1
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Prokopenko CM, Ellington EH, Robitaille A, Aubin JA, Balluffi-Fry J, Laforge M, Webber QMR, Zabihi-Seissan S, Vander Wal E. Friends because of foes: synchronous movement within predator-prey domains. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230374. [PMID: 39230459 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
For prey, movement synchrony represents a potent antipredator strategy. Prey, however, must balance the costs and benefits of using conspecifics to mediate risk. Thus, the emergent patterns of risk-driven sociality depend on variation in space and in the predators and prey themselves. We applied the concept of predator-prey habitat domain, the space in which animals acquire food resources, to test the conditions under which individuals synchronize their movements relative to predator and prey habitat domains. We tested the response of movement synchrony of prey to predator-prey domains in two populations of ungulates that vary in their gregariousness and predator community: (i) elk, which are preyed on by wolves; and (ii) caribou, which are preyed on by coyotes and black bears. Prey in both communities responded to cursorial predators by increasing synchrony during seasons of greater predation pressure. Elk moved more synchronously in the wolf habitat domain during winter and caribou moved more synchronously in the coyote habitat domains during spring. In the winter, caribou increased movement synchrony when coyote and caribou domains overlapped. By integrating habitat domains with movement ecology, we provide a compelling argument for social behaviours and collective movement as an antipredator response. This article is part of the theme issue 'The spatial-social interface: A theoretical and empirical integration'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Prokopenko
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave , St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - E Hance Ellington
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave , St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
- Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 3401 Experiment Station Rd , Ona, FL, USA
| | - Alec Robitaille
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave , St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Jaclyn A Aubin
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's , NL, Canada
| | - Juliana Balluffi-Fry
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave , St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Michel Laforge
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave , St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Quinn M R Webber
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's , NL, Canada
| | - Sana Zabihi-Seissan
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave , St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 232 Elizabeth Ave , St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's , NL, Canada
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2
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Maneja RH, Miller JD, Flint JB, Alcaria JFA, Basali AU, Flandez AVB, Gopalan J, Duraisamy T, Abrogueña JBR, Bawazier AA, Das PB, Manokaran S, Asiri YY, Qasem A, Asfahani K, Qurban MAB. Extreme conditions reduce hatching success of green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) at Karan Island, the major nesting site in the Arabian Gulf. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114801. [PMID: 36965265 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114801] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Survival in the early life stages is a major factor determining the growth and stability of wildlife populations. For sea turtles, nest location must provide favorable conditions to support embryonic development. Hatching success and incubation environment of green turtle eggs were examined in July 2019 at Karan Island, a major nesting site for the species in the Arabian Gulf. Mean hatching success averaged at 38.8 % (range = 2.5-75.0 %, n = 14). Eggs that suffered early embryonic death (EED) and late embryonic death (LED) represented 19.8 % (range: 3.3-64.2 %) and 41.4 % (range: 4.8-92.6 %) of the clutch on average, respectively. Nest sand was either coarse (0.5-1 mm: mean 44.8 %, range = 30.4-56.9 % by dry weight, n = 14) or medium (0.25-0.5 mm: mean 33.6 %, range = 12.0-45.5 % by dry weight, n = 14). Mean sand moisture (4.0 %, range = 3.2-4.9 %, n = 14) was at the lower margin for successful development. Hatching success was significantly higher in clutches with sand salinity <1500 EC.uS/cm (n = 5) than those above 2500 EC.uS/cm (n = 5). Mean clutch temperatures at 1200 h increased by an average of 5.4 °C during the 50-d post-oviposition from 31.2 °C to 36.6 °C. Embryos experienced lethally high temperatures in addition to impacts of other environmental factors (salinity, moisture, sand grain size), which was related to reduced hatching success. Conservation initiatives must consider the synergistic influence of the above parameters in formulating strategies to improve the overall resilience of the green turtle population in the Arabian Gulf to anthropogenic and climate change-related stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- R H Maneja
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - J D Miller
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - J B Flint
- One Welfare and Sustainability Center, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, OH, USA
| | - J F A Alcaria
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - A U Basali
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - A V B Flandez
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - J Gopalan
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - T Duraisamy
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - J B R Abrogueña
- Environmental Protection and Control Department, Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Jazan City for Primary and Downstream Industries, Saudi Arabia
| | - A A Bawazier
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - P B Das
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - S Manokaran
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Y Y Asiri
- Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - A Qasem
- Environmental Protection Department, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - K Asfahani
- Environmental Protection Department, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - M A B Qurban
- National Center for Wildlife, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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3
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Zhu Q, Lin L, Kong F, Zhang T, Shi H. Nocturnal emergence facilitated by thermally‐induced hatching in the Chinese softshell turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9922. [PMID: 36969933 PMCID: PMC10034484 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The coincidence of hatching and emergence events with favorable conditions is crucial for turtle survival. Nocturnal emergence has been widely documented across marine and freshwater turtles, and has long been suggested as an adaptive behavior that reduces risks of heat stress and predation. To our knowledge, however, studies related to nocturnal emergence have mainly focused on the post‐hatching behaviors of turtles, and very few experimental studies have been performed to investigate the effects of hatching time on the distribution of emergence times over the course of a day. Here, we visually monitored the activity of the Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)—a shallow‐nesting freshwater turtle—from hatching to emergence. Our study provides evidence for the novel finding that (i) the timing of synchronous hatching events in P. sinensis coincides with the time of day when nest temperatures decrease, (ii) the synchrony between hatching and emergence may further facilitate their nocturnal emergence, and (iii) synchronous behaviors of hatchlings in the nest may be effective in reducing the risk of hatchling predation, and predation is more likely to occur in the asynchronous hatching groups. This study suggests that the hatching of shallow‐nesting P. sinensis in response to temperature changes in the nest might be an adaptive nocturnal emergence strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingjun Zhu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life SciencesHainan Normal UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Liu Lin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life SciencesHainan Normal UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Fei Kong
