title: Evaluating within-population variability in behavior and demography for the adaptive potential of a dispersal-limited species to climate change.
abstract: Multiple pathways exist for species to respond to changing climates. However, responses of dispersal-limited species will be more strongly tied to ability to adapt within existing populations as rates of environmental change will likely exceed movement rates. Here, we assess adaptive capacity inPlethodon cinereus, a dispersal-limited woodland salamander. We quantify plasticity in behavior and variation in demography to observed variation in environmental variables over a 5-year period. We found strong evidence that temperature and rainfall influenceP. cinereussurface presence, indicating changes in climate are likely to affect seasonal activity patterns. We also found that warmer summer temperatures reduced individual growth rates into the autumn, which is likely to have negative demographic consequences. Reduced growth rates may delay reproductive maturity and lead to reductions in size-specific fecundity, potentially reducing population-level persistence. To better understand within-population variability in responses, we examined differences between two common color morphs. Previous evidence suggests that the color polymorphism may be linked to physiological differences in heat and moisture tolerance. We found only moderate support for morph-specific differences for the relationship between individual growth and temperature. Measuring environmental sensitivity to climatic variability is the first step in predicting species' responses to climate change. Our results suggest phenological shifts and changes in growth rates are likely responses under scenarios where further warming occurs, and we discuss possible adaptive strategies for resulting selective pressures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecosystem Science and Management Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park MD USA; Present address: Biology Program Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics Hesston College Hesston KS USA.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miller Hesed
authors.affiliation: US Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Turners Falls MA USA.
authors.forename: Evan H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Campbell Grant
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecosystem Science and Management Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA.
authors.forename: David A W
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Miller
keywords: Plethodon cinereus; adaptive capacity; behavioral plasticity; climate change; color morph; demography