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Rickward RA, Santostefano F, Wilson AJ. Among-individual behavioural variation in the ornamental red cherry shrimp, Neocaridina heteropoda. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11049. [PMID: 38389999 PMCID: PMC10883255 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11049] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Personality variation, defined as among-individual differences in behaviour that are repeatable across time and context, is widely reported across animal taxa. From an evolutionary perspective, characterising the amount and structure of this variation is useful since differences among individuals are the raw material for adaptive behavioural evolution. However, behavioural variation among individuals also has implications for more applied areas of evolution and ecology-from invasion biology to ecotoxicology and selective breeding in captive systems. Here, we investigate the structure of personality variation in the red cherry shrimp, Neocaridina heteropoda, a popular ornamental species that is readily kept and bred under laboratory conditions and is emerging as a decapod crustacean model across these fields, but for which basic biological, ecological and behavioural data are limited. Using two assays and a repeated measures approach, we quantify behaviours putatively indicative of shy-bold variation and test for sexual dimorphism and/or size-dependent behaviours (as predicted by some state-dependent models of personality). We find moderate-to-high behavioural repeatabilities in most traits. Although strong individual-level correlations across behaviours are consistent with a major personality axis underlying these observed traits, the multivariate structure of personality variation does not fully match a priori expectations of a shy-bold axis. This may reflect our ecological naivety with respect to what really constitutes bolder, more risk-prone, behaviour in this species. We find no evidence for sexual dimorphism and only weak support for size-dependent behaviour. Our study contributes to the growing literature describing behavioural variation in aquatic invertebrates. Furthermore, it lays a foundation for further studies harnessing the potential of this emerging model system. In particular, this existing behavioural variation could be functionally linked to life-history traits and invasive success and serve as a target of artificial selection or bioassays. It thus holds significant promise in applied research across ecotoxicology, aquaculture and invasion biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesca Santostefano
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Cornwall UK
- Département des Sciences Biologiques Université du Québec à Montréal Montréal Quebec Canada
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Fort J. Contaminant-by-environment interactive effects on animal behavior in the context of global change: Evidence from avian behavioral ecotoxicology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163169. [PMID: 37003321 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The potential for chemical contaminant exposure to interact with other stressors to affect animal behavioral responses to environmental variability is of mounting concern in the context of anthropogenic environmental change. We systematically reviewed the avian literature to evaluate evidence for contaminant-by-environment interactive effects on animal behavior, as birds are prominent models in behavioral ecotoxicology and global change research. We found that only 17 of 156 (10.9 %) avian behavioral ecotoxicological studies have explored contaminant-by-environment interactions. However, 13 (76.5 %) have found evidence for interactive effects, suggesting that contaminant-by-environment interactive effects on behavior are understudied but important. We draw on our review to develop a conceptual framework to understand such interactive effects from a behavioral reaction norm perspective. Our framework highlights four patterns in reaction norm shapes that can underlie contaminant-by-environment interactive effects on behavior, termed exacerbation, inhibition, mitigation and convergence. First, contamination can render individuals unable to maintain critical behaviors across gradients in additional stressors, exacerbating behavioral change (reaction norms steeper) and generating synergy. Second, contamination can inhibit behavioral adjustment to other stressors, antagonizing behavioral plasticity (reaction norms shallower). Third, a second stressor can mitigate (antagonize) toxicological effects of contamination, causing steeper reaction norms in highly contaminated individuals, with improvement of performance upon exposure to additional stress. Fourth, contamination can limit behavioral plasticity in response to permissive conditions, such that performance of more and less contaminated individuals converges under more stressful conditions. Diverse mechanisms might underlie such shape differences in reaction norms, including combined effects of contaminants and other stressors on endocrinology, energy balance, sensory systems, and physiological and cognitive limits. To encourage more research, we outline how the types of contaminant-by-environment interactive effects proposed in our framework might operate across multiple behavioral domains. We conclude by leveraging our review and framework to suggest priorities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Grunst
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France.
