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Blake S, Cabrera F, Rivas‐Torres G, Deem SL, Nieto‐Claudin A, Zahawi RA, Bastille‐Rousseau G. Invasion by Cedrela odorata threatens long distance migration of Galapagos tortoises. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10994. [PMID: 38357592 PMCID: PMC10864728 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive alien species are among the most pervasive threats to biodiversity. Invasive species can cause catastrophic reductions in populations of native and endemic species and the collapse of ecosystem function. A second major global conservation concern is the extirpation of large-bodied mobile animals, including long-distance migrants, which often have keystone ecological roles over extensive spatial extents. Here, we report on a potentially catastrophic synergy between these phenomena that threatens the endemic biota of the Galapagos Archipelago. We used GPS telemetry to track 140 migratory journeys by 25 Western Santa Cruz Island Galapagos tortoises. We plotted the spatial interaction between tortoise migrations and recently established non-native forest dominated by the invasive tree Cedrela odorata (Cedrela forest). We qualified (a) the proportion of migratory journeys that traversed Cedrela forest, and (b) the probability that this observed pattern occurred by chance. Tortoise migrations were overwhelmingly restricted to small corridors between Cedrela forest blocks, indicating clear avoidance of those blocks. Just eight of 140 migrations traversed extensive Cedrela stands. Tortoises avoid Cedrela forest during their migrations. Further expansion of Cedrela forest threatens long-distance migration and population viability of critically endangered Galapagos tortoises. Applied research to determine effective management solutions to mitigate Cedrela invasion is a high priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Blake
- Department of BiologySaint Louis UniversitySt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorRadolfzellGermany
- WildCare InstituteSaint Louis ZooSaint LouisMissouriUSA
- Charles Darwin FoundationPuerto AyoraGalapagosEcuador
| | | | - Gonzalo Rivas‐Torres
- Ecuador Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales and Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and SciencesUniversidad San Francisco de QuitoQuitoEcuador
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and ConservationUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
- GeographyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Sharon L. Deem
- Charles Darwin FoundationPuerto AyoraGalapagosEcuador
- Institute for Conservation MedicineSaint Louis ZooSaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Ainoa Nieto‐Claudin
- Charles Darwin FoundationPuerto AyoraGalapagosEcuador
- Institute for Conservation MedicineSaint Louis ZooSaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Rakan A. Zahawi
- Charles Darwin FoundationPuerto AyoraGalapagosEcuador
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Hawai'i at MānoaHonoluluHawaiiUSA
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Neagu AN, Whitham D, Bruno P, Arshad A, Seymour L, Morrissiey H, Hukovic AI, Darie CC. Onco-Breastomics: An Eco-Evo-Devo Holistic Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1628. [PMID: 38338903 PMCID: PMC10855488 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Known as a diverse collection of neoplastic diseases, breast cancer (BC) can be hyperbolically characterized as a dynamic pseudo-organ, a living organism able to build a complex, open, hierarchically organized, self-sustainable, and self-renewable tumor system, a population, a species, a local community, a biocenosis, or an evolving dynamical ecosystem (i.e., immune or metabolic ecosystem) that emphasizes both developmental continuity and spatio-temporal change. Moreover, a cancer cell community, also known as an oncobiota, has been described as non-sexually reproducing species, as well as a migratory or invasive species that expresses intelligent behavior, or an endangered or parasite species that fights to survive, to optimize its features inside the host's ecosystem, or that is able to exploit or to disrupt its host circadian cycle for improving the own proliferation and spreading. BC tumorigenesis has also been compared with the early embryo and placenta development that may suggest new strategies for research and therapy. Furthermore, BC has also been characterized as an environmental disease or as an ecological disorder. Many mechanisms of cancer progression have been explained by principles of ecology, developmental biology, and evolutionary paradigms. Many authors have discussed ecological, developmental, and evolutionary strategies for more successful anti-cancer therapies, or for understanding the ecological, developmental, and evolutionary bases of BC exploitable vulnerabilities. Herein, we used the integrated framework of three well known ecological theories: the Bronfenbrenner's theory of human development, the Vannote's River Continuum Concept (RCC), and the Ecological Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Eco-Evo-Devo) theory, to explain and understand several eco-evo-devo-based principles that govern BC progression. Multi-omics fields, taken together as onco-breastomics, offer better opportunities to integrate, analyze, and interpret large amounts of complex heterogeneous data, such as various and big-omics data obtained by multiple investigative modalities, for understanding the eco-evo-devo-based principles that drive BC progression and treatment. These integrative eco-evo-devo theories can help clinicians better diagnose and treat BC, for example, by using non-invasive biomarkers in liquid-biopsies that have emerged from integrated omics-based data that accurately reflect the biomolecular landscape of the primary tumor in order to avoid mutilating preventive surgery, like bilateral mastectomy. From the perspective of preventive, personalized, and participatory medicine, these hypotheses may help patients to think about this disease as a process governed by natural rules, to understand the possible causes of the disease, and to gain control on their own health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca-Narcisa Neagu
- Laboratory of Animal Histology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Carol I bvd. 20A, 700505 Iasi, Romania
| | - Danielle Whitham
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA; (D.W.); (P.B.); (A.A.); (L.S.); (H.M.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Pathea Bruno
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA; (D.W.); (P.B.); (A.A.); (L.S.); (H.M.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Aneeta Arshad
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA; (D.W.); (P.B.); (A.A.); (L.S.); (H.M.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Logan Seymour
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA; (D.W.); (P.B.); (A.A.); (L.S.); (H.M.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Hailey Morrissiey
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA; (D.W.); (P.B.); (A.A.); (L.S.); (H.M.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Angiolina I. Hukovic
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA; (D.W.); (P.B.); (A.A.); (L.S.); (H.M.); (A.I.H.)
| | - Costel C. Darie
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA; (D.W.); (P.B.); (A.A.); (L.S.); (H.M.); (A.I.H.)
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Animal-mediated plant niche tracking in a changing climate. Trends Ecol Evol 2023:S0169-5347(23)00034-4. [PMID: 36932024 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.02.005] [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: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Over half of plant species are animal-dispersed, and our understanding of how animals can help plants move in response to climate change - a process known as niche tracking - is limited, but advancing rapidly. Recent research efforts find evidence that animals are helping plants track their niches. They also identify key conditions needed for animal-mediated niche tracking to occur, including alignment of the timing of seed availability, the directionality of animal movements, and microhabitat conditions where seeds are deposited. A research framework that measures niche tracking effectiveness by considering all parts of the niche-tracking process, and links together data and models from multiple disciplines, will lead to further insight and inform actions to help ecosystems adapt to a changing world.
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