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Onukwufor JO, Kamunde C. Interactive effects of temperature, cadmium, and hypoxia on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver mitochondrial bioenergetics. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 289:117450. [PMID: 39632330 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 11/22/2024] [Accepted: 11/29/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024]
Abstract
Fish in their natural environments possess elaborate mechanisms that regulate physiological function to mitigate the adverse effects of multiple environmental stressors such as temperature, metals, and hypoxia. We investigated how warm acclimation affects mitochondrial responses to Cd, hypoxia, and acute temperature shifts (heat shock and cold snap) in rainbow trout. We observed that state 3 respiration driven by complex I (CI) was resistant to the stressors while warm acclimation and Cd reduced complex I +II (CI + II) driven state 3 respiration. In contrast, state 4 (leak) respirations for both CI and CI + II were consistently stimulated by warm acclimation resulting in reduced mitochondrial coupling efficiency (respiratory control ratio [RCR]). Warm acclimation and Cd exacerbated their individual effect on leak respiration to further reduce the RCR. Moreover, the effect of warm acclimation on mitochondrial bioenergetics aligned with its inhibitory effect on activities of citrate synthase and both CI and CII. Unlike the Cd and warm acclimation combined exposure, hypoxia alone and in combination with warm acclimation and/or Cd abolished the stimulation of CI and CI + II powered leak respirations resulting in partial recovery of RCR. The response to acute temperature shifts indicated that while state 3 respiration returned to pre-acclimation level, the leak respiration did not. Overall, our findings suggest a complex in vivo interaction of multiple stressors on mitochondrial function that are not adequately predicted by their individual effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- John O Onukwufor
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada.
| | - Collins Kamunde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada.
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2
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Farias L, Beszteri B, Burfeid Castellanos AM, Doliwa A, Enss J, Feld CK, Grabner D, Lampert KP, Mayombo NAS, Prati S, Schürings C, Smollich E, Schäfer RB, Sures B, Le TTY. Influence of salinity on the thermal tolerance of aquatic organisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176120. [PMID: 39260473 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Aquatic organisms are challenged by changes in their external environment, such as temperature and salinity fluctuations. If these variables interacted with each other, the response of organisms to temperature changes would be modified by salinity and vice versa. We tested for potential interaction between temperature and salinity effects on freshwater, brackish, and marine organisms, including algae, macrophytes, heterotrophic protists, parasites, invertebrates, and fish. We performed a meta-analysis that compared the thermal tolerance (characterised by the temperature optimum, lower and upper temperature limits, and thermal breadth) at various salinities. The meta-analysis was based on 90 articles (algae: 15; heterotrophic protists: 1; invertebrates: 43; and fish: 31). Studies on macrophytes and parasites were lacking. We found that decreasing salinity significantly increased and decreased the lower and upper temperature limits, respectively, in all groups. Thus, a lowered salinity increased the thermal sensitivity of organisms. These findings mainly reflect the response of brackish and marine organisms to salinity changes, which dominated our database. The few studies on freshwater species showed that their lower thermal limits increased and the upper thermal limits decreased with increasing salinity, albeit statistically nonsignificant. Although non-significant, the response of thermal tolerance to salinity changes differed between various organism groups. It generally decreased in the order of: algae > invertebrates > fish. Overall, our findings indicate adverse effects of salinity changes on the temperature tolerance of aquatic organisms. For freshwater species, studies are comparatively scarce and further studies on their thermal performance at various salinity gradients are required to obtain more robust evidence for interactions between salinity and temperature tolerance. Considering test conditions such as acclimation temperature and potential infection with parasites in future studies may decrease the variability in the relationship between salinity and thermal tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luan Farias
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Bánk Beszteri
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Department of Phycology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | | | - Annemie Doliwa
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Julian Enss
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Christian K Feld
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel Grabner
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | | | | | - Sebastian Prati
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Schürings
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Esther Smollich
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Ecotoxicology, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - T T Yen Le
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
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Earhart ML, Thapar M, Blanchard TS, Bugg WS, Schulte PM. Persistent interactive effects of developmental salinity and temperature in Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2024; 297:111732. [PMID: 39209059 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111732] [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: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Climate change alters multiple abiotic environmental factors in aquatic environments but relatively little is known about their interacting impacts, particularly in developing organisms where these exposures have the potential to cause long-lasting effects. To explore these issues, we exposed developing killifish embryos (Fundulus heteroclitus) to 26 °C or 20 °C and 20 ppt or 3 ppt salinity in a fully-factorial design. After hatching, fish were transferred to common conditions of 20 °C and 20 ppt to assess the potential for persistent developmental plasticity. Warm temperature increased hatching success and decreased hatch time, whereas low salinity negatively affected hatching success, but this was only significant in fish developed at 20 °C. Temperature, salinity, or their interaction affected mRNA levels of genes typically associated with thermal and hypoxia tolerance (hif1a, hsp90b, hsp90a, hsc70, and hsp70.2) across multiple developmental timepoints. These differences were persistent into the juvenile stage, where the fish that developed at 26 °C had higher expression of hif1a, hsp90b, hsp90a, and hsp70.2 than fish developed at 20 °C, and this was particularly evident for the group developed at both high temperature and salinity. There were also long-lasting effects of developmental treatments on body size after four months of rearing under common conditions. Fish developed at low salinity or temperature were larger than fish developed at high temperature or salinity, but there was no interaction between the two factors. These data highlight the complex nature of the developmental effects of interacting stressors which has important implications for predicting the resilience of fishes in the context of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison L Earhart
