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Iglesias-Carrasco M, Zhang J, Noble DWA. Maternal investment and early thermal conditions affect performance and antipredator responses. Behav Ecol 2024; 35:arae035. [PMID: 38779594 PMCID: PMC11107847 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arae035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Exposure to increased temperatures during early development can lead to phenotypic plasticity in morphology, physiology, and behavior across a range of ectothermic animals. In addition, maternal effects are known to be important contributors to phenotypic variation in offspring. Whether the 2 factors interact to shape offspring morphology and behavior is rarely explored. This is critical because climate change is expected to impact both incubation temperature and maternal stress and resource allocation. Using a fully factorial design, and Bayesian multivariate mixed models, we explored how the manipulation of early thermal environment and yolk-quantity in eggs affected the morphology, performance, and antipredator behavior of 2 sympatric Australian skink species (Lampropholis delicata and L. guichenoti). We found that juveniles from the hot treatment were larger than those on the cold treatment in L. guichenoti but not L. delicata. Using repeated behavioral measures for individual lizards, we found an interaction between incubation temperature and maternal investment in performance, with running speed being affected in a species-specific way by the treatment. We predicted that changes in performance should influence antipredator responses. In support of this prediction, we found that maternal investment impacted antipredator behavior, with animals from the yolk-reduced and cold treatment resuming activity faster after a simulated predatory attack in L. delicata. However, the prediction was not supported in L. guichenoti. Our results highlight the importance of exploring the multifaceted role that environments play across generations to understand how different anthropogenic factors will impact wildlife in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maider Iglesias-Carrasco
- Evolution and Ecology of Sexual Interactions Group, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, Seville, 41092, Spain
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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2
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Soravia C, Ashton BJ, Thornton A, Bourne AR, Ridley AR. High temperatures during early development reduce adult cognitive performance and reproductive success in a wild animal population. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169111. [PMID: 38070557 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169111] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is rapidly changing the phenology, distribution, behaviour and demography of wild animal populations. Recent studies in wild animals have shown that high temperatures can induce short-term cognitive impairment, and captive studies have demonstrated that heat exposure during early development can lead to long-term cognitive impairment. Given that cognition underpins behavioural flexibility and can be directly linked to fitness, understanding how high temperatures during early life might impact adult cognitive performance in wild animals is a critical next step to predict wildlife responses to climate change. Here, we investigated the relationship between temperatures experienced during development, adult cognitive performance, and reproductive success in wild southern pied babblers (Turdoides bicolor). We found that higher mean daily maximum temperatures during nestling development led to long-term cognitive impairment in associative learning performance, but not reversal learning performance. Additionally, a higher number of hot days (exceeding 35.5 °C, temperature threshold at which foraging efficiency and offspring provisioning decline) during post-fledging care led to reduced reproductive success in adulthood. We did not find evidence that low reproductive success was linked to impaired associative learning performance: associative learning performance was not related to reproductive success. In contrast, reversal learning performance was negatively related to reproductive success in breeding adults. This suggests that reproduction can carry a cost in terms of reduced performance in cognitively demanding tasks, confirming previous evidence in this species. Taken together, these findings indicate that naturally occurring high temperatures during early development have long-term negative effects on cognition and reproductive success in wild animals. Compounding effects of high temperatures on current nestling mortality and on the long-term cognitive and reproductive performance of survivors are highly concerning given ongoing global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Soravia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - Benjamin J Ashton
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Alex Thornton
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.
| | - Amanda R Bourne
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Australian Wildlife Conservancy, 322 Hay Street, Subiaco, WA, Australia.
| | - Amanda R Ridley
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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3
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Robledo-Avila LA, Phillips-Farfán BV, García-Bucio IY, Montes-Sánchez S, Herrera-Vargas MA, Contreras-Garduño J, Núñez-Anita RE, Martínez-Lendech N, Meléndez-Herrera E. Incubation in shaded hatcheries biases sex-determination but preserves Lepidochelys olivacea hatchling physiology. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 192:106244. [PMID: 37924794 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106244] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Some studies have associated ex situ conservation with cerebral and gonadal developmental delay, as well as decreased motor performance in Lepidochelys olivacea offspring. Ex situ management is also related to a more mature spleen and a differential leukocyte count in newly emerged Lepidochelys olivacea hatchlings. The physiological relevance of a more mature spleen is unknown in sea turtles, but studies in birds suggest an increased immune response. Because egg relocation to hatcheries is a common conservation practice, it is imperative to know its impact on hatchling physiology. Herein, plasma activity of superoxide dismutase, alkaline phosphatase and the alternative complement pathway, as well as total antioxidant capacity and hydrogen peroxide concentrations were quantified in hatchlings from in situ and ex situ nests under basal conditions at nest emergence. Toll-like receptor 4 (tlr4), heat shock proteins (hsp) 70 and hsp90 expression were quantified in the spleen and liver of the hatchlings. Hepatocyte density and nuclear area were quantified in histological sections of the liver and all turtles were sexed by histological sectioning of the gonads. Total antioxidant capacity and hydrogen peroxide concentrations in plasma were lower in turtles from ex situ nests, while tlr4 and hsp70 mRNA expression was higher in the spleen but not in the liver. Ex situ incubation produced 98% male hatchlings, whereas in situ incubation produced 100% females. There were no other differences in the attributes sampled between hatchlings emerging from ex situ and in situ treatments. The results suggest that ex situ relocated turtles may be less prone to oxidative stress than in situ incubated hatchlings and could have more mature splenic function. Together, the data suggest that ex situ relocation to shaded hatcheries biased sex determination but preserved the general physiological condition of sea turtle hatchlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Areli Robledo-Avila
- Instituto de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Av. San Juanito Itzícuaro s/n, Colonia Nueva Esperanza, C.P. 58337, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
| | - Bryan Víctor Phillips-Farfán
- Laboratorio de Nutrición Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Insurgentes Sur 3700, Letra C, Alcaldía Coyoacán, C.P. 04530, Cd. de México, Mexico.
