A1 Journal article (refereed)
Inbreeding does not alter the response to an experimental heat wave in a freshwater snail (2019)

Leicht, K., Jokela, J., & Seppälä, O. (2019). Inbreeding does not alter the response to an experimental heat wave in a freshwater snail. PLoS ONE, 14(8), Article e0220669. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220669

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Leicht, Katja; Jokela, Jukka; Seppälä, Otto

Journal or series: PLoS ONE

eISSN: 1932-6203

Publication year: 2019

Volume: 14

Issue number: 8

Article number: e0220669

Publisher: Public Library of Science

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220669

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/65316

Abstract

Global climate change affects natural populations of many species by increasing the average temperature and the frequency of extreme weather events (e.g. summer heat waves). The ability of organisms to cope with these environmental changes can, however, depend on their genetic properties. For instance, genetic load owing to inbreeding could alter organisms’ responses to climate change-mediated environmental changes but such effects are often overlooked. We investigated the effects of an experimental heat wave (25°C versus 15°C) on life history (reproduction, size) and constitutive immune defence traits (phenoloxidase-like and antibacterial activity of haemolymph) in relation to inbreeding by manipulating the mating type (outcrossing, self-fertilization) in two populations of a hermaphroditic freshwater snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. High temperature increased reproduction and size of snails but impaired their immune function. In one of the two study populations, inbreeding reduced reproductive output of snails indicating inbreeding depression. Furthermore, this effect did not depend on the temperature snails were exposed to. Our results suggest that L. stagnalis snails can be negatively affected by inbreeding but it may not alter their responses to heat waves.

Keywords: climate changes; environmental changes; temperature; immune response; reproduction (biology); inbreeding; water snails; Lymnaea stagnalis

Free keywords: Lymnaea stagnalis

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2019

JUFO rating: 1