The first year of life is one of the main survival bottlenecks for many fish species. Individual traits affecting survival can be morphological, physiological or behavioural. Body size, growth rate and activity have all been found to affect fitness in different organisms. However, the effects of these traits on fitness in natural conditions and for underyearlings are poorly investigated. In this study we attempted to induce compensatory growth in laboratory conditions in natural populations of brown trout fry (Salmo trutta). It was performed by exposing the fry to a period of restricted resources followed by a period of refeeding. Two behavioural trials were conducted on each individual where activity level was scored. All fish were subsequently released in their native stream and recaptured after a month to check for survival. We found that high individual activity level in an open field context increased the probability of survival under natural conditions. The importance of body size for survival decreased over time, and thus, with fish size. Full compensation was detected in body condition, while only partly compensation in weight and no compensation in length were detected during the experimental periods. Our results suggest that a brown trout fry’s individual activity level is repeatable and can be an important trait for selection in nature. The instable interactions between activity and life-history traits indicate environmental effects on these interactions. Furthermore, if body size is not the only trait affecting survival, compensation in body structures may not be a fast response to increase fitness after a period of growth depression.

For evolution to occur over time, it is necessary for animals and plants to show phenotypic variation. If the individuals within populations of a species do not show observable differences among themselves, there will be a lack of driving force for natural selection to act on and decide which characteristic gets inherited from one generation to the next. It is hence important to study phenotypic variation, especially against environmental gradients such as latitude and altitude, which gives us an insight into the pattern of change according to essential factors such as temperature and length of seasons. The latter would impose time constraints on growing populations, leading to periods of unfavourable conditions limiting their growth and development. In many cases, such organisms would tend to compensate for the period of slow growth and catch up to the others that did not have to endure the same situation and grow to the same size as them. This study aims to find differences in three key larval life-history traits of the moor frog (Rana arvalis), namely metamorphic mass, larval period, and growth rate, and find what kind of pattern is observed in case of these phenotypic variations. It also aims to find differences in the strength of compensatory response between populations from lower and higher latitudes. A common garden experiment was conducted with populations originating from both sides of the Baltic Sea, ranging from southern Sweden and Latvia to central Finland and northern Sweden. It was expected that the northern populations would grow faster and show a countergradient variation pattern since they are faced with more strict time constraints at higher latitudes, but in most cases, we observed a co-gradient pattern, wherein the environmental effect amplifies the individual’s genetic predisposition instead of opposing it. We also observed a stronger compensatory response in the northern populations as compared to their southern counterparts. Effects of climate change and subsequent rise in temperatures making the environment unpredictable over time could be used to speculate about the reason behind the results obtained. Epigenetics could also be used as an approach to study long lasting changes in an organism’s gene expression to make it adapt better to changing conditions and hence show different patterns of variation from studies in the past. Studying such changes, expected or not, is important to keep up with the needs of the species that require conservation, and will help conservation biologists to formulate strategies that would be effective even in the face of constant change in the world.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Michael D. Tokach / A total of 5,212 nursery pigs were used in 11 experiments to evaluate amino acids in nursery pig diets. Experiments 1 and 2 were conducted to determine whether the Lys level fed during one phase of the nursery influenced the response to Lys during subsequent phases. Experiment 1 tested a wide range of dietary Lys in 2 phases and reported that pigs fed high Lys during each period had increased growth performance; however, compensatory growth occurred for the pigs previously fed low Lys diets, resulting in no impact on overall ADG or final BW. Experiment 2 tested a narrow range of dietary Lys in 3 phases and found that marginally deficient diets can be fed in the early nursery phases without influencing final BW or the response to Lys levels in subsequent phases. Both experiments demonstrate that the low dietary Lys levels used in each can be fed in the early nursery phases with no negative impact on overall nursery growth rate provided that adequate levels are fed thereafter. Experiments 3 to 6 were conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys requirement of nursery pigs from 7- to 14-kg. Data from all experiments were combined and break-point and quadratic broken-line analysis was used to determine the estimated SID Lys requirement. The SID Lys requirement for optimal growth was at least 1.30% for ADG and 1.37% for G:F, or at least 3.86 and 4.19 g SID Lys/Mcal ME, respectively. Experiments 7 to 11 were conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing specialty protein sources with crystalline AA and AA requirements for 7- to 12-kg pigs. Experiment 7 demonstrated that crystalline AA can be used to replace fish meal in diets with no negative effects on growth performance. Experiment 8 demonstrated that L-Trp, L-Val, and a source of non-essential AA were needed in low-CP, AA-fortified nursery diets to achieve maximum growth performance, whereas the addition of L-Ile was not required. Experiment 9 indicated that feeding greater than 7.35% total Lys:CP decreased growth performance and Exp. 10 indicated that a SID Val:Lys ratio of 65% was sufficient for optimal growth of early nursery pigs. Implementing the results from the previous experiments, Exp. 11 determined that crystalline AA in nursery pigs diets can replace high amounts of fish meal, meat and bone meal, and poultry meal when balanced for minimum AA ratios and maximum Lys:CP with no negative effect on growth performance.