- Shaanxi Provincial Institute of ZoologyXianChina
| | - Ting Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life SciencesHainan Normal UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Hai‐Tao Shi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life SciencesHainan Normal UniversityHaikouChina
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4
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Majoris JE, Francisco FA, Burns CM, Brandl SJ, Warkentin KM, Buston PM. Paternal care regulates the timing, synchrony and success of hatching in a coral reef fish. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221466. [PMID: 36100017 PMCID: PMC9470247 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1466] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In oviparous species, the timing of hatching is a crucial decision, but for developing embryos, assessing cues that indicate the optimal time to hatch is challenging. In species with pre-hatching parental care, parents can assess environmental conditions and induce their offspring to hatch. We provide the first documentation of parental hatching regulation in a coral reef fish, demonstrating that male neon gobies (Elacatinus colini) directly regulate hatching by removing embryos from the clutch and spitting hatchlings into the water column. All male gobies synchronized hatching within 2 h of sunrise, regardless of when eggs were laid. Paternally incubated embryos hatched later in development, more synchronously, and had higher hatching success than artificially incubated embryos that were shaken to provide a vibrational stimulus or not stimulated. Artificially incubated embryos displayed substantial plasticity in hatching times (range: 80-224 h post-fertilization), suggesting that males could respond to environmental heterogeneity by modifying the hatching time of their offspring. Finally, paternally incubated embryos hatched with smaller yolk sacs and larger propulsive areas than artificially incubated embryos, suggesting that paternal effects on hatchling phenotypes may influence larval dispersal and fitness. These findings highlight the complexity of fish parental care behaviour and may have important, and currently unstudied, consequences for fish population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E. Majoris
- Marine Program, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA
| | - Fritz A. Francisco
- Department of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin 10587, Germany
- Excellence Cluster Science of Intelligence, Technical University Berlin, Berlin 10587, Germany
| | - Corinne M. Burns
- Marine Program, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 315 alleé des Ursulines, C.P. 3300, Rimouski, QC, Canada G2 L 3A1
| | - Simon J. Brandl
- Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA
| | - Karen M. Warkentin
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Peter M. Buston
- Marine Program, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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5
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Feng L, Li J, Qin H, Liu Y, Wu H, Feng J, Jiang T. Feeding behavior innovation increases foraging efficiency in the Amur falcon but may be a threat to Asian particolored bats. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9272. [PMID: 36110884 PMCID: PMC9465184 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral innovations are rare and infrequent in the natural world, but they are pivotal for animals to respond to environmental changes. The ecological benefits of these innovations remain unknown, especially in wild populations. Here, two foraging strategies and three eating behaviors of the Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) were observed during predation on Asian particolored bats (Vespertilio sinensis) across 3 years. We demonstrated that an eating behavioral innovation in F. amurensis increased the foraging efficiency of V. sinensis more than twofold during 3 consecutive years. This showed that changes in feeding behavior by a bird strongly influenced the rate of energy intake. Since predation on bats by falcons mainly occurred during the lactation and post-lactation of bats, this may have a certain level of negative effect on the bat population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and UtilizationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland ScienceNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Jingjing Li
- College of Life ScienceJilin Agricultural UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Hexuan Qin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and UtilizationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland ScienceNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Yingying Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and UtilizationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland ScienceNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Hui Wu
- College of Life ScienceJilin Agricultural UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and UtilizationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland ScienceNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
- College of Life ScienceJilin Agricultural UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Tinglei Jiang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and UtilizationNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland ScienceNortheast Normal UniversityChangchunChina
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6
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Colbert PL, Spencer RJ, Janzen FJ. Developmental asynchrony might not reduce fitness in early life in painted turtles. Front Physiol 2022; 13:923912. [PMID: 36091403 PMCID: PMC9459037 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.923912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Synchronous hatching and emergence of turtles from nests may be adaptive in predator avoidance during dispersal. However, little is known about the phenotypic consequences of such synchrony or the generality of predator avoidance in driving the evolution of this trait. Colbert et al. (2010) found that less advanced embryos hatched early in the presence of more advanced sibs, sustaining a persistent reduction in neuromuscular function. In this study, we experimentally assessed the influence of such accelerated embryonic development on hatching success, winter survival, and survival during terrestrial dispersal from the nest. Although we predicted that shortened incubation periods would reduce survival, early-hatching individuals suffered no detectable fitness costs at any stage considered in this study. Incubation temperature did not affect hatching success, and offspring sex did not affect survival across treatment groups. Incubation regime influenced offspring body size and was negatively correlated with dispersal time, however, there was no effect on survival during winter or terrestrial dispersal. Lack of a detectable fitness cost in these key early-life stages associated with hatching synchrony is consistent with a single, predator avoidance origin for this trait and retention in C. picta and other derived turtles via phylogenetic inertia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R.-J. Spencer