| | - Melissa L Grunst
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France
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3
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Lazarus M, Sekovanić A, Reljić S, Kusak J, Ferenčaković M, Sindičić M, Gomerčić T, Huber Đ. Lead and Other Trace Element Levels in Brains of Croatian Large Terrestrial Carnivores: Influence of Biological and Ecological Factors. TOXICS 2022; 11:4. [PMID: 36668730 PMCID: PMC9865836 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Trace element pollution can adversely affect the brains of individuals and thus impact the entire population of apex predators, such as large European carnivores. We assessed exposure to prominent neurotoxicants As, Cd, Hg and Pb by measuring their brain stem levels in brown bears (n = 114), grey wolves (n = 8), Eurasian lynx (n = 3), and golden jackals (n = 2) sampled in 2015-2022 in Croatia. The highest of the non-essential elements was the Pb level in the bears' brains (median, Q1-Q3; 11.1, 7.13-24.1 μg/kg wet mass), with 4% of animals, all subadults, exceeding the established normal bovine levels (100 μg/kg wet mass). Species-specific differences were noted for Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Se brain levels. Female brown bears had higher As brain levels than males. Cubs and yearlings had lower brain Cd, but higher Zn, while subadults had higher Cu than adult bears. Hepatic As, Cd, Cu and Hg levels were shown to be a moderate proxy for estimating brain levels in bears (rS = 0.30-0.69). Multiple associations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb with essential elements pointed to a possible interaction and disturbance of brain Ca, Cu, Fe, Se and Zn homeostasis. Non-essential element levels in the brains of four studied species were lower than reported earlier for terrestrial meso-carnivores and humans. The age and sex of animals were highlighted as essential factors in interpreting brain element levels in ecotoxicological studies of large carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Lazarus
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ankica Sekovanić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Josip Kusak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Magda Sindičić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Gomerčić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Đuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Krakow, Poland
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Bertram MG, Martin JM, McCallum ES, Alton LA, Brand JA, Brooks BW, Cerveny D, Fick J, Ford AT, Hellström G, Michelangeli M, Nakagawa S, Polverino G, Saaristo M, Sih A, Tan H, Tyler CR, Wong BB, Brodin T. Frontiers in quantifying wildlife behavioural responses to chemical pollution. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1346-1364. [PMID: 35233915 PMCID: PMC9543409 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Animal behaviour is remarkably sensitive to disruption by chemical pollution, with widespread implications for ecological and evolutionary processes in contaminated wildlife populations. However, conventional approaches applied to study the impacts of chemical pollutants on wildlife behaviour seldom address the complexity of natural environments in which contamination occurs. The aim of this review is to guide the rapidly developing field of behavioural ecotoxicology towards increased environmental realism, ecological complexity, and mechanistic understanding. We identify research areas in ecology that to date have been largely overlooked within behavioural ecotoxicology but which promise to yield valuable insights, including within- and among-individual variation, social networks and collective behaviour, and multi-stressor interactions. Further, we feature methodological and technological innovations that enable the collection of data on pollutant-induced behavioural changes at an unprecedented resolution and scale in the laboratory and the field. In an era of rapid environmental change, there is an urgent need to advance our understanding of the real-world impacts of chemical pollution on wildlife behaviour. This review therefore provides a roadmap of the major outstanding questions in behavioural ecotoxicology and highlights the need for increased cross-talk with other disciplines in order to find the answers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Bertram
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSkogsmarksgränd 17UmeåVästerbottenSE‐907 36Sweden
| | - Jake M. Martin
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University25 Rainforest WalkMelbourneVictoria3800Australia
| | - Erin S. McCallum
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSkogsmarksgränd 17UmeåVästerbottenSE‐907 36Sweden
| | - Lesley A. Alton
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University25 Rainforest WalkMelbourneVictoria3800Australia
| | - Jack A. Brand
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University25 Rainforest WalkMelbourneVictoria3800Australia
| | - Bryan W. Brooks
- Department of Environmental ScienceBaylor UniversityOne Bear PlaceWacoTexas76798‐7266U.S.A.
