coping with temperature at the warm edge – patterns of thermal adaptation in the microbial eukaryote paramecium caudatum应对温度温暖的边缘u2014u2014模式微生物真核生物草履虫caudatum热适应的.pdfVIP

Coping with Temperature at the Warm Edge – Patterns of Thermal Adaptation in the Microbial Eukaryote Paramecium caudatum 1,2 1 1,2 Sascha Krenek *, Thomas Petzoldt , Thomas U. Berendonk ¨ 1 Institute of Hydrobiology, Technische Universitat Dresden, Dresden, Germany, 2 Molecular Evolution and Animal Systematics, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Abstract Background: Ectothermic organisms are thought to be severely affected by global warming since their physiological performance is directly dependent on temperature. Latitudinal and temporal variations in mean temperatures force ectotherms to adapt to these complex environmental conditions. Studies investigating current patterns of thermal adaptation among populations of different latitudes allow a prediction of the potential impact of prospective increases in environmental temperatures on their fitness. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, temperature reaction norms were ascertained among 18 genetically defined, natural clones of the microbial eukaryote Paramecium caudatum. These different clones have been isolated from 12 freshwater habitats along a latitudinal transect in Europe and from 3 tropical habitats (Indonesia). The sensitivity to increasing temperatures was estimated through the analysis of clone specific thermal tolerances and by relating those to current and predicted temperature data of their natural habitats. All investigated European clones seem to be thermal generalists with a broad thermal tolerance and similar optimum temperatures. The weak or missing co-variation of therm