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Berlinghieri F, Jansen N, Riedstra B, Brown C, Groothuis TGG. The effect of light during embryonic development on laterality and exploration in Western Rainbowfish. Laterality 2024; 29:1-18. [PMID: 37658580 DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2023.2252567] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Several factors affect the development of lateralization such as hormones and light exposure during early development. Laterality also often correlates with other behavioral traits. To examine whether there is a common mechanism underlying the development of laterality and other behaviors, we manipulated laterality by exposing embryos of the Western rainbowfish (Melatotaenia australis) to light or continuous darkness during early development and determined whether a shift in laterality was associated with a change in behavior in a novel environment test at two different ages. We found that exposing eggs to darkness led to offspring that displayed significantly less lateralized behavior in the mirror test two weeks after hatching than offspring from eggs exposed to light. Interestingly, the effects of rearing condition were lost by 3 months of age. These data suggest that exposure to light can influence laterality very early in development, but such bias can be overwritten by developmental processes post-hatch. Moreover, our manipulation of laterality apparently had no influence on exploration suggesting independent causal mechanisms. The experimental manipulation of light exposure during development could be a useful tool for enhancing individuals with a specific laterality and behavioral traits to aid future research into the causes and consequences of laterality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Berlinghieri
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nils Jansen
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bernd Riedstra
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Culum Brown
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ton G G Groothuis
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Wang Y, Riedstra B, Hulst R, Noordhuis R, Groothuis T. Early conversion of maternal androgens affects the embryo already in the first week of development. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220593. [PMID: 36855858 PMCID: PMC9975654 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal androgen exposure has potent effects on offspring development. As substantial levels of maternal androgens are deposited in avian egg yolks, avian eggs are frequently used to study maternal effects, with a strong focus on post-natal development. However, the underlying pathways are largely unknown. Since the hormones are taken up during the embryonic phase, and these are rapidly metabolized by avian embryos into metabolites such as etiocholanolone, we studied the effects of yolk androgens (testosterone and androstenedione) and their metabolite etiocholanolone during the first few days of embryonic development. As embryonic heart rate is often used as an indicator of embryonic development, we measured the heart rate from day 3 to day 6 of incubation by using a shell-less culture technique in rock pigeon eggs (Columba livia). Increased androgen exposure increased heart rate, and increased etiocholanolone mimicked this effect, albeit in a small sample size. This indicates that exposure to maternal androgens increases embryonic overall metabolism which may account for the developmental outcomes found in previous studies such as increased growth. Moreover, etiocholanolone is likely to be an important metabolite in a non-genomic pathway underlying the androgen-mediated maternal effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Wang
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bernd Riedstra
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ronja Hulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Roy Noordhuis
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ton Groothuis
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Wang Y, Riedstra B, Groothuis T. Embryonic heart rate is affected by yolk androgens and egg laying sequence, and correlates with embryonic tissue growth: A study in rock pigeons. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 333:114213. [PMID: 36642229 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114213] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Maternal androgen exposure can have crucial effects on offspring development. Bird eggs are frequently used for studying these effects and virtually all research in this field has focused on post-hatching offspring traits. Yet, much of the yolk, in which the maternal hormones are deposited, is consumed during the embryonic phase. Here, we studied the effects of yolk androgens during this prenatal period. As there is evidence that androgens stimulate post-hatching traits such as increased growth, we measured heart rate throughout incubation as a proxy for prenatal metabolism. Rock pigeons (Columba livia) typically lay 2-egg clutches with yolk androgen levels in second-laid eggs being consistently higher than in first-laid eggs. We investigated whether embryonic heart rate was higher in second- than first-laid eggs. Additionally, we increased yolk androgen levels (testosterone and androstenedione) with the mean difference between those in first- and second-laid eggs, to investigate whether the effects of androgens are egg sequence dependent. As expected, embryonic heart rate predicted body embryo organ- and body mass, and body dimensions, with body mass being significantly higher in second- than first-laid eggs. Androgen treated first-laid eggs increased heart rate to that of second-laid control eggs only temporally, yet it had an overall positive effect on embryo body dimensions but not on tissue mass. Our findings indicate that embryos from different egg laying sequence differed in heart rate and prenatal development outcomes but this can only partially be explained by their difference in maternal androgen levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Wang
- University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, the Netherlands.