| | - Daniel Cerveny
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSkogsmarksgränd 17UmeåVästerbottenSE‐907 36Sweden
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of HydrocenosesUniversity of South Bohemia in Ceske BudejoviceZátiší 728/IIVodnany389 25Czech Republic
| | - Jerker Fick
- Department of ChemistryUmeå UniversityLinnaeus väg 10UmeåVästerbottenSE‐907 36Sweden
| | - Alex T. Ford
- Institute of Marine SciencesUniversity of PortsmouthWinston Churchill Avenue, PortsmouthHampshirePO1 2UPU.K.
| | - Gustav Hellström
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSkogsmarksgränd 17UmeåVästerbottenSE‐907 36Sweden
| | - Marcus Michelangeli
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSkogsmarksgränd 17UmeåVästerbottenSE‐907 36Sweden
- Department of Environmental Science and PolicyUniversity of California350 E Quad, DavisCaliforniaCA95616U.S.A.
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South Wales, Biological Sciences West (D26)SydneyNSW2052Australia
| | - Giovanni Polverino
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University25 Rainforest WalkMelbourneVictoria3800Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Western Australia35 Stirling HighwayPerthWA6009Australia
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesTuscia UniversityVia S.M. in Gradi n.4ViterboLazio01100Italy
| | - Minna Saaristo
- Environment Protection Authority VictoriaEPA Science2 Terrace WayMacleodVictoria3085Australia
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and PolicyUniversity of California350 E Quad, DavisCaliforniaCA95616U.S.A.
| | - Hung Tan
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University25 Rainforest WalkMelbourneVictoria3800Australia
| | - Charles R. Tyler
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterStocker RoadExeterDevonEX4 4QDU.K.
| | - Bob B.M. Wong
- School of Biological SciencesMonash University25 Rainforest WalkMelbourneVictoria3800Australia
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental StudiesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSkogsmarksgränd 17UmeåVästerbottenSE‐907 36Sweden
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Staes N, Thys B, Pinxten R, Eens M. Serotonin transporter (SERT) polymorphisms, personality and problem-solving in urban great tits. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24270. [PMID: 34930949 PMCID: PMC8688470 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03466-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding underlying genetic variation can elucidate how diversity in behavioral phenotypes evolves and is maintained. Genes in the serotonergic signaling pathway, including the serotonin transporter gene (SERT), are candidates for affecting animal personality, cognition and fitness. In a model species, the great tit (Parus major), we reevaluated previous findings suggesting relationships between SERT polymorphisms, neophobia, exploratory behavior and fitness parameters, and performed a first test of the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SERT and problem-solving in birds. We found some evidence for associations between SERT SNPs and neophobia, exploratory behavior and laying date. Furthermore, several SNPs were associated with behavioral patterns and success rates during obstacle removal problem-solving tests performed at nest boxes. In females, minor allele homozygotes (AA) for nonsynonymous SNP226 in exon 1 made fewer incorrect attempts and were more likely to problem-solve. In both sexes, there was some evidence that minor allele homozygotes (CC) for SNP84 in exon 9 were more likely to problem-solve. Only one SNP-behavior relationship was statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons, but several were associated with substantial effect sizes. Our study provides a foundation for future research on the genetic basis of behavioral and cognitive variation in wild animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés, La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France.
