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Lecorps B, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Negative expectations and vulnerability to stressors in animals. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 130:240-251. [PMID: 34454913 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Humans express stable differences in pessimism that render some individuals more vulnerable to stressors and mood disorders. We explored whether non-human animals express stable individual differences in expectations (assessed via judgment bias tests) and whether these differences relate to susceptibility to stressors. Judgment bias tests do not distinguish pessimism from sensitivity to reinforcers; negative expectations are likely driven by a combination of these two elements. The available evidence suggests that animals express stable individual differences in expectations such that some persistently perceive ambiguous situations in a more negative way. A lack of research prevents drawing firm conclusions on how negative expectations affect responses to stressors, but current evidence suggests a link between negative expectations and the adoption of avoidance coping strategies, stronger responses to uncontrollable stressors and risk of mood-related disorders. We explore implications for animals living in captivity and for research using animals as models for human disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Lecorps
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, 2357 Main Mall, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z6, Canada
| | - Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, 2357 Main Mall, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z6, Canada
| | - Marina A G von Keyserlingk
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, 2357 Main Mall, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z6, Canada.
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102
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Takahashi A. Social Stress and Aggression in Murine Models. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2021; 54:181-208. [PMID: 34432257 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Throughout life, animals engage in a variety of social interactions ranging from the affiliative mother-offspring interaction and juvenile play to aggressive conflict. Deprivation of the appropriate social interaction during early development is stressful and disrupts the development of appropriate social behaviors and emotional responses later in life. Additionally, agonistic encounters can induce stress responses in both dominant and subordinate individuals. This review focuses on the social stress that escalates aggressive behavior of animals and discusses the known neurobiological and physiological mechanisms underlying the link between social stress and aggression. Social instigation, a brief exposure to a rival without physical contact, induces aggressive arousal in dominant animals and escalates aggressive behaviors in the following agonistic encounter. Furthermore, the experience of winning an aggressive encounter is known to be as rewarding as addictive drugs, and the experience of repeatedly winning induces addiction-like behavioral and neurobiological changes and leads to abnormal aggressive behaviors. Social isolation stress in early development from neonatal to juvenile and adolescent periods also affects aggressive behavior, but these effects largely depend on the strain, sex, and species as well as the stage of development in which isolation stress is experienced. In conclusion, understanding neurobiological mechanisms underlying the link between social stress and aggression will provide an important insight for the development of more effective and tolerable treatments for maladaptive aggression in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Takahashi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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103
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Artemiou E, Hutchison P, Machado M, Ellis D, Bradtke J, Pereira MM, Carter J, Bergfelt D. Impact of Human-Animal Interactions on Psychological and Physiological Factors Associated With Veterinary School Students and Donkeys. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:701302. [PMID: 34497840 PMCID: PMC8420806 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.701302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been an increased interest in evaluating human-animal interactions and assessing the mutual health and wellbeing. In this study, first-year female and male veterinary school students not paired (n = 58) or paired (n = 25) with immature (≤9 mo) donkeys (n = 13) were engaged in three different types of interactions (1st, hands-off remote learning, 2nd, hands-on passive learning, and 3rd, hands-on active learning) for 30 min each during Week 2 (Time 1), Weeks 5-8 (Time 2), and Week 12 (Time 3) over three, 15-week periods. Student psychological data involved the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) scores collected from the interactive (student-donkey pairs) and non-interactive (no student-donkey pairs) groups and modified Comfort from Companion Animals Scale (CCAS) scores collected from the interactive group during Times 1, 2, and 3. Donkey physiological data involved collection of saliva within 10 min pre- and post-interaction during Times 1, 2, and 3 in association with the different types of interactions for immunoanalysis of cortisol. There were no significant effects of the various times and types of interactions on CCAS scores. While there were no significant effects of group and types of interactions on PSWQ scores, there was an effect (P = 0.01) of time. Overall mean PSWQ scores were significantly lower during Week 12 versus Week 2. Correspondingly, while there were no effects pre- vs. post-interaction within or among times on saliva cortisol concentrations in donkeys, there was an effect (P = 0.02) of the type of interaction. Mean concentrations were significantly lower with the hands-on passive and hands-on active learning versus the hands-off remote learning. In conclusion, while this study provides preliminary evidence surrounding student donkey interactions, future studies are required with more comprehensive designs to clarify these benefits and better understand the advantages and challenges surrounding student-donkey interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elpida Artemiou
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | | | - Marcus Machado
- Research Laboratory, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Daria Ellis
- Ross University School of Medicine, Miramar, FL, United States
| | - Jennifer Bradtke
- Counseling Center, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Mary Mauldin Pereira
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Julia Carter
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Don Bergfelt
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
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104
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de Kloet ER, Molendijk ML. Floating Rodents and Stress-Coping Neurobiology. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:e19-e21. [PMID: 34119316 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Edo Ronald de Kloet
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Marc L Molendijk
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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105
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van der Goot MH, Kooij M, Stolte S, Baars A, Arndt SS, van Lith HA. Incorporating inter-individual variability in experimental design improves the quality of results of animal experiments. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255521. [PMID: 34351958 PMCID: PMC8341614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Inter-individual variability in quantitative traits is believed to potentially inflate the quality of results in animal experimentation. Yet, to our knowledge this effect has not been empirically tested. Here we test whether inter-individual variability in emotional response within mouse inbred strains affects the outcome of a pharmacological experiment. Three mouse inbred strains (BALB/c, C57BL/6 and 129S2) were behaviorally characterized through repeated exposure to a mild aversive stimulus (modified Hole Board, five consecutive trials). A multivariate clustering procedure yielded two multidimensional response types which were displayed by individuals of all three strains. We show that systematic incorporation of these individual response types in the design of a pharmacological experiment produces different results from an experimental pool in which this variation was not accounted for. To our knowledge, this is the first study that empirically confirms that inter-individual variability affects the interpretation of behavioral phenotypes and may obscure experimental results in a pharmacological experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes H. van der Goot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Kooij
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Stolte
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Annemarie Baars
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Saskia S. Arndt
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hein A. van Lith
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Population Health Sciences, Section Animals in Science and Society, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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106
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Pan X, Liu F, Song Y, Wang H, Wang L, Qiu H, Price M, Li J. Motor Stereotypic Behavior Was Associated With Immune Response in Macaques: Insight From Transcriptome and Gut Microbiota Analysis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:644540. [PMID: 34394017 PMCID: PMC8360393 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.644540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor stereotypic behaviors (MSBs) are common in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and human with psychiatric diseases. However, large gaps remain in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that mediate this behavior and whether there are similarities between human and non-human primates that exhibit this behavior, especially at gene expression and gut microbiota levels. The present study combined behavior, blood transcriptome, and gut microbiota data of two groups of captive macaques to explore this issue (i.e., MSB macaques with high MSB exhibition and those with low: control macaques). Observation data showed that MSB macaques spent the most time on MSB (33.95%), while the CONTROL macaques allocated more time to active (30.99%) and general behavior (30.0%), and only 0.97% of their time for MSB. Blood transcriptome analysis revealed 382 differentially expressed genes between the two groups, with 339 upregulated genes significantly enriched in inflammation/immune response-related pathway. We also identified upregulated pro-inflammatory genes TNFRSF1A, IL1R1, and IL6R. Protein–protein interaction network analysis screened nine hub genes that were all related to innate immune response, and our transcriptomic results were highly similar to findings in human psychiatric disorders. We found that there were significant differences in the beta-diversity of gut microbiota between MSB and CONTROL macaques. Of which Phascolarctobacterium, the producer of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), was less abundant in MSB macaques. Meanwhile, PICRUSTs predicted that SCFAs intermediates biosynthesis and metabolic pathways were significantly downregulated in MSB macaques. Together, our study revealed that the behavioral, gene expression levels, and gut microbiota composition in MSB macaques was different to controls, and MSB was closely linked with inflammation and immune response. This work provides valuable information for future in-depth investigation of MSB and human psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fangyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Song
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongrun Wang
- Development and Application of Human Major Disease Monkey Model Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Hengshu Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., Yibin, China
| | - Lingyun Wang
- Development and Application of Human Major Disease Monkey Model Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Hengshu Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., Yibin, China
| | - Hong Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Megan Price
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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107
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Titeux E, Padilla S, Paragon BM, Gilbert C. Effects of a new dietary supplement on behavioural responses of dogs exposed to mild stressors. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:1469-1482. [PMID: 34236774 PMCID: PMC8464231 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Objectives The effectiveness of a new dietary supplement (derived from fish hydrolysate and melon juice concentrate rich in superoxide dismutase) in reducing fear and stress‐related behaviours in pet dogs was examined in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized study. Methods 39 dogs were recruited after the owners had filled out a fear susceptibility index questionnaire. Over a 30‐day period, one group of dogs received the supplement, and another group a placebo. Twelve behavioural variables were recorded in a series of four subtests (ST1‐ST4) on days 0, 15 and 30. Saliva cortisol levels were measured before and after each set of STs. Results The dogs rated as more fearful displayed significantly higher cortisol values before the day 0 test session, were less active, spent less time playing with the experimenter, and approached the unfamiliar object less frequently. The owners did not correctly guess whether their dog had received the supplement or not. Behaviours of dogs were significantly different across the three sessions, with significant increases of stress‐related behaviours (time spent in the door zone, number of interactions with the door, of whining, and of lip‐licking). Conversely time spent with the experimenter increased, interactions and curiosity for the novel object and play with the experimenter decreased, presumably due to a habituation process. This suggests that the design of the four subtests session was relevant to test for mild stressors situations. Moreover, supplemented and placebo dogs responded differently to the three test sessions, indicating a supplement effect on dogs' behaviours and their adaptation to mild stressors situations. Conclusion The trial results suggested that the supplement facilitates activity and curiosity in a familiar environment, promotes dog‐human interactions with an increased human familiarity, and tends to reduce subtle stress behaviours. Our results suggest that the supplement was effective in the context of mild stressors and habituation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Titeux
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Service Ethologie, Maisons-Alfort, Paris, France
| | - Stephanie Padilla
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Service Ethologie, Maisons-Alfort, Paris, France
