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Turko AJ, Firth BL, Craig PM, Eliason EJ, Raby GD, Borowiec BG. Physiological differences between wild and captive animals: a century-old dilemma. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb246037. [PMID: 38031957 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory-based research dominates the fields of comparative physiology and biomechanics. The power of lab work has long been recognized by experimental biologists. For example, in 1932, Georgy Gause published an influential paper in Journal of Experimental Biology describing a series of clever lab experiments that provided the first empirical test of competitive exclusion theory, laying the foundation for a field that remains active today. At the time, Gause wrestled with the dilemma of conducting experiments in the lab or the field, ultimately deciding that progress could be best achieved by taking advantage of the high level of control offered by lab experiments. However, physiological experiments often yield different, and even contradictory, results when conducted in lab versus field settings. This is especially concerning in the Anthropocene, as standard laboratory techniques are increasingly relied upon to predict how wild animals will respond to environmental disturbances to inform decisions in conservation and management. In this Commentary, we discuss several hypothesized mechanisms that could explain disparities between experimental biology in the lab and in the field. We propose strategies for understanding why these differences occur and how we can use these results to improve our understanding of the physiology of wild animals. Nearly a century beyond Gause's work, we still know remarkably little about what makes captive animals different from wild ones. Discovering these mechanisms should be an important goal for experimental biologists in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy J Turko
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3C5
| | - Britney L Firth
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Paul M Craig
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Erika J Eliason
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Goleta, CA 93117, USA
| | - Graham D Raby
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada, K9L 0G2
| | - Brittney G Borowiec
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
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2
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Integrative taxonomy in the genus Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905 from anuran in Brazil, description of two new species and phylogenetic analyses. Parasitol Int 2023; 93:102714. [PMID: 36462634 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102714] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
About 20 valid species of the genus Rhabdias are known in the Neotropical region. The present study aimed to describe two new species of Rhabdias parasitizing the lungs of Leptodactylus macrosternum and Leptodactylus podicipinus from Brazil. Distinctive characteristics between these species are numerous and based on body size, size of the buccal capsule, shape and size of the oesophagus, and position of the vulva. Molecular data based on ribosomal genes 28S and ITS region and mitochondrial COI of the two species are presented. Molecular analysis and comparison of the partial mitochondrial COI sequence of Rhabdias matogrossensis n. sp. and Rhabdias guaianensis n. sp. revealed a genetic divergence between these new species and the sequences of Rhabdias spp. previously deposited in GenBank. In the phylogenetic analysis, R. matogrossensis n. sp. was grouped with R. breviensis species complex, and R. guaianensis n. sp. was grouped as a sister group of R. cf. stenochepala. This study contributes to improving the diversity of known species of Rhabdias described in Brazilian anurans.
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3
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Madelaire CB, Gomes FR. Relationships between hormone levels, metabolism and immune response in toads from a semi-arid region. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 338:114263. [PMID: 36931441 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Steroid hormones (e.g. androgens [AN] and corticosterone [CORT]) modulate complex physiological functions such as reproduction, energy mobilization, metabolism, and immunity. Fluctuations in environmental resource availability along with other factors, such as parasitism, can interact with the effects of these steroids, modifying aspects of immunocompetence and its metabolic costs. To understand these possible interactions, we studied AN and CORT, immune response [swelling response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) injection and bacterial killing ability (BKA)], parasite load, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and rates of oxygen consumption after PHA injection, in two different phases of the annual cycle of a toad (Rhinella jimi) from a highly seasonal environment (Brazilian semi-arid, Caatinga). We observed increased rates of O2 consumption after both PHA and the control (saline) injection, indicating a metabolic response to adverse stimuli but not the immune challenge. Toads showing higher RMR and VO2 after the adverse stimuli (PHA/saline injection) had lower field AN and CORT plasma levels, suggesting these hormones might mediate a metabolic energy conservation strategy both at baseline levels and after adverse stimuli. Parasite load seem to impose an energetic constrain to the metabolic response to PHA and saline injection. Also, individuals showing higher PHA swelling response had higher field CORT plasma levels (particularly when males are breeding) which opposes the idea of a possible trade-off between reproductive activity and other physiological traits and indicate the immunoenhancing effects CORT elevated at physiological levels. BKA did not show a seasonal variation or correlation with body condition nor hormone levels, indicating that the immune surveillance mediated by the complement remains constant despite other ecological and physiological changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla B Madelaire
- Biodiversity and Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA, 92027, United States.
| | - Fernando R Gomes
- University of São Paulo, Institute of Biosciences, Trav. 14 da Rua do Matão, 321, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.