| | - Irma Yunuen García-Bucio
- Instituto de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Av. San Juanito Itzícuaro s/n, Colonia Nueva Esperanza, C.P. 58337, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
| | - Shannen Montes-Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Av. San Juanito Itzícuaro s/n, Colonia Nueva Esperanza, C.P. 58337, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
| | - Ma Antonia Herrera-Vargas
- Instituto de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Av. San Juanito Itzícuaro s/n, Colonia Nueva Esperanza, C.P. 58337, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
| | - Jorge Contreras-Garduño
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
| | - Rosa Elvira Núñez-Anita
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, 58130, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
| | - Norma Martínez-Lendech
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
| | - Esperanza Meléndez-Herrera
- Instituto de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Av. San Juanito Itzícuaro s/n, Colonia Nueva Esperanza, C.P. 58337, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
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4
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Du WG, Li SR, Sun BJ, Shine R. Can nesting behaviour allow reptiles to adapt to climate change? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220153. [PMID: 37427463 PMCID: PMC10331901 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
A range of abiotic parameters within a reptile nest influence the viability and attributes (including sex, behaviour and body size) of hatchlings that emerge from that nest. As a result of that sensitivity, a reproducing female can manipulate the phenotypic attributes of her offspring by laying her eggs at times and in places that provide specific conditions. Nesting reptiles shift their behaviour in terms of timing of oviposition, nest location and depth of eggs beneath the soil surface across spatial and temporal gradients. Those maternal manipulations affect mean values and variances of both temperature and soil moisture, and may modify the vulnerability of embryos to threats such as predation and parasitism. By altering thermal and hydric conditions in reptile nests, climate change has the potential to dramatically modify the developmental trajectories and survival rates of embryos, and the phenotypes of hatchlings. Reproducing females buffer such effects by modifying the timing, location and structure of nests in ways that enhance offspring viability. Nonetheless, our understanding of nesting behaviours in response to climate change remains limited in reptiles. Priority topics for future studies include documenting climate-induced changes in the nest environment, the degree to which maternal behavioural shifts can mitigate climate-related deleterious impacts on offspring development, and ecological and evolutionary consequences of maternal nesting responses to climate change. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Ran Li
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Zhejiang 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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5
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De Meester G, Van Linden L, Torfs J, Pafilis P, Šunje E, Steenssens D, Zulčić T, Sassalos A, Van Damme R. Learning with lacertids: Studying the link between ecology and cognition within a comparative framework. Evolution 2022; 76:2531-2552. [PMID: 36111365 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14618] [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: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cognition is an essential tool for animals to deal with environmental challenges. Nonetheless, the ecological forces driving the evolution of cognition throughout the animal kingdom remain enigmatic. Large-scale comparative studies on multiple species and cognitive traits have been advanced as the best way to facilitate our understanding of cognitive evolution, but such studies are rare. Here, we tested 13 species of lacertid lizards (Reptilia: Lacertidae) using a battery of cognitive tests measuring inhibitory control, problem-solving, and spatial and reversal learning. Next, we tested the relationship between species' performance and (a) resource availability (temperature and precipitation), habitat complexity (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), and habitat variability (seasonality) in their natural habitat and (b) their life history (size at hatching and maturity, clutch size, and frequency). Although species differed markedly in their cognitive abilities, such variation was mostly unrelated to their ecology and life history. Yet, species living in more variable environments exhibited lower behavioral flexibility, likely due to energetic constrains in such habitats. Our standardized protocols provide opportunities for collaborative research, allowing increased sample sizes and replication, essential for moving forward in the field of comparative cognition. Follow-up studies could include more detailed measures of habitat structure and look at other potential selective drivers such as predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles De Meester
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium.,Section of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, 157 84, Greece
| | - Lisa Van Linden
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Jonas Torfs
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Panayiotis Pafilis
- Section of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, 157 84, Greece
| | - Emina Šunje
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina.,Herpetological Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina: BHHU: ATRA, Sarajevo, 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Dries Steenssens
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Tea Zulčić
- Herpetological Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina: BHHU: ATRA, Sarajevo, 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Athanasios Sassalos
- Section of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, 157 84, Greece
| | - Raoul Van Damme
- Functional Morphology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
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6
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Ayeni EA, Aldossary AM, Ayejoto DA, Gbadegesin LA, Alshehri AA, Alfassam HA, Afewerky HK, Almughem FA, Bello SM, Tawfik EA. Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications of Environmental and Climatic Influences on Neurotransmitters and Neuronal Hormones Activities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191912495. [PMID: 36231792 PMCID: PMC9564880 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative and neuronal-related diseases are major public health concerns. Human vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) increases with age. Neuronal hormones and neurotransmitters are major determinant factors regulating brain structure and functions. The implications of environmental and climatic changes emerged recently as influence factors on numerous diseases. However, the complex interaction of neurotransmitters and neuronal hormones and their depletion under environmental and climatic influences on NDDs are not well established in the literature. In this review, we aim to explore the connection between the environmental and climatic factors to NDDs and to highlight the available and potential therapeutic interventions that could use to improve the quality of life and reduce susceptibility to NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel A. Ayeni
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ahmad M. Aldossary
- National Center of Biotechnology, Life Science and Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daniel A. Ayejoto
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240003, Nigeria
| | - Lanre A. Gbadegesin
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Abdullah A. Alshehri
- National Center of Biotechnology, Life Science and Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haya A. Alfassam
- KACST-BWH Center of Excellence for Biomedicine, Joint Centers of Excellence Program, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - Henok K. Afewerky
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- School of Allied Health Professions, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara P.O. Box 1220, Eritrea
| | - Fahad A. Almughem
- National Center of Biotechnology, Life Science and Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saidu M. Bello
- Institute of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Essam A. Tawfik
- National Center of Biotechnology, Life Science and Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia
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7
