Separating Paternal and Maternal Contributions to Thermal Transgenerational Plasticity

Climate change is rapidly altering the thermal environment in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Transgenerational plasticity (TGP) – which occurs when temperatures experienced by parental generation prior to fertilization of gametes results a offspring reaction norms may mitigate effects climate change. Although “maternal effects” have been widely studied, relatively little known about TGP vertebrates, particularly paternal contributions. We used artificial cross sheepshead minnow ( Cyprinodon variegatus ) parents exposed either low (26°C) or high (32°C) measured growth rates over first 8 weeks life at both temperatures. A linear mixed model was employed quantify maternal, paternal, on fecundity. found that rate up 63 days post-hatch affected temperature they directly fertilization. Growth lowest neither parents’ matched temperature, indicating strong transgenerational effect. Notably, highest all three (offspring, sire, dam) [although three-way interaction be marginally non-significant P = 0.155)], suggesting were additive across significant sire-offspring < 0.001) dam-offspring interactions 0.001). fecundity (GSI) suggestive for maternal effects, but not significant. The finding contributed strongly suggests it has an epigenetic basis.