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Burke LM, Davies TW, Wilcockson D, Jenkins S, Ellison A. Artificial light and cloud cover interact to disrupt celestial migrations at night. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173790. [PMID: 38851339 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
The growth of human activity and infrastructure has led to an unprecedented rise in the use of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) with demonstrable impacts on ecological communities and ecosystem services. However, there remains very little information on how ALAN interacts with or obscures light from celestial bodies, which provide vital orientating cues in a number of species. Furthermore, no studies to date have examined how climatic conditions such as cloud cover, known to influence the intensity of skyglow, interact with lunar irradiance and ALAN over the course of a lunar cycle to alter migratory abilities of species. Our night-time field study aimed to establish how lunar phase and climatic conditions (cloud cover) modulate the impact of ALAN on the abundance and migratory behaviour of Talitrus saltator, a key sandy beach detritivore which uses multiple light associated cues during nightly migrations. Our results showed that the number and size of individuals caught decreased significantly as ALAN intensity increased. Additionally, when exposed to ALAN more T. saltator were caught travelling parallel to the shoreline, indicating that the presence of ALAN is inhibiting their ability to navigate along their natural migration route, potentially impacting the distribution of the population. We found that lunar phase and cloud cover play a significant role in modifying the impact of ALAN, highlighting the importance of incorporating natural light cycles and climatic conditions when investigating ALAN impacts. Critically we demonstrate that light levels as low as 3 lx can have substantial effects on coastal invertebrate distributions. Our results provide the first evidence that ALAN impacted celestial migration can lead to changes to the distribution of a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo M Burke
- Bangor University, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.
| | - Thomas W Davies
- University of Plymouth, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - David Wilcockson
- Aberystwyth University, Department of Life Sciences, Edward Llywd Building, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Stuart Jenkins
- Bangor University, School of Ocean Sciences, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Amy Ellison
- Bangor University, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
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Bhendarkar M, Rodriguez-Ezpeleta N. Exploring uncharted territory: new frontiers in environmental DNA for tropical fisheries management. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:617. [PMID: 38874640 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12788-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Tropical ecosystems host a significant share of global fish diversity contributing substantially to the global fisheries sector. Yet their sustainable management is challenging due to their complexity, diverse life history traits of tropical fishes, and varied fishing techniques involved. Traditional monitoring techniques are often costly, labour-intensive, and/or difficult to apply in inaccessible sites. These limitations call for the adoption of innovative, sensitive, and cost-effective monitoring solutions, especially in a scenario of climate change. Environmental DNA (eDNA) emerges as a potential game changer for biodiversity monitoring and conservation, especially in aquatic ecosystems. However, its utility in tropical settings remains underexplored, primarily due to a series of challenges, including the need for a comprehensive barcode reference library, an understanding of eDNA behaviour in tropical aquatic environments, standardized procedures, and supportive biomonitoring policies. Despite these challenges, the potential of eDNA for sensitive species detection across varied habitats is evident, and its global use is accelerating in biodiversity conservation efforts. This review takes an in-depth look at the current state and prospects of eDNA-based monitoring in tropical fisheries management research. Additionally, a SWOT analysis is used to underscore the opportunities and threats, with the aim of bridging the knowledge gaps and guiding the more extensive and effective use of eDNA-based monitoring in tropical fisheries management. Although the discussion applies worldwide, some specific experiences and insights from Indian tropical fisheries are shared to illustrate the practical application and challenges of employing eDNA in a tropical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Bhendarkar
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain.
- ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, 413 115, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Naiara Rodriguez-Ezpeleta
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain
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Delaitre S, Visser ME, van Oers K, Caro SP. Odours of caterpillar-infested trees increase testosterone concentrations in male great tits. Horm Behav 2024; 160:105491. [PMID: 38340412 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Trees release Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs) into the air in response to damage inflicted by insects. It is known that songbirds use those compounds to locate their prey, but more recently the idea emerged that songbirds could also use those odours as cues in their reproductive decisions, as early spring HIPVs may contain information about the seasonal timing and abundance of insects. We exposed pre-breeding great tits (Parus major) to the odours of caterpillar-infested trees under controlled conditions, and monitored reproduction (timing of egg laying, number of eggs, egg size) and two of its main hormonal drivers (testosterone and 17β-estradiol in males and females, respectively). We found that females exposed to HIPVs did not advance their laying dates, nor laid larger clutches, or larger eggs compared to control females. 17β-estradiol concentrations in females were also similar between experimental and control birds. However, males exposed to HIPVs had higher testosterone concentrations during the egg-laying period. Our study supports the hypothesis that insectivorous songbirds are able to detect minute amounts of plant odours. The sole manipulation of plant scents was not sufficient to lure females into a higher reproductive investment, but males increased their reproductive effort in response to a novel source of information for seasonal breeding birds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcel E Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Samuel P Caro
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France.
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Musgrove J, Gilbert F. Negative density-dependence buffers against mismatch-induced population decline in the Sinai baton blue butterfly. Oecologia 2023; 203:1-11. [PMID: 37733112 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05449-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Phenological mismatches caused by climate change pose a major threat to global biodiversity, yet relatively few studies have reported population declines resulting from mismatch. It has been hypothesised that density effects may underlie this lack of observed responses by buffering against mismatch-induced population decline. We developed an individual-based model of the critically endangered Sinai baton blue butterfly (Pseudophilotes sinaicus) and its hostplant Sinai thyme (Thymus decussatus), parameterised using real field data, to test this hypothesis. Our model showed that the baton blue experiences demographic consequences under only 5 days of phenological mismatch, but that this threshold was increased to 14 days with the inclusion of density-dependent juvenile mortality. The inclusion of density effects also led to the replication of population cycles observed in nature, supporting the ability of our model to accurately represent the baton blue's ecology. These results add to a growing body of literature suggesting that density effects may underlie the observed lack of demographic responses to mismatch in wild populations. However, these buffers may be short-lived in extreme mismatch scenarios, providing a false sense of security against a looming threat of population collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Musgrove
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montréal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada.
| | - Francis Gilbert
- School of Life Sciences, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, England
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Dalpasso A, Seglie D, Eusebio Bergò P, Ciracì A, Compostella M, Laddaga L, Manica M, Marino G, Pandolfo I, Soldato G, Falaschi M. Effects of temperature and precipitation changes on shifts in breeding phenology of an endangered toad. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14573. [PMID: 37666849 PMCID: PMC10477230 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40568-w] [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: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last century, a plethora of species have shown rapid phenological changes in response to climate change. Among animals, amphibians exhibit some of the greatest responses since their activity strongly depends on temperature and rainfall regimes. These shifts in phenology can have negative consequences for amphibian fitness. Thus, understanding phenological changes in amphibians is pivotal to design conservation actions to mitigate climate change effects. We used data on Common Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates fuscus) reproductive migration to wetlands over a period of 8 years in Italy to (i) identify the factors related to breeding migrations, (ii) assess potential phenological shifts in the breeding period, and (iii) determine which climatic factors are related to the observed phenological shifts. Our results showed that toads migrate to spawning sites preferably in early spring, on rainy days with temperatures of 9-14 °C, and with high humidity. Furthermore, despite an increase in average temperature across the study period, we observed a delay in the start of breeding migrations of 12.4 days over 8 years. This counterintuitive pattern was the result of a succession of hot and dry years that occurred in the study area, highlighting that for ephemeral pond breeders, precipitation could have a larger impact than temperature on phenology. Our results belie the strong presumption that climate change will shift amphibian phenology toward an earlier breeding migration and underline the importance of closely investigating the environmental factors related to species phenology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Dalpasso
- Department of Biology, Université Laval, 1045 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada.
