Investigating the Effects of Thermal Variability and Heatwaves on Pond Zooplankton Communities and Physiological Traits

• DOI: 10.1111/fwb.14372
• Publication Date: 2025-01-05T00:31:13Z
• Authors: Christine C. Bona...; Emma R. Moffett; Celia C. Symons
• Keywords: 550; 500

ABSTRACT To understand the impacts of climate change, we must consequences multiple and interacting timescales temperature change. While much is known about rising mean temperatures, less understood influence projected thermal variability extreme events like heatwaves on biological communities. This study investigates interaction short‐term (experimental) long‐term (historic) with zooplankton communities physiological traits. We performed a fully factorial mesocosm experiment three factors: (1) historic variation (four source ponds similar average but different daily ranges including 3.7°C, 5.9°C, 9.1°C, 10.7°C); (2) experimental (insulated non‐insulated tanks); (3) 4‐day heatwave treatment (+3.5°C) halfway through experiment. sampled community throughout assayed upper limit (CTmax) metabolic rate Daphnia dentifera Leptodiaptomus signicauda immediately before after heatwave. Zooplankton composition responded minimally to For both species, CTmax response varied by variability, increasing in individuals from low‐variability tanks decreasing high‐variability tanks. Metabolic did not vary significantly any treatments. D. L. 's seems be unaffected their history, while rely only history. rate, other hand, history or this magnitude. In spite responses at individual level, structure buffered overall Our provides new insight effects short‐ scales combined an acute changing more realistic manner. The data supports that recently thermally stable backgrounds may better equipped positively respond physiologically system could warming