Apesar da eficácia dos antimicrobianos como melhoradores no desempenho animal, questões relativas à seleção de microorganismos resistentes e transferência desses para o consumo humano de carne vêem trazendo uma crescente preocupação que tem provocado diminuição do seu uso. Assim, há necessidade da busca de alternativas, destacando-se as ervas medicinais, as quais apresentam ações, antimicrobiana, antioxidante, imunomodulatória e ainda, estimulante da secreção de enzimas digestivas. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a ação de um fito composto, produzido pela adição de partes aéreas secas e trituradas de plantas medicinais (Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha piperita, Lippia sidoides e Lychnophora pinaster), em leitões, desde a creche até o abate, sobre parâmetros de desempenho, freqüência de diarréia, eliminação fecal de salmonelas, lesões histopatológicas intestinais e oxidação lipídica da carcaça. Os animais foram submetidos a duas situações: uma de desafio experimental (D, com inoculação de Salmonella typhimurium aos 35 dias de idade) e outra sem desafio (SD), permanecendo ambos grupos em salas isoladas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com arranjo fatorial 3x2, sendo um fator o desafio, e outro, a suplementação de aditivos na ração (fito composto FITO; antibióticos ATB; e controle negativo, sem adição de promotores CTRL). Foram alojados 120 leitões recém-desmamados aos 21 dias de idade, na unidade de creche do Laboratório de Pesquisa em Suínos. Os animais foram pesados aos 21, 35, 49, 63 dias (creche) aos 96 e 106 dias (crescimento) e 131 dias de idade (terminação), e verificado o consumo de ração. Foi avaliada a freqüência de dias com diarréia (FDD) na creche, além da eliminação fecal de S. typhimurium, observando-se lesões histopatológicas causadas pela bactéria no trato entérico, e oxidação lipídica da carcaça aos 131 dias de idade. Não houve interação entre aditivos e desafio para nenhuma variável estudada. O peso médio (PM) do grupo ATB foi mais elevado durante todos os períodos em relação a FITO e CTRL, e estes não diferiram entre si; no entanto, aos 96 e 106 dias, o PM dos animais CTRL foi maior que FITO. De 21 a 35 dias de idade, a conversão alimentar (CA) do grupo ATB foi significativamente menor que CTRL; no entanto, FITO promoveu valor intermediário, não diferindo estatisticamente de ambos. O desafio experimental levou à queda no consumo diário de ração (CDR) de 35 a 48 dias. No entanto, no período final de crescimento, houve um efeito compensatório sobre as variáveis de desempenho, sendo PM, ganho diário de peso (GDP), CDR e CA significativamente melhores na sala D. Ainda, nesse período, na sala D, todas essas variáveis foram melhores para FITO, apesar da diferença ser meramente numérica, sugerindo efeito compensatório desse aditivo. O ATB promoveu menor FDD dos 21 aos 48 dias; no entanto, dos 35 aos 48 dias, FITO promoveu uma melhora mais rápida no quadro que CTRL. Não houve influência dos aditivos sobre a eliminação fecal de salmonelas, lesões histopatológicas no trato entérico ou sobre a oxidação lipídica na carcaça. Assim, a melhor CA na creche, e o efeito compensatório no final da fase de crescimento justificam futuras pesquisas sobre a ação do produto. / Despite the proven efficiency of antibiotics as growth promoters, issues associated to selection of microbial resistance and its impact over human health are rising concern between consumers and decreasing their use. Therefore, alternatives must be found, and medical herbs, with antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and stimulatory of digestives enzymes properties, seem promising. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the action of a phyogenic compound of medical herbs (Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha piperita, Lippia sidoides and Lychnophora pinaster) towards piglets from weaning to slaughter, on performance parameters (body weight BW; average daily gain ADG; average daily feed intake ADFI; and feed conversion FC), frequency of diarrhea, fecal shedding of salmonellas, gut hystopatological lesions and lipid oxidation of meat, either under a challenged condition (C) or a non-challenged condition (NC). Experimental challenge consisted of oral administration of Salmonella typhimurium to piglets, at 35 days of age. Both groups were kept in isolated rooms. Experimental design was at random, and the treatments distributed in a 3x2 factorial arrangement. Factors were: challenge (C and NC) and additives (phytogenic compound PHYTO; antibiotic ATB; and control CTRL). 