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - F. J. Janzen
- Kellogg Biological Station, Departments of Fisheries & Wildlife and Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: F. J. Janzen,
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7
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Adams DM, Williamson SA, Evans RG, Reina RD. Increasing hypoxia progressively slows early embryonic development in an oviparous reptile, the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220709. [PMID: 36061518 PMCID: PMC9428527 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) embryos are in an arrested state of development when the eggs are laid, but in the presence of oxygen, arrest is broken and development resumes within 12-16 h. However, the precise oxygen level at which embryos break arrest and continue development is not known. To better understand the impact of oxygen concentration on breaking of arrest and early embryonic development, we incubated freshly laid eggs of the green sea turtle for three days at each of six different oxygen concentrations (less than or equal to 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 9% and 21%) and monitored the appearance and growth of white spots on the shell, indicative of embryonic development. As reported previously, white spots did not develop on eggs incubated in anoxia (less than or equal to 1% oxygen). For all other treatments, mean time to white spot detection and white spot growth rate varied inversely with oxygen concentration. In nearly all cases the difference between eggs at different oxygen levels was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). This suggests that sea turtle embryonic development may respond to oxygen in a dose-dependent manner. Our results indicate that the development of green turtle embryos may be slowed if they are exposed to the most hypoxic conditions reported in mature natural nests.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roger G. Evans
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Pre-clinical Critical Care Unit, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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8
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de Faria LAP, Martins AS, Pereira JA. Green turtles nest survival: Quantifying the hidden predation. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 179:105666. [PMID: 35667326 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105666] [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: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Trindade Island is the largest nesting site for green turtles Chelonia mydas in Brazil and one of the most important in the Atlantic ocean. The terrestrial crab Johngarthia lagostoma forages almost everywhere on the island, including the green turtle nesting beaches. Nothing is known about crab predation on sea turtle eggs at the time of nesting. We obtained unprecedented records of crab predation at sea turtle nests during the breeding seasons of 2017/18 and 2018/19. We analyzed through images and videos the behavior of the predatory species. Not only that, but we observed an average loss of 3 eggs per nest. The period from 0:00 to 3:00 h presented the highest risk of predation. The mortality rate in the egg stage related to neonates was 5% per nest, with an estimated predation impact of 21,600 eggs per season reproductive.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agnaldo Silva Martins
- Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
| | - Josiele Alves Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
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9
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Gárriz A, Williamson SA, Shah AD, Evans RG, Deveson Lucas DS, Powell DR, Walton SL, Marques FZ, Reina RD. Transcriptomic analysis of pre-ovipositional embryonic arrest in a non-squamate reptile (Chelonia mydas). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:4319-4331. [PMID: 35762848 PMCID: PMC9540450 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
After gastrulation, oviductal hypoxia maintains turtle embryos in an arrested state prior to oviposition. Subsequent exposure to atmospheric oxygen upon oviposition initiates recommencement of embryonic development. Arrest can be artificially extended for several days after oviposition by incubation of the egg under hypoxic conditions, with development recommencing in an apparently normal fashion after subsequent exposure to normoxia. To examine the transcriptomic events associated with embryonic arrest in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), RNA‐sequencing analysis was performed on embryos from freshly laid eggs and eggs incubated in either normoxia (oxygen tension ~159 mmHg) or hypoxia (<8 mmHg) for 36 h after oviposition (n = 5 per group). The patterns of gene expression differed markedly among the three experimental groups. Normal embryonic development in normoxia was associated with upregulation of genes involved in DNA replication, the cell cycle, and mitosis, but these genes were commonly downregulated after incubation in hypoxia. Many target genes of hypoxia inducible factors, including the gene encoding insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 1 (igfbp1), were downregulated by normoxic incubation but upregulated by incubation in hypoxia. Notably, some of the transcriptomic effects of hypoxia in green turtle embryos resembled those reported to be associated with hypoxia‐induced embryonic arrest in diverse taxa, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and zebrafish (Danio rerio). Hypoxia‐induced preovipositional embryonic arrest appears to be a unique adaptation of turtles. However, our findings accord with the proposition that the mechanisms underlying hypoxia‐induced embryonic arrest per se are highly conserved across diverse taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Gárriz
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Sean A Williamson
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Anup D Shah
- Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Roger G Evans
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.,Pre-clinical Critical Care Unit, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Deanna S Deveson Lucas
- Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - David R Powell
- Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Sarah L Walton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Francine Z Marques
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Richard D Reina
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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10
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Lacroix C, Davy CM, Rollinson N. Hatchling vocalizations and beneficial social interactions in subterranean nests of a widespread reptile. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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11
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Jorgewich-Cohen G, Henrique RS, Dias PH, Sánchez-Villagra MR. The evolution of reproductive strategies in turtles. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13014. [PMID: 35295558 PMCID: PMC8919852 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Optimal egg size theory assumes that changes in the egg and clutch are driven by selection, resulting in adjustments for the largest possible production of offspring with the highest fitness. Evidence supports the idea that large-bodied turtles tend to produce larger clutches with small and round eggs, while smaller species produce small clutches with large and elongated eggs. Our goals were to investigate whether egg and clutch size follow the predictions of egg size theory, if there are convergent reproductive strategies, and identify ecological factors that influence clutch and egg traits across all clades of living turtles. Using phylogenetic methods, we tested the covariance among reproductive traits, if they are convergent among different turtle lineages, and which ecological factors influence these traits. We found that both egg shape and size inversely correlate with clutch size, although with different evolutionary rates, following the predictions of the egg size theory. We also present compelling evidence for convergence among different turtle clades, over at least two reproductive strategies. Furthermore, climatic zone is the only ecological predictor to influence both egg size and fecundity, while diet only influences egg size. We conclude that egg and clutch traits in Testudines evolved independently several times across non-directly related clades that converged to similar reproductive strategies. Egg and clutch characteristics follow the trade-offs predicted by egg size theory and are influenced by ecological factors. Climatic zone and diet play an important role in the distribution of reproductive characteristics among turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael S. Henrique