| | | | - Caroline Gilbert
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Service Ethologie, Maisons-Alfort, Paris, France.,Laboratoire MECADEV, UMR 7179, CNRS/MNHN, Brunoy, Paris, France
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108
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Novoa J, Rivero CJ, Pérez-Cardona EU, Freire-Arvelo JA, Zegers J, Yarur HE, Santiago-Marerro IG, Agosto-Rivera JL, González-Pérez JL, Gysling K, Segarra AC. Social isolation of adolescent male rats increases anxiety and K + -induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens: Role of CRF-R1. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:4888-4905. [PMID: 34097788 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Early life adversity can disrupt development leading to emotional and cognitive disorders. This study investigated the effects of social isolation after weaning on anxiety, body weight and locomotion, and on extracellular dopamine (DA) and glutamate (GLU) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and their modulation by corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1. On the day of weaning, male rats were housed singly or in groups for 10 consecutive days. Anxiety-like behaviors were assessed by an elevated plus maze (EPM) and an open field test (OF). Neurotransmitter levels were measured by in vivo microdialysis. Single-housed rats spent less time, and entered more, into the closed arms of an EPM than group-housed rats. They also spent less time in the center of an OF, weighed more and showed greater locomotion. In the NAc, no differences in CRF, or in basal extracellular DA or GLU between groups, were observed. A depolarizing stimulus increased DA release in both groups but to higher levels in isolated rats, whereas GLU increased only in single-housed rats. Blocking CRF-R1 receptors with CP-154,526 decreased DA release in single-housed but not in group-housed rats. The corticotropin releasing factor receptor type 1 receptor antagonist also decreased GLU in group-housed animals. These results show that isolating adolescent rats increases anxiety, body weight and ambulation, as well as the sensitivity of dopaminergic neurons to a depolarizing stimulus. This study provides further evidence of the detrimental effects of social isolation during early development and indicates that dysregulation of the CRF system in the NAc may contribute to the pathologies observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Novoa
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos J Rivero
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Enrique U Pérez-Cardona
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Jaime A Freire-Arvelo
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Juan Zegers
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Héctor E Yarur
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Jorge L González-Pérez
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Katia Gysling
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Annabell C Segarra
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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109
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Kabelik D, Julien AR, Ramirez D, O'Connell LA. Social boldness correlates with brain gene expression in male green anoles. Horm Behav 2021; 133:105007. [PMID: 34102460 PMCID: PMC8277760 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Within populations, some individuals tend to exhibit a bold or shy social behavior phenotype relative to the mean. The neural underpinnings of these differing phenotypes - also described as syndromes, personalities, and coping styles - is an area of ongoing investigation. Although a social decision-making network has been described across vertebrate taxa, most studies examining activity within this network do so in relation to exhibited differences in behavioral expression. Our study instead focuses on constitutive gene expression in bold and shy individuals by isolating baseline gene expression profiles that influence social boldness predisposition, rather than those reflecting the results of social interaction and behavioral execution. We performed this study on male green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis), an established model organism for behavioral research, which provides a crucial comparison group to investigations of birds and mammals. After identifying subjects as bold or shy through repeated reproductive and agonistic behavior testing, we used RNA sequencing to compare gene expression profiles between these groups within various forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain regions. The ventromedial hypothalamus had the largest group differences in gene expression, with bold males having increased expression of neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter receptor and calcium channel genes compared to shy males. Conversely, shy males express more integrin alpha-10 in the majority of examined regions. There were no significant group differences in physiology or hormone levels. Our results highlight the ventromedial hypothalamus as an important center of behavioral differences across individuals and provide novel candidates for investigations into the regulation of individual variation in social behavior phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kabelik
- Department of Biology & Program in Neuroscience, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN 38112, USA.
| | - Allison R Julien
- Department of Biology & Program in Neuroscience, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN 38112, USA
| | - Dave Ramirez
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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110
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Vinterstare J, Brönmark C, Nilsson PA, Langerhans RB, Berglund O, Örjes J, Brodin T, Fick J, Hulthén K. Antipredator phenotype in crucian carp altered by a psychoactive drug. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9435-9446. [PMID: 34306633 PMCID: PMC8293787 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Predator-inducible defenses constitute a widespread form of adaptive phenotypic plasticity, and such defenses have recently been suggested linked with the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system is a target of endocrine disruptors, such as psychoactive pharmaceuticals, which are common aquatic contaminants. We hypothesized that exposure to an antidepressant pollutant, fluoxetine, influences the physiological stress response in our model species, crucian carp, affecting its behavioral and morphological responses to predation threat. We examined short- and long-term effects of fluoxetine and predator exposure on behavior and morphology in crucian carp. Seventeen days of exposure to a high dose of fluoxetine (100 µg/L) resulted in a shyer phenotype, regardless of the presence/absence of a pike predator, but this effect disappeared after long-term exposure. Fluoxetine effects on morphological plasticity were context-dependent as a low dose (1 µg/L) only influenced crucian carp body shape in pike presence. A high dose of fluoxetine strongly influenced body shape regardless of predator treatment. Our results highlight that environmental pollution by pharmaceuticals could disrupt physiological regulation of ecologically important inducible defenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerker Vinterstare
- Department of BiologyAquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Christer Brönmark
- Department of BiologyAquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - P. Anders Nilsson
- Department of BiologyAquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - R. Brian Langerhans
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral BiologyNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
| | - Olof Berglund
- Department of BiologyAquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Jennie Örjes
- Department of BiologyAquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) – UmeåUmeåSweden
| | - Jerker Fick
- Department of ChemistryUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Kaj Hulthén
- Department of BiologyAquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund UniversityLundSweden
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111
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van der Goot MH, Keijsper M, Baars A, Drost L, Hendriks J, Kirchhoff S, Lozeman-van T Klooster JG, van Lith HA, Arndt SS. Inter-individual variability in habituation of anxiety-related responses within three mouse inbred strains. Physiol Behav 2021; 239:113503. [PMID: 34153326 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Inter-individual variability in behavioral and physiological response has become a well-established phenomenon in animal models of anxiety and other disorders. Such variability is even demonstrated within mouse inbred strains. A recent study showed that adaptive and non-adaptive anxiety phenotypes (measured as habituation and/or sensitization of anxiety responses) may differ within cohorts of 129 mice. This variability was expressed across both anxiety- and activity-related behavioral dimensions. These findings were based however on re-analysis of previously published data. The present study therefore aimed to empirically validate these findings in 129 mice. In addition, we assessed such inter-individuality in two other strains: BALB/c and C57BL/6. Males of three mouse inbred strains (BALB/c, C57BL/6 and 129S2) were behaviorally characterized through repeated exposure to a mild aversive stimulus (modified Hole Board, 4 consecutive trials). Behavioral observations were supplemented with assessment of circulating corticosterone levels. Clustering the individual response trajectories of behavioral and endocrine responses yielded two multidimensional response types of different adaptive value. Interestingly, these response types were displayed by individuals of all three strains. The response types differed significantly on anxiety and activity related behavioral dimensions but not on corticosterone concentrations. This study empirically confirms that adaptive capacities may differ within 129 cohorts. In addition, it extends this inter-individual variability in behavioral profiles to BALB/c and C57BL/6. Whether these two sub-types constitute differential anxiety phenotypes may differ per strain and requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes H van der Goot
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Melissa Keijsper
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Annemarie Baars
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa Drost
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Judith Hendriks
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Susanne Kirchhoff
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - José G Lozeman-van T Klooster
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hein A van Lith
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Saskia S Arndt
- Section Animals in Science and Society, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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112
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Zhang J, Santema P, Li J, Yang L, Deng W, Kempenaers B. Host personality predicts cuckoo egg rejection in Daurian redstarts Phoenicurus auroreus. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210228. [PMID: 34130501 PMCID: PMC8206684 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In species that are subject to brood parasitism, individuals often vary in their responses to parasitic eggs, with some rejecting the eggs while others do not. While some factors, such as host age (breeding experience), the degree of egg matching and the level of perceived risk of brood parasitism have been shown to influence host decisions, much of the variation remains unexplained. The host personality hypothesis suggests that personality traits of the host influence its response to parasitic eggs, but few studies have tested this. We investigated the relationship between two personality traits (exploration and neophobia) and a physiological trait (breathing rate) of the host, and egg-rejection behaviour in a population of Daurian redstarts Phoenicurus auroreus in northeast China. We first show that exploratory behaviour and the response to a novel object are repeatable for individual females and strongly covary, indicating distinct personality types. We then show that fast-exploring and less neophobic hosts were more likely to reject parasitic eggs than slow-exploring and more neophobic hosts. Variation in breathing rate-a measure of the stress-response-did not affect rejection behaviour. Our results demonstrate that host personality, along the bold-shy continuum, predicts the responses to parasitic eggs in Daurian redstarts, with bold hosts being more likely to reject parasitic eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinggang Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Peter Santema
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Jianqiang Li
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixing Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhong Deng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bart Kempenaers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
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113
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Baker MR, Wong RY. Npas4a expression in the teleost forebrain is associated with stress coping style differences in fear learning. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12074. [PMID: 34103598 PMCID: PMC8187387 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91495-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Learning to anticipate potentially dangerous contexts is an adaptive behavioral response to coping with stressors. An animal's stress coping style (e.g. proactive-reactive axis) is known to influence how it encodes salient events. However, the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying these stress coping style differences in learning are unknown. Further, while a number of neuroplasticity-related genes have been associated with alternative stress coping styles, it is unclear if these genes may bias the development of conditioned behavioral responses to stressful stimuli, and if so, which brain regions are involved. Here, we trained adult zebrafish to associate a naturally aversive olfactory cue with a given context. Next, we investigated if expression of two neural plasticity and neurotransmission-related genes (npas4a and gabbr1a) were associated with the contextual fear conditioning differences between proactive and reactive stress coping styles. Reactive zebrafish developed a stronger conditioned fear response and showed significantly higher npas4a expression in the medial and lateral zones of the dorsal telencephalon (Dm, Dl), and the supracommissural nucleus of the ventral telencephalon (Vs). Our findings suggest that the expression of activity-dependent genes like npas4a may be differentially expressed across several interconnected forebrain regions in response to fearful stimuli and promote biases in fear learning among different stress coping styles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Baker
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, USA
| | - Ryan Y Wong
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA.