120 weaned piglets (21 days years old) were housed at nursery unit of Laboratory of Researche in Swine (LPS), and weighted at 21, 35, 49, 63 (nursery), 96, 105 (growing) and 131 (finishing) days of age. There was not interaction between factors. BW of ATB group was higher througout the experimental period. From 21 to 35 days of age, FC of ATB group was significantly lower than CTRL; however, PHYTO showed intermediary value, which did not statistically differ from both ATB and CTRL. Challenge caused lower ADFI from day 35 to 48. Nevertheless, at the final of growing period (96 to 105 days of age), there was a compensatory effect on performance, and animals out of C room had showed better values of BW, ADG, ADFI, FC than NC. At C room, such parameters were better for animals out of PHYTO group (although the differences were merely numerical), suggesting thus a compensatory effect of this compound. ATB has lead to lower FDD from day 21 to 48; however, from day 35 to 48, FDD of PHYTO group was lower than CTRL. There was not effect of additives on fecal shedding of salmonellas and on lipd oxidation of carcass. Further studies on the effect of the phyto compound must be carried out, especially during the growing and finishing periods.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T14:59:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2006-Tiago Neves Pereira Valente.pdf: 399035 bytes, checksum: 03083e58f68f730df2aa96f8f9ff5034 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-07-31 / This study was carried out on the Serop?dica Experimental Station of Pesagro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from April 7 to October 6 of 2005 (182 days of dry season) and utilized two groups of 11 dairy heifers (Holstein/Zebu) weighting 177,6?6 kg and 15,7?4 months age. In the pre-experimental period, for 49 days (April 7 to May 26), 11 heifers were mantained closed into a stall and submitted to a forced restriction in their daily dry matter intake which resulted in small lost of body weight (-2,9 kg in relation of initial weight) and others 11 heifers were mantained free on the pasture and gained 30,2 kg in relation to their initial weight. After this pre-experimental period, both groups were kept on the same grazing area and received a proteic-energetic supplement containing 30% urea, 30% NaCl and 40% of wheat middlings. Both groups were weighted at each 21 days; on the same data, only the group that suffered forced alimentary restriction was evaluated for their body condiction score (BCS). The animals that suffered an alimentary restriction had higher daily weight gain troughout the dry season. At the end of the experimental period the difference between the two groups was 15,6 kg. The values for body condiction score were different in the period of lost of body weight and in the re-growth phase; i.e. for a lost of 14,3 kg of body weigth the heifers had 0,68 units in their BCS and for a gain of 48,2 kg of body weigth, during the proteic-energetic supplementary phase, the same heifers had + 0,31 units of BCS. / O experimento foi realizado na ?rea de bovinos leiteiros da Esta??o Experimental de Serop?dica (EES) da Pesagro-Rio com dura??o de 182 dias de 07/04/05 a 06/10/05. Foram utilizadas 22 novilhas mesti?as leiteiras (Holand?s-Zebu), com idade de 15,7?4 meses e peso m?dio de 177,6?6 kg no in?cio do experimento, o objetivo foi avaliar o ganho de peso das novilhas que passaram por restri??o alimentar antes do per?odo seco e a utiliza??o de um suplemento prot?ico-energ?tico durante o per?odo de estiagem. A ?rea foi dividida em dois piquetes de tamanho similar formados por pastagens naturais de grama batatais (Paspalum notatum) e capim bel?m (Sporobulus poiretii), foram vedados 50 dias antes do in?cio do experimento, e os animais manejados em regime de pastejo cont?nuo. O per?odo pr?-experimental teve dura??o de 49 dias e um lote de onze novilhas permaneceu preso no curral com alimenta??o volumosa limitada, esta restri??o alimentar gerou uma diferen?a entre os dois lotes de 31,5 kg no in?cio do experimento. O lote controle permaneceu mantido no pasto. Ap?s o per?odo de restri??o alimentar os dois lotes foram mantidos nos piquetes e receberam um suplemento prot?ico-energ?tico que continha 30% de ur?ia, 30% NaCl e 40% de farelo de trigo. Juntamente com as pesagens a cada 21 dias, notas para escore corporal foram dadas aos animais de ambos os lotes. As novilhas que foram submetidas ? restri??o alimentar antes do per?odo seco tiveram um ganho de peso superior ao lote controle durante a esta??o seca, indicando que um poss?vel crescimento compensat?rio, mesmo no per?odo desfavor?vel do ano. Na pesagem ap?s 69 dias do final da suplementa??o verificou-se que a diferen?a de peso foi reduzida de 15,6 kg ao final da suplementa??o prot?ico-energ?tica para 13,5 kg. Os escores corporais foram diferentes para o emagrecimento e engorda.