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Rosso AA, Casement B, Chung AK, Curlis JD, Folfas E, Gallegos MA, Neel LK, Nicholson DJ, Williams CE, McMillan WO, Logan ML, Cox CL. Plasticity of Gene Expression and Thermal Tolerance: Implications for Climate Change Vulnerability in a Tropical Forest Lizard. ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 97:81-96. [PMID: 38728692 DOI: 10.1086/729927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
AbstractTropical ectotherms are thought to be especially vulnerable to climate change because they have evolved in temporally stable thermal environments and therefore have decreased tolerance for thermal variability. Thus, they are expected to have narrow thermal tolerance ranges, live close to their upper thermal tolerance limits, and have decreased thermal acclimation capacity. Although models often predict that tropical forest ectotherms are especially vulnerable to rapid environmental shifts, these models rarely include the potential for plasticity of relevant traits. We measured phenotypic plasticity of thermal tolerance and thermal preference as well as multitissue transcriptome plasticity in response to warmer temperatures in a species that previous work has suggested is highly vulnerable to climate warming, the Panamanian slender anole lizard (Anolis apletophallus). We found that many genes, including heat shock proteins, were differentially expressed across tissues in response to short-term warming. Under long-term warming, the voluntary thermal maxima of lizards also increased, although thermal preference exhibited only limited plasticity. Using these data, we modeled changes in the activity time of slender anoles through the end of the century under climate change and found that plasticity should delay declines in activity time by at least two decades. Our results suggest that slender anoles, and possibly other tropical ectotherms, can alter the expression of genes and phenotypes when responding to shifting environmental temperatures and that plasticity should be considered when predicting the future of organisms under a changing climate.
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Ji Y, Liu F, Li D, Chen Z, Chen P. Spatial–Temporal Patterns of Sympatric Asiatic Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus) and Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) in Northeastern China. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12101262. [PMID: 35625108 PMCID: PMC9137604 DOI: 10.3390/ani12101262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying the spatial and temporal interactions between sympatric animal species is essential for understanding the mechanisms of interspecific coexistence. Both Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) inhabit northeastern China, but their spatial–temporal patterns and the mechanism of coexistence were unclear until now. Camera traps were set in Heilongjiang Taipinggou National Nature Reserve (TPGNR) from January 2017 to December 2017 to collect photos of the two sympatric bear species. The Pianka index, kernel density estimation, and the coefficient of overlap were used to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of the two sympatric species. Our findings indicated that the spatial overlap between Asiatic black bears and brown bears was low, as Asiatic black bears occupied higher elevations than brown bears. The two species’ temporal activity patterns were similar at sites where only one species existed, yet they were different at the co–occurrence sites. Asiatic black bears and brown bears are competitors in this area, but they can coexist by changing their daily activity patterns. Compared to brown bears, Asiatic black bears behaved more diurnally. Our study revealed distinct spatial and temporal differentiation within the two species in TPGNR, which can reduce interspecific competition and facilitate coexistence between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunrui Ji
- Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.J.); (D.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.J.); (D.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100091, China
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (P.C.)
| | - Diqiang Li
- Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.J.); (D.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Zhiyu Chen
- The Administration of Duluhe Provincial Wetland Nature Reserve, Hegang 154100, China;
| | - Peng Chen
- College of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (P.C.)
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Downs CT, Alexander J, Brown M, Chibesa M, Ehlers Smith YC, Gumede ST, Hart L, Josiah KK, Kalle R, Maphalala M, Maseko M, McPherson S, Ngcobo SP, Patterson L, Pillay K, Price C, Raji IA, Ramesh T, Schmidt W, Senoge ND, Shivambu TC, Shivambu N, Singh N, Singh P, Streicher J, Thabethe V, Thatcher H, Widdows C, Wilson AL, Zungu MM, Ehlers Smith DA. Modification of the third phase in the framework for vertebrate species persistence in urban mosaic environments. AMBIO 2021; 50:1866-1878. [PMID: 33677809 PMCID: PMC8363720 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01501-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Urbanisation is rapidly transforming natural landscapes with consequences for biodiversity. Little is documented on the response of African wildlife to urbanisation. We reviewed case studies of vertebrate species' responses to urbanisation in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to determine trends. Connected habitat mosaics of natural and anthropogenic green spaces are critical for urban wildlife persistence. We present a novel modification to the final of three phases of the framework described by Evans et al. (2010), which documents this sequence for vertebrate species persistence, based on the perspective of our research. Species in suburbia exhibit an initial phase where behavioural and ecological flexibility, life-history traits and phenotypic plasticity either contribute to their success, or they stay at low numbers. Where successful, the next phase is a rapid increase in populations and distribution; anthropogenic food resources and alternate breeding sites are effectively exploited. The modified third phase either continues to spread, plateau or decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen T. Downs
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Jarryd Alexander
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Mark Brown
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Moses Chibesa
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Yvette C. Ehlers Smith
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - S. Thobeka Gumede
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Lorinda Hart
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Kyrone K. Josiah
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Riddhika Kalle
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Machawe Maphalala
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Mfundo Maseko
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Shane McPherson
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Samukelisiwe P. Ngcobo
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Lindsay Patterson
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Kerushka Pillay
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Cormac Price
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Islamiat Abidemi Raji
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Tharmalingam Ramesh
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Warren Schmidt
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Ntaki D. Senoge
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Tinyiko C. Shivambu
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Ndivhuwo Shivambu
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Nikisha Singh
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Preshnee Singh
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Jarryd Streicher
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Vuyisile Thabethe
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Harriet Thatcher
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Craig Widdows
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Amy-Leigh Wilson
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Manqoba M. Zungu
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - David A. Ehlers Smith
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, P/Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
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