- Laboratório de Anfíbios, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique Dias
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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12
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Sensing underground activity: diel digging activity pattern during nest escape by sea turtle hatchlings. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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13
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Erickson J, Pereira FR, Baccaro F. Competitive Interaction between Two Ant Species Facilitates Egg Hatching in Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtles (Podocnemis unifilis). SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-19-00114.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- José Erickson
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Água Doce e Pesca Interior, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Avenida André Araújo 2936, CEP 69067-375 Manaus, Brazil
| | - Francisco Raphael Pereira
- Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação Científica, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida Rodrigo Octávio 6200, Setor Sul, CEP 69080-900 Manaus, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Baccaro
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida Rodrigo Octávio 6200, Setor Sul, Prédio ICB 1, CEP 69080-900 Manaus, Brazil
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14
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Petry MV, Araújo LD, Brum AC, Benemann VRF, Finger JVG. Plastic ingestion by juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) off the coast of Southern Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 167:112337. [PMID: 33894457 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Five of the seven extant sea turtle species in the world forage on the coast of Southern Brazil at least in some stage of their life cycle. The green turtle Chelonia mydas frequently strands on beaches of Rio Grande do Sul State. The species is currently classified as vulnerable to extinction in the region, and pollution by marine debris is one of the most conspicuous threats to its conservation. In this study, we quantified and characterized plastic ingestion by juvenile green turtles in waters off the southern Brazilian coast between 2013 and 2016. We analysed the gastrointestinal content of 17 beached carcasses and registered debris ingestion in 15 individuals (88%). On average, each green turtle ingested 38.4 ± 88.5 plastic fragments. White and transparent plastic bags and plastic sheets were predominant. Our results indicate a high interaction between juvenile green turtles and marine debris off the coast of Southern Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Petry
- Laboratório de Ornitologia e Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Av. Unisinos, 93.022-750 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leonardo D Araújo
- Laboratório de Ornitologia e Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Av. Unisinos, 93.022-750 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Antônio C Brum
- Laboratório de Ornitologia e Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Av. Unisinos, 93.022-750 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Victória R F Benemann
- Laboratório de Ornitologia e Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Av. Unisinos, 93.022-750 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Júlia Victória G Finger
- Laboratório de Ornitologia e Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Av. Unisinos, 93.022-750 Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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15
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Guimarães ATB, Estrela FN, Rodrigues ASDL, Chagas TQ, Pereira PS, Silva FG, Malafaia G. Nanopolystyrene particles at environmentally relevant concentrations causes behavioral and biochemical changes in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 403:123864. [PMID: 33264938 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The biometric, behavioral and biochemical toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) in aquatic freshwater vertebrates and in environmentally relevant concentrations remains poorly known. Thus, using different toxicity biomarkers we tested the hypothesis that the exposure of Ctenopharyngodon idella juveniles to small PS NPs concentrations (0.04 ng/L, 34 ng/L and 34 μg/L), for a short period-of-time, may affect their growth/development, individual and collective behavior, and biochemical parameters. Animals exposed to NPs did not show increased biometric parameters (i.e.: body biomass, total and standard length, peduncle height, head height and visceral somatic and hepatosomatic indices). Despite the lack of damage on the locomotor (open field test) and visual (visual stimulus test) abilities of the evaluated fish, the expected increase in locomotor activity during the vibratory stimulus test was not evident in animals exposed to NPs. Non-exposed animals were the only ones showing increased activity/locomotion time in the presence of the predatory stimulus during the individual anti-predatory response test. The behavior of animals directly confronted with a potential predator has evidenced the influence of NPs on shoals' aggregation and on the distance kept by individuals from the predatory stimulus. These changes were associated with PS NPs accumulation in animals' brains, oxidative stress and increased acetylcholinesterase activity (hepatic and cerebral). Therefore, the current study has confirmed the initial hypothesis and showed that, even at low concentrations, PS NPs can affect the health of C. idella individuals at early life stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraão Tiago Batista Guimarães
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Goiânia, Brazil; Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano- Campus Urutaí, Urutaí, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Neves Estrela
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Goiânia, Brazil; Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano- Campus Urutaí, Urutaí, Brazil
| | - Aline Sueli de Lima Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação de Recursos Naturais do Cerrado, Instituto Federal Goiano- Campus Urutaí, Urutaí, Brazil
| | - Thales Quintão Chagas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Goiânia, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação de Recursos Naturais do Cerrado, Instituto Federal Goiano- Campus Urutaí, Urutaí, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sérgio Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Guimarães Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Goiânia, Brazil; Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano- Campus Urutaí, Urutaí, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação de Recursos Naturais do Cerrado, Instituto Federal Goiano- Campus Urutaí, Urutaí, Brazil.