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Unda-Díaz NM, Phillips-Farfán BV, Nava H, Lopez-Toledo L, Murata C, Lajud N, Herrera-Vargas MA, Arreola Camacho CA, Torner L, Fuentes-Farías AL, Meléndez-Herrera E. Negative Effects on Neurogenesis, Ovariogenesis, and Fitness in Sea Turtle Hatchlings Associated to ex situ Incubation Management. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.850612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea turtle egg relocation and hatchery incubation (hereafter termed ex situ incubation) is an effective strategy to protect clutches when in situ egg incubation is not viable. Nevertheless, it negatively affects the ontogenesis of male gonads and brain areas homologous to the mammalian hippocampus, as well as body size and fitness. Thus, it is imperative to analyze the effects of ex situ incubation on other developmental aspects and extend these observations to females. This work evaluated the effect of ex situ management on neurogenesis (cell proliferation in the dorsal and medial ventricular zones, neuronal integration in the dorsomedial and medial cortices), ovary cell proliferation, body size (mass and length) and self-righting ability. Additionally, this study examined if the incubation microenvironment is different between in situ and ex situ nests and whether it could contribute to explain the biological traits. An analysis of principal components showed differences in biological variables of hatchlings between in situ and ex situ clutches, driven by contrasting temperatures and silt composition. Each biological variable was also analyzed with linear mixed models using in situ vs. ex situ clutches, abiotic variables and their interaction. Turtles from ex situ clutches showed: (1) fewer proliferating cells in the dorsal and medial ventricular zones; (2) less mature neurons in the dorsomedial and medial cortices; (3) ovaries with a lesser number of proliferating cells; (4) lower body mass and length at emergence; and (5) slower self-righting time. Together, the results suggest that ex situ incubation in hatcheries is related to a slowing down of neurogenesis, ovariogenesis, body size and self-righting ability in hatchlings. Future studies should evaluate the effect of ex situ incubation on cognitive and reproductive performance to understand the long-term consequences of altered organogenesis. These studies should also disentangle the differential contribution of egg movement, reburial, nesting environment and parental origin to development. This information would likely result in better conservation strategies for sea turtles.
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8
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How does selection shape spatial memory in the wild? Curr Opin Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2022.101117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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9
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Blackburn G, Broom E, Ashton BJ, Thornton A, Ridley AR. Heat stress inhibits cognitive performance in wild Western Australian magpies, Cracticus tibicen dorsalis. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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10
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Pouca CV, Vedder S, Kotrschal A. Hybridization may promote variation in cognitive phenotypes in experimental guppy hybrids. Am Nat 2022; 200:607-619. [DOI: 10.1086/720731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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11
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Abstract
Linking cognitive performance with fitness outcomes, measured using both reproductive and survival metrics, of free-living animals is crucial for understanding the evolution of cognition. Although there is increasing evidence showing a link between cognitive traits and reproductive success metrics, studies specifically exploring the link between cognition and survival are scarce. We first explore which cognitive traits related to survival have been investigated in free-living animals. We also discuss the challenges associated with investigating the links between cognition and survival. We then review studies that specifically consider survival of animals of known cognitive abilities that are either free-living or in captivity and later released into the wild. We found nine studies exploring cognitive traits in wild populations. The relationships between these cognitive traits and survival were equivocal. We found a further nine studies in captive-reared populations trained to predator cues and later released into the wild. Training to recognize predator cues was correlated with increased survival in the majority of studies. Finally, different individual intrinsic characteristics (i.e., age, body condition, personality, sex) showed varied effects between studies. We argue that finding ecologically relevant cognitive traits is crucial for gaining a better understanding of how selection impacts certain cognitive traits, and how these might contribute to an individual’s survival. We also suggest possible standardized, easy to implement, cognitive tests that can be used in long-term studies, which would generate large sample sizes, take into account intrinsic characteristics, and provide an opportunity to understand the mechanisms, development and evolution of cognition.
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12
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Bold and bright: shy and supple? The effect of habitat type on personality-cognition covariance in the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii). Anim Cogn 2022; 25:745-767. [PMID: 35037121 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01587-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Animals exhibit considerable and consistent among-individual variation in cognitive abilities, even within a population. Recent studies have attempted to address this variation using insights from the field of animal personality. Generally, it is predicted that animals with "faster" personalities (bolder, explorative, and neophilic) should exhibit faster but less flexible learning. However, the empirical evidence for a link between cognitive style and personality is mixed. One possible reason for such conflicting results may be that personality-cognition covariance changes along ecological conditions, a hypothesis that has rarely been investigated so far. In this study, we tested the effect of habitat complexity on multiple aspects of animal personality and cognition, and how this influenced their relationship, in five populations of the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii). Overall, lizards from both habitat types did not differ in average levels of personality or cognition, with the exception that lizards from more complex habitats performed better on a spatial learning task. Nevertheless, we found an intricate interplay between ecology, cognition, and personality, as behavioral associations were often habitat- but also year-dependent. In general, behavioral covariance was either independent of habitat, or found exclusively in the simple, open environments. Our results highlight that valuable insights may be gained by taking ecological variation into account while studying the link between personality and cognition.
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13
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Overlooked and Under-Studied: A Review of Evidence-Based Enrichment in Varanidae. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg3010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Enrichment has become a key aspect of captive husbandry practices as a means of improving animal welfare by increasing environmental stimuli. However, the enrichment methods that are most effective varies both between and within species, and thus evaluation underpins successful enrichment programs. Enrichment methods are typically based upon previously reported successes and those primarily with mammals, with one of the main goals of enrichment research being to facilitate predictions about which methods may be most effective for a particular species. Yet, despite growing evidence that enrichment is beneficial for reptiles, there is limited research on enrichment for Varanidae, a group of lizards known as monitor lizards. As a result, it can be difficult for keepers to implement effective enrichment programs as time is a large limiting factor. In order for appropriate and novel enrichment methods to be created, it is necessary to understand a species’ natural ecology, abilities, and how they perceive the world around them. This is more difficult for non-mammalian species as the human-centered lens can be a hinderance, and thus reptile enrichment research is slow and lagging behind that of higher vertebrates. This review discusses the physiological, cognitive, and behavioral abilities of Varanidae to suggest enrichment methods that may be most effective.
