Elevational variation in adult body size and growth rate but not in metabolic rate in the tree weta Hemideina crassidens

• Populations inhabiting elevational gradients might differ in one or more traits.
• We compared metabolic and growth rates between high- and low-elevation tree weta.
• We found no support for the metabolic cold adaptation hypothesis.
• We did find countergradient variation in growth rates.
• High-elevation weta grew faster but maintained metabolic rates at low-elevation levels.

Populations of the same species inhabiting distinct localities experience different ecological and climatic pressures that might result in differentiation in traits, particularly those related to temperature. We compared metabolic rate (and its thermal sensitivity), growth rate, and body size among nine high- and low-elevation populations of the Wellington tree weta, Hemideina crassidens, distributed from 9 to 1171 m a.s.l across New Zealand. Our results did not indicate elevational compensation in metabolic rates (metabolic cold adaptation). Cold acclimation decreased metabolic rate compared to warm-acclimated individuals from both high- and low-elevation populations. However, we did find countergradient variation in growth rates, with individuals from high-elevation populations growing faster and to a larger final size than individuals from low-elevation populations. Females grew faster to a larger size than males, although as adults their metabolic rates did not differ significantly. The combined physiological and morphological data suggest that high-elevation individuals grow quickly and achieve larger size while maintaining metabolic rates at levels not significantly different from low-elevation individuals. Thus, morphological differentiation among tree weta populations, in concert with genetic variation, might provide the material required for adaptation to changing conditions.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide