1
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Young LA, Munro E, Somanchi P, Bemis A, Smith SM, Shefelbine SJ. Analysis of bone structure in PEROMYSCUS: Effects of burrowing behavior. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:3506-3518. [PMID: 38850161 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
We compare the effects of burrowing behavior on appendicular bone structure in two Peromyscus (deer mouse) species. P. polionotus creates complex burrows in their territories, while P. eremicus is a non-burrowing nesting mouse. We examined museum specimens' bones of wild-caught mice of the two species and lab-reared P. polionotus not given the opportunity to burrow. Bones were scanned using micro-computed tomography, and cortical and trabecular bone structural properties were quantified. Wild P. polionotus mice had a larger moment of area in the ulnar and tibial cortical bone compared with their lab-reared counterparts, suggesting developmental adaptation to bending resistance. Wild P. polionotus had a larger normalized second moment of area and cross-sectional area in the tibia compared with P. eremicus. Tibial trabecular analysis showed lower trabecular thickness and spacing in wild P. polionotus than in P. eremicus and femoral analysis showed wild P. polionotus had lower thickness than P. eremicus and lower spacing than lab-reared P. polionotus, suggesting adaptation to high loads from digging. Results lay the groundwork for future exploration of the ontogenetic and evolutionary basis of mechanoadaptation in Peromyscus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Young
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emma Munro
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Priya Somanchi
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Abigail Bemis
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Sandra J Shefelbine
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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Mai J, Gargiullo R, Zheng M, Esho V, Hussein OE, Pollay E, Bowe C, Williamson LM, McElroy AF, Saunders JL, Goolsby WN, Brooks KA, Rodgers CC. Sound-seeking before and after hearing loss in mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19181. [PMID: 39160202 PMCID: PMC11333604 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
How we move our bodies affects how we perceive sound. For instance, head movements help us to better localize the source of a sound and to compensate for asymmetric hearing loss. However, many auditory experiments are designed to restrict head and body movements. To study the role of movement in hearing, we developed a behavioral task called sound-seeking that rewarded freely moving mice for tracking down an ongoing sound source. Over the course of learning, mice more efficiently navigated to the sound. Next, we asked how sound-seeking was affected by hearing loss induced by surgical removal of the malleus from the middle ear. After bilateral hearing loss sound-seeking performance drastically declined and did not recover. In striking contrast, after unilateral hearing loss mice were only transiently impaired and then recovered their sound-seek ability over about a week. Throughout recovery, unilateral mice increasingly relied on a movement strategy of sequentially checking potential locations for the sound source. In contrast, the startle reflex (an innate auditory behavior) was preserved after unilateral hearing loss and abolished by bilateral hearing loss without recovery over time. In sum, mice compensate with body movement for permanent unilateral damage to the peripheral auditory system. Looking forward, this paradigm provides an opportunity to examine how movement enhances perception and enables resilient adaptation to sensory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Mai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Rowan Gargiullo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Megan Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Valentina Esho
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Osama E Hussein
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Eliana Pollay
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Cedric Bowe
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Lucas M Williamson
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Abigail F McElroy
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jonny L Saunders
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - William N Goolsby
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Kaitlyn A Brooks
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30308, USA
| | - Chris C Rodgers
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Department of Biology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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3
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Ding SS, Fox JL, Gordus A, Joshi A, Liao JC, Scholz M. Fantastic beasts and how to study them: rethinking experimental animal behavior. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247003. [PMID: 38372042 PMCID: PMC10911175 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Humans have been trying to understand animal behavior at least since recorded history. Recent rapid development of new technologies has allowed us to make significant progress in understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying behavior, a key goal of neuroethology. However, there is a tradeoff when studying animal behavior and its underlying biological mechanisms: common behavior protocols in the laboratory are designed to be replicable and controlled, but they often fail to encompass the variability and breadth of natural behavior. This Commentary proposes a framework of 10 key questions that aim to guide researchers in incorporating a rich natural context into their experimental design or in choosing a new animal study system. The 10 questions cover overarching experimental considerations that can provide a template for interspecies comparisons, enable us to develop studies in new model organisms and unlock new experiments in our quest to understand behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Serena Ding
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jessica L. Fox
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Andrew Gordus
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Abhilasha Joshi
- Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - James C. Liao