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14
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15
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Sanger TJ, Harding L, Kyrkos J, Turnquist AJ, Epperlein L, Nunez SA, Lachance D, Dhindsa S, Stroud JT, Diaz RE, Czesny B. Environmental Thermal Stress Induces Neuronal Cell Death and Developmental Malformations in Reptiles. Integr Org Biol 2021; 3:obab033. [PMID: 34877473 PMCID: PMC8643577 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obab033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Every stage of organismal life history is being challenged by global warming. Many species are already experiencing temperatures approaching their physiological limits; this is particularly true for ectothermic species, such as lizards. Embryos are markedly sensitive to thermal insult. Here, we demonstrate that temperatures currently experienced in natural nesting areas can modify gene expression levels and induce neural and craniofacial malformations in embryos of the lizard Anolis sagrei. Developmental abnormalities ranged from minor changes in facial structure to significant disruption of anterior face and forebrain. The first several days of postoviposition development are particularly sensitive to this thermal insult. These results raise new concern over the viability of ectothermic species under contemporary climate change. Herein, we propose and test a novel developmental hypothesis that describes the cellular and developmental origins of those malformations: cell death in the developing forebrain and abnormal facial induction due to disrupted Hedgehog signaling. Based on similarities in the embryonic response to thermal stress among distantly related species, we propose that this developmental hypothesis represents a common embryonic response to thermal insult among amniote embryos. Our results emphasize the importance of adopting a broad, multidisciplinary approach that includes both lab and field perspectives when trying to understand the future impacts of anthropogenic change on animal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Sanger
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Laura Harding
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Judith Kyrkos
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Alexandrea J Turnquist
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Lilian Epperlein
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Sylvia A Nunez
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Dryden Lachance
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Seerat Dhindsa
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - James T Stroud
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1137. One Brookings Drive St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
| | - Raul E Diaz
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA
| | - Beata Czesny
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1050 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, USA
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16
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Nest site selection in a southern and northern population of the velvet gecko (Amalosia lesueurii). J Therm Biol 2021; 102:103121. [PMID: 34863484 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In many oviparous reptiles, thermal conditions inside nests influence phenotypic traits of hatchlings that are linked to survival. Maternal nest-site selection can therefore have long-term implications for offspring and maternal fitness. We studied nest-site selection in a nocturnal lizard (Amalosia lesueurii) from south eastern Australia. Females of this species lay their eggs communally inside rock crevices, and previous studies have shown that maximum daily nest temperatures are positively correlated with maximum daily air temperatures. The incubation period extends for up to 100 d, so during hot summers, embryos may be exposed to stressful thermal conditions. Potentially, mothers could buffer their eggs from thermal extremes via careful selection of nest sites. To evaluate this, we studied nest site selection in a southern population (Morton) and a northern population (Yengo) that experience mild and hot summers respectively. In the field, we measured the physical characteristics, orientation, canopy cover and incident radiation load, and thermal regimes of nest sites and randomly available crevices during one of the hottest Australian summers on record (2018-2019). We found strong inter population differences in the degree of canopy cover and solar radiation loads above nest sites. Nest sites from Morton were more open, and received higher radiation loads, than nest sites from Yengo. Mean nest temperatures were similar in Morton and Yengo, but nests from Yengo experienced higher daily temperatures than those from Morton. During heatwaves, temperatures in some nests exceeded the species critical thermal maximum (39.9 °C) for several hours each day. Our results show that females can adjust nest-site choice to match local environments, but future research is necessary to clarify whether exposure to high temperatures influences hatching success or offspring phenotypes in this species.
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17
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Operant conditioning in antlion larvae and its impairment following exposure to elevated temperatures. Anim Cogn 2021; 25:509-518. [PMID: 34689302 PMCID: PMC9107435 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01570-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Although ambush predators were previously considered limited in their cognitive abilities compared to their widely foraging relatives, there is accumulating evidence it does not hold true. Pit-building antlions are already known to associate vibrations in the sand with the arrival of prey. We used a T-maze and successfully trained antlions to turn right or left against their initial turning bias, leading to a suitable substrate for digging traps. We present here the first evidence for operant conditioning and T-maze solving in antlions. Furthermore, we show that exposure of second instar larvae to an elevated temperature led to impaired retention of what was learned in a T-maze when tested after moulting into the third instar, compared to larvae raised under a more benign temperature. We suggest that climate change, involving an increase in mean temperatures as well as rare events (e.g., heatwaves) might negatively affect the retention of operant conditioning in antlions, alongside known, more frequently studied effects, such as changes in body size and distribution.