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Myra Thapar
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tessa S Blanchard
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - William S Bugg
- Pacific Salmon Foundation, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Forestry and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Patricia M Schulte
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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4
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Dichiera AM, Earhart ML, Bugg WS, Brauner CJ, Schulte PM. Too Hot to Handle: A Meta-Analytical Review of the Thermal Tolerance and Adaptive Capacity of North American Sturgeon. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17564. [PMID: 39563555 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 09/21/2024] [Accepted: 10/09/2024] [Indexed: 11/21/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how ectotherms may fare with rising global temperatures and more frequent heatwaves is especially concerning for species already considered at-risk, such as long-lived, late-maturing sturgeon. There have been concerted efforts to collect data on the movement behavior and thermal physiology of North American sturgeon to enhance conservation efforts; thus, we sought to synthesize these data to understand how sturgeon respond to thermal stress and what capacity they have to acclimate and adapt to warming. Here, we combined a systematic literature review and meta-analysis, integrating field-based observations (distribution and spawning) and laboratory-based experiments (survival, activity, growth, metabolism, and upper thermal limits) for large-scale insights to understand the vulnerability of North American sturgeon to rising global temperatures. We summarized the preferred thermal habitat and thermal limits of sturgeon in their natural environment and using meta-analytical techniques, quantified the effect of prolonged temperature change on sturgeon whole-animal physiology and acute upper thermal limits. While acclimation did not have significant effects on physiological rates or survival overall, there were positive trends of activity and metabolism in young-of-the-year sturgeons, likely offset by negative trends of survival in early life. Notably, North American sturgeon have a greater capacity for thermal tolerance plasticity than other fishes, increasing upper thermal limits by 0.56°C per 1°C change in acclimation temperature. But with limited laboratory-based studies, more research is needed to understand if this is a sturgeon trait, or perhaps that of basal fishes in general. Importantly, with these data gaps, the fate of sturgeon remains uncertain as climate change intensifies, and physiological impacts across life stages likely limit ecological success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina M Dichiera
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA
| | - Madison L Earhart
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - William S Bugg
- Pacific Salmon Foundation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Colin J Brauner
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Patricia M Schulte
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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5
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Reemeyer JE, Rumball D, Mandrak NE, Chapman LJ. Seasonal variation in thermal tolerance and hypoxia tolerance of a threatened minnow and a non-imperilled congener: a cautionary tale for surrogate species in conservation. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coae071. [PMID: 39417164 PMCID: PMC11482009 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/25/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
Freshwater organisms face multiple threats to their ecosystems, including warming associated with climate change and low dissolved oxygen (environmental hypoxia), which are both increasing in frequency and extent in freshwater systems. Understanding tolerance thresholds for these environmental stressors as well as the plasticity of responses is the key for informing the conservation of imperilled species. Direct measurement of imperilled species can be difficult, and the use of surrogate (non-imperilled but closely related) species has been proposed as a remedy, but the degree to which surrogate data are representative of the imperilled species has not been widely validated. In this study, we measured physiological performance of two species: one federally listed as Threatened in Canada (Pugnose Shiner, Miniellus anogenus) and a non-imperilled congener (Blackchin Shiner, Miniellus heterodon). Hypoxia tolerance (critical oxygen tension and loss of equilibrium) and upper thermal tolerance (CTmax) were measured streamside over a period of 5 months. We found that the Threatened Pugnose Shiner had lower tolerance to both elevated temperature and hypoxia than the non-imperilled Blackchin Shiner. The species also differed in their responses to environmental dissolved oxygen (DO). CTmax of Pugnose Shiner had a positive relationship with DO such that CTmax was lowered when environmental DO was low, whereas there was no effect of DO on CTmax of Blackchin Shiner. Blackchin Shiner also showed plasticity of hypoxia tolerance in response to changes in environmental DO, while Pugnose Shiner showed little plasticity. We conclude that Pugnose Shiner may be more sensitive to heat waves and hypoxia associated with climate change. We also assert that researchers should be cautious when using surrogate species to inform tolerance limits of imperilled species and highlight the value of measuring imperilled species directly when possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Reemeyer
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dominique Rumball
