Description
Thermal regimes can diverge considerably across the geographic range of a
species, and accordingly, populations can vary in their response to
changing environmental conditions. Both local adaptation and
acclimatization are important mechanisms for ectotherms to maintain
homeostasis as environments become thermally stressful, which organisms
often experience at their geographic range limits. The spatial spread of
the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) after introduction to North America
provides an exemplary system for studying population variation in
physiological traits given the gradient of climates encompassed by its
current invasive range. This study quantifies differences in resting
metabolic rate (RMR) across temperature for four populations of gypsy
moth, two from the northern and two from southern regions of their
introduced range in North America. Gypsy moth larvae were reared at high
and low thermal regimes, then metabolic activity was monitored at four
temperatures using stop-flow respirometry to test for an acclimation
response. For all populations, there was a significant increase in RMR as
respirometry test temperature increased. Contrary to our expectations, we
did not find evidence for metabolic adaptation to colder environments
based on our comparisons between northern and southern populations. We
also found no evidence for an acclimation response of RMR to rearing
temperature for three of the four pairwise comparisons examined.
Understanding the thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate in gypsy moth, and
understanding the potential for changes in physiology at range extremes,
is critical for estimating continued spatial spread of this invasive
species both under current and potential future climatic constraints.
DataPlease see the
accompanying README file for details.Dryad Respirometry
Data.csvAnalysesR script for analyzing Dryad Respirometry Data.csvDryad Respirometry Analyses.R
species, and accordingly, populations can vary in their response to
changing environmental conditions. Both local adaptation and
acclimatization are important mechanisms for ectotherms to maintain
homeostasis as environments become thermally stressful, which organisms
often experience at their geographic range limits. The spatial spread of
the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) after introduction to North America
provides an exemplary system for studying population variation in
physiological traits given the gradient of climates encompassed by its
current invasive range. This study quantifies differences in resting
metabolic rate (RMR) across temperature for four populations of gypsy
moth, two from the northern and two from southern regions of their
introduced range in North America. Gypsy moth larvae were reared at high
and low thermal regimes, then metabolic activity was monitored at four
temperatures using stop-flow respirometry to test for an acclimation
response. For all populations, there was a significant increase in RMR as
respirometry test temperature increased. Contrary to our expectations, we
did not find evidence for metabolic adaptation to colder environments
based on our comparisons between northern and southern populations. We
also found no evidence for an acclimation response of RMR to rearing
temperature for three of the four pairwise comparisons examined.
Understanding the thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate in gypsy moth, and
understanding the potential for changes in physiology at range extremes,
is critical for estimating continued spatial spread of this invasive
species both under current and potential future climatic constraints.
DataPlease see the
accompanying README file for details.Dryad Respirometry
Data.csvAnalysesR script for analyzing Dryad Respirometry Data.csvDryad Respirometry Analyses.R
| Date made available | Jul 12 2018 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Dryad |
| Geographical coverage | Eastern North America |
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