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Ruiz Miñano M, Uller T, Pettersen AK, Nord A, Fitzpatrick LJ, While GM. Sexual color ornamentation, microhabitat choice, and thermal physiology in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:1041-1052. [PMID: 39101273 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) in Italy show a striking variation in body coloration across the landscape, with highly exaggerated black and green colors in hot and dry climates and brown and white colors in cool and wet climates. Males are more intensely colored than females, and previous work has suggested that the maintenance of variation in coloration across the landscape reflects climatic effects on the strength of male-male competition, and through this sexual selection. However climatic effects on the intensity of male-male competition would need to be exceptionally strong to fully explain the geographic patterns of color variation. Thus, additional processes may contribute to the maintenance of color variation. Here we test the hypothesis that selection for green and black ornamentation in the context of male-male competition is opposed by selection against ornamentation because the genes involved in the regulation of coloration have pleiotropic effects on thermal physiology, such that ornamentation is selected against in cool climates. Field observations revealed no association between body coloration and microhabitat use or field active body temperatures. Consistent with these field data, lizards at the extreme ends of the phenotypic distribution for body coloration did not show any differences in critical minimum temperature, preferred body temperature, temperature-dependent metabolic rate, or evaporative water loss when tested in the laboratory. Combined, these results provide no evidence that genes that underlie sexual ornamentation are selected against in cool climate because of pleiotropic effects on thermal biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maravillas Ruiz Miñano
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Amanda K Pettersen
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andreas Nord
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Luisa J Fitzpatrick
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M While
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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2
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Husain W, Kiran A, Qasim U, Gul S, Iftikhar J. Measuring Sexual Intelligence for Evaluating Sexual Health. Psychol Rep 2024; 127:2608-2630. [PMID: 36640115 DOI: 10.1177/00332941231152388] [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] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The current paper reports four consecutive studies that were conducted to link sexual health with a new construct of sexual intelligence by developing and validating a new scale to measure sexual intelligence. Sexual intelligence was defined as "the ability to perceive, understand and respond to sexual needs and desires in a personal and social context." Sexual Intelligence Scale (SIS), comprising of 8 items in English and 2 factors (sexual knowledge & sexual behavior), was developed and validated by involving 959 respondents in the process of 4 consecutive studies. The validity of SIS was tested step by step for its face, content, factorial, convergent, discriminant, and predictive validities. The reliability was measured through internal consistency and item-total & item-scale correlations. The study found significantly higher levels of sexual intelligence in men as compared to women. Sexual intelligence, moreover, had significant positive correlations with age, education, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, sexual health, and satisfaction with life. Sexual health was linked with sexual intelligence and the SIS was accepted as a reliable and valid tool to measure sexual intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqar Husain
- Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Abeera Kiran
- Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Umara Qasim
- Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Saleha Gul
- Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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3
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Jiménez T, Peña-Villalobos I, Arcila J, Del Basto F, Palma V, Sabat P. The effects of urban thermal heterogeneity and feather coloration on oxidative stress and metabolism of pigeons (Columba livia). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169564. [PMID: 38142996 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169564] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization stands out as a significant anthropogenic factor, exerting selective pressures on ecosystems and biotic components. A notable outcome of urbanization is thermal heterogeneity where the emergence of Urban Heat Islands is characterized by elevated air and surface temperatures compared to adjacent rural areas. Investigating the influence of thermal heterogeneity on urban animals could offer insights into how temperature variations can lead to phenotypic shifts. Urban pigeons (Columba livia) serve as an excellent model for studying urban thermal effects, given the melanism variations, which are associated with the pleiotropy of the melanocortin system. To examine the development of physiological plasticity in response to urban thermal variations, we conducted a study on pigeons in Santiago, Chile, during the rainy season. We assessed the influence of habitat on physiological traits related to metabolism and antioxidant capacities, which are theoretically affected by feather coloration. Our findings reveal that variations in melanism significantly impact pigeon physiology, affecting both antioxidant capacities and the mitochondrial activity of red blood cells. It was found that higher urban temperatures, from both the current sampling month and the prior sampling month (from CRU TS dataset), were negatively and strongly associated with lower antioxidant and metabolic activities. This suggests that elevated urban temperatures likely benefit the energetic budgets of pigeon populations and mitigate the negative effects of oxidative metabolism, with differential effects depending on feather colorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás Jiménez
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Isaac Peña-Villalobos
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Laboratorio de Células troncales y Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Javiera Arcila
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Del Basto
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica Palma
- Laboratorio de Células troncales y Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Sabat
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago, Chile; Millennium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi)
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4
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Roulin A, Dubey S, Ito S, Wakamatsu K. Melanin-based plumage coloration and melanin content in organs in the barn owl. JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY 2023; 165:429-438. [PMID: 38496038 PMCID: PMC10940376 DOI: 10.1007/s10336-023-02137-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Although the evolutionary ecology of melanin pigments and melanin-based coloration has been studied in great details, particularly in birds, little is known about the function of melanin stored inside the body. In the barn owl Tyto alba, in which individuals vary in the degree of reddish pheomelanin-based coloration and in the size of black eumelanic feather spots, we measured the concentration in melanin pigments in seven organs. The eyes had by far the most melanin then the skin, pectoral muscle, heart, liver, trachea, and uropygial gland. The concentration in eumelanin was not necessarily correlated with the concentration in pheomelanin suggesting that their production can be regulated independently from each other. Redder barn owls had more pheomelanin in the skin and uropygial gland than white owls, while owls displaying larger black feather spots had more eumelanin in the skin than small-spotted owls. More data are required to evaluate whether melanin-based traits can evolve as an indirect response to selection exerted on melanin deposition in organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Dubey
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- HW Romandie SA, Avenue Des Alpes 25, CH-1820 Montreux, Switzerland
| | - Shosuke Ito
- Institute for Melanin Chemistry, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192 Japan
| | - Kazumasa Wakamatsu
- Institute for Melanin Chemistry, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192 Japan
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5
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Platzer JM, Gunter LM, Feuerbacher EN. Exploring the Domestication Syndrome Hypothesis in Dogs: Pigmentation Does Not Predict Cortisol Levels. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3095. [PMID: 37835701 PMCID: PMC10571964 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has found connections between pigmentation, behavior, and the physiological stress response in both wild and domestic animals; however, to date, no extensive research has been devoted to answering these questions in domestic dogs. Modern dogs are exposed to a variety of stressors; one well-studied stressor is residing in an animal shelter. To explore the possible relationships between dogs' responses to stress and their pigmentation, we conducted statistical analyses of the cortisol:creatinine ratios of 208 American shelter dogs as a function of their coat color/pattern, eumelanin pigmentation, or white spotting. These dogs had been enrolled in previous welfare studies investigating the effect of interventions during which they left the animal shelter and spent time with humans. In the current investigation, we visually phenotype dogs based on photographs in order to classify their pigmentation and then conduct post hoc analyses to examine whether they differentially experience stress as a function of pigmentation. We found that the dogs did not differ significantly in their urinary cortisol:creatinine ratios based on coat color/pattern, eumelanin pigmentation, or white spotting, either while they were residing in the animal shelter or during the human interaction intervention. These preliminary data suggest that pigmentation alone does not predict the stress responses of shelter dogs; however, due to the small sample size and retrospective nature of the study, more research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- JoAnna M. Platzer
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.M.G.); (E.N.F.)
