1
|
Yang L, Ling J, Lu L, Zang D, Zhu Y, Zhang S, Zhou Y, Yi P, Li E, Pan T, Wu X. Identification of suitable habitats and priority conservation areas under climate change scenarios for the Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis). Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11477. [PMID: 38826170 PMCID: PMC11137492 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Amphibians and reptiles, especially the critically endangered Chinese alligators, are vulnerable to climate change. Historically, the decline in suitable habitats and fragmentation has restricted the distribution of Chinese alligators to a small area in southeast Anhui Province in China. However, the effects of climate change on range-restricted Chinese alligator habitats are largely unknown. We aimed to predict current and future (2050s and 2070s) Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. We employed species distribution models, barycenter migration analyses, and the Marxian model to assess current and future Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. The results showed that the lowest temperature and rainfall seasonality in the coldest month were the two most important factors affecting the distribution of Chinese alligators. Future predictions indicate a reduction (3.39%-98.41%) in suitable habitats and a westward shift in their distribution. Further, the study emphasizes that suitable habitats for Chinese alligators are threatened by climate change. Despite the impact of the Anhui Chinese Alligator National Nature Reserve, protection gaps persist, with 78.27% of the area lacking priority protected area. Our study provides crucial data for Chinese alligator adaptation to climate change and underscores the need for improved conservation strategies. Future research should refine conservation efforts, consider individual plasticity, and address identified limitations to enhance the resilience of Chinese alligator populations in the face of ongoing climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liuyang Yang
- Life SciencesAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River BasinAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Jiangnan Ling
- Life SciencesAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River BasinAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Lilei Lu
- Life SciencesAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River BasinAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Dongsheng Zang
- Life SciencesAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River BasinAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Yunzhen Zhu
- Life SciencesAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River BasinAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Song Zhang
- National Long‐term Scientific Research Base for Chinese Alligator Artificial Breeding and Protection in AnhuiAnhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator ReproductionXuanchengAnhuiChina
| | - Yongkang Zhou
- National Long‐term Scientific Research Base for Chinese Alligator Artificial Breeding and Protection in AnhuiAnhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator ReproductionXuanchengAnhuiChina
| | - Pingsi Yi
- National Long‐term Scientific Research Base for Chinese Alligator Artificial Breeding and Protection in AnhuiAnhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator ReproductionXuanchengAnhuiChina
| | - En Li
- Life SciencesAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River BasinAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Tao Pan
- Life SciencesAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River BasinAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Xiaobing Wu
- Life SciencesAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River BasinAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang W, Zhang W, Teng M, Xu J, Wang J, Yang J, Liu Y. The effect and mechanism of variable particle size microplastics and levofloxacin on the neurotoxicity of Rana nigromaculata based on the microorganism-intestine-brain axis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120329. [PMID: 38373375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120329] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) usually appear in the aquatic environment as complex pollutants in combination with other environmental pollutants, such as levofloxacin (LVFX). After a 45-day exposure to LVFX and MPs with different particle sizes at environmental levels, LVFX was neurotoxic to Rana nigromaculata tadpoles. The order of the effects of the exposure treatment on tadpole behavior was: LVFX-MP3>LVFX-MP1>LVFX-MP2 ≥ LVFX. Results of transcriptome analysis of tadpole brain tissue showed that LVFX in combination with 0.10 and 10.00 μm MP interferes with the nervous system through the cell adhesion molecules pathway. Interestingly, the order of effects of the co-exposure on oxidative stress in the intestine was inconsistent with that of tadpole behavior. We found that Paraacteroides might be a microplastic indicator species for the gut microbiota of aquatic organisms. The results of the targeted metabolism of neurotransmitters in the intestine suggest that in the LVFX-MP2 treatment, LVFX alleviated the intestinal microbiota disorder caused by 1.00 μm MP, by regulating intestinal microbiota participating in the TCA cycle VI and gluconeogenesis and tetrapyrrole biosynthesis I, while downregulating Met and Orn, and upregulating 5HIAA, thereby easing the neurotoxicity to tadpoles exposed to LVFX-MP2. This work is of great significance for the comprehensive assessment of the aquatic ecological risks of microplastics-antibiotic compound pollutants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
| | - Jiashu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Jiali Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Jiahang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Yuxi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ruan T, Wei W, Zhang Z, Zhou H. Research on the Changes in Distribution and Habitat Suitability of the Chinese Red Panda Population. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:424. [PMID: 38338067 PMCID: PMC10854785 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030424] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of the dynamics of species habitat is of great significance for maintaining or adjusting the current habitat protection management strategy. However, the current research on the Chinese red panda's habitat is limited to the analysis of a single period, which makes it difficult to quantify the changes in its habitat on a temporal scale and greatly hinders the formulation of the overall protection and management strategies that are to be used for the Chinese red panda. This study simulated habitat suitability at different temporal scales to quantify the trend of changes in habitat quality and analyzed the reasons for the changes in habitat suitability in certain regions. The results showed that the overall suitability of the Chinese red panda's habitat increased and that the area of suitable habitats expanded. Suitable Chinese red panda habitats in the mountains of Qionglai (1662.73 km2), Daxiangling (230.30 km2), Xiaoxiangling (549.47 km2), and Liangshan (50.39 km2) increased by a total of 2452.89 km2. The suitability of habitats in the central part of the Liangshan Mountains has declined significantly, which is positively correlated with changes in temperature seasonality (BIO4, R = 0.18) and negatively correlated with changes in annual average temperature (BIO1, R = -0.03) as well as changes in the proportion of farmland (FARMLAND, R = -0.14). The local extinction of isolated populations of Chinese red pandas in the Minshan Mountains is the main factor leading to their distribution retreat rather than a decrease in habitat quality. The research results help us to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of conservation and management strategies for Chinese red pandas at different scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ruan
- College of Giant Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (T.R.); (W.W.); (Z.Z.)
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Wei Wei
- College of Giant Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (T.R.); (W.W.); (Z.Z.)
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Zejun Zhang
- College of Giant Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (T.R.); (W.W.); (Z.Z.)
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- College of Giant Panda, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (T.R.); (W.W.); (Z.Z.)
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sinervo B, Lara Reséndiz RA, Miles DB, Lovich JE, Rosen PC, Gadsden H, Gaytán GC, Tessaro PG, Luja VH, Huey RB, Whipple A, Cordero VS, Rohr JB, Caetano G, Santos JC, Sites JW, Méndez de la Cruz FR. Climate change and collapsing thermal niches of desert reptiles and amphibians: Assisted migration and acclimation rescue from extirpation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168431. [PMID: 37951272 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168431] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent climate change should result in expansion of species to northern or high elevation range margins, and contraction at southern and low elevation margins in the northern hemisphere, because of local extirpations or range shifts or both. We combined museum occurrence records from both the continental U.S. and Mexico with a new eco-physiological model of extinction developed for lizard families of the world to predict the distributions of 30 desert-endemic reptile and amphibian species under climate change scenarios. The model predicts that 38 % of local populations will go extinct in the next 50 years, across all 30 species. However, extinctions may be attenuated in forested sites and by the presence of montane environments in contemporary ranges. Of the 30 species, three were at very high risk of extinction as a result of their thermal limits being exceeded, which illustrates the predictive value of ecophysiological modeling approaches for conservation studies. In tandem with global strategies of limiting CO2 emissions, we propose urgent regional management strategies for existing and new reserves that are targeted at three species: Barred Tiger Salamander (Ambystomatidae: Ambystoma mavortium stebbinsi), Desert Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosomatidae: Phrynosoma ornatissimum), and Morafka's Desert Tortoise (Testudinidae: Gopherus morafkai), which face a high risk of extinction by 2070. These strategies focus on assisted migration and preservation within climatic refugia, such as high-elevation and forested habitats. We forecast where new reserves should be established by merging our model of extinction risk with gap analysis. We also highlight that acclimation (i.e., phenotypic plasticity) could ameliorate risk of extinction but is rarely included in ecophysiological models. We use Ambystoma salamanders to show how acclimation can be incorporated into such models of extinction risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barry Sinervo
- The Institute for the Study of the Ecological and Evolutionary Climate Impacts, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Rafael A Lara Reséndiz
- The Institute for the Study of the Ecological and Evolutionary Climate Impacts, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA; Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Cd. Obregón, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Donald B Miles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA.
