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Míguez S, Torre I, Arrizabalaga A, Freixas L. Influences of Maternal Weight and Geographic Factors on Offspring Traits of the Edible Dormouse in the NE of the Iberian Peninsula. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051223. [PMID: 37240868 DOI: 10.3390/life13051223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The main goal of this study was to analyze the reproductive patterns of edible dormouse (Glis glis) populations in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula using an 18-year period of data obtained from nest boxes collected between 2004 and 2021. The average litter size in Catalonia (Spain) was 5.5 ± 1.60 (range: 2-9, n = 131), with litter sizes between 5 and 7 pups as the more frequent. The overall mean weight in pink, grey and open eyes pups was 4.8 g/pup, 11.7 g/pup and 23.6 g/pup, respectively. No differences in offspring weights between sexes were found in any of the three age groups. Maternal body weight was positively associated with mean pup weight, whereas no correlation between the weight of the mothers and litter size was found. The trade-off between offspring number and size was not detected at birth. Regarding litter size variation across the geographic gradient (and their climatic gradient associated) from the southernmost populations of the Iberian Peninsula located in Catalonia to the Pyrenees region in Andorra, no evidence to suggest that geographic variables affect litter size was found, discarding (1) an investment in larger litters to compensate shorter seasons related to higher altitudes or northern latitudes, and (2) variation in litter size related to weather changes (e.g., temperature and precipitation) along latitudinal and/or altitudinal gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ignasi Torre
- BiBio Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, C/Francesc Macià 51, E-08402 Granollers, Spain
| | - Antoni Arrizabalaga
- BiBio Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, C/Francesc Macià 51, E-08402 Granollers, Spain
| | - Lídia Freixas
- BiBio Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, C/Francesc Macià 51, E-08402 Granollers, Spain
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Matthäus L, Kugelschafter K, Fietz J. Influence of ambient temperature on the phenology of the greater mouse-eared bat ( Myotis myotis). Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10081. [PMID: 37214612 PMCID: PMC10196220 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to assess the consequences of climate change and evaluate its impacts on wildlife, it is essential to do so on a species-specific level. It is assumed that changes in the ambient temperature influence energy consumption as well as food availability and thus foraging behavior, reproduction, survival, and therefore population dynamics in bats. Based on this assumption, the present study aims to gain insights into the roosting and breeding behavior of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) in relation to changes of the ambient temperature. For this purpose, we investigated the effect of ambient temperature on the phenology of the greater mouse-eared bat by using activity data of the bats collected using light barriers at the maternity roosts. The light barrier used in this study is a system that detects the interruption of two light beams, for example, by a flying bat, and displays it as an electrical signal. The investigations have shown that the higher the winter temperatures, the earlier the greater mouse-eared bats returned to the roosts to form the maternity colony; however, this was only true for ambient temperatures below 0.5°C,birth season started earlier at higher spring temperatures,the dissolution of maternity roosts occurred earlier with earlier birth season and at higher ambient temperatures during lactation. The results revealed that ambient temperature has an influence on the phenology of the greater mouse-eared bat. Depending on the respective life history stage, an increase in ambient temperature can have a positive or negative effect on the fitness of the animals. In recent years, mild winters have been recorded more frequently, which can have an influence on the behavior of bats. Warm winters within certain limits seem to lead to an earlier formation of the maternity colony, which can be positive or negative for the bats depending on persistent weather conditions and thus insect availability. In the course of climate change, we can also expect earlier spring events and an increase in spring temperature, as well as hot spells in summer. These warm springs and summers seem to lead to an earlier beginning of births, a faster development of the juveniles and an earlier dissolution of the maternity roost. An advance of reproductive activities can be assumed to increase the chance to survive the following winter in both mothers and their young, as they have more time to build up sufficient energy reserves for hibernation before winter starts. Due to the climatic changes, phenological changes of the bats be expected. This study highlights that in order to understand the impact of climate change on biodiversity, it is necessary to investigate in detail effects on a species-specific level and also to consider direct and indirect effects of ambient temperature on different life history stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Matthäus
- Institute of BiologyUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | | | - Joanna Fietz
- Institute of BiologyUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
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Pastore MA, Classen AT, English ME, Frey SD, Knorr MA, Rand K, Adair EC. Soil microbial legacies influence freeze–thaw responses of soil. Funct Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. Pastore
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
- Gund Institute for Environment University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
| | - Aimée T. Classen
- Gund Institute for Environment University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA
- University of Michigan Biological Station Pellston Michigan USA
| | - Marie E. English
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
| | - Serita D. Frey
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
| | - Melissa A. Knorr
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
| | - Karin Rand
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
| | - E. Carol Adair
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
- Gund Institute for Environment University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