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114
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McMahon EK, Cavigelli SA. Gaps to Address in Ecological Studies of Temperament and Physiology. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1917-1932. [PMID: 34097030 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecology is a diverse field with many researchers interested in drivers and consequences of variability within populations. Two aspects of variability that have been addressed are behavioral and physiological. While these have been shown to separately influence ecological outcomes such as survival, reproductive success and fitness, combined they could better predict within-population variability in survival and fitness. Recently there has been a focus on potential fitness outcomes of consistent behavioral traits that are referred to as personality or temperament (e.g. boldness, sociability, exploration, etc.). Given this recent focus, it is an optimal time to identify areas to supplement in this field, particularly in determining the relationship between temperament and physiological traits. To maximize progress, in this perspective paper we propose that the following two areas be addressed: (1) increased diversity of species, and (2) increased number of physiological processes studied, with an eye toward using more representative and relatively consistent measures across studies. We first highlight information that has been gleaned from species that are frequently studied to determine how animal personality relates to physiology and/or survival/fitness. We then shine a spotlight on important taxa that have been understudied and that can contribute meaningful, complementary information to this area of research. And last, we propose a brief array of physiological processes to relate to temperament, and that can significantly impact fitness, and that may be accessible in field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse K McMahon
- Ecology Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sonia A Cavigelli
- Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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115
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Twiss SD, Brannan N, Shuert CR, Bishop AM, Pomeroy PP, Moss S. An external telemetry system for recording resting heart rate variability and heart rate in free-ranging large wild mammals. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252013. [PMID: 34086713 PMCID: PMC8177659 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Measures of heart rate variability (and heart rate more generally) are providing powerful insights into the physiological drivers of behaviour. Resting heart rate variability (HRV) can be used as an indicator of individual differences in temperament and reactivity to physical and psychological stress. There is increasing interest in deriving such measures from free ranging wild animals, where individuals are exposed to the natural and anthropogenic stressors of life. We describe a robust, externally mounted heart rate monitor for use in wild mammals, deployed here on wild breeding adult female grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), that delivers millisecond precise measures of inter beat intervals (IBIs), allowing computation of resting HRV parameters. Based on Firstbeat™ heart rate belts, our system allows for remote, continuous recording of IBI data from over 30 individuals simultaneously at ranges of up to 200m. We assessed the accuracy of the IBI data provided by the Firstbeat™ system using concurrent IBI data derived from in-field electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. Bland-Altmann analyses demonstrated high correspondence between the two sets of IBI data, with a mean difference of 0.87±0.16ms. We used generalized additive mixed-effects models to examine the impact of the default Firstbeat™ software artefact correction procedure upon the generation of anomalous data (flats and stairs). Artefact correction and individual activity were major causes of flats and stairs. We used simulations and models to assess the impact of these errors on estimates of resting HRV and to inform criteria for subsampling relatively error free IBI traces. These analyses allowed us to establish stringent filtering procedures to remove traces with excessive numbers of artefacts, including flats and stairs. Even with strict criteria for removing potentially erroneous data, the abundance of data yielded by the Firstbeat™ system provides the potential to extract robust estimates of resting HRV. We discuss the advantages and limitations of our system for applications beyond the study system described here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean D. Twiss
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Naomi Brannan
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Amanda M. Bishop
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick. P. Pomeroy
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Moss
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
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116
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Variations in Behavioral and Physiological Traits in Yearling Tibetan Sheep ( Ovis aries). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061676. [PMID: 34199836 PMCID: PMC8227952 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) are raised in the wild by shepherds on the Tibetan Plateau and domesticated for a long period. Studying variations in the behavioral and physiological traits of sheep during the growing season is important for welfare and productivity. In this study, the behavior and physiology of a Tibetan sheep cohort were repeatedly evaluated in 2-, 5-, and 11-month-old sheep. The mean level of the risk-taking variable increased, while that of the vocalizations variable decreased. The exploration variable was stable over ontogeny. The novelty decreased, and the heart rate increased from 2 to 5 months, but both stabilized at 11 months. The fecal cortisol concentration (CORT) variable was stable at 2 and 5 months but decreased at 11 months of age. Stable correlations were reported for 2- and 5-month-olds and for behavioral variables and heart rate. However, some correlations emerged only at 11 months, whereas others disappeared over ontogeny. Moreover, CORT was independent of temperament and heart rate during the entire period. Abstract Temperament is a consistent behavioral difference among individuals over time or in different contexts. A comprehensive understanding of temperament and complex behavioral interactions enhances knowledge on animal evolution, welfare, and productivity. However, reports on the development of behavioral consistency over ontogeny are vague. Here, we tested the ontogeny of the temperament and physiological traits of Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) in three crucial age stages. The mean level of the risk-taking variable increased, while that of the vocalizations variable decreased. The exploration variable was stable over ontogeny. The novelty decreased and the heart rate increased from the juvenile to the adolescent stage but stabilized at the adult stage. The fecal cortisol concentration (CORT) variable was stable at the juvenile and adolescent stages but decreased at the adult stage. Stable correlations were reported for the juvenile and adolescent stages and for the behavioral variables and heart rate. However, some correlations emerged only after maturation, whereas others disappeared over ontogeny. Moreover, CORT was independent of temperament and heart rate at different ages. These results demonstrate that age affects temperament and physiology and their correlations. Hence, developmental aspects should be incorporated into future temperament studies.
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117
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Verdon M, Langworthy A, Rawnsley R. Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. II: Effects on cow welfare and behavior. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:7084-7094. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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118
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Homberger B, Korner-Nievergelt F, Jenni-Eiermann S, Duplain J, Lanz M, Jenni L. Integrating behaviour, physiology and survival to explore the outcome of reintroductions: a case study of grey partridge. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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119
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Mori E, Ferrari C. Inter-individual behavioural variation in the crested porcupine. MAMMALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In this study, we investigated on the existence of personality in the crested porcupine in Central Italy by measuring variation and repeatability of three behavioural traits. Porcupines were captured through metal traps located around and in the immediate surroundings of the burrows. Then, they were manipulated and set free. Capture and handling were the experimental contexts where we measured exploration, proactivity and aggressiveness of each individual. Our results provided evidence for consistent inter-individual differences in the measured traits, with a high value of individual repeatability in aggressiveness and proactivity. The positive correlation between traits suggest the existence of a behavioural syndrome, with some individuals more aggressive and active with respect to others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Mori
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET) , National Research Council (CNR) , Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 , Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) , Italy
| | - Caterina Ferrari
- Alpine Wildlife Research Centre , Gran Paradiso National Park , Valsavarenche (Aosta) , Italy
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120
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Audira G, Siregar P, Chen KHC, Roldan MJM, Huang JC, Lai HT, Hsiao CD. Interspecies Behavioral Variability of Medaka Fish Assessed by Comparative Phenomics. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115686. [PMID: 34073632 PMCID: PMC8197923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, medaka has been used as a model organism in various research fields. However, even though it possesses several advantages over zebrafish, fewer studies were done in medaka compared to zebrafish, especially with regard to its behavior. Thus, to provide more information regarding its behavior and to demonstrate the behavioral differences between several species of medaka, we compared the behavioral performance and biomarker expression in the brain between four medaka fishes, Oryzias latipes, Oryzias dancena, Oryzias woworae, and Oryzias sinensis. We found that each medaka species explicitly exhibited different behaviors to each other, which might be related to the different basal levels of several biomarkers. Furthermore, by phenomics and genomic-based clustering, the differences between these medaka fishes were further investigated. Here, the phenomic-based clustering was based on the behavior results, while the genomic-based clustering was based on the sequence of the nd2 gene. As we expected, both clusterings showed some resemblances to each other in terms of the interspecies relationship between medaka and zebrafish. However, this similarity was not displayed by both clusterings in the medaka interspecies comparisons. Therefore, these results suggest a re-interpretation of several prior studies in comparative biology. We hope that these results contribute to the growing database of medaka fish phenotypes and provide one of the foundations for future phenomics studies of medaka fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert Audira
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (G.A.); (P.S.)
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
| | - Petrus Siregar
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (G.A.); (P.S.)
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
| | - Kelvin H.-C. Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan;
| | - Marri Jmelou M. Roldan
- Faculty of Pharmacy and The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila 1008, Philippines;
| | - Jong-Chin Huang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: (J.-C.H.); (H.-T.L.); (C.-D.H.)
| | - Hong-Thih Lai
- Department of Aquatic Biosciences, National Chiayi University, 300 University Rd., Chiayi 600, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (J.-C.H.); (H.-T.L.); (C.-D.H.)
| | - Chung-Der Hsiao
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (G.A.); (P.S.)
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
- Center for Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
- Research Center for Aquatic Toxicology and Pharmacology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (J.-C.H.); (H.-T.L.); (C.-D.H.)
