Helm, B., Van Doren, B. M., Hoffmann, D. and Hoffmann, U. (2019) Evolutionary response to climate change in migratory pied flycatchers. Current Biology, 29(21), 3714-3719.e4. (doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.072) (PMID:31668621)
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Abstract
Climate change is rapidly advancing spring phenology [1, 2, 3] but at different rates in different species [1, 4]. Whether these advances are solely driven by phenotypic plasticity [2, 5] or also involve evolution is hotly debated (e.g., [5, 6, 7]). In some species, including avian long-distance migrants, plastic responses to early springs may be constrained by inherited circannual timing programs [8, 9], making evolutionary adjustment the only viable mechanism for keeping pace with shifting phenology [5, 10]. This constraint may be contributing to population declines in migratory species [5, 10, 11, 12]. To test whether a migrant’s timing program has evolved [10, 12], we replicated an experimental study of the annual cycle of long-distance migratory pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) after 21 years of warming. Flycatchers are a model for studying constrained ecological responses to climate change [6, 10, 12, 13]. We show that the phase of the flycatcher circannual clock controlling spring moult, migration, and reproductive timing advanced by 9 days. A nearby wild population mirrored these changes, concurrently advancing egg-laying by 11 days. Furthermore, the time window during which wild flycatcher reproductive timing was most sensitive to ambient temperature advanced by 0.8 days year–1. These results support a role of phenotypic evolution [14] in changing spring phenology [15, 16]. We suggest that the timing programs of long-distance migratory birds may have greater adaptive potential than previously thought, leaving some scope for evolutionary rescue in a changing climate.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Helm, Dr Barbara |
Authors: | Helm, B., Van Doren, B. M., Hoffmann, D., and Hoffmann, U. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
Journal Name: | Current Biology |
Publisher: | Elsevier (Cell Press) |
ISSN: | 0960-9822 |
ISSN (Online): | 1879-0445 |
Published Online: | 24 October 2019 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. |
First Published: | First published in Current Biology 29(21): 3714-3719.e4 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy |
Data DOI: | 10.17632/6n38vwnwc7.1 |
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