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Cosentino BJ, Vanek JP, Gibbs JP. Rural selection drives the evolution of an urban-rural cline in coat color in gray squirrels. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10544. [PMID: 37829180 PMCID: PMC10565125 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic differences between urban and rural populations are well-documented, but the evolutionary processes driving trait variation along urbanization gradients are often unclear. We combined spatial data on abundance, trait variation, and measurements of fitness to understand cline structure and test for natural selection on heritable coat color morphs (melanic, gray) of eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) along an urbanization gradient. Population surveys using remote cameras and visual counts at 76 sites along the urbanization gradient revealed a significant cline in melanism, decreasing from 48% in the city center to <5% in rural woodlands. Among 76 squirrels translocated to test for phenotypic selection, survival was lower for the melanic than gray morph in rural woodlands, whereas there was no difference in survival between color morphs in the city. These results suggest the urban-rural cline in melanism is explained by natural selection favoring the gray morph in rural woodlands combined with relaxed selection in the city. Our study illustrates how trait variation between urban and rural populations can emerge from selection primarily in rural populations rather than adaptation to novel features of the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John P. Vanek
- Department of BiologyHobart and William Smith CollegesGenevaNew YorkUSA
- Department of Environmental BiologyState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
New York Natural Heritage ProgramAlbanyNew YorkUSA
| | - James P. Gibbs
- Department of Environmental BiologyState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNew YorkUSA
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7
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Becciu P, Séchaud R, Schalcher K, Plancherel C, Roulin A. Prospecting movements link phenotypic traits to female annual potential fitness in a nocturnal predator. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5071. [PMID: 36977731 PMCID: PMC10050157 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32255-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent biologging technology reveals hidden life and breeding strategies of nocturnal animals. Combining animal movement patterns with individual characteristics and landscape features can uncover meaningful behaviours that directly influence fitness. Consequently, defining the proximate mechanisms and adaptive value of the identified behaviours is of paramount importance. Breeding female barn owls (Tyto alba), a colour-polymorphic species, recurrently visit other nest boxes at night. We described and quantified this behaviour for the first time, linking it with possible drivers, and individual fitness. We GPS-equipped 178 female barn owls and 122 male partners from 2016 to 2020 in western Switzerland during the chick rearing phase. We observed that 111 (65%) of the tracked breeding females were (re)visiting nest boxes while still carrying out their first brood. We modelled their prospecting parameters as a function of brood-, individual- and partner-related variables and found that female feather eumelanism predicted the emergence of prospecting behaviour (less melanic females are usually prospecting). More importantly we found that increasing male parental investment (e.g., feeding rate) increased female prospecting efforts. Ultimately, females would (re)visit a nest more often if they had used it in the past and were more likely to lay a second clutch afterwards, consequently having higher annual fecundity than non-prospecting females. Despite these apparent immediate benefits, they did not fledge more chicks. Through biologging and long-term field monitoring, we highlight how phenotypic traits (melanism and parental investment) can be related to movement patterns and the annual potential reproductive output (fecundity) of female barn owls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Becciu
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Robin Séchaud
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kim Schalcher
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Céline Plancherel
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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8
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Guerrera AG, Daniel MJ, Hughes KA. Black and orange coloration predict success during male–male competition in the guppy. Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Investigating how intrasexual competition and intersexual mate choice act within a system is crucial to understanding the maintenance and diversity of sexually-dimorphic traits. These two processes can act in concert by selecting for the same trait, or in opposition by selecting for different extremes of the same trait; they can also act on different traits, potentially increasing trait complexity. We asked whether male–male competition and female mate choice act on the same male traits using Trinidadian guppies, which exhibit sexual size dimorphism and male-limited color patterns consisting of different colors arranged along the body and fins. We used behavioral assays to assess the relationship between color and competitive success and then compared our results to the plethora of data on female choice and color in our study population. Males initiated more contests if they were larger than their competitor. Males won contests more often if they had more black coloration than their competitor, and the effect of black was stronger when males had less orange than their competitor. Additionally, males won more often if they had either more structural color (iridescence) and more orange, or less structural color and less orange than their competitor, suggesting multiple combinations of color traits predict success. Females from our study population exhibit a strong preference for more orange coloration. Thus, traits favored in male contests differ from those favored by intersexual selection in this population. These results suggest that inter- and intrasexual selection, when acting concurrently, can promote increased complexity of sexually selected traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa G Guerrera
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University , Tallahassee, FL , USA
| | - M J Daniel
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University , Tallahassee, FL , USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada
| | - K A Hughes
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University , Tallahassee, FL , USA
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9
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Makowicz AM, Bierbach D, Richardson C, Hughes KA. Cascading indirect genetic effects in a clonal vertebrate. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220731. [PMID: 35858068 PMCID: PMC9277275 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how individual differences arise and how their effects propagate through groups are fundamental issues in biology. Individual differences can arise from indirect genetic effects (IGE): genetically based variation in the conspecifics with which an individual interacts. Using a clonal species, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), we test the hypothesis that IGE can propagate to influence phenotypes of the individuals that do not experience them firsthand. We tested this by exposing genetically identical Amazon mollies to conspecific social partners of different clonal lineages, and then moving these focal individuals to new social groups in which they were the only member to have experienced the IGE. We found that genetically different social environments resulted in the focal animals experiencing different levels of aggression, and that these IGE carried over into new social groups to influence the behaviour of naive individuals. These data reveal that IGE can cascade beyond the individuals that experience them. Opportunity for cascading IGE is ubiquitous, especially in species with long-distance dispersal or fission-fusion group dynamics. Cascades could amplify (or mitigate) the effects of IGE on trait variation and on evolutionary trajectories. Expansion of the IGE framework to include cascading and other types of carry-over effects will therefore improve understanding of individual variation and social evolution and allow more accurate prediction of population response to changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber M. Makowicz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - David Bierbach
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany,Excellence Cluster ‘Science of Intelligence,’ Technische Universität Berlin, Marchstraße 23, 10587 Berlin, Germany,Faculty of Life Sciences, Thaer-Institute, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Richardson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Hughes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
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Fargallo JA, López-Rull I. Settlement Phenotypes: Social Selection and Immigration in a Common Kestrel Population. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.810516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dispersal decisions are affected by the internal state of the individual and the external environment. Immigrants entering a new population are phenotypically different from residents due to selection that mitigate costs of dispersal and facilitate settlement. Sexual and status signaling traits may influence individual’s ability to settle in a population, either by showing a subordinate phenotype thus reducing aggressive interactions, or by signaling a more competitive phenotype, thus gaining local breeding resources, including mates. By comparing immigrants vs. residents in a common kestrel population across 17 years, we evaluated the influence of dispersal on fitness components (laying date, clutch size and number of fledglings) and investigated if sex, age and phenotypic traits (body size, body condition and plumage coloration) involved in movement and social interactions affected settlement. We found that population characteristics affected sexes and age classes differently, as the admission of females and young males into our population had fewer obstacles than the admission of males. In females, immigrant young were larger, had longer wings and tails, showed better body condition, had less gray tails, started breeding earlier, and laid larger clutches than residents. Adult female immigrants also showed better body condition and less gray tails. In males, immigrants had longer tails and higher number of black spots than residents. Summarizing, immigrants are good-quality individuals and, as deduced from their breeding performance, they benefited by signaling subordination, thus reducing the probability of aggressive encounters and facilitating settlement. Our study highlights the role of phenotypic traits related to signaling to study dispersal.