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16
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Geller GA, Casper GS, Halstead BJ. Hatchling Emergence Ecology of Ouachita Map Turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis) on the Lower Wisconsin River, Wisconsin. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1415.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gary S. Casper
- Great Lakes Ecological Services, LLC, PO Box 375, Slinger, Wisconsin 53086 USA []
| | - Brian J. Halstead
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California 95620 USA []
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17
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Bonar M, Lewis KP, Webber QMR, Dobbin M, Laforge MP, Vander Wal E. Geometry of the ideal free distribution: individual behavioural variation and annual reproductive success in aggregations of a social ungulate. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:1360-1369. [PMID: 32602664 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Variation in social environment can mitigate risks and rewards associated with occupying a particular patch. We aim to integrate Ideal Free Distribution (IFD) and Geometry of the Selfish Herd (GSH) to address an apparent conflict in their predictions of equal mean fitness between patches (IFD) and declining fitness benefits within a patch (GSH). We tested these hypotheses in a socio-spatial context using individual caribou that were aggregated or disaggregated during calving and varied in their annual reproductive success (ARS). We then tested individual consistency of these spatial tactics. We reveal that two socio-spatial tactics accorded similar mean ARS (IFD); however, ARS for aggregated individuals declined near the periphery (GSH). Individuals near the aggregation periphery exhibited flexibility, whereas others were consistent. The integration of classical theories through a contemporary lens of consistent individual differences provides evidence for an integrated GSH and IFD strategy that may represent an evolutionary stable state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maegwin Bonar
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, USA
| | - Keith P Lewis
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. John's, NL, USA
| | - Quinn M R Webber
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, USA
| | - Maria Dobbin
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, USA
| | - Michel P Laforge
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, USA
| | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, USA.,Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Interdisciplinary Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, USA
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18
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Murphy KM, Bodensteiner BL, Delaney DM, Strickland JT, Janzen FJ. Nest Temperatures Predict Nest Emergence of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) Offspring. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1391.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M. Murphy
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 USA [; ]
| | - Brooke L. Bodensteiner
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 USA [; ]
| | - David M. Delaney
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 USA [; ]
| | - Jeramie T. Strickland
- Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Thomson, Illinois 61285 USA []
| | - Fredric J. Janzen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 USA [; ]
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19
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Riley JL, Hudson S, Frenette-Ling C, Davy CM. All together now! Hatching synchrony in freshwater turtles. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2800-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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20
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Tezak B, Bentley B, Arena M, Mueller S, Snyder T, Sifuentes-Romero I. Incubation environment and parental identity affect sea turtle development and hatchling phenotype. Oecologia 2020; 192:939-951. [PMID: 32270269 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04643-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
For reptiles, the incubation environment experienced by embryos during development plays a major role in many biological processes. The unprecedented rate of climate change makes it critical to understand the effects that the incubation environment has on developing embryos, particularly in imperiled species such as chelonians. Consequently, a number of studies have focused on the effects of different environmental conditions on several developmental processes and hatchling phenotypic traits. In addition to the incubation environment, it is also essential to understand how parental contributions can influence hatchling quality. This is the first study that investigates the effects of parental origin and incubation conditions on sea turtle embryonic development and hatchling phenotype in nests incubating in the field (rather than under controlled laboratory conditions). Here, we used the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) to investigate the effects of parental origin (clutch), incubation temperature, and the nest hydric environment on embryonic growth, incubation durations, hatching success, and hatchling phenotype. Our results show that nest moisture and temperature affect embryo mass towards the last third of development, with hatchling size positively correlated with nest moisture content, and maternal origin had a strong impact on hatching success and hatchling size regardless of the incubation conditions. The results from this experiment identify multiple factors that affect turtle embryonic development under field incubation conditions, a fundamental consideration when interpreting the potential impacts of climate change on reptilian development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Tezak
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431-0991, USA. .,Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
| | - Blair Bentley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431-0991, USA.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Mikaela Arena
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431-0991, USA
| | - Samantha Mueller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431-0991, USA
| | - Taylor Snyder
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431-0991, USA
| | - Itzel Sifuentes-Romero
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 33431-0991, USA
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21
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Lima SL, Lee JK. Is social coordination during escape flights a general phenomenon in birds? Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven L. Lima
- Department of Biology Indiana State University Terre Haute IN USA
| | - Jong Koo Lee
- Department of Biology Indiana State University Terre Haute IN USA
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22
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A Low-Cost, Efficient, and Precise Technique to Quantify Key Life Cycle Events in Nests of Oviparous Reptiles. J HERPETOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1670/18-168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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23
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Anderson HE, Albertson LK, Walters DM. Thermal variability drives synchronicity of an aquatic insect resource pulse. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi E. Anderson
- Department of Ecology Montana State University 310 Lewis Hall Bozeman Montana 59717 USA
| | - Lindsey K. Albertson
- Department of Ecology Montana State University 310 Lewis Hall Bozeman Montana 59717 USA
| | - David M. Walters
- Fort Collins Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 2150 Centre Avenue Fort Collins Colorado 80526 USA
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24
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Ulloa JS, Aubin T, Llusia D, Courtois ÉA, Fouquet A, Gaucher P, Pavoine S, Sueur J. Explosive breeding in tropical anurans: environmental triggers, community composition and acoustic structure. BMC Ecol 2019; 19:28. [PMID: 31324238 PMCID: PMC6639928 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-019-0243-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anurans largely rely on acoustic communication for sexual selection and reproduction. While multiple studies have focused on the calling activity patterns of prolonged breeding assemblages, species that concentrate their reproduction in short-time windows, explosive breeders, are still largely unknown, probably because of their ephemeral nature. In tropical regions, multiple species of explosive breeders may simultaneously aggregate leading to massive, mixed and dynamic choruses. To understand the environmental triggers, the phenology and composition of these choruses, we collected acoustic and environmental data at five ponds in French Guiana during a rainy season, assessing acoustic communities before and during explosive breeding events. RESULTS We detected in each pond two explosive breeding events, lasting between 24 and 70 h. The rainfall during the previous 48 h was the most important factor predicting the emergence of these events. During explosive breeding events, we identified a temporal factor that clearly distinguished pre- and mid-explosive communities. A common pool of explosive breeders co-occurred in most of the events, namely Chiasmocleis shudikarensis, Trachycephalus coriaceus and Ceratophrys cornuta. Nevertheless, the species composition was remarkably variable between ponds and for each pond between the first and the second events. The acoustic structure of explosive breeding communities had outlying levels of amplitude and unexpected low acoustic diversity, significantly lower than the communities preceding explosive breeding events. CONCLUSIONS Explosive breeding communities were tightly linked with specific rainfall patterns. With climate change increasing rainfall variability in tropical regions, such communities may experience significant shifts in their timing, distribution and composition. In structurally similar habitats, located in the same region without obvious barriers, our results highlight the variation in composition across explosive breeding events. The characteristic acoustic structure of explosive breeding events stands out from the circadian acoustic environment being easily detected at long distance, probably reflecting behavioural singularities and conveying heterospecific information announcing the availability of short-lived breeding sites. Our data provides a baseline against which future changes, possibly linked to climate change, can be measured, contributing to a better understanding on the causes, patterns and consequences of these unique assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Sebastian Ulloa
- Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005, Paris, France.
