Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PLASTIC TERN (The evolutionary genetics of multidimensional plasticity in a wild seabird)
Berichtszeitraum: 2018-09-01 bis 2020-08-31
Investigating the evolutionary genetics of plasticity in wild animal populations is of key relevance to advance our understanding on how climate and global change influence the viability of populations in nature. Phenotypic plasticity is defined as the ability of a single genotype to alter its phenotype in response to environmental variability. A vast body of empirical work shows that plasticity is widespread and ubiquitous across natural populations, and that it is an important means by which organisms adapt to spatio-temporal environmental heterogeneity. However, our current understanding of the evolutionary genetics of phenotypic plasticity relies mostly on studies of single traits in short-lived species studied under laboratory conditions. Whether phenotypic plasticity is generally heritable and under selection in the wild therefore remains an open question. In this project, the Researcher investigated how individual and genetic variation in plasticity was shaped by internal factors, such as age, and external factors, such as social environment, temperature, and food availability; and their evolutionary consequences. The data used in PLASTIC TERN came from a long-term study population of common terns (Sterna hirundo) located in the Banter See at Wilhelmshaven on the German North Sea coast (53°36´N, 08°06´E).
The results of PLASTIC TERN provide a fundamental understanding of the evolutionary genetics of plasticity driven by different ecological and intrinsic factors for multiple traits at multiple levels of variation using a unique dataset and advanced statistical tools. These results are of prime importance to better understand how wild populations can adapt to new environments as the ones climate and global change are posing, being of key relevance for the management and conservation of natural populations, and endangered species. For instance, results from PLASTIC TERN showed that common terns are able to adjust their timing of breeding in relation to food availability in the breeding grounds (i.e. there is a direct relationship between the number of offspring produced in the colony and the number of herrings in the North sea). Hence, the findings from PLASTIC TERN have direct societal benefits, as they can be directly used by policy-makers, NGOs and local governments working for the Wadden Sea conservation, and in general, for seabird colony management and conservation, and fisheries.
The overall scientific objectives were two. The first objective (Work Package 1) was to quantify patterns of plasticity in several traits and in response to several environmental gradients, and hence, provide novel insights into the adaptive potential of a wild bird population of common terns. Specifically, findings from PLASTIC TERN showed that 1) telomere length is highly heritable in common terns and shortens with age, although individuals do not differ in the ageing patterns; 2) the breeding timing in female common terns is heritable and partly affected by their male partners; and 3) common terns can plastically adjust their phenology according to sea surface temperature in the wintering grounds, and to fish availability in the breeding grounds. Altogether, Work Package 1 led to three publications (one published, one submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and one in preparation) about patterns of plasticity. The second objective (Work Package 2) was to explore whether the observed phenotypic changes are adaptive. Studying how natural selection acts on plasticity is not only relevant for a better understanding of the evolution of phenotypic plasticity in the wild, but also, for a general better understanding of the evolution and maintenance of phenotypic biodiversity. In Work Package 2, the Researcher investigated whether there was standing additive genetic variation in fitness, as the existence of genetic variation in fitness is a prerequisite for evolution by natural selection. Results demonstrated evidence for genetic variance for fitness in this population, although the evolutionary rate of this population of common terns would be fairly slow. Work Package 2 led to one publication.
The results of PLASTIC TERN provide a fundamental understanding of the evolutionary genetics of plasticity driven by different ecological and intrinsic factors for multiple traits at multiple levels of variation using a unique dataset and advanced statistical tools. These results are of prime importance to better understand how wild populations can adapt to new environments as the ones climate and global change are posing, being of key relevance for the management and conservation of natural populations, and endangered species. For instance, results from PLASTIC TERN showed that common terns are able to adjust their timing of breeding in relation to food availability in the breeding grounds (i.e. there is a direct relationship between the number of offspring produced in the colony and the number of herrings in the North sea). Hence, the findings from PLASTIC TERN have direct societal benefits, as they can be directly used by policy-makers, NGOs and local governments working for the Wadden Sea conservation, and in general, for seabird colony management and conservation, and fisheries.
