601
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Schofield D, Nagrani A, Zisserman A, Hayashi M, Matsuzawa T, Biro D, Carvalho S. Chimpanzee face recognition from videos in the wild using deep learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaw0736. [PMID: 31517043 PMCID: PMC6726454 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw0736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Video recording is now ubiquitous in the study of animal behavior, but its analysis on a large scale is prohibited by the time and resources needed to manually process large volumes of data. We present a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) approach that provides a fully automated pipeline for face detection, tracking, and recognition of wild chimpanzees from long-term video records. In a 14-year dataset yielding 10 million face images from 23 individuals over 50 hours of footage, we obtained an overall accuracy of 92.5% for identity recognition and 96.2% for sex recognition. Using the identified faces, we generated co-occurrence matrices to trace changes in the social network structure of an aging population. The tools we developed enable easy processing and annotation of video datasets, including those from other species. Such automated analysis unveils the future potential of large-scale longitudinal video archives to address fundamental questions in behavior and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schofield
- Primate Models for Behavioural Evolution Lab, Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Arsha Nagrani
- Visual Geometry Group, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew Zisserman
- Visual Geometry Group, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Misato Hayashi
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | | | - Dora Biro
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Primate Models for Behavioural Evolution Lab, Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Gorongosa National Park, Sofala, Mozambique
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Centre for Functional Ecology–Science for People & the Planet, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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602
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Wheeler JD, Secchi E, Rusconi R, Stocker R. Not Just Going with the Flow: The Effects of Fluid Flow on Bacteria and Plankton. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2019; 35:213-237. [PMID: 31412210 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100818-125119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms often live in habitats characterized by fluid flow, from lakes and oceans to soil and the human body. Bacteria and plankton experience a broad range of flows, from the chaotic motion characteristic of turbulence to smooth flows at boundaries and in confined environments. Flow creates forces and torques that affect the movement, behavior, and spatial distribution of microorganisms and shapes the chemical landscape on which they rely for nutrient acquisition and communication. Methodological advances and closer interactions between physicists and biologists have begun to reveal the importance of flow-microorganism interactions and the adaptations of microorganisms to flow. Here we review selected examples of such interactions from bacteria, phytoplankton, larvae, and zooplankton. We hope that this article will serve as a blueprint for a more in-depth consideration of the effects of flow in the biology of microorganisms and that this discussion will stimulate further multidisciplinary effort in understanding this important component of microorganism habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette D Wheeler
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Roberto Rusconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20090 Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy.,Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, 20089 Rozzano (MI), Italy
| | - Roman Stocker
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland;
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603
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Coombs G. Does partial concealment influence predation attempts on small model snakes in South Africa? AFR J HERPETOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2019.1645745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Coombs
- Independent Researcher, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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604
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Facchini E, Nalon L, Andreis ME, Di Giancamillo M, Rizzi R, Mortarino M. Honeybee pupal length assessed by CT-scan technique: effects of Varroa infestation, developmental stage and spatial position within the brood comb. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10614. [PMID: 31337780 PMCID: PMC6650481 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46474-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybee pupae morphology can be affected by a number of stressor, but in vivo investigation is difficult. A computed tomography (CT) technique was applied to visualize a comb's inner structure without damaging the brood. The CT scan was performed on a brood comb containing pupae developed from eggs laid by the queen during a time window of 48 hours. From the CT images, the position of each pupa was determined by recording coordinates to a common reference point. Afterwards, every brood cell was inspected in order to assess the developmental stage of the pupa, the presence of Varroa destructor, the number and progeny of foundress mites. Using data on 651 pupae, the relationships between varroa infestation status, developmental stage and spatial position of the pupa within the brood comb, and its length were investigated. Pupae at 8 post-capping days were shorter than pupae at 7 post-capping days. Pupae in infected cells were significantly shorter than those in varroa-free cells and this effect was linked both to mite number and stage and to the position in the comb. Overall, the results suggest that the CT-scan may represent a suitable non-invasive tool to investigate the morphology and developing status of honeybee brood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Facchini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, via G. Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Laura Nalon
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, via G. Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Andreis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, via G. Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Di Giancamillo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, via G. Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Rizzi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, via G. Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Mortarino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, via G. Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy
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605
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Rubin BER, Jones BM, Hunt BG, Kocher SD. Rate variation in the evolution of non-coding DNA associated with social evolution in bees. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180247. [PMID: 31154980 PMCID: PMC6560270 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary origins of eusociality represent increases in complexity from individual to caste-based, group reproduction. These behavioural transitions have been hypothesized to go hand in hand with an increased ability to regulate when and where genes are expressed. Bees have convergently evolved eusociality up to five times, providing a framework to test this hypothesis. To examine potential links between putative gene regulatory elements and social evolution, we compare alignable, non-coding sequences in 11 diverse bee species, encompassing three independent origins of reproductive division of labour and two elaborations of eusocial complexity. We find that rates of evolution in a number of non-coding sequences correlate with key social transitions in bees. Interestingly, while we find little evidence for convergent rate changes associated with independent origins of social behaviour, a number of molecular pathways exhibit convergent rate changes in conjunction with subsequent elaborations of social organization. We also present evidence that many novel non-coding regions may have been recruited alongside the origin of sociality in corbiculate bees; these loci could represent gene regulatory elements associated with division of labour within this group. Thus, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that gene regulatory innovations are associated with the evolution of eusociality and illustrate how a thorough examination of both coding and non-coding sequence can provide a more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying behavioural evolution. This article is part of the theme issue 'Convergent evolution in the genomics era: new insights and directions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin E. R. Rubin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Beryl M. Jones
- Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Brendan G. Hunt
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA, USA
| | - Sarah D. Kocher
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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606
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Schmelzle S, Blüthgen N. Under pressure: force resistance measurements in box mites (Actinotrichida, Oribatida). Front Zool 2019; 16:24. [PMID: 31312228 PMCID: PMC6611053 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-019-0325-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mechanical defenses are very common and diverse in prey species, for example in oribatid mites. Here, the probably most complex form of morphological defense is known as ptychoidy, that enables the animals to completely retract the appendages into a secondary cavity and encapsulate themselves. The two groups of ptychoid mites constituting the Ptyctima, i.e. Euphthiracaroidea and Phthiracaroidea, have a hardened cuticle and are well protected against similar sized predators. Euphthiracaroidea additionally feature predator-repelling secretions. Since both taxa evolved within the glandulate group of Oribatida, the question remains why Phthiracaroidea lost this additional protection. In earlier predation bioassays, chemically disarmed specimens of Euphthiracaroidea were cracked by the staphylinid beetle Othius punctulatus, whereas equally sized specimens of Phthiracaroidea survived. We thus hypothesized that Phthiracaroidea can withstand significantly more force than Euphthiracaroidea and that the specific body form in each group is key in understanding the loss of chemical defense in Phthiracaroidea. To measure force resistance, we adapted the principle of machines applying compressive forces for very small animals and tested the two ptyctimous taxa as well as the soft-bodied mite Archegozetes longisetosus. Results Some Phthiracaroidea individuals sustained about 560,000 times their body weight. Their mean resistance was about three times higher, and their mean breaking point in relation to body weight nearly two times higher than Euphthiracaroidea individuals. The breaking point increased with body weight and differed significantly between the two taxa. Across taxa, the absolute force resistance increased sublinearly (with a 0.781 power term) with the animal's body weight. Force resistance of A. longisetosus was inferior in all tests (about half that of Euphthiracaroidea after accounting for body weight). As an important determinant of mechanical resistance in ptychoid mites, the individuals' cuticle thickness increased sublinearly with body diameter and body mass as well and did not differ significantly between the taxa. Conclusion We showed the feasibility of the force resistance measurement method, and our results were consistent with the hypothesis that Phthiracaroidea compensated its lack of chemical secretions by a heavier mechanical resistance based on a different body form and associated build-up of hemolymph pressure (defensive trade-off).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Schmelzle
- Department of Biology, Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Department of Biology, Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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607
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Dutta A, Dandapat J, Mohanty N. First report on transferrin in the silkworm, Antheraea mylitta, with a putative role in antioxidant defense: Insights from proteomic analysis and immunodetection. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 233:23-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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608
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Day J, Gooley RM, Hogg CJ, Belov K, Whittington CM, Grueber CE. MHC-associated mate choice under competitive conditions in captive versus wild Tasmanian devils. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractMate choice contributes to driving evolutionary processes when animals choose breeding partners that confer genetic advantages to offspring, such as increased immunocompetence. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an important group of immunological molecules, as MHC antigens bind and present foreign peptides to T-cells. Recent studies suggest that mates may be selected based on their MHC profile, leading to an association between an individual’s MHC diversity and their breeding success. In conservation, it may be important to consider mate choice in captive breeding programs, as this mechanism may improve reproductive rates. We investigated the reproductive success of Tasmanian devils in a group housing facility to determine whether increased MHC-based heterozygosity led individuals to secure more mating partners and produce more offspring. We also compared the breeding success of captive females to a wild devil population. MHC diversity was quantified using 12 MHC-linked microsatellite markers, including 11 previously characterized markers and one newly identified marker. Our analyses revealed that there was no relationship between MHC-linked heterozygosity and reproductive success either in captivity or the wild. The results of this study suggest that, for Tasmanian devils, MHC-based heterozygosity does not produce greater breeding success and that no specific changes to current captive management strategies are required with respect to preserving MHC diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Day