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18
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Bongioanni P, Del Carratore R, Corbianco S, Diana A, Cavallini G, Masciandaro SM, Dini M, Buizza R. Climate change and neurodegenerative diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 201:111511. [PMID: 34126048 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The climate change induced global warming, and in particular the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves, have been linked to health problems. Among them, scientific works have been reporting an increased incidence of neurological diseases, encompassing also neurodegenerative ones, such as Dementia of Alzheimer's type, Parkinson's Disease, and Motor Neuron Diseases. Although the increase in prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is well documented by literature reports, the link between global warming and the enhanced prevalence of such diseases remains elusive. This is the main theme of our work, which aims to examine the connection between high temperature exposure and neurodegenerative diseases. Firstly, we evaluate the influence of high temperatures exposure on the pathophysiology of these disorders. Secondly, we discuss its effects on the thermoregulation, already compromised in affected patients, and its interference with processes of excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, all of them related with neurodegeneration. Finally, we investigate chronic versus acute stressors on body warming, and put forward a possible interpretation of the beneficial or detrimental effects on the brain, which is responsible for the incidence or progression of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Bongioanni
- Severe Acquired Brain Injuries Dpt Section, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy; NeuroCare Onlus, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Corbianco
- Interdepartmental Research Centre on Biology and Pathology of Aging, University of Pisa, Italy; Human Movement and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Diana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gabriella Cavallini
- Interdepartmental Research Centre on Biology and Pathology of Aging, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia M Masciandaro
- NeuroCare Onlus, Pisa, Italy; Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Dini
- Interdepartmental Research Centre on Biology and Pathology of Aging, University of Pisa, Italy; Human Movement and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Buizza
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna and Centre for Climate Change Studies and Sustainable Actions (3CSA), Pisa, Italy
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19
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Savaşçı BB, Lucon-Xiccato T, Bisazza A. Ontogeny and personality affect inhibitory control in guppies, Poecilia reticulata. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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20
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Dayananda B, Bezeng SB, Karunarathna S, Jeffree RA. Climate Change Impacts on Tropical Reptiles: Likely Effects and Future Research Needs Based on Sri Lankan Perspectives. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.688723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The tropical island nation of Sri Lanka has a rich terrestrial and aquatic reptilian fauna. However, like most other tropical countries, the threat of climate change to its reptile diversity has not been adequately addressed, in order to manage and mitigate the extinction threats that climate change poses. To address this shortfall, a review of the international literature regarding climate change impacts on reptiles was undertaken with specific reference to national requirements, focusing on predicted changes in air temperature, rainfall, water temperature, and sea level. This global information base was then used to specify a national program of research and environmental management for tropical countries, which is urgently needed to address the shortcomings in policy-relevant data, its availability and access so that the risks of extinction to reptiles can be clarified and mitigated. Specifically, after highlighting how climate change affects the various eco-physiological features of reptiles, we propose research gaps and various recommendations to address them. It is envisaged that these assessments will also be relevant to the conservation of reptilian biodiversity in other countries with tropical and subtropical climatic regimes
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21
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Vila Pouca C, Mitchell DJ, Lefèvre J, Vega‐Trejo R, Kotrschal A. Early predation risk shapes adult learning and cognitive flexibility. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Vila Pouca
- Zoological Inst., Stockholm Univ. Stockholm Sweden
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen Univ. and Research Wageningen the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Alexander Kotrschal
- Zoological Inst., Stockholm Univ. Stockholm Sweden
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen Univ. and Research Wageningen the Netherlands
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22
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Babkiewicz E, Surga K, Gliwicz ZM, Maszczyk P. The effect of temperature on the spatial learning rate of zebrafish (
Danio rerio
). Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Babkiewicz
- Department of Hydrobiology at Biology and Chemistry Research Centre Faculty of Biology University of Warsaw Warsaw Poland
| | - Krzysztof Surga
- Zebrafish Core Facility International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw Warsaw Poland
| | - Zbigniew Maciej Gliwicz
- Department of Hydrobiology at Biology and Chemistry Research Centre Faculty of Biology University of Warsaw Warsaw Poland
| | - Piotr Maszczyk
- Department of Hydrobiology at Biology and Chemistry Research Centre Faculty of Biology University of Warsaw Warsaw Poland
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23
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Sanger TJ. Integrative developmental biology in the age of anthropogenic change. Evol Dev 2021; 23:320-332. [PMID: 33848387 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Humans are changing and challenging nature in many ways. Conservation Biology seeks to limit human impacts on nature and preserve biological diversity. Traditionally, Developmental Biology and Conservation Biology have had nonoverlapping objectives, operating in distinct spheres of biological science. However, this chasm can and should be filled to help combat the emerging challenges of the 21st century. The means by which to accomplish this goal were already established within the conceptual framework of evo- and eco-devo and can be further expanded to address the ways that anthropogenic disturbance affect embryonic development. Herein, I describe ways that these approaches can be used to advance the study of reptilian embryos. More specifically, I explore the ways that a developmental perspective can advance ongoing studies of embryonic physiology in the context of global warming and chemical pollution, both of which are known stressors of reptilian embryos. I emphasize ways that these developmental perspectives can inform conservation biologists trying to develop management practices that will address the complexity of challenges facing reptilian embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Sanger
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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24
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Chick LD, Waters JS, Diamond SE. Pedal to the metal: Cities power evolutionary divergence by accelerating metabolic rate and locomotor performance. Evol Appl 2021; 14:36-52. [PMID: 33519955 PMCID: PMC7819567 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic rates of ectotherms are expected to increase with global trends of climatic warming. But the potential for rapid, compensatory evolution of lower metabolic rate in response to rising temperatures is only starting to be explored. Here, we explored rapid evolution of metabolic rate and locomotor performance in acorn-dwelling ants (Temnothorax curvispinosus) in response to urban heat island effects. We reared ant colonies within a laboratory common garden (25°C) to generate a laboratory-born cohort of workers and tested their acute plastic responses to temperature. Contrary to expectations, urban ants exhibited a higher metabolic rate compared with rural ants when tested at 25°C, suggesting a potentially maladaptive evolutionary response to urbanization. Urban and rural ants had similar metabolic rates when tested at 38°C, as a consequence of a diminished plastic response of the urban ants. Locomotor performance also evolved such that the running speed of urban ants was faster than rural ants under warmer test temperatures (32°C and 42°C) but slower under a cooler test temperature (22°C). The resulting specialist-generalist trade-off and higher thermal optimum for locomotor performance might compensate for evolved increases in metabolic rate by allowing workers to more quickly scout and retrieve resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacy D. Chick
- Department of BiologyCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOHUSA
- Hawken SchoolGates MillsOHUSA
| | | | - Sarah E. Diamond
- Department of BiologyCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOHUSA
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25