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Cyrino JC, de Figueiredo AC, Córdoba-Moreno MO, Gomes FR, Titon SCM. Day Versus Night Melatonin and Corticosterone Modulation by LPS in Distinct Tissues of Toads (Rhinella Icterica). Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:1606-1617. [PMID: 35568500 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns modulate melatonin (MEL) production in the pineal and extra-pineal sites and corticosterone (CORT) synthesis in the adrenal/interrenal and other tissues. Both MEL and CORT play essential and complex immunomodulatory roles, controlling the inflammatory response. Given that most of what we know about these interactions is derived from mammalian studies, discovering how MEL and CORT are modulated following an immune challenge in anurans would increase understanding of how conserved these immune-endocrine interactions are in vertebrates. Herein, we investigated the modulation of MEL and CORT in plasma vs. local tissues of toads (Rhinella icterica) in response to an immune challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2 mg/kg) at day and night. Blood samples were taken 2 hours after injection (noon and midnight), and individuals were killed for tissue collection (bone marrow, lungs, liver, and intestine). MEL and CORT were determined in plasma and tissue homogenates. LPS treatment increased MEL concentration in bone marrow during the day. Intestine MEL levels were higher at night than during the day, particularly in LPS-injected toads. Bone marrow and lungs showed the highest MEL levels among tissues. Plasma MEL levels were not affected by either the treatment or the phase. Plasma CORT levels increased in LPS-treated individuals, with an accentuated increase at night. Otherwise, CORT concentration in the tissues was not affected by LPS exposure. Modulation of MEL levels in bone marrow suggests this tissue may participate in the toad's inflammatory response assembly. Moreover, MEL and CORT levels were different in tissues, pointing to an independent modulation of hormonal concentration. Our results suggest an important role of immune challenge in modulating MEL and CORT, bringing essential insights into the hormone-immune interactions during anuran's inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Cunha Cyrino
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Aymam Cobo de Figueiredo
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Marlina Olyissa Córdoba-Moreno
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, Brasil
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5
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Žagar A, Simčič T, Dajčman U, Megía-Palma R. Parasitemia and elevation as predictors of hemoglobin concentration and antioxidant capacity in two sympatric lizards. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 270:111233. [PMID: 35589083 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111233] [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: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Studies which quantify the influence of abiotic factors on physiological variation are paramount to comprehend organismal responses to diverse environments. We studied three physiological aspects of metabolism in two sympatric and ecologically similar European lizard species, Podarcis muralis and Iberolacerta horvathi, across an 830-m elevational gradient. We collected blood samples and tail tips from adult lizards, which were analyzed for parasitemia, hemoglobin concentration, potential metabolic activity and catalase activity. Hemoglobin concentration was higher in males than females and it increased across elevation in one of the studied species - P. muralis. Parasitemia was not an important predictor of the variation in hemoglobin concentration, which suggests that blood parasites do not constraint the aerobic capacity of the lizards. On the other hand, catalase activity reflected increased antioxidant activity in the presence of higher parasitemia, possibly acting as an adaptive mechanism to reduce oxidative stress during immune activation. Potential metabolic activity, as a proxy for maximum respiratory enzymatic capacity, did not differ between species or sexes nor was it affected by elevation or levels of parasitemia. The results provide insight into the relationships between physiological, biotic, and environmental traits in sympatric lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamarija Žagar
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystem Research, National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, P-4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Tatjana Simčič
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystem Research, National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urban Dajčman
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystem Research, National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rodrigo Megía-Palma
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, P-4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, P-4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), Department of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, E-28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
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6
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Pinho SRC, Rodríguez-Málaga S, Lozano-Osorio R, Correa FS, Silva IB, Santos-Costa MC. Effects of the habitat on anuran blood parasites in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20201703. [PMID: 34909821 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120201703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological interactions play an important role in regulating and maintaining natural populations. Like most interactions, parasitism may be influenced by environmental conditions. Therefore, changes caused by human activity may drastically affect the equilibrium of the assemblages of parasitized organisms (hosts). Herein, we described the composition of hemoparasites of anurans from two distinct environments: forest and oil palm plantations. We identified the most frequent groups of blood parasites, and whether infections differ between habitats (forest and plantation) and between microhabitats (arboreal or terrestrial). We collected 128 anurans, of which 46 (36%) were parasitized by hemoparasites. The genus Trypanosoma spp. was found in 30% (n = 37/128) of the infected anurans in both habitats, recorded mostly in terrestrial anurans in oil palm plantations. Apicomplexa hemoprotozoans were also found in 13% (n=17/128) of the anurans, which mainly were terrestrial species collected in oil palm plantations. There was no difference in parasitism between the two assemblies and between the studied microhabitats. This is the first study that has analyzed the ecological relationship between anurans as hosts and their blood parasites, in a region under intense anthropic pressure, in the Brazilian Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia R C Pinho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Rodríguez-Málaga