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicholas E Mandrak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren J Chapman
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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6
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Lock MC, Ripley DM, Smith KLM, Mueller CA, Shiels HA, Crossley DA, Galli GLJ. Developmental plasticity of the cardiovascular system in oviparous vertebrates: effects of chronic hypoxia and interactive stressors in the context of climate change. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb245530. [PMID: 39109475 PMCID: PMC11418206 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245530] [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: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Animals at early life stages are generally more sensitive to environmental stress than adults. This is especially true of oviparous vertebrates that develop in variable environments with little or no parental care. These organisms regularly experience environmental fluctuations as part of their natural development, but climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of these events. The developmental plasticity of oviparous vertebrates will therefore play a critical role in determining their future fitness and survival. In this Review, we discuss and compare the phenotypic consequences of chronic developmental hypoxia on the cardiovascular system of oviparous vertebrates. In particular, we focus on species-specific responses, critical windows, thresholds for responses and the interactive effects of other stressors, such as temperature and hypercapnia. Although important progress has been made, our Review identifies knowledge gaps that need to be addressed if we are to fully understand the impact of climate change on the developmental plasticity of the oviparous vertebrate cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell C. Lock
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Daniel M. Ripley
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
- Division of Science, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kerri L. M. Smith
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Casey A. Mueller
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, San Marcos, CA 92096, USA
| | - Holly A. Shiels
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
| | - Dane A. Crossley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76201, USA
| | - Gina L. J. Galli
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
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7
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Reemeyer JE, Chapman LJ. Effects of acute hypoxia exposure and acclimation on the thermal tolerance of an imperiled Canadian minnow. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 341:937-949. [PMID: 38966932 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Elevated water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen (hypoxia) are pervasive stressors in aquatic systems that can be exacerbated by climate change and anthropogenic activities, and there is growing interest in their interactive effects. To explore this interaction, we quantified the effects of acute and long-term hypoxia exposure on the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) of Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus), a small-bodied freshwater minnow with sparse populations in the Great Lakes Basin of Canada and designated as Endangered under Canada's Species at Risk Act. Fish were held at 18°C and acclimated to four levels of dissolved oxygen (>90%, 60%, 40%, and 20% air saturation). CTmax was measured after 2 and 10 weeks of acclimation and after 3.5 weeks of reoxygenation, and agitation behavior was quantified during CTmax trials. Aquatic surface respiration behavior was also quantified at 14 weeks of acclimation to oxygen treatments. Acute hypoxia exposure decreased CTmax in fish acclimated to normoxia (>90% air saturation), but acclimation to hypoxia reduced this effect. There was no effect of acclimation oxygen level on CTmax when measured in normoxia, and there was no effect of exposure time to hypoxia on CTmax. Residual effects of hypoxia acclimation on CTmax were not seen after reoxygenation. Agitation behavior varied greatly among individuals and was not affected by oxygen conditions. Fish performed aquatic surface respiration with low frequency, but performed it earlier when acclimated to higher levels of oxygen. Overall, this work sheds light on the vulnerability of fish experiencing acute hypoxia and heat waves concurrently.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren J Chapman
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Quebec, Montreal, Canada
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8
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Vermandele F, Sasaki M, Winkler G, Dam HG, Madeira D, Calosi P. When the Going Gets Tough, the Females Get Going: Sex-Specific Physiological Responses to Simultaneous Exposure to Hypoxia and Marine Heatwave Events in a Ubiquitous Copepod. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17553. [PMID: 39450945 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
The existence of sex-specific differences in phenotypic traits is widely recognized. Yet they are often ignored in studies looking at the impact of global changes on marine organisms, particularly within the context of combined drivers that are known to elicit complex interactions. We tested sex-specific physiological responses of the cosmopolitan and ecologically important marine copepod Acartia tonsa exposed to combined hypoxia and marine heatwave (MHW) conditions, both of which individually strongly affect marine ectotherms. Females and males were acutely exposed for 5 days to a combination of either control (18°C) or a high temperature mimicking a MHW (25°C), and normoxia (100% O2 sat.) or mild hypoxia (35% O2 sat.). Life-history traits, as well as sex-specific survival and physiological traits, were measured. Females had overall higher thermal tolerance levels and responded differently than males when exposed to the combined global change drivers investigated. Females also showed lower metabolic thermal sensitivity when compared to males. Additionally, the MHW exerted a dominant effect on the traits investigated, causing a lower survival and higher metabolic rate at 25°C. However, egg production rates appeared unaffected by hypoxia and MHW conditions. Our results showed that MHWs could strongly affect copepods' survival, that combined exposure to hypoxia and MHW exerted an interactive effect only on CTmax, and that sex-specific vulnerability to these global change drivers could have major implications for population dynamics. Our results highlight the importance of considering the differences in the responses of females and males to rapid environmental changes to improve the implementation of climate-smart conservation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Vermandele