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | | | | | - Andrea Ciracì
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Compostella
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Laddaga
- Società di Scienze Naturali del Verbano Cusio Ossola, Museo di Scienze Naturali, Collegio Mellerio Rosmini, 28845, Domodossola, Italy
| | - Milo Manica
- Parco Lombardo della valle del Ticino, Via Isonzo 1, 20013, Pontevecchio di Magenta, MI, Italy
| | - Gaia Marino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy
| | - Irene Pandolfo
- Department of Chemical Science, Life and Environmental Sustainability, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Mattia Falaschi
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy
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Iglesias Pastrana C, Navas González FJ, Delgado Bermejo JV, Ciani E. Lunar Cycle, Climate, and Onset of Parturition in Domestic Dromedary Camels: Implications of Species-Specific Metabolic Economy and Social Ecology. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040607. [PMID: 37106807 PMCID: PMC10136027 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Given energy costs for gestating and caring for male offspring are higher than those of female newborns, external environmental conditions might be regarded as likely to affect the timing of delivery processes differentially depending on the sex of the newborn calf to be delivered. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the association between environmental stressors such as the moon phase and weather-related factors and the onset of labor in female dromedaries. A binary logistic regression model was developed to find the most parsimonious set of variables that are most effective in predicting the probability for a gravid female dromedary to give birth to a male or a female calf, assuming that higher gestational costs and longer labor times are ascribed to the production of a male offspring. Although the differences in the quantitative distribution of spontaneous onset of labor across lunar phases and the mean climate per onset event along the whole study period were deemed nonsignificant (p > 0.05), a non-negligible prediction effect of a new moon, mean wind speed and maximum wind gust was present. At slightly brighter nights and lower mean wind speeds, a calf is more likely to be male. This microevolutionary response to the external environment may have been driven by physiological and behavioral adaptation of metabolic economy and social ecology to give birth to cooperative groups with the best possible reduction of thermoregulatory demands. Model performance indexes then highlighted the heterothermic character of camels to greatly minimize the impact of the external environment. The overall results will also enrich the general knowledge of the interplay between homeostasis and arid and semi-arid environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Iglesias Pastrana
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | | | | | - Elena Ciani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70125 Bari, Italy
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Kusano T, Miura T, Terui S, Shiga Y. Factors Affecting the Surface Activity of Japanese Common Toad, Bufo japonicus formosus (Amphibia: Bufonidae) during the Non-breeding Season. CURRENT HERPETOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.42.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tamotsu Kusano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-ohsawa 1–1, Hachioji, Tokyo 192–0397, JAPAN
| | - Tomoyo Miura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-ohsawa 1–1, Hachioji, Tokyo 192–0397, JAPAN
| | - Shunta Terui
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-ohsawa 1–1, Hachioji, Tokyo 192–0397, JAPAN
| | - Yu Shiga
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-ohsawa 1–1, Hachioji, Tokyo 192–0397, JAPAN
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Environmental Drivers of Amphibian Breeding Phenology across Multiple Sites. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
A mechanistic understanding of phenology, the seasonal timing of life history events, is important for understanding species’ interactions and the potential responses of ecological communities to a rapidly changing climate. We present analysis of a seven-year dataset on the breeding phenology of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica), tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum), blue-spotted salamanders (Ambystoma laterale), and associated unisexual Ambystoma salamanders from six wetlands in Southeast Michigan, USA. We assess whether the ordinal date of breeding migrations varies among species, sexes, and individual wetlands, and we describe the specific environmental conditions associated with breeding migrations for each species/sex. Breeding date was significantly affected by species/sex identity, year, wetland, and the interactions between species/sex and year as well as wetland and year. There was a great deal of variation among years, with breeding occurring nearly synchronously among groups in some years but widely spaced between groups in other years. Specific environmental triggers for movement varied for each species and sex and changed as the breeding season progressed. In general, salamanders responded to longer temperature lags (more warmer days in a row) than wood frogs, whereas wood frogs required longer precipitation lags (more rainy days in a row) than salamanders. Wood frogs were more likely to migrate around the time of a new moon, whereas in contrast, Ambystoma salamander migration was not associated with a moon phase. Ordinal day was an important factor in all models, suggesting that these amphibians require a latency period or similar mechanism to avoid breeding too early in the year, even when weather conditions appear favorable. Male wood frogs migrated earlier than female wood frogs, and male blue-spotted salamanders migrated earlier than female A. laterale and associated unisexual females. Larger unisexual salamanders migrated earlier than smaller individuals. Differences in species’ responses to environmental cues led to wood frogs and A. laterale breeding later than tiger salamanders in colder years but not in warmer years. This suggests that, as the climate warms, wood frog and A. laterale larvae may experience less predation from tiger salamander larvae due to reduced size differences when they breed simultaneously. Our study is one of few to describe the proximate drivers of amphibian breeding migrations across multiple species, wetlands, and years, and it can inform models predicting how climate change may shift ecological interactions among pond-breeding amphibian species.
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Potential Threat of an Invasive Fish Species for Two Native Newts Inhabiting Wetlands of Europe Vulnerable to Climate Change. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In the modern world, when the problems of the environment are most acutely associated with climate change, amphibians are considered to be the most vulnerable group of anamniotes as an indicator of the state of wetlands. Along with a decrease of numbers among amphibians in Europe, nowadays newts especially suffer from the impact of invasive species, in particular predators such as the Chinese sleeper, Perccottus glenii. This predatory fish species has recently spread to areas of primary relevance for newt reproduction. This fish consumes eggs, larvae, and even adult newt individuals. Using an ecological niche approach and climate based species distribution models (SDM), we applied the coefficient of determination (R2) for comparing the level of similarity of the built SDM for the newts Triturus cristatus and Lissotriton vulgaris, and the Chinese sleeper. We show that by 2050, the level of climatic niche similarity for these native and invasive species will increase from 12% to 22% throughout Europe, and from 44% to 66% in Eastern Europe. This study highlights the expansion of the Chinese sleeper as a real threat to European biodiversity of wetlands in the near future, especially in their most northeastern distribution range.
