Diel Temperature Fluctuations Research Articles

Effects of temperature on fish aggression and the combined impact of temperature and turbidity on thermal tolerance

Deforestation can increase light penetration and runoff entering adjacent freshwaters leading to increased average water temperature, stronger diel temperature fluctuations, and increased water turbidity. Changes in temperature extremes (particularly upper peaks) are important for fishes as their body temperature and rate of oxygen consumption varies with environmental temperature. Here, we compare effects of diel-fluctuating versus stable water temperature regimes on the behaviour and upper thermal tolerance (measured as Critical Thermal Maximum, CTmax) of the Bluntnose Minnow, Pimephales notatus. Fish were acclimated to either a static 18°C, static 24°C or a diel-fluctuating treatment of low to high (18-24°C) for a total of 10 weeks. Activity level and aggression were measured for 6 consecutive weeks during the acclimation period. Activity level remained high across treatments and over time. However, fish from the diel-fluctuating treatment exhibited a significant increase in aggression over the day as temperatures increased from 18°C to 24°C. Following acclimation, upper thermal limits of fish from each treatment were measured under two conditions: clear water (<2 NTU) and turbid water (25 NTU). This was to evaluate effects of acute turbidity exposure that might arise with heavy rain on deforested streams. CTmax was lowest in fish acclimated to static 18°C and highest in fish acclimated to static 24°C; fish acclimated to diel 18-24°C showed an intermediate CTmax. Exposure to acute turbidity during CTmax trials significantly lowered CTmax across all treatments, highlighting the importance of multiple-stressor studies in evaluating upper thermal tolerance of fishes.

Local habitat heterogeneity rivals regional differences in coral thermal tolerance

AbstractVariable temperature regimes that expose corals to sublethal heat stress have been recognized as a mechanism to increase coral thermal tolerance and lessen coral bleaching. However, there is a need to better understand which thermal regimes maximize coral stress hardening. Here, standardized thermal stress assays were used to determine the relative thermal tolerance of three divergent genera of corals (Acropora, Pocillopora, Porites) originating from six reef sites representing an increasing gradient of annual mean diel temperature fluctuations of 1–3 °C day−1. Bleaching severity and dark-acclimated photochemical yield (i.e., Fv/Fm) were quantified following exposure to five temperature treatments ranging from 23.0 to 36.3 °C. The greatest thermal tolerance (i.e., Fv/Fm effective dose 50) was found at the site with intermediate mean diel temperature variability (2.2 °C day−1), suggesting there is an optimal priming exposure that leads to maximal thermal tolerance. Interestingly, Acropora and Pocillopora originating from the least thermally variable regimes (&lt; 1.3 °C day−1) had lower thermal tolerance than corals from the most variable sites (&gt; 2.8 °C day−1), whereas the opposite was true for Porites, suggesting divergent responses across taxa. Remarkably, comparisons across global studies revealed that the range in coral thermal tolerance uncovered in this study across a single reef (&lt; 5 km) were as large as differences observed across vast latitudinal gradients (300–900 km). This finding indicates that local gene flow could improve thermal tolerance between habitats. However, as climate change continues, exposure to intensifying marine heatwaves is already compromising thermal priming as a mechanism to enhance coral thermal tolerance and bleaching resistance.

Constant temperature and fluctuating temperature have distinct effects on hypoxia tolerance in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus).

Climate change is leading to rapid change in aquatic environments, increasing the mean and variability of temperatures, and increasing the incidence of hypoxia. We investigated how acclimation to constant temperatures or to diel temperature fluctuations affects hypoxia tolerance in mummichog killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus). Killifish were acclimated to constant cool (15°C), constant warm (25°C) or a diel temperature cycle (15°C at night, 25°C during day) for 6 weeks. We then measured hypoxia tolerance (time to loss of equilibrium in severe hypoxia, tLOE; critical O2 tension, Pcrit), whole-animal metabolism, gill morphology, haematology and tissue metabolites at 15°C and 25°C in a full factorial design. Among constant temperature groups, tLOE was highest and Pcrit was lowest in fish tested at their acclimation temperature. Warm-acclimated fish had lower metabolic rate at 25°C and greater gill surface area (less coverage of lamellae by interlamellar cell mass, ILCM), but cool-acclimated fish had greater brain glycogen stores. Therefore, effects of constant temperature acclimation on hypoxia tolerance were temperature specific and not exhibited broadly across test temperatures, and they were associated with different underlying mechanisms. Hypoxia tolerance was less sensitive to test temperature in fish acclimated to fluctuating temperatures compared with fish acclimated to constant temperature. Acclimation to fluctuating temperatures also increased haemoglobin-O2 affinity of the blood (decreased P50) compared with constant temperature groups. Therefore, acclimation to fluctuating temperatures helps maintain hypoxia tolerance across a broader range of temperatures, and leads to some distinct physiological adjustments that are not exhibited by fish acclimated to constant temperatures.