- Department of Biology, The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA
| | - Monika Scholz
- Max Planck Research Group Neural Information Flow, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar, 53175 Bonn, Germany
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4
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Mai J, Gargiullo R, Zheng M, Esho V, Hussein OE, Pollay E, Bowe C, Williamson LM, McElroy AF, Goolsby WN, Brooks KA, Rodgers CC. Sound-seeking before and after hearing loss in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.08.574475. [PMID: 38260458 PMCID: PMC10802496 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.08.574475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
How we move our bodies affects how we perceive sound. For instance, we can explore an environment to seek out the source of a sound and we can use head movements to compensate for hearing loss. How we do this is not well understood because many auditory experiments are designed to limit head and body movements. To study the role of movement in hearing, we developed a behavioral task called sound-seeking that rewarded mice for tracking down an ongoing sound source. Over the course of learning, mice more efficiently navigated to the sound. We then asked how auditory behavior was affected by hearing loss induced by surgical removal of the malleus from the middle ear. An innate behavior, the auditory startle response, was abolished by bilateral hearing loss and unaffected by unilateral hearing loss. Similarly, performance on the sound-seeking task drastically declined after bilateral hearing loss and did not recover. In striking contrast, mice with unilateral hearing loss were only transiently impaired on sound-seeking; over a recovery period of about a week, they regained high levels of performance, increasingly reliant on a different spatial sampling strategy. Thus, even in the face of permanent unilateral damage to the peripheral auditory system, mice recover their ability to perform a naturalistic sound-seeking task. This paradigm provides an opportunity to examine how body movement enables better hearing and resilient adaptation to sensory deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Mai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Rowan Gargiullo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Megan Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Valentina Esho
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Osama E Hussein
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Eliana Pollay
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Cedric Bowe
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322
| | | | | | - William N Goolsby
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - Kaitlyn A Brooks
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30308
| | - Chris C Rodgers
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322
- Department of Biology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta GA 30322
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5
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Blumstein DM, MacManes MD. When the tap runs dry: the physiological effects of acute experimental dehydration in Peromyscus eremicus. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb246386. [PMID: 37921453 PMCID: PMC10714145 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Desert organisms have evolved physiological, biochemical and genomic mechanisms to survive the extreme aridity of desert environments. Studying desert-adapted species provides a unique opportunity to investigate the survival strategies employed by organisms in some of the harshest habitats on Earth. Two of the primary challenges faced in desert environments are maintaining water balance and thermoregulation. We collected data in a simulated desert environment and a captive colony of cactus mice (Peromyscus eremicus) and used lab-based experiments with real time physiological measurements; energy expenditure, water loss rate and respiratory exchange rate, to characterize the response to water deprivation. Mice without access to water had significantly lower energy expenditures and in turn, reduced water loss compared to mice with access to water after the first 24 h of the experiment. Additionally, we observed significant mass loss that is probably due to dehydration-associated anorexia a response to limit fluid loss by reducing waste and the solute load as well as allowing water reabsorption from the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Finally, we observed body temperature correlated with sex, with males without access to water maintaining body temperature when compared with hydrated males, whereas body temperature decreased for females without access to water, suggesting daily metabolic depression in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M. Blumstein
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Matthew D. MacManes
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
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6
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Whittaker BA, Nolet-Mulholland L, Nevoit A, Yun D, Lambert CT, Blunk SC, Guillette LM. Zebra finches have style: Nest morphology is repeatable and associated with experience. iScience 2023; 26:108194. [PMID: 37965145 PMCID: PMC10641255 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated whether birds build nests in repeatable styles and, if so, whether styles were associated with past nest-building experience. Laboratory, captive bred zebra finches in an Experimental group were given nest-building experience, whereas, birds in a Control group were not. Each pair (n = 20) then built four nests that underwent image analyses for nest size, geometric shape and entrance orientation. Birds built nests in repeatable styles, with lower morphometric variation among nests built by the same pair and higher morphometric variation among nests built by different pairs. Morphology was not associated with construction time, body weight, nor age of birds. We found lower morphometric variation among nests built by the Experimental group, which also used less material to build nests compared to the Control group. Prior experience may therefore have been advantageous, as learning to reduce material usage while achieving a similar product (nest) may have lowered building costs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anna Nevoit