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Chen Y, Tournayre O, Tian H, Lougheed SC. Assessing the breeding phenology of a threatened frog species using eDNA and automatic acoustic monitoring. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14679. [PMID: 36710869 PMCID: PMC9879156 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Climate change has driven shifts in breeding phenology of many amphibians, causing phenological mismatches (e.g., predator-prey interactions), and potentially population declines. Collecting data with high spatiotemporal sensitivity on hibernation emergence and breeding times can inform conservation best practices. However, monitoring the phenology of amphibians can be challenging because of their cryptic nature over much of their life cycle. Moreover, most salamanders and caecilians do not produce conspicuous breeding calls like frogs and toads do, presenting additional monitoring challenges. Methods In this study, we designed and evaluated the performance of an environmental DNA (eDNA) droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay as a non-invasive tool to assess the breeding phenology of a Western Chorus Frog population (Pseudacris maculata mitotype) in Eastern Ontario and compared eDNA detection patterns to hourly automatic acoustic monitoring. For two eDNA samples with strong PCR inhibition, we tested three methods to diminish the effect of inhibitors: diluting eDNA samples, adding bovine serum albumin to PCR reactions, and purifying eDNA using a commercial clean-up kit. Results We recorded the first male calling when the focal marsh was still largely frozen. Chorus frog eDNA was detected on April 6th, 6 days after acoustic monitoring revealed this first calling male, but only 2 days after males attained higher chorus activity. eDNA signals were detected at more sampling locales within the marsh and eDNA concentrations increased as more males participated in the chorus, suggesting that eDNA may be a reasonable proxy for calling assemblage size. Internal positive control revealed strong inhibition in some samples, limiting detection probability and quantification accuracy in ddPCR. We found diluting samples was the most effective in reducing inhibition and improving eDNA quantification. Conclusions Altogether, our results showed that eDNA ddPCR signals lagged behind male chorusing by a few days; thus, acoustic monitoring is preferable if the desire is to document the onset of male chorusing. However, eDNA may be an effective, non-invasive monitoring tool for amphibians that do not call and may provide a useful complement to automated acoustic recording. We found inhibition patterns were heterogeneous across time and space and we demonstrate that an internal positive control should always be included to assess inhibition for eDNA ddPCR signal interpretations.
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Liu G, Kingsford RT, Callaghan CT, Rowley JJL. Anthropogenic habitat modification alters calling phenology of frogs. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:6194-6208. [PMID: 35949049 PMCID: PMC9804319 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic habitat modification significantly challenges biodiversity. With its intensification, understanding species' capacity to adapt is critical for conservation planning. However, little is known about whether and how different species are responding, particularly among frogs. We used a continental-scale citizen science dataset of >226,000 audio recordings of 42 Australian frog species to investigate how calling-a proxy for breeding-phenology varied along an anthropogenic modification gradient. Calling started earlier and breeding seasons lengthened with increasing modification intensity. Breeding seasons averaged 22.9 ± 8.25 days (standard error) longer in the most modified compared to the least modified regions, suggesting that frog breeding activity was sensitive to habitat modification. We also examined whether calls varied along a modification gradient by analysing the temporal and spectral properties of advertisement calls from a subset of 441 audio recordings of three broadly distributed frog species. There was no appreciable effect of anthropogenic habitat modification on any of the measured call variables, although there was high variability. With continued habitat modification, species may shift towards earlier and longer breeding seasons, with largely unknown ecological consequences in terms of proximate and ultimate fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gracie Liu
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Australian Museum Research InstituteAustralian MuseumSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Richard T. Kingsford
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Corey T. Callaghan
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) – HalleLeipzigGermany
- Faculty of Environmental SciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PraguePragueCzech Republic
| | - Jodi J. L. Rowley
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Australian Museum Research InstituteAustralian MuseumSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Lorrain-Soligon L, Secondi J. Quantification of underwater calling and foraging activities in the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-bja10107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Aquatic anuran species are difficult to detect and observe and this is a major limit to the study of their behaviour and ecology. This habit limits the direct monitoring of sexual and foraging activity, and the investigation of how environmental factors influence their expression as well as how individuals allocate time between competing activities. We investigated this issue in Xenopus laevis, a mostly aquatic frog that forages and emits calls underwater. This model species in biology has been extensively studied in the lab but its behaviour in nature remains poorly described. We carried out a study in a pond during the breeding season in the French invasive range. We recorded underwater vocal activity as a proxy for sexual activity using a hydrophone, set food-baited traps to quantify foraging activity, and recorded environmental conditions (moonlight intensity, temperature and rainfall) over two lunar cycles. We found that individuals engage in these two activities during the breeding season. At the peak of the breeding period, vocal activity was expressed during the day. The investment in reproduction (calling activity) may reduce the time allocated to foraging on a circadian scale. The two activities seem to be partitioned depending on moonlight intensity, with a stronger effect on males. Foraging activity decreased and vocal activity increased when moonlight intensity increased. We also observed a negative effect of temperature and a positive effect of rainfall on vocal activity only. Our method is promising to monitor the activity of other aquatic anurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Lorrain-Soligon
- Faculté des Sciences, Univ Angers, 2 Bd de Lavoisier, 49000 Angers, France
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CEBC UMR 7372 CNRS – La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Jean Secondi
- Faculté des Sciences, Univ Angers, 2 Bd de Lavoisier, 49000 Angers, France
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
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Tidau S, Whittle J, Jenkins SR, Davies TW. Artificial light at night reverses monthly foraging pattern under simulated moonlight. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220110. [PMID: 35892207 PMCID: PMC9326264 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence shows that artificial light at night (ALAN) alters biological processes across levels of organization, from cells to communities. Yet, the combined impacts of ALAN and natural sources of night-time illumination remain little explored. This is in part due the lack of accurate simulations of the complex changes moonlight intensity, timing and spectra throughout a single night and lunar cycles in laboratory experiments. We custom-built a novel system to simulate natural patterns of moonlight to test how different ALAN intensities affect predator–prey relationships over the full lunar cycle. Exposure to high intensity ALAN (10 and 50 lx) reversed the natural lunar-guided foraging pattern by the gastropod mesopredator Nucella lapillus on its prey Semibalanus balanoides. Foraging decreased during brighter moonlight in naturally lit conditions. When exposed to high intensity ALAN, foraging increased with brighter moonlight. Low intensity ALAN (0.1 and 0.5 lx) had no impact on foraging. Our results show that ALAN alters the foraging pattern guided by changes in moonlight brightness. ALAN impacts on ecosystems can depend on lunar light cycles. Accurate simulations of night-time light cycle will warrant more realistic insights into ALAN impacts and also facilitate advances in fundamental night-time ecology and chronobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Tidau
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.,School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Jack Whittle
- School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Stuart R Jenkins
- School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Thomas W Davies
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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Shaw SL, Renik KM, Sass GG. Angler and environmental influences on walleye Sander vitreus and muskellunge Esox masquinongy angler catch in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin 2003-2015. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257882. [PMID: 34591910 PMCID: PMC8483380 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Angler trip success and catch rates are dependent upon a fishes' vulnerability to angling. Angling vulnerability can be influenced by angler-specific attributes (i.e., bait choice, lure size, use of a guide), and individual fish traits (i.e., boldness, aggression, stress responsiveness, and memory retention). The mechanisms that function in a fishes' angling vulnerability, and contribute to catch rate, are likely correlated with environmental factors however, the influence of environmental factors on angling vulnerability are not well understood. We used the long-term (1946 -present) compulsory creel dataset from Escanaba Lake, WI, USA to test for interactions between angling vulnerability (i.e., angler trip success and catch rates) and environmental factors to better understand these dynamics in recreational fisheries. Our objective was to test for the influence of angler associated variables and environmental factors on open water angler trip success (i.e., catch ≥ one fish) and catch rate of walleye Sander vitreus and muskellunge Esox masquinongy during 2003-2015 using a hurdle model approach. Fishing trip success and catch rates for both species were most strongly influenced by angler-related variables (i.e., guide status, bait type, the proportion of the fish population previously caught). Environmental factors associated with lower light intensity (i.e., diel period, mean daily solar radiation, solar-Julian day interaction) had a positive influence on walleye vulnerability. Lower air temperatures and lunar position (moon overhead or underfoot) and phase (gibbous' and full moon) also had a positive effect on walleye angling. Muskellunge trip success and catch rate were positively influenced by light metrics (i.e., diel period and mean daily solar radiation) and increased with air temperature. Lunar variables (position and phase), as well as wind speed and direction also influenced muskellunge angling vulnerability. A better understanding of the influence of environmental factors on angling vulnerability is an important component of fisheries management as management goals focus on balancing fish populations and creating satisfactory catch rates to enhance the angling experience. Our results suggest that angler-specific variables, light, temperature, lunar, and weather conditions influenced species-specific angling vulnerability for walleye and muskellunge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Shaw