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Parasitologia, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Lozano-Osorio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Fabrício S Correa
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Sustentabilidade, Av. Magalhães Barata, 130, 66040-170 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Iago B Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Maria C Santos-Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
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Gardner ST, Kepas M, Simons CR, Horne LM, Savitzky AH, Mendonça MT. Differences in morphology and in composition and release of parotoid gland secretion in introduced cane toads ( Rhinella marina) from established populations in Florida, USA. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:1013-1022. [PMID: 33520183 PMCID: PMC7820141 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cane toads are highly toxic bufonids invasive in several locations throughout the world. Although physiological changes and effects on native predators for Australian populations have been well documented, Florida populations have received little attention. Cane toads were collected from populations spanning the invaded range in Florida to assess relative toxicity, through measuring morphological changes to parotoid glands, likelihood of secretion, and the marinobufagenin (MBG) content of secretion. We found that residual body indices increased in individuals from higher latitude populations, and relative parotoid gland size increased with increasing toad size. There was no effect of latitude on the allometric relationship between gland size and toad size. We observed an increase in likelihood of secretion by cane toads in the field with increasing latitude. Individuals from southern and northern populations did not vary significantly in the quantity of MBG contained in their secretion. Laboratory-acclimated cane toads receiving injections of epinephrine were more likely to secrete poison with increasing dose, although there was no difference in likelihood of secretion between southern and northern populations. This suggests that differences between populations in the quantities of epinephrine released in the field, due to altered hypothalamic sensitivity upon disturbance, may be responsible for the latitudinal effects on poison secretion. Our results suggest that altered pressures from northward establishment in Florida have affected sympathetic sensitivity and defensive mechanisms of cane toads, potentially affecting risk to native predators.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megen Kepas
- Department of BiologyUtah State UniversityLoganUtahUSA
| | - Casey R. Simons
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUtah State UniversityLoganUtahUSA
| | - Logan M. Horne
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas at El PasoEl PasoTexasUSA
| | | | - Mary T. Mendonça
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
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8
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Thermal sensitivity of innate immune response in three species of Rhinella toads. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2019; 237:110542. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.110542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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9
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Titon SCM, Titon Junior B, Assis VR, Kinker GS, Fernandes PACM, Gomes FR. Interplay among steroids, body condition and immunity in response to long-term captivity in toads. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17168. [PMID: 30464319 PMCID: PMC6249311 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35495-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressful experiences can promote harmful effects on physiology and fitness. However, stress-mediated hormonal and immune changes are complex and may be highly dependent on body condition. Here, we investigated captivity-associated stress effects, over 7, 30, 60, and 90 days on plasma corticosterone (CORT) and testosterone (T) levels, body index, and innate immunity (bacterial killing ability and phagocytosis of peritoneal cells) in toads (Rhinella icterica). Toads in captivity exhibited elevated CORT and decreased T and immunity, without changes in body index. The inter-relationships between these variables were additionally contrasted with those obtained previously for R. schneideri, a related species that exhibited extreme loss of body mass under the same captive conditions. While T and phagocytosis were positively associated in both species, the relationship between CORT and bacterial killing ability was dependent on body index alterations. While CORT and bacterial killing ability were positively associated for toads that maintained body index, CORT was negatively associated with body index in toads that lost body mass over time in captivity. In these same toads, body index was positively associated with bacterial killing ability. These results demonstrate that steroids-immunity inter-relationships arising from prolonged exposure to a stressor in toads are highly dependent on body condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Braz Titon Junior
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vania Regina Assis
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Sarti Kinker
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Costa HC, Santana DJ. The dangers of inadequate literature search to nomenclatural stability: the case of the nomina Hyla quoyi Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1828 and Hyla prasina Burmeister, 1856 (Amphibia: Anura). ZOOSYSTEMA 2018. [DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2018v40a22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Henrique C. Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, 31270-90, MG (Brazil)
| | - Diego J. Santana
- Laboratório de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900, Campo Grande, MS (Brazil)
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Moretti EH, Ortega Chinchilla JE, Marques FS, Fernandes PAC, Gomes FR. Behavioral fever decreases metabolic response to lipopolysaccharide in yellow Cururu toads (Rhinella icterica). Physiol Behav 2018; 191:73-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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