| | - Bernd Riedstra
- University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, the Netherlands
| | - Ton Groothuis
- University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, the Netherlands
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Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of Aequidens rivulatus. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091205. [PMID: 35565631 PMCID: PMC9101118 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Generally, animals prefer mating with partners of the opposite sex with specific features, which suggests that animals tend to choose mates with particular phenotypic traits. However, there are some differences in mate choice behavior and criteria between males and females. This study analyzed these differences between males and females in Aequidens rivulatus by quantifying body size, behavioral intention, and appearance. The results showed that males paid more attention to preference degree and female attractiveness, whereas females focused on ability and physical strength displays. Consequently, males who chose to mate were primarily associated with body size, behavioral intention, and appearance, whereas the preferences of females were body size, appearance, and behavioral intention. Collectively, our initial findings revealed that males and females have different criteria for mate choice, which is vital in determining successful mating and improving artificial mating. Abstract The mating roles of males and females, to a certain extent, are dynamic and variable. Several factors influence the mate choice process. Nonetheless, the main preference features have not yet been fully understood in Aequidens rivulatus. In this study, because of its natural pairing characteristics, A. rivulatus was selected to explore the mate choice preferences of different sexes. Specifically, male and female behavioral performances were described and quantified through a “no-choice paradigm” during mate choice. A total of 12 behavioral performances were defined in male mate choice (experiment 1), whereas 14 behavioral performances were defined in female mate choice (experiment 2). According to the obtained results, unselected females did not display any proactive behaviors in experiment 1, whereas unselected males exhibited proactive behaviors in experiment 2, including quivering, nipping, tail beating, swimming up and down, and aggression. It was also found that both male and female individuals tend to express dislike rather than like. Those behaviors with higher frequencies (e.g., quivering) often mean less energy expenditure, thus easier repeatability. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to extract and identify mate choice preference features. Preliminary results indicated that male preferences for a mate were mainly associated with body size, behavioral intention, and appearance, whereas the intensity of female preferences was in the order of body size, appearance, and behavioral intention. In addition, sex hormone levels were associated with mate choices.
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Groothuis TGG, Zickert N, Riedstra B, Geuze R. The importance of understanding function and evolution. Laterality 2021; 26:342-347. [PMID: 33847246 DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2021.1909610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Ocklenburg et al. (2020, Laterality 2020: Entering the next decade. Laterality) provided the field of laterality research with a stimulating research perspective for the coming decade, based on the current state of the art in both animal and human laterality research. Although this is paper takes many different approaches of laterality into account, we emphasize that the eco-evolutionary approach needs more attention. This concerns the question why organisms are lateralized in the first place, in other words, how does lateralization enhance the Darwinian fitness of the individual. We argue that laterality can be distinguished along four dimensions, and that each of them requires different ultimate explanations. Studying these functional and evolutionary explanations requires the development of ecologically relevant tests, adapted to the species at hand. It also requires experimental manipulation of laterality, testing the effect in (semi)-natural conditions on fitness parameters. Tools for such manipulation of laterality urgently require a better understanding of the developmental plasticity of lateralization, extending the field of evo-devo to that of eco-evo-devo. We also warn against seeing the minority in the distribution of direction or strength of lateralization as being a pathology as such minorities in biology can often be explained as adaptations by natural frequency dependent selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ton G G Groothuis
- Behavioural Biology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nele Zickert
- Behavioural Biology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bernd Riedstra
- Behavioural Biology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Reint Geuze
- Department of Neuro and Developmental Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Berlinghieri F, Panizzon P, Penry-Williams IL, Brown C. Laterality and fish welfare - A review. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Prenatal Visual Exposure to a Predator Influences Lateralization in Goldbelly Topminnows. Symmetry (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/sym12081257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of genetic and environmental factors in modulating the development of brain lateralization is far from being fully understood, and the presence of individual differences in several lateralized functions is still an open question. In goldbelly topminnows, the genetic basis of asymmetrical functions in the brain has been studied, and recently it has been found that light stimulation influences the expression of lateralization of newborns. Here, we investigated whether prenatal exposure to predators affects the development of lateralization in 10-day-old topminnows born from females exposed to a real or to a simulated predator during pregnancy. Offspring from females exposed to a real predator were lateralized in both visual and motor tests, whereas fish from females exposed to a simulated predator were not and did not differ from controls. Prenatal exposure to a real predator might promote the alignment of lateralization in the same direction in different individuals.
