Coping at all scales: Molecular and physiological mechanisms mediating responses to environmental change in birds

Under unprecedented environmental change, organisms depend on rapid and flexible responses achieved through phenotypic plasticity, in contrast to slower genetic adaptation. However, the mechanisms underlying plasticity - and how it can be quantified, predicted, and preserved - remain largely unresolved. This uncertainty fuels ongoing debate about the adaptive value and evolutionary relevance of phenotypic plasticity. Yet, phenotypic plasticity is a critical determinant of species persistence and coping capacity in the Anthropocene.

In this talk I will present the main research lines I have pursued to address these questions. First, I will outline key physiological and molecular mechanisms that mediate coping abilities in birds - from the reinterpretation of “stress hormones” to the long-lasting impact of early-life conditions. Second, I will discuss how epigenetic mechanisms act as upstream regulators of these processes, facilitating rapid and adaptive responses to environmental change. Finally, I will share recent findings supporting the role of “epigenetic potential for DNA methylation” as a heritable trait associated to phenotypic plasticity and coping capacities.