Integrating Mitochondrial Aerobic Metabolism into Ecology and Evolution

Rebecca E Koch; Katherine L Buchanan; Stefania Casagrande; Ondi Crino; Damian K Dowling; Geoffrey E Hill; Wendy R Hood; Matthew McKenzie; Mylene M Mariette; Daniel W A Noble; Alexandra Pavlova; Frank Seebacher; Paul Sunnucks; Eve Udino; Craig R White; Karine Salin; Antoine Stier

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2020.12.006

Integrating Mitochondrial Aerobic Metabolism into Ecology and Evolution

Trends Ecol Evol. 2021 Apr;36(4):321-332. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.12.006. Epub 2021 Jan 10.

Authors

Rebecca E Koch¹, Katherine L Buchanan², Stefania Casagrande³, Ondi Crino², Damian K Dowling⁴, Geoffrey E Hill⁵, Wendy R Hood⁵, Matthew McKenzie², Mylene M Mariette², Daniel W A Noble⁶, Alexandra Pavlova⁴, Frank Seebacher⁷, Paul Sunnucks⁴, Eve Udino², Craig R White⁴, Karine Salin⁸, Antoine Stier⁹

Affiliations

¹ Monash University, School of Biological Sciences, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia. Electronic address: rebecca.adrian@monash.edu.
² Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3228, Australia.
³ Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Evolutionary Physiology Group, Seewiesen, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str. Haus 5, 82319, Seewiesen, Germany.
⁴ Monash University, School of Biological Sciences, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
⁵ Auburn University, Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
⁶ The Australian National University, Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia.
⁷ University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
⁸ Université de Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, Laboratory of Environmental Marine Sciences, Plouzané, 29280, France.
⁹ University of Turku, Department of Biology, Turku, Finland; University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow, UK.

PMID: 33436278
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.12.006

Abstract

Biologists have long appreciated the critical role that energy turnover plays in understanding variation in performance and fitness among individuals. Whole-organism metabolic studies have provided key insights into fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes. However, constraints operating at subcellular levels, such as those operating within the mitochondria, can also play important roles in optimizing metabolism over different energetic demands and time scales. Herein, we explore how mitochondrial aerobic metabolism influences different aspects of organismal performance, such as through changing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. We consider how such insights have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning key ecological and evolutionary processes, from variation in life-history traits to adaptation to changing thermal conditions, and we highlight key areas for future research.

Keywords: bioenergetics; life-history trade-off; metabolic rate; mitochondrial efficiency; mitochondrial uncoupling; reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Physiological
Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
Energy Metabolism*
Humans
Mitochondria*
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

Reactive Oxygen Species
Adenosine Triphosphate