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Local adaptation, plasticity, and evolved resistance to hypoxic cold stress in high-altitude deer mice.
Bautista, Naim M; Herrera, Nathanael D; Shadowitz, Ellen; Wearing, Oliver H; Cheviron, Zachary A; Scott, Graham R; Storz, Jay F.
Affiliation
  • Bautista NM; School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588.
  • Herrera ND; Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812.
  • Shadowitz E; Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
  • Wearing OH; Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
  • Cheviron ZA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812.
  • Scott GR; Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
  • Storz JF; School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(41): e2412526121, 2024 Oct 08.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39352929
ABSTRACT
A fundamental question in evolutionary biology concerns the relative contributions of phenotypic plasticity vs. local adaptation (genotypic specialization) in enabling wide-ranging species to inhabit diverse environmental conditions. Here, we conduct a long-term hypoxia acclimation experiment to assess the relative roles of local adaptation and plasticity in enabling highland and lowland deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) to sustain aerobic thermogenesis at progressively increasing elevations. We assessed the relative physiological performance capacities of highland and lowland natives as they were exposed to progressive, stepwise increases in hypoxia, simulating the gradual ascent from sea level to an elevation of 6,000 m. The final elevation of 6,000 m far exceeds the highest attainable elevations within the species' range, and therefore tests the animals' ability to tolerate levels of hypoxia that surpass the prevailing conditions within their current distributional limits. Our results demonstrate that highland natives exhibit superior thermogenic capacities at the most severe levels of hypoxia, suggesting that the species' broad fundamental niche and its ability to inhabit such a broad range of elevational zones is attributable to genetically based local adaptation, including evolved changes in plasticity. Transcriptomic and physiological measurements identify evolved changes in the acclimation response to hypoxia that contribute to the enhanced thermogenic capacity of highland natives.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Peromyscus / Thermogenesis / Altitude / Acclimatization / Hypoxia Limits: Animals Language: En Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Year: 2024 Document type: Article Country of publication: United States

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Peromyscus / Thermogenesis / Altitude / Acclimatization / Hypoxia Limits: Animals Language: En Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Year: 2024 Document type: Article Country of publication: United States