enzymes involved in aerobic (citrate synthase) and anaerobic (lactate dehydrogenase) metabolic pathways, as well as the standard metabolic rate of sub-adult and adult sea stars. In both life stages, citrate synthase activity declined with increasing temperature from 15 °C to 40 °C, with negligible activity occurring >35 °C. On the other hand, lactate dehydrogenase activity increased with temperature from 20 °C to 45 °C, indicating a greater reliance on anaerobic metabolism in a warmer environment. The standard metabolic rate of sub-adult sea stars increased with temperature throughout the testing range (24 °C to 36 °C). Adult sea stars exhibited evidence of thermal stress, with metabolic depression occurring from 33 °C. Here, we demonstrate that crown-of-thorns sea stars are sensitive to warming but that adults, and especially sub-adults, may have some resilience to short-term marine heatwaves in the near future.

Marine Environmental Research, 2020

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Scientific Reports, 2019

Under projected levels of ocean acidification, shifts in energetic demands and food availability ... more Under projected levels of ocean acidification, shifts in energetic demands and food availability could interact to effect the growth and development of marine organisms. Changes to individual growth rates could then flow on to influence emergent properties of social groups, particularly in species that form size-based hierarchies. To test the potential interactive effects of (1) food availability, (2) elevated CO2 during juvenile development, and (3) parental experience of elevated CO2 on the growth, condition and size-based hierarchy of juvenile fish, we reared orange clownfish (Amphiprion percula) for 50 days post-hatching in a fully orthogonal design. Development in elevated CO2 reduced standard length and weight of juveniles, by 9% and 11% respectively, compared to ambient. Development under low food availability reduced length and weight of juveniles by 7% and 15% respectively, compared to high food. Parental exposure to elevated CO2 restored the length of juveniles to that of ...

Donelson et al. Evol Appl data

Data file containing the means and standard errors of reproductive data used in "Transgenera... more Data file containing the means and standard errors of reproductive data used in "Transgenerational plasticity of reproduction depends on on rate of warming across generations"

Evolutionary Applications, 2021

AHURI AHURI is a national independent research network with an expert not-for-profit research man... more AHURI AHURI is a national independent research network with an expert not-for-profit research management company, AHURI Limited, at its centre. AHURI's mission is to deliver high quality research that influences policy development and practice change to improve the housing and urban environments of all Australians. Using high quality, independent evidence and through active, managed engagement, AHURI works to inform the policies and practices of governments and the housing and urban development industries, and stimulate debate in the broader Australian community. AHURI undertakes evidence-based policy development on a range of priority policy topics that are of interest to our audience groups, including housing and labour markets, urban growth and renewal, planning and infrastructure development, housing supply and affordability, homelessness, economic productivity, and social cohesion and wellbeing. Disclaimer The opinions in this report reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of AHURI Limited, its Board, its funding organisations or Inquiry Panel members. No responsibility is accepted by AHURI Limited, its Board or funders for the accuracy or omission of any statement, opinion, advice or information in this publication. AHURI journal AHURI Final Report journal series is a refereed series presenting the results of original research to a diverse readership of policy-makers, researchers and practitioners. Peer review statement An objective assessment of reports published in the AHURI journal series by carefully selected experts in the field ensures that material published is of the highest quality. The AHURI journal series employs a double-blind peer review of the full report, where anonymity is strictly observed between authors and referees.

Marine Biology, Mar 30, 2018

Tropical species are predicted to be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change giv... more Tropical species are predicted to be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change given the relatively narrow thermal range they naturally experience. Within the tropics, average temperature and thermal variation can differ among populations and consequently low-latitude populations may respond differently to increased temperatures than higher latitude tropical populations. In this study, we investigate the long-term effects of climate change relevant temperature increases on commonly measured condition metrics for a low-latitude population of damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus). Adult fish were randomly assigned to one of the three seasonally cycling treatments: (1) current average ocean temperatures for the collection locations, (2) 1.5 °C, or (3) 3 °C higher than current average temperatures. Treatments were maintained for approximately 10 months. At the end of the experimental period, Fulton's K and hepatosomatic index were calculated for fish from each treatment group and critical thermal limit (CT Max) was measured for a subset of fish at control temperatures. Fish mortality was recorded throughout the experimental period, as well as at the end of the experimental period after the introduction of a secondary exercise stressor. No significant effect of temperature was observed on fish condition (Fulton's K and hepatosomatic index); however, significant mortality was observed for fish maintained at 3 °C higher than current average temperatures. When a secondary exercise stressor was introduced, significant mortality was also observed at 1.5 °C higher than current average temperatures. Acute exposure to higher temperatures (CT Max) suggested a much higher thermal tolerance for this population than long-term mortality, producing a thermal limit of 37.1 °C compared with a chronic thermal limit of 33 °C. Our results show that some basic measures of fish condition may not be capable of detecting lethal and sublethal effects of increased temperature. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that low-latitude species are already living close to their thermal maximum.