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Deborah Yun
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Connor T. Lambert
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Sara C. Blunk
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Lauren M. Guillette
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
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7
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Eizenga MR, Flewwelling LD, Warrier T, Scott GR. Thermal performance curve of endurance running at high temperatures in deer mice. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:286951. [PMID: 36752138 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244847] [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: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of warming temperatures associated with climate change on performance are poorly understood in most mammals. Thermal performance curves are a valuable means of examining the effects of temperature on performance traits, but they have rarely been used in endotherms. Here, we examined the thermal performance curve of endurance running capacity at high temperatures in the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Endurance capacity was measured using an incremental speed test on a treadmill, and subcutaneous temperature in the abdominal region was measured as a proxy for body temperature (Tb). Endurance time at 20°C was repeatable but varied appreciably across individuals, and was unaffected by sex or body mass. Endurance capacity was maintained across a broad range of ambient temperatures (Ta) but was reduced above 35°C. Tb during running varied with Ta, and reductions in endurance were associated with Tb greater than 40°C when Ta was above 35°C. At the high Ta that limited endurance running capacity (but not at lower Ta), Tb tended to rise throughout running trials with increases in running speed. Metabolic and thermoregulatory measurements at rest showed that Tb, evaporative water loss and breathing frequency increased at Ta of 36°C and above. Therefore, the upper threshold temperatures at which endurance capacity is impaired are similar to those inducing heat responses at rest in this species. These findings help discern the mechanisms by which deer mice are impacted by warming temperatures, and provide a general approach for examining thermal breadth of performance in small mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Eizenga
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1
| | - Luke D Flewwelling
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1
| | - Tanisha Warrier
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1
| | - Graham R Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1
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8
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Wilsterman K, Cunningham K. Evolution in reproductive tempo and investment across the Peromyscus radiation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 339:13-27. [PMID: 36289026 PMCID: PMC10092142 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Mammals display diverse reproductive strategies, however, the ultimate and proximate mechanisms that underlie this diversity and its composite traits remain poorly understood from both evolutionary and physiological perspectives. The Peromyscus genus of rodents, which is found throughout the north and central Americas, has diversified along life history gradients, varying both within and among species in reproductive strategies. This variation provides a useful model for studying reproductive diversity. Here, we combine a literature review with new analyses of captive colony breeding records from six Peromyscus species to assess our current understanding of how plasticity and local adaptation contribute to diversity in two classes of reproductive traits: phenology and litter investment. There is substantial evidence that many traits underlying phenology and litter investment have diverged among populations in ways that are likely to be locally adaptive, though plasticity in these traits remains common. However, these conclusions are largely based on data collected from the two most widespread Peromyscus species: P. maniculatus and P. leucopus. The majority of Peromyscus species diversity remains understudied regarding reproductive phenology and litter traits. We conclude by discussing key challenges and considerations relevant to using Peromyscus as a mammalian model for reproductive trait diversity and evolution moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Wilsterman
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.,Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Kirksey Cunningham
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
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9
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Abstract
The question of the heritability of behavior has been of long fascination to scientists and the broader public. It is now widely accepted that most behavioral variation has a genetic component, although the degree of genetic influence differs widely across behaviors. Starting with Mendel's remarkable discovery of "inheritance factors," it has become increasingly clear that specific genetic variants that influence behavior can be identified. This goal is not without its challenges: Unlike pea morphology, most natural behavioral variation has a complex genetic architecture. However, we can now apply powerful genome-wide approaches to connect variation in DNA to variation in behavior as well as analyses of behaviorally related variation in brain gene expression, which together have provided insights into both the genetic mechanisms underlying behavior and the dynamic relationship between genes and behavior, respectively, in a wide range of species and for a diversity of behaviors. Here, we focus on two systems to illustrate both of these approaches: the genetic basis of burrowing in deer mice and transcriptomic analyses of division of labor in honey bees. Finally, we discuss the troubled relationship between the field of behavioral genetics and eugenics, which reminds us that we must be cautious about how we discuss and contextualize the connections between genes and behavior, especially in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hopi E. Hoekstra
- Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- HHMI, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Gene E. Robinson
