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Embryo Temperature Has Knock-on Effects on Later Traits in Salmonid Fishes

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Advances in the Ecology of Stream-Dwelling Salmonids

Part of the book series: Fish & Fisheries Series ((FIFI,volume 44))

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Abstract

Through a phenotypic plastic response, early temperatures have knock-on effects on later appearing traits of organisms such as stream-spawning salmonids. Moderately warmer water during embryonic development has carry-over effects to later develo** life history characters such as body shape, metabolic rate, growth rate, egg and gonad sizes. Also, adult size and time of the spawning migration may be affected by temperatures experienced at the embryo stage. These responses to early temperature may be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation. The plasticity may be favourable for invasive organisms and for those living in changing habitats and climates. It has been hypothesized that over time, this plasticity may lead to speciation. Research on these early knock-on effects of early temperature is still in its youth, but is rapidly growing, and at the end of the review, issues for future research are suggested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Oslo, Norway

    Bror Jonsson

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  1. Bror Jonsson
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  1. Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC), Madrid, Spain

    Javier Lobon-Cervia

  2. US Geological Survey, Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Utah State University, Watershed Sciences, Logan, UT, USA

    Phaedra Budy

  3. Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA

    Robert Gresswell

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Jonsson, B. (2024). Embryo Temperature Has Knock-on Effects on Later Traits in Salmonid Fishes. In: Lobon-Cervia, J., Budy, P., Gresswell, R. (eds) Advances in the Ecology of Stream-Dwelling Salmonids. Fish & Fisheries Series, vol 44. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44389-3_1

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