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121
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Westrick SE, van Kesteren F, Boutin S, Lane JE, McAdam AG, Dantzer B. Maternal glucocorticoids have minimal effects on HPA axis activity and behavior of juvenile wild North American red squirrels. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.236620. [PMID: 33795416 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.236620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
As a response to environmental cues, maternal glucocorticoids (GCs) may trigger adaptive developmental plasticity in the physiology and behavior of offspring. In North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), mothers exhibit increased GCs when conspecific density is elevated, and selection favors more aggressive and perhaps more active mothers under these conditions. We tested the hypothesis that elevated maternal GCs cause shifts in offspring behavior that may prepare them for high-density conditions. We experimentally elevated maternal GCs during gestation or early lactation. We measured two behavioral traits (activity and aggression) in weaned offspring using standardized behavioral assays. Because maternal GCs may influence offspring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dynamics, which may in turn affect behavior, we also measured the impact of our treatments on offspring HPA axis dynamics (adrenal reactivity and negative feedback), and the association between offspring HPA axis dynamics and behavior. Increased maternal GCs during lactation, but not gestation, slightly elevated activity levels in offspring. Offspring aggression and adrenal reactivity did not differ between treatment groups. Male, but not female, offspring from mothers treated with GCs during pregnancy exhibited stronger negative feedback compared with those from control mothers, but there were no differences in negative feedback between lactation treatment groups. Offspring with higher adrenal reactivity from mothers treated during pregnancy (both controls and GC-treated) exhibited lower aggression and activity. These results suggest that maternal GCs during gestation or early lactation alone may not be a sufficient cue to produce substantial changes in behavioral and physiological stress responses in offspring in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Westrick
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109-1043, USA
| | - Freya van Kesteren
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109-1043, USA
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E9
| | - Jeffrey E Lane
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5E2
| | - Andrew G McAdam
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0334, USA
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109-1043, USA.,Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1085, USA
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122
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Are dairy cows with a more reactive temperament less efficient in energetic metabolism and do they produce more enteric methane? Animal 2021; 15:100224. [PMID: 34049108 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It remains unknown whether dairy cows with more reactive temperament produce more enteric methane (CH4) and are less bioenergetically efficient than the calmer ones. The objectives of this study were (a) to evaluate the relationship between cattle temperament assessed by traditionally used tests with energetic metabolism and enteric CH4 emissions by crossbred dairy cows; (b) to assess how cows' restlessness in respiration chambers affects energetic metabolism and enteric CH4 emissions. Temperament indicators were evaluated for 28 primiparous F1 Holstein-Gyr cows tested singly in the handling corral (entrance time, crush score, flight speed, and flight distance) and during milking (steps, kicks, defecation, rumination, and kick the milking cluster off). Cows' behaviors within respiration chambers were also recorded for each individual kept singly. Digestibility and calorimetry trials were performed to obtain energy partitioning and CH4 measures. Cows with more reactive temperament in milking (the ones that kicked the milking cluster off more frequently) spent 25.24% less net energy on lactation (P = 0.04) and emitted 36.77% more enteric CH4/kg of milk (P = 0.03). Furthermore, cows that showed a higher frequency of rumination at milking parlor allocated 57.93% more net energy for milk production (P < 0.01), spent 50.00% more metabolizable energy for milk production (P < 0.01) and 37.10% less CH4/kg of milk (P = 0.04). Regarding the handling temperament, most reactive cows according to flight speed, lost 29.16% less energy as urine (P = 0.05) and tended to have 14.30% more enteric CH4 production (P = 0.08), as well as cows with a lower entrance time (most reactive) that also lost 13.29% more energy as enteric CH4 (P = 0.04). Temperament and restless behavior of Holstein-Gyr cows were related to metabolic efficiency and enteric CH4 emissions. Cows' reactivity and rumination in the milking parlor, in addition to flight speed and entrance time in the squeeze chute during handling in the corral, could be useful measures to predict animals more prone to metabolic inefficiency, which could negatively affect the sustainability of dairy systems.
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123
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Cairo PLG, Nogueira SSC, Altino VS, Vandenheede M, Schroyen M, Taminiau B, Daube G, Gross E, Bindelle J, Nogueira-Filho SLG. Individual differences in behaviour and gut bacteria are associated in collared peccary (Mammalia, Tayassuidae). J Appl Microbiol 2021; 131:2748-2762. [PMID: 33971065 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS We tested the hypothesis that the behaviour of an individual is associated with the diversity of its gut bacteria, using the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) as a model. METHODS AND RESULTS In all, 24 adult male collared peccaries received either low- (n = 12) or high-fibre diet (n = 12) to induce contrasting gut fermentation profiles. They were submitted to three short-term challenges, allowing us to rate the animals in a coping-style dimension named 'calmness'. At the end of the experimental period, we collected samples of peccaries' forestomach contents to characterize bacterial diversity. We found a significant positive association between individual 'calmness' z-scores and the bacterial evenness index in gut bacteria (and a similar trend with the Simpson's diversity index), suggesting a more homogeneous bacterial community of calmer individuals. We also found a positive association between fibres digestibility and gut bacterial diversity in the peccaries' forestomach, but no effect of the dietary fibre level. CONCLUSIONS Gut bacteria evenness increases with 'calmness' z-scores, suggesting a more homogeneous bacterial community of calmer individuals, compared with the more heterogeneous of the most distressed ones. Our results also suggest associations between the digestibility of ADF with the gut bacterial diversity indices and with the relative abundance of the Actinobacteria phylum. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Our data showed that the hosts' individual behavioural differences are potentially aligned with gut bacterial diversity. The behaviour-microbiota link is correlated with host feed efficiency and, ultimately, may have implications for animal health and welfare of farm animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- P L G Cairo
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - S S C Nogueira
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Interdisciplinares e Transdiciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução (INCT IN-TREE), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - V S Altino
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - M Vandenheede
- Department of Veterinary Management of Animal Resources, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - M Schroyen
- Department of AgroBioChem, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - B Taminiau
- Department of Food Sciences, Fundamental and Applied Research of Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - G Daube
- Department of Food Sciences, Fundamental and Applied Research of Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - E Gross
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - J Bindelle
- Department of AgroBioChem/TERRA, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Precision Livestock and Nutrition Unit/AgricultureIsLife, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - S L G Nogueira-Filho
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Interdisciplinares e Transdiciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução (INCT IN-TREE), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.,Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
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124
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Amin B, Jennings DJ, Smith AF, Quinn M, Chari S, Haigh A, Matas D, Koren L, Ciuti S. In utero accumulated steroids predict neonate anti‐predator response in a wild mammal. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bawan Amin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour School of Biology and Environmental Science University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | | | - Adam F. Smith
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour School of Biology and Environmental Science University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Matthew Quinn
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour School of Biology and Environmental Science University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Srivats Chari
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour School of Biology and Environmental Science University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Amy Haigh
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour School of Biology and Environmental Science University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Devorah Matas
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences Bar‐Ilan University Ramat‐Gan Israel
| | - Lee Koren
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences Bar‐Ilan University Ramat‐Gan Israel
| | - Simone Ciuti
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour School of Biology and Environmental Science University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
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125
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Transcriptomic analyses of black women in neighborhoods with high levels of violence. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 127:105174. [PMID: 33647572 PMCID: PMC9191231 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress threatens an individual's capacity to maintain psychological and physiological homeostasis, but the molecular processes underlying the biological embedding of these experiences are not well understood. This is particularly true for marginalized groups, presenting a fundamental challenge to decreasing racial, economic, and gender-based health disparities. Physical and social environments influence genome function, including the transcriptional activity of core stress responsive genes. We studied the relationship between social experiences that are associated with systemic inequality (e.g., racial segregation, poverty, and neighborhood violence) and blood cell (leukocytes) gene expression, focusing on the activation of transcription factors (TF) critical to stress response pathways. The study used data from 68 women collected from a convenience sample in 2013 from the Southside of Chicago. Comparing single, low-income Black mothers living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence (self-reported and assessed using administrative police records) to those with low levels of violence we found no significant differences in expression of 51 genes associated with the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA). Using TELiS analysis of promoter TF-binding motif prevalence we found that mothers who self-reported higher levels of neighborhood stress showed greater expression of genes regulated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). These findings may reflect increased cortisol output from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, or increased GR transcriptional sensitivity. Transcript origin analyses identified monocytes and dendritic cells as the primary cellular sources of gene transcripts up-regulated in association with neighborhood stress. The prominence of GR-related transcripts and the absence of sympathetic nervous system-related CTRA transcripts suggest that a subjective perception of elevated chronic neighborhood stress may be associated with an HPA-related defeat-withdrawal phenotype rather than a fight-or-flight phenotype. The defeat-withdrawal phenotype has been previously observed in animal models of severe, overwhelming threat. These results demonstrate the importance of studying biological embedding in diverse environments and communities, specifically marginalized populations such as low-income Black women.
