the phenotypic changes that arise from adaptive maternal effects are a result of the mother sensing that a certain aspect of the environment may decrease the survival of her offspring. when sensing a cue the mother “relays” information to the developing offspring and therefore induces adaptive maternal effects. this tends to then cause the offspring to have a higher fitness because they are “prepared” for the environment they are likely to experience. these cues can include responses to predators, habitat, high population density, and food availability