| | - Jeffrey E Lovich
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2255 North Gemini Drive, MS-9394, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
| | - Philip C Rosen
- School of Natural Resources & the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Héctor Gadsden
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C.-Centro Regional del Bajío, Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas N(o)253, 61600 Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Gamaliel Casteñada Gaytán
- Facultad en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Víctor H Luja
- Coordinación de Investigación y Posgrado, Unidad Académica de Turismo, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. C.P., 63000 Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
| | - Raymond B Huey
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Amy Whipple
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Víctor Sánchez Cordero
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jason B Rohr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Gabriel Caetano
- The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 849900, Israel
| | - Juan C Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, NY 11439, USA
| | - Jack W Sites
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Fausto R Méndez de la Cruz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA; Laboratorio de Herpetología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rahman MM, Yun J, Lee K, Lee SH, Park SM, Ham CH, Sung HC. Population-level call properties of endangered Dryophytes suweonensissensu lato (Anura: Amphibia) in South Korea. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16492. [PMID: 38054023 PMCID: PMC10695108 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Calling is one of the unique amphibian characteristics that facilitates social communication and shows individuality; however, it also makes them vulnerable to predators. Researchers use amphibian call properties to study their population status, ecology, and behavior. This research scope has recently broadened to species identification and taxonomy. Dryophytes flaviventris has been separated from the endangered anuran species, D. suweonensis, based on small variations in genetic, morphometric, and temporal call properties observed in South Korea. The Chilgap Mountain (CM) was considered as the potential geographic barrier for the speciation. However, it initiated taxonomic debates as CM has been hardly used and is considered a potential barrier for other species. The calls of populations from both sides are also apparently similar. Thus, to verify the differences in call properties among populations of D. suweonensis sensu lato (s.l.; both of the species), we sampled and analyzed call data from five localities covering its distribution range, including the southern (S) and northern (N) parts of CM. We found significant differences in many call properties among populations; however, no specific pattern was observed. Some geographically close populations, such as Iksan (S), Wanju (S), and Gunsan (S), had significant differences, whereas many distant populations, such as Pyeongtaek (N) and Wanju (S), had no significant differences. Considering the goal of this study was only to observe the call properties, we cautiously conclude that the differences are at the population level rather than the species level. Our study indicates the necessity of further investigation into the specific status of D. flaviventris using robust integrated taxonomic approaches, including genetic and morphological parameters from a broader array of localities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Mizanur Rahman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Jiyoung Yun
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - KaHyun Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Seung-Ha Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Seung-Min Park
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Choong-Ho Ham
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Ha-Cheol Sung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- Research Center of Ecomimetics, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Edwards AW, Harrison XA, Smith MA, Chavarría Díaz MM, Sasa M, Janzen DH, Hallwachs W, Chaves G, Fernández R, Palmer C, Wilson C, North A, Puschendorf R. Amphibian diversity across three adjacent ecosystems in Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16185. [PMID: 38034867 PMCID: PMC10688307 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphibians are the most threatened species-rich vertebrate group, with species extinctions and population declines occurring globally, even in protected and seemingly pristine habitats. These 'enigmatic declines' are generated by climate change and infectious diseases. However, the consequences of these declines are undocumented as no baseline ecological data exists for most affected areas. Like other neotropical countries, Costa Rica, including Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in north-western Costa Rica, experienced rapid amphibian population declines and apparent extinctions during the past three decades. To delineate amphibian diversity patterns within ACG, a large-scale comparison of multiple sites and habitats was conducted. Distance and time constrained visual encounter surveys characterised species richness at five sites-Murciélago (dry forest), Santa Rosa (dry forest), Maritza (mid-elevation dry-rain forest intersect), San Gerardo (rainforest) and Cacao (cloud forest). Furthermore, species-richness patterns for Cacao were compared with historic data from 1987-8, before amphibians declined in the area. Rainforests had the highest species richness, with triple the species of their dry forest counterparts. A decline of 45% (20 to 11 species) in amphibian species richness was encountered when comparing historic and contemporary data for Cacao. Conservation efforts sometimes focus on increasing the resilience of protected areas, by increasing their range of ecosystems. In this sense ACG is unique containing many tropical ecosystems compressed in a small geographic space, all protected and recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site. It thus provides an extraordinary platform to understand changes, past and present, and the resilience of tropical ecosystems and assemblages, or lack thereof, to climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex W. Edwards
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Xavier A. Harrison
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - M. Alex Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Mahmood Sasa
- School of Biology, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Daniel H. Janzen
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Winnie Hallwachs
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Gerardo Chaves
- School of Biology, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Roberto Fernández
- Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund, Philadelphia, United States of America
| | - Caroline Palmer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Chloe Wilson
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Alexandra North
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Robert Puschendorf
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fong PP, Doganoglu A, Sandt EV, Turbeville SD. Warmer temperature overrides the effects of antidepressants on amphibian metamorphosis and behavior. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:114912-114919. [PMID: 37880404 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30607-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Climate change can exacerbate the effects of environmental pollutants on aquatic organisms. Pollutants such as human antidepressants released from wastewater treatment plants have been shown to impact life-history traits of amphibians. We exposed tadpoles of the wood frog Lithobates sylvaticus to two temperatures (20 °C and 25 °C) and two antidepressants (fluoxetine and venlafaxine), and measured timing of metamorphosis, mass at metamorphosis, and two behaviors (startle response and percent motionless). Antidepressants significantly shortened time to metamorphosis at 20 °C, but not at 25 °C. At 25 °C, tadpoles metamorphosed significantly faster than those at 20 °C independent of antidepressant exposure. Venlafaxine reduced body mass at 25 °C, but not at 20 °C. Temperature and antidepressant exposure affected the percent of tadpoles showing a startle response. Tadpoles at 20 °C displayed significantly more responses than at 25 °C. Exposure to fluoxetine also increased the percent of tadpoles showing a startle response. Venlafaxine reduced the percent of motionless tadpoles at 25 °C but not at 20 °C. While our results showed that antidepressants can affect the timing of metamorphosis in tadpoles, warmer temperatures overrode these effects and caused a reduction in an important reaction behavior (startle response). Future studies should address how warmer global temperatures may exacerbate or negate the effects of environmental pollutants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter P Fong
- Department of Biology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, USA.
| | - Aylin Doganoglu
- Department of Biology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, USA
| | - Eleanor V Sandt
- Department of Biology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chandler HC, Caruso NM, McLaughlin DL, Jiao Y, Brooks GC, Haas CA. Forecasting the flooding dynamics of flatwoods salamander breeding wetlands under future climate change scenarios. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16050. [PMID: 37744236 PMCID: PMC10516105 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ephemeral wetlands are globally important systems that are regulated by regular cycles of wetting and drying, which are primarily controlled by responses to relatively short-term weather events (e.g., precipitation and evapotranspiration). Climate change is predicted to have significant effects on many ephemeral wetland systems and the organisms that depend on them through altered filling or drying dates that impact hydroperiod. To examine the potential effects of climate change on pine flatwoods wetlands in the southeastern United States, we created statistical models describing wetland hydrologic regime using an approximately 8-year history of water level monitoring and a variety of climate data inputs. We then assessed how hydrology may change in the future by projecting models forward (2025-2100) under six future climate scenarios (three climate models each with two emission scenarios). We used the model results to assess future breeding conditions for the imperiled Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma bishopi), which breeds in many of the study wetlands. We found that models generally fit the data well and had good predictability across both training and testing data. Across all models and climate scenarios, there was substantial variation in the predicted suitability for flatwoods salamander reproduction. However, wetlands with longer hydroperiods tended to have fewer model iterations that predicted at least five consecutive years of reproductive failure (an important metric for population persistence). Understanding potential future risk to flatwoods salamander populations can be used to guide conservation and management actions for this imperiled species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Houston C. Chandler
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
- The Orianne Society, Tiger, GA, United States of America
| | - Nicholas M. Caruso
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Daniel L. McLaughlin
- Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Yan Jiao
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - George C. Brooks
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Carola A. Haas
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Albecker MA, Strobel SM, Womack MC. Developmental Plasticity in Anurans: Meta-analysis Reveals Effects of Larval Environments on Size at Metamorphosis And Timing of Metamorphosis. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:714-729. [PMID: 37279893 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many anuran amphibians (frogs and toads) rely on aquatic habitats during their larval stage. The quality of this environment can significantly impact lifetime fitness and population dynamics. Over 450 studies have been published on environmental impacts on anuran developmental plasticity, yet we lack a synthesis of these effects across different environments. We conducted a meta-analysis and used a comparative approach to understand whether developmental plasticity in response to different larval environments produces predictable changes in metamorphic phenotypes. We analyzed data from 124 studies spanning 80 anuran species and six larval environments and showed that intraspecific variation in mass at metamorphosis and the duration of the larval period is partly explained by the type of environment experienced during the larval period. Changes in larval environments tended to reduce mass at metamorphosis relative to control conditions, with the degree of change depending on the identity and severity of environmental change. Higher temperatures and lower water levels shortened the duration of the larval period, whereas less food and higher densities increased the duration of the larval period. Phylogenetic relationships among species were not associated with interspecific variation in mass at metamorphosis plasticity or duration of the larval period plasticity. Our results provide a foundation for future studies on developmental plasticity, especially in response to global changes. This study provides motivation for additional work that links developmental plasticity with fitness consequences within and across life stages, as well as how the outcomes described here are altered in compounding environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Molly A Albecker
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, 3455 Cullen Blvd, Houston Texas, 77004, USA
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan Utah, 84322, USA
| | | | - Molly C Womack
