Extreme climate shifts pest dominance hierarchy through thermal evolution and transgenerational plasticity

Dominance hierarchy, the dominance ranking of members in a community, is determined by relative population fitness coexisting species. Climate change can shift hierarchies depending on how species respond to changing climate, but ecological mechanisms underlying such shifts remain largely unknown. Specifically, hierarchy under climate have rarely been linked eco-evolutionary responses thermal extremes, which we consider this study. We conducted an 8-year field survey link extreme high-temperature events two worldwide cereal aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae), may rapidly through evolutionary or plastic extremes due their short generation duration, clonal structure high sensitivity. To further understand mechanism involved species' dominance, characterised heat tolerance demography sourced from relatively mild (Xinxiang) hot (Wuhan) locations common garden design compared same measures up- down-selected lines found that accumulation (EHTs) affected per capita growth rate S. avenae not R. padi, driving annual these wheat fields. Furthermore, evidence tests artificial selection revealed changes EHTs were species-dependent; evolved higher without reducing while did evolve showed detrimental transgenerational extremes. Rhopalosiphum take over dominant position warmer future, potential less plasticity following selection. Field surveys laboratory experiments together point related interspecific differences rates traits during associated with climatic conditions. This study highlights dynamics contribute community natural A free Plain Language Summary be within Supporting Information article.