Eco-evolutionary study of geographic patterns in the pace-of-life syndrome

To understand how species respond to global warming we need to know how their trait values evolved along two geographic axes: latitudinal gradients and poleward range expansion fronts. This asks for an integrated multi-trait approach. Therefore, we will follow as framework the pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) which states that individuals/populations align along a fast-slow continuum with animals with a fast type showing a fast life history (growth and development), active behaviour (e.g. more risk taking, exploratory) and specific physiology (e.g. fast metabolic rate). As study species we chose damselfly larvae, important predators in aquatic food webs, with a well-characterized geographic distribution and associated life history differences across both axes. We will test for differentiation in the POLS along these axes by measuring both the phenotypic trait values and the underlying gene expression patterns. We will integrate two new ecologically important aspects into the POLS by testing how animals with a certain POLS type differ in their body elemental composition and in their gut microbiota. Finally, we will study the ecological consequences of the evolution of  the POLS for an important ecosystem function: primary production (measured as algal abundance). We will do so by testing pathways working through changed species interactions because of behavioural differences between POLS types and through changed elemental composition of the excreta between POLS types.