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan Utah, 84322, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sun D, Ellepola G, Herath J, Meegaskumbura M. The two chytrid pathogens of amphibians in Eurasia-climatic niches and future expansion. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:26. [PMID: 37370002 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02132-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate affects the thermal adaptation and distribution of hosts, and drives the spread of Chytridiomycosis-a keratin-associated infectious disease of amphibians caused by the sister pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidi (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal). We focus on their climate-pathogen relationships in Eurasia, the only region where their geographical distributions overlap. Eurasia harbours invaded and native areas of both pathogens and the natural habitats where they co-exist, making it an ideal region to examine their environmental niche correlations. Our understanding of how climate change will affect their distribution is broadened by the differences in climate correlates and niche characteristics between Bd and Bsal in Asia and Europe. This knowledge has potential conservation implications, informing future spread of the disease in different regions. RESULTS We quantified the environmental niche overlap between Bd and Bsal in Eurasia using niche analyses. Results revealed partial overlap in the niche with a unique 4% of non-overlapping values for Bsal, suggesting segregation along certain climate axes. Bd tolerates higher temperature fluctuations, while Bsal requires more stable, lower temperature and wetter conditions. Projections of their Realized Climatic Niches (RCNs) to future conditions show a larger expansion of suitable ranges (SRs) for Bd compared to Bsal in both Asia and Europe, with their centroids shifting in different directions. Notably, both pathogens' highly suitable areas in Asia are expected to shrink significantly, especially under the extreme climate scenarios. In Europe, they are expected to expand significantly. CONCLUSIONS Climate change will impact or increase disease risk to amphibian hosts, particularly in Europe. Given the shared niche space of the two pathogens across available climate gradients, as has already been witnessed in Eurasia with an increased range expansion and niche overlap due to climate change, we expect that regions where Bsal is currently absent but salamanders are present, and where Bd is already prevalent, may be conducive for the spread of Bsal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Sun
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530000, People's Republic of China
| | - Gajaba Ellepola
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530000, People's Republic of China
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Kandy, 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - Jayampathi Herath
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530000, People's Republic of China
| | - Madhava Meegaskumbura
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530000, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Paetow LJ, Cue RI, Pauli BD, Marcogliese DJ. Effects of Herbicides and the Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on the growth, development and survival of Larval American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 259:115021. [PMID: 37216860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides and pathogens adversely affect amphibian health, but their interactive effects are not well known. We assessed independent and combined effects of two agricultural herbicides and the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) on the growth, development and survival of larval American toads (Anaxyrus americanus). Wild-caught tadpoles were exposed to four concentrations of atrazine (0.18, 1.8, 18.0, 180 μg/L) or glyphosate (7, 70, 700, 7000 µg a.e./L), respectively contained in Aatrex® Liquid 480 (Syngenta) or Vision® Silviculture Herbicide (Monsanto) for 14 days, followed by two doses of Bd. At day 14, atrazine had not affected survival, but it non-monotonically affected growth. Exposure to the highest concentration of glyphosate caused 100% mortality within 4 days, while lower doses had an increasing monotonic effect on growth. At day 65, tadpole survival was unaffected by atrazine and the lower doses of glyphosate. Neither herbicide demonstrated an interaction effect with Bd on survival, but exposure to Bd increased survival among both herbicide-exposed and herbicide-control tadpoles. At day 60, tadpoles exposed to the highest concentration of atrazine remained smaller than controls, indicating longer-term effects of atrazine on growth, but effects of glyphosate on growth disappeared. Growth was unaffected by any herbicide-fungal interaction but was positively affected by exposure to Bd following exposure to atrazine. Atrazine exhibited a slowing and non-monotonic effect on Gosner developmental stage, while exposure to Bd tended to speed up development and act antagonistically toward the observed effect of atrazine. Overall, atrazine, glyphosate and Bd all showed a potential to modulate larval toad growth and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda J Paetow
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - Roger I Cue
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Rd., Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Bruce D Pauli
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - David J Marcogliese
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, St. Lawrence Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 105 McGill, 7th Floor, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2E7, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kijanović A, Vukov T, Mirč M, Krizmanić I, Tomašević Kolarov N. Inability of yellow‐bellied toad to accelerate metamorphosis in desiccation conditions. J Zool (1987) 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kijanović
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - T. Vukov
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - M. Mirč
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - I. Krizmanić
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - N. Tomašević Kolarov
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Extensive range contraction predicted under climate warming for two endangered mountaintop frogs from the rainforests of subtropical Australia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20215. [PMID: 36418388 PMCID: PMC9684556 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24551-5] [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: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Montane ecosystems cover approximately 20% of the Earth's terrestrial surface and are centres of endemism. Globally, anthropogenic climate change is driving population declines and local extinctions across multiple montane taxa, including amphibians. We applied the maximum entropy approach to predict the impacts of climate change on the distribution of two poorly known amphibian species (Philoria kundagungan and Philoria richmondensis) endemic to the subtropical uplands of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, World Heritage Area (GRAWHA). Firstly, under current climate conditions and also future (2055) low and high warming scenarios. We validated current distribution models against models developed using presence-absence field data. Our models were highly concordant with known distributions and predicted the current distribution of P. kundagungan to contract by 64% under the low warming scenario and by 91% under the high warming scenario and that P. richmondensis would contract by 50% and 85%, respectively. With large areas of habitat already impacted by wildfires, conservation efforts for both these species need to be initiated urgently. We propose several options, including establishing ex-situ insurance populations increasing the long-term viability of both species in the wild through conservation translocations.
Collapse
|
14
|
Al Mousa MA, Nachappa P, Ruiter DE, Givens DR, Fairchild MP. Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) of Montane and Alpine Lakes of Northern Colorado (USA). WEST N AM NATURALIST 2022. [DOI: 10.3398/064.082.0311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Moh'd A. Al Mousa
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Punya Nachappa
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | | | - Don R. Givens
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Matthew P. Fairchild
- U.S. Forest Service, Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland, 2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg. E., Fort Collins, CO 80526
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hofmeister E, Ruhs EC, Fortini LB, Hopkins MC, Jones L, Lafferty KD, Sleeman J, LeDee O. Future Directions to Manage Wildlife Health in a Changing Climate. ECOHEALTH 2022; 19:329-334. [PMID: 35759113 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-022-01604-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Erik Hofmeister
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA.
| | | | - Lucas Berio Fortini
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Islands Ecological Research Center, Inouye Regional Center, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI, 96818, USA
| | - M Camille Hopkins
- U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA
| | - Lee Jones
- USFWS-Natural Resource Program Center, 10 E. Babcock, Rm 105, Bozeman, MT, 59715, USA
| | - Kevin D Lafferty
- Marine Science Institute, U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center, University of California, 805, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Jonathan Sleeman
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Olivia LeDee
- U.S. Geological Survey, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, 1956 Buford Ave. St, Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Phenotypic variation in Xenopus laevis tadpoles from contrasting climatic regimes is the result of adaptation and plasticity. Oecologia 2022; 200:37-50. [PMID: 35996029 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05240-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Phenotypic variations between populations often correlate with climatic variables. Determining the presence of phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation of a species to different environments over a large spatial scale can provide insight on the persistence of a species across its range. Amphibians, and in particular their larvae, are good models for studies of phenotypic variation as they are especially sensitive to their immediate environment. Few studies have attempted to determine the mechanisms that drive phenotypic variation between populations of a single amphibian species over a large spatial scale especially across contrasting climatic regimes. The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, occurs in two regions with contrasting rainfall regimes in southern Africa. We hypothesised that the phenotypic variation of life-history traits of X. laevis tadpoles emerges from a combination of plastic and genetic responses. We predicted that plasticity would allow the development of tadpoles from both regions in each environment. We also predicted that local adaptation of larval traits would drive the differentiation of reaction norms between populations and lower survival in tadpoles reared away from their home environment. We measured growth, time to metamorphosis, and survival in a reciprocal transplant experiment using outdoor mesocosms. Supporting our prediction, we found that the measured variation of all traits was explained by both adaptation and plasticity. However, the reaction norms differed between populations suggesting adaptive and asymmetric plasticity. All tadpoles experienced lower survival when translocated, but only translocated tadpoles from the winter rainfall region matched survival of local tadpoles. This has implications for the dynamics of translocated X. laevis into novel environments, especially from the winter rainfall region. Our discovery of their asymmetric capacity to overcome novel environmental conditions by phenotypic plasticity alone provides insight into their invasion success.
Collapse
|
17
|
Crawford BA, Maerz JC, Terrell VC, Moore CT. Population viability analysis for a pond-breeding amphibian under future drought scenarios in the southeastern United States. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
|
18
|
Ruthsatz K, Bartels F, Stützer D, Eterovick PC. Timing of parental breeding shapes sensitivity to nitrate pollution in the common frog Rana temporaria. J Therm Biol 2022; 108:103296. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
19
|
Tang X, Xi L, Niu Z, Jia L, Bai Y, Wang H, Ma M, Chen Q. Does a Moderately Warming Climate Compensate for the Negative Effects of UV-B Radiation on Amphibians at High Altitudes? A Test of Rana kukunoris Living on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11060838. [PMID: 35741359 PMCID: PMC9220193 DOI: 10.3390/biology11060838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Both the warming climate and ultraviolet-B radiation are notable environmental factors affecting tadpole development. However, the phenotypes of tadpoles living at high altitudes may be improved by moderately warming temperatures, reducing or eliminating the negative effects of oxidative damage caused by cool temperatures or strong ultraviolet-B radiation. To verify this hypothesis, Rana kukunoris tadpoles, which live at high altitudes, were exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation and ultraviolet-B radiation-free environments at 14 (cool temperature) and 22 °C (warm temperature), respectively. Ultraviolet-B radiation and a warm temperature had opposite influences on several traits of the tadpoles, and the moderate temperature could compensate for or override the negative effects of ultraviolet-B radiation by increasing the tadpoles’ preferred body temperature and critical tolerance temperature, thus enhancing the locomotion ability and thermal sensitivity of their antioxidant systems. The dark skin coloration and aggregation behavior of R. kukunoris tadpoles may also be effective strategies for allowing them to resist ultraviolet-B radiation and helping them to better adapt to a warming environment with stronger ultraviolet-B radiation. Thus, a moderate degree of warming may increase the capacity of living organisms to adapt to environmental changes and thus have positive effects on the development of tadpoles living at high altitudes. Abstract Both the warming climate and ultraviolet-B radiation (UVBR) are considered to be notable environmental factors affecting amphibian population decline, with particular effects on tadpole development. However, the phenotypes of tadpoles living at high altitudes may be improved by moderately warming temperatures, reducing or eliminating the negative effects of oxidative damage caused by cool temperatures or strong UVBR at high altitudes. To verify this hypothesis, Rana kukunoris tadpoles, which live at high altitudes, were used to test the effect of the interaction of temperature and UVBR on their development and antioxidant systems in a fully factorial design. The tadpoles were exposed to UVBR and UVBR-free environments at 14 (cool temperature) and 22 °C (warm temperature), respectively. UVBR and a warm temperature had opposite influences on several traits of the tadpoles, including their survival, developmental rate, individual size, preferred body temperature, thermal tolerance temperature, oxidative damage, and enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant systems. The moderate temperature could compensate for or override the negative effects of UVBR by increasing the tadpoles’ preferred body temperature and critical tolerance temperature, thus enhancing the locomotion ability and thermal sensitivity of their antioxidant systems. Furthermore, the dark skin coloration and aggregation behavior of R. kukunoris tadpoles may also be effective strategies for allowing them to resist UVBR and helping them to better adapt to a warming environment with stronger UVBR. Thus, it is possible that a moderate degree of warming may increase the capacity of living organisms to adapt to environmental changes and thus have positive effects on the development of tadpoles living at high altitudes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Tang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
- Correspondence: (X.T.); (Q.C.)