Coral Reefs, Mar 27, 2012

Changes to tropical sea surface temperature and plankton communities are expected to occur over t... more Changes to tropical sea surface temperature and plankton communities are expected to occur over the next 100 years due to climate change. There is a limited understanding of how these environmental changes are likely to impact coral reef fishes, especially in terms of population replenishment through the quality of progeny produced. The present study investigated the effect that elevated sea water temperature and changes to food availability may have on the production of offspring by the reef fish Acanthochromis polyacanthus (Pomacentridae), as well as the performance of progeny in environments of varying food availability. An orthogonal design of three water temperatures and two food availabilities (high and low ration) was used, with water temperatures being the current-day average for the collection location (28.5°C), ?1.5°C (30.0°C) and ?3.0°C (31.5°C), representing likely temperatures by 2100. Generally, an increase in the water temperature for adults resulted in a reduction in the size, weight and amount of yolk possessed by newly hatched offspring. Offspring whose parents were maintained under elevated temperature (30.0°C high ration) had lower survival than offspring produced by parents at the currentday temperature (28.5°C high ration) at 15 days posthatching, but only when juveniles were reared under conditions of low food availability. In contrast, by 30 days post-hatching, the growth and condition of these offspring produced by parents held under elevated temperature (30.0°C high ration) were the best of all treatment groups in all levels of juvenile food availability. This result illustrates the potential for initial parental effects to be modified by compensatory growth early in life (within 1 month) and that parental effects are not necessarily long lasting. These findings suggest that the performance of juvenile reef fish in future ocean conditions may not only depend on initial parental effects, but the interaction between their parentally mediated phenotype and their present food availability.

Nature Climate Change, Dec 4, 2011

Understanding the capacity of species to acclimate and adapt to expected temperature increases is... more Understanding the capacity of species to acclimate and adapt to expected temperature increases is critical for making predictions about the biological impacts of global warming, yet it is one of the least certain aspects of climate change science 1-4. Tropical species are considered to be especially sensitive to climate change because they live close to their thermal maximum and exhibit limited capacity for acclimation 5-7. Here, we demonstrate that a tropical reef fish is highly sensitive to small increases in water temperature, but can rapidly acclimate over multiple generations. Acute exposure to elevated temperatures (+1.5 • C and +3.0 • C) predicted to occur this century caused a 15% and 30% respective decrease in individual's maximum ability to perform aerobic activities such as swimming or foraging, known as aerobic scope. However, complete compensation in aerobic scope occurred when both parents and offspring were reared throughout their lives at elevated temperature. Such acclimation could reduce the impact of warming temperatures and allow populations to persist across their current range. This study reveals the importance of transgenerational acclimation as a mechanism for coping with rapid climate change and highlights that single generation studies risk underestimating the potential of species to cope. Ocean temperatures are expected to become adverse for many marine species within the next 50-100 years because of global warming 8,9 , however acclimation and adaptation could allow future populations to adjust to increased temperatures 4,5,10. Although acclimation of physiological processes, such as metabolic function, usually occurs within a generation 11 , parental effects (influences on offspring phenotype that are not solely due to offspring genotype) can also facilitate some acclimatory processes between generations (termed transgenerational effects 12,13). Tropical species are expected to have less capacity for thermal acclimation than temperate species because they have evolved in a more stable thermal environment 5-7. There is also some evidence that plasticity and capacity for genetic adaptation may be linked 14 , indicating that limited capacity for thermal acclimation may relate to restricted potential for long-term adaptation to global warming. For water-breathing ectotherms, such as fish, the capacity to meet increased oxygen demands at elevated temperature will determine their persistence across locations with ocean warming 15. Specifically, as ambient temperature increases, a greater rise in resting metabolic rate (RMR) occurs relative to maximum metabolic rate (MMR), reducing scope for aerobic activity 15. This decline in aerobic scope affects critical biological functions, including behaviour, growth and reproduction, owing to limited capacity of circulatory and ventilatory systems to match oxygen demands 15,16. At present we have a limited understanding of how aquatic species might be able to alter their

