Asymmetrical evolution of cross inhibition in zooplankton: insights from contrasting phosphorus limitation and salinization exposure sequences

Understanding the evolutionary responses of organisms to multiple stressors is crucial for predicting the ecological consequences of intensified anthropogenic activities. While previous studies have documented the effects of selection history on organisms' abilities to cope with new stressors, the impact of the sequence in which stressors occur on evolutionary outcomes remains less understood. In this study, we examined the evolutionary responses of a metazoan rotifer species to two prevalent freshwater stressors: nutrient limitation and increased salinization. We subjected rotifer populations with distinct selection histories (salt-adapted, low phosphorus-adapted and ancestral clones) to a reciprocal common garden experiment and monitored their population growth rates. Our results revealed an asymmetric evolutionary response to phosphorus (P) limitation and increased salinity. Specifically, adaptation to low P conditions reduced rotifer tolerance to increased salinity, whereas adaptation to saline conditions did not show such cross-inhibitory effects. Instead, the addition of moderate concentrations of salt enhanced the growth of the salt-adapted population in low P conditions, potentially as a consequence of evolved cross-tolerance. Our findings, therefore, underscore the importance of considering historical stressor regimes to improve our understanding and predictions of organismal responses to multiple stressors and also have significant implications for ecosystem management.