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126
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High and low feather pecking selection lines of laying hens differ in response to a judgment bias test. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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127
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Verspeek J, Behringer V, Laméris DW, Murtagh R, Salas M, Staes N, Deschner T, Stevens JMG. Time-lag of urinary and salivary cortisol response after a psychological stressor in bonobos (Pan paniscus). Sci Rep 2021; 11:7905. [PMID: 33846457 PMCID: PMC8041877 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87163-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortisol is often measured as a marker for stress. Therefore, a profound validation of the time-lag between the stressor and the increase and peak in cortisol levels is needed. No study measured both the urinary and salivary cortisol time-lag after a psychological stressor. In this study, we used a frequent sampling study design to (1) describe the urinary and salivary cortisol pattern during a control day; and (2) characterize the induced excretion pattern of urinary and salivary cortisol after a psychological stressor in six zoo-housed bonobos. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze 71 urine and 162 saliva samples collected on a control and a test day. We found that the time-lag between the stressor and the maximal cortisol concentration was similar in urine and saliva (160 min after the stressor). However, salivary cortisol after the stressor did show a faster and steeper increase than urinary cortisol. We also show inter-individual variation in the baseline and stress levels of cortisol, which should be considered in future cortisol studies. Our research highlights the importance of validation studies to confirm relevant sampling windows for cortisol sampling in order to obtain biologically meaningful results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Verspeek
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Antwerp ZOO Centre for Research & Conservation (CRC), Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA), Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Verena Behringer
- Interim Group Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daan W Laméris
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Antwerp ZOO Centre for Research & Conservation (CRC), Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Róisín Murtagh
- Interim Group Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marina Salas
- Antwerp ZOO Centre for Research & Conservation (CRC), Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nicky Staes
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Antwerp ZOO Centre for Research & Conservation (CRC), Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Interim Group Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jeroen M G Stevens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- SALTO, Agro- and Biotechnology, Odisee University College, Brussels, Belgium
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128
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Sadoul B, Blumstein DT, Alfonso S, Geffroy B. Human protection drives the emergence of a new coping style in animals. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001186. [PMID: 33822780 PMCID: PMC8057586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild animals face novel environmental threats from human activities that may occur along a gradient of interactions with humans. Recent work has shown that merely living close to humans has major implications for a variety of antipredator traits and physiological responses. Here, we hypothesize that when human presence protects prey from their genuine predators (as sometimes seen in urban areas and at some tourist sites), this predator shield, followed by a process of habituation to humans, decouples commonly associated traits related to coping styles, which results in a new range of phenotypes. Such individuals are characterized by low aggressiveness and physiological stress responses, but have enhanced behavioral plasticity, boldness, and cognitive abilities. We refer to these individuals as "preactive," because their physiological and behavioral coping style falls outside the classical proactive/reactive coping styles. While there is some support for this new coping style, formal multivariate studies are required to investigate behavioral and physiological responses to anthropogenic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastien Sadoul
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Institut Agro, INRAE, Rennes, France
| | - Daniel T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Sébastien Alfonso
- COISPA Tecnologia & Ricerca, Stazione Sperimentale per lo Studio delle Risorse del Mare, Bari, Italy
| | - Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC, Univ. Montpellier, Ifremer, IRD, CNRS, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
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129
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Habituation of common eland (Taurotragus oryx) to intensive routine handling, and the effect of immunocastration thereon. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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130
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Kim J, Park Y, Kim EJ, Jung H, Yoon M. Relationship between oxytocin and serotonin and the fearfulness, dominance, and trainability of horses. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2021; 63:453-460. [PMID: 33987618 PMCID: PMC8071747 DOI: 10.5187/jast.2021.e29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and serotonin (5-HT) are essential neurotransmitters associated
with the behavior of animals. Recently, we found that the plasma concentration
of OXT is positively correlated with horse docility and friendliness toward
humans. However, the relationships between the neurotransmitters and other
temperaments such as fearfulness, dominance, and trainability are unknown. This
study aimed to identify whether the plasma concentration of OXT or 5-HT is
correlated with fearfulness, dominance, and trainability of horses. Blood
samples of 34 horses were collected at the Horse Industry Complex Center of
Jeonju Kijeon College. The concentration of OXT and 5-HT was measured in the
plasma samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The fearfulness,
dominance, and trainability of horses were scored by three professors who were
very familiar with the horses. One-way analysis of variance with the least
significant difference post-hoc analysis was used to compare the scores for
fearfulness and dominance among groups. The trainability of horses was compared
using the student t-test. The 5-HT was negatively correlated
with dominance, but it had no relation with fearfulness. The OXT appeared to be
negatively correlated with fearfulness and dominance in horses. Furthermore, OXT
was positively correlated with the trainability of horses. Additionally, 5-HT
appeared to enhance trainability. In conclusion, the concentration of OXT or
5-HT in horse blood plasma can be used as a biomarker to monitor the
fearfulness, dominance, or trainability of horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyoung Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea
| | - Youngjae Park
- Department of Equine Industry and Sports with Therapeutic Riding, Jeonju Kijeon College, Jeonju 54989, Korea
| | - Eun Joong Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea
| | - Heejun Jung
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Minjung Yoon
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea
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131
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Colditz IG. Adrenergic Tone as an Intermediary in the Temperament Syndrome Associated With Flight Speed in Beef Cattle. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2021.652306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The temperament of farm animals can influence their resilience to everyday variations within the managed production environment and has been under strong direct and indirect selection during the course of domestication. A prominent objective measure used for assessing temperament in beef cattle is the behavioral flight response to release from confinement in a crush or chute. This behavioral measure, termed flight speed (also known as escape velocity) is associated with physiological processes including body temperature, feeding behavior, growth rate, carcass composition, immune function, and health outcomes. This review examines the functional links between this suite of traits and adrenergic activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenomedullary hormonal system. It is suggested that flight speed is the behavioral aspect of an underlying “flightiness” temperament syndrome, and that elevated adrenergic tone in animals with a high level of flightiness (i.e., flighty animals) tunes physiological activities toward a sustained “fight or flight” defense profile that reduces productivity and the capacity to flourish within the production environment. Nonetheless, despite a common influence of adrenergic tone on this suite of traits, variation in each trait is also influenced by other regulatory pathways and by the capacity of tissues to respond to a range of modulators in addition to adrenergic stimuli. It is suggested that tuning by adrenergic tone is an example of homeorhetic regulation that can help account for the persistent expression of behavioral and somatic traits associated with the flight speed temperament syndrome across the life of the animal. At a population level, temperament may modulate ecological fit within and across generations in the face of environmental variability and change. Associations of flight speed with the psychological affective state of the animal, and implications for welfare are also considered. The review will help advance understanding of the developmental biology and physiological regulation of temperament syndromes.
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132
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Muraco JJ, Monroe DJ, Aspbury AS, Gabor CR. Do Females in a Unisexual-Bisexual Species Complex Differ in Their Behavioral Syndromes and Cortisol Production? BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10030186. [PMID: 33802259 PMCID: PMC8001229 DOI: 10.3390/biology10030186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary In many species, including humans, individuals in a population have personalities: collections of correlated behaviors that are consistent across different environments (i.e., mating, eating). Personalities are affected by competitors for food or mates and the hormones produced by individuals). Competitors can include other individuals of the same species or closely related species. The all-female, Amazon molly is a hybrid species, and needs to coexist with one of its bisexual (males and females), parent species, to reproduce. One parent species of the Amazon molly is the sailfin molly. Female sailfin and Amazon mollies compete for access to males for mating and food which could affect the personalities of individuals of each species. We found that both species have similar personalities consisting of a correlation between exploration and activity. We did not detect a relationship between a stress response hormone, cortisol, and individual personality. However, the all-female Amazons had higher cortisol release rates than sailfins. Personalities may be similar due to genetic constraints that link these behaviors, and might benefit Amazons if this causes male sailfin mollies to mismate with them. However, the differences in cortisol release rates may be a useful mate identification cue for males to offset such mating mistakes. Abstract Studies of suites of correlated behavioral traits (i.e., behavioral syndromes) aid in understanding the adaptive importance of behavioral evolution. Behavioral syndromes may be evolutionarily constrained, preventing behaviors from evolving independently, or they may be an adaptive result of selection on the correlation itself. We tested these hypotheses by characterizing the behavioral syndromes in two sympatric, closely related species and testing for differences between the species. We studied the unisexual Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) and one of its bisexual, parent species, the sailfin molly (P. latipinna). Sympatric female sailfin and Amazon mollies compete for mating which could affect the behavioral syndromes found in each species. We identified a behavioral syndrome between exploration and activity in both species that did not differ between species. Additionally, we explored the relationship between a stress response hormone, cortisol, and behavioral type, and did not detect a relationship. However, P. formosa differed from P. latipinna in their cortisol release rates. Behavioral syndromes may be constrained in this complex, aiding in mate acquisition for P. formosa by virtue of having a similar behavioral type to P. latipinna. The difference between the females in cortisol release rates may be a useful mate identification cue for males to offset higher mating mistakes associated with the similar behavioral types.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Muraco
- Population and Conservation Biology Group, Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA; (J.J.M.J.); (D.J.M.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Dillon J. Monroe
- Population and Conservation Biology Group, Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA; (J.J.M.J.); (D.J.M.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Andrea S. Aspbury
- Population and Conservation Biology Group, Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA; (J.J.M.J.); (D.J.M.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Caitlin R. Gabor
- Population and Conservation Biology Group, Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA; (J.J.M.J.); (D.J.M.); (A.S.A.)
