Extreme events, trophic chain reactions, and shifts in phenotypic selection

Demographic consequences of rapid environmental change and extreme climatic events (ECEs) can cascade across trophic levels with evolutionary implications that have rarely been explored. Here, we show how an ECE in high Arctic Svalbard triggered a trophic chain reaction, directly or indirectly affec...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Layton-Matthews, Kate, Vriend, Stefan J. G., Grøtan, Vidar, Loonen, Maarten J. J. E., Sæther, Bernt-Erik, Fuglei, Eva, Hansen, Brage Bremset
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:unknown
Published: Zenodo 2023
Subjects:
phenotypic selection
extreme climatic event
ECE
high Arctic
Population dynamics
Density dependence
Multidisciplinary
Branta leucopsis
Arctic Fox
Arctic Population
Barnacle goose
Svalbard
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hhmgqnknq
Description
Summary:Demographic consequences of rapid environmental change and extreme climatic events (ECEs) can cascade across trophic levels with evolutionary implications that have rarely been explored. Here, we show how an ECE in high Arctic Svalbard triggered a trophic chain reaction, directly or indirectly affecting the demography of both overwintering and migratory vertebrates, ultimately inducing a shift in density-dependent phenotypic selection in migratory geese. A record-breaking rain-on-snow event and ice-locked pastures led to reindeer mass starvation and a population crash, followed by a period of low mortality and population recovery. This caused lagged, long-lasting reductions in reindeer carrion numbers and resultant low abundances of Arctic foxes, a scavenger on reindeer and predator of migratory birds. The associated decrease in Arctic fox predation of goose offspring allowed for a rapid increase in barnacle goose densities. As expected according to r- and K-selection theory, the goose body condition (affecting reproduction and post-fledging survival) maximising Malthusian fitness increased with this shift in population density. Thus, the winter ECE acting on reindeer and their scavenger, the Arctic fox, indirectly selected for higher body condition in migratory geese. This high Arctic study provides rare empirical evidence of links between ECEs, community dynamics and evolution, with implications for our understanding of indirect eco-evolutionary impacts of global change. Funding provided by: Norges Forskningsråd Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005416 Award Number: 276080 Funding provided by: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003246 Award Number: 851.40.071 Funding provided by: Norges Forskningsråd Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005416 Award Number: 223257 Funding provided by: European Union Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 Award ...

Similar Items