| | - Lu Xi
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
| | - Zhiyi Niu
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
| | - Lun Jia
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
| | - Yucheng Bai
- Linxia People’s Hospital, Linxia 731199, China;
| | - Huihui Wang
- Institute of Solid Mechanics, College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
| | - Miaojun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
- Correspondence: (X.T.); (Q.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Beranek CT, Sanders S, Clulow J, Mahony M. Factors influencing persistence of a threatened amphibian in restored wetlands despite severe population decline during climate change driven weather extremes. BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 2022; 31:1267-1287. [PMID: 35261489 PMCID: PMC8893051 DOI: 10.1007/s10531-022-02387-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Biodiversity is in global decline during the Anthropocene. Declines have been caused by multiple factors, such as habitat removal, invasive species, and disease, which are often targets for conservation management. However, conservation interventions are under threat from climate change induced weather extremes. Weather extremes are becoming more frequent and devastating and an example of this was the 2019/2020 Australian drought and mega-fires. We provide a case study the impacts of these extreme weather events had on a population of the threatened frog Litoria aurea that occurs in a constructed habitat which was designed to reduce the impact of introduced fish and chytrid-induced disease. We aimed to determine what factors influenced persistence so that the design of wetlands can be further optimised to future-proof threatened amphibians. We achieved this with 4 years (2016-2020) of intensive capture-recapture surveys during austral spring and summer across nine wetlands (n = 94 repeat surveys). As hypothesized, drought caused a sharp reduction in population size, but persistence was achieved. The most parsimonious predictor of survival was an interaction between maximum air temperature and rainfall, indicating that weather extremes likely caused the decline. Survival was positively correlated with wetland vegetation coverage, positing this is an important feature to target to enhance resilience in wetland restoration programs. Additionally, the benefits obtained from measures to reduce chytrid prevalence were not compromised during drought, as there was a positive correlation between salinity and survival. We emphasize that many species may not be able to persist under worse extreme weather scenarios. Despite the potential for habitat augmentation to buffer effects of extreme weather, global action on climate change is needed to reduce extinction risk. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10531-022-02387-9.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chad T. Beranek
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and life Sciences, Biology Building, University of Newcastle, University Drive, 2308 Callaghan, NSW Australia
- FAUNA Research Alliance, PO Box 5092, 2290 Kahibah, NSW Australia
| | - Samantha Sanders
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and life Sciences, Biology Building, University of Newcastle, University Drive, 2308 Callaghan, NSW Australia
| | - John Clulow
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and life Sciences, Biology Building, University of Newcastle, University Drive, 2308 Callaghan, NSW Australia
- FAUNA Research Alliance, PO Box 5092, 2290 Kahibah, NSW Australia
| | - Michael Mahony
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and life Sciences, Biology Building, University of Newcastle, University Drive, 2308 Callaghan, NSW Australia
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Brooks GC, Kindsvater HK. Early Development Drives Variation in Amphibian Vulnerability to Global Change. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.813414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how natural selection determines species’ life histories can reveal their resilience or sensitivity to anthropogenic changes. For example, the safe harbor hypothesis posits that natural selection will favor life histories that maximize the time spent in the safest life stages; a second theoretical prediction suggests that species with complex life histories will maximize the growth potential of a life stage relative to its safety. Amphibians exhibit complex life histories, with a diversity of developmental strategies occurring across taxa. Many strategies involve the complete elimination of a particular life stage, and thus provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate the main tenets of the safe harbor hypothesis and understand the consequences of this developmental variation for conservation of threatened amphibians. We develop a general framework for understanding developmental life histories of amphibians – including the special cases of paedomorphism, direct development, and viviparity – based on the relative growth potential and safety offered by aquatic and terrestrial habitat, which we tested using a global trait database. We then compare the IUCN Red List status of species differing in developmental mode, revealing that most fully aquatic species and species with an aquatic larval stage are currently of Least Concern, despite the fact that freshwater habitats are being lost at a much faster rate compared with terrestrial ecosystems. The higher proportion of direct developing and viviparous species that are threatened can be attributed to their smaller ranges, the fact that they are more likely to be found in rainforest habitats, and their relatively slow life histories. We conclude that an amphibian’s developmental mode reflects the relative costs and benefits of different habitats, and that this could contribute to the resilience or vulnerability of amphibians to future anthropogenic change.
Collapse
|
22
|
Yang S, Wang X, Hu J. Mountain frog species losing out to climate change around the Sichuan Basin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150605. [PMID: 34592288 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to climate changes that are expected to cause habitat fragmentation and loss and, ultimately, local extirpations. However, little is known about how the interaction between climate change and fragmentation may impede the ability of amphibians to adapt to climate change. Here, we used the iconic mountain frog Quasipaa boulengeri as an indicator species to extrapolate climate-driven shifts in its habitat availability and connectivity in central and southern China according to the minimum and maximum representative concentration pathways. The models projected an average habitat loss of 36%-71% and the in situ and ex situ climate-change refugia to be 29%-64% and 5%-18% of the present-day suitable habitats, respectively. An increase in habitat fragmentation was reflected in a 51% decrease in core patch size, a 9% increase in the mean least-cost path (LCP) length, and a 19% increase in the cost-weighted distance. These climate-driven shifts varied spatially around the Sichuan Basin, with those in the southeast of the Basin being the most pronounced habitat and connectivity losses and those along the Basin being relatively optimistic. The effectiveness of refugia may only be maintained through a narrow passageway along the southern Sichuan Basin because of the presence of LCPs over time. Our results emphasize the need to understand how climate change and connectivity will jointly affect the distribution of mountain amphibians and to accordingly adopt conservation strategies. Further, our findings highlight the importance of identifying and preserving climate-change refugia and habitat connectivity for species persistence and conservation planning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Yang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoyi Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junhua Hu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Zhao C, Jiang J, Xie F, Li C, Zhao T. Assessment of Amphibians Vulnerability to Climate Change in China. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.826910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Global climate change is considered to be one of the main threats to organisms. As poikilothermic animals, amphibians are in particular sensitive because they cannot adapt to the dramatic climate change through active physiological regulation. Using 104 representative species, the present study conducted an assessment of amphibians vulnerability to climate change in China through the combination of two approaches. Specifically, 18 vulnerability criteria belonging to five categories (i.e., thermal tolerance, individual reproductive, population diffusion and diversity, food and habitat, and climate conditions) were first selected and scored based on literatures and experts opinions. Species were then ranked into three levels of climate change vulnerability (i.e., high, moderate, and low) by calculating vulnerability scores and conducting natural breaks analyses, as well as performing a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and k-means cluster analyses, respectively. To integrate the two results, a matrix with the ranks from each result was developed to produce a final integrated list. Our results indicated that the 104 amphibian species were classified into three types by natural breaks, with 54 low vulnerable species, 41 moderately vulnerable species, and nine highly vulnerable species. Based on the results of PCoA and k-means cluster analyses, five species were highly vulnerable, 38 species were moderately vulnerable, and 61 species were low vulnerable. The combination of the two ranks suggested that 36 species such as Hyla tsinlingensis and Liangshantriton taliangensis were of low vulnerability, 54 species such as Echinotriton chinhaiensis and Hynobius chinensis were of moderate vulnerability, and 14 species such as Ichthyophis kohtaoensis and Zhangixalus prasinatus were of high vulnerability. Overall, our results indicated that climate change could have strong potential effects on amphibians in China. And the highly vulnerable species such as Ichthyophis kohtaoensis, Zhangixalus prasinatus, and Theloderma corticale should be the priority in future conservation activities.
