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Lipid remodelling in the reef-building honeycomb worm, Sabellaria alveolata, reflects acclimation and local adaptation to temperature
Muir, Anna P. Nunes, Flavia Dubois, Stanislas F. Pernet, Fabrice
Muir, Anna P.
Nunes, Flavia
Dubois, Stanislas F.
Pernet, Fabrice
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Publication Date
2016-10-20
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Abstract
Acclimation and adaptation, which are key to species survival in a changing climate, can be observed
in terms of membrane lipid composition. Remodelling membrane lipids, via homeoviscous adaptation
(HVA), counteracts membrane dysfunction due to temperature in poikilotherms. In order to assess
the potential for acclimation and adaptation in the honeycomb worm, Sabellaria alveolata, a reefbuilding
polychaete that supports high biodiversity, we carried out common-garden experiments
using individuals from along its latitudinal range. Individuals were exposed to a stepwise temperature
increase from 15 °C to 25 °C and membrane lipid composition assessed. Our results suggest that
S. alveolata was able to acclimate to higher temperatures, as observed by a decrease in unsaturation
index and 20:5n-3. However, over the long-term at 25 °C, lipid composition patterns are not consistent
with HVA expectations and suggest a stress response. Furthermore, unsaturation index of individuals
from the two coldest sites were higher than those from the two warmest sites, with individuals from
the thermally intermediate site being in-between, likely reflecting local adaptation to temperature.
Therefore, lipid remodelling appears limited at the highest temperatures in S. alveolata, suggesting
that individuals inhabiting warm environments may be close to their upper thermal tolerance limits and
at risk in a changing climate.
Citation
Muir, A. P., Nunes, F. L. D., Dubois, S. F., & Pernet, F. (2016). Lipid remodelling in the reef-building honeycomb worm, Sabellaria alveolata, reflects acclimation and local adaptation to temperature. Scientific Reports, 6, 35669. doi: 10.1038/srep35669
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Journal
Scientific Reports
Research Unit
DOI
10.1038/srep35669
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
2045-2322
EISSN
2045-2322