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a cyclic feeding regime alters growth, lipid content and the expression of genes involved in appetite regulation and lipid metabolism in rainbow trout (Onchorynchus mykiss). Progeny from two lots of diallel crosses were raised under a daily fed control or a cyclic feeding regime containing alternating reduced and compensatory rations. Although the cyclic feeding regime did not improve overall growth, there was some degree of compensatory growth seen during re-alimentation, and the reduced ration led to sustained reductions in condition factor and muscle fat content. Appetite-regulating genes showed little or no differences in expression between feeding regimes. However, the lipid metabolism genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and muscle lipid uptake showed differences in expression during reduced and compensatory ration. This study helps to clarify optimal cyclic feeding regimes in order to enhance growth characteristics preferential to the fish culture industry. / NSERC Strategic Grant, OMAFRA

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aqüicultura, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2011. / Submitted by Cristiane Silva (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2012-08-14T12:20:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertao mrcia simes 2011.pdf: 422213 bytes, checksum: af536ce4b4b62223ff40e11d98eef43f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Bruna Vieira(bruninha_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2012-12-19T15:31:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertao mrcia simes 2011.pdf: 422213 bytes, checksum: af536ce4b4b62223ff40e11d98eef43f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-12-19T15:31:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertao mrcia simes 2011.pdf: 422213 bytes, checksum: af536ce4b4b62223ff40e11d98eef43f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o crescimento compensatório em juvenis de matrinxã Brycon amazonicus. Os peixes (16g) foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em nove tanques e submetidos a diferentes protocolos de alimentação: controle - peixes foram alimentados ad libitum por 60 dias, J10 (jejum de 10 dias) - peixes foram alimentados ad libitum por 10 dias, jejum por 10 dias, e novamente alimentados ad libitum por 40 dias, J20 - peixes foram mantidos em jejum por 20 dias e alimentados ad libitum por 40 dias. Seis peixes de cada tratamento (dois de cada tanque) foram amostrados no início do experimento, no final do período de jejum, e no final do experimento para análises de crescimento e bioquímicas. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo mostraram crescimento compensatório total de juvenis de matrinxã em jejum por 10 ou 20 dias, conforme evidenciado pelo peso final similar entre os peixes de todos os tratamentos. Embora não significativa, houve uma tendência ao ganho de peso, taxa de crescimento específico e eficiência alimentar para os peixes de jejum, comparados ao controle. O consumo diário de ração foi um pouco maior para os peixes do controle e consumo de ração total foi menor para os peixes em jejum. Os estoques de glicogênio e glicose, proteína e triglicerídeos plasmáticos não foram afetados durante a restrição alimentar, mostrando boa tolerância de juvenis de matrinxã, por pelo menos, 20 dias de jejum. O crescimento compensatório é totalmente alcançado, e há uma redução de 37% no consumo de ração para peixes em jejum por 20 dias em relação ao controle, uma questão importante para a piscicultura intensiva. / The objective of this work was to study compensatory growth in juvenile matrinxã Brycon amazonicus. Fish (16g) were randomly distributed in nine tanks and submitted to different feeding protocols: control – fish were fed ad libitum for 60 days, F10 (fasted for 10 days) – fish were fed ad libitum for 10 days, fasted for 10 days, and fed adlibitum again for 40 days, F20 – fish were fasted for 20 days and fed ad libitum for the next 40 days. Six fish from each treatment (two from each replicate tank) were sampled at the beginning of the trial, at the end of the fasting period, and at the end of the experiment for growth and biochemical analysis. The results obtained in this study showed full compensatory growth for juvenile matrinxã fasted for 10 or 20 days, as evidenced by the similar final weight among fish of all treatments. Though not significant, there was a trend for increased weight gain, specific growth rate and feed efficiency for fish fasted, compared to control. Daily feeding ration was slightly higher for the control fish and total feed consumption was lower for fasted fish. Glycogen stores and plasmatic glucose, protein and triglycerides were not affected during feeding restriction, showing good tolerance of juvenile matrinxã for at least 20 days of fasting. Compensatory growth is fully achieved and there is an overall reduction of 37% on feed consumption for fish fasted for 20 days compared to the control, an important issue for intensive fish culture.

