Is microevolution the only emergency exit in a warming world? Temperature influences egg laying but not its underlying mechanisms in great tits

摘要

Many bird species have advanced their seasonal timing in response to global warming, but we still know little about the causal effect of temperature. We carried out experiments in climate-controlled aviaries to investigate how temperature affects luteinizing hormone, prolactin, gonadal development, timing of egg laying and onset of moult in male and female great tits. We used both natural and artificial temperature patterns to identify the temperature characteristics that matter for birds. Our results show that temperature has a direct, causal effect on onset of egg-laying, and in particular, that it is the pattern of increase rather than the absolute temperature that birds use. Surprisingly, the pre-breeding increases in plasma LH, prolactin and in gonadal size are not affected by increasing temperature, nor do they correlate with the onset of laying. This suggests that the decision to start breeding and its regulatory mechanisms are fine-tuned by different factors. We also found similarities between siblings in the timing of both the onset of reproduction and associated changes in plasma LH, prolactin and gonadal development. In conclusion, while temperature affects the timing of egg laying, the neuroendocrine system does not seem to be regulated by moderate temperature changes. This lack of responsiveness may restrain the advance in the timing of breeding in response to climate change. But as there is heritable genetic variation on which natural selection can act, microevolution can take place, and may represent the only way to adapt to a warming world. Matching the timing of breeding with the local peak of food abundance is of critical importance for many animals such as insectivorous birds that rely on external food sources for feeding their nestlings (Baker, 1938; Lack, 1968; Visser et al., 2006). Any deviation from this favorable period has dramatic consequences in terms of energy expenditure, reproductive success and for the survival of both the parents and the offspring (Thomas et al., 2001; van Noordwijk et al., 1995; Visser et al., 1998). Because the time at which the local food peak occurs varies from year to year, and because the decision to start breeding is taken weeks in advance of the period of maximal food demand from the offspring, birds must use predictive environmental cues to try to match the annual optimal breeding period.