- Equipe Communications Acoustiques, UMR 9197, Neuro-PSI-CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Bat.446, 91405, Orsay, France.
| | - Thierry Aubin
- Equipe Communications Acoustiques, UMR 9197, Neuro-PSI-CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Bat.446, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Diego Llusia
- Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005, Paris, France
- Equipe Communications Acoustiques, UMR 9197, Neuro-PSI-CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Bat.446, 91405, Orsay, France
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG), Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C / Darwin, 2, Edificio de Biología, C-211, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Élodie A Courtois
- Laboratoire Ecologie, Évolution et Interactions des Systèmes Amazoniens (LEEISA) UMSR 3456 (CNRS/IFREMER/Université de Guyane), Centre de recherche de Montabo, Université de Guyane, 275, route de Montabo, Cayenne, BP 70620, 97334 CAYENNE Cedex, France
| | - Antoine Fouquet
- Laboratoire Ecologie, Évolution et Interactions des Systèmes Amazoniens (LEEISA) UMSR 3456 (CNRS/IFREMER/Université de Guyane), Centre de recherche de Montabo, Université de Guyane, 275, route de Montabo, Cayenne, BP 70620, 97334 CAYENNE Cedex, France
- Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Bâtiment 4R1, 118, Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Philippe Gaucher
- Laboratoire Ecologie, Évolution et Interactions des Systèmes Amazoniens (LEEISA) UMSR 3456 (CNRS/IFREMER/Université de Guyane), Centre de recherche de Montabo, Université de Guyane, 275, route de Montabo, Cayenne, BP 70620, 97334 CAYENNE Cedex, France
| | - Sandrine Pavoine
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 135, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Sueur
- Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005, Paris, France
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25
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Elevation affects extra-pair paternity but not a sexually selected plumage trait in dark-eyed juncos. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2698-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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26
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McKenna LN, Paladino FV, Tomillo PS, Robinson NJ. Do Sea Turtles Vocalize to Synchronize Hatching or Nest Emergence? COPEIA 2019. [DOI: 10.1643/ce-18-069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay N. McKenna
- Department of Biology, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805; (LNM) ; and (FVP) paladino@ pfw.edu. Send reprint requests to LNM
| | - Frank V. Paladino
- Department of Biology, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805; (LNM) ; and (FVP) paladino@ pfw.edu. Send reprint requests to LNM
| | - Pilar Santidrián Tomillo
- The Leatherback Trust, Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station, Playa Grande, Guanacaste, Costa Rica; (PST)
| | - Nathan J. Robinson
- Cape Eleuthera Institute, The Cape Eleuthera Island School, Eleuthera, The Bahamas;
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27
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Murali G, Kumari K, Kodandaramaiah U. Dynamic colour change and the confusion effect against predation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:274. [PMID: 30670756 PMCID: PMC6342951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36541-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The confusion effect - the decreased attack-to-kill ratio of a predator with increase in prey group size - is thought to be one of the main reasons for the evolution of group living in animals. Despite much interest, the influence of prey coloration on the confusion effect is not well understood. We hypothesized that dynamic colour change in motion (due to interference coloration or flash marks), seen widely in many group living animals, enhances the confusion effect. Utilizing a virtual tracking task with humans, we found targets that dynamically changed colour during motion were more difficult to track than targets with background matching patterns, and this effect was stronger at larger group sizes. The current study thus provides the first empirical evidence for the idea that dynamic colour change can benefit animals in a group and may explain the widespread occurrence of dynamic colorations in group-living animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopal Murali
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 551, India.