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11
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Gavriilidi I, De Meester G, Van Damme R, Baeckens S. How to behave when marooned: the behavioural component of the island syndrome remains underexplored. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220030. [PMID: 35440235 PMCID: PMC9039784 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals on islands typically depart from their mainland relatives in assorted aspects of their biology. Because they seem to occur in concert, and to some extent evolve convergently in disparate taxa, these changes are referred to as the 'island syndrome'. While morphological, physiological and life-history components of the island syndrome have received considerable attention, much less is known about how insularity affects behaviour. In this paper, we argue why changes in personality traits and cognitive abilities can be expected to form part of the island syndrome. We provide an overview of studies that have compared personality traits and cognitive abilities between island and mainland populations, or among islands. Overall, the pickings are remarkably slim. There is evidence that animals on islands tend to be bolder than on the mainland, but effects on other personality traits go either way. The evidence for effects of insularity on cognitive abilities or style is highly circumstantial and very mixed. Finally, we consider the ecological drivers that may induce such changes, and the mechanisms through which they might occur. We conclude that our knowledge of the behavioural and cognitive responses to island environments remains limited, and we encourage behavioural biologists to make more use of these 'natural laboratories for evolution'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Gavriilidi
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Section of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Gilles De Meester
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Raoul Van Damme
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Simon Baeckens
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Lab, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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12
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Morosinotto C, Bensch S, Tarka M, Karell P. Heritability and parental effects in telomere length in a color polymorphic long-lived bird. Physiol Biochem Zool 2022; 95:350-364. [DOI: 10.1086/720161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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13
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Machado AP, Cumer T, Iseli C, Beaudoing E, Ducrest AL, Dupasquier M, Guex N, Dichmann K, Lourenço R, Lusby J, Martens HD, Prévost L, Ramsden D, Roulin A, Goudet J. Unexpected post-glacial colonisation route explains the white colour of barn owls (Tyto alba) from the British Isles. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:482-497. [PMID: 34695244 PMCID: PMC9298239 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The climate fluctuations of the Quaternary shaped the movement of species in and out of glacial refugia. In Europe, the majority of species followed one of the described traditional postglacial recolonization routes from the southern peninsulas towards the north. Like most organisms, barn owls are assumed to have colonized the British Isles by crossing over Doggerland, a land bridge that connected Britain to northern Europe. However, while they are dark rufous in northern Europe, barn owls in the British Isles are conspicuously white, a contrast that could suggest selective forces are at play on the islands. Yet, our analysis of known candidate genes involved in coloration found no signature of selection. Instead, using whole genome sequences and species distribution modelling, we found that owls colonised the British Isles soon after the last glaciation, directly from a white coloured refugium in the Iberian Peninsula, before colonising northern Europe. They would have followed a hitherto unknown post‐glacial colonization route to the Isles over a westwards path of suitable habitat in now submerged land in the Bay of Biscay, thus not crossing Doggerland. As such, they inherited the white colour of their Iberian founders and maintained it through low gene flow with the mainland that prevents the import of rufous alleles. Thus, we contend that neutral processes probably explain this contrasting white colour compared to continental owls. With the barn owl being a top predator, we expect future research will show this unanticipated route was used by other species from its paleo community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Machado
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tristan Cumer
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Iseli
- Bioinformatics Competence Centre, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Anne-Lyse Ducrest
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicolas Guex
- Bioinformatics Competence Centre, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Rui Lourenço
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, IIFA, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal
| | - John Lusby
- BirdWatch Ireland, Kilcoole, Co., Wicklow, Ireland
| | | | - Laure Prévost
- Association CHENE, Centre d'Hébergement et d'Etude sur la Nature et l'Environnement, Allouville-Bellefosse, France
| | | | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Goudet
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Exogenous corticosterone and melanin-based coloration explain variation in juvenile dispersal behaviour in the barn owl (Tyto alba). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256038. [PMID: 34492014 PMCID: PMC8423310 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256038] [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: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Natal dispersal affects many processes such as population dynamics. So far, most studies have examined the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that determine the distance between the place of birth and of first breeding. In contrast, few researchers followed the first steps of dispersal soon after fledging. To study this gap, we radio-tracked 95 barn owl nestlings (Tyto alba) to locate their diurnal roost sites from the fledging stage until December. This was used to test whether the age of nest departure, post-fledging movements and dispersal distance were related to melanin-based coloration, which is correlated to fitness-related traits, as well as to corticosterone, a hormone that mediates a number of life history trade-offs and the physiological and behavioural responses to stressful situations. We found that the artificial administration of corticosterone delayed the age when juveniles left their parental home-range in females but not in males. During the first few months after fledging, longer dispersal distances were reached by females compared to males, by individuals marked with larger black feather spots compared to individuals with smaller spots, by larger individuals and by those experimentally treated with corticosterone. We conclude that the onset and magnitude of dispersal is sensitive to the stress hormone corticosterone, melanin-based coloration and body size.
