Transgenerational phenotypic plasticity and rapid adaptation to multiple global change drivers, and the fate of global biodiversity patterns

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has recently confirmed that the rate and intensity at which global climate change (GCC) is occurring are a serious threat to biodiversity. A solid understanding of the mechanisms by which animal species can cope with GCC in order to reduce their risk of extinction is paramount. Importantly, we must consider that GCC involves the simultaneous alteration of several factors (e.g. temperature, CO2, O2) which may differently impact the various developmental stages of a species. As most studies to date have looked at the plastic responses to short-term exposure to single stressors of a single stage of development of single species within a single generation, our current knowledge in this area limits our capacity to produce accurate and reliable predictions. Most importantly, understanding the mechanisms by which species can be rescued from extinction is essential to inform policy makers and managers in making decisions regarding the preservation of local and global diversity, the sustainable usage of natural resources and the socio-economic adaptation of communities and entire countries. Consequently, to help overcoming the paucity of relevant information in this research area, whilst addressing some fundamental questions in physiological diversity, I will characterise organisms scope for transgenerational plasticity (e.g. the protection offsprings obtained from parents being exposed to a stressor) and their capacity for rapid adaptation to multiple simultaneous climate drivers.****The aim of my project is that to answer the following fundamental questions: (i) can transgenerational plasticity prevent species extinction during GCC? (ii) can adaptation to GCC occur rapidly enough to rescue species from extinction? (iii) are rare species less capable for plastic and adaptive responses under GCCwhen compared to their common relatives? (iv) are more complex species less capable for plastic and adaptive responses under GCC when compared to less complex ones (i.e. protists vs. basal multicellular spp vs. complex multicellular spp)? (v) what is the fate of global biodiversity in the face of GCC?****I propose to utilise a quantitative genetic approach with laboratory selection experiments and clonal lines with different combinations of temperature, CO2 and O2 using a quantitative genetic approach. Stage-specific physiological (e.g. metabolic rate, thermal limits) and life-history traits (survival, growth, fecundity) will be measured at each generation or within clonal lines to determine the direction and intensity of plastic and adaptive responses to answer questions (i-iv). Finally complementary modelling approaches will be used to provide a much-needed synthesis and enable us to produce generalisation and broad, but accurate, predictions on the fate of biodiversity globally (v).**