Collapse
|
24
|
Luymes N, Chow-Fraser P. Community structure, species–habitat relationships, and conservation of amphibians in forested vernal pools in the Georgian Bay region of Ontario. Facets (Ott) 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2021-0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Forested vernal pools serve an integral role in the recruitment of amphibians in glaciated northeastern North America. In south-central Ontario, vernal pools exist in relatively unimpacted forest networks, but the amphibian communities face uncertain challenges from anthropogenic-induced climate change. We surveyed amphibian larvae and collected measurements of habitat characteristics from vernal pools to collect baseline information on amphibian community structure and species–habitat relationships. Amphibian communities were influenced by hydroperiod length and canopy openness, and the relative abundances of early breeding amphibians were affected by changes in the structure of vegetation communities within pools. Our study suggests that, even across moderate ranges of breeding habitat characteristics, the structure of amphibian communities is dynamic. With anthropogenic-induced climate change leading to more drought-prone summers, the conservation of intact forests that support diverse wetland assemblages will be a necessary component of future legislation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nick Luymes
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Life Sciences Building, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Patricia Chow-Fraser
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Life Sciences Building, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Carilo Filho LM, de Carvalho BT, Azevedo BKA, Gutiérrez‐Pesquera LM, Mira‐Mendes CV, Solé M, Orrico VGD. Natural history predicts patterns of thermal vulnerability in amphibians from the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16462-16472. [PMID: 34938449 PMCID: PMC8668723 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest (AF), amphibians (625 species) face habitat degradation leading to stressful thermal conditions that constrain animal activity (e.g., foraging and reproduction). Data on thermal ecology for these species are still scarce. We tested the hypothesis that environmental occupation affects the thermal tolerance of amphibian species more than their phylogenetic relationships. We evaluated patterns of thermal tolerance of 47 amphibian species by assessing critical thermal maxima and warming tolerances, relating these variables with ecological covariates (e.g., adult macro- and microhabitat and site of larval development). We used mean and maximum environmental temperature, ecological covariates, and morphological measurements in the phylogenetic generalized least squares model selection to evaluate which traits better predict thermal tolerance. We did not recover phylogenetic signal under a Brownian model; our results point to a strong association between critical thermal maxima and habitat and development site. Forest species were less tolerant to warm temperatures than open area or generalist species. Species with larvae that develop in lentic environment were more tolerant than those in lotic ones. Thus, species inhabiting forest microclimates are more vulnerable to the synergistic effect of habitat loss and climate change. We use radar charts as a quick evaluation tool for thermal risk diagnoses using aspects of natural history as axes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno T. de Carvalho
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em ZoologiaUniversidade Estadual de Santa CruzIlhéusBrasil
| | - Bruna K. A. Azevedo
- Departamento de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Estadual de Santa CruzIlhéusBrasil
| | | | - Caio V. Mira‐Mendes
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Sistemas Aquáticos TropicaisUniversidade Estadual de Santa CruzIlhéusBrasil
| | - Mirco Solé
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em ZoologiaUniversidade Estadual de Santa CruzIlhéusBrasil
- Herpetology SectionZoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander KoenigBonnGermany
| | - Victor G. D. Orrico
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em ZoologiaUniversidade Estadual de Santa CruzIlhéusBrasil
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Venâncio C, Ribeiro R, Lopes I. Seawater intrusion: an appraisal of taxa at most risk and safe salinity levels. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:361-382. [PMID: 34626061 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Seawater intrusion into low-lying coastal ecosystems carries environmental risks. Salinity levels at these coastal ecosystems may vary substantially, causing ecological effects from mortality to several sublethal endpoints, such as depression of rates of feeding, somatic growth, or reproduction. This review attempts to establish safe salinity levels for both terrestrial and freshwater temperate ecosystems by integrating data available in the literature. We have four specific objectives: (i) to identify the most sensitive ecological taxa to seawater intrusion; (ii) to establish maximum acceptable concentrations-environmental quality standards (MAC-EQSs) for sea water (SW) from species sensitivity distributions (SSDs); (iii) to compile from the literature examples of saline intrusion [to be used as predicted environmental concentrations (PECs)] and to compute risk quotients for the temperate zone; and (iv) to assess whether sodium chloride (NaCl) is an appropriate surrogate for SW in ecological risk assessments by comparing SSD-derived values for NaCl and SW and by comparing these with field data. Zooplankton, early life stages of amphibians and freshwater mussels were the most sensitive ecological receptors for the freshwater compartment, while soil invertebrates were the most sensitive ecological receptors for the terrestrial compartment. Hazard concentration 5% (HC5 ) values, defined as the concentration (herein measured as conductivity) that affects (causes lethal or sublethal effects) 5% of the species in a distribution, computed for SW were over 22 and 40 times lower than the conductivity of natural SW (≈ 52 mS/cm) for the freshwater and soil compartment, respectively. This sensitivity of both compartments means that small increments in salinity levels or small SW intrusions might represent severe risks for low-lying coastal ecosystems. Furthermore, the proximity between HC5 values for the soil and freshwater compartments suggests that salinized soils might represent an additional risk for nearby freshwater systems. This sensitivity was corroborated by the derivation of risk quotients using real saline intrusion examples (PECs) collected from the literature: risk was >1 in 34 out of 37 examples. By contrast, comparisons of HC5 values obtained from SSDs in field surveys or mesocosm studies suggest that natural communities are more resilient to salinization than expected. Finally, NaCl was found to be slightly more toxic than SW, at both lethal and sublethal levels, and, thus, is suggested to be an acceptable surrogate for use in risk assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Venâncio
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra, 3000-456, Portugal
| | - Rui Ribeiro
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra, 3000-456, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bakewell L, Kelehear C, Graham S. Impacts of temperature on immune performance in a desert anuran (
Anaxyrus punctatus
). J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
28
|
Guo K, Yuan S, Wang H, Zhong J, Wu Y, Chen W, Hu C, Chang Q. Species distribution models for predicting the habitat suitability of Chinese fire-bellied newt Cynops orientalis under climate change. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:10147-10154. [PMID: 34367565 PMCID: PMC8328465 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change influences species geographical distribution and diversity pattern. The Chinese fire-bellied newt (Cynops orientalis) is an endemic species distributed in East-central China, which has been classified as near-threatened species recently due to habitat destruction and degradation and illegal trade in the domestic and international pet markets. So far, little is known about the spatial distribution of the species. Based on bioclimatic data of the current and future climate projections, we modeled the change in suitable habitat for C. orientalis by ten algorithms, evaluated the importance of environmental factors in shaping their distribution, and identified distribution shifts under climate change scenarios. In this study, 46 records of C. orientalis from East China and 8 bioclimatic variables were used. Among the ten modeling algorithms, four (GAM, GBM, Maxent, and RF) were selected according to their predictive abilities. The current habitat suitability showed that C. orientalis had a relatively wide but fragmented distribution, and it encompassed 41,862 km2. The models suggested that precipitation of warmest quarter (bio18) and mean temperature of wettest quarter (bio6) had the highest contribution to the model. This study revealed that C. orientalis is sensitive to climate change, which will lead to a large range shift. The projected spatial and temporal pattern of range shifts for C. orientalis should provide a useful reference for implementing long-term conservation and management strategies for amphibians in East China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
- College of Life and Environmental ScienceWenzhou UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Sijia Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hao Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Jun Zhong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
- College of Life and Environmental ScienceWenzhou UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Yanqing Wu
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental SciencesMinistry of Environmental ProtectionNanjingChina
| | - Wan Chen
- College of Environment and EcologyJiangsu Open University (The City Vocational College of Jiangsu)NanjingChina
| | - Chaochao Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
- Analytical and Testing CenterNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qing Chang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Medina R, Wogan GOU, Bi K, Termignoni-García F, Bernal MH, Jaramillo-Correa JP, Wang IJ, Vázquez-Domínguez E. Phenotypic and genomic diversification with isolation by environment along elevational gradients in a neotropical treefrog. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4062-4076. [PMID: 34160853 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how geographic and environmental heterogeneity drive local patterns of genetic variation is a major goal of ecological genomics and a key question in evolutionary biology. The tropical Andes and inter-Andean valleys are shaped by markedly heterogeneous landscapes, where species experience strong selective processes. We examined genome-wide SNP data together with behavioural and ecological traits (mating calls and body size) known to contribute to genetic isolation in anurans in the banana tree-dwelling frog, Boana platanera, distributed across an environmental gradient in Central Colombia (northern South America). Here, we analysed the relationships between environmentally (temperature and precipitation) associated genetic and phenotypic differentiation and the potential drivers of isolation by environment along an elevation gradient. We identified candidate SNPs associated with temperature and body size, which follow a clinal pattern of genome-wide differentiation tightly coupled with phenotypic variation: as elevation increases, B. platanera exhibits larger body size and longer call duration with more pulses but lower pulse rate and frequency. Thus, the environmental landscape has rendered a scenario where isolation by environment and candidate loci show concordance with phenotypic divergence in this tropical frog along an elevation gradient in the Colombian Andes. Our study sets the basis for evaluating the role of temperature in the genetic structure and local adaptation in tropical treefrogs and its putative effect on life cycle (embryos, tadpoles, adults) along elevation gradients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Medina
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México.,Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México.,Grupo de Herpetología, Eco-Fisiología & Etología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Guinevere O U Wogan
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Ke Bi
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Computational Genomics Resource Laboratory (CGRL, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Flavia Termignoni-García
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Manuel Hernando Bernal
- Grupo de Herpetología, Eco-Fisiología & Etología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Juan P Jaramillo-Correa
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ian J Wang
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Ella Vázquez-Domínguez
