Meeting Abstract

S9.8  Friday, Jan. 7  Life cycle complexity and responses to climate change KINGSOLVER, JG*; WOODS, HA; BUCKLEY, LB; MACLEAN, H; HIGGINS, JK; POTTER, KA; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of Montana, Missoula; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of Montana, Missoula jgking@bio.unc.edu

Many organisms have complex life cycles with distinct life stages that live in different environments. We explore three ways that this may affect organismal, ecological and evolutionary responses to climate change. First, the timing of different life stages is frequently related to seasonal environments and cues (phenology). Phenology and phenological adaptation therefore set the context for understanding thermal responses and thermal adaptation. Second, different life stages may inhabit different microhabitats, and may differ in their thermal sensitivities and other traits that are important for climate responses. Patterns and mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity and adaptation to new or local climate conditions may therefore differ for different life stages of a species or taxon. Third, demographic analyses often identify specific life stages that are most sensitive to variation in weather or climate. Understanding thermal plasticity and adaptation of these stages is key to predicting ecological and evolutionary responses to climate change. We illustrate these issues with case studies from insects and other ectotherms.