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15
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Guida S, Guida G, Goding CR. MC1R Functions, Expression, and Implications for Targeted Therapy. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:293-302.e1. [PMID: 34362555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The G protein-coupled MC1R is expressed in melanocytes and has a pivotal role in human skin pigmentation, with reduced function in human genetic variants exhibiting a red hair phenotype and increased melanoma predisposition. Beyond its role in pigmentation, MC1R is increasingly recognized as promoting UV-induced DNA damage repair. Consequently, there is mounting interest in targeting MC1R for therapeutic benefit. However, whether MC1R expression is restricted to melanocytes or is more widely expressed remains a matter of debate. In this paper, we review MC1R function and highlight that unbiased analysis suggests that its expression is restricted to melanocytes, granulocytes, and the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Guida
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Gabriella Guida
- Molecular Biology Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Colin Ronald Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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16
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Cronk L, Palombit R. Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) color morphs do not differ in aggressiveness. Acta Ethol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-021-00372-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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17
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Di Bernardi C, Thierry AM, Eide NE, Bowler DE, Rød-Eriksen L, Blumentrath S, Tietgen L, Sandercock BK, Flagstad Ø, Landa A. Fitness and fur colouration: Testing the camouflage and thermoregulation hypotheses in an Arctic mammal. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1328-1340. [PMID: 33660289 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Selection for crypsis has been recognized as an important ecological driver of animal colouration, whereas the relative importance of thermoregulation is more contentious with mixed empirical support. A potential thermal advantage of darker individuals has been observed in a wide range of animal species. Arctic animals that exhibit colour polymorphisms and undergo seasonal colour moults are interesting study subjects for testing the two alternative hypotheses: demographic performance of different colour morphs might be differentially affected by snow cover with a cryptic advantage for lighter morphs, or conversely by winter temperature with a thermal advantage for darker morphs. In this study, we explored whether camouflage and thermoregulation might explain differences in reproduction and survival between the white and blue colour morphs of the Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus under natural conditions. Juvenile and adult survival, breeding propensity and litter size were measured for 798 captive-bred and released or wild-born Arctic foxes monitored during an 11-year period (2007-2017) in two subpopulations in south-central Norway. We investigated the proportion of the two colour morphs and compared their demographic performance in relation to spatial variation in duration of snow cover, onset of snow season and winter temperatures. After population re-establishment, a higher proportion of blue individuals was observed among wild-born Arctic foxes compared to the proportion of blue foxes released from the captive population. Our field study provides the first evidence for an effect of colour morph on the reproductive performance of Arctic foxes under natural conditions, with a higher breeding propensity of the blue morph compared to the white one. Performance of the two colour morphs was not differentially affected by the climatic variables, except for juvenile survival. Blue morph juveniles showed a tendency for higher survival under colder winter temperatures but lower survival under warmer temperatures compared to white morph juveniles. Overall, our findings do not consistently support predictions of the camouflage or the thermoregulation hypotheses. The higher success of blue foxes suggests an advantage of the dark morph not directly related to disruptive selection by crypsis or thermoregulation. Our results rather point to physiological adaptations and behavioural traits not necessarily connected to thermoregulation, such as stress response, immune function, sexual behaviour and aggressiveness. Our findings highlight the need to explore the potential role of genetic linkage or pleiotropy in influencing the fitness of white and blue Arctic foxes as well as other species with colour polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Diana E Bowler
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Lars Rød-Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Lukas Tietgen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Øystein Flagstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Arild Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Bergen, Norway
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18
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Peixoto MRLV, Karrow NA, Newman A, Head J, Widowski TM. Effects of acute stressors experienced by five strains of layer breeders on measures of stress and fear in their offspring. Physiol Behav 2021; 228:113185. [PMID: 32980386 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Stressors experienced by layer breeders during egg production can lead to changes in the egg hormone content, potentially impacting their offspring, the commercial layers. Genetic differences might also affect the offspring's susceptibility to maternal experiences. In this study, we tested if maternal stress affects measures of stress and fear in five strains of layer breeders: commercial brown 1 & 2, commercial white 1 & 2 and a pure line White Leghorn. Each strain was equally separated into two groups: "Maternal Stress" (MS), where hens were subjected to a series of 8 consecutive days of acute psychological stressors, and "Control," which received routine husbandry. Additional eggs from Control were injected either with corticosterone diluted in a vehicle solution ("CORT") or just "Vehicle." Stress- and fear-responses of the offspring were measured in a plasma corticosterone test and a combined human approach and novel object test. While the stress treatments did not affect the measured endpoints in the offspring, significant strain differences were found. The offspring of the white strains showed a higher physiological response compared to brown strains and the White 2 offspring was the least fearful strain in the human approach test. Our study found that neither the acute psychological stressors experienced by layer breeders nor the egg injections of corticosterone affected the parameters tested in their offspring. Post hoc power analyses suggest that the lack of treatment effects might be due to a small sample size (type II error). Although studies on larger flocks of layers are still needed, our results provide an initial understanding of an important subject, as in poultry production, layer breeders are often subjected to short-term stressors. In addition, our results suggest the dissociation between the physiological and behavioural parameters of stress response in laying hens, showing that increased concentrations of plasma corticosterone in response to stress might not be directly associated with high levels of fear.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Niel A Karrow
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1
| | - Amy Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1
| | - Jessica Head
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9
| | - Tina M Widowski
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1.
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19
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San-Jose LM, Roulin A. On the Potential Role of the Neural Crest Cells in Integrating Pigmentation Into Behavioral and Physiological Syndromes. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
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20
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Löw K, Roulin A, Kunz S. A proopiomelanocortin-derived peptide sequence enhances plasma stability of peptide drugs. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2840-2866. [PMID: 32506501 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Bioactive peptide drugs hold promise for therapeutic application due to their high potency and selectivity but display short plasma half-life. Examination of selected naturally occurring peptide hormones derived from proteolytic cleavage of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) precursor lead to the identification of significant plasma-stabilizing properties of a 12-amino acid serine-rich orphan sequence NSSSSGSSGAGQ in human γ3-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) that is homologous to previously discovered NSn GGH (n = 4-24) sequences in owls. Notably, transfer of this sequence to des-acetyl-α-MSH and the therapeutically relevant peptide hormones neurotensin and glucagon-like peptide-1 likewise enhance their plasma stability without affecting receptor signaling. The stabilizing effect of the sequence module is independent of plasma components, suggesting a direct effect in cis. This natural sequence module may provide a possible strategy to enhance plasma stability, complementing existing methods of chemical modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Löw
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Kunz
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
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21
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Molecular evolution of the proopiomelanocortin system in Barn owl species. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231163. [PMID: 32369484 PMCID: PMC7199972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Examination of genetic polymorphisms in outbred wild-living species provides insights into the evolution of complex systems. In higher vertebrates, the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) precursor gives rise to α-, β-, and γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH), which are involved in numerous physiological aspects. Genetic defects in POMC are linked to metabolic disorders in humans and animals. In the present study, we undertook an evolutionary genetic approach complemented with biochemistry to investigate the functional consequences of genetic polymorphisms in the POMC system of free-living outbred barn owl species (family Tytonidae) at the molecular level. Our phylogenetic studies revealed a striking correlation between a loss-of-function H9P mutation in the β-MSH receptor-binding motif and an extension of a poly-serine stretch in γ3-MSH to ≥7 residues that arose in the barn owl group 6–8 MYA ago. We found that extension of the poly-serine stretches in the γ-MSH locus affects POMC precursor processing, increasing γ3-MSH production at the expense of γ2-MSH and resulting in an overall reduction of γ-MSH signaling, which may be part of a negative feedback mechanism. Extension of the γ3-MSH poly-serine stretches ≥7 further markedly increases peptide hormone stability in plasma, which is conserved in humans, and is likely relevant to its endocrine function. In sum, our phylogenetic analysis of POMC in wild living owls uncovered a H9P β-MSH mutation subsequent to serine extension in γ3-MSH to 7 residues, which was then followed by further serine extension. The linked MSH mutations highlight the genetic plasticity enabled by the modular design of the POMC gene.