Nature Climate Change, Apr 30, 2018

Global Change Biology, Oct 12, 2017

Phenotypic plasticity, both within and across generations, is an important mechanism that organis... more Phenotypic plasticity, both within and across generations, is an important mechanism that organisms use to cope with rapid climate change. While an increasing number of studies show that plasticity across generations (transgenerational plasticity or TGP) may occur, we have limited understanding of key aspects of TGP, such as the environmental conditions that may promote it, its relationship to withingeneration plasticity (WGP) and its role in evolutionary potential. In this review, we consider how the detection of TGP in climate change experiments is affected by the predictability of environmental variation, as well as the timing and magnitude of

Impacts of ocean warming on echinoderms: A meta‐analysis

Ecology and Evolution, Aug 1, 2023

Rising ocean temperatures are threatening marine species and populations worldwide, and ectotherm... more Rising ocean temperatures are threatening marine species and populations worldwide, and ectothermic taxa are particularly vulnerable to warming. Echinoderms are an ecologically important phylum of marine ectotherms and shifts in their population dynamics can have profound impacts on the marine environment. The effects of warming on echinoderms are highly variable across controlled laboratory-based studies. Accordingly, synthesis of these studies will facilitate the better understanding of broad patterns in responses of echinoderms to ocean warming. Herein, a meta-analysis incorporating the results of 85 studies (710 individual responses) is presented, exploring the effects of warming on various performance predictors. The mean responses of echinoderms to all magnitudes of warming were compared across multiple biological responses, ontogenetic life stages, taxonomic classes, and regions, facilitated by multivariate linear mixed effects models. Further models were conducted which only incorporated responses to warming greater than the projected end-of-century mean annual temperatures at the collection sites. This meta-analysis provides evidence that ocean warming will generally accelerate metabolic rate (+ 32%) and reduce survival (– 35%) in echinoderms, and echinoderms from sub-tropical (– 9%) and tropical (– 8%) regions will be the most vulnerable. The relatively high vulnerability of echinoderm larvae to warming (– 20%) indicates that this life stage may be a significant developmental bottleneck in the near-future, likely reducing successful recruitment into populations. Furthermore, asteroids appear to be the class of echinoderms that are most negatively affected by elevated temperature (– 30%). When considering only responses to magnitudes of warming representative of end-of-century climate change projections, the negative impacts on asteroids, tropical species and juveniles were exacerbated (– 51%, – 34%, and – 40% respectively). The results of these analyses enable better predictions of how keystone and invasive echinoderm species may perform in a warmer ocean, and the possible consequences for populations, communities, and ecosystems.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Apr 20, 2022

Biodiversity and Climate Change in the Oceans

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd eBooks, Sep 22, 2017

The chapter summarizes global biodiversity patterns in oceans, with comments on estuaries and fre... more The chapter summarizes global biodiversity patterns in oceans, with comments on estuaries and freshwater habitats, and the influence climate change may have on these patterns. Biodiversity patterns at a global scale owe much to climate and dispersal capabilities of individual organisms. The ocean constitutes over 90% of the habitable space on the planet. Thirty per cent of extant phylogenic groups are exclusively marine, whereas only one phylum (Arachnida) is exclusively terrestrial. However, of the estimated 8.7 million species on Earth, 2.2 million are estimated to be marine with 90% yet to be described (Mora et al., 2011). The Achi Biodiversity Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity aim to conserve 17% of land and freshwater and 10% of marine and coastal areas by 2020. Presently, approximately 12% of the land area is protected, against <1% of the world's oceans and adjacent seas, representing roughly 70% and 10% of the 2020 conservation goals set by the Achi targets. The abundance of life in oceans is extremely variable, with high species diversity and biomass on many continental shelf seas particularly the western equatorial Pacific region where coral reefs support a rich biodiversity (Tittensor et al., 2010), estimated over 1,000 species per m2. Oceans are major sources of global wealth, and ocean fisheries provide over 15% of human dietary intake of animal protein. However, they are all vulnerable to impacts of different types – commercial overexploitation of the world's fish stocks is so severe that it has been estimated that up to 13% of global fisheries have collapsed. This chapter will discuss the major climate change‐linked stressors that affect ocean biodiversity, and how these act via direct and indirect means to affect fish populations and assemblages. We will look at a range of approaches to understanding climate change responses, including empirical, physiological, behavioral, and modeling.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Jan 28, 2019

One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid... more One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid environmental change'.