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Rohr JR. The Atrazine Saga and its Importance to the Future of Toxicology, Science, and Environmental and Human Health. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:1544-1558. [PMID: 33999476 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The herbicide atrazine is one of the most commonly used, well studied, and controversial pesticides on the planet. Much of the controversy involves the effects of atrazine on wildlife, particularly amphibians, and the ethically questionable decision making of members of industry, government, the legal system, and institutions of higher education, in most cases in an effort to "bend science," defined as manipulating research to advance economic, political, or ideological ends. In this Critical Perspective I provide a timeline of the most salient events in the history of the atrazine saga, which includes a multimillion-dollar smear campaign, lawsuits, investigative reporting, accusation of impropriety against the US Environmental Protection Agency, and a multibillion-dollar transaction. I argue that the atrazine controversy must be more than just a true story of cover-ups, bias, and vengeance. It must be used as an example of how manufacturing uncertainty and bending science can be exploited to delay undesired regulatory decisions and how greed and conflicts of interest-situations where personal or organizational considerations have compromised or biased professional judgment and objectivity-can affect environmental and public health and erode trust in the discipline of toxicology, science in general, and the honorable functioning of societies. Most importantly, I offer several recommendations that should help to 1) prevent the history of atrazine from repeating itself, 2) enhance the credibility and integrity of science, and 3) enrich human and environmental health. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1544-1558. © 2021 SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Rohr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Reyne M, McGowan NE, Flanagan J, Nolan P, Aubry A, Emmerson M, Marnell F, Reid N. Will predicted positive effects of climate change be enough to reverse declines of the regionally Endangered Natterjack toad in Ireland? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5049-5064. [PMID: 34025991 PMCID: PMC8131806 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The global amphibian crisis is driven by a range of stressors including disease, habitat loss, and environmental contamination. The role of climate change remains poorly studied and is likely to influence environmental suitability, ranges, reproduction, and phenology. This study aimed to characterize the bioclimatic-habitat niche space of the Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) throughout its European range and to assess the impact of climate on the toad's environmental suitability and breeding behavior in Ireland, where declines in recent decades have resulted in it being regionally Red-Listed as Endangered. To address these questions, we first identified which climate variables best predict the current bioclimatic niche, fecundity (number of eggs deposit), and phenology. We then used future climate projections for two time periods (2041-2060 and 2061-2080) and two greenhouse gas emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) to predict how the species range, fecundity, and phenology would change. The European range of the species was found to be limited by winter temperatures while its bioclimatic niche varied markedly throughout its range. Species distribution models suggested projected climate change will increase environmental suitability for the species throughout its range, including Ireland, but most notably in Scandinavia and the Baltic. Fecundity in Ireland was greatest during the cool temperatures of spring and after wet winters associated with ephemeral breeding pool availability. Warm, dry summers in the preceding year influenced fecundity the following spring indicative of carryover effects. Initiation of spawning was driven by spring temperatures, not rainfall. Projections suggested future climate change may increase fecundity in Ireland while spawning may commence earlier throughout the 21st century especially under a high greenhouse gas emission scenario (RCP 8.5). Despite recent range contraction and population declines due to habitat deterioration, the Natterjack toad, if subject to a suitable species conservation strategy, has the potential to be a climate change winner, notwithstanding unpredictable habitat and land-use change, sea-level rise inducing coastal erosion, changes in invertebrate prey abundance, and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Reyne
- School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | | | - Jason Flanagan
- Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC)DublinIreland
| | - Paul Nolan
- Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC)DublinIreland
| | | | - Mark Emmerson
- School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
- Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS)BelfastUK
| | | | - Neil Reid
- School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
- Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS)BelfastUK
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Hoffmann EP, Cavanough KL, Mitchell NJ. Low desiccation and thermal tolerance constrains a terrestrial amphibian to a rare and disappearing microclimate niche. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab027. [PMID: 33959292 PMCID: PMC8084025 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Drier and hotter conditions caused by climate change threaten species that exist close to their physiological limits, as well as those with limited ability to move. Habitat specialists may also be particularly vulnerable if they have specific abiotic requirements. Here we assess whether thermal and hydric constraints can explain the highly restricted and declining distributions of the critically endangered terrestrial-breeding frog, Geocrinia alba. We also evaluate the species' vulnerability to climate change based on the similarity of current microclimatic conditions to their physiological limits. We found that G. alba had low thresholds of thermal and desiccation tolerance relative to other anuran species. The estimated thermal optimum (Topt ) and critical thermal maxima (CTmax ) were 23.3°C and 29.6°C, respectively, and adult frogs had an absorption threshold (AT, the lowest water potential at which water can be absorbed from a substrate) of -50 kPa, the lowest recorded for an amphibian. Comparing environmental conditions and water loss in the field using agar models showed that riparian habitats where frogs occur provide a unique microclimate in the landscape, offering significantly lower desiccation risk during extreme summer conditions compared to immediately adjacent riparian and terrestrial habitats. Monitoring of microclimate conditions within occupied frog habitats over 2 years showed that in extreme dry and hot years the AT was exceeded at six of eight sites, and Topt was exceeded at two of eight sites. Given their specific physiological limits, the apparent rarity of suitable microclimates and a regional drying-warming trend, we suggest that G. alba occupies a potentially disappearing niche and may be indicative of other habitat specialists that rely on ephemeral drainages. More broadly, this study highlights that desiccation thresholds may tightly constrain amphibian distributions and need to be considered along with thermal tolerance thresholds when predicting the impacts of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily P Hoffmann
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Karen L Cavanough
- Perth Zoo, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, PO Box 489, South Perth, Western Australia 6951, Australia
| | - Nicola J Mitchell
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sanger TJ. Integrative developmental biology in the age of anthropogenic change. Evol Dev 2021; 23:320-332. [PMID: 33848387 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Humans are changing and challenging nature in many ways. Conservation Biology seeks to limit human impacts on nature and preserve biological diversity. Traditionally, Developmental Biology and Conservation Biology have had nonoverlapping objectives, operating in distinct spheres of biological science. However, this chasm can and should be filled to help combat the emerging challenges of the 21st century. The means by which to accomplish this goal were already established within the conceptual framework of evo- and eco-devo and can be further expanded to address the ways that anthropogenic disturbance affect embryonic development. Herein, I describe ways that these approaches can be used to advance the study of reptilian embryos. More specifically, I explore the ways that a developmental perspective can advance ongoing studies of embryonic physiology in the context of global warming and chemical pollution, both of which are known stressors of reptilian embryos. I emphasize ways that these developmental perspectives can inform conservation biologists trying to develop management practices that will address the complexity of challenges facing reptilian embryos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Sanger
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wagener C, Kruger N, Measey J. Progeny of Xenopus laevis from altitudinal extremes display adaptive physiological performance. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.233031. [PMID: 34424980 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.233031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Environmental temperature variation generates adaptive phenotypic differentiation in widespread populations. We used a common garden experiment to determine whether offspring with varying parental origins display adaptive phenotypic variation related to different thermal conditions experienced in parental environments. We compared burst swimming performance and critical thermal limits of African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) tadpoles bred from adults captured at high (∼2000 m above sea level) and low (∼ 5 m above sea level) altitudes. Maternal origin significantly affected swimming performance. Optimal swimming performance temperature (Topt) had a >9°C difference between tadpoles with low altitude maternal origins (pure- and cross-bred, 35.0°C) and high-altitude maternal origins (pure-bred, 25.5°C; cross-bred, 25.9°C). Parental origin significantly affected critical thermal (CT) limits. Pure-bred tadpoles with low-altitude parental origins had higher CTmax (37.8±0.8°C) than pure-bred tadpoles with high-altitude parental origins and all cross-bred tadpoles (37.0±0.8 and 37.1±0.8°C). Pure-bred tadpoles with low-altitude parental origins and all cross-bred tadpoles had higher CTmin (4.2±0.7 and 4.2±0.7°C) than pure-bred tadpoles with high-altitude parental origins (2.5±0.6°C). Our study shows that the varying thermal physiological traits of Xenopus laevis tadpoles are the result of adaptive responses to their parental thermal environments. This study is one of few demonstrating potential intraspecific evolution of critical thermal limits in a vertebrate species. Multi-generation common garden experiments and genetic analyses would be required to further tease apart the relative contribution of plastic and genetic effects to the adaptive phenotypic variation observed in these tadpoles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Wagener
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7602 South Africa
| | - Natasha Kruger
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7602 South Africa.,Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7602 South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Luo Z, Wang X, Yang S, Cheng X, Liu Y, Hu J. Combining the responses of habitat suitability and connectivity to climate change for an East Asian endemic frog. Front Zool 2021; 18:14. [PMID: 33771163 PMCID: PMC7995727 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00398-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the impacts of past and contemporary climate change on biodiversity is critical for effective conservation. Amphibians have weak dispersal abilities, putting them at risk of habitat fragmentation and loss. Both climate change and anthropogenic disturbances exacerbate these risks, increasing the likelihood of additional amphibian extinctions in the near future. The giant spiny frog (Quasipaa spinosa), an endemic species to East Asia, has faced a dramatic population decline over the last few decades. Using the giant spiny frog as an indicator to explore how past and future climate changes affect landscape connectivity, we characterized the shifts in the suitable habitat and habitat connectivity of the frog. Results We found a clear northward shift and a reduction in the extent of suitable habitat during the Last Glacial Maximum for giant spiny frogs; since that time, there has been an expansion of the available habitat. Our modelling showed that “overwarm” climatic conditions would most likely cause a decrease in the available habitat and an increase in the magnitude of population fragmentation in the future. We found that the habitat connectivity of the studied frogs will decrease by 50–75% under future climate change. Our results strengthen the notion that the mountains in southern China and the Sino-Vietnamese transboundary regions can act as critical refugia and priority areas of conservation planning going forward. Conclusions Given that amphibians are highly sensitive to environmental changes, our findings highlight that the responses of habitat suitability and connectivity to climate change can be critical considerations in future conservation measures for species with weak dispersal abilities and should not be neglected, as they all too often are. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12983-021-00398-w.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Luo
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Xiaoyi Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9 Section 4, Renmin Nan Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Shaofa Yang
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Xinlan Cheng
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Junhua Hu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9 Section 4, Renmin Nan Road, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Synergistic impacts of global warming and thermohaline circulation collapse on amphibians. Commun Biol 2021; 4:141. [PMID: 33514877 PMCID: PMC7846744 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01665-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity are a prominent area of research in climate change. However, little is known about the effects of abrupt climate change and climate catastrophes on them. The probability of occurrence of such events is largely unknown but the associated risks could be large enough to influence global climate policy. Amphibians are indicators of ecosystems’ health and particularly sensitive to novel climate conditions. Using state-of-the-art climate model simulations, we present a global assessment of the effects of unabated global warming and a collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) on the distribution of 2509 amphibian species across six biogeographical realms and extinction risk categories. Global warming impacts are severe and strongly enhanced by additional and substantial AMOC weakening, showing tipping point behavior for many amphibian species. Further declines in climatically suitable areas are projected across multiple clades, and biogeographical regions. Species loss in regional assemblages is extensive across regions, with Neotropical, Nearctic and Palearctic regions being most affected. Results underline the need to expand existing knowledge about the consequences of climate catastrophes on human and natural systems to properly assess the risks of unabated warming and the benefits of active mitigation strategies. Julián Velasco et al. use climate model simulations to show how the collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and unabated global warming under the RCP 8.5 scenario affect the global distribution of 2509 amphibian species. These results show severe and synergistic impacts of global warming, with particularly strong effects shown in the Neotropical, Nearctic and Palearctic regions.
