Multiple-batch spawning as a bet-hedging strategy in highly stochastic environments: An exploratory analysis of Atlantic cod

Sara Hočevar, Jeffrey A. Hutchings, Anna Kuparinen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Stochastic environments shape life-history traits and can promote selection for risk-spreading strategies, such as bet-hedging. Although the strategy has often been hypothesized to exist for various species, empirical tests providing firm evidence have been rare, mainly due to the challenge in tracking fitness across generations. Here, we take a ‘proof of principle’ approach to explore whether the reproductive strategy of multiple-batch spawning constitutes a bet-hedging. We used Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) as the study species and parameterized an eco-evolutionary model, using empirical data on size-related reproductive and survival traits. To evaluate the fitness benefits of multiple-batch spawning (within a single breeding period), the mechanistic model separately simulated multiple-batch and single-batch spawning populations under temporally varying environments. We followed the arithmetic and geometric mean fitness associated with both strategies and quantified the mean changes in fitness under several environmental stochasticity levels. We found that, by spreading the environmental risk among batches, multiple-batch spawning increases fitness under fluctuating environmental conditions. The multiple-batch spawning trait is, thus, advantageous and acts as a bet-hedging strategy when the environment is exceptionally unpredictable. Our research identifies an analytically flexible, stochastic, life-history modelling approach to explore the fitness consequences of a risk-spreading strategy and elucidates the importance of evolutionary applications to life-history diversity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1980-1992
Number of pages13
JournalEvolutionary Applications
Volume14
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Academy of Finland (project grant 317495 to A.K.), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC; Discovery Grants to J.A.H. and A.K.) and the European Research Council (COMPLEX‐FISH 770884 to A.K.). The present study reflects only the authors' view; the European Research Council is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers who provided many helpful suggestions, which significantly improved the final version of the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Evolutionary Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Genetics
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

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Hočevar, S., Hutchings, J. A., & Kuparinen, A. (2021). Multiple-batch spawning as a bet-hedging strategy in highly stochastic environments: An exploratory analysis of Atlantic cod. Evolutionary Applications, 14(8), 1980-1992. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13251