Abstract
We explore the delayed consequences of parental exposure to environmentally relevant cadmium concentrations on the life-history traits throughout generations of the freshwater crustacean Gammarus fossarum. We report the preliminary results obtained during a challenging one-year laboratory experiment in this environmental species and propose the use of population modeling to interpret the changes in offspring life-history traits regarding their potential demographic impacts. The main outcome of this first long-term transgenerational assay is that the exposure of spawners during a single gametogenesis cycle (3 weeks) could result in severe cascading effects on the life-history traits along three unexposed offspring generations (one year). Indeed, we observed a decrease in F1 reproductive success, an early onset of F2 offspring puberty with reduced investment in egg yolk reserves, and finally a decrease in the growth rate of F3 juveniles. However, the analysis of these major transgenerational effects by means of a Lefkovitch matrix population model revealed only weak demographic impacts. Population compensatory processes mitigating the demographic consequences of parental exposure seem to drive the modification of life-history traits in offspring generations. This exploratory study sheds light on the role of population mechanisms involved in the demographic regulation of the delayed effects of environmental toxicity in wild populations.
Highlights
Accumulating evidences from wildlife populations and experimental studies demonstrate that environmental stressors adversely influence populations beyond exposed generations
The use of population dynamics models has already shown a substantial interest to assess the demographic consequences of life-history trait impairments in multigenerational exposure designs [11,14,15]
We investigated the consequences of a short parental exposure to environmentally relevant Cd concentrations in terms of genome integrity, life-history traits, and demography
Summary
Accumulating evidences from wildlife populations and experimental studies demonstrate that environmental stressors adversely influence populations beyond exposed generations. The long-term effects of chemical contaminations influence the population vulnerability to cope with additional environmental stressors [7,8]. Some authors have proposed that the delayed effects on life-history traits occurring after environmental changes (e.g., food privation, chemical exposure, etc.) may regulate population demography and facilitate population sustainability [9]. Species evolutionary history potentially constrains these tradeoffs as illustrated by environmental canalization phenomena [13]. In this context, the use of population dynamics models has already shown a substantial interest to assess the demographic consequences of life-history trait impairments in multigenerational exposure designs [11,14,15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