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
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10
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Bedford NL, Weber JN, Tong W, Baier F, Kam A, Greenberg RA, Hoekstra HE. Interspecific variation in cooperative burrowing behavior by
Peromyscus
mice. Evol Lett 2022; 6:330-340. [PMID: 35937472 PMCID: PMC9346082 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals often adjust their behavior according to social context, but the capacity for such behavioral flexibility can vary among species. Here, we test for interspecific variation in behavioral flexibility by comparing burrowing behavior across three species of deer mice (genus Peromyscus) with divergent social systems, ranging from promiscuous (Peromyscus leucopus and Peromyscus maniculatus) to monogamous (Peromyscus polionotus). First, we compared the burrows built by individual mice to those built by pairs of mice in all three species. Although burrow length did not differ in P. leucopus or P. maniculatus, we found that P. polionotus pairs cooperatively constructed burrows that were nearly twice as long as those built by individuals and that opposite‐sex pairs dug longer burrows than same‐sex pairs. Second, to directly observe cooperative digging behavior in P. polionotus, we designed a burrowing assay in which we could video‐record active digging in narrow, transparent enclosures. Using this novel assay, we found, unexpectedly, that neither males nor females spent more time digging with an opposite‐sex partner. Rather, we demonstrate that opposite‐sex pairs are more socially cohesive and thus more efficient digging partners than same‐sex pairs. Together, our study demonstrates how social context can modulate innate behavior and offers insight into how differences in behavioral flexibility may evolve among closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L. Bedford
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Current address: Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - Jesse N. Weber
- Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Current address: Department of Integrative Biology University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
| | - Wenfei Tong
- Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
| | - Felix Baier
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
| | - Ariana Kam
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
| | - Rebecca A. Greenberg
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
| | - Hopi E. Hoekstra
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
- Center for Brain Science Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
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11
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cis-Regulatory changes in locomotor genes are associated with the evolution of burrowing behavior. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110360. [PMID: 35172153 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
How evolution modifies complex, innate behaviors is largely unknown. Divergence in many morphological traits, and some behaviors, is linked to cis-regulatory changes in gene expression. Given this, we compare brain gene expression of two interfertile sister species of Peromyscus mice that show large and heritable differences in burrowing behavior. Species-level differential expression and allele-specific expression in F1 hybrids indicate a preponderance of cis-regulatory divergence, including many genes whose cis-regulation is affected by burrowing behavior. Genes related to locomotor coordination show the strongest signals of lineage-specific selection on burrowing-induced cis-regulatory changes. Furthermore, genetic markers closest to these candidate genes associate with variation in burrow shape in a genetic cross, suggesting an enrichment for loci affecting burrowing behavior near these candidate locomotor genes. Our results provide insight into how cis-regulated gene expression can depend on behavioral context and how this dynamic regulatory divergence between species may contribute to behavioral evolution.
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12
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Corenblit D, Corbara B, Steiger J. Biogeomorphological eco-evolutionary feedback between life and geomorphology: a theoretical framework using fossorial mammals. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:55. [PMID: 34661745 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01760-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Engineer organisms not only adapt to pre-existing environmental conditions but also co-construct their physical environment. By doing so, they can subsequently change selection pressures for themselves and other species, as well as change community and ecosystem structures and functions. Focusing on one representative example, i.e., fossorial mammals, we show that geomorphological Earth system components are crucial for understanding and quantifying links between evolutionary and ecosystem dynamics and that feedbacks between geomorphology and engineer organisms constitute a major driver of geomorphological organization on the Earth's surface. We propose a biogeomorphological eco-evolutionary feedback synthesis from the gene to the landscape where eco-evolutionary feedbacks are mediated by the geomorphological dimensions of a niche that are affected by engineer organisms, such as fossorial mammals. Our concept encompasses (i) the initial responses of fossorial mammals to environmental constraints that enhance the evolution of their morphological and biomechanical traits for digging in the soil; (ii) specific adaptations of engineer fossorial mammals (morphological, biomechanical, physiological and behavioural feedback traits for living in burrows) to their constructed geomorphological environment; and (iii) ecological and evolutionary feedbacks diffusing at the community and ecological levels. Such a new perspective in geomorphology may lead to a better conceptualization and analysis of Earth surface processes and landforms as parts of complex adaptive systems in which Darwinian selection processes at lower landscape levels lead to self-organization of higher-level landforms and landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dov Corenblit
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
- Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, 31062, Toulouse, France.