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22
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Ducrest A, Neuenschwander S, Schmid‐Siegert E, Pagni M, Train C, Dylus D, Nevers Y, Warwick Vesztrocy A, San‐Jose LM, Dupasquier M, Dessimoz C, Xenarios I, Roulin A, Goudet J. New genome assembly of the barn owl ( Tyto alba alba). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:2284-2298. [PMID: 32184981 PMCID: PMC7069322 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
New genomic tools open doors to study ecology, evolution, and population genomics of wild animals. For the Barn owl species complex, a cosmopolitan nocturnal raptor, a very fragmented draft genome was assembled for the American species (Tyto furcata pratincola) (Jarvis et al. 2014). To improve the genome, we assembled de novo Illumina and Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) long reads sequences of its European counterpart (Tyto alba alba). This genome assembly of 1.219 Gbp comprises 21,509 scaffolds and results in a N50 of 4,615,526 bp. BUSCO (Universal Single-Copy Orthologs) analysis revealed an assembly completeness of 94.8% with only 1.8% of the genes missing out of 4,915 avian orthologs searched, a proportion similar to that found in the genomes of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) or the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). By mapping the reads of the female American barn owl to the male European barn owl reads, we detected several structural variants and identified 70 Mbp of the Z chromosome. The barn owl scaffolds were further mapped to the chromosomes of the zebra finch. In addition, the completeness of the European barn owl genome is demonstrated with 94 of 128 proteins missing in the chicken genome retrieved in the European barn owl transcripts. This improved genome will help future barn owl population genomic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne‐Lyse Ducrest
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | | | | | - Marco Pagni
- Vital‐ITSwiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Clément Train
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - David Dylus
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Yannis Nevers
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Alex Warwick Vesztrocy
- Center for Life's Origins and EvolutionDepartment of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Luis M. San‐Jose
- Laboratory Evolution and Biological DiversityUMR 5174CNRSUniversity of Toulouse III Paul SabatierToulouseFrance
| | | | - Christophe Dessimoz
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Ioannis Xenarios
- Center for Integrative GenomicsUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Jérôme Goudet
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Swiss Institute of BioinformaticsLausanneSwitzerland
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23
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vonHoldt BM, DeCandia AL, Heppenheimer E, Janowitz-Koch I, Shi R, Zhou H, German CA, Brzeski KE, Cassidy KA, Stahler DR, Sinsheimer JS. Heritability of interpack aggression in a wild pedigreed population of North American grey wolves. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1764-1775. [PMID: 31905256 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Aggression is a quantitative trait deeply entwined with individual fitness. Mapping the genomic architecture underlying such traits is complicated by complex inheritance patterns, social structure, pedigree information and gene pleiotropy. Here, we leveraged the pedigree of a reintroduced population of grey wolves (Canis lupus) in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, to examine the heritability of and the genetic variation associated with aggression. Since their reintroduction, many ecological and behavioural aspects have been documented, providing unmatched records of aggressive behaviour across multiple generations of a wild population of wolves. Using a linear mixed model, a robust genetic relationship matrix, 12,288 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 111 wolves, we estimated the SNP-based heritability of aggression to be 37% and an additional 14% of the phenotypic variation explained by shared environmental exposures. We identified 598 SNP genotypes from 425 grey wolves to resolve a consensus pedigree that was included in a heritability analysis of 141 individuals with SNP genotype, metadata and aggression data. The pedigree-based heritability estimate for aggression is 14%, and an additional 16% of the phenotypic variation was explained by shared environmental exposures. We find strong effects of breeding status and relative pack size on aggression. Through an integrative approach, these results provide a framework for understanding the genetic architecture of a complex trait that influences individual fitness, with linkages to reproduction, in a social carnivore. Along with a few other studies, we show here the incredible utility of a pedigreed natural population for dissecting a complex, fitness-related behavioural trait.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ruoyao Shi
- BioKnow Health Informatics Lab, College of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hua Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher A German
- Department of Biostatistics, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kristin E Brzeski
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Kira A Cassidy
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA
| | - Daniel R Stahler
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA
| | - Janet S Sinsheimer
- Department of Biostatistics, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Human Genetics and Computational Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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24
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McGaugh SE, Weaver S, Gilbertson EN, Garrett B, Rudeen ML, Grieb S, Roberts J, Donny A, Marchetto P, Gluesenkamp AG. Evidence for rapid phenotypic and behavioural shifts in a recently established cavefish population. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Cave colonization offers a natural laboratory to study an extreme environmental shift, and diverse cave species from around the world often have converged on robust morphological, physiological and behavioural traits. The Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) has repeatedly colonized caves in the Sierra de El Abra and Sierra de Guatemala regions of north-east Mexico ~0.20–1 Mya, indicating an ability to adapt to the cave environment. The time frame for the evolution of these traits in any cave animal, however, is poorly understood. Astyanax mexicanus from the Río Grande in South Texas were brought to Central Texas beginning in the early 1900s and colonized underground environments. Here, we investigate whether phenotypic and behavioural differences have occurred rapidly between a surface population and a geographically proximate cave population, probably of recent origin. Fish from the cave and surface populations differ significantly in morphological traits, including coloration, lateral line expansion and dorsal fin placement. Striking behavioural shifts in aggression, feeding and wall-following have also occurred. Together, our results suggest that morphological and behavioural changes accompanying cave colonization can be established rapidly, and this system offers an exciting and unique opportunity for isolating the genetic and environmental contributions to colonization of extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne E McGaugh
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Sam Weaver
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Erin N Gilbertson
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Brianna Garrett
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Melissa L Rudeen
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Stephanie Grieb
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Jennifer Roberts
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Alexandra Donny
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Peter Marchetto
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
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25
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Béziers P, Ducrest AL, San-Jose LM, Simon C, Roulin A. Expression of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor genes co-varies with a stress-related colour signal in barn owls. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 283:113224. [PMID: 31323230 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid hormones are important intermediates between an organism and its environment. They enable an organism to adjust its behavioural and physiological processes in response to environmental changes by binding to mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) expressed in many tissues, including the integument. The regulation of glucocorticoids co-varies with melanin-based colouration in numerous species, an association that might result from pleiotropic effects of genes in the melanocortin system and evolve within a signalling context. Most studies have focused on the circulating levels of glucocorticoids disregarding the receptors that mediate their action, and that might partly account for the covariation between the regulation of stress and melanin-based colouration. We investigated the association of the expression levels of GR and MR genes with melanin-based colouration in the growing feathers of nestling barn owls (Tyto alba). We also explored the association between GR and MR expression levels and the expression of genes related to the melanocortin system and melanogenesis to better understand the origin of the link between the expression of receptors to which corticosterone binds and melanin-based colouration. Nestling barn owls displaying larger eumelanic black feather spots expressed GR and MR at lower levels than smaller-spotted individuals. However, we found that the expression of the GR and MR genes was positively rather than negatively correlated with the expression of genes involved in the deposition of melanin pigments at the time we sampled the nestlings. This provides mixed evidence of the association between melanin-based traits and MR and GR gene expression. The finding that the expression of GR and MR was positively associated with the expression of the PCSK2 gene (encoding one of the protein convertase responsible for the production of hormone peptide ACTH and α-MSH) suggests that the melanocortin system may be implicated in the establishment of the covariation between melanin-based colour and the expression of receptors to which glucocorticoids bind. However, further studies investigating the expression of melanin-based traits with stress-related endpoints at different time points of feather development will be necessary to understand better the proximate mechanism linking melanin-based traits with stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Béziers
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Lyse Ducrest
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luis M San-Jose
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Céline Simon
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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26
