Affiliation:
1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Abstract
Environmental fluctuations often select for adaptations such as diapause states, allowing species to outlive harsh conditions. The natural sugar trehalose which provides both cryo- and desiccation-protection, has been found in diapause stages of diverse taxa. Here, we hypothesize that trehalose deposition in resting stages is a locally adapted trait, with higher concentrations produced in harsher habitats. We used resting stages, produced under standardized conditions, by 37 genotypes ofDaphnia magnacollected from Western Palaearctic habitats varying in their propensity to dry in summer and freeze in winter. Resting eggs produced byD. magnafrom populations from summer-dry habitats showed significantly higher trehalose than those from summer-wet habitats, suggesting that trehalose has a protective function during desiccation. By contrast, winter-freezing did not explain variation in trehalose content. Adaptations to droughts are important, as summer dryness of water bodies is foreseen to increase with ongoing climate change.
Funder
Swiss National Science Foundation
Universität Basel, Switzerland
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cited by
9 articles.
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