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Écologique et Évolutive Marine, Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
| | - Matthew Sasaki
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Gesche Winkler
- Institut Des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada
| | - Hans G Dam
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, USA
| | - Diana Madeira
- ECOMARE-Laboratory for Innovation and Sustainability of Marine Biological Resources, CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Gafanha da Nazaré, Portugal
| | - Piero Calosi
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Écologique et Évolutive Marine, Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
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9
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Belding LD, Thorstensen MJ, Quijada-Rodriguez AR, Bugg WS, Yoon GR, Loeppky AR, Allen GJP, Schoen AN, Earhart ML, Brandt C, Ali JL, Weihrauch D, Jeffries KM, Anderson WG. Integrated organismal responses induced by projected levels of CO 2 and temperature exposures in the early life stages of lake sturgeon. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17432. [PMID: 38887831 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17432] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Atmospheric CO2 and temperature are rising concurrently, and may have profound impacts on the transcriptional, physiological and behavioural responses of aquatic organisms. Further, spring snowmelt may cause transient increases of pCO2 in many freshwater systems. We examined the behavioural, physiological and transcriptomic responses of an ancient fish, the lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) to projected levels of warming and pCO2 during its most vulnerable period of life, the first year. Specifically, larval fish were raised in either low (16°C) or high (22°C) temperature, and/or low (1000 μatm) or high (2500 μatm) pCO2 in a crossed experimental design over approximately 8 months. Following overwintering, lake sturgeon were exposed to a transient increase in pCO2 of 10,000 μatm, simulating a spring melt based on data in freshwater systems. Transcriptional analyses revealed potential connections to otolith formation and reduced growth in fish exposed to high pCO2 and temperature in combination. Network analyses of differential gene expression revealed different biological processes among the different treatments on the edges of transcriptional networks. Na+/K+-ATPase activity increased in fish not exposed to elevated pCO2 during development, and mRNA abundance of the β subunit was most strongly predictive of enzyme activity. Behavioural assays revealed a decrease in total activity following an acute CO2 exposure. These results demonstrate compensatory and compounding mechanisms of pCO2 and warming dependent on developmental conditions in lake sturgeon. Conserved elements of the cellular stress response across all organisms provide key information for how other freshwater organisms may respond to future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke D Belding
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Matt J Thorstensen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - William S Bugg
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Pacific Salmon Foundation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gwangseok R Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alison R Loeppky
- Ecology and Environmental Impact, WSP Canada Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Garrett J P Allen
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Alexandra N Schoen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Madison L Earhart
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Jennifer L Ali
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Dirk Weihrauch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kenneth M Jeffries
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - W Gary Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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10
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Lima ARA, Lopes AR, Martins-Cardoso S, Moutinho AB, Lemos MFL, Novais SC, Faria AM. Integrated behavioural and physiological responses of sand smelt larvae to the effects of warming and hypoxia as combined stressors. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 199:106609. [PMID: 38878347 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Forecasts indicate that rising temperatures towards the future and the expansion of dead zones will change environmental suitability for fish early stages. Therefore, we assessed the chronic effects of warming (26 °C), hypoxia (<2-2.5 mg L-1) or their combination on mortality rate, growth, behaviour, energy metabolism and oxidative stress using Atherina presbyter larvae as a model species. There were no differences between the treatments in terms of mortality rate. The combination of warming and hypoxia induced faster loss of body mass (+22.7%). Warming, hypoxia or their combination enhanced boldness (+14.7-25.4%), but decreased exploration (-95%-121%), increased the time in frozen state (+60.6-80.5%) and depleted swimming speed (-45.6-50.5%). Moreover, routine metabolic rate was depleted under hypoxia or under the combination of warming and hypoxia (-56.6 and 57.2%, respectively). Under hypoxia, increased catalase activity (+56.3%) indicates some level of antioxidant defence capacity, although increased DNA damage (+25.2%) has also been observed. Larvae also exhibited a great capacity to maintain the anaerobic metabolism stable in all situations, but the aerobic metabolism is enhanced (+19.3%) when exposed to the combination of both stressors. The integrative approach showed that changes in most target responses can be explained physiologically by oxidative stress responses. Increased oxidative damages (lipid peroxidation and DNA damage) and increased interaction between antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) are associated to increased time in frozen state and decreased swimming activity, growth rates and boldness. Under all stressful situations, larvae reduced energy-consuming behaviours (e.g. depleted exploration and swimming activity) likely to stabilize or compensate for the aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms. Despite being an active small pelagic fish, we concluded that the sensitive larval phase exhibited complex coping strategies to physiologically acclimate under thermal and hypoxic stress via behavioural responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- André R A Lima
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Ana Rita Lopes
