Temperature-mediated plasticity in incubation schedules is unlikely to evolve to buffer embryos from climatic challenges in a seasonal songbird

Phenotypic plasticity is hypothesised to facilitate adaptive responses to challenging conditions, such as those resulting from climate change. However, the key predictions of this ‘rescue hypothesis’, that variation in plasticity exists and can evolve to buffer unfavourable conditions, remain rare. Here, we investigate among-female variation in temperature-mediated plasticity of incubation schedules and consequences for egg temperatures using the chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps) from temperate regions of inland south-eastern Australia. Given phenological advances in this seasonal breeder and thermal requirements of developing embryos (> ~25  °C, optimally ~38  °C), support for evolutionary rescue - perhaps paradoxically - requires that plasticity serves to buffer embryos more from sub-optimally low temperatures. We found significant variation in the duration of incubation bouts (mean ± SD = 27 ± 22 min) and foraging bouts (mean ± SD = 17 ± 11 min) in this maternal-onl..., See manuscript for details
, Readme file is included in data sheet

表型可塑性（Phenotypic plasticity）被假设可促进生物对恶劣环境的适应性响应，例如气候变化所引发的环境压力。然而，该‘拯救假说’的核心预测——即可塑性存在变异且可通过演化缓冲不利环境条件——相关实证研究仍较为匮乏。本研究以澳大利亚东南部内陆温带区域的棕冠弯嘴鹛（Pomatostomus ruficeps）为研究对象，探讨雌性个体间孵化节律的温度介导可塑性变异及其对卵温的影响。鉴于该季节性繁殖物种的物候提前，以及发育胚胎的热需求（需＞约25℃，最适温度约为38℃），出人意料的是，要为演化拯救假说提供实证支持，需要可塑性能够更多地缓冲胚胎免受亚适低温的影响。本研究发现，该物种的孵化回合时长（平均值±标准差=27±22分钟）与觅食回合时长（平均值±标准差=17±11分钟）存在显著变异，详见手稿原文。数据集文件中包含自述文档（Readme）。