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Findlay‐Robinson R, Deecke VB, Weatherall A, Hill DL. Effects of climate change on life‐history traits in hibernating mammals. Mamm Rev 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Findlay‐Robinson
- Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Cumbria, Ambleside Cumbria LA22 9BB UK
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Volker B. Deecke
- Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Cumbria, Ambleside Cumbria LA22 9BB UK
| | - Andrew Weatherall
- Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Cumbria, Ambleside Cumbria LA22 9BB UK
| | - Davina L. Hill
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 Johannesburg South Africa
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Aubry LM, Williams CT. Vertebrate Phenological Plasticity: from Molecular Mechanisms to Ecological and Evolutionary Implications. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:958-971. [PMID: 35867980 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Seasonal variation in the availability of essential resources is one of the most important drivers of natural selection on the phasing and duration of annually recurring life-cycle events. Shifts in seasonal timing are among the most commonly reported responses to climate change and the capacity of organisms to adjust their timing, either through phenotypic plasticity or evolution, is a critical component of resilience. Despite growing interest in documenting and forecasting the impacts of climate change on phenology, our ability to predict how individuals, populations, and species might alter their seasonal timing in response to their changing environments is constrained by limited knowledge regarding the cues animals use to adjust timing, the endogenous genetic and molecular mechanisms that transduce cues into neural and endocrine signals, and the inherent capacity of animals to alter their timing and phasing within annual cycles. Further, the fitness consequences of phenological responses are often due to biotic interactions within and across trophic levels, rather than being simple outcomes of responses to changes in the abiotic environment. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding the mechanisms that control seasonal timing in vertebrates, as well as the ecological and evolutionary consequences of individual, population, and species-level variation in phenological responsiveness. Understanding the causes and consequences of climate-driven phenological shifts requires combining ecological, evolutionary, and mechanistic approaches at individual, populational, and community scales. Thus, to make progress in forecasting phenological responses and demographic consequences, we need to further develop interdisciplinary networks focused on climate change science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise M Aubry
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Cory T Williams
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 1878 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Tamian A, Viblanc VA, Dobson FS, Neuhaus P, Hammer TL, Nesterova AP, Raveh S, Skibiel AL, Broussard D, Manno TG, Rajamani N, Saraux C. Integrating microclimatic variation in phenological responses to climate change: A 28‐year study in a hibernating mammal. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anouch Tamian
- Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, CNRS Strasbourg France
| | - Vincent A. Viblanc
- Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, CNRS Strasbourg France
| | - F. Stephen Dobson
- Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, CNRS Strasbourg France
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama USA
| | - Peter Neuhaus
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Calgary Canada
| | - Tracey L. Hammer
- Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, CNRS Strasbourg France
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Calgary Canada
| | | | - Shirley Raveh
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Amy L. Skibiel
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA
| | - David Broussard
- Department of Biology Lycoming College Williamsport Pennsylvania USA
| | - Theodore G. Manno
- Science Department Catalina Foothills High School Tucson Arizona USA
| | - Nandini Rajamani
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati Andhra Pradesh India
| | - Claire Saraux
- Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, CNRS Strasbourg France
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Havenstein N, Langer F, Weiler U, Stefanski V, Fietz J. Bridging environment, physiology and life history: Stress hormones in a small hibernator. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 533:111315. [PMID: 34052302 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Our knowledge of the perception of stress and its implications for animals in the wild is limited, especially in regard to mammals. The aim of this study was therefore to identify sex specific effects of reproductive activity, body mass, food availability and hibernation on stress hormone levels in the edible dormouse (Glis glis), a small mammalian hibernator. Results of our study reveal that reproductive activity and pre-hibernation fattening were associated with high cortisol levels in both sexes. During the mating season, in particular individuals with low body masses had higher stress levels. Elevated levels of cortisol during pre-hibernation fattening were even higher in females that had formerly invested into reproduction compared to non-reproductive females. Previously observed impairments on health parameters and reduced survival rates associated with reproduction emphasize the functional relevance of high stress hormone levels for fitness. Prolonged food limitation, however, did not affect stress levels demonstrating the ability of dormice to predict and cope with food restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Havenstein
- Institute of Biology, Dep. Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Institute of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Franz Langer
- Institute of Biology, Dep. Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Institute of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ulrike Weiler
- Institute of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Volker Stefanski
- Institute of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Joanna Fietz
- Institute of Biology, Dep. Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Institute of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
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