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca M Gooley
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia, Mosman, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Camilla M Whittington
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Catherine E Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
- San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA
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609
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Kleindorfer S, Custance G, Peters KJ, Sulloway FJ. Introduced parasite changes host phenotype, mating signal and hybridization risk: Philornis downsi effects on Darwin's finch song. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190461. [PMID: 31185871 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduced parasites that alter their host's mating signal can change the evolutionary trajectory of a species through sexual selection. Darwin's Camarhynchus finches are threatened by the introduced fly Philornis downsi that is thought to have accidentally arrived on the Galapagos Islands during the 1960s. The P. downsi larvae feed on the blood and tissue of developing finches, causing on average approximately 55% in-nest mortality and enlarged naris size in survivors. Here we test if enlarged naris size is associated with song characteristics and vocal deviation in the small tree finch ( Camarhynchus parvulus), the critically endangered medium tree finch ( C. pauper) and the recently observed hybrid tree finch group ( Camarhynchus hybrids). Male C. parvulus and C. pauper with enlarged naris size produced song with lower maximum frequency and greater vocal deviation, but there was no significant association in hybrids. Less vocal deviation predicted faster pairing success in both parental species. Finally, C. pauper males with normal naris size produced species-specific song, but male C. pauper with enlarged naris size had song that was indistinguishable from other tree finches. When parasites disrupt host mating signal, they may also facilitate hybridization. Here we show how parasite-induced naris enlargement affects vocal quality, resulting in blurred species mating signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Kleindorfer
- 1 College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University , Adelaide 5001 , Australia.,2 Konrad Lorenz Research Station and Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria
| | - Georgina Custance
- 1 College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University , Adelaide 5001 , Australia
| | - Katharina J Peters
- 1 College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University , Adelaide 5001 , Australia
| | - Frank J Sulloway
- 3 Department of Psychology, University of California , 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 3302, 4125 Tolman Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720 , USA
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610
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Borthwick CR, Young LJ, Old JM. An Examination of the Development and Localization of Key Immune Cells in Developing Pouch Young of the Red‐Tailed Phascogale (
Phascogale calura
). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2019; 302:1985-2002. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Casey R. Borthwick
- School of Science and HealthUniversity of Western Sydney Hawkesbury New South Wales Australia
| | - Lauren J. Young
- School of Science and HealthUniversity of Western Sydney Hawkesbury New South Wales Australia
| | - Julie M. Old
- School of Science and HealthUniversity of Western Sydney Hawkesbury New South Wales Australia
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611
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612
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Kim C, Kim J, Kim S, Cook DE, Evans KS, Andersen EC, Lee J. Long-read sequencing reveals intra-species tolerance of substantial structural variations and new subtelomere formation in C. elegans. Genome Res 2019; 29:1023-1035. [PMID: 31123081 PMCID: PMC6581047 DOI: 10.1101/gr.246082.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Long-read sequencing technologies have contributed greatly to comparative genomics among species and can also be applied to study genomics within a species. In this study, to determine how substantial genomic changes are generated and tolerated within a species, we sequenced a C. elegans strain, CB4856, which is one of the most genetically divergent strains compared to the N2 reference strain. For this comparison, we used the Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) RSII platform (80×, N50 read length 11.8 kb) and generated de novo genome assembly to the level of pseudochromosomes containing 76 contigs (N50 contig = 2.8 Mb). We identified structural variations that affected as many as 2694 genes, most of which are at chromosome arms. Subtelomeric regions contained the most extensive genomic rearrangements, which even created new subtelomeres in some cases. The subtelomere structure of Chromosome VR implies that ancestral telomere damage was repaired by alternative lengthening of telomeres even in the presence of a functional telomerase gene and that a new subtelomere was formed by break-induced replication. Our study demonstrates that substantial genomic changes including structural variations and new subtelomeres can be tolerated within a species, and that these changes may accumulate genetic diversity within a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuna Kim
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
| | - Jun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
- Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
| | - Sunghyun Kim
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
- Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Daniel E Cook
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Kathryn S Evans
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Erik C Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Junho Lee
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
- Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
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613
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Hair cortisol concentration in Siberian flying squirrels is unrelated to landscape and social factors. Naturwissenschaften 2019; 106:29. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-019-1624-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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614
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Jeanson R. Within-individual behavioural variability and division of labour in social insects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:222/10/jeb190868. [PMID: 31127006 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.190868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Division of labour, whereby individuals divide the workload in a group, is a recurrent property of social living. The current conceptual framework for division of labour in social insects is provided by the response-threshold model. This model posits that the differences between individuals (i.e. between-individual variability) in responsiveness to task-associated stimuli is a key feature for task specialisation. The consistency of individual behaviours (i.e. within-individual variability) in task performance represents an additional but little-considered component driving robust patterns of division of labour. On the one hand, the presence of workers with a high level of within-individual variability presumably allows colonies to rapidly adapt to external fluctuations. On the other hand, a reduced degree of within-individual variability promotes a stricter specialisation in task performance, thereby limiting the costs of task switching. The ideal balance between flexibility and canalisation probably varies depending on the developmental stage of the colony to satisfy its changing needs. Here, I introduce the main sources of within-individual variability in behaviours in social insects and I review neural correlates accompanying the changes in behavioural flexibility. I propose the hypothesis that the positive scaling between group size and the intensity of task specialisation, a relationship consistently reported both within and between taxa, may rely on reduced within-individual variability via self-organised processes linked to the quality of brood care. Overall, I emphasise the need for a more comprehensive characterisation of the response dynamics of individuals to better understand the mechanisms shaping division of labour in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Jeanson
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
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615
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Bisht S, Banerjee S, Qureshi Q, Jhala Y. Demography of a high‐density tiger population and its implications for tiger recovery. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yadavendradev Jhala
- Animal Ecology & Conservation Biology Department Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun India
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616
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Zhou YL, Ślipiński A, Ren D, Parker J. A Mesozoic clown beetle myrmecophile (Coleoptera: Histeridae). eLife 2019; 8:e44985. [PMID: 30990167 PMCID: PMC6467565 DOI: 10.7554/elife.44985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Complex interspecies relationships are widespread among metazoans, but the evolutionary history of these lifestyles is poorly understood. We describe a fossil beetle in 99-million-year-old Burmese amber that we infer to have been a social impostor of the earliest-known ant colonies. Promyrmister kistneri gen. et sp. nov. belongs to the haeteriine clown beetles (Coleoptera: Histeridae), a major clade of 'myrmecophiles'-specialized nest intruders with dramatic anatomical, chemical and behavioral adaptations for colony infiltration. Promyrmister reveals that myrmecophiles evolved close to the emergence of ant eusociality, in colonies of stem-group ants that predominate Burmese amber, or with cryptic crown-group ants that remain largely unknown at this time. The clown beetle-ant relationship has been maintained ever since by the beetles host-switching to numerous modern ant genera, ultimately diversifying into one of the largest radiations of symbiotic animals. We infer that obligate behavioral symbioses can evolve relatively rapidly, and be sustained over deep time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Lingzi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Australian National Insect CollectionCSIROCanberraAustralia
| | - Adam Ślipiński
- Australian National Insect CollectionCSIROCanberraAustralia
| | - Dong Ren
- College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Joseph Parker
- Division of Biology and Biological EngineeringCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaUnited States
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617
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Narayan E. Physiological stress levels in wild koala sub-populations facing anthropogenic induced environmental trauma and disease. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6031. [PMID: 30988329 PMCID: PMC6465306 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42448-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Australian small mammals such as koalas must cope with immense pressure from anthropogenic induced stressors or trauma such as bushfires, vehicle collision impacts and habitat disturbance and land clearance. In addition, they must cope with diseases such as chlamydia. To date, there is no published literature on physiological stress levels in wild koala populations compared with identified environmental stressors. This study investigated physiological stress levels within sub-populations of wild koalas encountering environmental trauma and disease from New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD) and South Australia (SA). Physiological stress was determined using a faecal glucocorticoid (or cortisol) metabolites (FGMs) enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) from 291 fresh faecal samples collected from wild koalas at the point of rescue. A healthy breeding sub-population from a forest reserve in QLD acted as a control group. Clearance of prime Eucalyptus habitat had the largest impact on FGMs, followed by bushfire related factors (e.g. flat demeanour, dehydration and burns injury). Koalas with other sources of physical injury (dog-attacks and vehicle collisions) and disease (chlamydia) also had higher FGMs compared to healthy wild koalas. Healthy wild koalas expressed the lowest median levels of FGMs. Overall, the results highlight that anthropogenic-induced stressors tend to increase physiological stress in wild koalas. Thus, the ultimate stressors such as habitat clearance and bush fire events could increase the incidences of proximate stressors such as dog attacks and vehicle collisions, and increase risks of foliage shortage, diseases and mortality. Therefore, there is need for ecological monitoring, conservation management actions and policy changes to curb the koala population crisis, especially within on-going and future land and road development programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Narayan
- School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, New South Wales, 2751, Australia.
