Developmental plasticity refers to the ability of an organism to adapt its development in response to environmental cues or stressors. This can include changes in behavior, physiology, morphology, or gene expression in order to optimize survival and reproduction in changing environments. Developmental plasticity is a key mechanism for organisms to cope with variability in their environment and ensure their survival and reproductive success. Researchers in this area study how organisms are able to adapt and respond to environmental changes during different stages of development, and how these adaptations can impact individual fitness and overall population dynamics.