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Venables SK, Marshall AD, Germanov ES, Perryman RJY, Tapilatu RF, Hendrawan IG, Flam AL, van Keulen M, Tomkins JL, Kennington WJ. It's not all black and white: investigating colour polymorphism in manta rays across Indo-Pacific populations. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191879. [PMID: 31594509 PMCID: PMC6790782 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific colour polymorphisms have been the focus of numerous studies, yet processes affecting melanism in the marine environment remain poorly understood. Arguably, the most prominent example of melanism in marine species occurs in manta rays (Mobula birostris and Mobula alfredi). Here, we use long-term photo identification catalogues to document the frequency variation of melanism across Indo-Pacific manta ray populations and test for evidence of selection by predation acting on colour morph variants. We use mark-recapture modelling to compare survivorship of typical and melanistic colour morphs in three M. alfredi populations and assess the relationship between frequency variation and geographical distance. While there were large differences in melanism frequencies among populations of both species (0-40.70%), apparent survival estimates revealed no difference in survivorship between colour morphs. We found a significant association between phenotypic and geographical distance in M. birostris, but not in M. alfredi. Our results suggest that melanism is not under selection by predation in the tested M. alfredi populations, and that frequency differences across populations of both species are a consequence of neutral genetic processes. As genetic colour polymorphisms are often subjected to complex selection mechanisms, our findings only begin to elucidate the underlying evolutionary processes responsible for the maintenance and frequency variation of melanism in manta ray populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie K. Venables
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, Truckee, CA, USA
| | | | - Elitza S. Germanov
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, Truckee, CA, USA
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Robert J. Y. Perryman
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, Truckee, CA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ricardo F. Tapilatu
- Research Center for Pacific Marine Resources, Universitas Papua, Manokwari, Papua Barat, Indonesia
| | - I Gede Hendrawan
- Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
| | | | - Mike van Keulen
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Joseph L. Tomkins
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - W. Jason Kennington
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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27
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de Zwaan DR, Barnes S, Martin K. Plumage melanism is linked to male quality, female parental investment and assortative mating in an alpine songbird. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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28
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Pawluk RJ, Garcia de Leaniz C, Cable J, Tiddeman B, Consuegra S. Colour plasticity in response to social context and parasitic infection in a self-fertilizing fish. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:181418. [PMID: 31417688 PMCID: PMC6689574 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Many animal species rely on changes in body coloration to signal social dominance, mating readiness and health status to conspecifics, which can in turn influence reproductive success, social dynamics and pathogen avoidance in natural populations. Such colour changes are thought to be controlled by genetic and environmental conditions, but their relative importance is difficult to measure in natural populations, where individual genetic variability complicates data interpretation. Here, we studied shifts in melanin-related body coloration in response to social context and parasitic infection in two naturally inbred lines of a self-fertilizing fish to disentangle the relative roles of genetic background and individual variation. We found that social context and parasitic infection had a significant effect on body coloration that varied between genetic lines, suggesting the existence of genotype by environment interactions. In addition, individual variation was also important for some of the colour attributes. We suggest that the genetic background drives colour plasticity and that this can maintain phenotypic variation in inbred lines, an adaptive mechanism that may be particularly important when genetic diversity is low.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joanne Cable
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Bernard Tiddeman
- Department of Computer Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3FL, UK
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Amar A, Reynolds C, Van Velden J, Briggs CW. Clinal variation in morph frequency in Swainson’s hawk across North America: no support for Gloger’s ecogeographical rule. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Amar
- Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Chevonne Reynolds
- Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, South Africa
| | - Julia Van Velden
- Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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Côte J, Boniface A, Blanchet S, Hendry AP, Gasparini J, Jacquin L. Melanin-based coloration and host-parasite interactions under global change. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2018.0285. [PMID: 29848644 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of parasites in shaping melanin-based colour polymorphism, and the consequences of colour polymorphism for disease resistance, remain debated. Here we review recent evidence of the links between melanin-based coloration and the behavioural and immunological defences of vertebrates against their parasites. First we propose that (1) differences between colour morphs can result in variable exposure to parasites, either directly (certain colours might be more or less attractive to parasites) or indirectly (variations in behaviour and encounter probability). Once infected, we propose that (2) immune variation between differently coloured individuals might result in different abilities to cope with parasite infection. We then discuss (3) how these different abilities could translate into variable sexual and natural selection in environments varying in parasite pressure. Finally, we address (4) the potential role of parasites in the maintenance of melanin-based colour polymorphism, especially in the context of global change and multiple stressors in human-altered environments. Because global change will probably affect both coloration and the spread of parasitic diseases in the decades to come, future studies should take into account melanin-based coloration to better predict the evolutionary responses of animals to changing disease risk in human-altered environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Côte
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique EDB, UMR 5174, UPS; CNRS; ENSFEA; IRD, Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - A Boniface
- Department of Biology & Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - S Blanchet
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale SETE, UMR 5321, UPS, CNRS, Moulis, France
| | - A P Hendry
- Department of Biology & Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - J Gasparini
- Sorbonnes Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UPEC, Paris 7, CNRS, INRA, IRD, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - L Jacquin
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique EDB, UMR 5174, UPS; CNRS; ENSFEA; IRD, Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
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31
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O’Reilly AO, Hofmann G, Mettke-Hofmann C. Gouldian finches are followers with black-headed females taking the lead. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214531. [PMID: 30943239 PMCID: PMC6447166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Colour polymorphism is a widespread phenomenon and often encompasses different behavioural traits and strategies. More recently, it has been shown that morphs can also signal consistent individual differences (personality). An example are Gouldian finches that show discrete head colour morphs in the same population with red-headed birds being more aggressive but less risk-taking and explorative than black-headed birds in the lab. The current study aimed to investigate the link between head colour and behavioural traits in a naturally risky situation in the wild by recording the order of descent at waterholes in relation to hypotheses considering conspicuousness, dominance relationships and experience. Other bird species at the waterholes were also included in the study. Adult Gouldian finches generally preceded juveniles and among the adults the least conspicuous black-headed females descended first to the waterhole. Overall, females descended before the males though this pattern disappeared later in the season likely due to family groups breaking up and releasing males from attending to the juveniles. Finally, Gouldian finches almost always followed other species, particularly Long-tailed finches, to the ground rather than taking the lead. A two-level process of decision-making seems to explain the responses best: on the first level, experience separates adults from juveniles with adults preceding juveniles and on the second level, conspicuousness acts as a factor among the adults with the least conspicuous category taking the lead. Future studies should directly test the link between head colour and personality in the wild, look more into seasonal effects and investigate whether Gouldian finches use Long-tailed finches as an indicator of safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrias O. O’Reilly
- School of Natural Sciences & Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons building, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Claudia Mettke-Hofmann
- School of Natural Sciences & Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons building, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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32
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Lynn JC, Cole GL. The effect of against-background contrast on female preferences for a polymorphic colour sexual signal. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Delhey K. A review of Gloger's rule, an ecogeographical rule of colour: definitions, interpretations and evidence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1294-1316. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaspar Delhey
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University 25 Rainforest Walk, 3800 Clayton Victoria Australia
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34
