Evolutionary ecotoxicology in heated ponds: extending insights to higher biological levels and across ecosystems

Organisms face multiple stressors which may have unforeseen negative impacts when combined. A concerning combination is the one of chemical pollution and global warming as many pollutants become more toxic at higher temperatures. Four largely ignored key aspects are needed to increase realism in risk assessment of pollutants, and in multiple-stressor (global change-related) ecological research in general: (i) the effects of daily temperature fluctuations (DTFs) as these can reverse the beneficial effects of warming; (ii) how the effects on single organisms cascade up to higher biological organisation levels; (iii) the delayed effects of stressors as they may be stronger than the direct effects, and may cross ecosystem boundaries (through subsidies and carry-over effects); and (iv) how evolution may critically shape the impact of (multiple) stressors. To advance eco-evolutionary multi-stressor research, I will address these four knowledge gaps using common-garden warming experiments. I will focus on damselflies which have aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults, and a simplified invertebrate pond community. I will study the effects of a model pesticide under warming (incl. DTF increase), and to what extent gradual thermal evolution may modify these effects. Thereby, I will focus on (i) predator-prey interactions and food web stability; (ii) aquatic subsidies and their carry-over effects toward the terrestrial ecosystem; and (iii) community structure and ecosystem functions. 
GENERAL