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Escanaba Lake Research Station, Office of Applied Science, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Kathryn M Renik
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Escanaba Lake Research Station, Office of Applied Science, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Greg G Sass
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Escanaba Lake Research Station, Office of Applied Science, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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15
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O’Brien DM, Silla AJ, Forsythe PS, Byrne PG. Sex differences in response to environmental and social breeding cues in an amphibian. BEHAVIOUR 2021. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-bja10072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The relative influence of climatic and social factors on sex-specific variation in reproductive behaviour remains poorly understood. Here, we examine the influence of multiple climatic cues in combination with a social cue on the reproductive behaviours of males and females in a terrestrial breeding toadlet (Pseudophryne coriacea). Over a 115-day breeding season, arrival patterns of each sex, and male calling activity, were recorded daily, while climatic variables were logged continuously. Multivariate analysis showed that arrival of males at the breeding site, as well as male nightly calling activity, were most strongly influenced by a climatic variable (rainfall). By contrast, female arrival was strongly correlated with a social variable (male calling activity), with abiotic conditions having no influence, other than a moderate influence of lunar phase (lunar illumination). These results suggest that cues used for breeding are sex specific and provide new evidence that combinations of climatic and social cues can be integrated into breeding decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. O’Brien
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Aimee J. Silla
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Patrick S. Forsythe
- University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311, USA
| | - Phillip G. Byrne
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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16
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Bhatt U, Singh Adhikari B, Habib B, Lyngdoh S. Temporal interactions and moon illumination effect on mammals in a tropical semievergreen forest of Manas National Park, Assam, India. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Urjit Bhatt
- Department of Animal Ecology & Conservation Biology Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun Uttarakhand India
| | | | - Bilal Habib
- Department of Animal Ecology & Conservation Biology Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun Uttarakhand India
| | - Salvador Lyngdoh
- Department of Animal Ecology & Conservation Biology Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun Uttarakhand India
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17
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Jarvis LE, Grant RA, SenGupta A. Lunar phase as a cue for migrations to two species of explosive breeding amphibians—implications for conservation. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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18
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Linley GD, Pauligk Y, Marneweck C, Ritchie EG. Moon phase and nocturnal activity of native Australian mammals. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/am19070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Moon phase and variation in ambient light conditions can influence predator and prey behaviour. Nocturnal predators locate prey visually, and prey may adjust their activity to minimise their predation risk. Understanding how native mammals in Australia respond to varying phases of the moon and cloud cover (light) enhances knowledge of factors affecting species’ survival and inference regarding ecological and population survey data. Over a two-year period within a fenced conservation reserve, in south-eastern Australia, with reintroduced native marsupial predator and prey species (eastern barred bandicoot, southern brown bandicoot, long-nosed potoroo, rufous bettong, Tasmanian pademelon, brush-tailed rock-wallaby, red-necked wallaby, eastern quoll, spotted-tailed quoll, and naturally occurring swamp wallaby, common brushtail possum, common ringtail possum), we conducted monthly spotlight surveys during different moon phases (full, half and new moon). We found an interaction between cloud cover and moon phase, and an interaction of the two depending on the mammal size and class. Increased activity of prey species corresponded with periods of increasing cloud cover. Predators and medium-sized herbivores were more active during times of low illumination. Our findings suggest that moon phase affects the nocturnal activity of mammal species and that, for prey species, there might be trade-offs between predation risk and foraging. Our findings have implications for: ecological survey design and interpretation of results for mammal populations across moon phases, understanding predator and prey behaviour and interactions in natural and modified (artificial lighting) ecosystems, and potential nocturnal niche partitioning of species.
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Griffiths BM, Bowler M, Gilmore MP, Luther D. Temporal patterns of visitation of birds and mammals at mineral licks in the Peruvian Amazon. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:14152-14164. [PMID: 33391706 PMCID: PMC7771178 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mineral licks are key ecological resources for many species of birds and mammals in Amazonia, providing essential dietary nutrients and clays, yet little is known about which species visit and their behaviors at the mineral licks. Studying visitation and behavior at mineral licks can provide insight into the lives of otherwise secretive and elusive species. We assessed which species visited mineral licks, when they visited, and whether visits and the probability of recording groups at mineral licks were seasonal or related to the lunar cycle. We camera trapped at 52 mineral licks in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon and detected 20 mammal and 13 bird species over 6,255 camera nights. Generalized linear models assessed visitation patterns and records of groups in association with seasonality and the lunar cycle. We report nocturnal curassows (Nothocrax urumutum) visiting mineral licks for the first time. We found seasonal trends in visitation for the black agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa), red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), blue-throated piping guan (Pipile cumanensis), red brocket deer (Mazama americana), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Lunar trends in visitation occurred for the paca (Cuniculus paca), Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis), and red brocket deer. The probability of recording groups (>1 individual) at mineral licks was seasonal and related to lunar brightness for tapir. Overall, our results provide important context for how elusive species of birds and mammals interact with these key ecological resources on a landscape scale. The ecological importance of mineral licks for these species can provide context to seasonal changes in species occupancy and movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Griffiths
- Department of Environmental Science and PolicyGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVAUSA
| | - Mark Bowler
- School of Science, Technology and EngineeringUniversity of SuffolkIpswichUK
- Suffolk Sustainability InstituteIpswichUK
| | | | - David Luther
- Department of Biology and Smithsonian Mason School of ConservationGeorge Mason UniversityFairfaxVAUSA
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20
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Sánchez-Ochoa DJ, Pérez-Mendoza HA, Charruau P. Oviposition Site Selection and Conservation Insights of Two Tree Frogs (Agalychnis moreletii and A. callidryas
). SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-17-00103.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Joaquín Sánchez-Ochoa
- Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Conservación de Anfibios y Reptiles, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Autónoma de México, Av. De Los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, 54090 Tlalnepantla, Mexico
| | - Hibraim Adán Pérez-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Conservación de Anfibios y Reptiles, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Autónoma de México, Av. De Los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, 54090 Tlalnepantla, Mexico
| | - Pierre Charruau
- Departamento de Investigación, Centro de Cambio Global y la Sustentabilidad en el Sureste, Calle Centenario del Instituto Juárez, Col. Reforma, C.P. 86080 Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
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21
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Touzot M, Lengagne T, Secondi J, Desouhant E, Théry M, Dumet A, Duchamp C, Mondy N. Artificial light at night alters the sexual behaviour and fertilisation success of the common toad. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113883. [PMID: 31931411 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) is an emerging pollution, that dramatically keeps on increasing worldwide due to urbanisation and transport infrastructure development. In 2016, it nearly affected 23% of the Earth's surface. To date, all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems have been affected. The disruption of natural light cycles due to ALAN is particularly expected for nocturnal species, which require dark periods to forage, move, and reproduce. Apart from chiropterans, amphibians contain the largest proportion of nocturnal species among vertebrates exhibiting an unfavourable conservation status in most parts of the world and living in ALAN polluted areas. Despite the growing number of studies on this subject, our knowledge on the direct influence of nocturnal lighting on amphibians is still scarce. To better understand the consequences of ALAN on the breeding component of amphibian fitness, we experimentally exposed male breeding common toads (Bufo bufo) to ecologically relevant light intensities of 0.01 (control), 0.1 or 5 lux for 12 days. At mating, exposed males took longer than controls to form an amplexus, i.e. to pair with a female, and broke amplexus before egg laying, while controls never did. These behavioural changes were associated with fitness alteration. The fertilisation rate of 5 lux-exposed males was reduced by 25%. Salivary testosterone, which is usually correlated with reproductive behaviours, was not altered by ALAN. Our study demonstrates that ALAN can affect the breeding behaviour of anuran species and reduce one component of their fitness. Given the growing importance of ALAN, more work is needed to understand its long-term consequences on the behaviour and physiology of individuals. It appears essential to identify deleterious effects for animal populations and propose appropriate management solutions in an increasingly brighter world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Touzot
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France.