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618
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Chakrabarti S, Jhala YV. Battle of the sexes: a multi-male mating strategy helps lionesses win the gender war of fitness. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In species exhibiting infanticide by males, females lose out with high stakes and should adopt preemptive mechanisms, pitching the genders in an evolutionary arms race for maximizing fitness. African lions remain a quintessential model of this gender war, with a coalition of males gaining temporary but exclusive breeding rights over a female group after killing all cubs of former males. However in Asiatic lions, now found as a single population in Gir forests, India, adults live in same-sex groups that interact primarily for mating. Intensive monitoring of 70 adult lions revealed that female groups (n = 9) used exclusive territories, whereas male ranges (n = 11 coalitions) overlapped at areas of intense female use. A social network of mating events (n = 76) indicated that lionesses mated with multiple rival coalitions before conceiving. These neighboring coalitions, although hostile to each other were tolerant toward the same litters, suggestive of confused paternity among them. Given a land-tenure system where lionesses encounter many males capable of killing unfamiliar cubs, multi-male mating buffers cub infanticide and likely diversifies paternal lineages in litters. Consequently, infanticide was observed only when “new” males invaded a female group’s territory. An age-based mate choice was observed in lionesses: maiden breeders chose males having highest range overlaps, whereas experienced females selected peripheral males. The intergender spacing patterns and resultant sexual strategies of lions differ in Asia and Africa probably because of contrasting resource availability, highlighting behavioral plasticity within species inhabiting diverse eco-regions. By mating with multiple males, lionesses safeguard their investments and outdo the males in the war of fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stotra Chakrabarti
- Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Yadvendradev V Jhala
- Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India
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619
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620
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Peters KJ, Evans C, Aguirre JD, Kleindorfer S. Genetic admixture predicts parasite intensity: evidence for increased hybrid performance in Darwin's tree finches. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:181616. [PMID: 31183118 PMCID: PMC6502384 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Hybridization can increase adaptive potential when enhanced genetic diversity or novel genetic combinations confer a fitness advantage, such as in the evolution of anti-parasitic mechanisms. Island systems are especially susceptible to invasive parasites due to the lack of defence mechanisms that usually coevolve in long-standing host-parasite relationships. We test if host genetic admixture affects parasite numbers in a novel host-parasite association on the Galápagos Islands. Specifically, we compare the number of Philornis downsi in nests with offspring sired by Darwin's small tree finch (Camarhynchus parvulus), Darwin's medium tree finch (C. pauper) and hybrids of these two species. The number of P. downsi decreased with an increasing genetic admixture of the attending male, and nests of hybrid males had approximately 50% fewer parasites than C. parvulus nests, and approximately 60% fewer parasites than C. pauper nests. This finding indicates that hybridization in this system could be favoured by selection and reveal a mechanism to combat an invasive parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina J. Peters
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
- School of Natural and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christine Evans
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
- School of Natural and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - J. David Aguirre
- School of Natural and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
- Konrad Lorenz Research Station and Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna, Austria
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621
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Stevens L, Félix M, Beltran T, Braendle C, Caurcel C, Fausett S, Fitch D, Frézal L, Gosse C, Kaur T, Kiontke K, Newton MD, Noble LM, Richaud A, Rockman MV, Sudhaus W, Blaxter M. Comparative genomics of 10 new Caenorhabditis species. Evol Lett 2019; 3:217-236. [PMID: 31007946 PMCID: PMC6457397 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been central to the understanding of metazoan biology. However, C. elegans is but one species among millions and the significance of this important model organism will only be fully revealed if it is placed in a rich evolutionary context. Global sampling efforts have led to the discovery of over 50 putative species from the genus Caenorhabditis, many of which await formal species description. Here, we present species descriptions for 10 new Caenorhabditis species. We also present draft genome sequences for nine of these new species, along with a transcriptome assembly for one. We exploit these whole-genome data to reconstruct the Caenorhabditis phylogeny and use this phylogenetic tree to dissect the evolution of morphology in the genus. We reveal extensive variation in genome size and investigate the molecular processes that underlie this variation. We show unexpected complexity in the evolutionary history of key developmental pathway genes. These new species and the associated genomic resources will be essential in our attempts to understand the evolutionary origins of the C. elegans model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Stevens
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghEH9 3JTUnited Kingdom
| | - Marie‐Anne Félix
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, École Normale SupérieureParis Sciences et Lettres75005ParisFrance
| | - Toni Beltran
- MRC London Institute of Medical SciencesLondonW12 0NNUnited Kingdom
| | - Christian Braendle
- Université Côte d'Azur, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, InsermInstitute of Biology Valrose06108NiceFrance
| | - Carlos Caurcel
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghEH9 3JTUnited Kingdom
| | - Sarah Fausett
- Université Côte d'Azur, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, InsermInstitute of Biology Valrose06108NiceFrance
| | - David Fitch
- Department of BiologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003
| | - Lise Frézal
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, École Normale SupérieureParis Sciences et Lettres75005ParisFrance
| | - Charlie Gosse
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, École Normale SupérieureParis Sciences et Lettres75005ParisFrance
| | - Taniya Kaur
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of BiologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003
| | - Karin Kiontke
- Department of BiologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003
| | - Matthew D. Newton
- MRC London Institute of Medical SciencesLondonW12 0NNUnited Kingdom
- Molecular Virology, Department of MedicineImperial College LondonDu Cane RoadLondonW12 0NNUnited Kingdom
| | - Luke M. Noble
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of BiologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003
| | - Aurélien Richaud
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, École Normale SupérieureParis Sciences et Lettres75005ParisFrance
| | - Matthew V. Rockman
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of BiologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003
| | - Walter Sudhaus
- Institut für Biologie/ZoologieFreie Universität BerlinBerlinD‐14195Germany
| | - Mark Blaxter
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghEH9 3JTUnited Kingdom
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622
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McNew SM, Knutie SA, Goodman GB, Theodosopoulos A, Saulsberry A, Yépez R. J, Bush SE, Clayton DH. Annual environmental variation influences host tolerance to parasites. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190049. [PMID: 30963843 PMCID: PMC6408884 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
When confronted with a parasite or pathogen, hosts can defend themselves by resisting or tolerating the attack. While resistance can be diminished when resources are limited, it is unclear how robust tolerance is to changes in environmental conditions. Here, we investigate the sensitivity of tolerance in a single host population living in a highly variable environment. We manipulated the abundance of an invasive parasitic fly, Philornis downsi, in nests of Galápagos mockingbirds ( Mimus parvulus) over four field seasons and measured host fitness in response to parasitism. Mockingbird tolerance to P. downsi varied significantly among years and decreased when rainfall was limited. Video observations indicate that parental provisioning of nestlings appears key to tolerance: in drought years, mockingbirds likely do not have sufficient resources to compensate for the effects of P. downsi. These results indicate that host tolerance is a labile trait and suggest that environmental variation plays a major role in mediating the consequences of host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina M. McNew
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA
| | - Sarah A. Knutie
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA
| | - Graham B. Goodman
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA
| | | | - Ashley Saulsberry
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA
| | - Janai Yépez R.
- Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Sarah E. Bush
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA
| | - Dale H. Clayton
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA
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623
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Akcali CK, Adán Pérez-Mendoza H, Salazar-Valenzuela D, Kikuchi DW, Guayasamin JM, Pfennig DW. Evaluating the utility of camera traps in field studies of predation. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6487. [PMID: 30828493 PMCID: PMC6394347 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial prey techniques—wherein synthetic replicas of real organisms are placed in natural habitats—are widely used to study predation in the field. We investigated the extent to which videography could provide additional information to such studies. As a part of studies on aposematism and mimicry of coral snakes (Micrurus) and their mimics, observational data from 109 artificial snake prey were collected from video-recording camera traps in three locations in the Americas (terra firme forest, Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador; premontane wet forest, Nahá Reserve, Mexico; longleaf pine forest, Southeastern Coastal Plain, North Carolina, USA). During 1,536 camera days, a total of 268 observations of 20 putative snake predator species were recorded in the vicinity of artificial prey. Predators were observed to detect artificial prey 52 times, but only 21 attacks were recorded. Mammals were the most commonly recorded group of predators near replicas (243) and were responsible for most detections (48) and attacks (20). There was no difference between avian or mammalian predators in their probability of detecting replicas nor in their probability of attacking replicas after detecting them. Bite and beak marks left on clay replicas registered a higher ratio of avian:mammalian attacks than videos registered. Approximately 61.5% of artificial prey monitored with cameras remained undetected by predators throughout the duration of the experiments. Observational data collected from videos could provide more robust inferences on the relative fitness of different prey phenotypes, predator behavior, and the relative contribution of different predator species to selection on prey. However, we estimate that the level of predator activity necessary for the benefit of additional information that videos provide to be worth their financial costs is achieved in fewer than 20% of published artificial prey studies. Although we suggest future predation studies employing artificial prey to consider using videography as a tool to inspire new, more focused inquiry, the investment in camera traps is unlikely to be worth the expense for most artificial prey studies until the cost:benefit ratio decreases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher K Akcali
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | | | - David W Kikuchi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Juan M Guayasamin
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - David W Pfennig
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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624
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Ferner MC, Hodin J, Ng G, Gaylord B. Brief exposure to intense turbulence induces a sustained life-history shift in echinoids. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.187351. [PMID: 30573667 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.187351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In coastal ecosystems, attributes of fluid motion can prompt animal larvae to rise or sink in the water column and to select microhabitats within which they attach and commit to a benthic existence. In echinoid (sea urchin and sand dollar) larvae living along wave-exposed shorelines, intense turbulence characteristic of surf zones can cause individuals to undergo an abrupt life-history shift characterized by precocious entry into competence - the stage at which larvae will settle and complete metamorphosis in response to local cues. However, the mechanistic details of this turbulence-triggered onset of competence remain poorly defined. Here, we evaluate in a series of laboratory experiments the time course of this turbulence effect, both the rapidity with which it initiates and whether it perdures. We found that larvae become competent with turbulence exposures as brief as 30 s, with longer exposures inducing a greater proportion of larvae to become competent. Intriguingly, larvae can remember such exposures for a protracted period (at least 24 h), a pattern reminiscent of long-term potentiation. Turbulence also induces short-term behavioral responses that last less than 30 min, including cessation of swimming, that facilitate sinking and thus contact of echinoid larvae with the substratum. Together, these results yield a novel perspective on how larvae find their way to suitable adult habitat at the critical settlement transition, and also open new experimental opportunities to elucidate the mechanisms by which planktonic animals respond to fluid motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Ferner
- San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA 94920, USA
| | - Jason Hodin
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA
| | - Gabriel Ng
- Bodega Marine Laboratory and Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
| | - Brian Gaylord
- Bodega Marine Laboratory and Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
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625
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Diverse Beta- and Gammaherpesviruses in Neotropical Rodents from Costa Rica. J Wildl Dis 2019; 55:663-667. [PMID: 30694725 DOI: 10.7589/2018-05-117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Neotropical wild rodents from Costa Rica were analyzed for the presence of herpesviruses (order Herpesvirales, family Herpesviridae). Using a broadly generic PCR, herpesvirus sequences were detected in 5% (8/160) of liver and heart samples: seven putative gammaherpesviruses in samples from Talamancan oryzomys (Nephelomys devius), sprightly colilargo (Oligoryzomys vegetus), Mexican deer mouse (Peromyscus nudipes), and Chiriqui harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys creper) and one putative betaherpesvirus in long-tailed singing mouse (Scotinomys xerampelinus). Results from this study could guide ecological investigations targeting the prevalence and host associations of herpesviruses in wild rodents from Costa Rica.
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626
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Narayan E, Vanderneut T. Physiological Stress in Rescued Wild Koalas Are Influenced by Habitat Demographics, Environmental Stressors, and Clinical Intervention. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:18. [PMID: 30761085 PMCID: PMC6361754 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Koalas are rescued from the wild often with incidence of burns from bushfire, injury from animal attacks, vehicle collision, and diseases. Exposure to environmental stressors (trauma and disease) could generate physiological stress and potentially impact the outcomes of clinical management intervention and rehabilitation of rescued wild koalas. It is important to quantify the stress physiology of wild koalas upon registering into clinical care. This study demonstrates the first report of physiological stress assessment in rescued wild koalas (n = 22) to determine the potential influences of habitat-specific demographics, stressor category, and clinical diagnosis. Fecal samples were collected from the koalas at rescue and routinely during hospitalization to provide a longitudinal assessment of the koala's stress response throughout clinical care. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FCM) enzyme-immunoassay was used to index physiological stress non-invasively. Koalas were admitted with exposure to various categories of environmental trauma such as vehicle collision, dog attack, burns from forest fire (this also related to conditions such as copious drinking and flat demeanor), and other injury. The main disease diagnosed was chlamydial infections. In terms of environmental interactions, it was found that habitat-specific demographics, location where the rescued koala was found, especially the rural-urban fringe, influenced FCM levels. Furthermore, there was significant interaction between location, stressor category, and clinical diagnosis for mean FCM levels. However, these factors were not predictive of the clinical outcome (euthanized or released). Overall, the results provide invaluable insights into how wild koalas respond physiologically to environmental trauma and disease and how methods of care, husbandry, and treatment can be used to further reduce the impacts of stress with the ultimate aim of increasing the rehabilitation and future release of rescued koalas to revive the declining mainland populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Narayan
- School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Tayla Vanderneut
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
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627
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Brain evolution in social insects: advocating for the comparative approach. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 205:13-32. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01315-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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628
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Wang Y, Rozen DE. Fitness costs of phoretic nematodes in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:26-35. [PMID: 30680093 PMCID: PMC6342123 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicrophorus vespilloides is a social beetle that rears its offspring on decomposing carrion. Wild beetles are frequently associated with two types of macrobial symbionts, mites, and nematodes. Although these organisms are believed to be phoretic commensals that harmlessly use beetles as a means of transfer between carcasses, the role of these symbionts on N. vespilloides fitness is poorly understood. Here, we show that nematodes have significant negative effects on beetle fitness across a range of worm densities and also quantify the density-dependent transmission of worms between mating individuals and from parents to offspring. Using field-caught beetles, we provide the first report of a new nematode symbiont in N. vespilloides, most closely related to Rhabditoides regina, and show that worm densities are highly variable across individuals isolated from nature but do not differ between males and females. Next, by inoculating mating females with increasing densities of nematodes, we show that worm infections significantly reduce brood size, larval survival, and larval mass, and also eliminate the trade-off between brood size and larval mass. Finally, we show that nematodes are efficiently transmitted between mating individuals and from mothers to larvae, directly and indirectly via the carcass, and that worms persist through pupation. These results show that the phoretic nematode R. regina can be highly parasitic to burying beetles but can nevertheless persist because of efficient mechanisms of intersexual and intergenerational transmission. Phoretic species are exceptionally common and may cause significant harm to their hosts, even though they rely on these larger species for transmission to new resources. However, this harm may be inevitable and unavoidable if transmission of phoretic symbionts requires nematode proliferation. It will be important to determine the generality of our results for other phoretic associates of animals. It will equally be important to assess the fitness effects of phoretic species under changing resource conditions and in the field where diverse interspecific interactions may exacerbate or reduce the negative effects of phoresy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Wang