Impact of fluctuating developmental temperatures on phenotypic traits in reptiles: a meta-analysis.

During the vulnerable stages of early life, most ectothermic animals experience hourly and diel fluctuations in temperature as air temperatures change. While we know a great deal about how different constant temperatures impact the phenotypes of developing ectotherms, we know remarkably little about the impacts of temperature fluctuations on the development of ectotherms. In this study, we used a meta-analytic approach to compare the mean and variance of phenotypic outcomes from constant and fluctuating incubation temperatures across reptile species. We found that fluctuating temperatures provided a small benefit (higher hatching success and shorter incubation durations) at cool mean temperatures compared with constant temperatures, but had a negative effect at warm mean temperatures. In addition, more extreme temperature fluctuations led to greater reductions in embryonic survival compared with moderate temperature fluctuations. Within the limited data available from species with temperature-dependent sex determination, embryos had a higher chance of developing as female when developing in fluctuating temperatures compared with those developing in constant temperatures. With our meta-analytic approach, we identified average mean nest temperatures across all taxa where reptiles switch from receiving benefits to incurring costs when incubation temperatures fluctuate. More broadly, our study indicates that the impact of fluctuating developmental temperature on some phenotypes in ectothermic taxa are likely to be predictable via integration of developmental temperature profiles with thermal performance curves.

The neritic marine copepod Centropages typicus does not suffer physiological costs from diel temperature fluctuations associated with its vertical migration

Diel vertical migration exposes zooplankton to fluctuating environmental conditions. In our study, we investigated the physiological costs of diel temperature fluctuations of vertical migration in the neritic marine copepod Centropages typicus, and checked whether the direct effects of fluctuating temperature on copepod performance may differ from those of average temperature conditions (Jensen’s inequality). We determined the rates of egestion, egg production, and respiration of copepods exposed to four temperature regimes including one treatment that simulated diel vertical migration (DVM, 10 h at 14 °C and 14 h at 19 °C) and three treatments with constant temperature (14, 17 and 19 °C). We found that the physiological performance of C. typicus was not significantly different between fluctuating (DVM) and average (17 °C) temperature conditions, thus indicating that differences between varying and average temperature effects might not emerge in migrant zooplankton exposed to thermal variations of moderate magnitude (5 ºC). The copepods exposed to fluctuating temperature mimicking vertical migration (DVM) showed better performance (e.g. higher egg production) than those exposed to constant depth conditions (14 °C); however, no significant differences were detected when compared to constant surface conditions (19 °C). Our study indicates that neritic marine copepods experiencing daily moderate temperature fluctuations through vertical migration may not suffer physiological costs due to temperature associated with this behaviour. In this sense, these animals might have physiological mechanisms to compensate diel temperature fluctuations, which would represent a particularly relevant preadaptation to cope with the increased thermal variability predicted in future climates.

Towards industrial production of microalgae without temperature control: The effect of diel temperature fluctuations on microalgal physiology

Regions that offer high levels of sunlight are ideal to produce microalgae. However, as a result of high light intensities, the temperature in photobioreactors can reach temperatures up to 50 °C. Control of temperature is essential to avoid losses on biomass productivity but should be limited to a minimum to avoid high energy requirements for cooling. Our objective is to develop a production process in which cooling is not required. We studied the behaviour of thermotolerant microalgae Picochlorum sp. (BPE23) under four diel temperature regimes, with peak temperatures from 30 °C up to a maximum of 47.5 °C. The highest growth rate of 0.17 h−1 was obtained when applying a daytime peak temperature of 40 °C. Operating photobioreactors in tropical regions, with a maximal peak temperature of 40 °C, up from 30 °C, reduces microalgae production costs by 26.2 %, based on simulations with a pre-existing techno-economic model. Cell pigmentation was downregulated under increasingly stressful temperatures. The fatty acid composition of cell membranes was altered under increasing temperatures to contain shorter fatty acids with a higher level of saturation. Our findings show that the level of temperature control impacts the biomass yield and composition of the microalgae.