| | - Thierry Lengagne
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Jean Secondi
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France; Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Angers, 49045, Angers, France
| | - Emmanuel Desouhant
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558 LBBE, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Marc Théry
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), UMR 7179, Brunoy, F-91800, France
| | - Adeline Dumet
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Claude Duchamp
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Nathalie Mondy
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
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22
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Norevik G, Åkesson S, Andersson A, Bäckman J, Hedenström A. The lunar cycle drives migration of a nocturnal bird. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000456. [PMID: 31613884 PMCID: PMC6794068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Every year, billions of seasonal migrants connect continents by transporting nutrients, energy, and pathogens between distant communities and ecosystems. For animals that power their movements by endogenous energy stores, the daily energy intake rates strongly influence the speed of migration. If access to food resources varies cyclically over the season, migrants sensitive to changes in daily energy intake rates may adjust timing of migration accordingly. As an effect, individuals adjusting to a common temporal cycle are expected to approach synchrony in foraging and movement. A large-scale periodic pattern, such as the dark–light cycle of the moon, could thus synchronize migrations across animal populations. However, such cyclic effects on the temporal regulation of migration has not been considered. Here, we show the temporal influence of the lunar cycle on the movement activity and migration tactics in a visual hunting nocturnal insectivore and long-distance migrant, the European nightjar, Caprimulgus europeaus. We found that the daily foraging activity more than doubled during moonlit nights, likely driven by an increase in light-dependent fuelling opportunities. This resulted in a clear cyclicity also in the intensity of migratory movements, with occasionally up to 100% of the birds migrating simultaneously following periods of full moon. We conclude that cyclic influences on migrants can act as an important regulator of the progression of individuals and synchronize pulses of migratory populations, with possible downstream effects on associated communities and ecosystems. If the fuelling rate of birds varies periodically, it may act as a synchroniser of migrant populations over large spatial scales. Tracking of the nightjar, a long-distance nocturnal migrant bird, reveals that it adjusts its movements in relation to the lunar cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Norevik
- Centre for Animal Movement Research, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail: (GN); (AH)
| | - Susanne Åkesson
- Centre for Animal Movement Research, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Arne Andersson
- Centre for Animal Movement Research, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Bäckman
- Centre for Animal Movement Research, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Hedenström
- Centre for Animal Movement Research, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail: (GN); (AH)
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23
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Differential fitness effects of moonlight on plumage colour morphs in barn owls. Nat Ecol Evol 2019; 3:1331-1340. [PMID: 31477846 PMCID: PMC6728161 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0967-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Moon cycle exposes nocturnal life to variation in environmental light. However, whether moonlight shapes the fitness of nocturnal species with distinct colour variants remains unknown. Combining long-term monitoring, high-resolution GPS tracking, and experiments on prey, we show that barn owls (Tyto alba) with distinct plumage colourations are differently affected by moonlight. The reddest owls are less successful hunting and providing food to their offspring during moonlit nights, which associates with lower body mass and survival of the youngest nestlings and with female mates starting to lay eggs at low moonlight levels. Although moonlight should make white owls more conspicuous to prey, hunting and fitness of the whitest owls are positively or un-affected by moonlight. We experimentally show that, under full-moon conditions, white plumages trigger longer freezing times in the prey, which should facilitate prey catchability. We propose that the barn owl’s white plumage, a rare trait among nocturnal predators, exploits the known aversion of rodents to bright light, explaining why, counterintuitively, moonlight impacts less the whitest owls. Our study provides evidence for the long-suspected influence of the Moon on the evolution of colouration in nocturnal species, highlighting the importance of colour in nocturnal ecosystems.
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24
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Portugal SJ, White CR, Frappell PB, Green JA, Butler PJ. Impacts of "supermoon" events on the physiology of a wild bird. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:7974-7984. [PMID: 31380065 PMCID: PMC6662397 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The position of the Moon in relation to the Earth and the Sun gives rise to several predictable cycles, and natural changes in nighttime light intensity are known to cause alterations to physiological processes and behaviors in many animals. The limited research undertaken to date on the physiological responses of animals to the lunar illumination has exclusively focused on the synodic lunar cycle (full moon to full moon, or moon phase) but the moon's orbit-its distance from the Earth-may also be relevant. Every month, the moon moves from apogee, its most distant point from Earth-and then to perigee, its closest point to Earth. Here, we studied wild barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) to investigate the influence of multiple interacting lunar cycles on the physiology of diurnally active animals. Our study, which uses biologging technology to continually monitor body temperature and heart rate for an entire annual cycle, asks whether there is evidence for a physiological response to natural cycles in lunar brightness in wild birds, particularly "supermoon" phenomena, where perigee coincides with a full moon. There was a three-way interaction between lunar phase, lunar distance, and cloud cover as predictors of nighttime mean body temperature, such that body temperature was highest on clear nights when the full moon coincided with perigee moon. Our study is the first to report the physiological responses of wild birds to "supermoon" events; the wild geese responded to the combination of two independent lunar cycles, by significantly increasing their body temperature at night. That wild birds respond to natural fluctuations in nighttime ambient light levels support the documented responses of many species to anthropogenic sources of artificial light, that birds seem unable to override. As most biological systems are arguably organized foremost by light, this suggests that any interactions between lunar cycles and local weather conditions could have significant impacts on the energy budgets of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Portugal
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal HollowayUniversity of LondonEghamSurreyUK
| | - Craig R. White
- Centre for Geometric Biology, School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Peter B. Frappell
- Office of the Dean of Graduate ResearchUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
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25
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26
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Brooks GC, Smith JA, Gorman TA, Haas CA. Discerning the Environmental Drivers of Annual Migrations in an Endangered Amphibian. COPEIA 2019. [DOI: 10.1643/ch-18-068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- George C. Brooks
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, 310 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061; (GCB) ; and (CAH) . Send reprint requests to GCB
| | - Jennifer A. Smith
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, 310 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061; (GCB) ; and (CAH) . Send reprint requests to GCB
| | - Thomas A. Gorman
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, 310 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061; (GCB) ; and (CAH) . Send reprint requests to GCB
| | - Carola A. Haas
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, 310 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061; (GCB) ; and (CAH) . Send reprint requests to GCB
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27
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Do Local Environmental Factors and Lunar Cycle Influence Timing and Synchrony of Oviposition of a Turtle with Strict Nocturnal Nesting? DIVERSITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11050078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Timing of nesting affects fitness of oviparous animals living in seasonal environments, and females may cue on environmental factors for their nesting behavior, but these relationships are understudied in tropical turtles. Here, the timing and synchrony of egg-laying relative to environmental factors were examined in the South American freshwater turtle Podocnemis unifilis on 11 nesting beaches during three nesting seasons. Daily measurements included number of nests laid, rainfall, river level, air temperature, and the phase of the lunar cycle (full moon, last quarter, new moon and first quarter). Results confirmed that P. unifilis nested at night and revealed that females in our population nest in groups from 2 to 17 females at a time. Nesting was not correlated with rainfall, but a significant relationship was found with river level, such that nesting started at the onset of the dry season when river levels dropped and nesting grounds emerged. Importantly, we found that (1) nesting events concentrated on days with intermediate daily maximum air temperature (although maxima changed annually), and that (2) larger groups of females nested around full moon, suggesting the reliance on visual cues to initiate nesting activities (consistent with social facilitation behavior). Altogether, the timing of nesting in P. unifilis may be shaped by a combination of environmental factors, moon phase and social facilitation, where visual cues play an important role.