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Szabo B, Noble DWA, Whiting MJ. Learning in non-avian reptiles 40 years on: advances and promising new directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:331-356. [PMID: 33073470 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recently, there has been a surge in cognition research using non-avian reptile systems. As a diverse group of animals, non-avian reptiles [turtles, the tuatara, crocodylians, and squamates (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenids)] are good model systems for answering questions related to cognitive ecology, from the role of the environment on the brain, behaviour and learning, to how social and life-history factors correlate with learning ability. Furthermore, given their variable social structure and degree of sociality, studies on reptiles have shown that group living is not a pre-condition for social learning. Past research has demonstrated that non-avian reptiles are capable of more than just instinctive reactions and basic cognition. Despite their ability to provide answers to fundamental questions in cognitive ecology, and a growing literature, there have been no recent systematic syntheses of research in this group. Here, we systematically, and comprehensively review studies on reptile learning. We identify 92 new studies investigating learning in reptiles not included in previous reviews on this topic - affording a unique opportunity to provide a more in-depth synthesis of existing work, its taxonomic distribution, the types of cognitive domains tested and methodologies that have been used. Our review therefore provides a major update on our current state of knowledge and ties the collective evidence together under nine umbrella research areas: (i) habituation of behaviour, (ii) animal training through conditioning, (iii) avoiding aversive stimuli, (iv) spatial learning and memory, (v) learning during foraging, (vi) quality and quantity discrimination, (vii) responding to change, (viii) solving novel problems, and (ix) social learning. Importantly, we identify knowledge gaps and propose themes which offer important future research opportunities including how cognitive ability might influence fitness and survival, testing cognition in ecologically relevant situations, comparing cognition in invasive and non-invasive populations of species, and social learning. To move the field forward, it will be immensely important to build upon the descriptive approach of testing whether a species can learn a task with experimental studies elucidating causal reasons for cognitive variation within and among species. With the appropriate methodology, this young but rapidly growing field of research should advance greatly in the coming years providing significant opportunities for addressing general questions in cognitive ecology and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Szabo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.,Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, Bern, 3032, Switzerland
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Martin J Whiting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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26
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Hall JM, Sun BJ. Heat tolerance of reptile embryos: Current knowledge, methodological considerations, and future directions. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:45-58. [PMID: 32757379 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aspects of global change result in warming temperatures that threaten biodiversity across the planet. Eggs of non-avian, oviparous reptiles (henceforth "reptiles") are particularly vulnerable to warming due to a lack of parental care during incubation and limited ability to behaviorally thermoregulate. Because warming temperatures will cause increases in both mean and variance of nest temperatures, it is crucial to consider embryo responses to both chronic and acute heat stress. Although many studies have considered embryo survival across constant incubation temperatures (i.e., chronic stress) and in response to brief exposure to extreme temperatures (i.e., acute stress), there are no standard metrics or terminology for determining heat stress of embryos. This impedes comparisons across studies and species and hinders our ability to predict how species will respond to global change. In this review, we compare various methods that have been used to assess embryonic heat tolerance in reptiles and provide new terminology and metrics for quantifying embryo responses to both chronic and acute heat stress. We apply these recommendations to data from the literature to assess chronic heat tolerance in 16 squamates, 16 turtles, five crocodilians, and the tuatara and acute heat tolerance for nine squamates and one turtle. Our results indicate that there is relatively large variation in chronic and acute heat tolerance across species, and we outline directions for future research, calling for more studies that assess embryo responses to acute thermal stress, integrate embryo responses to chronic and acute temperatures in predictive models, and identify mechanisms that determine heat tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Bao-Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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27
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Szabo B, Damas-Moreira I, Whiting MJ. Can Cognitive Ability Give Invasive Species the Means to Succeed? A Review of the Evidence. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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28
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Závorka L, Koeck B, Armstrong TA, Soğanci M, Crespel A, Killen SS. Reduced exploration capacity despite brain volume increase in warm-acclimated common minnow. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb223453. [PMID: 32414873 PMCID: PMC7286289 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.223453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
While evidence suggests that warming may impact cognition of ectotherms, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. A possible but rarely considered mechanism is that the metabolic response of ectotherms to warming is associated with changes in brain morphology and function. Here, we compared aerobic metabolism, brain volume, boldness and accuracy of maze solving of common minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) acclimated for 8 months to either their current optimal natural (14°C) or warm (20°C) water temperature. Metabolic rates indicated increased energy expenditure in warm-acclimated fish, but also at least partial thermal compensation as warm-acclimated fish maintained high aerobic scope. Warm-acclimated fish had larger brains than cool-acclimated fish. The volume of the dorsal medulla relative to the overall brain size was larger in warm- than in cool-acclimated fish, but the proportion of other brain regions did not differ between the temperature treatments. Warm-acclimated fish did not differ in boldness but made more errors than cool-acclimated fish in exploring the maze across four trials. Inter-individual differences in the number of exploration errors were repeatable across the four trials of the maze test. Our findings suggest that in warm environments, maintaining a high aerobic scope, which is important for the performance of physically demanding tasks, can come at the cost of changes in brain morphology and impairment of the capacity to explore novel environments. This trade-off could have strong fitness implications for wild ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libor Závorka
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- WasserCluster Lunz-Inter-University Centre for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, A-3293 Lunz am See, Austria
| | - Barbara Koeck
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Tiffany A Armstrong
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Mustafa Soğanci
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Amélie Crespel
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Shaun S Killen
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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29
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Effects of early thermal environment on the behavior and learning of a lizard with bimodal reproduction. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02849-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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30
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Abayarathna T, Webb JK. Effects of incubation temperatures on learning abilities of hatchling velvet geckos. Anim Cogn 2020; 23:613-620. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-020-01365-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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31
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Tiatragul S, Hall JM, Warner DA. Nestled in the city heat: urban nesting behavior enhances embryo development of an invasive lizard. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juaa001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Urbanization transforms many aspects of natural landscapes and poses many new challenges for individual survival and population persistence. Thus, urbanization provides an opportunity to examine how organisms deal with novel environmental change. Many studies provide evidence of phenotypic adaptation to urban environments, but few focus on responses during early life stages. Filling this information gap is important, because early life stages are particularly sensitive to abiotic factors, and no population is sustainable without successful embryo development. We tested the hypotheses that (i) embryos tolerate warmer temperature conditions of urbanized areas and (ii) maternal nesting behavior protects embryos from potentially lethal thermal conditions in urbanized habitats. We studied introduced populations of a subtropical lizard, Anolis cristatellus, in suburban and forested areas in Miami, Florida. In each habitat, we measured microenvironment variables for locations that females used for nesting vs. locations they did not use. We then incubated eggs from both populations under thermal conditions that mimicked used and unused sites. Nests in the suburban site were warmer than in the forest; however, in the suburban site, locations that females used were relatively cool compared with locations that were not used. We found no evidence that embryos are adapted to their respective suburban or forested thermal environments, but rather maternal nest-site choice enhanced embryo development in the suburban habitat. Maternal nesting behavior is likely an important factor for population persistence under major environmental changes, and a key contributor to the establishment and spread of invasive organisms across urbanized landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarin Tiatragul