Sensing underground activity: diel digging activity pattern during nest escape by sea turtle hatchlings

Synchronous digging activity and emergence from underground nests is important for sea turtle hatchlings, as it reduces predation risk and decreases energy consumption. However, patterns of underground hatching and diel digging activity prior to emergence are invisible and remain largely unknown. In this study, we acoustically monitored the activity of green turtle, Chelonia mydas , hatchlings from hatching to emergence in the field and laboratory. During the hatching period, we did not observe characteristic acoustic events corresponding to pipping and hatching. Hatchlings started digging even though there were still unhatched eggs above them, indicating that green turtles did not hatch as one synchronous group. This observation did not support our hypothesis that synchronized hatching facilitates synchronous emergence. Digging activity tended to increase at night as the hatchlings approached the sand surface and nest emergence became imminent. It is not surprising that there was diel variation in digging activity as the hatchlings approached the surface because diel fluctuations in sand temperature can provide a diel cue. Surprisingly, a diel change in digging activity was also observed when hatchlings were still at a sand depth where temperature remained relatively constant throughout the day (that is, a few days before emergence) and in the laboratory at a constant temperature. This study suggests that the diel activity pattern of hatchling green turtles may occur even in the absence of a diel temperature fluctuation cue. • Green turtle hatchlings did not hatch synchronously. • Digging activity occurred even when some eggs of the nest were unhatched. • Synchronous digging increased at night as the emergence became imminent. • Diel change in activity occurred even under constant conditions. • Acoustic monitoring is useful for investigating underground animal behaviour.

Precipitation-drainage cycles lead to hot moments in soil carbon dioxide dynamics in a Neotropical wet forest.

Soil CO2 concentrations and emissions from tropical forests are modulated seasonally by precipitation. However, subseasonal responses to meteorological events (e.g., storms, drought) are less well known. Here, we present the effects of meteorological variability on short-term (hours to months) dynamics of soil CO2 concentrations and emissions in a Neotropical wet forest. We continuously monitored soil temperature, moisture, and CO2 for a three-year period (2015-2017), encompassing normal conditions, floods, a dry El Niño period, and a hurricane. We used a coupled model (Hydrus-1D) for soil water propagation, heat transfer, and diffusive gas transport to explain observed soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil CO2 concentration responses to meteorology, and we estimated soil CO2 efflux with a gradient-flux model. Then, we predicted changes in soil CO2 concentrations and emissions under different warming climate change scenarios. Observed short-term (hourly to daily) soil CO2 concentration responded more to precipitation than to other meteorological variables (including lower pressure during the hurricane). Observed soil CO2 failed to exhibit diel patterns (associated with diel temperature fluctuations in drier climates), except during the drier El Niño period. Climate change scenarios showed enhanced soil CO2 due to warmer conditions, while precipitation played a critical role in moderating the balance between concentrations and emissions. The scenario with increased precipitation (based on a regional model projection) led to increases of +11% in soil CO2 concentrations and +4% in soil CO2 emissions. The scenario with decreased precipitation (based on global circulation model projections) resulted in increases of +4% in soil CO2 concentrations and +18% in soil CO2 emissions, and presented more prominent hot moments in soil CO2 outgassing. These findings suggest that soil CO2 will increase under warmer climate in tropical wet forests, and precipitation patterns will define the intensity of CO2 outgassing hot moments.

Ocean warming and acidification alter the behavioral response to flow of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.