- Institute of BiologyLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
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629
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Cerkvenik U, van Leeuwen J, Kovalev A, Gorb SN, Matsumura Y, Gussekloo SWS. Stiffness gradients facilitate ovipositor bending and spatial probing control in a parasitic wasp. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:jeb.195628. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.195628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Many parasitic wasps use slender and steerable ovipositors to lay eggs in hosts hidden in substrates, but it is currently unknown how steering is achieved. The ovipositors generally consist of three longitudinally connected elements, one dorsal and two ventral valves that can slide along each other. For the parasitic wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, it has been shown that protraction of the ventral valves causes incurving of the ventral valves towards the dorsal one, which results in a change in probing direction. We hypothesise that this shape change is due to differences in bending stiffness along the ovipositor. Alignment of the stiff tip of the dorsal valve with a more flexible ventral S-shaped region situated just behind the tip straightens this S-bend and results in upwards rotation of the ventral tip. We show that the S-shaped region of the ventral valves has a low bending stiffness because it contains soft materials such as resilin. In contrast, the large cross-sectional area of the dorsal valve tip area probably results in a high bending stiffness. Elsewhere, the dorsal valve is less stiff than the ventral valves. Our results support the hypothesis that the interaction between the stiff dorsal valve portion and the more flexible S-shaped region co-determine the configurational tip changes required for steering the ovipositor in any desired direction along curved paths in the substrate. This provides novel insights in the understanding of steering mechanisms of the hymenopteran ovipositor, and for the application in man-made probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- U. Cerkvenik
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - J.L. van Leeuwen
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - A. Kovalev
- Zoological Institute: Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - S. N. Gorb
- Zoological Institute: Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Y. Matsumura
- Zoological Institute: Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - S. W. S Gussekloo
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
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630
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Martínková N, Pikula J, Zukal J, Kovacova V, Bandouchova H, Bartonička T, Botvinkin AD, Brichta J, Dundarova H, Kokurewicz T, Irwin NR, Linhart P, Orlov OL, Piacek V, Škrabánek P, Tiunov MP, Zahradníková A. Hibernation temperature-dependent Pseudogymnoascus destructans infection intensity in Palearctic bats. Virulence 2018; 9:1734-1750. [PMID: 36595968 PMCID: PMC10022473 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1548685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that is devastating to Nearctic bat populations but tolerated by Palearctic bats. Temperature is a factor known to be important for fungal growth and bat choice of hibernation. Here we investigated the effect of temperature on the pathogenic fungal growth in the wild across the Palearctic. We modelled body surface temperature of bats with respect to fungal infection intensity and disease severity and were able to relate this to the mean annual surface temperature at the site. Bats that hibernated at lower temperatures had less fungal growth and fewer skin lesions on their wings. Contrary to expectation derived from laboratory P. destructans culture experiments, natural infection intensity peaked between 5 and 6°C and decreased at warmer hibernating temperature. We made predictive maps based on bat species distributions, temperature and infection intensity and disease severity data to determine not only where P. destructans will be found but also where the infection will be invasive to bats across the Palearctic. Together these data highlight the mechanistic model of the interplay between environmental and biological factors, which determine progression in a wildlife disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Martínková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Kovacova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander D Botvinkin
- Epidemiology Department, Irkutsk State Medical University, Irkutsk, Russian Federation
| | - Jiri Brichta
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Heliana Dundarova
- Department of Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Tomasz Kokurewicz
- Institute of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Palaeontology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Petr Linhart
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oleg L Orlov
- International Complex Research Laboratory for Study of Climate Change, Land Use and Biodiversity, Tyumen State University, Tyumen, Russian Federation.,Department of Biochemistry, Ural State Medical University, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Škrabánek
- Department of Process Control, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic.,Institute of Automation and Computer Science, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mikhail P Tiunov
- Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russian Federation
| | - Alexandra Zahradníková
- Department of Muscle Cell Research, Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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631
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Hodin J, Heyland A, Mercier A, Pernet B, Cohen DL, Hamel JF, Allen JD, McAlister JS, Byrne M, Cisternas P, George SB. Culturing echinoderm larvae through metamorphosis. Methods Cell Biol 2018; 150:125-169. [PMID: 30777174 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Echinoderms are favored study organisms not only in cell and developmental biology, but also physiology, larval biology, benthic ecology, population biology and paleontology, among other fields. However, many echinoderm embryology labs are not well-equipped to continue to rear the post-embryonic stages that result. This is unfortunate, as such labs are thus unable to address many intriguing biological phenomena, related to their own cell and developmental biology studies, that emerge during larval and juvenile stages. To facilitate broader studies of post-embryonic echinoderms, we provide here our collective experience rearing these organisms, with suggestions to try and pitfalls to avoid. Furthermore, we present information on rearing larvae from small laboratory to large aquaculture scales. Finally, we review taxon-specific approaches to larval rearing through metamorphosis in each of the four most commonly-studied echinoderm classes-asteroids, echinoids, holothuroids and ophiuroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Hodin
- Friday Harbor Labs, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA, United States.
| | - Andreas Heyland
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Annie Mercier
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Bruno Pernet
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - David L Cohen
- State of Hawai'i, Division of Aquatic Resources, Ānuenue Fisheries Research Center, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Jean-François Hamel
- Society for the Exploration and Valuing of the Environment (SEVE), Portugal Cove-St. Philips, NL, Canada
| | - Jonathan D Allen
- Biology Department, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Justin S McAlister
- Department of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Maria Byrne
- School of Medical Sciences and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paula Cisternas
- School of Medical Sciences and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sophie B George
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, United States
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632
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Baeza JA. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17690. [PMID: 30523272 PMCID: PMC6283867 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36132-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Panulirus argus is a keystone species and target of the most lucrative fishery in the Caribbean region. This study reports, for the first time, the complete mitochondrial genome of Panulirus argus (average coverage depth nucleotide-1 = 70×) assembled from short Illumina 150 bp PE reads. The AT-rich mitochondrial genome of Panulirus argus was 15 739 bp in length and comprised 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. A single 801 bp long intergenic space was assumed to be the D-loop. Most of the PCGs were encoded on the H-strand. The gene order observed in the mitochondrial genome of Panulirus argus corresponds to the presumed Pancrustacean ground pattern. KA/KS ratios calculated for all mitochondrial PCGs showed values < 1, indicating that all these PCGs are evolving under purifying selection. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis (concatenated PCGs [n = 13], 154 arthropods) supported the monophyly of the Achelata and other infraorders within the Decapoda. Mitochondrial PCGs have enough phylogenetic informativeness to explore high-level genealogical relationships in the Pancrustacea. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus will contribute to the better understanding of meta-population connectivity in this keystone overexploited species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Antonio Baeza
- Department of Biological Sciences, 132 Long Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
- Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida, 34949, USA.
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.