| | - Melissa L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés, La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Nicky Staes
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bert Thys
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Antwerp School of Education, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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6
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Yang W, Wang S, Yang Y, Shen Y, Zhang Y. Improvement of sperm traits related to the high level of extra-pair fertilization in tree sparrow population under long-term environmental heavy metal pollution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 790:148109. [PMID: 34102439 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Environmental stress can affect sperm traits whose changes have been reported to be associated with extra-pair fertilization (EPF) level in natural animal populations. However, little is known regarding how exposure to environmental heavy metals influences sperm traits and EPF level in free-living bird populations. In a previous study, we found that a tree sparrow (Passer montanus) population that has been exposed to heavy metal pollution over 60 years (Baiyin, BY) exhibits increased sperm quality compared with a population from a relatively unpolluted area (Liujiaxia, LJX). The high sperm quality could be related to extra-pair mating rates. Therefore, the present study investigated EPF level (the ratio of extra-pair offspring) in tree sparrow populations from BY and LJX, and analyzed the relationship between sperm traits (morphology, velocity and quantity) and EPF success. EPF success of tree sparrows was significantly correlated with their sperm velocity (p = 0.048) and total sperm length (p = 0.045), indicating that these sperm traits were important for EPF success. Tree sparrows from the BY population produced longer sperm with lower head/flagellum ratio and faster swimming sperm and showed a significantly higher EPF level than conspecifics from LJX. Thus, adaptive variation of sperm characteristics was related to the high EPF level in tree sparrows under long-term environmental heavy metal pollution. The findings are of scientific significance for exploring the evolution of mating tactics in wild bird populations under environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhi Yang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Shengnan Wang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yue Shen
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yingmei Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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7
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Sun Q, Zhang S, Huang W, Wang R, Chen Z, Cai Z, Lin Z. 4-Mercaptobenzoic acid as a MALDI matrix for highly sensitive analysis of metals. Analyst 2021; 146:1543-1547. [PMID: 33565552 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00022e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
4-Mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) is introduced as a matrix for laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of metals, exhibiting matrix-interference-free background, greatly enhanced MS signal intensity, and excellent reproducibility. The developed method was successfully extended for the rapid screening and sensitive determination of ultratrace metals in fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Sun
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
| | - Shasha Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
| | - Weini Huang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
| | - Ran Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
| | - Zihan Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
| | - Zongwei Cai
- Partner State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, P. R. China
| | - Zian Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
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8
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Pinxten R, Eens M. Sources of individual variation in problem-solving performance in urban great tits (Parus major): Exploring effects of metal pollution, urban disturbance and personality. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141436. [PMID: 32841856 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite growing research effort, we have a limited understanding of how urban disturbance factors affect cognitive traits, such as innovative problem-solving. We performed an initial assessment of how metal pollution and urbanization levels on territories are related to problem-solving performance in urban great tits (Parus major), by presenting an obstacle removal test at nest boxes in three urban nest box populations that are exposed to different levels of metal pollution. We predicted that problem-solving capacity might be reduced within the most polluted population due to pollution-related neurological impairments. On the other hand, we predicted that problem-solving might positively correlate with urban disturbance levels on territories, because some past research suggests that problem-solving promotes persistence in urbanized habitats. We also assessed relationships between exploratory personality type, behavioral patterns during tests, and problem-solving performance, and examined the repeatability and fitness correlates of problem-solving. We found no evidence that behavioral patterns or problem-solving performance were related to metal exposure or exploratory personality, or that problem-solving promotes reproductive success. However, birds on territories exposed to more urban disturbance, as quantified by proximity to paths and roads, were more likely to problem-solve. Moreover, an aggressive problem-solving approach negatively predicted problem-solving success, and behavioral patterns during tests and problem-solving success were repeatable. Thus, rather than indicating negative effects of pollution or urban disturbance on problem-solving performance, our study provides preliminary support for the hypothesis that urbanization favors innovative problem-solving, and suggests that problem-solving could be associated with a personality dimension independent of exploratory personality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Melissa L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Faculty of Social Sciences, Didactica Research Group, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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Geffroy B, Alfonso S, Sadoul B, Blumstein DT. A World for Reactive Phenotypes. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2020.611919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans currently occupy all continents and by doing so, modify the environment and create novel threats to many species; a phenomenon known as human-induced rapid environmental changes (HIREC). These growing anthropogenic disturbances represent major and relatively new environmental challenges for many animals, and invariably alter selection on traits adapted to previous environments. Those species that survive often have moved from their original habitat or modified their phenotype through plasticity or genetic evolution. Based on the most recent advances in this research area, we predict that wild individuals with highly plastic capacities, relatively high basal stress level, and that are generally shy—in other words, individuals displaying a reactive phenotype—should better cope with sudden and widespread HIREC than their counterparts' proactive phenotypes. If true, this selective response would have profound ecological and evolutionary consequences and can therefore impact conservation strategies, specifically with respect to managing the distribution and abundance of individuals and maintaining evolutionary potential. These insights may help design adaptive management strategies to maintain genetic variation in the context of HIREC.
