Work

Heatwaves During Early Development Have Long-Term Consequences for Parental Care in Adulthood

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Heatwaves are becoming more common due to climate change. Species can respond to this thermal stress through rapid behavioural changes. Parental care can increase reproductive success by buffering against thermal stress. However, the effects of heatwaves during early development on parental care in adulthood have not yet been tested. Here we address this gap in our knowledge using the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides, which has facultative biparental care. We exposed pupae to a heatwave event (3 days at 25°C) or control temperature of 18°C and subsequently measured their parental care behaviour, reproductive success, and offspring fitness. Females, but not males, in the heatwave treatment provided more care than those in the control treatment, but there was no difference in reproductive success or offspring fitness. Our findings suggest that heatwaves during early development can affect the amount of parental care required to achieve the same reproductive fitness and offspring fitness outcomes.Funding Information: This study was funded by a NERC QUADRAT DTP studentship and a SULSA ERC Prize.Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Source: Animal Behaviour

DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.08.002