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633
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Gish M, Inbar M. Standing on the shoulders of giants: young aphids piggyback on adults when searching for a host plant. Front Zool 2018; 15:49. [PMID: 30534184 PMCID: PMC6282293 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-018-0292-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Upon the detection of imminent peril, pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) often drop off their host plant. Dropping in response to insect enemies is intermittent in nature, but when a mammalian herbivore feeds on their host plant, a large mixed-age group of aphids usually drops off the plant at once. Aphids that reach the ground are confronted with new, hostile environmental conditions and must therefore quickly walk toward a suitable host plant. The longer it takes an aphid to reach a host plant, the more it is exposed to the risks of starvation, desiccation and predation. Results We found that young nymphs, which have limited mobility and high mortality on the ground, quickly climb on conspecific (not necessarily parental) adults and cling to them before the latter start walking in search of a plant. This “riding” behavior is likely to be adaptive for the nymphs, for it shortens their journey and the time they spend off a host plant. Adults however, seem to be irritated by the riding nymphs, as they often actively try to remove them. Conclusions After dropping from the host plant, young aphid nymphs travel at least part of the way back to a plant on the backs of adults. For the riding behavior to take place, nymphs need to successfully find adults and withstand removal attempts. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12983-018-0292-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Gish
- 1Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Moshe Inbar
- 2Department of Evolutionary & Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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634
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Heppenheimer E, Harrigan RJ, Rutledge LY, Koepfli KP, DeCandia AL, Brzeski KE, Benson JF, Wheeldon T, Patterson BR, Kays R, Hohenlohe PA, von Holdt BM. Population Genomic Analysis of North American Eastern Wolves (Canis lycaon) Supports Their Conservation Priority Status. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9120606. [PMID: 30518163 PMCID: PMC6316216 DOI: 10.3390/genes9120606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The threatened eastern wolf is found predominantly in protected areas of central Ontario and has an evolutionary history obscured by interbreeding with coyotes and gray wolves, which challenges its conservation status and subsequent management. Here, we used a population genomics approach to uncover spatial patterns of variation in 281 canids in central Ontario and the Great Lakes region. This represents the first genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset with substantial sample sizes of representative populations. Although they comprise their own genetic cluster, we found evidence of eastern wolf dispersal outside of the boundaries of protected areas, in that the frequency of eastern wolf genetic variation decreases with increasing distance from provincial parks. We detected eastern wolf alleles in admixed coyotes along the northeastern regions of Lake Huron and Lake Ontario. Our analyses confirm the unique genomic composition of eastern wolves, which are mostly restricted to small fragmented patches of protected habitat in central Ontario. We hope this work will encourage an innovative discussion regarding a plan for managed introgression, which could conserve eastern wolf genetic material in any genome regardless of their potential mosaic ancestry composition and the habitats that promote them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Heppenheimer
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
| | - Ryan J Harrigan
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Linda Y Rutledge
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
- Biology Department, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9L 1Z8, Canada.
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA.
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Alexandra L DeCandia
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
| | - Kristin E Brzeski
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
- School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
| | - John F Benson
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Tyler Wheeldon
- Environmental & Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada.
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada.
| | - Brent R Patterson
- Environmental & Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada.
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada.
| | - Roland Kays
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA.
| | - Paul A Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
| | - Bridgett M von Holdt
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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635
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Hodin J, Ferner MC, Ng G, Gaylord B. Sand Dollar Larvae Show Within-Population Variation in Their Settlement Induction by Turbulence. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2018; 235:152-166. [PMID: 30624118 DOI: 10.1086/699827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Settlement-the generally irreversible transition from a planktonic phase to a benthic phase-is a critical stage in the life history of many shoreline organisms. It is reasonable to expect that larvae are under intense selection pressure to identify appropriate settlement habitat. Several decades of studies have focused mainly on local indicators that larvae use to identify suitable habitat, such as olfactory cues that indicate the presence of conspecifics or a favored food source. Our recent work has shown that the larvae of seashore-dwelling echinoids (sea urchins, sand dollars, and kin) can be primed to settle following a brief exposure to a broader-scale indicator of their approach to shore: an increase in fluid turbulence. Here we demonstrate that this priming shows within-population variation: the offspring of certain Pacific sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus) parents-both specific fathers and specific mothers, regardless of the other parent-are more responsive to turbulence than others. In particular, the observation of the effect correlating, in some cases, with specific fathers leads us to conclude that these behavioral differences are likely genetic and thus heritable. We also report that turbulence exposure causes larvae to temporarily sink to the bottom of a container of seawater and that larvae that respond in this way are also more likely to subsequently settle. We hypothesize a two-step scenario for the evolution of turbulence responsiveness at settlement and suggest that the evolutionary origin of these behaviors could be a driving force for population differentiation and speciation.
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636
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Hogg CJ, Wright B, Morris KM, Lee AV, Ivy JA, Grueber CE, Belov K. Founder relationships and conservation management: empirical kinships reveal the effect on breeding programmes when founders are assumed to be unrelated. Anim Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
- Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia Mosman NSW Australia
| | - B. Wright
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - K. M. Morris
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - A. V. Lee
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program DPIPWE Hobart TAS Australia
| | - J. A. Ivy
- San Diego Zoo Global San Diego CA USA
| | - C. E. Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
- San Diego Zoo Global San Diego CA USA
| | - K. Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
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637
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Occurrence of the Parasitic Fly Philornis torquans on Fledglings of the Rufous-Fronted Thornbird ( Phacellodomus rufifrons) in Southeast Brazil. J Wildl Dis 2018; 55:462-466. [PMID: 30475659 DOI: 10.7589/2018-04-104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Philornis is a neotropical genus of muscid fly that interacts with birds and may affect the development and survival of the birds' offspring. Although Philornis is a relatively common parasite, there is a lack of information about Philornis hosts in several parts of the Americas. In this study, two nests of the Rufousfronted Thornbird ( Phacellodomus rufifrons) were collected in Pedro Leopoldo, southeast Brazil. The first contained four nestlings of advanced age (about 20 d old) and a recently emerged Philornis torquans female adult fly. The second nest contained three nestlings (less than 7 d old) and several Philornis torquans subcutaneous larvae. One of the nestlings was infested by 53 larvae, which had attacked several parts of its body and caused individual wounds containing 1 to more than 15 larvae. The length of the larvae ranged from 3 to 18 mm and only one was a second instar; the remaining 69 were third instars. The pupal period lasted 9-13 d. In total, 71 larvae were collected from the nest, with nestling parasitism varying from 7 to 53 larvae (mean- 23.7±25.5 larvae/nestling).
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638
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Abstract
Leptospirosis is an occupational risk for military personnel and many cases have been reported worldwide. Rodents are the most important maintenance hosts for Leptospira spp. and may infect both animals and humans. To determine the occurrence and identity of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in rodent and shrew populations in German military camps in Afghanistan, we examined 751 animals ( Mus musculus, Cricetulus migratorius, Meriones libycus, Rattus tanezumi, Crocidura cf. suaveolens, and Suncus etruscus) from four military camps in Northern Afghanistan from 2009-12. Leptospiral DNA was found in 1.1% of the animals and only in Mus musculus. Partial secY sequencing identified Leptospira borgpetersenii and Leptospira kirschneri as infecting genomospecies. Multilocus sequence typing was successful in the L. borgpetersenii samples, which were identified as sequence type 155. The low prevalence we observed suggested that the exposure risk of military personnel to infectious Leptospira spp. in the region is low.
