Phenotypic divergence induced by pollution in mosquitofish has cascading effects on ecosystem functioning: A mesocosm study

Phenotypic divergence induced by pollution in mosquitofish has cascading effects on ecosystem functioning: A mesocosm study | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 24 November 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Phenotypic divergence induced by pollution in mosquitofish has cascading effects on ecosystem functioning: A mesocosm study Authors : Nicolas Martin 0000-0002-3952-8158 [email protected] , Laura Borner , Beatrice Bec , Keoni Saint-Pé , Murielle Richard , Lisa Jacquin , Emilie Farcy 0000-0002-4232-8034 , and Simon Blanchet 0000-0002-3843-589X Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176400023.31930228/v1 207 views 123 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Pollution can alter intraspecific variation and the distribution of phenotypes in wild populations by favoring most resistant or tolerant phenotypes. Although this phenomenon has been extensively described, the consequences of these phenotypic shifts for ecosystem functioning remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a mesocosm experiment to investigate whether pollution-induced phenotypic divergence in the invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) affects prey communities and key ecosystem processes. We first characterized phenotypic divergence of fish populations that had evolved naturally in contrasting environments (high vs. low-pollution environments). Fish from these contrasting environments were then introduced into pond mesocosms for three months to test their influence on ecosystem communities and functioning. Characterization of phenotypic divergence revealed that fish from polluted environments exhibited elevated hepatosomatic indices and reduced fecundity, suggesting increased investment in maintenance at the expense of reproduction. Consequently, after three months in unpolluted mesocosms, we observed reduced fish biomass in mesocosms containing fish from high-pollution environments compared to mesocosms containing fish from low-pollution environments. We also observed a stronger decline in copepod abundance in mesocosms containing fish from high-pollution environments, maybe due to higher energetic need of fish from these environments. We also found lower nanophytoplankton and bacterioplankton abundances and lower macrophyte biomass in mesocosms containing fish from high-pollution environments. This could be due to reduced nutrients recycling caused by the reduced total productivity (i.e. reduced biomass of fish, invertebrates and phytoplankton). There was no effect of fish phenotype on benthic macroinvertebrate abundance or litter decomposition rate. These results demonstrate that pollution-induced phenotypic divergence in mosquitofish can trigger direct top-down effects on zooplankton and indirect effects on primary production. This study contributes to the existing literature on trait-based ecological and ecotoxicological frameworks by demonstrating that pollution can induce phenotypic shifts in wild populations substantial enough to -in turn- influence community and ecosystem processes. Supplementary Material File (oik-12233-file002.docx) Download 2.76 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 24 November 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords ecosystem functioning invasive species mesocosms pollution-driven phenotypic divergence Authors Affiliations Nicolas Martin 0000-0002-3952-8158 [email protected] Evolution et diversite biologique View all articles by this author Laura Borner MARBEC View all articles by this author Beatrice Bec MARBEC View all articles by this author Keoni Saint-Pé Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique View all articles by this author Murielle Richard Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique View all articles by this author Lisa Jacquin Universite Toulouse III Paul Sabatier View all articles by this author Emilie Farcy 0000-0002-4232-8034 Universite de Montpellier View all articles by this author Simon Blanchet 0000-0002-3843-589X Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 207 views 123 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Nicolas Martin, Laura Borner, Beatrice Bec, et al. Phenotypic divergence induced by pollution in mosquitofish has cascading effects on ecosystem functioning: A mesocosm study. Authorea . 24 November 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176400023.31930228/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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