| | - Kajal Kumari
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 551, India
| | - Ullasa Kodandaramaiah
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 551, India
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28
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Nesting Space Dynamics and Its Relationship with the Arribada of Olive Ridley Turtles at Gahirmatha Rookery, East Coast of India. J HERPETOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1670/17-027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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29
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McGlashan JK, Thompson MB, Janzen FJ, Spencer R. Environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity explains hatching synchrony in the freshwater turtle
Chrysemys picta. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2018; 329:362-372. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica K. McGlashan
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney Penrith South DC NSW Australia
| | - Michael B. Thompson
- School of Biological Sciences, Heydon‐Laurence Building (A08), The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Fredric J. Janzen
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University Ames Iowa
| | - Ricky‐John Spencer
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney Penrith South DC NSW Australia
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30
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Penry-Williams IL, Ioannou CC, Taylor MI. The oddity effect drives prey choice but not necessarily attack time. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martin I. Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences; University of East Anglia; Norwich UK
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31
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DeNardo DF, Moeller KT, Seward M, Repp R. Evidence for atypical nest overwintering by hatchling lizards, Heloderma suspectum. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.0632. [PMID: 29794051 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The timing of reproductive events (e.g. oviposition and hatching) to coincide with favourable seasonal conditions is critical for successful reproduction. However, developmental time may not match the duration between the optimal time for oviposition and the optimal time for hatchling survival. Thus, strategies that alter the time between oviposition and hatchling emergence can be highly advantageous. Arrested development and the resulting extension of the duration between oviposition and hatching has been widely documented across oviparous amniotes, but nest overwintering by hatchlings has only been documented in aquatic chelonians that live where winters are quite cold. Herein, we present a compilation of evidence regarding reproductive phenology by hatchlings of the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), a lizard inhabiting the Sonoran Desert of North America. Our data demonstrate that (i) Gila monster hatchlings from eggs oviposited in July do not emerge from their nests until late spring or summer of the following year, yet (ii) Gila monster eggs artificially incubated at field-relevant temperatures hatch in 4-5 months. Furthermore, we describe a fortuitous excavation of a hatching Gila monster nest in late October, which coincides with the artificial incubation results. Together, these results provide strong support for the existence of overwintering in the nest by a lizard, and suggest that this reproductive strategy should be explored in a broader array of taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale F DeNardo
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Karla T Moeller
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - Roger Repp
- National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Pankaew K, Milton SL. The effects of extended crawling on the physiology and swim performance of loggerhead and green sea turtle hatchlings. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.165225. [PMID: 29122949 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.165225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Following emergence from the nest, sea turtle hatchling dispersal can be disrupted by artificial lights or skyglow from urban areas. Misorientation or disorientation may increase exposure to predation, thermal stress and dehydration, and consume valuable energy, thus decreasing the likelihood of survival. In this study hatchlings were run on a treadmill for 200 or 500 m to investigate the physiological impacts of disorientation crawling in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtle hatchlings. Oxygen consumption, lactate production and blood glucose levels were determined, and swim performance was measured over 2 h following crawls. Crawl distances were also determined for hatchlings that disoriented on the Boca Raton beach in Florida, with plasma lactate and blood glucose sampled for both properly oriented and disoriented hatchlings. Green and loggerhead hatchlings rested for 8-12% and 22-25% of crawl time, respectively, both in the laboratory and when disoriented on the beach, which was significantly longer than the time spent resting in non-disoriented turtles. As a result of these rest periods, the extended crawl distances had little effect on oxygen consumption, blood glucose or plasma lactate levels. Swim performance over 2 h following the crawls also changed little compared with controls. Plasma lactate concentrations were significantly higher in hatchlings sampled in the field, but did not correlate with crawl distance. The greatest immediate impact of extended crawling as a result of disorientation events is likely to be the significantly greater period of time spent on the beach and thus exposure to predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Pankaew
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Sarah L Milton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
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O'Hanlon KN, Dam RA, Archambeault SL, Berg CA. Two Drosophilids exhibit distinct EGF pathway patterns in oogenesis. Dev Genes Evol 2018; 228:31-48. [PMID: 29264645 PMCID: PMC5805658 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-017-0601-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering the evolution of morphological structures is a remaining challenge in the field of developmental biology. The respiratory structures of insect eggshells, called the dorsal appendages, provide an outstanding system for exploring these processes since considerable information is known about their patterning and morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster and dorsal appendage number and morphology vary widely across Drosophilid species. We investigated the patterning differences that might facilitate morphogenetic differences between D. melanogaster, which produces two oar-like structures first by wrapping and then elongating the tubes via cell intercalation and cell crawling, and Scaptodrosophila lebanonensis, which produces a variable number of appendages simply by cell intercalation and crawling. Analyses of BMP pathway components thickveins and P-Mad demonstrate that anterior patterning is conserved between these species. In contrast, EGF signaling exhibits significant differences. Transcripts for the ligand encoded by gurken localize similarly in the two species, but this morphogen creates a single dorsolateral primordium in S. lebanonensis as defined by activated MAP kinase and the downstream marker broad. Expression patterns of pointed, argos, and Capicua, early steps in the EGF pathway, exhibit a heterochronic shift in S. lebanonensis relative to those seen in D. melanogaster. We demonstrate that the S. lebanonensis Gurken homolog is active in D. melanogaster but is insufficient to alter downstream patterning responses, indicating that Gurken-EGF receptor interactions do not distinguish the two species' patterning. Altogether, these results differentiate EGF signaling patterns between species and shed light on how changes to the regulation of patterning genes may contribute to different tube-forming mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenley N O'Hanlon
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, 3720 15th AVE NE, Seattle, WA, 98195-5065, USA
| | - Rachel A Dam
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA, 98195-7275, USA
| | - Sophie L Archambeault
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA, 98195-7275, USA
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Celeste A Berg
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, 3720 15th AVE NE, Seattle, WA, 98195-5065, USA.
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA, 98195-7275, USA.