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Possenti CD, Romano A, Caprioli M, Rubolini D, Spiezio C, Saino N, Parolini M. Yolk testosterone affects growth and promotes individual-level consistency in behavioral lateralization of yellow-legged gull chicks. Horm Behav 2016; 80:58-67. [PMID: 26836770 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral lateralization is common in animals and may be expressed at the individual- and at the population-level. The ontogenetic processes that control lateralization, however, are largely unknown. Well-established sex-dependence in androgen physiology and sex-dependent variation in lateralization have led to the hypothesis that testosterone (T) has organizational effects on lateralization. The effects of T exposure in early life on lateralization can be efficiently investigated by manipulating T levels in the cleidoic eggs of birds, because the embryo is isolated from maternal and sibling physiological interference, but this approach has been adopted very rarely. In the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) we increased yolk T concentration within the physiological limits and tested the effects on the direction of lateralization in two functionally fundamental behaviors (begging for parental care and escape to cover) of molecularly sexed hatchlings. We also speculated that T may intervene in regulating consistency, rather than direction of lateralization, and therefore tested if T affected the 'repeatability' of lateral preference in consecutive behavioral trials. T treatment had no effect on the direction of lateralization, but enhanced the consistency of lateral preference in escape responses. Sex did not predict lateralization. Neither behavior was lateralized at the population-level. We therefore showed for the first time in any species an effect of egg T on consistency in lateralization. The implications of the effect of T for the evolution of trade-offs in maternal allocation of egg hormones, and the evolutionary interpretations of findings from our studies on lateralization among unmanipulated birds are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan, Italy.
| | - Manuela Caprioli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Spiezio
- Research and Conservation Department, Parco Natura Viva, Verona, Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Parolini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan, Italy.
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Neissi A, Rafiee G, Nematollahi M, Razavi SH, Maniei F. Influence of supplemented diet with Pediococcus acidilactici on non-specific immunity and stress indicators in green terror (Aequidens rivulatus) during hypoxia. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 45:13-18. [PMID: 25891275 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2015.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Green terror fish were fed for two months with three types of feed including: control diet (C), diet containing 2% fish oil (O) and diet containing fish oil supplemented with 0.1% Pediococcus acidilactici bacteria (PA). At the end of the feeding period, 50 fish of different groups (n = 3) with an average weight of 4.28 g were transferred to 9 tank. Hypoxia tests were set out by sampling at three times including before hypoxia (BH) initiation, hypoxia stress spot (H) and starting mortality (SM). In fish submitted to the diet containing P. acidilactici bacteria, the immune indices of lysozyme activity (4.08, 4.19 and 4.85 μg/ml)], complement activity (2.65, 2.77 and 2.1 U/ml) and total immunoglobulin (10.05, 10.25 and 9.9 μg/ml) improved in all stages of sampling (BH, H and SM), respectively (p < 0.05). The positive effects of the bacteria application also extends for the stress indicators including: cortisol (0.175, 0.3 and 0.335 μM/ml), glucose (0.9, 1.25 and 0.6 μg/ml) and lactate (2.7, 3 and 3.35) μg/ml and plasma electrolytes consisting of Na(+) (178.5, 175.43 and 175.8 mmol/l) and Cl(-)(123.85, 119.30 and 118.43 mmol/l) in all sampling stages (BH, H and SM), respectively (p < 0.05). Put it all together, P. acidilactici, acting as a probiotic, helps reducing stress symptoms in green terror fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Neissi
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, 331585-4314 Karaj, Iran.