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Gotanda KM, Pack A, LeBlond C, Hendry AP. Do replicates of independent guppy lineages evolve similarly in a predator-free laboratory environment? Ecol Evol 2019; 9:36-51. [PMID: 30680094 PMCID: PMC6342246 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4585] [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: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Trinidadian guppy is emblematic of parallel and convergent evolution, with repeated demonstrations that predation regime is a driver of adaptive trait evolution. A classic and foundational experiment in this system was conducted by John Endler 40 years ago, where male guppies placed into low-predation environments in the laboratory evolved increased color in a few generations. However, Endler's experiment did not employ the now typical design for a parallel/convergent evolution study, which would employ replicates of different ancestral lineages. We therefore implemented an experiment that seeded replicate mesocosms with small founding populations of guppies originating from high-predation populations of two very different lineages. The different mesocosms were maintained identically, and male guppy color was quantified every four months. After one year, we tested whether male color had increased, whether replicates within a lineage had parallel phenotypic trajectories, and whether the different lineages converged on a common phenotype. Results showed that male guppy color generally increased through time, primarily due to changes in melanic color, whereas the other colors showed inconsistent and highly variable trajectories. Most of the nonparallelism in phenotypic trajectories was among mesocosms containing different lineages. In addition to this mixture of parallelism and nonparallelism, convergence was not evident in that the variance in color among the mesocosms actually increased through time. We suggest that our results reflect the potential importance of high variation in female preference and stochastic processes such as drift and founder effects, both of which could be important in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoko M. Gotanda
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Amy Pack
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
- Global ProgramsHealth Standards OrganizationOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Caroline LeBlond
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Andrew P. Hendry
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
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Parolini M, Iacobuzio R, Bassano B, Pennati R, Saino N. Melanin-Based Skin Coloration Predicts Antioxidant Capacity in the Brown Trout (Salmo trutta). Physiol Biochem Zool 2018; 91:1026-1035. [PMID: 30084732 DOI: 10.1086/699522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In many vertebrate species, individuals exhibit large variation in the degree of melanin-based coloration on their body. Dark and pale individuals differ in diverse physiological and behavioral traits, suggesting that melanic coloration may reveal individual quality. However, research into the relationships between physiological and skin traits, in terms of melanin-based skin coloration, in wild fish is scant. Our correlative study aimed at investigating the relationships between physiology and melanin-based coloration of the skin of free-living brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758). We scrutinized the relationships between body condition (body mass and Fulton's K condition factor), oxidative status (plasma total antioxidant capacity and amount of pro-oxidant molecules), and the degree of melanin-based skin coloration assessed by digital photography and image analysis. We found heavier fish to be, on average, darker colored than paler conspecifics. Moreover, a significant covariation between plasma total antioxidant capacity and melanic coloration was noted. Our findings suggest that the melanin-based coloration of brown trout serves as a signal to communicate a better antioxidant defense to conspecifics.
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36
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Roulin A, Uva V, Romano A. A melanin-based trait is more strongly related to body size in the tropics than in temperate regions in the globally distributed barn owl family. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:1932-1944. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; University of Lausanne; Biophore, Lausanne Switzerland
- Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin; Berlin Germany
| | - Vera Uva
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; University of Lausanne; Biophore, Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; University of Lausanne; Biophore, Lausanne Switzerland
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37
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Freeman-Gallant CR, Taff CC. Age and infection history are revealed by different ornaments in a warbler. Oecologia 2018; 188:1025-1036. [PMID: 30291422 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4268-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Female preference for older or more disease-resistant males are both possible outcomes of parasite-mediated sexual selection, but the extent to which infection alters the development of ornaments to yield signals of male age and health has rarely been explored. In a longitudinal study of 61 male common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas), age-related increases in the size of the melanin-based mask and carotenoid-based bib were not correlated among young males, likely owing to differences in how blood parasites affect ornament development. Infection with trypanosomes and hemosporidians in a male's first breeding season was associated with slower growth of the mask; uninfected males attained large masks in their second breeding season, while infected males attained large masks in their third breeding season. In contrast, the bib size of males increased every year regardless of infection. As a consequence, different populations of males are identified by the largest ornaments-older males in the case of bib and a combination of older males and young, uninfected males in the case of mask. Although mask is thus the more informative trait with respect to male health, females prefer large bibs in our population. If infection is opportunistic, young, uninfected males may not possess good genes for parasite resistance but simply good luck, and it may benefit females to prefer older males who are more likely to have withstood prior episodes of selection. A "pure" signal of age may be a more reliable signal of resistance to parasites than an ornament whose expression is modulated by infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Conor C Taff
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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38
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Costanzo A, Romano A, Ambrosini R, Parolini M, Rubolini D, Caprioli M, Corti M, Canova L, Saino N. Barn swallow antipredator behavior covaries with melanic coloration and predicts survival. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Costanzo
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Building Biophore, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Caprioli
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Corti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Canova
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli, Pavia, Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
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39
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Female-biased dispersal and non-random gene flow of MC1R variants do not result in a migration load in barn owls. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 122:305-314. [PMID: 30006569 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0115-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-random gene flow is a widely neglected force in evolution and ecology. This genotype-dependent dispersal is difficult to assess, yet can impact the genetic variation of natural populations and their fitness. In this work, we demonstrate a high immigration rate of barn owls (Tyto alba) inside a Swiss population surveyed during 15 years. Using ten microsatellite loci as an indirect method to characterize dispersal, two-third of the genetic tests failed to detect a female-biased dispersal, and Monte Carlo simulations confirmed a low statistical power to detect sex-biased dispersal in case of high dispersal rate of both sexes. The capture-recapture data revealed a female-biased dispersal associated with an excess of heterozygote for the melanocortin-1 receptor gene (MC1R), which is responsible for their ventral rufous coloration. Thus, female homozygotes for the MC1RWHITE allele might be negatively selected during dispersal. Despite the higher immigration of females that are heterozygote at MC1R, non-random gene flow should not lead to a migration load regarding this gene because we did not detect an effect of MC1R on survival and reproductive success in our local population. The present study highlights the usefulness of using multiple methods to correctly decrypt dispersal and gene flow. Moreover, despite theoretical expectations, we show that non-random dispersal of particular genotypes does not necessarily lead to migration load in recipient populations.
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40
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San-Jose LM, Roulin A. Toward Understanding the Repeated Occurrence of Associations between Melanin-Based Coloration and Multiple Phenotypes. Am Nat 2018; 192:111-130. [PMID: 30016163 DOI: 10.1086/698010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Melanin is the most widespread pigment in organisms. Melanin-based coloration has been repeatedly observed to be associated with the same traits and in the same direction in different vertebrate and insect species. However, whether any factors that are common to different taxa account for the repeated evolution of melanin-phenotype associations remains unclear. We propose to approach this question from the perspective of convergent and parallel evolution to clarify to what extent different species have evolved the same associations owing to a shared genetic basis and being subjected to similar selective pressures. Our current understanding of the genetic basis of melanin-phenotype associations allows for both convergent and parallel evolution, but this understanding is still limited. Further research is needed to clarify the generality and interdependencies of the different proposed mechanisms (supergenes, pleiotropy based on hormones, or neural crest cells). The general ecological scenarios whereby melanin-based coloration is under selection-protection from ultraviolet radiation, thermoregulation in cold environments, or as a signal of social status-offer a good opportunity to study how melanin-phenotype associations evolve. Reviewing these scenarios shows that some traits associated with melanin-based coloration might be selected together with coloration by also favoring adaptation but that other associated traits might impede adaptation, which may be indicative of genetic constraints. We therefore encourage further research on the relative roles that selection and genetic constraints play in shaping multiple melanin-phenotype associations. Placed into a phylogenetic context, this will help clarify to what extent these associations result from convergent or parallel evolutionary processes and why melanin-phenotype associations are so common across the tree of life.