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-013, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sara Martins-Cardoso
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ariana B Moutinho
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Marco F L Lemos
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Sara C Novais
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Ana M Faria
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal
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11
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Bridge R, Truebano M, Collins M. Acclimation to warming but not hypoxia alters thermal tolerance and metabolic sensitivity in an estuarine crustacean. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 198:106565. [PMID: 38815495 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Coastal species are challenged by multiple anthropogenic stressors. Plasticity may buffer the effects of environmental change, but investigation has largely been restricted to single-stressor performance. Multistressor studies have often been short-term and relatively less is known about the consequences of plasticity under one stressor for performance under another. Here, we aimed to test for the effects of thermal or hypoxic acclimation on thermal tolerance in the amphipod Gammarus chevreuxi. Animals were chronically exposed to raised temperature or hypoxia prior to determination of upper thermal limits and routine metabolic rate (RMR). Warm acclimation increased all metrics of thermal tolerance, but hypoxic acclimation had no effect. Different responses to the two stressors was also observed for the thermal sensitivity of RMR. Consequently, this species possesses the ability to increase thermal tolerance via plasticity in response to chronic warming but increasing duration of hypoxic episodes will not confer cross-tolerance to a warming environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Bridge
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA, Plymouth, UK
| | - Manuela Truebano
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA, Plymouth, UK
| | - Michael Collins
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA, Plymouth, UK.
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12
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Pacher K, Hernández-Román N, Juarez-Lopez A, Jiménez-Jiménez JE, Lukas J, Sevinchan Y, Krause J, Arias-Rodríguez L, Bierbach D. Thermal tolerance in an extremophile fish from Mexico is not affected by environmental hypoxia. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060223. [PMID: 38314873 PMCID: PMC10868586 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060223] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The thermal ecology of ectotherm animals has gained considerable attention in the face of human-induced climate change. Particularly in aquatic species, the experimental assessment of critical thermal limits (CTmin and CTmax) may help to predict possible effects of global warming on habitat suitability and ultimately species survival. Here we present data on the thermal limits of two endemic and endangered extremophile fish species, inhabiting a geothermally heated and sulfur-rich spring system in southern Mexico: The sulfur molly (Poecilia sulphuraria) and the widemouth gambusia (Gambusia eurystoma). Besides physiological challenges induced by toxic hydrogen sulfide and related severe hypoxia during the day, water temperatures have been previously reported to exceed those of nearby clearwater streams. We now present temperature data for various locations and years in the sulfur spring complex and conducted laboratory thermal tolerance tests (CTmin and CTmax) both under normoxic and severe hypoxic conditions in both species. Average CTmax limits did not differ between species when dissolved oxygen was present. However, critical temperature (CTmax=43.2°C) in P. sulphuraria did not change when tested under hypoxic conditions, while G. eurystoma on average had a lower CTmax when oxygen was absent. Based on this data we calculated both species' thermal safety margins and used a TDT (thermal death time) model framework to relate our experimental data to observed temperatures in the natural habitat. Our findings suggest that both species live near their thermal limits during the annual dry season and are locally already exposed to temperatures above their critical thermal limits. We discuss these findings in the light of possible physiological adaptions of the sulfur-adapted fish species and the anthropogenic threats for this unique system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korbinian Pacher
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 12487 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Natalia Hernández-Román
- División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma Tabasco, 86150 Villahermosa, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Juarez-Lopez
- División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma Tabasco, 86150 Villahermosa, Mexico
| | | | - Juliane Lukas
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 12487 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yunus Sevinchan
- Science of intelligence cluster has the state of a department at TU Berlin, Excellence Cluster Science of Intelligence, Technische Universität Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Krause
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 12487 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Science of intelligence cluster has the state of a department at TU Berlin, Excellence Cluster Science of Intelligence, Technische Universität Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lenin Arias-Rodríguez
- División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma Tabasco, 86150 Villahermosa, Mexico
| | - David Bierbach
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 12487 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Science of intelligence cluster has the state of a department at TU Berlin, Excellence Cluster Science of Intelligence, Technische Universität Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
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13
