No phenotypic plasticity in nest-site selection in response to extreme flooding events

Phenotypic plasticity is a crucial mechanism for responding to changes in climatic means, yet we know little about its role in responding to extreme climatic events (ECEs). ECEs may lack the reliable cues necessary for phenotypic plasticity to evolve; however, this has not been empirically tested. We investigated whether behavioural plasticity in nest-site selection allows a long-lived shorebird (Haematopus ostralegus) to respond to flooding. We collected longitudinal nest elevation data on individuals over two decades, during which time flooding events have become increasingly frequent. We found no evidence that individuals learn from flooding experiences, showing nest elevation change consistent with random nest-site selection. There was also no evidence of phenotypic plasticity in response to potential environmental cues (lunar nodal cycle and water height). A small number of individuals, those nesting near an artificial sea wall, did show an increase in nest elevation over time; how...

表型可塑性（phenotypic plasticity）是应对气候均值变化的关键机制，但目前我们对其在响应极端气候事件（extreme climatic events, ECEs）中的作用知之甚少。极端气候事件或许缺乏表型可塑性演化所需的可靠环境线索；然而，这一推论尚未经过实证检验。本研究探究了巢位选择的行为可塑性是否能让一种长寿鸻鹬类鸟类——蛎鹬（Haematopus ostralegus）——应对洪水胁迫。我们收集了二十余年间多个体的纵向巢位海拔数据，在此期间洪水事件的发生频率逐渐升高。研究未发现个体可通过洪水经历学习调整巢位的证据，其巢位海拔变化与随机选择巢位的结果一致。同时也未发现个体针对潜在环境线索（月球交点周期与水位高度）产生表型可塑性的证据。仅有极少数在人工海堤附近筑巢的个体，其巢位海拔随时间呈现上升趋势；how...