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González-Morales JC, Rivera-Rea J, Moreno-Rueda G, Plasman M, Quintana E, Bastiaans E. Seasonal and altitudinal variation in dorsal skin reflectance and thermic rates in a high-altitude montane lizard. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:1421-1435. [PMID: 38652160 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-024-02677-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Temperature is one of the most important factors in the life histories of ectotherms, as body temperature has an undeniable effect on growth, activity, and reproduction. Lizards have a wide variety of strategies to acquire and maintain body temperature in an optimal range. The "Thermal Melanism Hypothesis" proposes that individuals with lower skin reflectance can heat up faster as a result of absorbing more solar radiation compared to lighter conspecifics. Therefore, having a darker coloration might be advantageous in cold habitats. Dorsal skin reflectance has been found to change rapidly with body temperature in several lizard species, and it can also vary over longer, seasonal time scales. These variations may be important in thermoregulation, especially in lizards that inhabit areas with a large temperature variation during the year. Here, we study how dorsal reflectance fluctuates with body temperature and varies among seasons. We compared dorsal skin reflectance at three body temperature treatments, and measured thermal rates (i.e., heat and cool rate, thermic lapse, and net heat gain) by elevation (2500-4100 m) and seasons (spring, summer, and autumn) in the mesquite lizard, Sceloporus grammicus. Our results show that lizards were darker at high elevations and during the months with the lowest environmental temperatures. The rate of obtaining and retaining heat also varied during the year and was highest during the reproductive season. Our results indicate that the variation of dorsal skin reflectance and thermal rates follows a complex pattern in lizard populations and is affected by both elevation and season.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Carlos González-Morales
- Centro Universitario Amecameca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Estado de México, Instituto Literario No. 100, Col. Centro, Toluca, CP 50000, México.
| | - Jimena Rivera-Rea
- Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto Literario No. 100, Col. Centro, Toluca, Estado de México, CP 50000, México
| | - Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avenida Fuentenueva S/N, Granda, E-18071, España
| | - Melissa Plasman
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, 04510, México
| | - Erendira Quintana
- Centro Universitario Amecameca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Estado de México, Instituto Literario No. 100, Col. Centro, Toluca, CP 50000, México
| | - Elizabeth Bastiaans
- Biology Departament, State University of New York at Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY, 13820, USA
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Goldenberg J, Bisschop K, Bruni G, Di Nicola MR, Banfi F, Faraone FP. Melanin-based color variation in response to changing climates in snakes. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11627. [PMID: 38952653 PMCID: PMC11213819 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11627] [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: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanism, the process of heavier melanin deposition, can interact with climate variation at both micro and macro scales, ultimately influencing color evolution in organisms. While the ecological processes regulating melanin production in relation to climate have been extensively studied, intraspecific variations of melanism are seldom considered. Such scientific gap hampers our understanding of how species adapt to rapidly changing climates. For example, dark coloration may lead to higher heat absorption and be advantageous in cool climates, but also in hot environments as a UV or antimicrobial protection mechanism. To disentangle such opposing predictions, here we examined the effect of climate on shaping melanism variation in 150 barred grass snakes (Natrix helvetica) and 383 green whip snakes (Hierophis viridiflavus) across Italy. By utilizing melanistic morphs (charcoal and picturata in N. helvetica, charcoal and abundistic in H. viridiflavus) and compiling observations from 2002 to 2021, we predicted that charcoal morphs in H. viridiflavus would optimize heat absorption in cold environments, while offering protection from excessive UV radiation in N. helvetica within warm habitats; whereas picturata and abundistic morphs would thrive in humid environments, which naturally have a denser vegetation and wetter substrates producing darker ambient light, thus providing concealment advantages. While picturata and abundistic morphs did not align with our initial humidity expectations, the charcoal morph in N. helvetica is associated with UV environments, suggesting protection mechanisms against damaging solar radiation. H. viridiflavus is associated with high precipitations, which might offer antimicrobial protection. Overall, our results provide insights into the correlations between melanin-based color morphs and climate variables in snake populations. While suggestive of potential adaptive responses, future research should delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms regulating this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Goldenberg
- Division of Biodiversity and Evolution, Department of BiologyLund UniversityLundSweden
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of BiologyGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - K. Bisschop
- Division of Biodiversity and Evolution, Department of BiologyLund UniversityLundSweden
- Laboratory of Aquatic BiologyKU Leuven KulakKortrijkBelgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of BiologyGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - G. Bruni
- Independent Researcher, Viale Palmiro TogliattiSesto FiorentinoFlorenceItaly
| | - M. R. Di Nicola
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Wildlife Health GhentGhent UniversityMerelbekeBelgium
- Unit of Dermatology and CosmetologyIRCCS San Raffaele HospitalMilanItaly
| | - F. Banfi
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of BiologyUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
| | - F. P. Faraone
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e FarmaceuticheUniversity of PalermoPalermoItaly
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3