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Lima ARA, Booms EM, Lopes AR, Martins-Cardoso S, Novais SC, Lemos MFL, Ribeiro L, Castanho S, Candeias-Mendes A, Pousão-Ferreira P, Faria AM. Early life stage mechanisms of an active fish species to cope with ocean warming and hypoxia as interacting stressors. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122989. [PMID: 37984477 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Ocean's characteristics are rapidly changing, modifying environmental suitability for early life stages of fish. We assessed whether the chronic effects of warming (24 °C) and hypoxia (<2-2.5 mg L-1) will be amplified by the combination of these stressors on mortality, growth, behaviour, metabolism and oxidative stress of early stages of the white seabream Diplodus sargus. Combined warming and hypoxia synergistically increased larval mortality by >51%. Warming induced faster growth in length and slower gains in weight when compared to other treatments. Boldness and exploration were not directly affected, but swimming activity increased under all test treatments. Under the combination of warming and hypoxia, routine metabolic rate (RMR) significantly decreases when compared to other treatments and shows a negative thermal dependence. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities increased under warming and were maintained similar to control levels under hypoxia or under combined stressors. Under hypoxia, the enzymatic activities were not enough to prevent oxidative damages as lipid peroxidation and DNA damage increased above control levels. Hypoxia reduced electron transport system activity (cellular respiration) and isocitrate dehydrogenase activity (aerobic metabolism) below control levels. However, lactate dehydrogenase activity (anaerobic metabolism) did not differ among treatments. A Redundancy Analysis showed that ∼99% of the variability in mortality, growth, behaviour and RMR among treatments can be explained by molecular responses. Mortality and growth are highly influenced by oxidative stress and energy metabolism, exhibiting a positive relationship with reactive oxygen species and a negative relationship with aerobic metabolism, regardless of treatment. Under hypoxic condition, RMR, boldness and swimming activity have a positive relationship with anaerobic metabolism regardless of temperature. Thus, seabreams may use anaerobic reliance to counterbalance the effects of the stressors on RMR, activity and growth. The outcomes suggests that early life stages of white seabream overcame the single and combined effects of hypoxia and warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- André R A Lima
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associate Laboratory, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim Do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Emily M Booms
- IMBRSea-The International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources, Universities Consortium, Ghent University, Krijgslaan, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ana Rita Lopes
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associate Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-013, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sara Martins-Cardoso
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associate Laboratory, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim Do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara C Novais
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associate Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Marco F L Lemos
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associate Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Laura Ribeiro
- Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere - IPMA, Aquaculture Research Station - EPPO, Olhão, Portugal
| | - Sara Castanho
- Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere - IPMA, Aquaculture Research Station - EPPO, Olhão, Portugal
| | - Ana Candeias-Mendes
- Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere - IPMA, Aquaculture Research Station - EPPO, Olhão, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pousão-Ferreira
- Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere - IPMA, Aquaculture Research Station - EPPO, Olhão, Portugal
| | - Ana M Faria
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET-Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associate Laboratory, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim Do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal
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14
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Welsh GT, Anner SC, Westwood ML, Rockwell V, O'Toole H, Holiday M, Tinghitella RM. Consistent traffic noise impacts few fitness-related traits in a field cricket. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:78. [PMID: 38124034 PMCID: PMC10731782 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02190-2] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anthropogenic habitat change is occurring rapidly, and organisms can respond through within-generation responses that improve the match between their phenotype and the novel conditions they encounter. But, plastic responses can be adaptive or maladaptive and are most likely to be adaptive only when contemporary conditions reasonably mimic something experienced historically to which a response has already evolved. Noise pollution is a ubiquitous anthropogenic stressor that accompanies expanding urbanization. We tested whether the amplitude of traffic noise influences a suite of fitness-related traits (e.g. survival, life history, reproductive investment, immunity) and whether that depends on the life stage at which the noise is experienced (juvenile or adult). Our treatments mimic the conditions experienced by animals living in urban roadside environments with variable vehicle types, but continuous movement of traffic. We used the Pacific field cricket, an acoustically communicating insect that was previously shown to experience some negative behavioral and life history responses to very loud, variable traffic noise, as a model system. RESULTS After exposing crickets to one of four traffic noise levels (silence, 50dBA, 60dBA, and 70dBA which are commonly experienced in their natural environment) during development, at adulthood, or both, we measured a comprehensive suite of fifteen fitness-related traits. We found that survival to adulthood was lower under some noise treatments than under silence, and that the number of live offspring hatched depended on the interaction between a female's juvenile and adult exposure to traffic noise. Both of these suggest that our noise treatments were indeed a stressor. However, we found no evidence of negative or positive fitness effects of noise on the other thirteen measured traits. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that, in contrast to previous work with loud, variable traffic noise, when noise exposure is relatively constant, plasticity may be sufficient to buffer many negative fitness effects and/or animals may be able to habituate to these conditions, regardless of amplitude. Our work highlights the importance of understanding how the particular characteristics of noise experienced by animals influence their biological responses and provides insight into how commensal animals thrive in human-dominated habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle T Welsh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA.
