Coby van Dooremalen

Project

Evolutionary physiology of temperature adaptation

For basically all organisms, temperature is a key environmental factor, but especially for ectotherms. A renewed interest in thermal biology has arisen because of the impact of climate change. Many aspects of a species morphology, physiology or behaviour change with thermal conditions, i.e. phenotypic plasticity. There are, however, large differences between species in thermal phenotypic plasticity that are mechanistically poorly understood. In this project we integrate the mechanistic and evolutionary perspective in studying the physiological basis of thermal phenotypic plasticity. We look at changes in membrane and storage lipids due to changes in body temperature as a mechanism underlying thermal phenotypic plasticity. Even a moderate change in temperature can lead to vital physiological and biochemical adjustments, one of which is a change in lipid composition. When environmental temperature decreases, membrane and storage lipids in ectotherms become more unsaturated to maintain proper functioning of the organism.The ultimate goal of elucidating the mechanism underlying difference in thermal plasticity is to predict functioning of species in the field, and the associated selection pressures. The main study species will be Collembola.

Duration
4 years (December 2006-December 2010)

Publications

• Van Dooremalen, C., W. Suring, J. Ellers (2011). (Provisionally accepted) Changes in lipid composition and extreme temperature tolerance following fluctuating temperatures in Orchesella cincta. Journal of Insect Physiology.
• Van Dooremalen, C., J. Koekkoek, J. Ellers (2011). Temperature-induced plasticity in membrane and storage lipid composition: Thermal reaction norms across five different temperatures. Journal of Insect Physiology 57, 285-291.
• Liefting, M., M. Weerenbeck, C. van Dooremalen, J. Ellers (2010). Temperature-induced plasticity in egg size and resistance of eggs to temperature stress in a soil arthropod. Functional Ecology 24, 1291-1298.
• Van Dooremalen, C. and J. Ellers (2010). A moderate change in temperature induces changes in fatty acid composition of storage and membrane lipids in a soil arthropod. Journal of Insect Physiology, 56: 178-184.
• Van Langevelde, F., C. van Dooremalen and C.F. Jaarsma (2009). Traffic mortality and the role of minor roads. Journal of Environmental Management 90, 660-667.
• P. Langendijk, S.J. Dieleman, C. van Dooremalen, G.R. Foxcroft, R. Gerritsen, W. Hazeleger, N.M. Soede and B. Kemp (2009). LH and FSH secretion, follicle development and oestradiol in sows ovulating or failing to ovulate in an intermittent suckling regimen. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21, 313–322.
• Van Dooremalen, C., R. Pel, J. Ellers (2009). Maximized PUFA measurements improve insight in changes in fatty acid composition in response to temperature. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 72(2), 88–104.
• Van Langevelde, F., C. van Dooremalen and C.F. Jaarsma (2007). Traffic mortality, analysis and mitigation. Effects of road, traffic, vehicle and species characteristics. In: Landscape Ecological Applications in Man-Influenced Areas, S.K. Hong, N. Nakagoshi, B. Fu, Y. Morimoto and J. Wu (editors). Springer Dordrecht, The Netherlands.