Life history traits and climate change

Abstract

<p>Organismal life histories are products of evolution. Complex interplay between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments has molded species’ and populations’ life histories so that their fitness is maximised within the constraints set by their evolutionary history and current environment. Rapid directional environmental changes, such as those brought by ongoing anthropogenic climate change (ACC), are known to have many direct and indirect impacts on organismal life history traits. However, it is often not clear whether these impacts represent plastic or genetically based changes or both. Likewise, while shifts in mean values of life history traits may have population-level consequences by affecting demographic vital rates such as survival and reproduction and ultimately extinction risk, both negative and positive impacts on vital rates have been reported. In this chapter, we synthesise what is currently known about direct and indirect impacts of ACC on animal life history traits. The focus is on phenology, body size, reproductive output and success, senescence, and survival, but we also cover what is known about effects of ACC on population dynamics, as well as on extinction risk. We also discuss the relative roles of environmentally induced plastic changes <em>vs.</em> evolutionary responses to ACC, and what is known about populations’ ability to cope with ACC through phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary adaptations.</p>