| | - Sophia C Anner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mary L Westwood
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Victoria Rockwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Hannah O'Toole
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Megan Holiday
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
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15
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Gilmour KM, Daley MA, Egginton S, Kelber A, McHenry MJ, Patek SN, Sane SP, Schulte PM, Terblanche JS, Wright PA, Franklin CE. Through the looking glass: attempting to predict future opportunities and challenges in experimental biology. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb246921. [PMID: 38059428 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
To celebrate its centenary year, Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB) commissioned a collection of articles examining the past, present and future of experimental biology. This Commentary closes the collection by considering the important research opportunities and challenges that await us in the future. We expect that researchers will harness the power of technological advances, such as '-omics' and gene editing, to probe resistance and resilience to environmental change as well as other organismal responses. The capacity to handle large data sets will allow high-resolution data to be collected for individual animals and to understand population, species and community responses. The availability of large data sets will also place greater emphasis on approaches such as modeling and simulations. Finally, the increasing sophistication of biologgers will allow more comprehensive data to be collected for individual animals in the wild. Collectively, these approaches will provide an unprecedented understanding of 'how animals work' as well as keys to safeguarding animals at a time when anthropogenic activities are degrading the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monica A Daley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Stuart Egginton
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Almut Kelber
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Matthew J McHenry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Sheila N Patek
- Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Sanjay P Sane
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560065, India
| | - Patricia M Schulte
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - John S Terblanche
- Center for Invasion Biology, Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Patricia A Wright
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane 4072, Australia
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16
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Earhart ML, Blanchard TS, Strowbridge N, Sheena R, McMaster C, Staples B, Brauner CJ, Baker DW, Schulte PM. Heatwave resilience of juvenile white sturgeon is associated with epigenetic and transcriptional alterations. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15451. [PMID: 37723229 PMCID: PMC10507091 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42652-7] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Heatwaves are increasing in frequency and severity, posing a significant threat to organisms globally. In aquatic environments heatwaves are often associated with low environmental oxygen, which is a deadly combination for fish. However, surprisingly little is known about the capacity of fishes to withstand these interacting stressors. This issue is particularly critical for species of extreme conservation concern such as sturgeon. We assessed the tolerance of juvenile white sturgeon from an endangered population to heatwave exposure and investigated how this exposure affects tolerance to additional acute stressors. We measured whole-animal thermal and hypoxic performance and underlying epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms. Sturgeon exposed to a simulated heatwave had increased thermal tolerance and exhibited complete compensation for the effects of acute hypoxia. These changes were associated with an increase in mRNA levels involved in thermal and hypoxic stress (hsp90a, hsp90b, hsp70 and hif1a) following these stressors. Global DNA methylation was sensitive to heatwave exposure and rapidly responded to acute thermal and hypoxia stress over the course of an hour. These data demonstrate that juvenile white sturgeon exhibit substantial resilience to heatwaves, associated with improved cross-tolerance to additional acute stressors and involving rapid responses in both epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison L Earhart
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Tessa S Blanchard
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nicholas Strowbridge
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ravinder Sheena
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Clark McMaster
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Benjamin Staples
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Colin J Brauner
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Daniel W Baker
- Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, Canada
| | - Patricia M Schulte
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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17
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Lim MYT, Bernier NJ. Intergenerational plasticity to cycling high temperature and hypoxia affects offspring stress responsiveness and tolerance in zebrafish. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245583. [PMID: 37497728 PMCID: PMC10482009 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245583] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Predicted climate change-induced increases in heat waves and hypoxic events will have profound effects on fishes, yet the capacity of parents to alter offspring phenotype via non-genetic inheritance and buffer against these combined stressors is not clear. This study tested how prolonged adult zebrafish exposure to combined diel cycles of thermal stress and hypoxia affect offspring early survival and development, parental investment of cortisol and heat shock proteins (HSPs), larval offspring stress responses, and both parental and offspring heat and hypoxia tolerance. Parental exposure to the combined stressor did not affect fecundity, but increased mortality, produced smaller embryos and delayed hatching. The combined treatment also reduced maternal deposition of cortisol and increased embryo hsf1, hsp70a, HSP70, hsp90aa and HSP90 levels. In larvae, basal cortisol levels did not differ between treatments, but acute exposure to combined heat stress and hypoxia increased cortisol levels in control larvae with no effect on larvae from exposed parents. In contrast, whereas larval basal hsf1, hsp70a and hsp90aa levels differed between parental treatments, the combined acute stressor elicited similar transcriptional responses across treatments. Moreover, the combined acute stressor only induced a marked increase in HSP47 levels in the larvae derived from exposed parents. Finally, combined hypoxia and elevated temperatures increased both thermal and hypoxia tolerance in adults and conferred an increase in offspring thermal but not hypoxia tolerance. These results demonstrate that intergenerational acclimation to combined thermal stress and hypoxia elicit complex carryover effects on stress responsiveness and offspring tolerance with potential consequences for resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Y.-T. Lim
