Differential metabolic responses in bold and shy sea anemones during a simulated heatwave.

Maskrey, Daniel K, Killen, Shaun S, Sneddon, Lynne U ORCID: 0000-0001-9787-3948, Arnold, Kathryn E, Wolfenden, David CC and Thomson, Jack S ORCID: 0000-0003-2822-5589 (2024) Differential metabolic responses in bold and shy sea anemones during a simulated heatwave. The Journal of experimental biology, 227 (3). jeb.244662-jeb.244662.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Abstract

As climate change-induced heatwaves become more common, phenotypic plasticity at multiple levels is a key mitigation strategy by which organisms can optimise selective outcomes. In ectotherms, changes to both metabolism and behaviour can help alleviate thermal stress. Nonetheless, no study in any ectotherm has yet empirically investigated how changing temperatures affect among-individual differences in the associations between these traits. Using the beadlet anemone (Actinia equina), an intertidal species from a thermally heterogeneous environment, we investigated how individual metabolic rates, linked to morphotypic differences in A. equina, and boldness were related across changing temperatures. A crossed-over design and a temporal control was used to test the same individuals at a non-stressful temperature, 13oC, and under a simulated heatwave at 21oC. At each temperature, short-term repeated measurements of routine metabolic rate (RMR) and a single measurement of a repeatable boldness-related behaviour, immersion response-time (IRT), were made. Individual differences, but not morphotypic differences, were highly predictive of metabolic plasticity, and the plasticity of RMR was associated with IRT. At 13oC, shy animals had the highest metabolic rates, while at 21oC this relationship was reversed. Individuals that were bold at 13oC also exhibited the highest metabolic rates at 21oC. Additional metabolic challenges during heatwaves could be detrimental to fitness in bold individuals. Equally, lower metabolic rates at non-stressful temperatures could be necessary for optimal survival as heatwaves become more common. These results provide novel insight into the relationship between metabolic and behavioural plasticity, and its adaptive implications in a changing climate.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Animals, Sea Anemones, Behavior, Animal, Temperature
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	25 Jan 2024 09:18
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2024 18:57
DOI:	10.1242/jeb.244662
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.244662
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3178004