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Nishimura T, Tada H, Fukushima M. Correlation between the Lunar Phase and Tail-Lifting Behavior of Lizards ( Pogona vitticeps) Exposed to an Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9050208. [PMID: 31052293 PMCID: PMC6562989 DOI: 10.3390/ani9050208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We examined the relationship between the number of tail lifts of lizards (Pogona vitticeps) and environmental factors, such as the calendar month, daily mean temperature, daily mean humidity, daily mean atmospheric pressure, lunar phase (full moon/new moon), and K index as a geomagnetic disturbance index using 16 months of data. We set up an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) group and a control group. In a multiple linear regression analysis, the independent determinants associated with the number of tail lifts were the full moon, the temperature, February, March, April, and May in the ELF-EMF group and March, April, May, and June in the control group. The P. vitticeps in the ELF-EMF group responded to the full moon whereas those in the control group did not. Abstract We previously showed that the agamid lizard Pogona vitticeps responded to an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF; frequency: 6 and 8 Hz; peak magnetic field: 2.6 µT; peak electric field: 10 V/m) with tail-lifting behavior. In addition, the tail-lifting response to ELF-EMF disappeared when the parietal eyes of the lizards were covered by small round aluminum caps. This result suggests that the parietal eye contributes to light-dependent magnetoreception. In the present study, we set up an ELF-EMF group to evaluate the long-term effect of the ELF-EMF on lizards’ behavior and examine our hypothesis that exposure to ELF-EMFs increases the magnetic field sensitivity in lizards. We therefore include the lunar phase (full moon/new moon) and K index as environmental factors related to the geomagnetic field in the analysis. The number of tail lifts per individual per day was the response variable while calendar month, daily mean temperature, daily mean humidity, daily mean atmospheric pressure, full moon, new moon, and K index were the explanatory variables. We analyzed an ELF-EMF group and a control group separately. In a multiple linear regression analysis, the independent determinants associated with the number of tail lifts were the full moon, the temperature, February, March, April, and May in the ELF-EMF group and March, April, May, and June in the control group. The P. vitticeps in the ELF-EMF group responded to the full moon whereas those in the control group did not. In addition, in the ELF-EMF group, the number of tail lifts was higher on days when the K index was higher (P = 0.07) in the first period whereas there was no such tendency in either period in the control group. There is the possibility that the exposure to ELF-EMFs may increase magnetic-field sensitivity in lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Nishimura
- Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science (iACT), Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
- Translational Research Center for Medical Innovation, 1-5-4 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
| | - Harue Tada
- Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science (iACT), Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Masanori Fukushima
- Translational Research Center for Medical Innovation, 1-5-4 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
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El-Darawany AHA, El-Tarabany MS, Al-Marakby KM, Atta MA. Effect of lunar cycle on some reproductive aspects of female goats. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2019.1600264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmoud S. El-Tarabany
- Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Khaled M. Al-Marakby
- Department of Animal production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Mostafa A. Atta
- Biological Applications Department, Radioisotopes Applications Division, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
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Henrique RS, Grant T. Influence of Environmental Factors on Short-Term Movements of Butter Frogs (Leptodactylus latrans). HERPETOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.1655/d-18-00018.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael S. Henrique
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of Sa˜o Paulo, Sa˜o Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Taran Grant
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of Sa˜o Paulo, Sa˜o Paulo, SP, Brazil
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31
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Schenk S, Bannister SC, Sedlazeck FJ, Anrather D, Minh BQ, Bileck A, Hartl M, von Haeseler A, Gerner C, Raible F, Tessmar-Raible K. Combined transcriptome and proteome profiling reveals specific molecular brain signatures for sex, maturation and circalunar clock phase. eLife 2019; 8:e41556. [PMID: 30767890 PMCID: PMC6377233 DOI: 10.7554/elife.41556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many marine animals, ranging from corals to fishes, synchronise reproduction to lunar cycles. In the annelid Platynereis dumerilii, this timing is orchestrated by an endogenous monthly (circalunar) clock entrained by moonlight. Whereas daily (circadian) clocks cause extensive transcriptomic and proteomic changes, the quality and quantity of regulations by circalunar clocks have remained largely elusive. By establishing a combined transcriptomic and proteomic profiling approach, we provide first systematic insight into the molecular changes in Platynereis heads between circalunar phases, and across sexual differentiation and maturation. Whereas maturation elicits large transcriptomic and proteomic changes, the circalunar clock exhibits only minor transcriptomic, but strong proteomic regulation. Our study provides a versatile extraction technique and comprehensive resources. It corroborates that circadian and circalunar clock effects are likely distinct and identifies key molecular brain signatures for reproduction, sex and circalunar clock phase. Examples include prepro-whitnin/proctolin and ependymin-related proteins as circalunar clock targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Schenk
- Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform 'Rhythms of Life', University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephanie C Bannister
- Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform 'Rhythms of Life', University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fritz J Sedlazeck
- Center of Integrative Bioinformatics Vienna, Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dorothea Anrather
- Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Max F Perutz Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bui Quang Minh
- Center of Integrative Bioinformatics Vienna, Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Bileck
- Research Platform 'Rhythms of Life', University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Hartl
- Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Max F Perutz Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arndt von Haeseler
- Research Platform 'Rhythms of Life', University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Center of Integrative Bioinformatics Vienna, Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Computer Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher Gerner
- Research Platform 'Rhythms of Life', University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Raible
- Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform 'Rhythms of Life', University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kristin Tessmar-Raible
- Research Platform 'Rhythms of Life', University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
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32
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Affiliation(s)
- Ujjwal Chakraborty
- Life Science Division, Moulasole R.B. High School, Moulasole, Bankura, West Bengal, India
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33
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Plenderleith TL, Stratford D, Lollback GW, Chapple DG, Reina RD, Hero JM. Calling phenology of a diverse amphibian assemblage in response to meteorological conditions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2018; 62:873-882. [PMID: 29242979 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-017-1490-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The strong association between amphibian activity, breeding and recruitment with local environmental conditions raises concerns regarding how changes in climate may affect the persistence of species populations into the future. Additionally, in a highly diverse assemblage of anurans, competition for breeding sites affects the time and duration of activity, as species compete for limited resources such as water. Meteorological conditions are strong drivers of amphibian activity, so we assessed whether temperature, rainfall, atmospheric pressure and humidity were associated with the calling phenology of an assemblage of anurans in South East Queensland, Australia. We performed calling surveys and collected digital recordings at 45 ponds in an area known for high anuran diversity. We performed detection analyses to investigate the influence of 10 meteorological variables in detection of calling activity in 19 amphibian species. Our results suggest four breeding strategies in the assemblage: explosive summer breeders, prolonged breeders, opportunistic breeders and a winter breeder. Classifying these species into associations provides a framework for understanding how species respond to environmental conditions. Explosive breeders (i.e. species demonstrating short and highly synchronised breeding periods) were particularly responsive to temperature. Our findings help elucidate the breeding phenology of frogs and provide valuable information on their mating systems in native Australian forests. This study highlights the difficulties of surveying even common anurans. We highlight the importance of predictability and stability in climate and the vulnerability of species for which reproduction appears to require highly specific environmental cues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danial Stratford