Ocean warming (OW) and acidification (OA) are intensively investigated as they pose major threats to marine organism. However, little effort is dedicated to another collateral climate change stressor, the increased frequency, and intensity of storm events, here referred to as intensified hydrodynamics. A 2‐month experiment was performed to identify how OW and OA (temperature: 21°C; pHT: 7.7, 7.4; control: 17°C‐pHT7.9) affect the resistance to hydrodynamics in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus using an integrative approach that includes physiology, biomechanics, and behavior. Biomechanics was studied under both no‐flow condition at the tube foot (TF) scale and flow condition at the individual scale. For the former, TF disk adhesive properties (attachment strength, tenacity) and TF stem mechanical properties (breaking force, extensibility, tensile strength, stiffness, toughness) were evaluated. For the latter, resistance to flow was addressed as the flow velocity at which individuals detached. Under near‐ and far‐future OW and OA, individuals fully balanced their acid‐base status, but skeletal growth was halved. TF adhesive properties were not affected by treatments. Compared to the control, mechanical properties were in general improved under pHT7.7 while in the extreme treatment (21°C‐pHT7.4) breaking force was diminished. Three behavioral strategies were implemented by sea urchins and acted together to cope with flow: improving TF attachment, streamlining, and escaping. Behavioral responses varied according to treatment and flow velocity. For instance, individuals at 21°C‐pHT7.4 increased the density of attached TF at slow flows or controlled TF detachment at fast flows to compensate for weakened TF mechanical properties. They also showed an absence of streamlining favoring an escaping behavior as they ventured in a riskier faster movement at slow flows. At faster flows, the effects of OW and OA were detrimental causing earlier dislodgment. These plastic behaviors reflect a potential scope for acclimation in the field, where this species already experiences diel temperature and pH fluctuations.

Responses of phytoplankton species to diel temperature fluctuation patterns

SUMMARYDiel temperature fluctuation might promote the dominance of cyanobacteria and result in the advance of bloom onset timing in spring. However, knowledge of how temperature fluctuations impact phytoplankton shift and then favor cyanobacterial growth in spring is limited. In this study, we analyzed photosynthesis and growth responses of phytoplankton species to different temperature fluctuation patterns in the laboratory. We also performed daily monitoring to detect the relationship between phytoplankton groups and diel temperature fluctuations. The results of the laboratory experiments suggested that the photosynthetic performance and growth rate of Microcystis aeruginosa were better adapted to temperature fluctuations than those of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Cyclotella meneghiniana. Temperature fluctuations slowed the proliferation of Ch. pyrenoidosa and Cy. meneghiniana, while promoting M. aeruginosa. Moreover, the response dynamics of different phytoplankton species to diel temperature fluctuations depended on the mean temperature. The results from the field also indicated that there was a positive relationship between cyanobacterial biomass and diel temperature fluctuations. Our study offers further understanding of the effect of temperature fluctuation on phytoplankton composition shift and the formation of cyanobacterial dominance in spring.

Respiration of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus in response to large temperature fluctuations

Some subtidal habitats may experience extremely large diel temperature fluctuations. To explore the potential of subtidal animals to regulate their metabolic processes, we investigated how the oxygen consumption rate (MO2) of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus changes in response to extreme temperature fluctuations by mimicking temperature variations recorded at Dokdo Island, Republic of Korea. We compared the MO2 of urchins before and after a temperature fluctuation. MO2 was positively correlated with temperature. There was no change in the mean MO2 values even after exposure to fluctuating temperature. There was no significant difference in mean MO2 between large and small temperature fluctuations. These results indicate that the metabolic activity of M. nudus might be well-adapted to extreme temperature fluctuations. However, given that the temperature coefficient (Q10) values decreased with increasing temperature and Q10 values during the temperature decrease was higher than those during temperature increase, temperature rise may still act as a stressor for these animals.

Temperature and depth profiles of Chinook salmon and the energetic costs of their long-distance homing migrations

River warming poses an existential threat to many Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp) populations. However, temperature-mediated risks to salmon are often complex and addressing them requires species- and population-specific data collected over large spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we combined radiotelemetry with archival depth and temperature sensors to collect continuous thermal exposure histories of 21 adult spring- and summer-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) as they migrated hundreds of kilometers upstream in the Columbia River basin. Salmon thermal histories in impounded reaches of the Columbia and Snake rivers were characterized by low daily temperature variation but frequent and extensive vertical movements. Dives were associated with slightly cooler salmon body temperatures (~ 0.01 to 0.02 °C/m), but there was no evidence for use of cool-water thermal refuges deep in reservoirs or at tributary confluences along the migration route. In tributaries, salmon were constrained to relatively shallow water, and they experienced ~ 2–5 °C diel temperature fluctuations. Differences in migration timing and among route-specific thermal regimes resulted in substantial among-individual variation in migration temperature exposure. Bioenergetics models using the collected thermal histories and swim speeds ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 body-lengths/s predicted median energetic costs of ~ 24–40% (spring-run) and ~ 37–60% (summer-run) of initial reserves. Median declines in total mass were ~ 16–24% for spring-run salmon and ~ 19–29% for summer-run salmon. A simulated + 2 °C increase in water temperatures resulted in 4.0% (spring-run) and 6.3% (summer-run) more energy used per fish, on average. The biotelemetry data provided remarkable spatial and temporal resolution on thermal exposure. Nonetheless, substantial information gaps remain for the development of robust bioenergetics and climate effects models for adult Chinook salmon.