Apesar da eficácia dos antimicrobianos como melhoradores no desempenho animal, questões relativas à seleção de microorganismos resistentes e transferência desses para o consumo humano de carne vêem trazendo uma crescente preocupação que tem provocado diminuição do seu uso. Assim, há necessidade da busca de alternativas, destacando-se as ervas medicinais, as quais apresentam ações, antimicrobiana, antioxidante, imunomodulatória e ainda, estimulante da secreção de enzimas digestivas. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a ação de um fito composto, produzido pela adição de partes aéreas secas e trituradas de plantas medicinais (Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha piperita, Lippia sidoides e Lychnophora pinaster), em leitões, desde a creche até o abate, sobre parâmetros de desempenho, freqüência de diarréia, eliminação fecal de salmonelas, lesões histopatológicas intestinais e oxidação lipídica da carcaça. Os animais foram submetidos a duas situações: uma de desafio experimental (D, com inoculação de Salmonella typhimurium aos 35 dias de idade) e outra sem desafio (SD), permanecendo ambos grupos em salas isoladas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com arranjo fatorial 3x2, sendo um fator o desafio, e outro, a suplementação de aditivos na ração (fito composto FITO; antibióticos ATB; e controle negativo, sem adição de promotores CTRL). Foram alojados 120 leitões recém-desmamados aos 21 dias de idade, na unidade de creche do Laboratório de Pesquisa em Suínos. Os animais foram pesados aos 21, 35, 49, 63 dias (creche) aos 96 e 106 dias (crescimento) e 131 dias de idade (terminação), e verificado o consumo de ração. Foi avaliada a freqüência de dias com diarréia (FDD) na creche, além da eliminação fecal de S. typhimurium, observando-se lesões histopatológicas causadas pela bactéria no trato entérico, e oxidação lipídica da carcaça aos 131 dias de idade. Não houve interação entre aditivos e desafio para nenhuma variável estudada. O peso médio (PM) do grupo ATB foi mais elevado durante todos os períodos em relação a FITO e CTRL, e estes não diferiram entre si; no entanto, aos 96 e 106 dias, o PM dos animais CTRL foi maior que FITO. De 21 a 35 dias de idade, a conversão alimentar (CA) do grupo ATB foi significativamente menor que CTRL; no entanto, FITO promoveu valor intermediário, não diferindo estatisticamente de ambos. O desafio experimental levou à queda no consumo diário de ração (CDR) de 35 a 48 dias. No entanto, no período final de crescimento, houve um efeito compensatório sobre as variáveis de desempenho, sendo PM, ganho diário de peso (GDP), CDR e CA significativamente melhores na sala D. Ainda, nesse período, na sala D, todas essas variáveis foram melhores para FITO, apesar da diferença ser meramente numérica, sugerindo efeito compensatório desse aditivo. O ATB promoveu menor FDD dos 21 aos 48 dias; no entanto, dos 35 aos 48 dias, FITO promoveu uma melhora mais rápida no quadro que CTRL. Não houve influência dos aditivos sobre a eliminação fecal de salmonelas, lesões histopatológicas no trato entérico ou sobre a oxidação lipídica na carcaça. Assim, a melhor CA na creche, e o efeito compensatório no final da fase de crescimento justificam futuras pesquisas sobre a ação do produto. / Despite the proven efficiency of antibiotics as growth promoters, issues associated to selection of microbial resistance and its impact over human health are rising concern between consumers and decreasing their use. Therefore, alternatives must be found, and medical herbs, with antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and stimulatory of digestives enzymes properties, seem promising. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the action of a phyogenic compound of medical herbs (Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha piperita, Lippia sidoides and Lychnophora pinaster) towards piglets from weaning to slaughter, on performance parameters (body weight BW; average daily gain ADG; average daily feed intake ADFI; and feed conversion FC), frequency of diarrhea, fecal shedding of salmonellas, gut hystopatological lesions and lipid oxidation of meat, either under a challenged condition (C) or a non-challenged condition (NC). Experimental challenge consisted of oral administration of Salmonella typhimurium to piglets, at 35 days of age. Both groups were kept in isolated rooms. Experimental design was at random, and the treatments distributed in a 3x2 factorial arrangement. Factors were: challenge (C and NC) and additives (phytogenic compound PHYTO; antibiotic ATB; and control CTRL). 120 weaned piglets (21 days years old) were housed at nursery unit of Laboratory of Researche in Swine (LPS), and weighted at 21, 35, 49, 63 (nursery), 96, 105 (growing) and 131 (finishing) days of age. There was not interaction between factors. BW of ATB group was higher througout the experimental period. From 21 to 35 days of age, FC of ATB group was significantly lower than CTRL; however, PHYTO showed intermediary value, which did not statistically differ from both ATB and CTRL. Challenge caused lower ADFI from day 35 to 48. Nevertheless, at the final of growing period (96 to 105 days of age), there was a compensatory effect on performance, and animals out of C room had showed better values of BW, ADG, ADFI, FC than NC. At C room, such parameters were better for animals out of PHYTO group (although the differences were merely numerical), suggesting thus a compensatory effect of this compound. ATB has lead to lower FDD from day 21 to 48; however, from day 35 to 48, FDD of PHYTO group was lower than CTRL. There was not effect of additives on fecal shedding of salmonellas and on lipd oxidation of carcass. Further studies on the effect of the phyto compound must be carried out, especially during the growing and finishing periods.