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
- Correspondence:
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Scheun J, Ludynia K, Snyman A, Ganswindt A. Non-invasive hormone monitoring as a robust method for determining adrenocortical activity in injured, emaciated and oil-contaminated African penguins undergoing rehabilitation. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 303:113703. [PMID: 33359663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activity is a major driver of seabird injury and mortality in the 21st century. Although most seabirds perish within the natural environment as a result of human activities, some are rescued and admitted to rehabilitation centres. Despite the considerable number of admissions, little is known regarding the physiological response seabirds have to specific admission reasons and the rehabilitation process. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of injury, emaciation, oiling, individual removal from the natural environment and the rehabilitation process on the physiological stress response of the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus). Urofaecal samples were collected from African penguins throughout a three-stage rehabilitation process and quantified for glucocorticoid metabolites (ufGCM). The three stages included an initial ICU crate stage (Stage 1), an ICU pen stage (Stage 2) and a rehabilitation stage (Stage 3). Data were analysed using a generalised linear model in order to determine the effect of admission reason, age and rehabilitation stage (Stage 1, 2 and 3) on ufGCM levels. Although the model indicated that only Stage 1 was a significant driver of adrenocortical activity in the study population, ufGCM levels of injured and emaciated animals within Stage 1 were considerably higher than those of birds with any other admission reason across all stages. This is the first study examining the causes and effect of rehabilitation on the physiological stress response in African penguins. Enhanced care and attention should be given to rescued individuals, especially during the first stage of rehabilitation, to reduce perception of additional stressors and thus increase the chance of full recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Scheun
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa; National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa; Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - K Ludynia
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - A Snyman
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - A Ganswindt
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa; Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Nadal R, Gabriel-Salazar M, Sanchís-Ollé M, Gagliano H, Belda X, Armario A. Individual differences in the neuroendocrine response of male rats to emotional stressors are not trait-like and strongly depend on the intensity of the stressors. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 125:105127. [PMID: 33453596 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Biological response to stressors is critical to understand stress-related pathologies and vulnerability to psychiatric diseases. It is assumed that we can identify trait-like characteristics in biological responsiveness by testing subjects in a particular stressful situation, but there is scarce information on this issue. We then studied, in a normal outbred population of adult male rats (n = 32), the response of well-characterized stress markers (ACTH, corticosterone and prolactin) to different types of stressors: two novel environments (open-field, OF1 and OF2), an elevated platform (EP), forced swim (SWIM) and immobilization (IMO). Based on both plasma ACTH and prolactin levels, the OF1 was the lowest intensity situation, followed by the OF2 and the EP, then SWIM and finally IMO. When correlations between the individual responses to the different stressors were studied, the magnitude of the correlations was most dependent on the similarities in intensity rather than on other characteristics of stressors, with good correlations between similar intensity stressors and no correlations at all were found between stressors markedly differing in intensity. In two additional confirmatory experiments (n = 37 and n = 20) with HPA hormones, we observed good correlation between the response to restraint and IMO, which were close in intensity, and no correlation between OF1 and SWIM. The present results suggest that individual neuroendocrine response to a particular stressor does not predict the response to another stressor greatly differing in intensity, thus precluding characterization of low or high responsive individuals to any stressor in a normal population. The present data have important implications for human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Psychobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - Marina Gabriel-Salazar
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Sanchís-Ollé
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Humberto Gagliano
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Belda
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain.
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Prokkola JM, Alioravainen N, Mehtätalo L, Hyvärinen P, Lemopoulos A, Metso S, Vainikka A. Does parental angling selection affect the behavior or metabolism of brown trout parr? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2630-2644. [PMID: 33767825 PMCID: PMC7981205 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavior of organisms can be subject to human-induced selection such as that arising from fishing. Angling is expected to induce mortality on fish with bold and explorative behavior, which are behaviors commonly linked to a high standard metabolic rate. We studied the transgenerational response of brown trout (Salmo trutta) to angling-induced selection by examining the behavior and metabolism of 1-year-old parr between parents that were or were not captured by experimental fly fishing. We performed the angling selection experiment on both a wild and a captive population, and compared the offspring for standard metabolic rate and behavior under predation risk in common garden conditions. Angling had population-specific effects on risk taking and exploration tendency, but no effects on standard metabolic rate. Our study adds to the evidence that angling can induce transgenerational responses on fish personality. However, understanding the mechanisms of divergent responses between the populations requires further study on the selectivity of angling in various conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni M. Prokkola
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
- Present address:
Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research ProgrammeUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Nico Alioravainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Lauri Mehtätalo
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Pekka Hyvärinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)Kainuu Fisheries Research StationPaltamoFinland
| | - Alexandre Lemopoulos
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
- Department of BiologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - Sara Metso
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Anssi Vainikka
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
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136
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Does coping style affect behavioral responses and growth performance of lambs weaned at different ages? J Vet Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2020.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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137
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Boukadida K, Mlouka R, Clerandeau C, Banni M, Cachot J. Natural distribution of pure and hybrid Mytilus sp. along the south Mediterranean and North-east Atlantic coasts and sensitivity of D-larvae stages to temperature increases and metal pollution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 756:143675. [PMID: 33310214 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis extends more and more northwards in the Atlantic. Crossings are frequently observed with the blue mussel Mytilus edulis along the French and English coasts. The aim of this study is firstlyto identify the co-presence of M. galloprovincialis, M. edulis, and their hybrids in different sites of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, and to provide insights for the thermal tolerance and toxicant susceptibility of Mytilus edulis, Mytilus galloprovincialis and their hybrids. Mussels were collected from the shore at 20 sampling sitesin Europe and Tunisia and identified using Me 15/16 primers targeting the adhesive protein gene sequence. Samples were screened for the presence of Mytilus edulis, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and hybrids alleles using PCR. To get more information on hybrids sensitivities to temperature and metals, freshly fertilized eggs of the two species and their hybrids were reared at four temperatures 18, 20, 22, and 24 °C and exposed to concentrations of Cu, Ag, and a mixture of both metals. Arrests of development and malformations were recorded after 48 h of exposure. The genotypic identification of the two species on 20 sites of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts carried out during this study confirms the presence of pure and hybrid species of mussel. Our results highlighted that hybrid larvae from a female of M. galloprovincialis are significantly more tolerant to temperature increases than pure larvae of M. galloprovincialis and pure and hybrid larvae of M. edulis. No significant interspecies-differences of sensitivity were noted for metal exposure alone. However, a co-exposure of larvae to both metal and high temperature highlighted the higher tolerance of hybrid larvae from a female of M. galloprovincialis to both stresses. The overall results could allow the prediction of the future evolution of mussel populations facing environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khouloud Boukadida
- University of Bordeaux, Laboratory of Oceanic and Continental Environments and Paleoenvironments, EPOC, UMR5805CNRS, University of Bordeaux and EPHE, F-33600 Pessac, France; Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, ISA, Chott-Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Rania Mlouka
- University of Bordeaux, Laboratory of Oceanic and Continental Environments and Paleoenvironments, EPOC, UMR5805CNRS, University of Bordeaux and EPHE, F-33600 Pessac, France; Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, ISA, Chott-Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Christelle Clerandeau
- University of Bordeaux, Laboratory of Oceanic and Continental Environments and Paleoenvironments, EPOC, UMR5805CNRS, University of Bordeaux and EPHE, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Mohamed Banni
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, ISA, Chott-Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia; Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Monastir, Tunisia.
| | - Jérôme Cachot
- University of Bordeaux, Laboratory of Oceanic and Continental Environments and Paleoenvironments, EPOC, UMR5805CNRS, University of Bordeaux and EPHE, F-33600 Pessac, France.
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138
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Rabdeau J, Badenhausser I, Gaffard A, Mangelinck C, Moreau J, Bretagnolle V, Monceau K. Assortative pairing for boldness and consequences for reproductive success in Montagu’s harrier. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Behavioural combination within pairs depending on personality and plasticity might influence reproductive success. However, studies testing this hypothesis are rare, especially in the case of monogamous species with bi-parental care in which the sexes exhibit different behavioural roles. In this study, we investigated the pairing patterns for both boldness and boldness plasticity in Montagu’s harriers (Circus pygargus), a species with sex-specific care, and the consequences for their reproductive success. We measured individual boldness and plasticity for both sexes, and we assessed the pairing pattern in the Montagu’s harrier population for these two traits. We calculated four indices to characterize the behavioural association within pairs: pair boldness, boldness similarity within pairs, pair plasticity and plasticity similarity within pairs. The relationship between the behaviour of the parents and the reproductive success was then tested through these four indices. We found a pattern of assortative pairing based on both boldness and plasticity in the Montagu’s harrier population. Within-pair similarity of plasticity had a significant effect on the reproductive success, which was higher for less similar pairs than for more similar pairs. Our results question the origin of this pairing pattern and suggest that ecological constraint and not sexual selection could be the major driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Rabdeau
- UMR 7372, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Isabelle Badenhausser
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Prairies Plantes Fourragères, Lusignan, France
| | - Agathe Gaffard
- UMR 7372, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Camille Mangelinck
- UMR 7372, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Jérôme Moreau
- UMR 7372, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, Villiers en Bois, France
- UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- UMR 7372, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, Villiers en Bois, France
- LTSER ‘Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre’, CNRS, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Karine Monceau
- UMR 7372, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, Villiers en Bois, France
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139
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Molendijk ML, de Kloet ER. Forced swim stressor: Trends in usage and mechanistic consideration. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:2813-2831. [PMID: 33548153 PMCID: PMC9291081 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The acquired immobility response during the “forced swim test (FST)” is not a rodent model of depression, but the test has some validity in predicting a compound's antidepressant potential. Nevertheless, 60% of the about 600 papers that were published annually the past 2 years label the rodent's immobility response as depression‐like behaviour, but the relative contribution per country is changing. When the Editors‐in‐Chief of 5 journals publishing most FST papers were asked for their point of view on labelling immobility as depression‐like behaviour and despair, they responded that they primarily rely on the reviewers regarding scientific merit of the submission. One Editor informs authors of the recent NIMH notice (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice‐files/NOT‐MH‐19‐053.html) which encourages investigators to use animal models “for” addressing neurobiological questions rather than as model “of” specific mental disorders. The neurobiological questions raised by use of the FST fall in two categories. First, research on the role of endocrine and metabolic factors, with roots in the 1980s, and with focus on the bottom‐up action of glucocorticoids on circuits processing salient information, executive control and memory consolidation. Second, recent findings using novel technological and computational advances that have allowed great progress in charting top‐down control in the switch from active to passive coping with the inescapable stressor executed by neuronal ensembles of the medial prefrontal cortex via the peri‐aquaductal grey. It is expected that combining neural top‐down and endocrine bottom‐up approaches will provide new insights in the role of stress‐coping and adaptation in pathogenesis of mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc L Molendijk
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - E Ronald de Kloet
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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140
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Comparative transcriptome and methylome analysis of the hindbrain in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) considering individual behavior-type and oxygen metabolism. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2021; 38:100799. [PMID: 33582456 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In previous studies we employed multiple behavior assays, including propensity to feed, simulated trawl capture and escape response, to prove the presence of bold and shy personality (BP,SP) in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). However, the molecular mechanism of the different personality has not been elucidated. In this study, firstly, we found that the SP flounder had lower red blood cell count (RBC) and haemoglobin concentration (HBG) than BP flounder. Secondly, the transcriptomic profiles of the hindbrain in flounder with distinct personality were compared. A total of 144 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 70 up-regulated and 74 down-regulated genes in SP flounder compared with BP flounder. Genes involved in hypoxia stress were detected in SP flounder, accompanied with down-regulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis. In addition, genes related with calcium signaling pathway, including endothelin, b-Fos, c-Fos and c-Jun were up-regulated in SP flounder. Furthermore, personality-related genes including UI, CCK, c-Fos showed significantly higher level in SP flounder than in BP flounder. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the GO categories "the tight junction pathway" and "lipid transport or localization pathway" were enriched in SP flounder, suggesting that the central nervous system homeostasis would be compromised. Thirdly, using a simple and scalable DNA methylation profiling method (MethylRAD), which allows for methylation analysis for DEGs in RNA-seq, we found that only part of gene expression was negatively associated with promoter methylation. Altogether, our study will not only lay a foundation for further studies on animal personality but also facilitate the selective breeding of olive flounder in aquaculture.
