Low potential for evolutionary rescue from climate change in a tropical fish
Abstract
There is currently great concern about the ability of organisms to adapt to warmer environments. During heat waves, upper thermal tolerance is often critical for survival, but it is largely unknown how rapidly tolerance can evolve, especially in vertebrates. We artificially selected on upper thermal tolerance in a tropical fish to see whether and how quickly thermal tolerance evolves, and how warm acclimation prior to a thermal challenge alters this evolutionary process. Upper thermal tolerance evolved but at a slow rate toward higher temperature. Furthermore, acclimation capacity decreased in the lines selected for higher thermal tolerance. These results suggest that tropical fishes will struggle to adapt in pace with the current climate warming.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.2011419117
- Bibcode:
- 2020PNAS..11733365M