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Nicholas J. Bernier
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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18
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Earhart ML, Blanchard TS, Morrison PR, Strowbridge N, Penman RJ, Brauner CJ, Schulte PM, Baker DW. Identification of upper thermal thresholds during development in the endangered Nechako white sturgeon with management implications for a regulated river. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad032. [PMID: 37228298 PMCID: PMC10205467 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Climate change-induced warming effects are already evident in river ecosystems, and projected increases in temperature will continue to amplify stress on fish communities. In addition, many rivers globally are impacted by dams, which have many negative effects on fishes by altering flow, blocking fish passage, and changing sediment composition. However, in some systems, dams present an opportunity to manage river temperature through regulated releases of cooler water. For example, there is a government mandate for Kenney dam operators in the Nechako river, British Columbia, Canada, to maintain river temperature <20°C in July and August to protect migrating sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). However, there is another endangered fish species inhabiting the same river, Nechako white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), and it is unclear if these current temperature regulations, or timing of the regulations, are suitable for spawning and developing sturgeon. In this study, we aimed to identify upper thermal thresholds in white sturgeon embryos and larvae to investigate if exposure to current river temperatures are playing a role in recruitment failure. We incubated embryos and yolk-sac larvae in three environmentally relevant temperatures (14, 18 and 21°C) throughout development to identify thermal thresholds across different levels of biological organization. Our results demonstrate upper thermal thresholds at 21°C across physiological measurements in embryo and yolk-sac larvae white sturgeon. Before hatch, both embryo survival and metabolic rate were reduced at 21°C. After hatch, sublethal consequences continued at 21°C because larval sturgeon had decreased thermal plasticity and a dampened transcriptional response during development. In recent years, the Nechako river has reached 21°C by the end of June, and at this temperature, a decrease in sturgeon performance is evident in most of the traits measured. As such, the thermal thresholds identified here suggest current temperature regulations may not be suitable for developing white sturgeon and future recruitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison L Earhart
- Corresponding author: Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. . Tel.: 204-799-9338
| | - Tessa S Blanchard
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Phillip R Morrison
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Resource Management and Protection, and Biology Department, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada
| | - Nicholas Strowbridge
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, & Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 464 Bearsden Rd, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Rachael J Penman
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Instreams fisheries research, 2323 Boundary Rd Unit 115, Vancouver, BC V5M 4V8, Canada
| | - Colin J Brauner
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Patricia M Schulte
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Daniel W Baker
- Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5, Canada
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19
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Woods HA, Moran AL, Atkinson D, Audzijonyte A, Berenbrink M, Borges FO, Burnett KG, Burnett LE, Coates CJ, Collin R, Costa-Paiva EM, Duncan MI, Ern R, Laetz EMJ, Levin LA, Lindmark M, Lucey NM, McCormick LR, Pierson JJ, Rosa R, Roman MR, Sampaio E, Schulte PM, Sperling EA, Walczyńska A, Verberk WCEP. Integrative Approaches to Understanding Organismal Responses to Aquatic Deoxygenation. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2022; 243:85-103. [PMID: 36548975 DOI: 10.1086/722899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
AbstractOxygen bioavailability is declining in aquatic systems worldwide as a result of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors. For aquatic organisms, the consequences are poorly known but are likely to reflect both direct effects of declining oxygen bioavailability and interactions between oxygen and other stressors, including two-warming and acidification-that have received substantial attention in recent decades and that typically accompany oxygen changes. Drawing on the collected papers in this symposium volume ("An Oxygen Perspective on Climate Change"), we outline the causes and consequences of declining oxygen bioavailability. First, we discuss the scope of natural and predicted anthropogenic changes in aquatic oxygen levels. Although modern organisms are the result of long evolutionary histories during which they were exposed to natural oxygen regimes, anthropogenic change is now exposing them to more extreme conditions and novel combinations of low oxygen with other stressors. Second, we identify behavioral and physiological mechanisms that underlie the interactive effects of oxygen with other stressors, and we assess the range of potential organismal responses to oxygen limitation that occur across levels of biological organization and over multiple timescales. We argue that metabolism and energetics provide a powerful and unifying framework for understanding organism-oxygen interactions. Third, we conclude by outlining a set of approaches for maximizing the effectiveness of future work, including focusing on long-term experiments using biologically realistic variation in experimental factors and taking truly cross-disciplinary and integrative approaches to understanding and predicting future effects.
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