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Joshua M Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Daniel A Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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32
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Spatial learning in captive and wild-born lizards: heritability and environmental effects. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2805-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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33
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Ruszkiewicz JA, Tinkov AA, Skalny AV, Siokas V, Dardiotis E, Tsatsakis A, Bowman AB, da Rocha JBT, Aschner M. Brain diseases in changing climate. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 177:108637. [PMID: 31416010 PMCID: PMC6717544 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is one of the biggest and most urgent challenges for the 21st century. Rising average temperatures and ocean levels, altered precipitation patterns and increased occurrence of extreme weather events affect not only the global landscape and ecosystem, but also human health. Multiple environmental factors influence the onset and severity of human diseases and changing climate may have a great impact on these factors. Climate shifts disrupt the quantity and quality of water, increase environmental pollution, change the distribution of pathogens and severely impacts food production - all of which are important regarding public health. This paper focuses on brain health and provides an overview of climate change impacts on risk factors specific to brain diseases and disorders. We also discuss emerging hazards in brain health due to mitigation and adaptation strategies in response to climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna A Ruszkiewicz
- Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia; IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia; IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Trace Element Institute for UNESCO, Lyon, France
| | - Vasileios Siokas
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece
| | - Efthimios Dardiotis
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - João B T da Rocha
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States.
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34
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Rapid learning of a spatial memory task in a lacertid lizard (Podarcis liolepis). Behav Processes 2019; 169:103963. [PMID: 31545992 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.103963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mammals and birds are capable of navigating to a goal using learned map-like representations of space (i.e. place learning), but research assessing this navigational strategy in reptiles has produced inconclusive results, in part due to the use of procedures that do not take account of the peculiarities of reptilian behavior and physiology. Here I present a procedure suitable for testing spatial cognition that exploits a naturally evolved, ethologically relevant ability common to many lizards (i.e. refuge seeking behavior). The procedure requires lizards to learn the location of an open refuge inside a rectangular arena containing artificial refuges in every corner, using distal extramaze visual cues and with no local cues marking the location of the open refuge. The procedure probes the lizards' place learning ability and effectively rules out the use of egocentric and response-based strategies. The described procedure was successfully used to demonstrate place learning in a lacertid lizard (Podarcis liolepis). Over the course of two weeks of training both the latency to entering the open refuge and the number of corners visited in each trial decreased gradually, indicating that learning had taken place in over 60% of the lizards tested. These results confirm that, under certain circumstances, lizards are capable of navigating to a goal using a place learning strategy.
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Quantity discrimination in Port Jackson sharks incubated under elevated temperatures. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2706-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Siviter H, Deeming DC, Wilkinson A. Egg incubation temperature influences the growth and foraging behaviour of juvenile lizards. Behav Processes 2019; 165:9-13. [PMID: 31170461 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
After laying their eggs, oviparous reptiles are reliant on the external environment to provide the required incubation conditions for successful embryonic development. Egg incubation temperature can impact the behaviour of various species of reptiles, but previous experiments have focused on the impact of incubation environment on hatchlings, with only a limited number of studies focussing on the longer-term behavioural consequences of incubation environment. This study investigated the effects of developmental environment on bearded dragon lizards (Pogona vitticeps) that were incubated at different temperatures within the natural range; half of them were incubated at a 'hot' temperature (30 ± 3 °C) and half at a 'cold' temperature (27 ± 3 °C). The growth and foraging behaviour of the lizards was then compared over 18 weeks of development. Although the lizards incubated at a cool temperatures grew more quickly, those incubated at the hotter temperature completed the foraging task more often and had significantly faster running speeds. These results show that egg incubation temperature impacts the foraging behaviour of juvenile lizards and suggest a potential trade-off between growth and foraging speed, which could influence an animal's life history trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Siviter
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK; School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
| | - D Charles Deeming
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK.
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
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Munch KL, Noble DWA, Botterill-James T, Koolhof IS, Halliwell B, Wapstra E, While GM. Maternal effects impact decision-making in a viviparous lizard. Biol Lett 2019; 14:rsbl.2017.0556. [PMID: 29643218 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressful conditions experienced during early development can have deleterious effects on offspring morphology, physiology and behaviour. However, few studies have examined how developmental stress influences an individual's cognitive phenotype. Using a viviparous lizard, we show that the availability of food resources to a mother during gestation influences a key component of her offspring's cognitive phenotype: their decision-making. Offspring from females who experienced low resource availability during gestation did better in an anti-predatory task that relied on spatial associations to guide their decisions, whereas offspring from females who experienced high resource availability during gestation did better in a foraging task that relied on colour associations to inform their decisions. This shows that the prenatal environment can influence decision-making in animals, a cognitive trait with functional implications later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirke L Munch
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.,School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Iain S Koolhof
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ben Halliwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M While
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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Diele-Viegas LM, Rocha CFD. Unraveling the influences of climate change in Lepidosauria (Reptilia). J Therm Biol 2018; 78:401-414. [PMID: 30509664 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, changes in climate have caused impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans and many species have shifted their geographic ranges, seasonal activities, migration patterns, abundances and interactions in response to these changes. Projections of future climate change are uncertain, but the Earth's warming is likely to exceed 4.8 °C by the end of 21th century. The vulnerability of a population, species, group or system due to climate change is a function of impact of the changes on the evaluated system (exposure and sensitivity) and adaptive capacity as a response to this impact, and the relationship between these elements will determine the degree of species vulnerability. Predicting the potential future risks to biodiversity caused by climate change has become an extremely active field of research, and several studies in the last two decades had focused on determining possible impacts of climate change on Lepidosaurians, at a global, regional and local level. Here we conducted a systematic review of published studies in order to seek to what extent the accumulated knowledge currently allow us to identify potential trends or patterns regarding climate change effects on lizards, snakes, amphisbaenians and tuatara. We conducted a literature search among online literature databases/catalogues and recorded 255 studies addressing the influence of climate change on a total of 1918 species among 49 Lepidosaurian's families. The first study addressing this subject is dated 1999. Most of the studies focused on species distribution, followed by thermal biology, reproductive biology, behavior and genetics. We concluded that an integrative approach including most of these characteristics and also bioclimatic and environmental variables, may lead to consistent and truly effective strategies for species conservation, aiming to buffer the climate change effects on this group of reptiles.