Nature Climate Change, Sep 1, 2017

he unprecedented rate of environmental change that characterizes the Anthropocene 1 has raised co... more he unprecedented rate of environmental change that characterizes the Anthropocene 1 has raised concerns over whether the pace of organismal adaptation will be sufficient to mitigate projected detrimental effects on populations, communities and ecosystems 2. The appearance and fixation of new adaptive genetic mutations generally requires many generations, suggesting that only organisms with short generation times will be able to adapt at rates matching the pace of environmental change. However, genetic adaptation can sometimes occur remarkably rapidly-within just a few generations-when standing genetic variation and recombination rates are high 3 (Box 1). Furthermore, it is increasingly recognized that acclimatization through phenotypic plasticity may buffer populations against rapid environmental change, allowing genetic adaptation to catch up over the longer term 4. The fate of tropical coral reefs is of particular concern due to their high social, ecological and economic value, and their sensitivity to environmental change 5. Hermatypic scleractinians (reef-building corals), the ecosystem engineers of coral reefs, live close to their upper thermal limits, and elevated summer temperatures can cause mass coral bleaching and mortality 6. Some reef-building corals are also sensitive to the declining saturation state of carbonate ions

CRC Press eBooks, Sep 6, 2022

Marine Biology, 2019

As climate change advances, coastal marine ecosystems are predicted to experience increasingly fr... more As climate change advances, coastal marine ecosystems are predicted to experience increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. At the same time, already variable CO 2 levels in coastal habitats will be exacerbated by ocean acidification. High temperature and elevated CO 2 levels can be stressful to marine organisms, especially during critical early life stages. Here, we used a fully cross-factored experiment to test the effects of simulated heatwave conditions (+ 4 °C) and elevated CO 2 (1000 µatm) on the aerobic physiology and swimming performance of juvenile Australasian snapper, Chrysophrys auratus, an ecologically and economically important mesopredatory fish. Both elevated temperature and elevated CO 2 increased resting metabolic rate of juvenile snapper, by 21-22% and 9-10%, respectively. By contrast, maximum metabolic rate was increased by elevated temperature (16-17%) and decreased by elevated CO 2 (14-15%). The differential effects of elevated temperature and elevated CO 2 on maximum metabolic rate resulted in aerobic scope being reduced only in the elevated CO 2 treatment. Critical swimming speed also increased with elevated temperature and decreased with elevated CO 2 , matching the results for maximum metabolic rate. Periods of elevated CO 2 already occur in the coastal habitats occupied by juvenile snapper, and these events will be exacerbated by ongoing ocean acidification. Our results show that elevated CO 2 has a greater effect on metabolic rates and swimming performance than heatwave conditions for juvenile snapper, and could reduce their overall performance and potentially have negative consequences for population recruitment.

Global change biology, Jul 1, 2018

Climate change is expected to pose a significant risk to species that exhibit strong behavioural ... more Climate change is expected to pose a significant risk to species that exhibit strong behavioural preferences for specific habitat types, with generalist species assumed to be less vulnerable. In this study, we conducted habitat choice experiments to determine how water temperature influences habitat preference for three common species of coral reef damselfish (Pomacentridae) that differ in their levels of habitat specialisation. The lemon damselfish Pomacentrus moluccensis, a habitat specialist, consistently selected complex coral habitat across all temperature treatments (selected based on local average seasonal temperatures naturally experienced in situ: ambient winter 22°C; ambient summer 28°C; and elevated 31°C). Unexpectedly, the neon damselfish Pomacentrus coelestis and scissortail sergeant Abudefduf sexfasciatus, both of which have more generalist habitat associations, developed strong habitat preferences (for complex coral and boulder habitat, respectively) at the elevated t...

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Jan 28, 2019

One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid... more One contribution of 13 to a theme issue 'The role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid environmental change'.