Collapse
|
37
|
Hernández‐Pacheco R, Plard F, Grayson KL, Steiner UK. Demographic consequences of changing body size in a terrestrial salamander. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:174-185. [PMID: 33437421 PMCID: PMC7790640 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in climate can alter individual body size, and the resulting shifts in reproduction and survival are expected to impact population dynamics and viability. However, appropriate methods to account for size-dependent demographic changes are needed, especially in understudied yet threatened groups such as amphibians. We investigated individual- and population-level demographic effects of changes in body size for a terrestrial salamander using capture-mark-recapture data. For our analysis, we implemented an integral projection model parameterized with capture-recapture likelihood estimates from a Bayesian framework. Our study combines survival and growth data from a single dataset to quantify the influence of size on survival while including different sources of uncertainty around these parameters, demonstrating how selective forces can be studied in populations with limited data and incomplete recaptures. We found a strong dependency of the population growth rate on changes in individual size, mediated by potential changes in selection on mean body size and on maximum body size. Our approach of simultaneous parameter estimation can be extended across taxa to identify eco-evolutionary mechanisms acting on size-specific vital rates, and thus shaping population dynamics and viability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raisa Hernández‐Pacheco
- Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State University‐Long BeachLong BeachCAUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of RichmondRichmondVAUSA
| | - Floriane Plard
- Swiss Ornithological InstituteSempachSwitzerland
- UMR CNRS 5558 Biométrie et Biologie EvolutiveUniversity Claude Bernard Lyon 1VilleurbanneFrance
| | | | - Ulrich K. Steiner
- Evolutionary BiologyInstitut für BiologieFreie Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Chen X, Ren C, Teng Y, Shen Y, Wu M, Xiao H, Wang H. Effects of temperature on growth, development and the leptin signaling pathway of Bufo gargarizans. J Therm Biol 2020; 96:102822. [PMID: 33627262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is one of the most important causes of the decline in amphibians. Changes in temperature have an important effect on the growth and development and energy metabolism of amphibians. The aim of this study is to unravel the effects of temperature on the leptin signaling pathway of Bufo gargarizans and its molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that high temperature accelerated the development rate of tadpoles, but reduced body size and mass, while low temperature deferred the development of tadpoles, but increased size and mass. Both high temperature and low temperature exposure caused pathological damage of the liver in B. gargarizans. The results of RT-qPCR revealed that the high temperature treatment significantly upregulated the transcript levels of genes related to thyroid hormone (DIO2 (D2), Thyroid Hormone Receptor-α (TRα)) and the leptin signaling pathway (Leptin Receptor (LepR), Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), Signal Transducer And Activator Of Transcription 3 (STAT3), Signal Transducer And Activator Of Transcription 3.1 (STAT3.1), and Signal Transducer And Activator Of Transcription 6 (STAT6)), while there was a decrease of mRNA expression of these genes (TRα, Thyroid Hormone Receptor-Beta (TRβ), LepR, JAK1, and TYK2) in the liver of tadpoles exposed to high temperature compared with the intermediate temperature treatment. Therefore, our results suggested that temperature extremes might interfere with the thyroid and leptin signaling pathways and affect the growth and development of B. gargarizans. Furthermore, tissue injury of the liver could occur due to exposure to temperature extremes. This work promotes public awareness of environmental protection and species conservation needs, also provides valuable experimental data and a theoretical basis for the protection of amphibians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Chen
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Chaolu Ren
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Yiran Teng
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Yujia Shen
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Minyao Wu
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Hui Xiao
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Hongyuan Wang
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Gahm K, Arietta AZA, Skelly DK. Temperature‐mediated trade‐off between development and performance in larval wood frogs (
Rana sylvatica
). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:146-157. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaija Gahm
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
| | | | - David K. Skelly
- School of the Environment Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Tong Q, Cui LY, Hu ZF, Du XP, Abid HM, Wang HB. Environmental and host factors shaping the gut microbiota diversity of brown frog Rana dybowskii. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 741:140142. [PMID: 32615421 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic microbial communities are common in amphibians, and the composition of gut microbial communities varies with factors such as host phylogeny, life stage, ecology, and diet. However, little is known regarding how amphibians acquire their microbiota or how their growth, development, and environmental factors affect the diversity of their microbiotas. We sampled the gut microbiota during different developmental stages of brown frog Rana dybowskii, including tadpoles (T), frogs in metamorphosis (M), frogs just post-metamorphosis and after eating (F), juvenile frogs in summer (Js), adult frogs in summer (As), adult frogs in autumn (Aa), and hibernating frogs (Ah). We recorded data on the environmental (ambient temperature, fasting status, habitat, and season) and host (body mass and developmental period) factors. We investigated whether the gut microbiota diversity of R. dybowskii differs according to the host developmental stage via high-throughput Illumina sequencing and whether the gut microbiota diversity is affected by environmental and host factors. We found that alpha and beta diversity varied significantly during different developmental stages. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified eight phyla exhibiting significant differences: Cyanobacteria (T group), Proteobacteria (M group), Fusobacteria (F group), Firmicutes (As group), Actinobacteria (Aa group), Verrucomicrobia (Aa group), Tenericutes (Aa group), and Bacteroidetes (Ah group). The Venn diagrams showed that 49 shared OTUs were present during all stages of development, whereas 10 OTUs were present in >90% of the samples. The environmental and host factors were significantly correlated with microbial community changes. Furthermore, the AIC-based model results suggested that development was the only variable that needed inclusion in the redundancy analysis (RDA) to explain the variance in taxa. These results have broad implications for our understanding of gut microbiota development and its associations with amphibian development and environmental factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Tong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Hejiang Forestry Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province, Jiamusi, China
| | - Li-Yong Cui
- Hejiang Forestry Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province, Jiamusi, China
| | - Zong-Fu Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Du
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Hayat Muhammad Abid
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Hong-Bin Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Liu X, Rohr JR, Li X, Deng T, Li W, Li Y. Climate extremes, variability, and trade shape biogeographical patterns of alien species. Curr Zool 2020; 67:393-402. [PMID: 35386252 PMCID: PMC8979237 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how alien species assemble is crucial for predicting changes to community
structure caused by biological invasions and for directing management strategies for alien
species, but patterns and drivers of alien species assemblages remain poorly understood
relative to native species. Climate has been suggested as a crucial filter of
invasion-driven homogenization of biodiversity. However, it remains unclear which climatic
factors drive the assemblage of alien species. Here, we compiled global data at both grid
scale (2,653 native and 2,806 current grids with a resolution of
2° × 2°) and administrative scale (271 native and 297
current nations and sub-nations) on the distributions of 361 alien amphibians and reptiles
(herpetofauna), the most threatened vertebrate group on the planet. We found that
geographical distance, a proxy for natural dispersal barriers, was the dominant variable
contributing to alien herpetofaunal assemblage in native ranges. In contrast, climatic
factors explained more unique variation in alien herpetofaunal assemblage after than
before invasions. This pattern was driven by extremely high temperatures and precipitation
seasonality, 2 hallmarks of global climate change, and bilateral trade which can account
for the alien assemblage after invasions. Our results indicated that human-assisted
species introductions combined with climate change may accelerate the reorganization of
global species distributions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jason R Rohr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Xianping Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Teng Deng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenhao Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yiming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
|
43
|
Bonnefond A, Courtois EA, Sueur J, Sugai LSM, Llusia D. Climatic breadth of calling behaviour in two widespread Neotropical frogs: Insights from humidity extremes. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:5431-5446. [PMID: 32654304 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is severely altering precipitation regimes at local and global scales, yet the capacity of species to cope with these changes has been insufficiently examined. Amphibians are globally endangered and particularly sensitive to moisture conditions. For mating, most amphibian species rely on calling behaviour, which is a key weather-dependent trait. Using passive acoustics, we monitored the calling behaviour of two widespread Neotropical frogs in 12 populations located at the humidity extremes but thermal mean of the species distribution. Based on 2,554 hr of recordings over a breeding season, we found that both the aquatic species Pseudis paradoxa and the arboreal species Boana raniceps exhibited calling behaviour at a wide range of relative humidity. Calling humidity was significantly lower in conspecific populations subjected to drier conditions, while calling temperature did not differ between populations or species. Overall, no variation in climatic breadth was observed between large and small choruses, and calling behaviour was scarcely detected during the driest, hottest and coldest potential periods of breeding. Our results showed that calling humidity of the studied species varies according to the precipitation regime, suggesting that widespread Neotropical anurans may have the capacity to exhibit sexual displays in different climatic environments. Regardless of the underlying mechanism (plasticity or local adaptation), which should be determined by common garden experiments, a wide and population-specific climatic breadth of calling behaviour may assist species to deal with changing humidity conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the response capacity of anurans to perform calling behaviour under contrasting precipitation regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Bonnefond
- Centre de recherche Montabo, LEEISA UMSR 3456 CNRS-UG Ifremer, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Elodie A Courtois
- Centre de recherche Montabo, LEEISA UMSR 3456 CNRS-UG Ifremer, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Jérôme Sueur
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Paris, France
| | - Larissa Sayuri M Sugai
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, Brazil
- Terrestrial Ecology Group, Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Llusia
