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HSP70 expression in the Copper butterfly Lycaena tityrus across altitudes and temperatures
Author(s) -
KARL I.,
SØRENSEN J. G.,
LOESCHCKE V.,
FISCHER K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2008.01630.x
Subject(s) - biology , ectotherm , adaptation (eye) , hsp70 , heat shock protein , butterfly , ecology , acclimatization , altitude (triangle) , heat stress , phenotypic plasticity , zoology , genetics , gene , geometry , mathematics , neuroscience
The ability to express heat‐shock proteins (HSP) under thermal stress is an essential mechanism for ectotherms to cope with unfavourable conditions. In this study, we investigate if Copper butterflies originating from different altitudes and/or being exposed to different rearing and induction temperatures show differences in HSP70 expression. HSP70 expression increased substantially at the higher rearing temperature in low‐altitude butterflies, which might represent an adaptation to occasionally occurring heat spells. On the other hand, high‐altitude butterflies showed much less plasticity in response to rearing temperatures, and overall seem to rely more on genetically fixed thermal stress resistance. Whether the latter indicates a higher vulnerability of high‐altitude populations to global warming needs further investigation. HSP70 expression increased with both colder and warmer induction temperatures.