Sex‐ and time‐specific parental effects of warming on reproduction and offspring quality in a coral reef fish

Global warming can disrupt reproduction or lead to fewer and poorer quality offspring, owing the thermally sensitive nature of reproductive physiology. However, phenotypic plasticity may enable some animals adjust thermal sensitivity maintain performance in warmer conditions. Whether elevated temperature affects depend on timing exposure sex parent exposed. We exposed male female coral reef damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) during development, both life stages an (+1.5°C) consistent with projected ocean measured output newly hatched offspring relative pairs reared a present-day control temperature. found development increased probability breeding, but ceased if continued stage, irrespective male's developmental experience. Females that developed conditions, reproduced also produced larger eggs hatchlings greater yolk reserves. By contrast, reproducing higher offspring. Such changes be due alterations hormones endocrine stress response. In nature, this could mean fish developing marine heatwave have enhanced produce compared females year usual would likely result reduced output. Furthermore, lack from average increase population decline. Our results demonstrate how differentially influences males translates effects sustainability world.