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Munch KL, Noble DWA, Budd L, Row A, Wapstra E, While GM. Maternal presence facilitates plasticity in offspring behavior: insights into the evolution of parental care. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kirke L Munch
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
- Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Luke Budd
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Aryana Row
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M While
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
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Lu HL, Wang J, Xu DD, Dang W. Maternal warming influences reproductive frequency, but not hatchling phenotypes in a multiple-clutched oviparous lizard. J Therm Biol 2018; 74:303-310. [PMID: 29801642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The understanding of life-history responses to increased temperature is helpful for evaluating the potential of species for tackling future climate change. Herein, adult southern grass lizards, Takydromus sexlineatus, were maintained under two thermal regimes simulating current thermal environment and a 4 °C warming scenario to determine the effects of experimental warming on female reproduction and offspring phenotypes. Experimental warming caused females to oviposit earlier and more frequently; however, it did not affect other reproductive traits, including clutch size, egg mass and clutch mass. Accelerated embryonic development and energy accumulation rate might have occurred in warmed females. Maternal warming appeared to increase early embryonic mortality, but did not shift hatchling size and locomotor performance. Embryos of oviparous lizards might be more vulnerable to climate change at early stages than at later stages. The impacts of climate change in oviparous lizards might be adverse in the longer term because of the shift in pre-ovipositional embryo viability, which possibly led to a decreased number of hatchlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Liang Lu
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jie Wang
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China
| | - Da-De Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Dang
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China
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While GM, Noble DW, Uller T, Warner DA, Riley JL, Du W, Schwanz LE. Patterns of developmental plasticity in response to incubation temperature in reptiles. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2018; 329:162-176. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey M. While
- School of Biological Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Australia
| | - Daniel W.A. Noble
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Daniel A. Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama
| | - Julia L. Riley
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney Australia
| | - Wei‐Guo Du
- Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Lisa E. Schwanz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
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Mate familiarity and social learning in a monogamous lizard. Oecologia 2018; 188:1-10. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4153-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Dayananda B, Webb JK. Incubation under climate warming affects learning ability and survival in hatchling lizards. Biol Lett 2017; 13:rsbl.2017.0002. [PMID: 28298595 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite compelling evidence for substantial individual differences in cognitive performance, it is unclear whether cognitive ability influences fitness of wild animals. In many animals, environmental stressors experienced in utero can produce substantial variation in the cognitive abilities of offspring. In reptiles, incubation temperatures experienced by embryos can influence hatchling brain function and learning ability. Under climate warming, the eggs of some lizard species may experience higher temperatures, which could affect the cognitive abilities of hatchlings. Whether such changes in cognitive abilities influence the survival of hatchlings is unknown. To determine whether incubation-induced changes in spatial learning ability affect hatchling survival, we incubated velvet gecko, Amalosia lesueurii, eggs using two fluctuating temperature regimes to mimic current (cold) versus future (hot) nest temperatures. We measured the spatial learning ability of hatchlings from each treatment, and released individually marked animals at two field sites in southeastern Australia. Hatchlings from hot-incubated eggs were slower learners than hatchlings from cold-incubated eggs. Survival analyses revealed that hatchlings with higher learning scores had higher survival than hatchlings with poor learning scores. Our results show that incubation temperature affects spatial learning ability in hatchling lizards, and that such changes can influence the survival of hatchlings in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buddhi Dayananda
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Jonathan K Webb
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia
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Hulbert AC, Mitchell TS, Hall JM, Guiffre CM, Douglas DC, Warner DA. The effects of incubation temperature and experimental design on heart rates of lizard embryos. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2017; 327:466-476. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Austin C. Hulbert
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama
| | | | - Joshua M. Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama
| | - Cassia M. Guiffre
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama
| | | | - Daniel A. Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama
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Siviter H, Deeming DC, van Giezen MFT, Wilkinson A. Incubation environment impacts the social cognition of adult lizards. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:170742. [PMID: 29291066 PMCID: PMC5717640 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Recent work exploring the relationship between early environmental conditions and cognition has shown that incubation environment can influence both brain anatomy and performance in simple operant tasks in young lizards. It is currently unknown how it impacts other, potentially more sophisticated, cognitive processes. Social-cognitive abilities, such as gaze following and social learning, are thought to be highly adaptive as they provide a short-cut to acquiring new information. Here, we investigated whether egg incubation temperature influenced two aspects of social cognition, gaze following and social learning in adult reptiles (Pogona vitticeps). Incubation temperature did not influence the gaze following ability of the bearded dragons; however, lizards incubated at colder temperatures were quicker at learning a social task and faster at completing that task. These results are the first to show that egg incubation temperature influences the social cognitive abilities of an oviparous reptile species and that it does so differentially depending on the task. Further, the results show that the effect of incubation environment was not ephemeral but lasted long into adulthood. It could thus have potential long-term effects on fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Siviter
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | | | - M. F. T. van Giezen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, 2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8203, Japan
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