Transgenerational effects influence acclimation to varying temperatures in Aurelia aurita polyps (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
Transgenerational effects influence acclimation to varying temperatures in Aurelia aurita polyps (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)
Temperature is one of the most important drivers to affect marine ectotherms in the context of anthropogenic climate change modifying seasonal cycles in temperate regions. To reliably predict the impact of climate variability on marine ectotherms, their capacity to adapt to rapid change needs to be understood. Due to fast transmission between generations, transgenerational effects may enable populations to moderate stressors. We examined reproduction across three temperature scenarios and three generations of asexual Aurelia aurita polyps: transgenerational warming, transgenerational cooling, and stable temperatures. Polyps were incubated at three temperatures (15, 17, 19°C) encountered in summertime in Southampton Water. In the first two polyps generations, temperature remained the main driver of polyp reproduction. However, in the third generation parental and grandparental temperature influenced offspring production. These effects appeared most strongly in cooling scenarios: polyps who experienced rapid cooling between generations displayed an immediate drop in reproductive output as opposed to polyps who remained at the same temperature as their parents. Our results highlight that transgenerational effects may require more extreme temperatures or increased numbers of generations to have a measurable impact on a population, highlighting the vulnerability of these organisms to continued climate change.
Asexual reproduction, Jellyfish, Polyps, climate variability, southampton water, transgenerational plasticity, Aurelia aurita, Temperature, Transgenerational effects
1955-1967
Loveridge, Alexandra
7c2ba4b2-905f-4ec5-8daa-3ad3202d62fa
Lucas, Cathy H.
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
May 2023
Loveridge, Alexandra
7c2ba4b2-905f-4ec5-8daa-3ad3202d62fa
Lucas, Cathy H.
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Loveridge, Alexandra and Lucas, Cathy H.
(2023)
Transgenerational effects influence acclimation to varying temperatures in Aurelia aurita polyps (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa).
Hydrobiologia, 850 (9), .
(doi:10.1007/s10750-023-05203-9).
Abstract
Temperature is one of the most important drivers to affect marine ectotherms in the context of anthropogenic climate change modifying seasonal cycles in temperate regions. To reliably predict the impact of climate variability on marine ectotherms, their capacity to adapt to rapid change needs to be understood. Due to fast transmission between generations, transgenerational effects may enable populations to moderate stressors. We examined reproduction across three temperature scenarios and three generations of asexual Aurelia aurita polyps: transgenerational warming, transgenerational cooling, and stable temperatures. Polyps were incubated at three temperatures (15, 17, 19°C) encountered in summertime in Southampton Water. In the first two polyps generations, temperature remained the main driver of polyp reproduction. However, in the third generation parental and grandparental temperature influenced offspring production. These effects appeared most strongly in cooling scenarios: polyps who experienced rapid cooling between generations displayed an immediate drop in reproductive output as opposed to polyps who remained at the same temperature as their parents. Our results highlight that transgenerational effects may require more extreme temperatures or increased numbers of generations to have a measurable impact on a population, highlighting the vulnerability of these organisms to continued climate change.
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Loveridge & Lucas 2023 Transgen Effects
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Accepted/In Press date: 16 March 2023
Published date: May 2023
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This research was supported by the University of Southampton, and was carried out through the NERC-funded SPITFIRE Doctoral Training Partnership. We want to thank Robbie Robinson and George Clarke for technical assistance throughout the study.
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Natural Environmental Research Council [Grant no. NE/L002531/1].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
Keywords:
Asexual reproduction, Jellyfish, Polyps, climate variability, southampton water, transgenerational plasticity, Aurelia aurita, Temperature, Transgenerational effects
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 486058
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/486058
ISSN: 0018-8158
PURE UUID: 3439e427-3a4c-4696-991e-5cff68863d56
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Date deposited: 08 Jan 2024 17:38
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 02:39
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Author:
Alexandra Loveridge
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