| | - Bruno Corbara
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Johannes Steiger
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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13
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Salay LD, Huberman AD. Divergent outputs of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus mediate visually evoked defensive behaviors. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109792. [PMID: 34610302 PMCID: PMC10954303 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid alternations between exploration and defensive reactions require ongoing risk assessment. How visual cues and internal states flexibly modulate the selection of behaviors remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN)-a major retinorecipient structure-is a critical node in the network controlling defensive behaviors to visual threats. We find that vLGNGABA neuron activity scales with the intensity of environmental illumination and is modulated by behavioral state. Chemogenetic activation of vLGNGABA neurons reduces freezing, whereas inactivation dramatically extends the duration of freezing to visual threats. Perturbations of vLGN activity disrupt exploration in brightly illuminated environments. We describe both a vLGN→nucleus reuniens (Re) circuit and a vLGN→superior colliculus (SC) circuit, which exert opposite influences on defensive responses. These findings reveal roles for genetic- and projection-defined vLGN subpopulations in modulating the expression of behavioral threat responses according to internal state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey D Salay
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; BioX, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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14
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Hernández DG, Rivera C, Cande J, Zhou B, Stern DL, Berman GJ. A framework for studying behavioral evolution by reconstructing ancestral repertoires. eLife 2021; 10:e61806. [PMID: 34473052 PMCID: PMC8445618 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although different animal species often exhibit extensive variation in many behaviors, typically scientists examine one or a small number of behaviors in any single study. Here, we propose a new framework to simultaneously study the evolution of many behaviors. We measured the behavioral repertoire of individuals from six species of fruit flies using unsupervised techniques and identified all stereotyped movements exhibited by each species. We then fit a Generalized Linear Mixed Model to estimate the intra- and inter-species behavioral covariances, and, by using the known phylogenetic relationships among species, we estimated the (unobserved) behaviors exhibited by ancestral species. We found that much of intra-specific behavioral variation has a similar covariance structure to previously described long-time scale variation in an individual's behavior, suggesting that much of the measured variation between individuals of a single species in our assay reflects differences in the status of neural networks, rather than genetic or developmental differences between individuals. We then propose a method to identify groups of behaviors that appear to have evolved in a correlated manner, illustrating how sets of behaviors, rather than individual behaviors, likely evolved. Our approach provides a new framework for identifying co-evolving behaviors and may provide new opportunities to study the mechanistic basis of behavioral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damián G Hernández
- Department of Physics, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Medical Physics, Centro Atómico Bariloche and Instituto BalseiroBarilocheArgentina
| | | | - Jessica Cande
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Baohua Zhou
- Department of Physics, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale UniversityNew HavenUnited States
| | - David L Stern
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Gordon J Berman
- Department of Physics, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
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15
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Wireless, battery-free, subdermally implantable platforms for transcranial and long-range optogenetics in freely moving animals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2025775118. [PMID: 34301889 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025775118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Wireless, battery-free, and fully subdermally implantable optogenetic tools are poised to transform neurobiological research in freely moving animals. Current-generation wireless devices are sufficiently small, thin, and light for subdermal implantation, offering some advantages over tethered methods for naturalistic behavior. Yet current devices using wireless power delivery require invasive stimulus delivery, penetrating the skull and disrupting the blood-brain barrier. This can cause tissue displacement, neuronal damage, and scarring. Power delivery constraints also sharply curtail operational arena size. Here, we implement highly miniaturized, capacitive power storage on the platform of wireless subdermal implants. With approaches to digitally manage power delivery to optoelectronic components, we enable two classes of applications: transcranial optogenetic activation millimeters into the brain (validated using motor cortex stimulation to induce turning behaviors) and wireless optogenetics in arenas of more than 1 m2 in size. This methodology allows for previously impossible behavioral experiments leveraging the modern optogenetic toolkit.
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16
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Pond HL, Heller AT, Gural BM, McKissick OP, Wilkinson MK, Manzini MC. Digging behavior discrimination test to probe burrowing and exploratory digging in male and female mice. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:2046-2058. [PMID: 34048600 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Digging behavior is often used to test motor function and repetitive behaviors in mice. Different digging paradigms have been developed for behaviors related to anxiety and compulsion in mouse lines generated to recapitulate genetic mutations leading to psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the interpretation of these tests has been confounded by the difficulty of determining the motivation behind digging in mice. Digging is a naturalistic mouse behavior that can be focused toward different goals, that is foraging for food, burrowing for shelter, burying objects, or even for recreation as has been shown for dogs, ferrets, and human children. However, the interpretation of results from current testing protocols assumes the motivation behind the behavior often concluding that increased digging is a repetitive or compulsive behavior. We asked whether providing a choice between different types of digging activities would increase sensitivity to assess digging motivation. Here, we present a test to distinguish between burrowing and exploratory digging in mice. We found that mice prefer burrowing when the option is available. When food restriction was used to promote a switch from burrowing to exploration, males readily switched from burrowing to digging outside, while females did not. In addition, when we tested a model of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder that had shown inconsistent results in the marble burying test, the Cc2d1a conditional knockout mouse, we found greatly reduced burrowing only in males. Our findings indicate that digging is a nuanced motivated behavior and suggest that male and female rodents may perform it differently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Pond