The overall scientific objectives were two. The first objective (Work Package 1) was to quantify patterns of plasticity in several traits and in response to several environmental gradients, and hence, provide novel insights into the adaptive potential of a wild bird population of common terns. Specifically, findings from PLASTIC TERN showed that 1) telomere length is highly heritable in common terns and shortens with age, although individuals do not differ in the ageing patterns; 2) the breeding timing in female common terns is heritable and partly affected by their male partners; and 3) common terns can plastically adjust their phenology according to sea surface temperature in the wintering grounds, and to fish availability in the breeding grounds. Altogether, Work Package 1 led to three publications (one published, one submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and one in preparation) about patterns of plasticity. The second objective (Work Package 2) was to explore whether the observed phenotypic changes are adaptive. Studying how natural selection acts on plasticity is not only relevant for a better understanding of the evolution of phenotypic plasticity in the wild, but also, for a general better understanding of the evolution and maintenance of phenotypic biodiversity. In Work Package 2, the Researcher investigated whether there was standing additive genetic variation in fitness, as the existence of genetic variation in fitness is a prerequisite for evolution by natural selection. Results demonstrated evidence for genetic variance for fitness in this population, although the evolutionary rate of this population of common terns would be fairly slow. Work Package 2 led to one publication.
"Phenotypic and pedigree data was already available at the start of PLASTIC TERN, ensuring the success of the project. Reassuringly, the research involved in PLASTIC TERN proceeded as expected, and the Researcher has already one publication in a peer-reviewed journal, The American Naturalist, and submitted two other manuscripts. The Researcher is still working on a fourth manuscript about the genetics of plasticity in response to multiple environmental factors. Additionally, the exploitation and dissemination of the results was executed by different means. The Researcher presented the findings from the project in multiple international conferences such as Society for Experimental Biology in Seville (Spain), European Society for Evolutionary Biology in Turku (Finland), Genetics Society in Exeter (UK), and Models in Ecology and Evolution in Montpellier (France). Additionally, the Researcher was invited to give three seminars at international institutions, where she also presented the work from PLASTIC TERN. The invited seminars were at the Université du Québec à Montréal in Montreal (Canada), the University of Bielefeld in Bielefeld (Germany), and the Institute of Avian Research in Wilhelmshaven (Germany). The latter was at the secondment institution, enhancing the knowledge transfer between institutions participating in PLASTIC TERN. Finally, the Researcher also presented her work to a broader audience at the 6th World Seabird Twitter conference (#WSTC6). Because of the covid19 pandemic, the Researcher could not attend the 6th International Conference of Quantitative Genetics in Brisbane (Australia), where she had an abstract accepted for presentation. Finally, the Researcher organized a two-day conference (Models in Ecology and Evolution) in Montpellier (France), acquiring first-hand experience in managing scientific events."
"Findings from PLASTIC TERN, using long-term data from a wild population and tackling directly applied questions on global and climate change, provided invaluable knowledge to further our understating on whether and how wild populations will adapt to the current global scenario, with direct conservation implications. Indeed, PLASTIC TERN contributed directly to one of the policy objectives of Europe, i.e. towards a “Sustainable Europe”. Additionally, findings from PLASTIC TERN are of key relevance for the management and conservation of natural populations, and endangered species such as the common terns in Germany, being of key relevance for conservation associations, NGOs and local governments. Moreover, knowledge generated in PLASTIC TERN is readily transferable to interested parties, with clear socio-economic impact. The Researcher will participate in the Wadden Sea Day 2020, which this year’s focus is on “Global Cooperation in a Changing World - Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative"", and in the International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium. Both meetings bring together scientists, policy-makers, conservation managers, and non-governmental organizations working towards the Wadden Sea conservation, and both will be dedicated to climate change, which is a major topic of PLASTIC TERN. The Researcher will have the perfect opportunity to communicate the findings from the project with interested parties."