Decades of warming alters maturation and reproductive investment in fish

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4381
• Publication Date: 2023-01-12T00:55:30Z
• Authors: Jingyao Niu; Magnus Huss; Anti Vasemägi; Anna Gårdmark
• Keywords: Ectotherm; Gonadosomatic Index

Abstract How does warming affect maturation and reproductive investment in ectotherms? Younger age smaller size at maturation, as well altered reproduction processes, have been found a few species subjected to elevated temperatures. These observations, however, come from studies that do not distinguish effects of on those growth, are also restricted single generation responses warming, or additional stressors besides the study system. Here, we wild, unexploited fish populations using whole‐ecosystem heating experiment. The experiment is conducted Eurasian perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) heated control area (with >5°C temperature difference) Baltic Sea. We compare female estimated probabilistic reaction norms (PMRNs) gonado‐somatic index over 17 years heating, spanning approximately five eight generations. Using PMRN approach, show has substantial independent warming‐induced changes body growth. young mature invest more developing their gonads population than unheated population. Our findings suggest may initially compensate for cost decrease caused by trade‐off between early size‐dependent fecundity. After multiple generations traits differed first following onset which suggests evolution occurred. particularly relevant context climate change because unusually large difference areas fact occurred an ecosystem level. call experimental resolving mechanisms trait across generations, complemented with genomic analyses, aid understanding organisms' long‐term change.