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Abigail T Heller
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Brian M Gural
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Olivia P McKissick
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Molly K Wilkinson
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - M Chiara Manzini
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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17
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Colella JP, Tigano A, Dudchenko O, Omer AD, Khan R, Bochkov ID, Aiden EL, MacManes MD. Limited Evidence for Parallel Evolution Among Desert-Adapted Peromyscus Deer Mice. J Hered 2021; 112:286-302. [PMID: 33686424 PMCID: PMC8141686 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Warming climate and increasing desertification urge the identification of genes involved in heat and dehydration tolerance to better inform and target biodiversity conservation efforts. Comparisons among extant desert-adapted species can highlight parallel or convergent patterns of genome evolution through the identification of shared signatures of selection. We generate a chromosome-level genome assembly for the canyon mouse (Peromyscus crinitus) and test for a signature of parallel evolution by comparing signatures of selective sweeps across population-level genomic resequencing data from another congeneric desert specialist (Peromyscus eremicus) and a widely distributed habitat generalist (Peromyscus maniculatus), that may be locally adapted to arid conditions. We identify few shared candidate loci involved in desert adaptation and do not find support for a shared pattern of parallel evolution. Instead, we hypothesize divergent molecular mechanisms of desert adaptation among deer mice, potentially tied to species-specific historical demography, which may limit or enhance adaptation. We identify a number of candidate loci experiencing selective sweeps in the P. crinitus genome that are implicated in osmoregulation (Trypsin, Prostasin) and metabolic tuning (Kallikrein, eIF2-alpha kinase GCN2, APPL1/2), which may be important for accommodating hot and dry environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn P Colella
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.,Hubbard Genome Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.,Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
| | - Anna Tigano
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.,Hubbard Genome Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
| | - Olga Dudchenko
- Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Center for Theoretical and Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX.,Department of Computer Science, Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics, Rice University, Houston, TX
| | - Arina D Omer
- Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Ruqayya Khan
- Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Computer Science, Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics, Rice University, Houston, TX
| | - Ivan D Bochkov
- Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Computer Science, Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics, Rice University, Houston, TX
| | - Erez L Aiden
- Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Center for Theoretical and Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX.,Department of Computer Science, Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics, Rice University, Houston, TX.,Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Matthew D MacManes
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.,Hubbard Genome Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
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18
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Lei J, Binti Yusof NS, Wu NC, Zhang Z, Booth DT. The Burrowing Ecology of a Tropical Lizard (Leiolepis belliana). HERPETOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1655/0018-0831-77.1.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Lei
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Nur Syuhaida Binti Yusof
- School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Nicholas C. Wu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Zhengwang Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - David T. Booth
- School of Biological Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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19
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Development and Control of Behaviour. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-82879-0_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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20
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Kuo DH, De-Miguel FF, Heath-Heckman EAC, Szczupak L, Todd K, Weisblat DA, Winchell CJ. A tale of two leeches: Toward the understanding of the evolution and development of behavioral neural circuits. Evol Dev 2020; 22:471-493. [PMID: 33226195 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In the animal kingdom, behavioral traits encompass a broad spectrum of biological phenotypes that have critical roles in adaptive evolution, but an EvoDevo approach has not been broadly used to study behavior evolution. Here, we propose that, by integrating two leech model systems, each of which has already attained some success in its respective field, it is possible to take on behavioral traits with an EvoDevo approach. We first identify the developmental changes that may theoretically lead to behavioral evolution and explain why an EvoDevo study of behavior is challenging. Next, we discuss the pros and cons of the two leech model species, Hirudo, a classic model for invertebrate neurobiology, and Helobdella, an emerging model for clitellate developmental biology, as models for behavioral EvoDevo research. Given the limitations of each leech system, neither is particularly strong for behavioral EvoDevo. However, the two leech systems are complementary in their technical accessibilities, and they do exhibit some behavioral similarities and differences. By studying them in parallel and together with additional leech species such as Haementeria, it is possible to explore the different levels of behavioral development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian-Han Kuo
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Francisco F De-Miguel
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | | | - Lidia Szczupak
- Departamento de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and IFIBYNE UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Krista Todd
- Department of Neuroscience, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David A Weisblat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Christopher J Winchell
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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21