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Abstract
Turtle embryos enter a state of arrested development in the oviduct, allowing the mother greater flexibility in her reproductive schedule. Development recommences once eggs transition from the hypoxic oviduct to the normoxic nest. Significant mortality can occur if turtle eggs are moved between 12 h and 20 d after oviposition, and this is linked to the recommencement of embryonic development. To better understand the timing of developmental arrest and to determine how movement-induced mortality might be avoided, we determined the latency (i.e., time elapsed since oviposition) to recommencement of development following oviposition by exposing the eggs of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) to hypoxia (oxygen tension <8 mmHg) for 3 d, commencing 30 min to 48 h after oviposition. Embryonic development-including development of the characteristic opaque white spot on the eggshell-was halted by hypoxic incubation. When the delay before hypoxic incubation was 12 h or less, hatching success did not differ from a control group. If the hypoxic treatment began after 16 h or more in normoxia, then all embryos died. Thus, by returning eggs to a hypoxic environment before they have broken from arrest (i.e., within 12 h of oviposition), it is possible to extend embryonic arrest for at least 3 d, with no apparent detriment to hatching success. Therefore, hypoxic incubation may provide a new approach for avoidance of movement-induced mortality when conservation or research efforts require the relocation of eggs. Our findings also suggest that movement-induced mortality may have constrained the evolution of viviparity in turtles.
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Herbert-Read JE, Rosén E, Szorkovszky A, Ioannou CC, Rogell B, Perna A, Ramnarine IW, Kotrschal A, Kolm N, Krause J, Sumpter DJT. How predation shapes the social interaction rules of shoaling fish. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:20171126. [PMID: 28855361 PMCID: PMC5577484 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Predation is thought to shape the macroscopic properties of animal groups, making moving groups more cohesive and coordinated. Precisely how predation has shaped individuals' fine-scale social interactions in natural populations, however, is unknown. Using high-resolution tracking data of shoaling fish (Poecilia reticulata) from populations differing in natural predation pressure, we show how predation adapts individuals' social interaction rules. Fish originating from high predation environments formed larger, more cohesive, but not more polarized groups than fish from low predation environments. Using a new approach to detect the discrete points in time when individuals decide to update their movements based on the available social cues, we determine how these collective properties emerge from individuals' microscopic social interactions. We first confirm predictions that predation shapes the attraction-repulsion dynamic of these fish, reducing the critical distance at which neighbours move apart, or come back together. While we find strong evidence that fish align with their near neighbours, we do not find that predation shapes the strength or likelihood of these alignment tendencies. We also find that predation sharpens individuals' acceleration and deceleration responses, implying key perceptual and energetic differences associated with how individuals move in different predation regimes. Our results reveal how predation can shape the social interactions of individuals in groups, ultimately driving differences in groups' collective behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Herbert-Read
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Mathematics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emil Rosén
- Department of Mathematics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | - Björn Rogell
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrea Perna
- Department of Life Sciences, Roehampton University, London, UK
| | - Indar W Ramnarine
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | | | - Niclas Kolm
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jens Krause
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institut, Humboldt-University zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
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Swarm intelligence in fish? The difficulty in demonstrating distributed and self-organised collective intelligence in (some) animal groups. Behav Processes 2017; 141:141-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Duffield C, Ioannou CC. Marginal predation: do encounter or confusion effects explain the targeting of prey group edges? Behav Ecol 2017; 28:1283-1292. [PMID: 29622928 PMCID: PMC5873256 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Revised: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Marginal predation, also known as the edge effect, occurs when aggregations of prey are preferentially targeted on their periphery by predators and has long been established in many taxa. Two main processes have been used to explain this phenomenon, the confusion effect and the encounter rate between predators and prey group edges. However, it is unknown at what size a prey group needs to be before marginal predation is detectable and to what extent each mechanism drives the effect. We conducted 2 experiments using groups of virtual prey being preyed upon by 3-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to address these questions. In Experiment 1, we show that group sizes do not need to be large for marginal predation to occur, with this being detectable in groups of 16 or more. In Experiment 2, we find that encounter rate is a more likely explanation for marginal predation than the confusion effect in this system. We find that while confusion does affect predatory behaviors (whether or not predators make an attack), it does not affect marginal predation. Our results suggest that marginal predation is a more common phenomenon than originally thought as it also applies to relatively small groups. Similarly, as marginal predation does not need the confusion effect to occur, it may occur in a wider range of predator–prey species pairings, for example those where the predators search for prey using nonvisual sensory modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum Duffield
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Christos C Ioannou
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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Kuussaari M, Singer MC. Group Size, and Egg and Larval Survival in the Social Butterfly Melitaea cinxia. ANN ZOOL FENN 2017. [DOI: 10.5735/086.054.0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mikko Kuussaari
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Natural Environment Centre, P.O. Box 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael C. Singer
- Biological Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K
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Individuals that are consistent in risk-taking benefit during collective foraging. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33991. [PMID: 27671145 PMCID: PMC5037426 DOI: 10.1038/srep33991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that living in groups helps animals avoid predation and locate resources, but maintaining a group requires collective coordination, which can be difficult when individuals differ from one another. Personality variation (consistent behavioural differences within a population) is already known to be important in group interactions. Growing evidence suggests that individuals also differ in their consistency, i.e. differing in how variable they are over time, and theoretical models predict that this consistency can be beneficial in social contexts. We used three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to test whether the consistency in, as well as average levels of, risk taking behaviour (i.e. boldness) when individuals were tested alone affects social interactions when fish were retested in groups of 2 and 4. Behavioural consistency, independently of average levels of risk-taking, can be advantageous: more consistent individuals showed higher rates of initiating group movements as leaders, more behavioural coordination by joining others as followers, and greater food consumption. Our results have implications for both group decision making, as groups composed of consistent individuals are more cohesive, and personality traits, as social interactions can have functional consequences for consistency in behaviour and hence the evolution of personality variation.
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