Heatwaves associated with climate change threaten biodiversity by disrupting behaviours like parental care. While care may buffer populations from adverse environments, studies show mixed results, possibly due to heat stress affecting different components. We investigated how impacts and offspring performance in the burying beetle Nicrophorus nepalensis under control (17.8°C) (21.8°C) conditions. focused on two critical periods: pre-hatching (carcass preparation) post-hatching (offspring...

One major concern related to climate change is that elevated temperatures will drive increases in parasite outbreaks. Increasing temperature known alter host traits and host–parasite interactions, but we know relatively little about how these are connected mechanistically—that is, warmer impact the relationship between epidemiologically relevant infection outcomes. Here, used a zooplankton–fungus ( Daphnia dentifera–Metschnikowia bicuspidata ) disease system experimentally investigate...

Abstract Resource quality can have conflicting effects on host–parasite interactions; for example, higher resource might increase host investment in immune function, or conversely, permit greater parasite reproduction. Thus, anticipating the impact of changing interactions is challenging, especially because we often lack a mechanistic understanding how influences physiology and fitness to alter infection outcomes. We investigated whether there are generalizations affects multiple clones'...

The ability to form cooperative societies may explain why humans and social insects have come dominate the earth. Here we examine ecological consequences of cooperation by quantifying fitness (large groups) non-cooperative (small phenotypes in burying beetles (Nicrophorus nepalensis) along an elevational temperature gradient. We experimentally created large small groups gradient manipulated interspecific competition with flies heating carcasses. show that performed as thermal generalists...

Rising temperatures can adversely affect parental care and reproductive performance across a range of taxa. However, the warming impact is contingent upon understanding how temperature affects spectrum behaviours their interplay. Here, we assessed success in burying beetle,

The joint actions of animals in partnerships or social groups evolve under both natural selection from the wider environment and imposed by other members pair group. We used experimental evolution to investigate how jointly expressed upon exposure a new environmental challenge. Our work focused on carrion nest preparation pairs burying beetles

Both benign and harsh environments promote the evolution of sociality. This paradox-societies occur in such contrasting quality-may be explained by different types benefits that individuals receive from grouping: resource defense derive group-defended critical resources versus collective action result social cooperation among group members. Here, we investigate cooperative behavior burying beetle Nicrophorus nepalensis along an elevational gradient where environmental quality (climate...

Models of "plasticity-first" evolution are attractive because they explain the rapid new complex adaptations. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether plasticity can facilitate microevolutionary change between diverging populations. Here, we show how may have generated adaptive differences in fecundity neighboring wild populations burying beetles Nicrophorus vespilloides. These occupy distinct Cambridgeshire woodlands that just 2.5 km apart and probably originated from a common ancestral...

Ecological conditions are known to change the expression of mutualisms though causal agents driving such changes remain poorly understood. Here we show that temperature stress modulates harm threatened by a common enemy, and thereby induces phoretic mite become protective mutualist. Our experiments focus on interactions between burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides , an associated species Poecilochirus carabi their blowflies, when all three reproduce same small vertebrate carrion. We mites...

Reciprocal selection between symbiotic organisms and their hosts can generate variations in local adaptation them. Symbionts often form species complexes with lineages partially adapted to various hosts. However, it is unclear how interactions among these influences geographic variation the extent of host-symbiont adaptation. We addressed this shortcoming experiments on burying beetles

Mutually beneficial interactions between species play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function. Nevertheless, such mutualisms can erode into antagonistic interactions. One explanation is that the fitness costs benefits of interacting with partner vary among individuals. However, it unclear why variation exists. Here, we demonstrate social behavior within plays an important, though hitherto overlooked, determining relative to be gained from second species. By combining...

Understanding how climate-mediated biotic interactions shape thermal niche width is critical in an era of global change. Yet, most previous work on niches has ignored detailed mechanistic information about the relationship between temperature and organismal performance, which can be described by a performance curve. Here, we develop model that predicts curves will narrower presence interspecific competitors, causing species’ optimal breeding to diverge from its competitor. We test this...

Niche theory predicts that ecologically similar species coexist by minimizing interspecific competition through niche partitioning. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of partitioning is essential for predicting interactions and coexistence between competing organisms. Here, we study two phoretic mite species, Poecilochirus carabi Macrocheles nataliae on same host burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides use it to ‘hitchhike’ reproductive sites. Field observations revealed clear spatial...

Small vertebrate carcasses represent critical resources for many terrestrial organisms, including burying beetles, which rely on survival and breeding. Carcass attributes can influence the reproduction of yet most studies their breeding ecology have used laboratory-reared limited sizes. We conducted feeding experiments using a wide size range lab (laboratory mice) wild (wild mammals, birds reptiles) to investigate how carcass size, source taxon affect various outcomes (e.g. clutch brood...

Abstract Transgenerational plasticity can help organisms respond rapidly to changing environments. Most prior studies of transgenerational in host–parasite interactions have focused on the host, leaving us with a limited understanding parasites. We tested whether exposure elevated temperatures while spores are developing modify ability those infect new hosts, as well growth and virulence next generation parasites host. exposed Daphnia dentifera its naturally co-occurring fungal parasite...

Abstract Organisms are increasingly facing multiple stressors, which can simultaneously interact to cause unpredictable impacts compared with a single stressor alone. Recent evidence suggests that phenotypic plasticity allow for rapid responses altered environments, including biotic and abiotic both within generation across generations (transgenerational plasticity). Parents potentially “prime” their offspring better cope similar stressors or, alternatively, might produce less fit because of...

Abstract Host–parasite coevolution is a major diversifying force. However, while the genetic determinants of host–parasite have received substantial attention, it remains unresolved how morphological adaptations contribute to coevolutionary dynamics. We used well‐studied and ecologically important system explore adaptation in interactions. In this daphniid‐fungal parasite system, infection occurs when fungal spores puncture host gut enter body cavity. Prior work found differences associated...

Abstract The joint actions of animals in partnerships or social groups evolve under both natural selection, from the wider environment, and imposed by other members pair group. We used experimental evolution to investigate how jointly expressed upon exposure a new environmental challenge. Our work focused on carrion nest preparation pairs burying beetles Nicrophorus vespilloides , activity undertaken but typically led male. In previous work, we found that evolved be faster populations...

Resource quality can have conflicting effects on host-parasite interactions; for example, higher resource might increase host investment in immune function, or conversely, permit greater parasite reproduction. Thus, anticipating the impact of changing interactions is challenging, especially because we often lack a mechanistic understanding how influences physiology and fitness to alter infection outcomes. We investigated whether there are generalizations affects multiple clones' with...