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Guerrero-Arenas R, Jiménez-Hidalgo E, Genise JF. Burrow systems evince non-solitary geomyid rodents from the Paleogene of southern Mexico. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230040. [PMID: 32163482 PMCID: PMC7067467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a new complex burrow system produced by geomyids in southern Mexico. Yaviichnus inyooensis igen. isp. nov. is composed of main large chambers near the top of the paleosol, from which shafts showing different morphologies and orientations radiate, some of them ending in or connected to small deeper chambers. Gregorymys spp. is proposed as the producer based on its fossorial habits, abundance in the outcrops, presence of remains inside the burrows, and paired grooves in the walls, which are compatible with the traces of geomyid incisors. The complexity of these burrows attests to an extended underground life that would have been triggered by semiarid to arid conditions. Morphological complexity also suggests that the burrows were excavated and inhabited by more than one individual, indicating that Oligocene Gregorymys of southern Mexico would be a unique gregarious geomyid.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jorge Fernando Genise
- CONICET, División Icnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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22
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Juntti S. The Future of Gene-Guided Neuroscience Research in Non-Traditional Model Organisms. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2019; 93:108-121. [PMID: 31416064 DOI: 10.1159/000500072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Natural variations across animals in form, function, and behavior have long been sources of inspiration to scientists. Despite this, experimentalists focusing on the neural bases of behavior have increasingly focused on a select few model species. This consolidation is motivated primarily by the availability of resources and technologies for manipulation in these species. Recent years have witnessed a proliferation of experimental approaches that were developed primarily in traditional model species, but that may in principle be readily applied to any species. High-throughput sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, transgenesis, and other technologies have enabled new insights through their deployment in non-traditional model species. The availability of such approaches changes the calculation of which species to study, particularly when a trait of interest is most readily observed in a non-traditional model organism. If these technologies are widely adopted in many new species, it promises to revolutionize the field of neuroethology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Juntti
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA,
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23
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Abstract
Nobel laureate Nikolaas Tinbergen provided clear criteria for declaring a neuroscience problem solved, criteria which despite the passage of more than 50 years and vastly expanded neuroscience tool kits remain applicable today. Tinbergen said for neuroscientists to claim that a behavior is understood, they must correspondingly understand its (i) development and its (ii) mechanisms and its (iii) function and its (iv) evolution. Now, all four of these domains represent hotbeds of current experimental work, each using arrays of new techniques which overlap only partly. Thus, as new methodologies come online, from single-nerve-cell RNA sequencing, for example, to smart FISH, large-scale calcium imaging from cortex and deep brain structures, computational ethology, and so on, one person, however smart, cannot master everything. Our response to the likely “fracturing” of neuroscience recognizes the value of ever larger consortia. This response suggests new kinds of problems for (i) funding and (ii) the fair distribution of credit, especially for younger scientists.
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24
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Just MG, Nichols LM, Dunn RR. Human indoor climate preferences approximate specific geographies. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:180695. [PMID: 31031985 PMCID: PMC6458351 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.180695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Human engineering of the outdoors led to the development of the indoor niche, including home construction. However, it is unlikely that domicile construction mechanics are under direct selection for humans. Nonetheless, our preferences within indoor environments are, or once were, consequential to our fitness. The research of human homes does not usually consider human evolution, and, therefore, we are without previous predictions about indoor climate preference. We worked with citizen scientists to collect indoor climate data from homes (n = 37) across the USA. We then compared these data to recent global terrestrial climate data (0.5° grid cells, n = 67 420) using a climate dissimilarity index. We also compared some climate-related physiological parameters (e.g. thermoneutral zone (TNZ)) between humans and a selection of non-human primates. On average, our study homes were most similar in climate to the outdoor conditions of west central Kenya. We found that the indoor climates of our study homes largely matched the TNZ of humans and other primates. Overall, we identified the geographical distribution of the global outdoor climate that is most similar to the interiors of our study homes and summarized study home indoor climate preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Just
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Lauren M. Nichols
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Robert R. Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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25
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Malewski S, Begall S, Schleich CE, Antenucci CD, Burda H. Do subterranean mammals use the Earth's magnetic field as a heading indicator to dig straight tunnels? PeerJ 2018; 6:e5819. [PMID: 30402349 PMCID: PMC6215444 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Subterranean rodents are able to dig long straight tunnels. Keeping the course of such "runways" is important in the context of optimal foraging strategies and natal or mating dispersal. These tunnels are built in the course of a long time, and in social species, by several animals. Although the ability to keep the course of digging has already been described in the 1950s, its proximate mechanism could still not be satisfactorily explained. Here, we analyzed the directional orientation of 68 burrow systems in five subterranean rodent species (Fukomys anselli, F. mechowii, Heliophobius argenteocinereus, Spalax galili, and Ctenomys talarum) on the base of detailed maps of burrow systems charted within the framework of other studies and provided to us. The directional orientation of the vast majority of all evaluated burrow systems on the individual level (94%) showed a significant deviation from a random distribution. The second order statistics (averaging mean vectors of all the studied burrow systems of a respective species) revealed significant deviations from random distribution with a prevalence of north-south (H. argenteocinereus), NNW-SSE (C. talarum), and NE-SW (Fukomys mole-rats) oriented tunnels. Burrow systems of S. galili were randomly oriented. We suggest that the Earth's magnetic field acts as a common heading indicator, facilitating to keep the course of digging. This study provides a field test and further evidence for magnetoreception and its biological meaning in subterranean mammals. Furthermore, it lays the foundation for future field experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Malewski