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141
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de Jong ME, Nicolaus M, Fokkema RW, Loonen MJJE. State dependence explains individual variation in nest defence behaviour in a long-lived bird. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:809-819. [PMID: 33340107 PMCID: PMC8048547 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Parental care, such as nest or offspring defence, is crucial for offspring survival in many species. Yet, despite its obvious fitness benefits, the level of defence can consistently vary between individuals of the same species. One prominent adaptive explanation for consistent individual differences in behaviours involves state dependency: relatively stable differences in individual state should lead to the emergence of repeatable behavioural variation whereas changes in state should lead to a readjustment of behaviour. Therefore, empirical testing of adaptive state dependence requires longitudinal data where behaviour and state of individuals of the same population are repeatedly measured. Here, we test if variation in states predicts nest defence behaviour (a ‘risky’ behaviour) in a long‐lived species, the barnacle goose Branta leucopsis. Adaptive models have predicted that an individual's residual reproductive value or ‘asset’ is an important state variable underlying variation in risk‐taking behaviour. Hence, we investigate how nest defence varies as a function of time of the season and individual age, two state variables that can vary between and within individuals and determine asset. Repeated measures of nest defence towards a human intruder (flight initiation distance or FID) of females of known age were collected during 15 breeding seasons. Increasing values of FID represent increasing shyness. We found that females strongly and consistently differed in FID within‐ and between‐years. As predicted by theory, females adjusted their behaviour to state by decreasing their FID with season and age. Decomposing these population patterns into within‐ and between‐individual effects showed that the state‐dependent change in FID was driven by individual plasticity in FID and that bolder females were more plastic than shyer females. This study shows that nest defence behaviour differs consistently among individuals and is adjusted to individual state in a direction predicted by adaptive personality theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margje E de Jong
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Arctic Centre, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marion Nicolaus
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Science (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rienk W Fokkema
- Arctic Centre, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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142
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Fardell LL, Bedoya-Pérez MA, Dickman CR, Crowther MS, Pavey CR, Narayan EJ. Are physiological and behavioural responses to stressors displayed concordantly by wild urban rodents? Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:5. [PMID: 33411125 PMCID: PMC7790802 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-020-01716-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Understanding wild animal responses to stressors underpins effective wildlife management. In order for responses to stressors to be correctly interpreted, it is critical that measurements are taken on wild animals using minimally invasive techniques. Studies investigating wild animal responses to stressors often measure either a single physiological or behavioural variable, but whether such responses are comparable and concordant remains uncertain. We investigated this question in a pilot study that measured responses of wild-caught urban brown and black rats (Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus) to fur-based olfactory cues from a predator, the domestic cat (Felis catus); a novel herbivore, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); and a familiar herbivore and competitor, the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Physiological responses, measured by assaying faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, were compared to behavioural responses observed via video recordings. We found that physiological and behavioural responses to stressors were expressed concordantly. There was no sizeable physiological response observed, and the behavioural response when considered across the night was negligible. However, the behavioural response to the predator and competitor cues changed across the observation period, with activity increasing with increasing hours of exposure. Our results indicate that responses of wild rodents to cues are nuanced, with stress responses modulated by behaviour changes that vary over time according to the severity of the perceived threat as animals gather further information. If the physiological response alone had been assessed, this moderated response may not have been evident, and in terms of wildlife management, vital information would have been lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren L Fardell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
| | - Miguel A Bedoya-Pérez
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.,School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Christopher R Dickman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Mathew S Crowther
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Chris R Pavey
- CSIRO, Land and Water, PMB 44, Winnellie, Northern Territory, 0822, Australia
| | - Edward J Narayan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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143
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Hiadlovská Z, Hamplová P, Berchová Bímová K, Macholán M, Vošlajerová Bímová B. Ontogeny of social hierarchy in two European house mouse subspecies and difference in the social rank of dispersing males. Behav Processes 2021; 183:104316. [PMID: 33421530 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In social species such as house mouse, being dominant is vital. Determination of dominance may start early in life and vary during ontogeny. We asked whether pre-pubertal and adolescent behaviour predicts the rank a male mouse finally obtains. Moreover, we asked how dominant vs. subordinate adults differ in exploration and propensity to emigrate. We studied fraternal pairs as the simple social units, from weaning to full-grown adulthood. By utilizing two mouse subspecies known to differ in many behavioural traits, we take into account any potential subspecific idiosyncrasies. We did not find any significant effect of future social status on any behavioural type displayed before adulthood, but the subspecies themselves differ in behaviours prevailing in particular ontogeny phases. While musculus males start as more pro-social, they later became significantly more passive. Conversely, domesticus are slightly less passive at the beginning but significantly more proactive close to adulthood and rapidly establishing hierarchy through overt conflicts. We found no difference in exploration between ranks, however, domesticus males were significantly more active in an unknown area than musculus. Most importantly, while dominant domesticus males seem to be more prone to emigration, in musculus it was the subordinate males who left base significantly more often. This is consistent with extended contests of musculus males over dominance found in this study as well as with differences in endocrinological changes we have reported previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Hiadlovská
- Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Petra Hamplová
- Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Kateřina Berchová Bímová
- Department of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Praha, Czech Republic.
| | - Miloš Macholán
- Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Barbora Vošlajerová Bímová
- Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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144
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Sze Y, Brunton PJ. Effects of prenatal stress on neuroactive steroid responses to acute stress in adult male and female rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e12916. [PMID: 33270955 PMCID: PMC7900968 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Acute swim stress results in the robust production of several neuroactive steroids, which act as mediators of the stress response. These steroids include glucocorticoids, and positive GABAA receptor modulatory steroids such as allopregnanolone and tetrahydrocorticosterone (THDOC), which potentiate inhibitory GABA signalling, thereby playing a role in the negative control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Prenatally stressed (PNS) offspring exhibit increased vulnerability to stress-related disorders and frequently display exaggerated HPA axis responses to stressors during adulthood, which may be a result of reduced neuroactive steroid production and consequently inhibitory signalling. Here, we investigated whether exposure of rats to prenatal social stress from gestational day 16-20 altered neuroactive steroid production under non-stress conditions and in response to an acute stressor (swim stress) in adulthood. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, nine neuroactive steroids were quantified (corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone [DOC], dihydrodeoxycorticosterone, THDOC, progesterone, dihydroprogesterone, allopregnanolone, pregnenolone, testosterone) in plasma and in five brain regions (frontal cortex, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, brainstem) of male and female control and PNS rats. There was no difference in the neuroactive steroid profile between control and PNS rats under basal conditions. The increase in circulating corticosterone induced by acute swim stress was similar in control and PNS offspring. However, greater stress-induced corticosterone and DOC concentrations were observed in the brainstem of male PNS offspring, whereas DOC concentrations were lower in the hippocampus of PNS females compared to controls, following acute stress. Although PNS rats did not show deficits in allopregnanolone responses to acute stress, there were modest deficits in the production of THDOC in the brainstem, amygdala, and frontal cortex of PNS males and in the frontal cortex of PNS females. The data suggest that neuroactive steroid modulation of GABAergic signalling following stress exposure may be affected in a sex- and region-specific manner in PNS offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sze
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- The Roslin InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Paula J. Brunton
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- The Roslin InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Zhejiang University‐University of Edinburgh Joint InstituteHainingChina
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145
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Singh S, Gupta B, Mishra PC. Coping strategies and social support as moderators of occupational stress and mental health link among police personnel. Ind Psychiatry J 2021; 30:67-73. [PMID: 34483527 PMCID: PMC8395562 DOI: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_207_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The occupation of police personnel is known to be enormously stressful. The occupational stress research shows that coping strategies and social support have a buffering effect on stress and a protective role on mental health. The present research study was set out to investigate the role of coping strategies and social support as moderating factors of the relationship between occupational stress and mental health in police personnel of Uttar Pradesh in terms of their ranking. METHODOLOGY The present cross-sectional study was conducted using standardized questionnaires. The sample comprised a total of 300 male police personnel. Hundred constables, 100 inspectors, and 100 officers were incidentally selected from six districts of Uttar: Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, Raebareli, Ghaziabad, and Noida. RESULTS Study results showed coping strategies and social support to have a moderating effect on the relationship between stress and mental health in inspectors and officers but failed to show such relationship in constables. CONCLUSION There is the implication for the training in terms of teaching-specific active and adaptive coping strategies for the management of workplace-related stress and promotion of health and well-being in the police personnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Bandna Gupta
- Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - P C Mishra
- Department of Psychology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
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146
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Hemsworth PH, Edwards LE. Natural behaviours, their drivers and their implications for laying hen welfare. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/an19630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Some believe that farm animals need to be kept in conditions that provide ‘natural’ aspects in the animal’s environment and, thus, provide the opportunity for the animals to perform their full ‘behavioural repertoire’. Captivity may restrict either behaviours that animals have instinctive, intrinsic propensities to perform whatever the environment or behaviours that are elicited by deficits in the animals’ environment. Behavioural restriction may also thwart general motivation to seek variety and/or avoid monotonous conditions. Appreciating whether an animal suffers if deprived of the opportunity to perform natural behaviour requires, first, an understanding of how the behaviour in question is elicited and controlled, the effects of early experience and genetics on the behaviour and the behaviour of the species in the wild, and, second, the behavioural, physiological and fitness effects of deprivation of the behaviour. Housing laying hens in conventional cages compromises their behavioural repertoire, such as nesting in a nest box, dust bathing, perching and foraging, and the present review focuses on the welfare implications if these natural behaviours are thwarted in modern poultry production. A floor space of <561 cm2/hen increases physiological stress, reduces egg production and increases mortality in laying hens. There is also evidence of behavioural restriction in terms of reduced wing stretching, leg stretching, tail wagging, locomotion, floor and object pecking and preening with floor space in the range of 542–750 cm2/hen. Preference and motivation research has indicated that laying hens value resources such as nest boxes for oviposition, substrates for foraging and dust bathing, and perches for roosting. However, there is no convincing evidence that deprivation of these resources results in physiological stress. Furthermore, apart from adverse effects of the absence of perches on bone strength, there is no evidence that deprivation of nest boxes, perches, and foraging and dust-bathing substrates results in reduction in fitness such as reduced egg production or health. Nevertheless, preference research has indicated that the opportunity to utilise these resources, particularly nest boxes, may elicit positive emotional states in laying hens. Therefore, it is important to understand both how motivated the animal is to choose an option or perform a behaviour as well as the consequences of depriving the animal of this opportunity.