- Terrestrial Ecology Group, Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- Laboratório de Herpetologia e Comportamento Animal, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Connoy JW, Leivesley JA, Brooks RJ, Litzgus JD, Rollinson N. Body size of ectotherms constrains thermal requirements for reproductive activity in seasonal environments. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Body size may influence ectotherm behaviour by influencing heating and cooling rates, thereby constraining the time of day that some individuals can be active. The time of day at which turtles nest, for instance, is hypothesized to vary with body size at both inter- and intra-specific levels because large individuals have greater thermal inertia, retaining preferred body temperatures for a longer period of time. We use decades of data on thousands of individual nests from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, to explore how body size is associated with nesting behaviour in Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta (Schneider, 1783); small bodied) and Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758); large bodied). We found that (i) between species, Painted Turtles nest earlier in the evening and at higher mean temperatures than Snapping Turtles, and (ii) within species, relatively large individuals of both species nest at cooler temperatures and that relatively larger Painted Turtles nest later in the evening compared with smaller Painted Turtles. Our data support the thermal inertia hypothesis and may help explain why turtles in general exhibit geographic clines in body size: northern environments experience more daily variation in temperature, and larger size may evolve, in part, for retention of preferred body temperature during terrestrial forays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jared W.H. Connoy
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 33 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Jessica A. Leivesley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Ronald J. Brooks
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jacqueline D. Litzgus
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Njal Rollinson
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, 33 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Wu J. The hazard and unsureness of reducing habitat ranges in response to climate warming for 91 amphibian species in China. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2020.103640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
|
46
|
Bodensteiner BL, Agudelo‐Cantero GA, Arietta AZA, Gunderson AR, Muñoz MM, Refsnider JM, Gangloff EJ. Thermal adaptation revisited: How conserved are thermal traits of reptiles and amphibians? JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:173-194. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke L. Bodensteiner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - Gustavo A. Agudelo‐Cantero
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- Department of Biology ‐ Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
| | | | - Alex R. Gunderson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Tulane University New Orleans Louisiana USA
| | - Martha M. Muñoz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
| | | | - Eric J. Gangloff
- Department of Zoology Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware Ohio USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Gade MR, Connette GM, Crawford JA, Hocking DJ, Maerz JC, Milanovich JR, Peterman WE. Predicted alteration of surface activity as a consequence of climate change. Ecology 2020; 101:e03154. [PMID: 32740923 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Wildlife are faced with numerous threats to survival, none more pressing than that of climate change. Understanding how species will respond behaviorally, physiologically, and demographically to a changing climate is a cornerstone of many contemporary ecological studies, especially for organisms, such as amphibians, whose persistence is closely tied to abiotic conditions. Activity is a useful parameter for understanding the effects of climate change because activity is directly linked to fitness as it dictates foraging times, energy budgets, and mating opportunities. However, activity can be challenging to measure directly, especially for secretive organisms like plethodontid salamanders, which only become surface active when conditions are cool and moist because of their anatomical and physiological restrictions. We estimated abiotic predictors of surface activity for the seven species of the Plethodon jordani complex. Five independent data sets collected from 2004 to 2017 were used to determine the parameters driving salamander surface activity in the present day, which were then used to predict potential activity changes over the next 80 yrs. Average active seasonal temperature and vapor pressure deficit were the strongest predictors of salamander surface activity and, without physiological or behavioral modifications, salamanders were predicted to exhibit a higher probability of surface activity during peak active season under future climate conditions. Temperatures during the active season likely do not exceed salamander thermal maxima to cause activity suppression and, until physiological limits are reached, future conditions may continue to increase activity. Our model is the first comprehensive field-based study to assess current and future surface activity probability. Our study provides insights into how a key behavior driving fitness may be affected by climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan R Gade
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43201, USA
| | - Grant M Connette
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA
| | - John A Crawford
- National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, One Confluence Way, East Alton, Illinois, 62024, USA
| | - Daniel J Hocking
- Department of Biology, Frostburg State University, 101 Braddock Rd, Frostburg, Maryland, 21532, USA
| | - John C Maerz
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green St, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
| | - Joseph R Milanovich
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 Sheridan Rd, Chicago, Illinois, 60660, USA
| | - William E Peterman
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Meurling S, Kärvemo S, Chondrelli N, Cortazar Chinarro M, Åhlen D, Brookes L, Nyström P, Stenberg M, Garner TWJ, Höglund J, Laurila A. Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Sweden: higher infection prevalence in southern species. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2020; 140:209-218. [PMID: 32880378 DOI: 10.3354/dao03502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has caused worldwide declines in amphibian populations. While Bd is widespread in southern and central Europe, its occurrence and distribution in northernmost Europe is mostly unknown. We surveyed for Bd in breeding anurans in Sweden by sampling 1917 amphibians from 101 localities and 3 regions in Sweden (southern, northern and central). We found that Bd was widespread in southern and central Sweden, occurring in all 9 investigated species and in 45.5% of the 101 localities with an overall prevalence of 13.8%. No infected individuals were found in the 4 northern sites sampled. The records from central Sweden represent the northernmost records of Bd in Europe. While the proportion of sites positive for Bd was similar between the southern and central regions, prevalence was much higher in the southern region. This was because southern species with a distribution mainly restricted to southernmost Sweden had a higher prevalence than widespread generalist species. The nationally red-listed green toad Bufotes variabilis and the fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina had the highest prevalence (61.4 and 48.9%, respectively). Across species, Bd prevalence was strongly positively, correlated with water temperature at the start of egg laying. However, no individuals showing visual signs of chytridiomycosis were found in the field. These results indicate that Bd is widespread and common in southern and central Sweden with southern species, breeding in higher temperatures and with longer breeding periods, having higher prevalence. However, the impact of Bd on amphibian populations in northernmost Europe remains unknown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Meurling
- Animal Ecology/ Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ford J, Hunt DA, Haines GE, Lewis M, Lewis Y, Green DM. Adrift on a Sea of Troubles: Can Amphibians Survive in a Human-Dominated World?1. HERPETOLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1655/0018-0831-76.2.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Ford
- Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C4, Canada
| | | | - Grant E. Haines
- Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C4, Canada
| | - Micaela Lewis
- Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C4, Canada
| | - Yael Lewis
- Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C4, Canada
| | - David M. Green
- Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Préau C, Grandjean F, Sellier Y, Gailledrat M, Bertrand R, Isselin-Nondedeu F. Habitat patches for newts in the face of climate change: local scale assessment combining niche modelling and graph theory. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3570. [PMID: 32107433 PMCID: PMC7046615 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60479-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Triturus cristatus and Triturus marmoratus are two protected and declining newts occurring in the administrative department of Vienne, in France. They have limited dispersal abilities and rely on the connectivity between habitats and their suitability. In a warming climate, the locations of suitable habitats are expected to change, as is the connectivity. Here, we wondered how climate change might affect shifts in habitat suitability and connectivity of habitat patches, as connectivity is a key element enabling species to realize a potential range shift. We used ecological niche modelling (ENM), combining large-scale climate suitability with local scale, high-resolution habitat features, to identify suitable areas for the two species, under low and high warming scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5). We associated it with connectivity assessment through graph theory. The variable 'small ponds' contributed most to land cover-only ENMs for both species. Projections with climate change scenarios revealed a potential impact of warming on suitable habitat patches for newts, especially for T. cristatus. We observed a decrease in connectivity following a decrease in patch suitability. Our results highlight the important areas for newt habitat connectivity within the study area, and define those potentially threatened by climate warming. We provide information for prioritizing sites for acquisition, protection or restoration, and to advise landscape policies. Our framework is a useful and easily reproducible way to combine global climate requirements of the species with detailed information on species habitats and occurrence when available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clémentine Préau
- Réserve Naturelle Nationale du Pinail, GEREPI, Moulin de Chitré, 86210, Vouneuil-sur-Vienne, France.
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions - UMR CNRS 7267 Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Bâtiment B8-B35, 6, rue Michel Brunet, TSA 51106, 86073, Poitiers, Cedex, France.
- Département Aménagement et Environnement Ecole Polytechnique de l'Université de Tours, CNRS; UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES, 33-35 Allée Ferdinand de Lesseps, 37200, Tours, France.
| | - Frédéric Grandjean
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions - UMR CNRS 7267 Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Bâtiment B8-B35, 6, rue Michel Brunet, TSA 51106, 86073, Poitiers, Cedex, France
| | - Yann Sellier
- Réserve Naturelle Nationale du Pinail, GEREPI, Moulin de Chitré, 86210, Vouneuil-sur-Vienne, France
| | | | - Romain Bertrand
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), IRD, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France
| | - Francis Isselin-Nondedeu
- Département Aménagement et Environnement Ecole Polytechnique de l'Université de Tours, CNRS; UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES, 33-35 Allée Ferdinand de Lesseps, 37200, Tours, France
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et Ecologie, UMR CNRS-IRD, Avignon Université, Aix-Marseille Université, IUT d'Avignon, 337 chemin des Mainajariés, Site Agroparc PB 61207, 84911, Avignon, cedex 09, France
| |
Collapse
|