- Department of General Zoology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sabine Begall
- Department of General Zoology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Cristian E. Schleich
- Laboratorio de Ecología Fisiológica y del Comportamiento, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C. Daniel Antenucci
- Laboratorio de Ecología Fisiológica y del Comportamiento, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Hynek Burda
- Department of General Zoology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic
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26
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Schradin C, Hayes LD, Pillay N, Bertelsmeier C. The evolution of intraspecific variation in social organization. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Schradin
- Université de Strasbourg CNRS IPHC UMR 7178 Strasbourg France
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Witwatersrand South Africa
| | - Loren D. Hayes
- Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Sciences University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga Tennessee
| | - Neville Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Witwatersrand South Africa
| | - Cleo Bertelsmeier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
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27
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28
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Ashbrook DG, Mulligan MK, Williams RW. Post-genomic behavioral genetics: From revolution to routine. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 17:e12441. [PMID: 29193773 PMCID: PMC5876106 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
What was once expensive and revolutionary-full-genome sequence-is now affordable and routine. Costs will continue to drop, opening up new frontiers in behavioral genetics. This shift in costs from the genome to the phenome is most notable in large clinical studies of behavior and associated diseases in cohorts that exceed hundreds of thousands of subjects. Examples include the Women's Health Initiative (www.whi.org), the Million Veterans Program (www. RESEARCH va.gov/MVP), the 100 000 Genomes Project (genomicsengland.co.uk) and commercial efforts such as those by deCode (www.decode.com) and 23andme (www.23andme.com). The same transition is happening in experimental neuro- and behavioral genetics, and sample sizes of many hundreds of cases are becoming routine (www.genenetwork.org, www.mousephenotyping.org). There are two major consequences of this new affordability of massive omics datasets: (1) it is now far more practical to explore genetic modulation of behavioral differences and the key role of gene-by-environment interactions. Researchers are already doing the hard part-the quantitative analysis of behavior. Adding the omics component can provide powerful links to molecules, cells, circuits and even better treatment. (2) There is an acute need to highlight and train behavioral scientists in how best to exploit new omics approaches. This review addresses this second issue and highlights several new trends and opportunities that will be of interest to experts in animal and human behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Ashbrook
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - M K Mulligan
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - R W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee
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29
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Smith TN, Gese EM, Kluever BM. Evaluating the Impact of an Exotic Plant Invasion on Rodent Community Richness and Abundance. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2017. [DOI: 10.3398/064.077.0411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Trinity N. Smith
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230
- E-mail:
| | - Eric M. Gese
- United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230
| | - Bryan M. Kluever
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230
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30
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Perry M, Konstantinides N, Pinto-Teixeira F, Desplan C. Generation and Evolution of Neural Cell Types and Circuits: Insights from the Drosophila Visual System. Annu Rev Genet 2017; 51:501-527. [PMID: 28961025 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-120215-035312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The Drosophila visual system has become a premier model for probing how neural diversity is generated during development. Recent work has provided deeper insight into the elaborate mechanisms that control the range of types and numbers of neurons produced, which neurons survive, and how they interact. These processes drive visual function and influence behavioral preferences. Other studies are beginning to provide insight into how neuronal diversity evolved in insects by adding new cell types and modifying neural circuits. Some of the most powerful comparisons have been those made to the Drosophila visual system, where a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms allows for the generation of hypotheses about the evolution of neural anatomy and function. The evolution of new neural types contributes additional complexity to the brain and poses intriguing questions about how new neurons interact with existing circuitry. We explore how such individual changes in a variety of species might play a role over evolutionary timescales. Lessons learned from the fly visual system apply to other neural systems, including the fly central brain, where decisions are made and memories are stored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Perry
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA;
| | | | - Filipe Pinto-Teixeira
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; .,Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Claude Desplan
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; .,Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Arguello JR, Benton R. Open questions: Tackling Darwin's "instincts": the genetic basis of behavioral evolution. BMC Biol 2017; 15:26. [PMID: 28372547 PMCID: PMC5377514 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0369-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
All of us have marveled at the remarkable diversity of animal behaviors in nature. None of us has much idea of how these have evolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Roman Arguello
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Génopode Building, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard Benton
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Génopode Building, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Kiaris H. Editorial. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 61:80-81. [PMID: 28081800 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hippokratis Kiaris
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences and Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
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