Molecular responses of brains to cross-generational warming in a coral reef fish

Ocean warming is a threat to marine biodiversity, as it can push marine species beyond their phys... more Ocean warming is a threat to marine biodiversity, as it can push marine species beyond their physiological limits. Detrimental effects can occur when marine poikilotherms are exposed to conditions beyond their optimal thermal range. However, acclamatory mechanisms, such as plasticity, may enable compensation of detrimental effects if warming is experienced during development or across generations. Studies evaluating the molecular responses of fishes to warming have mostly focused on liver, muscle and gonads, and consequently little is known about the effects on other vital organs, including the brain. This study evaluated the transcriptional program of the brain in the coral reef fish Acanthochromis polyacanthus, exposed to two different warming scenarios: +1.5°C and +3.0°C, across successive generations. Fish were exposed to these conditions in both developmental (F1 and F2) and transgenerational settings (F2 only), as well as a treatment with step-wise warming between generations....

Metabolic Responses of Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Stars (Acanthastersp.) to Acute Warming

The Biological Bulletin, 2021

Climate change and population irruptions of crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) are two o... more Climate change and population irruptions of crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) are two of the most pervasive threats to coral reefs. Yet there has been little consideration regarding the synergies between ocean warming and the coral-feeding sub-adult and adult stages of this asteroid. Here we explored the thermosensitivity of the aforementioned life stages by assessing physiological responses to acute warming. Thermal sensitivity was assessed based on the maximal activity of enzymes involved in aerobic (citrate synthase) and anaerobic (lactate dehydrogenase) metabolic pathways, as well as the standard metabolic rate of sub-adult and adult sea stars. In both life stages, citrate synthase activity declined with increasing temperature from 15 °C to 40 °C, with negligible activity occurring >35 °C. On the other hand, lactate dehydrogenase activity increased with temperature from 20 °C to 45 °C, indicating a greater reliance on anaerobic metabolism in a warmer environment. The standard metabolic rate of sub-adult sea stars increased with temperature throughout the testing range (24 °C to 36 °C). Adult sea stars exhibited evidence of thermal stress, with metabolic depression occurring from 33 °C. Here, we demonstrate that crown-of-thorns sea stars are sensitive to warming but that adults, and especially sub-adults, may have some resilience to short-term marine heatwaves in the near future.

Marine Environmental Research, 2020

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Scientific Reports, 2019

Under projected levels of ocean acidification, shifts in energetic demands and food availability ... more Under projected levels of ocean acidification, shifts in energetic demands and food availability could interact to effect the growth and development of marine organisms. Changes to individual growth rates could then flow on to influence emergent properties of social groups, particularly in species that form size-based hierarchies. To test the potential interactive effects of (1) food availability, (2) elevated CO2 during juvenile development, and (3) parental experience of elevated CO2 on the growth, condition and size-based hierarchy of juvenile fish, we reared orange clownfish (Amphiprion percula) for 50 days post-hatching in a fully orthogonal design. Development in elevated CO2 reduced standard length and weight of juveniles, by 9% and 11% respectively, compared to ambient. Development under low food availability reduced length and weight of juveniles by 7% and 15% respectively, compared to high food. Parental exposure to elevated CO2 restored the length of juveniles to that of ...

Donelson et al. Evol Appl data

Data file containing the means and standard errors of reproductive data used in "Transgenera... more Data file containing the means and standard errors of reproductive data used in "Transgenerational plasticity of reproduction depends on on rate of warming across generations"

Evolutionary Applications, 2021

AHURI AHURI is a national independent research network with an expert not-for-profit research man... more AHURI AHURI is a national independent research network with an expert not-for-profit research management company, AHURI Limited, at its centre. AHURI's mission is to deliver high quality research that influences policy development and practice change to improve the housing and urban environments of all Australians. Using high quality, independent evidence and through active, managed engagement, AHURI works to inform the policies and practices of governments and the housing and urban development industries, and stimulate debate in the broader Australian community. AHURI undertakes evidence-based policy development on a range of priority policy topics that are of interest to our audience groups, including housing and labour markets, urban growth and renewal, planning and infrastructure development, housing supply and affordability, homelessness, economic productivity, and social cohesion and wellbeing. Disclaimer The opinions in this report reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of AHURI Limited, its Board, its funding organisations or Inquiry Panel members. No responsibility is accepted by AHURI Limited, its Board or funders for the accuracy or omission of any statement, opinion, advice or information in this publication. AHURI journal AHURI Final Report journal series is a refereed series presenting the results of original research to a diverse readership of policy-makers, researchers and practitioners. Peer review statement An objective assessment of reports published in the AHURI journal series by carefully selected experts in the field ensures that material published is of the highest quality. The AHURI journal series employs a double-blind peer review of the full report, where anonymity is strictly observed between authors and referees.