Impact of diurnal temperature fluctuations on larval settlement and growth of the reef coral &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Pocillopora damicornis&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;

Abstract. Diurnal fluctuations in seawater temperature are ubiquitous on tropical reef flats. However, the effects of such dynamic temperature variations on the early stages of corals are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the responses of larvae and new recruits of Pocillopora damicornis to two constant temperature treatments (29 and 31 °C) and two diurnally fluctuating treatments (28–31 and 30–33 °C with daily means of 29 and 31 °C, respectively) simulating the 3 °C diel oscillations at 3 m depth on the Luhuitou fringing reef (Sanya, China). Results showed that the thermal stress on settlement at 31 °C was almost negated by the fluctuating treatment. Further, neither elevated temperature nor temperature fluctuations caused bleaching responses in recruits, while the maximum excitation pressure over photosystem II (PSII) was reduced under fluctuating temperatures. Although early growth and development were highly stimulated at 31 °C, oscillations of 3 °C had little effects on budding and lateral growth at either mean temperature. Nevertheless, daytime encounters with the maximum temperature of 33 °C in fluctuating 31 °C elicited a notable reduction in calcification compared to constant 31 °C. These results underscore the complexity of the effects caused by diel temperature fluctuations on early stages of corals and suggest that ecologically relevant temperature variability could buffer warming stress on larval settlement and dampen the positive effects of increased temperatures on coral growth.

Effects of Diel Temperature Fluctuation on Growth, Stress Response, and Immune Function of Burbot

AbstractNorth American Burbot Lota lota maculosa occupy habitats from deep, cold lakes to prairie streams. Controlled laboratory trials were conducted to evaluate the growth, immune response, and thermal stress physiology of juvenile Burbot subjected to fluctuating, high diel temperatures. Age‐0 Burbot from a captive propagation program associated with population restoration in the Kootenai River, Idaho, were tested in temperature cycles that imitated summer conditions observed in regional stream habitats. The diel temperature cycle for the treatment group varied from 18°C at night to 27°C during the day, whereas the control group was held at a constant temperature of 14°C. We evaluated survival, growth, feed efficiency, heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) levels, hsp70 gene expression, serum lysozyme levels, and proximate body composition in samples taken from fish before, during, and at the completion of the trials. Both treatments had high survival and similar growth rates, but the control group gained significantly more weight and had better feed conversion rates than the treatment group. Mean hsp70 expression and hsp70 abundance were significantly higher in the treatment group but varied between sampling events and between tissue types. Expression of hsp70 in treatment fish was highest on day 15 for muscle tissue (251 times the control value) and on day 30 for liver tissue (1,131 times the control value), with variable abundance of hsp70 at both sampling points. Serum lysozyme levels were not different between treatments. An additional short‐term trial was conducted to evaluate the response of Burbot to upper lethal temperatures, with daily maxima approaching 32°C. Despite being commonly referred to as a coldwater stenotherm, the Burbot displayed resilience to thermal stress, and were able to withstand temperatures exceeding 31°C.Received September 13, 2016; accepted May 12, 2017 Published online July 31, 2017

Characterising the dynamics of surface water-groundwater interactions in intermittent and ephemeral streams using streambed thermal signatures