Abstract In this thesis I studied responses of three biennial, monocarpic plants Erysimum strictum, Gentianella amarella, and G. campestris, to various aspects in resource availability (i.e. competition, mineral nutrition, neighbor removal) and environmental stress (early frost) at adult or rosette stages and how these effects are related to grazing tolerance. I also studied how manipulations in resource availability affected arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of the roots. All three species were relatively tolerant to simulated grazing and in most cases plants were able to compensate quite well for minor biomass losses. According to the compensatory continuum hypothesis, tolerance is most pronounced in resource-rich conditions, but this was not always the case in the present experiments. Erysimum strictum compensated for defoliation at the rosette stage but the reproductive output of adult plants was reduced markedly in the next year. This reduction was strongest among fertilized plants. Moreover, apex removal at the adult stage resulted in overcompensation (i.e. clipped plants were more productive) but only in the absence of fertilization and in the presence of competition, which is against the compensatory continuum hypothesis. In E. strictum a potential cost of compensation appeared as delayed flowering and fruit maturation among clipped plants. However, in spite of early frost treatment clipped plants were still able to overcompensate. In Gentianella amarella and G. campestris, apex removal reduced growth and reproductive performance in most cases. Effects on root fungal parameters were positive or neutral. This pattern suggests that simulated above-ground herbivory tends to increase carbon limitation, and therefore regrowing shoots and the fungal symbionts may appear as alternative, competing sinks for the limited carbon reserves of the host plant. Both shoot architecture and resource availability modify the responses of the study plants to apical damage at both rosette and adult stages. In addition, different environmental stress factors affect success in compensatory growth.

Organisms with complex life cycles may experience diverse stressors during their development. Stressors experienced in early life stages may influence the quantity and quality of individuals in later life stages. However, it is unclear if these effects persist later in life and how they may influence population dynamics. This dissertation uses two amphibian species, the Western spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes) and the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) to explore how biotic and abiotic factors experienced in aquatic and terrestrial environments influence phenotype and survival. We use a combination of field mesoscosm studies, laboratory studies and modeling to explore how early life history stressors persist in diverse environmental contexts. In Chapter 1, pond drying and larval density negatively influence multiple aspects of phenotype in the Western spadefoot toad. In Chapter 2, reduced body size due to larval stressors persisted in the first year of life in spotted salamanders in both high and low terrestrial resource environments. Additionally, there was no relationship between size at metamorphosis and post-metamorphic terrestrial survival. In Chapter 3, low terrestrial moisture levels reduced post-metamorphic growth rates by reducing food intake in juvenile spotted salamanders from both high and low larval density treatments. In Chapter 4, we scale up the effects of reduced body size in the Western spadefoot toad to explore how reduced body size due to pond drying may influence population densities using a stage specific matrix model. Reduced body size, by delaying maturity, may reduce adult densities in the Western spadefoot toad. This dissertation suggests that life stages are highly interconnected, as stressors experienced early in life stage may persist through their effects on phenotype in the absence of compensatory mechanisms. Variation in later life stages may also influence phenotype, but may not completely erase effects of early environments. Stressors experienced early in life may also translate to population level consequences, especially when organisms experience multiple stressors across life stages.