Different increase rate in body mass of two marten species due to climate warming potentially reinforces interspecific competition

Anna Wereszczuk,Iñigo Zuberogoitia,Tomislav Dumić,József Lanszki,Marcin Popiołek,Morten Elmeros,Alexander Csanády,Andrzej Zalewski,Aksel B Madsen,Malamati A Papakosta,Gerard Müskens,Tim R Hofmeester,Margarida Santos-Reis

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-03531-1

Abstract

Many species show spatial variation in body size, often associated with climatic patterns. Studying species with contrasting geographical patterns related to climate might help elucidate the role of different drivers. We analysed changes in the body mass of two sympatric medium-sized carnivores—pine marten (Martes martes) and stone marten (Martes foina)—across Europe over 59 years. The body mass of pine marten increased with decreasing latitude, whereas stone marten body mass varied in a more complex pattern across its geographic range. Over time, the average body mass of pine martens increased by 255 g (24%), while stone marten by 86 g (6%). The greatest increase of body mass along both martens’ geographic range was observed in central and southern Europe, where both species occur in sympatry. The body mass increase slowed down over time, especially in allopatric regions. The average pine/stone marten body mass ratio increased from 0.87 in 1960 to 0.99 in 2019, potentially strengthening the competition between them. Thus, a differential response in body size to several drivers over time might have led to an adaptive advantage for pine martens. This highlights the importance of considering different responses among interacting species when studying animal adaptation to climate change.

Highlights

Many species show spatial variation in body size, often associated with climatic patterns
Animal body size changes may be limited by other factors, e.g. the possibility to dissipate excess heat because an increase in temperature causes an increase in need for water and in the energy costs of t hermoregulation[23,24] or interspecific c ompetition[25]
Our results showed a link between spatial and temporal body size changes in relation to climate change, related changes in productivity, and interspecific interactions

Summary

Introduction

Many species show spatial variation in body size, often associated with climatic patterns. A differential response in body size to several drivers over time might have led to an adaptive advantage for pine martens This highlights the importance of considering different responses among interacting species when studying animal adaptation to climate change. In line with Bergmann’s rule, a rising temperature over time should cause animals to shrink in body size[14,15] This animal body size decline with climate warming has been suggested as the third response to global warming, alongside range shifting and changes in p henology[2,16,17,18,19]. Increases in food availability might lead to increased densities of species, and increased competition over r esources[30]

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