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639
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Konopka JK, Poinapen D, Gariepy T, McNeil JN. Understanding the mismatch between behaviour and development in a novel host-parasitoid association. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15677. [PMID: 30356173 PMCID: PMC6200765 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33756-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Foraging parasitoid females should preferentially oviposit on hosts most suitable for progeny development to maximize their fitness. However, the introduction of a new host species may disrupt the link between the reliability of the cues and the expected adaptive outcome of female choice, leading to an evolutionary trap. This mismatch between behavioural acceptance and lack of development exists for North American and European egg parasitoids (Scelionidae) that encounter invasive Halyomorpha halys in areas where this exotic host has recently established. To explain this mismatch, we utilized an L9 orthogonal array design to assess and rank the influence of several critical factors characterizing host resource (host species, egg age, egg status, and surface wash) on behaviour (acceptance, patch residence and patch exploitation) and development of North American native Trissolcus euschisti egg parasitoid. Our results indicate that the host egg age is most important for behaviour, but is least influential for development of the progeny. This study suggests that the maladaptive decision to oviposit in an unsuitable host is due to a mismatch between the cues that females use, and the subsequent expected outcome of this choice. Therefore, it is the relative importance of individual factors when assessed simultaneously that influences the decision-making of female parasitoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna K Konopka
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, N6A 3K7, Ontario, Canada. .,London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, N5V 4T3, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Danny Poinapen
- Preclinical Imaging Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, N6A 5B7, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tara Gariepy
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, N5V 4T3, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeremy N McNeil
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, N6A 3K7, Ontario, Canada
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640
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Letendre C, Sawyer E, Young LJ, Old JM. Immunosenescence in a captive semelparous marsupial, the red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura). BMC ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1186/s40850-018-0036-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
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641
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Gopalakrishnan S, Sinding MHS, Ramos-Madrigal J, Niemann J, Samaniego Castruita JA, Vieira FG, Carøe C, Montero MDM, Kuderna L, Serres A, González-Basallote VM, Liu YH, Wang GD, Marques-Bonet T, Mirarab S, Fernandes C, Gaubert P, Koepfli KP, Budd J, Rueness EK, Sillero C, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Petersen B, Sicheritz-Ponten T, Bachmann L, Wiig Ø, Hansen AJ, Gilbert MTP. Interspecific Gene Flow Shaped the Evolution of the Genus Canis. Curr Biol 2018; 28:3441-3449.e5. [PMID: 30344120 PMCID: PMC6224481 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary history of the wolf-like canids of the genus Canis has been heavily debated, especially regarding the number of distinct species and their relationships at the population and species level [1-6]. We assembled a dataset of 48 resequenced genomes spanning all members of the genus Canis except the black-backed and side-striped jackals, encompassing the global diversity of seven extant canid lineages. This includes eight new genomes, including the first resequenced Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), one dhole (Cuon alpinus), two East African hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus), two Eurasian golden jackals (Canis aureus), and two Middle Eastern gray wolves (Canis lupus). The relationships between the Ethiopian wolf, African golden wolf, and golden jackal were resolved. We highlight the role of interspecific hybridization in the evolution of this charismatic group. Specifically, we find gene flow between the ancestors of the dhole and African hunting dog and admixture between the gray wolf, coyote (Canis latrans), golden jackal, and African golden wolf. Additionally, we report gene flow from gray and Ethiopian wolves to the African golden wolf, suggesting that the African golden wolf originated through hybridization between these species. Finally, we hypothesize that coyotes and gray wolves carry genetic material derived from a "ghost" basal canid lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Gopalakrishnan
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Mikkel-Holger S Sinding
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; The Qimmeq Project, University of Greenland, Nuussuaq, Greenland; University of Greenland, Manuutoq 1, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Jazmín Ramos-Madrigal
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonas Niemann
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jose A Samaniego Castruita
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Filipe G Vieira
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Carøe
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Lukas Kuderna
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aitor Serres
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Yan-Hu Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Guo-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution and Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Tomas Marques-Bonet
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig de Lluís Companys, 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain; CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 4, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Siavash Mirarab
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Fernandes
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), UM-CNRS-IRD-EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA; Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, 41A Sredniy Prospekt, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Jane Budd
- Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Eli Knispel Rueness
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Claudio Sillero
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Tubney OX13 5QL, UK; IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group, Oxford, UK
| | - Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Qimmeq Project, University of Greenland, Nuussuaq, Greenland
| | - Bent Petersen
- DTU Bioinformatics, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; Centre of Excellence for Omics-Driven Computational Biodiscovery (COMBio), Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Thomas Sicheritz-Ponten
- DTU Bioinformatics, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; Centre of Excellence for Omics-Driven Computational Biodiscovery (COMBio), Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Lutz Bachmann
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Øystein Wiig
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders J Hansen
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Qimmeq Project, University of Greenland, Nuussuaq, Greenland; University of Greenland, Manuutoq 1, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University Museum, Trondheim, Norway
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642
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Prabh N, Roeseler W, Witte H, Eberhardt G, Sommer RJ, Rödelsperger C. Deep taxon sampling reveals the evolutionary dynamics of novel gene families in Pristionchus nematodes. Genome Res 2018; 28:1664-1674. [PMID: 30232197 PMCID: PMC6211646 DOI: 10.1101/gr.234971.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The widespread identification of genes without detectable homology in related taxa is a hallmark of genome sequencing projects in animals, together with the abundance of gene duplications. Such genes have been called novel, young, taxon-restricted, or orphans, but little is known about the mechanisms accounting for their origin, age, and mode of evolution. Phylogenomic studies relying on deep and systematic taxon sampling and using the comparative method can provide insight into the evolutionary dynamics acting on novel genes. We used a phylogenomic approach for the nematode model organism Pristionchus pacificus and sequenced six additional Pristionchus and two outgroup species. This resulted in 10 genomes with a ladder-like phylogeny, sequenced in one laboratory using the same platform and analyzed by the same bioinformatic procedures. Our analysis revealed that 68%-81% of genes are assignable to orthologous gene families, the majority of which defined nine age classes with presence/absence patterns that can be explained by single evolutionary events. Contrasting different age classes, we find that older age classes are concentrated at chromosome centers, whereas novel gene families preferentially arise at the periphery, are weakly expressed, evolve rapidly, and have a high propensity of being lost. Over time, they increase in expression and become more constrained. Thus, the detailed phylogenetic resolution allowed a comprehensive characterization of the evolutionary dynamics of Pristionchus genomes indicating that distribution of age classes and their associated differences shape chromosomal divergence. This study establishes the Pristionchus system for future research on the mechanisms that drive the formation of novel genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neel Prabh
- Department of Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Waltraud Roeseler
- Department of Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hanh Witte
- Department of Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabi Eberhardt
- Department of Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ralf J Sommer
- Department of Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Rödelsperger
- Department of Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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643
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Michel AJ, Ward LM, Goffredi SK, Dawson KS, Baldassarre DT, Brenner A, Gotanda KM, McCormack JE, Mullin SW, O'Neill A, Tender GS, Uy JAC, Yu K, Orphan VJ, Chaves JA. The gut of the finch: uniqueness of the gut microbiome of the Galápagos vampire finch. MICROBIOME 2018; 6:167. [PMID: 30231937 PMCID: PMC6146768 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0555-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Darwin's finches are a clade of 19 species of passerine birds native to the Galápagos Islands, whose biogeography, specialized beak morphologies, and dietary choices-ranging from seeds to blood-make them a classic example of adaptive radiation. While these iconic birds have been intensely studied, the composition of their gut microbiome and the factors influencing it, including host species, diet, and biogeography, has not yet been explored. RESULTS We characterized the microbial community associated with 12 species of Darwin's finches using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples from 114 individuals across nine islands, including the unusual blood-feeding vampire finch (Geospiza septentrionalis) from Darwin and Wolf Islands. The phylum-level core gut microbiome for Darwin's finches included the Firmicutes, Gammaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, with members of the Bacteroidetes at conspicuously low abundance. The gut microbiome was surprisingly well conserved across the diversity of finch species, with one exception-the vampire finch-which harbored bacteria that were either absent or extremely rare in other finches, including Fusobacterium, Cetobacterium, Ureaplasma, Mucispirillum, Campylobacter, and various members of the Clostridia-bacteria known from the guts of carnivorous birds and reptiles. Complementary stable isotope analysis of feathers revealed exceptionally high δ15N isotope values in the vampire finch, resembling top marine predators. The Galápagos archipelago is also known for extreme wet and dry seasons, and we observed a significant seasonal shift in the gut microbial community of five additional finch species sampled during both seasons. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the overall conservatism of the finch gut microbiome over short (< 1 Ma) divergence timescales, except in the most extreme case of dietary specialization, and elevates the evolutionary importance of seasonal shifts in driving not only species adaptation, but also gut microbiome composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice J Michel
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Lewis M Ward
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Shana K Goffredi
- Department of Biology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, 90041, USA
| | - Katherine S Dawson
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Daniel T Baldassarre
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Alec Brenner
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Kiyoko M Gotanda
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, England
| | - John E McCormack
- Department of Biology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, 90041, USA
| | - Sean W Mullin
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Ariel O'Neill
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Gabrielle S Tender
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - J Albert C Uy
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Kristie Yu
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Victoria J Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA.
| | - Jaime A Chaves
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Diego de Robles y Pampite, Quito, Ecuador.
- Galápagos Science Center, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos, Ecuador.