Ephemeral and intermittent flow in dryland stream channels infiltrates into sediments, replenishes groundwater resources and underpins riparian ecosystems. However, the spatiotemporal complexity of the transitory flow processes that occur beneath such stream channels are poorly observed and understood. We develop a new approach to characterise the dynamics of surface water-groundwater interactions in dryland streams using pairs of temperature records measured at different depths within the streambed. The approach exploits the fact that the downward propagation of the diel temperature fluctuation from the surface depends on the sediment thermal diffusivity. This is controlled by time-varying fractions of air and water contained in streambed sediments causing a contrast in thermal properties. We demonstrate the usefulness of this method with multi-level temperature and pressure records of a flow event acquired using 12 streambed arrays deployed along a ∼ 12 km dryland channel section. Thermal signatures clearly indicate the presence of water and characterise the vertical flow component as well as the occurrence of horizontal hyporheic flow. We jointly interpret thermal signatures as well as surface and groundwater levels to distinguish four different hydrological regimes: [A] dry channel, [B] surface run-off, [C] pool-riffle sequence, and [D] isolated pools. The occurrence and duration of the regimes depends on the rate at which the infiltrated water redistributes in the subsurface which, in turn, is controlled by the hydraulic properties of the variably saturated sediment. Our results have significant implications for understanding how transitory flows recharge alluvial sediments, influence water quality and underpin dryland ecosystems.

Diel stream temperature regimes of Bukovsky regions of the conterminous United States

AbstractStream temperature which varies over daily to seasonal timescales is a primary control on myriad ecological, biogeochemical, and physical processes. Yet geographic patterns of its diel variations have not been fully characterized. Using daily temperature records spanning 15 years (2000–2014), monthly averaged mean daily temperature and diel temperature range were calculated for streams distributed across six Bukovsky regions of the conterminous U.S. Across all six regions, diel temperature fluctuations were lowest during the winter, around 1–2°C. During the summer there was wide distribution in diel temperatures (2°C–12°C). The regions revealed distinct differences in diel patterns for small and medium streams, but not for large streams. Small and medium streams exhibited notable hysteresis in their annual progression of diel temperature ranges, with larger diel temperature fluctuations in the spring than in the fall.

Air/water/sediment temperature contrasts in small streams to identify groundwater seepage locations

The need to identify groundwater seepage locations is of great importance for managing both stream water quality and groundwater sourced ecosystems due to their dependency on groundwater borne nutrients and temperatures. Although several reconnaissance methods using temperature as tracer exist, these are subjected to limitations related to mainly the spatial- and temporal resolution and/or mixing of groundwater and surface water leading to dilution of the temperature differences. Further, some methods, e.g., thermal imagery and fiber optic distributed temperature sensing, although relative efficient in detecting temperature differences over larger distances, these are labor-intensive and costly. Therefore, there is a need for additional cost-effective methods identifying substantial groundwater seepage locations. We present a method expanding the linear regression of air and stream temperatures by measuring the temperatures in dual-depth; in the stream column and at the streambed-water interface (SWI). By doing so we apply metrics from linear regression analysis of temperatures between air/stream and air/SWI (linear regression slope, intercept and coefficient of determination), and the daily water temperature cycle (daily meantemperatures, temperature variance and the mean diel temperature fluctuation). We show that using metrics from only single-depth stream temperature measurements are insufficient to identify substantial groundwater seepage locations in a head-water stream. Conversely, comparing the metrics from dual-depth temperatures show significant differences; at groundwater seepage locations, temperatures at the SWI, merely explain 43-75% of the variation opposed to ≥91% at the corresponding stream column temperatures. In general, at these locations at the SWI, the slopes ( 6.5 ∘C) are substantially lower and higher, respectively, while the mean diel temperature fluctuations (<0.98 ∘C) are decreased compared to remaining locations. The dual-depth approach was applied in a post-glacial fluvial setting, where metrics analyses overall corroborated with field measurements of groundwater fluxes and stream flow accretions. Thus, we propose a method reliably identifying groundwater seepage locations along streambeds in such settings.

Effect of overwinter hydration, seed storage time, temperature, and photoperiod on germination of some Carex, Juncus, and Alopecurus species

