Understanding how the Environment Shapes Bodies and Brains

Ontogenetic Plasticity – How the Environment Shapes Bodies and Brains

In an ever-changing world, the ability of organisms to adapt and thrive is central to their survival. While genetic inheritance plays a crucial role, the environment also profoundly influences development. Through this challenge, we seek to uncover the mechanisms underlying ontogenetic plasticity in animal morphology and its implications for fields such as evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation, including the role of epigenetics. By understanding how organisms respond to and are shaped by their environment, authors will contribute to a deeper comprehension of the diversity and resilience of life on Earth.

This challenge is about understanding how environmental factors influence the physical and behavioral development of organisms. While scientific research has long acknowledged the role of genes in determining an organism’s form, it is becoming increasingly clear that environmental factors have a significant impact on the development of structural and functional traits. This ontogenetic plasticity might be the driving force behind how individuals or populations cope with changing environments. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms therefore has important implications for research areas such as evolutionary biology, ecology and conservation. Contributions to this challenge should consequently focus on the complex interplay between genes and environment. They should investigate or discuss how factors such as nutrition, temperature, pollution or social interactions influence the development of physical and behavioral characteristics and which role epigenetic mechanisms may play in this.

We welcome research that considers short-term responses or long-term adaptations to environmental conditions of species from across the animal kingdom. Based on empirical research but also review and opinion papers, this challenge aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the diversity and resilience of life on Earth.

Why this challenge matters now

“The importance of this challenge lies in its potential to significantly advance our understanding of how living organisms adapt to their changing environments. As ecosystems face increasing stress from factors like climate change, pollution, and habitat loss, the study of ontogenetic plasticity becomes crucial for uncovering how species will survive, adapt, or fail to cope with these changes. By examining how environmental factors shape physical and behavioral traits throughout an organism’s development, we can better predict how populations might evolve or face extinction, which is essential for making informed decisions in ecology, conservation, and even human health. This understanding of plasticity also has direct implications for biodiversity, resilience, and ecosystem stability.” – Challenge Editor Rodrigo Nunes-da-Fonseca, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Key Questions

What is the impact of aversive or protective ontogenetic experience on phenotypic plasticity and behavioral adaptations in a population?

How do changing environmental conditions like temperature variation or resource availability affect morphological or behavioral adaptations?

What are the effects of structural or climatic changes in the habitat (e.g. habitat fragmentation or urbanization) on morphological or behavioral diversity and adaptations in a population?

What is the adaptive significance of morphological or behavioral variation within and between populations facing different environmental challenges?

What are the trade-offs in plastic adaptations to changing environments?

How do aversive influences like exposure to environmental toxins impact growth and development?

How do social environments and interactions impact morphological or behavioral characteristics of an individual?

What is the influence of parental care and nurturing on offspring morphology and behavior?

How do organisms adjust their morphology and behavior in response to predation pressure?

How do genetic and environmental factors interact in adapting morphological and behavioral characteristics to changing environments?

What is the role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating adaptations to changing environments?

Challenge Editors

Prof. Dr Martina Manns, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum

Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Nunes-da-Fonseca, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Submit Today

If these questions resonate with your research, we invite you to submit your research to this Global Challenge. This is your opportunity to contribute to expanding our understanding of how environmental factors shape the development and survival of species in an ever-changing world.