Phenotypic plasticity can be an important adaptive response to climate change, particularly for dispersal-limited species. Temperature frequently alters developmental and phenotypic traits including morphology, behavior, and reproductive cycles. We often lack crucial information about if and how thermal conditions during development will interact with genetic responses and facilitate persistence or adaptation under climate change. Polymorphic species offer an ideal test for this, as alternative morphs often confer differential adaptive advantages. However, few studies have examined the effects of incubation temperature on color expression or development in polymorphic taxa. Here we test if developmental temperature mediates morph frequency in the polymorphic salamander Plethodon cinereus. Although previous research suggests geographic variation in morph proportions results from differential climate adaptation, it remains unknown if plasticity also contributes to this variation. We used a split-clutch common garden experiment to determine the effects of developmental temperature on the color and development of P. cinereus. Our results indicate developmental temperature affects coloration in P. cinereus, either via plasticity or differential mortality, with eggs incubated at warmer temperatures yielding a higher proportion of unstriped individuals than those from cooler temperatures. This temperature response may contribute to the spatial variation in morph frequencies in natural populations. Surprisingly, we found neither temperature nor egg size affected hatchling size. Our study provides important insights into the potential for climate-induced responses to preserve diversity in dispersal-limited species, like P. cinereus, and enable time for adaptive evolution.

中文翻译：

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发育温度影响林地sal的颜色多态性，但不影响孵化场的大小。

表型可塑性可能是对气候变化的重要适应性反应，尤其是对于扩散受限的物种。温度经常改变发育和表型性状，包括形态，行为和生殖周期。我们经常缺乏关于开发过程中的热条件是否以及如何与遗传反应相互作用并促进气候变化下的持久性或适应性的关键信息。多态性物种为此提供了理想的测试，因为替代性态通常会带来差分自适应优势。但是，很少有研究检查孵育温度对多态类群颜色表达或发育的影响。在这里，我们测试发育温度是否介导了多形salPlethodon cinereus中的形态频率。尽管先前的研究表明，形态比例的地理差异是由于气候差异性适应导致的，但可塑性是否也有助于这种差异仍然未知。我们使用了离合离合器的普通花园实验来确定发育温度对灰青霉颜色和发育的影响。我们的结果表明，发育温度会通过可塑性或死亡率差异影响灰青霉的色素沉着，在较温暖的温度下孵化的卵所产生的未条纹个体的比例高于在较低温度下的卵。这种温度响应可能有助于自然种群中形态频率的空间变化。出乎意料的是，我们发现温度和蛋的大小都不会影响孵化的大小。