Factors affecting seed germination of select wetland and aquatic plants were investigated in two experiments. In the first, seeds of four Juncus species, Alopecurus aequalis, and Carex nebrascensis were stored overwinter at 3–4°C either dry or wet. In spring, these groups were further divided into four constant temperature treatments (15, 20, 25, or 30°C) and 3 fluctuating temperature treatments (low, moderate, high). In the second experiment, the duration of cold-wet storage, photoperiod, and temperature were further evaluated. In the first experiment, cold-wet seed storage led to higher and faster germination for all but C. nebrascensis; Fluctuating temperatures produced the highest germination of A. aequalis, C. nebrascensis, Juncus tenuis, and J. ensifolius. In Experiment 2, seed storage time effects varied with species. Photoperiod effects (12v. 14h light) were generally insignificant. Diel temperature fluctuations of 15–27°C produced higher seed germination than 32–38°C for all four Juncus species. The highest germination percentages of J. balticus (64–69%) and J. ensifolius (61–73%) occurred after at least 2 months of cold-wet storage and incubation at 15–27°C, whereas J. tenuis and J. torreyi had 51–58% germination both at the start of the study and after a year of wet vernalization. The conditions for germination of the species studied still needs further optimization, but the effects of temperature, temperature fluctuation, overwinter storage conditions, as well as the days to germinate at a given temperature, have been at least partly elucidated for the species studied. The data can now be used for initiating seed pretreatment for habitat projects.

Low Annual Fidelity and Early Upstream Migration of Anadromous Arctic Char in a Variable Environment

AbstractThe life histories of anadromous Arctic Char Salvelinus alpinus are complex and vary greatly between populations and environments. Here, we detail key aspects of the physical environment and life history of a population of Arctic Char from Nulahugyuk Creek, Nunavut, Canada, to characterize migration traits in a highly variable environment. Over the course of this migration, creek discharge declined precipitously, forcing Arctic Char to migrate through shallow water with large diel temperature fluctuations (&gt;10°C) and high temperature extremes (&gt;21°C). The downstream migration of adults (&gt;55 cm) began in mid‐June and continued into early July, while the downstream migration of smolts (&lt;30 cm) began in late June and continued until late July. The upstream adult migration began in late June and ended in late July, far earlier than most upstream migrations in the region. There was no appreciable upstream migration of juveniles, and Arctic Char 30 to 55 cm in length were absent from the up‐ and downstream migrations. The average age at first migration was 4 years, and the youngest adult Arctic Char migrating upstream were 8 and 9 years old. The missing size‐ and age‐classes, and the fact that most upstream migrants were near reproductive maturity, indicate that Arctic Char in this system typically leave at a length of 19 cm and an age of 4 years and do not return for 4 to 5 years, when they are ready to reproduce. Anadromous Nulahugyuk Creek Arctic Char appear to employ strategies that limit their exposure to restrictive migratory conditions and facilitate their existence in an otherwise uninhabitable system. Understanding such population‐specific migratory strategies is critical to the management of Arctic Char fisheries, which are comprised of populations with highly diverse life histories, and to our understanding of how these life histories may contribute to the adaptability and persistence of the species as climate change progresses.Received November 24, 2015; accepted March 23, 2016 Published online July 28, 2016

Caddisfly behavioral responses to drying cues in temporary ponds: implications for effects of climate change

Aquatic organisms that live at high latitudes and elevations are especially vulnerable to climate-change-induced alterations in snowpack, snowmelt, and evaporation rates, all of which affect basin filling and drying dates. Extraordinarily early drying events in shallow ponds and wetlands at our study sites prompted us to conduct 2 mesocosm experiments to document how proximate cues of drying modify agonistic behaviors among larvae of the caddisfly, Asynarchus nigriculus. Larvae are mainly detritivores but can be extremely aggressive and engage in mob cannibalism, perhaps to obtain a dietary supplement that hastens escape from drying basins. In one experiment, we manipulated caddisfly density to simulate the effects of crowding during pond drying. In a 2nd experiment, we reduced water levels and manipulated a protein supplement that mimics the dietary benefits of cannibalism. We quantified the effects of those manipulations on aggressive behaviors that are precursors to cannibalism and on development time to pupation. Frequency and duration of agonistic encounters increased as a function of larval density and, independent of density, were higher in drying than nondrying treatments, especially in the absence of a protein supplement. Pupation occurred earlier in high- than low-density treatments and earlier with than without a protein supplement. In contrast, the timing of pupation was not accelerated in drying compared with nondrying treatments, which might reflect the extreme diel temperature fluctuations in drying ponds, hence suboptimal growth conditions. Our findings provide evidence that declining water levels and crowding serve as cues that enable caddisflies to adjust behavior and development in the face of habitat drying. Early drying events observed in recent years may exceed the limits of this flexibility and portend the demise of populations in temporary habitats that historically supported this species.