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10
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Jacquin L, Petitjean Q, Côte J, Laffaille P, Jean S. Effects of Pollution on Fish Behavior, Personality, and Cognition: Some Research Perspectives. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Bervoets L, Pinxten R, Eens M. Proximity to roads, but not exposure to metal pollution, is associated with accelerated developmental telomere shortening in nestling great tits. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 256:113373. [PMID: 31672366 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Comprehensively understanding the factors affecting physiology and fitness in urban wildlife requires concurrently considering multiple stressors. To this end, we simultaneously assessed how metal pollution and proximity to roads affect body condition and telomere shortening between days 8 and 15 of age in nestling great tits (Parus major), a common urban bird. We employed a repeated-measures sampling design to compare telomere shortening and body condition between nestlings from four urban study sites south of Antwerp, Belgium, which are located at different distances from a metal pollution point source. In addition, we explored associations between metal exposure and telomere dynamics on the individual level by measuring blood concentrations of five metals/metalloids, of which lead, copper and zinc were present at concentrations above the limit of detection. To assess whether roadway-associated stressors (e.g. noise and air pollution) might affect nestling condition and telomere shortening, we measured the proximity of nest boxes to roads. Metal exposure was not associated with nestling telomere length or body condition, despite elevated blood lead concentrations close to the metal pollution source (mean ± SE = 0.270 ± 0.095 μg/g wet weight at the most polluted study site), suggesting that nestlings may have some capacity to detoxify metals. However, nestlings from nest boxes near roads exhibited more telomere shortening between days 8 and 15 of age, and shorter telomeres at day 15. Nestlings in poorer condition also had shorter telomeres, but proximity to the road was unrelated to body condition. Thus, nutritional stress is unlikely to mediate the relationship between proximity to roads and telomere length. Rather, proximity to roads could have affected telomere shortening by exposing nestlings to air or noise pollution. Our study highlights that traffic-related pollution, which is implicated in human health problems, might also affect urban wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - M L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - L Bervoets
- Department of Biology, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research Group, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - R Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Faculty of Social Sciences, Antwerp School of Education, University of Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
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Grunst ML, Grunst AS, Pinxten R, Bervoets L, Eens M. Carotenoid- but not melanin-based plumage coloration is negatively related to metal exposure and proximity to the road in an urban songbird. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 256:113473. [PMID: 31679871 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Rapid urbanization is a global phenomenon that is increasingly exposing organisms to novel stressors. These novel stressors can affect diverse aspects of organismal function, including development of condition-dependent ornaments, which play critical roles in social and sexual selection. We investigated the relationship between metal pollution, proximity to roads, and carotenoid- and melanin-based plumage coloration in a common songbird, the great tit (Parus major). We studied populations located across a well-characterized metal pollution gradient and surrounded by roadway networks. Metal exposure and road-associated pollution could reduce carotenoid-based pigmentation by inducing oxidative stress or affecting habitat quality, but metals could also enhance melanin-based pigmentation, through effects on melanogenesis and testosterone concentrations. Using a large sample size (N > 500), we found that birds residing close to a point source for metals had reduced ultraviolet chroma, a component of carotenoid-based pigmentation. Moreover, birds with high feather metal concentrations had lower carotenoid chroma, hue, and ultraviolet chroma, with effects modified by age class. Birds residing closer to roads also had lower carotenoid chroma and hue. Melanin-based pigmentation showed high between-year repeatability, and no association with anthropogenic pollution. Results suggest that carotenoid-, but not melanin-, based pigmentation is negatively affected by multiple anthropogenic stressors. We are the first to demonstrate a negative association between roads and a plumage-based signaling trait, which could have important implications for sexual signaling dynamics in urban landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Andrea S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Faculty of Social Sciences, Didactica Research Group, University of Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- Department of Biology, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research Group, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
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