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- CSIRO Land and Water, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
| | - Gregory W Lollback
- Design Unit, Engineering, Tweed Shire Council, Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Richard D Reina
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Jean-Marc Hero
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
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34
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Miwa T. Conditions controlling the timing of the autumn migration to hibernation sites in a Japanese headwater frog,
Rana sakuraii. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Miwa
- Department of Environmental Science Tokyo Gakugei University Koganei Tokyo Japan
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35
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Yovanovich CAM, Koskela SM, Nevala N, Kondrashev SL, Kelber A, Donner K. The dual rod system of amphibians supports colour discrimination at the absolute visual threshold. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:20160066. [PMID: 28193811 PMCID: PMC5312016 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of two spectrally different kinds of rod photoreceptors in amphibians has been hypothesized to enable purely rod-based colour vision at very low light levels. The hypothesis has never been properly tested, so we performed three behavioural experiments at different light intensities with toads (Bufo) and frogs (Rana) to determine the thresholds for colour discrimination. The thresholds of toads were different in mate choice and prey-catching tasks, suggesting that the differential sensitivities of different spectral cone types as well as task-specific factors set limits for the use of colour in these behavioural contexts. In neither task was there any indication of rod-based colour discrimination. By contrast, frogs performing phototactic jumping were able to distinguish blue from green light down to the absolute visual threshold, where vision relies only on rod signals. The remarkable sensitivity of this mechanism comparing signals from the two spectrally different rod types approaches theoretical limits set by photon fluctuations and intrinsic noise. Together, the results indicate that different pathways are involved in processing colour cues depending on the ecological relevance of this information for each task.This article is part of the themed issue 'Vision in dim light'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sanna M Koskela
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Noora Nevala
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sergei L Kondrashev
- A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Palchevskogo 17, 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Almut Kelber
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristian Donner
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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36
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Höbel G. Social facilitation is a better predictor of frog reproductive activity than environmental factors. Biotropica 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gerlinde Höbel
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee; Milwaukee WI 53201 USA
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37
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Onorati M, Vignoli L. The darker the night, the brighter the stars: consequences of nocturnal brightness on amphibian reproduction. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blw007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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38
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Bylemans J, Furlan EM, Hardy CM, McGuffie P, Lintermans M, Gleeson DM. An environmental
DNA‐
based method for monitoring spawning activity: a case study, using the endangered Macquarie perch (
Macquaria australasica
). Methods Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Bylemans
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra ACT Australia
- Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre University of Canberra Canberra ACT 2617 Australia
| | - Elise M. Furlan
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra ACT Australia
- Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre University of Canberra Canberra ACT 2617 Australia
| | | | - Prudence McGuffie
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra ACT Australia
- New‐South Wales Department of Primary Industries Batemans Bay NSW 2536 Australia
| | - Mark Lintermans
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Dianne M. Gleeson
- Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Canberra ACT Australia
- Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre University of Canberra Canberra ACT 2617 Australia
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39
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Green DM. Amphibian breeding phenology trends under climate change: predicting the past to forecast the future. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:646-656. [PMID: 27273300 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Global climate warming is predicted to hasten the onset of spring breeding by anuran amphibians in seasonal environments. Previous data had indicated that the breeding phenology of a population of Fowler's Toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) at their northern range limit had been progressively later in spring, contrary to generally observed trends in other species. Although these animals are known to respond to environmental temperature and the lunar cycle to commence breeding, the timing of breeding should also be influenced by the onset of overwintering animals' prior upward movement through the soil column from beneath the frost line as winter becomes spring. I used recorded weather data to identify four factors of temperature, rainfall and snowfall in late winter and early spring that correlated with the toads' eventual date of emergence aboveground. Estimated dates of spring emergence of the toads calculated using a predictive model based on these factors, as well as the illumination of the moon, were highly correlated with observed dates of emergence over 24 consecutive years. Using the model to estimate of past dates of spring breeding (i.e. retrodiction) indicated that even three decades of data were insufficient to discern any appreciable phenological trend in these toads. However, by employing weather data dating back to 1876, I detected a significant trend over 140 years towards earlier spring emergence by the toads by less than half a day/decade, while, over the same period of time, average annual air temperature and annual precipitation had both increased. Changes in the springtime breeding phenology for late-breeding species, such as Fowler's Toads, therefore may conform to expectations of earlier breeding under global warming. Improved understanding of the environmental cues that bring organisms out of winter dormancy will enable better interpretation of long-term phenological trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Green
- Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0C4, Canada
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40
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Loman J. Breeding phenology in Rana temporaria. Local variation is due to pond temperature and population size. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:6202-9. [PMID: 27648237 PMCID: PMC5016643 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Frog breeding phenology in temperate zones is usually compared to progress of spring temperatures at a regional scale. However, local populations may differ substantially in phenology. To understand this, local climate and other aspects must be studied. In this study, breeding phenology of the common frog, Rana temporaria, in a set of ponds in southern Sweden is analyzed. There was within year a variation of up to 3 weeks in start of breeding among local populations. Water temperature was measured in the ponds, and breeding tended to be earlier in warmer ponds (surprise!). Breeding was also earlier in ponds with a large breeding congregation. Alternative reasons for these patterns are suggested and discussed. There was a large residual variation. The common frog has a wide range of acceptable wintering sites, and I hypothesize that the particular choice by a local population may explain part of this residual variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Loman
- Deptartment of BiologyLund UniversityLundSweden
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41
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Green T, Das E, Green DM. Springtime Emergence of Overwintering Toads,Anaxyrus fowleri, in Relation to Environmental Factors. COPEIA 2016. [DOI: 10.1643/ce-15-323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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42
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Kusano T, Miura T, Terui S, Maruyama K. Factors Affecting the Breeding Activity of the Japanese Common Toad,Bufo japonicus formosus(Amphibia: Bufonidae) with Special Reference to the Lunar Cycle. CURRENT HERPETOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.34.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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43
