Event:

Anthropogenic climate change increases environmental variability (e.g., prolonged droughts, more severe weather events), posing potent challenges to homeostasis, reproduction, and behavior. Yet the neural and molecular systems that enable diverse
organisms to adapt to these challenges remain understudied. Across vertebrates, the
hypothalamus is central to organismal homeostasis and reproduction, while the hippocampus is critical for spatial behavior. To gain insight into the cellular and
molecular plasticity mechanisms that afford neural systems resilience as they respond
to ever-increasing environmental perturbations in a rapidly changing world, we examine a charismatic freshwater fish species, the colonially breeding Plains Longear Sunfish (Lepomis aquilensis), which is common across the longitudinal precipitation and latitudinal temperature gradients that characterize the diverse eco-regions of Texas and surrounding regions. We use remote sensing and hydrological data to quantify environmental variability across more than 30 sites and find remarkable decadal and seasonal variability within and across sites. We then employ drone-based automated video tracking in the field to quantify space use and reconstruct the social networks of these species, discovering that spatial and social behavior is remarkably resilient in even extreme environments. Finally, we use single nucleus RNA-sequencing of the fore- and midbrain to reveal the neuromolecular mechanisms underlying organismal resilience across highly variable environments. Taken together, this research integrates neurogenomics, behavior, and ecology to provide novel insights into the brain’s ability to survive and thrive in highly variable and changing environments.