| | - Gholamreza Rafiee
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, 331585-4314 Karaj, Iran.
| | - Mohammadali Nematollahi
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, 331585-4314 Karaj, Iran.
| | - Seyed Hadi Razavi
- Department of Food Science, Engineering & Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Tehran, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, 331585-4314 Karaj, Iran.
| | - Fatemeh Maniei
- Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig - Leibniz-Institut für Biodiversität der Tiere, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany.
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Neissi A, Rafiee G, Nematollahi M, Safari O. The effect of Pediococcus acidilactici bacteria used as probiotic supplement on the growth and non-specific immune responses of green terror, Aequidens rivulatus. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 35:1976-1980. [PMID: 24161762 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2013.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A 56-day feeding trial was conducted on a species of ornamental fish called green terror (Aequidens rivulatus) (0.388 ± 0.0021 g) to assess the effect of probiotic bacteria, Pediococcus acidilactici on the growth indices and innate immune response. The fish were randomly allocated into 9 oval tanks (120 l) at a density of 60 fish per tank. The experimental diets were comprised of the control (C), C complemented with fish oil (O) and the probiotic and fish oil (PA) and fed ad lib twice a day. The growth indices (specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and immunological indices of fish fed the diets including lysozyme activity, total immunoglobulin and alternative complement activity were measured. The Fish fed with the diet containing P. acidilactici (PA) displayed significantly (P < 0.05) higher final weight (3.25 ± 0.065 g), weight gain (830.94 ± 9.46%), SGR (3.53 ± 0.02%/day) and lower FCR (1.45 ± 0.011) compared to those of other experimental diets. Total immunoglobulin (10.05 ± 0.12 μg/ml), lysozyme activity (4.08 ± 0.85 μg/ml) and alternative complement activity (2.65 ± 0.12 U/ml) in the serum of PA fed fish showed significant compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). The results showed positive effects of P. acidilactici as a potent probiotic on growth indices and non-specific immune system of green terror.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Neissi
- Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, 331585-4314 Karaj, Iran.
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Muller M, Groothuis TGG. Within-clutch variation in yolk testosterone as an adaptive maternal effect to modulate avian sibling competition: evidence from a comparative study. Am Nat 2012; 181:125-36. [PMID: 23234850 DOI: 10.1086/668601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In many species, embryos are exposed to maternal hormones in utero, in the egg, or in the seed. In birds, mothers deposit substantial testosterone into their eggs, which enhances competitive ability of offspring. These maternal testosterone concentrations vary systematically within clutches in different patterns and may enable mothers to adaptively fine-tune competitive hierarchies within broods. We performed a comparative analysis to investigate this hypothesis using a broad set of avian species. We expected species with small size differences among siblings (arising from small hatching asynchrony or slow growth rates) to aim for survival of the whole brood in good years and therefore compensate last-hatching eggs with relatively more testosterone. We expected species with large size differences among siblings (large hatching asynchrony or fast growth rates) to produce surplus young as insurance against failed offspring and to facilitate elimination of redundant surplus young by bestowing last-hatching eggs with relatively less testosterone. As predicted, we found that maternal testosterone compensation to last-hatching eggs is stronger when size differences among siblings become smaller. Maternal testosterone compensation to last-hatching eggs also correlated negatively with hatching asynchrony and growth rates. These findings provide evidence for correlated evolution of several maternal effects that together support different maternal reproductive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Muller
- Behavioural Biology, Centre of Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
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