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Heinermann J, Rodríguez A, Segev O, Edmonds D, Dolch R, Vences M. Year-round activity patterns in a hyperdiverse community of rainforest amphibians in Madagascar. J NAT HIST 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2015.1009513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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44
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Hoi H, Krištofík J, Darolová A. All you can eat: is food supply unlimited in a colonially breeding bird? Ecol Evol 2015; 5:450-8. [PMID: 25691970 PMCID: PMC4314275 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Revised: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Food availability is generally considered to determine breeding site selection and therefore plays an important role in hypotheses explaining the evolution of colony formation. Hypotheses trying to explain why birds join a colony usually assume that food is not limited, whereas those explaining variation in colony size suggest that food is under constraint. In this study, we investigate the composition and amount of food items not eaten by the nestlings and found in nest burrows of colonially nesting European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster). We aimed to determine whether this unconsumed food is an indicator of unlimited food supply, the result of mistakes during food transfer between parents and chicks or foraging selectivity of chicks. Therefore, we investigated the amount of dropped food for each nest in relation to reproductive performance and parameters reflecting parental quality. Our data suggest that parents carry more food to the nest than chicks can eat and, hence, food is not limited. This assumption is supported by the facts that there is a positive relationship between dropped food found in a nest and the number of fledglings, nestling age, and chick health condition and that the amount of dropped food is independent of colony size. There is variation in the amount of dropped food within colonies, suggesting that parent foraging efficiency may also be an important determinant. Pairs nesting in the center of a colony performed better than those nesting on the edge, which supports the assumption that quality differences between parents are important as well. However, dropped food cannot be used as an indicator of local food availability as (1) within-colony variation in dropped food is larger than between colony variation and, (2) the average amount of dropped food is not related to colony size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert Hoi
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
| | - Ján Krištofík
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Alžbeta Darolová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava, Slovakia
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45
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Gunn J, Hawkins D, Barnes RFW, Mofulu F, Grant RA, Norton GW. The influence of lunar cycles on crop-raiding elephants; evidence for risk avoidance. Afr J Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jody Gunn
- Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory; Alice Springs PO Box 1120 NT 0871 Australia
| | - Dawn Hawkins
- Animal & Environmental Research Group; Faculty of Science and Technology; Anglia Ruskin University; East Road Cambridge CB 1 1PT U.K
| | - Richard F. W. Barnes
- Centre for Community Health; Division of Academic General Pediatrics; School of Medicine; University of California; 9500 Gilman Drive San Diego La Jolla CA 92093-0927 U.S.A
| | - Fredrick Mofulu
- Animal & Environmental Research Group; Faculty of Science and Technology; Anglia Ruskin University; East Road Cambridge CB 1 1PT U.K
- Tanzania National Parks; Tarangire National Park; Arusha PO Box 3134 Tanzania
| | - Rachel A. Grant
- Animal & Environmental Research Group; Faculty of Science and Technology; Anglia Ruskin University; East Road Cambridge CB 1 1PT U.K
| | - Guy W. Norton
- Animal & Environmental Research Group; Faculty of Science and Technology; Anglia Ruskin University; East Road Cambridge CB 1 1PT U.K
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46
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Kronfeld-Schor N, Dominoni D, de la Iglesia H, Levy O, Herzog ED, Dayan T, Helfrich-Forster C. Chronobiology by moonlight. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20123088. [PMID: 23825199 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.3088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Most studies in chronobiology focus on solar cycles (daily and annual). Moonlight and the lunar cycle received considerably less attention by chronobiologists. An exception are rhythms in intertidal species. Terrestrial ecologists long ago acknowledged the effects of moonlight on predation success, and consequently on predation risk, foraging behaviour and habitat use, while marine biologists have focused more on the behaviour and mainly on reproduction synchronization with relation to the Moon phase. Lately, several studies in different animal taxa addressed the role of moonlight in determining activity and studied the underlying mechanisms. In this paper, we review the ecological and behavioural evidence showing the effect of moonlight on activity, discuss the adaptive value of these changes, and describe possible mechanisms underlying this effect. We will also refer to other sources of night-time light ('light pollution') and highlight open questions that demand further studies.
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47
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Steen DA, McClure CJ, Graham SP. Relative influence of weather and season on anuran calling activity. CAN J ZOOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2012-0266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Drivers of anuran reproductive activity may include multiple and independent environmental variables. To determine the relative influence of season, temperature, and precipitation in initiating frog reproduction, we monitored a species-rich frog assemblage in south-central Alabama for 3 years and modeled calling activity of vocalizing males, who call to attract mates. We evaluated multiple hypotheses potentially explaining calling activity and we were able to identify significant influences of calling activity for all 11 anuran species considered in the analysis. Eight species were significantly influenced by month of survey and four of these were influenced by at least one additional environmental variable. In our study, precipitation was relatively unimportant in influencing calling activity, likely because breeding pools at the site are semipermanent and the species we sampled are not generally reliant on ephemeral wetlands. In general, our data suggest that different species within the same wetlands respond to different cues when initiating reproduction and calling activity is largely based on a combination of both environmental conditions and either seasonal changes or endogenous drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Steen
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, 3988 Jones Center Drive, Newton, GA 39870, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | | | - Sean P. Graham
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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48
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Environmental and social determinants of anuran lekking behavior: intraspecific variation in populations at thermal extremes. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1469-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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49
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Grant R, Halliday T, Chadwick E. Amphibians’ response to the lunar synodic cycle—a review of current knowledge, recommendations, and implications for conservation. Behav Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ars135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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50
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Forsythe PS, Scribner KT, Crossman JA, Ragavendran A, Baker EA, Davis C, Smith KK. Environmental and lunar cues are predictive of the timing of river entry and spawning-site arrival in lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2012; 81:35-53. [PMID: 22747803 DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03308.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The associations were quantified between daily and interannual variation in the timing of a closed population of lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens migration and arrival at spawning sites with stream environmental and lunar covariates. Spawning data were gathered from 1262 fish in Black Lake, Michigan 2001 to 2008 and by video monitoring 2000 to 2002. Sex-specific variation in responses to external cues was also tested. Results showed that a greater number of individuals initiated migration from lake to riverine habitats at dawn and dusk relative to other times of the day. Current and lagged effects of water temperature and river discharge, and periods in the lunar cycle were important variables in models quantifying movements into the river and timing of adult arrival at spawning sites. Different suites of covariates were predictive of A. fulverscens responses during different periods of the spawning season. The timing of initiation of migration and spawning, and the importance of covariates to the timing of these events, did not differ between sexes. Stream flow and temperature covaried with other variables including day length and the lunar cycle. Anthropogenic disruption of relationships among variables may mean that environmental cues may no longer reliably convey information for Acipenseriformes and other migratory fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P S Forsythe
- Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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