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147
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Developmental conditions promote individual differentiation of endocrine axes and behavior in a tropical pinniped. Oecologia 2020; 195:25-35. [PMID: 33340345 PMCID: PMC7882553 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04815-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Between-individual variation in behavior can emerge through complex interactions between state-related mechanisms, which include internal physiological constraints or feedback derived from the external environment. State-related conditions can be especially influential during early life, when parental effort and exposure to social stress may canalize consistent differences in offspring hormonal profiles and foster specific behavioral strategies. Here, we unravel how relevant state variables, including sex, somatic condition, local population density, and maternal traits, contribute to within-cohort differences in stress, sex, and thyroid hormone axes in dependent Galapagos sea lions with the primary goal of understanding downstream effects on boldness, docility, habitat use, and activity. Pups within denser natal sites had higher levels of cortisol and thyroid T4, a prohormone and proxy for metabolic reserves, likely as an adaptive physiological response after exposure to increased numbers of conspecific interactions. Furthermore, considering maternal effects, mothers in better body condition produced pups with higher testosterone yet downregulated basal cortisol and thyroid T4. This hormonal profile was correlated with increased boldness toward novel objects and attenuated stress responsiveness during capture. Intriguingly, pups with increased thyroid T3, the biologically active form, maintained faster somatic growth and were observed to have increased activity and extensively explored surrounding habitats. Collectively, these findings provide comprehensive evidence for several links to hormone-mediated behavioral strategies, highlighted by variation in socio-environmental and maternally derived input during a foundational life stage.
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148
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Geffroy B, Alfonso S, Sadoul B, Blumstein DT. A World for Reactive Phenotypes. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2020.611919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans currently occupy all continents and by doing so, modify the environment and create novel threats to many species; a phenomenon known as human-induced rapid environmental changes (HIREC). These growing anthropogenic disturbances represent major and relatively new environmental challenges for many animals, and invariably alter selection on traits adapted to previous environments. Those species that survive often have moved from their original habitat or modified their phenotype through plasticity or genetic evolution. Based on the most recent advances in this research area, we predict that wild individuals with highly plastic capacities, relatively high basal stress level, and that are generally shy—in other words, individuals displaying a reactive phenotype—should better cope with sudden and widespread HIREC than their counterparts' proactive phenotypes. If true, this selective response would have profound ecological and evolutionary consequences and can therefore impact conservation strategies, specifically with respect to managing the distribution and abundance of individuals and maintaining evolutionary potential. These insights may help design adaptive management strategies to maintain genetic variation in the context of HIREC.
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149
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de Bruijn R, Romero LM. Chronic stress reverses enhanced neophobia following an acute stressor in European starlings. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:265-274. [PMID: 33231919 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Neophobia is an animal's avoidance of novelty. Animals tend to respond to novel objects by increasing their latency to approach the objects, and they eventually habituate after repeated exposure by attenuating this increased approach latency. Interestingly, the physiological stress response does not appear to have a causal link to neophobia, although acute stress can prevent animals from habituating to novel objects, possibly through a permissive effect. Chronic stress can induce an anxiety-like state in animals, while often disrupting the ability to respond to acute stress. We thus hypothesized that chronic stress may increase neophobia and tested this by inducing chronic stress in wild-caught European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Four distinct anthropogenic stressors were administered daily for 30 min each in a randomized order for 21 days. We then evaluated whether exposure to chronic stress altered the latency to approach a novel object placed on or near a food dish presented after overnight fasting. Chronically stressed birds and nonstressed controls exhibited similar initial neophobic responses to novel objects and showed similar habituation in response to repeated exposure. However, when birds were exposed to 15 min of restraint before repeated exposure to the same object, habituation was eliminated in control birds (i.e., they continued to respond with neophobia), whereas chronically stressed birds continued to show habituation as measured by attenuated approach latencies. These results demonstrate that an acute stress response (restraint) has a different impact on neophobia depending upon whether the bird is or is not concurrently exposed to chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert de Bruijn
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - L Michael Romero
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
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150
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Luna D, Carrasco C, Álvarez D, González C, Egaña JI, Figueroa J. Exploring Anhedonia in Kennelled Dogs: Could Coping Styles Affect Hedonic Preferences for Sweet and Umami Flavours? Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10112087. [PMID: 33187104 PMCID: PMC7696099 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Kennelled dogs are susceptible to suffer chronic stress when social interactions with conspecifics and spatial needs are long-term restricted. Chronic stress may affect pleasure perception of food and solutions in dogs as observed in several animals, a phenomenon known as anhedonia. However, little information exists on how different coping styles could prevent the onset of anhedonia. Fourteen kennelled Beagle dogs were used to study the acceptability and preference for different dilute palatable sucrose and monosodium glutamate (MSG) solutions. Coping style of animals was previously evaluated through a modified human-approach test. This test consisted in assessing whether or not dogs approached an unfamiliar human when a feeding opportunity was presented, classifying them as close dogs (CD; proactive) or distant dogs (DD; reactive) respectively. It was observed that DD presented a lower intake of both sucrose and MSG dilute solutions compared with CD. Moreover, DD exhibited a higher consumption of MSG than CD at the highest concentrations, supporting that their intake depends on solution palatability. Finally, DD did not prefer sucrose or MSG solutions over water at any dilute solution offered. Together, these results suggest that dogs that are categorized as reactive animals could diminish their ability to perceive dilute palatable solutions reflecting depressive-like behaviours such as anhedonia. Abstract Kennelled dogs are at risk of suffering chronic stress due to long-term spatial, social and feeding restrictions. Chronic stress may decrease the dogs’ capacity to feel pleasure when facing hedonic experiences, modifying their perception for palatable ingredients. However, different abilities to cope with environmental stressors could prevent the onset of anhedonia. Fourteen kennelled Beagle dogs were used to study the acceptability and preference for different dilute sucrose and monosodium glutamate (MSG) solutions. Coping style of animals was previously evaluated through a human approach test (HAT) and classified as close dogs (CD; proactive) or distant dogs (DD; reactive) according to whether or not they approached an unfamiliar human when a feeding opportunity was presented. Consumption results were analysed taking into account the sucrose/MSG concentrations, HAT (CD or DD), age, and weight of the animals. DD presented a lower intake of sucrose (p = 0.041) and MSG (p = 0.069) solutions compared with CD. However, DD exhibited a higher consumption of MSG than CD at its highest concentrations, supporting that their intake depends on solution palatability. Finally, DD did not prefer sucrose or MSG solutions over water at any dilute solution offered. Together, these results suggest that dogs that are categorized as reactive animals could diminish their ability to perceive dilute palatable solutions, reflecting depressive-like behaviours as anhedonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Luna
- Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Macul, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
| | - Carolina Carrasco
- Departamento de Fomento de la Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago 8820000, Chile; (C.C.); (D.Á.); (C.G.); (J.I.E.)
| | - Daniela Álvarez
- Departamento de Fomento de la Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago 8820000, Chile; (C.C.); (D.Á.); (C.G.); (J.I.E.)
| | - Catalina González
- Departamento de Fomento de la Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago 8820000, Chile; (C.C.); (D.Á.); (C.G.); (J.I.E.)
| | - Juan Ignacio Egaña
- Departamento de Fomento de la Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago 8820000, Chile; (C.C.); (D.Á.); (C.G.); (J.I.E.)
| | - Jaime Figueroa
- Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Macul, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-223-544-092
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