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41
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Magnhagen C, Backström T, Nilsson J, Brännäs E. Oxygen consumption and swimming performance in Arctic charr with different pigmentation patterns. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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42
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Angelier F, Parenteau C, Trouvé C, Angelier N. The behavioural and physiological stress responses are linked to plumage coloration in the rock pigeon (Columbia livia). Physiol Behav 2018; 184:261-267. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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43
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Baeckens S, Van Damme R. Immunocompetence and parasite infestation in a melanistic and normally-coloured population of the lacertid lizard, Podarcis siculus. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-20181008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Melanism is the occurrence of individuals that are darker in skin pigmentation than their conspecifics, which is a common colour polymorphism among vertebrates. Due to the pleotropic effects of the POMC gene that is responsible for melanin-based colouration, dark pigmentation often co-varies with a range of other phenotypic traits. Still, not much is known on the link between melanin-based colouration and immunity in lizards. In this study, we examined and compared the immunocompetence and degree of ectoparasite infestation of Podarcis siculus lizards from a fully melanistic population on an islet in the Tyrrhenian Sea, with conspecifics from a ‘normally’-coloured population on the mainland. Our findings show that both males and females from the melanistic population were less parasitized by ectoparasites and had a greater cellular immune response to a phytohemagglutinin injection than normally-coloured conspecifics. This outcome is in line with the “genetic link hypothesis”, which predicts that melanistic individuals will be more resistant to parasites than non-melanistic individuals due to the pleiotropic POMC gene. In addition, we found correlative evidence for a link between ectoparasite load and PHA immune response, but this was only true for males from the normally-coloured population. Immunological data on additional melanistic and non-melanistic populations of Podarcis siculus in the Mediterranean basin would provide us better insight into patterns of co-variation between immunity and melanism in lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Baeckens
- 1Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- 2Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Raoul Van Damme
- 1Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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44
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Camacho C, Pérez-Rodríguez L, Abril-Colón I, Canal D, Potti J. Plumage colour predicts dispersal propensity in male pied flycatchers. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2417-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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45
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Bohls P, Koehnle TJ. Responses of Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) to Predator Calls and Their Modulation by Coat Color. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2017. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-178.2.226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Bohls
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, 1 Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - Thomas J. Koehnle
- Neuroscience Program, Department of Biology, 11715 Garfield Rd, Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio 44234
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46
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Jacquin L, Gauthey Z, Roussille V, Le Hénaff M, Tentelier C, Labonne J. Melanin in a changing world: brown trout coloration reflects alternative reproductive strategies in variable environments. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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47
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San-Jose LM, Huyghe K, Schuerch J, Fitze PS. More melanized males bite stronger but run slower: potential performance trade-offs related to melanin-based coloration. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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48
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Gaillard M, Scriba MF, Roulin A. Melanism is related to behavioural lateralization in nestling barn owls. Behav Processes 2017; 140:139-143. [PMID: 28483429 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Behavioural laterality is a commonly observed phenomenon in many species suggesting there might be an advantage of using dominantly one side over the other for certain tasks. Indeed, lateralized individuals were often shown to be more successful in cognitive tasks compared to non-lateralized conspecifics. However, stressed individuals are also often, but not always, more strongly lateralized. Because barn owl (Tyto alba) females displaying larger black spots on the tip of their ventral feathers produce offspring that are more resistant to a variety of environmental stressful factors, we examined whether laterality is associated with melanin-based coloration. We recorded whether nestlings use more often the right or left foot to scratch their body and whether they preen more often one side of the body or the other using their bills. We found that the strength of lateralization of preening and scratching was less pronounced in individuals born from heavily spotted mothers. This result might be explained by plumage-related variation in the ability to resist stressful rearing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madeleine F Scriba
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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49
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Tamiasso N, Pandolfi K, Pedrozo E, Simões C, Nunes L, Boeloni J. Melanose multicêntrica em frango de corte: relato de caso. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2017. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-9013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
RESUMO Melanoblastos podem migrar de forma errática durante a embriogênese, gerando um quadro conhecido como melanose. São raros os estudos envolvendo melanose com acometimento múltiplo dos órgãos. Objetivou-se descrever um caso de melanose multicêntrica em frango de corte que gerou condenação do animal ao abate. Foram encaminhadas ao Laboratório de Patologia Animal da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo para avaliação histopatológica amostras de diversos órgãos de uma ave de corte da linhagem Cobb de 48-49 dias de idade. Esse animal foi condenado na linha de inspeção por apresentar áreas multifocais enegrecidas. Ao exame microscópico, observou-se melanina multifocal variando de moderada a intensa quantidade em todos os órgãos acometidos com lesões enegrecidas na macroscopia. As áreas pigmentadas foram negativas para a coloração especial de azul da Prússia e não foram encontradas células neoplásicas. A pigmentação da pele em aves comercializadas no Ocidente é rara, pois a característica de pele clara foi selecionada por meio de melhoramento genético, mas pouco se sabe sobre quais mutações desencadeiam melanose nas linhagens selecionadas para não apresentar pigmentação. A ave apresentou melanose multicêntrica e tal alteração não compromete a função dos órgãos acometidos nem representa risco para a saúde humana, no entanto, devido ao aspecto macroscópico, os órgãos que apresentam tal lesão foram condenados para consumo humano.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - E.A. Pedrozo
- Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, Brazil
| | | | - L.C. Nunes
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil
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Gangoso L, Gutiérrez-López R, Martínez-de la Puente J, Figuerola J. Genetic colour polymorphism is associated with avian malarial infections. Biol Lett 2016; 12:20160839. [PMID: 28003524 PMCID: PMC5206593 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual genetic diversity is predicted to influence host-parasite interactions. Together with the genes directly associated with immune responses, variation in genes regulating vertebrate melanin-based pigmentation may play an important role in these interactions, mainly through the pleiotropic effects that affect colour-specific physiology, behaviour and immunity. Here, we test the hypothesis that the prevalence of avian malarial parasites differs between phenotypes in a raptor species in which the genetic basis of colour polymorphism and its pleiotropic effects over immune functions are known. We found that dark morphs had a higher prevalence of Plasmodium parasites than pale ones but detected no such association for Haemoproteus This pattern may be associated with unequal exposure to vectors or, as suggested by our circumstantial evidence, to a differential ability to mount an immune response against blood parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gangoso
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio, s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Rafael Gutiérrez-López
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio, s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio, s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio, s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain
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