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644
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Tecot SR, Baden AL. Profiling caregivers: Hormonal variation underlying allomaternal care in wild red-bellied lemurs, Eulemur rubriventer. Physiol Behav 2018; 193:135-148. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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645
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Lengerer B, Ladurner P. Properties of temporary adhesion systems of marine and freshwater organisms. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/16/jeb182717. [PMID: 30166319 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.182717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Underwater adhesive secretions are a promising source of inspiration for biomedical and industrial applications. Although marine permanent adhesives have been extensively investigated, reversible adhesion, e.g. as used for locomotion and feeding, is still poorly understood. Here, we summarise the current knowledge on secretion-based, temporary adhesive systems in aquatic environments, with a special emphasis on the morphology and structure of adhesive organs and adhesive material. Many animals employing temporary adhesion to the substratum rely on so-called duo-gland adhesive organs, consisting of two secretory gland cells and one supportive cell. We give a detailed depiction of a basic duo-gland adhesive organ and variations thereof. Additionally, we discuss temporary adhesive systems with an alternative building plan. Next, the topography of secreted adhesive footprints is described based on examples. The limited data on the composition of temporary adhesives are summarised, separating known protein components and carbohydrate residues. There are still large gaps in our understanding of temporary adhesion. We discuss three proposed models for detachment, although the actual mechanism of voluntary detachment is still a matter for debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Lengerer
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 23 Place du Parc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Peter Ladurner
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Bioscience Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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646
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Viana AS, Santos R. Nanoscale characterization of the temporary adhesive of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 9:2277-2286. [PMID: 30202696 PMCID: PMC6122089 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.9.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Background: Unlike the thin homogeneous films that are typical for adhesives produced by humans, biological adhesives present complex hierarchical micro- and nanostructures. Most studies on marine adhesives have focused on permanent adhesives, whereas the nanostructures of nonpermanent, temporary or reversible adhesives have only been examined in some organisms such as marine flatworms, barnacle cyprids, freshwater cnidaria and echinoderms such as sea cucumbers and sea stars. In this study, the first nanoscale characterization of sea urchin temporary adhesives was performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results: The adhesive topography was similar under dry and native (seawater) conditions, which was comprised of a honeycomb-like meshwork of aggregated globular nanostructures. In terms of adhesion forces, higher values were obtained in dry conditions, reaching up to 50 nN. Under native conditions, lower adhesive forces were obtained (up to 500 pN) but the adhesive seemed to behave like a functional amyloid, as evidenced by the recorded characteristic sawtooth force-extension curves and positive thioflavin-T labelling. Conclusion: Our results confirm that like other temporary adhesives, the sea urchin adhesive footprint nanostructure consists of a meshwork of entangled globular nanostructures. Under native conditions, the adhesive footprints of the sea urchin behaved like a functional amyloid, suggesting that among its proteinaceous constituents there are most likely proteins with amyloid quaternary structures or rich in β-sheets. These results extend our knowledge on sea urchin adhesive composition and mechanical properties essential for the engineering of biomimetic adhesives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Viana
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica e Centro de Química Estrutural, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Romana Santos
- Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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647
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Edworthy AB, Langmore NE, Heinsohn R. Native fly parasites are the principal cause of nestling mortality in endangered Tasmanian pardalotes. Anim Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. B. Edworthy
- Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - N. E. Langmore
- Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - R. Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
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648
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Kerman K, Roggero A, Rolando A, Palestrini C. Evidence for Male Horn Dimorphism and Related Pronotal Shape Variation in Copris lunaris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Coprini). INSECTS 2018; 9:insects9030108. [PMID: 30135396 PMCID: PMC6164466 DOI: 10.3390/insects9030108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Male horn dimorphism is a rather common phenomenon in dung beetles, where some adult individuals have well-developed head horns (i.e., major males), while others exhibit diminished horn length (i.e., minor males). We focused on horn dimorphism and associated head and pronotum shape variations in Copris lunaris. We examined the allometric relationship between horn length (i.e., cephalic and pronotal horns) and maximum pronotum width (as index of body size) by fitting linear and sigmoidal models for both sexes. We then asked whether head and pronotum shape variations, quantified using the geometric morphometric approach, contributed to this allometric pattern. We found that female cephalic and pronotal horn growth showed a typical isometric scaling with body size. Horn length in males, however, exhibited sigmoidal allometry, where a certain threshold in body size separated males into two distinct morphs as majors and minors. Interestingly, we highlighted the same allometric patterns (i.e., isometric vs. sigmoidal models) by scaling horn lengths with pronotum shape, making evident that male horn dimorphism is not only a matter of body size. Furthermore, the analysis of shape showed that the three morphs had similar heads, but different pronota, major males showing a more expanded, rounded pronotum than minor males and females. These morphological differences in C. lunaris can ultimately have important functional consequences in the ecology of this species, which should be explored in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaan Kerman
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, I-10123 Torino, Italy.
| | - Angela Roggero
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, I-10123 Torino, Italy.
| | - Antonio Rolando
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, I-10123 Torino, Italy.
| | - Claudia Palestrini
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, I-10123 Torino, Italy.
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649
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Varoudis T, Swenson AG, Kirkton SD, Waters JS. Exploring nest structures of acorn dwelling ants with X-ray microtomography and surface-based three-dimensional visibility graph analysis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20170237. [PMID: 29967301 PMCID: PMC6030587 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The physical spaces within which organisms live affect their biology and in many cases can be considered part of their extended phenotype. The nests of social insect societies have a fundamental impact on their ability to function as complex superorganisms. Ants in many species excavate elaborate subterranean nests, but others inhabit relatively small pre-formed cavities within rock crevices and hollow seeds. Temnothorax ants, which often nest within acorns, have become a model system for studying collective decision making. While these ants have demonstrated remarkable degrees of rationality and consistent precision with regard to their nest choices, never before has the fine scale internal architecture and spatial organization of their nests been investigated. We used X-ray microtomography to record high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) scans of Temnothorax colonies within their acorns. These data were then quantified using image segmentation and surface-based 3D visibility graph analysis, a new computational methodology for analysing spatial structures. The visibility graph analysis method integrates knowledge from the field of architecture with the empirical study of animal-built structures, thus providing the first methodological cross-disciplinary synergy of these two research areas. We found a surprisingly high surface area and degree of spatial heterogeneity within the acorn nests. Specific regions, such as those associated with the locations of queens and brood, were significantly more conducive to connectivity than others. From an architect's point of view, spatial analysis research has never focused on all-surface 3D movement, as we describe within ant nests. Therefore, we believe our approach will provide new methods for understanding both human design and the comparative biology of habitat spaces.This article is part of the theme issue 'Interdisciplinary approaches for uncovering the impacts of architecture on collective behaviour'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasos Varoudis
- Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL), 22 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0QB, UK
| | - Abigail G Swenson
- Department of Biology, Providence College Providence, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02918, USA
| | - Scott D Kirkton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Union College, 807 Union St, Schenectady, NY 12308, USA
| | - James S Waters
- Department of Biology, Providence College Providence, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02918, USA
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650
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Pristionchus nematodes occur frequently in diverse rotting vegetal substrates and are not exclusively necromenic, while Panagrellus redivivoides is found specifically in rotting fruits. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200851. [PMID: 30074986 PMCID: PMC6075748 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The lifestyle and feeding habits of nematodes are highly diverse. Several species of Pristionchus (Nematoda: Diplogastridae), including Pristionchus pacificus, have been reported to be necromenic, i.e. to associate with beetles in their dauer diapause stage and wait until the death of their host to resume development and feed on microbes in the decomposing beetle corpse. We review the literature and suggest that the association of Pristionchus to beetles may be phoretic and not necessarily necromenic. The view that Pristionchus nematodes have a necromenic lifestyle is based on studies that have sought Pristionchus only by sampling live beetles. By surveying for nematode genera in different types of rotting vegetal matter, we found Pristionchus spp. at a similar high frequency as Caenorhabditis, often in large numbers and in feeding stages. Thus, these Pristionchus species may feed in decomposing vegetal matter. In addition, we report that one species of Panagrellus (Nematoda: Panagrolaimidae), Panagrellus redivivoides, is found in rotting fruits but not in rotting stems, with a likely association with Drosophila fruitflies. Based on our sampling and the observed distribution of feeding and dauer stages, we propose a life cycle for Pristionchus nematodes and Panagrellus redivivoides that is similar to that of C. elegans, whereby they feed on the microbial blooms on decomposing vegetal matter and are transported between food patches by coleopterans for Pristionchus spp., fruitflies for Panagrellus redivivoides and isopods and terrestrial molluscs for C. elegans.
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