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Zhang XZ, Ma XD, Wang WT, Peng F, Hou YM, Shen YX, Sun YQ, Chen JF, Yin YJ, Zeng YY, Yu Y, Zhou P, Zhang FH, He YF, Shen YF. Comparative skin histological and transcriptomic analysis of Rana kukunoris with two different skin colors. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2024; 50:101217. [PMID: 38412702 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101217] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
This study compares the skin structures of Rana kukunoris with two different skin colors living in the same area of Haibei in the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The skin thickness of the khaki R. kukunoris was significantly greater than that of the brown R. kukunoris (P < 0.01), and significantly more mucous and granular glands were present on the dorsal skin of the khaki frog (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the melanocytes on the dorsal skin of the brown frog were significantly larger than those on the khaki one (P < 0.05). Morphological changes in the expansion and aggregation of melanocytes seemed to deepen the skin color of R. kukunoris. Moreover, transcriptome sequencing identified tyrosine metabolism, melanogenesis, and riboflavin metabolism as the main pathways involved in melanin formation and metabolism in brown R. kukunoris. TYR, MC1R was upregulated as the skin color of R. kukunoris was deepened and contributed to melanin production and metabolism. In contrast, the khaki frog had significantly more upregulated genes and metabolic pathways related to autoimmunity. The khaki frog appeared to defend against ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced damage by secreting mucus and small molecular peptides, whereas the brown frog protected itself by distributing a large amount of melanin. Hence, the different skin colors of R. kukunoris might represent different adaptation strategies for survival in the intense UV radiation environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Ze Zhang
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810001, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry and Eco-environmental Protection in Tibetan Plateau of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China.
| | - Xiao-Dong Ma
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry and Eco-environmental Protection in Tibetan Plateau of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Wan-Ting Wang
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Fei Peng
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Ye-Mao Hou
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Yue-Xia Shen
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Yu-Qi Sun
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Jin-Fang Chen
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Yi-Jin Yin
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Yu-Ye Zeng
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Yi Yu
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Peng Zhou
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810001, China
| | - Fu-Hao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry and Eco-environmental Protection in Tibetan Plateau of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China; College of Pharmaceutical, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China
| | - Yan-Feng He
- Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry and Eco-environmental Protection in Tibetan Plateau of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China; College of Pharmaceutical, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China.
| | - Ying-Fang Shen
- College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry and Eco-environmental Protection in Tibetan Plateau of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Qinghai Minzu University, Xining 810007, China.
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Escoriza D. Environmental colour pattern variation in Mediterranean Podarcis. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:53. [PMID: 38658833 PMCID: PMC11044340 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02242-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lizards of the genus Podarcis are widespread in the Mediterranean region, including islands and island archipelagos. These small-bodied lizards have a predominantly protective green-brown colouration. However, some populations display unusual patterns, in which the colouration is predominantly blue or uniformly black. This study explores the factors that influence this chromatic variation, whether environmental (climate and island conditions) or evolutionary (phylogenetic trait conservatism). The colouration of 1400 individuals (27 species) was analysed in the CIELAB colour space. RESULTS Pagel's λ indicated that colouration is weakly conserved within phylogenetic lineages. Although the island surface plays a key role in the chromatic variability of these lacertids, geographic isolation and climate hold less influence. The colouration of some small island populations tends to be uniform and dark, possibly due to intense intraspecific competition and lower predatory pressure. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of island populations in understanding the processes that favour the emergence of extreme phenotypes in small ectothermic vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Escoriza
- GRECO, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain.
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5
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Megía-Palma R, Paranjpe D, Cooper RD, Blaimont P, Sinervo B. Natural parasites in conjunction with behavioral and color traits explain male agonistic behaviors in a lizard. Curr Zool 2024; 70:59-69. [PMID: 38476133 PMCID: PMC10926264 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Male competition conforms to a cost-benefit model, because while aggression may increase reproductive prospects, it can also increase the risk of injury. We hypothesize that an additional cost in aggressive males would be an increase in parasite load associated with a high energy investment into sexual competition. Some of these infections, in turn, may downmodulate the level of host aggression via energetic trade-offs. We staged dyadic male contests in the lab to investigate the relationships of multiple parasites with the agonistic behavior of lizard hosts, Sceloporus occidentalis. We also included both color and behavioral traits from opponents in the analyses because (1) color patches of lizards may serve as intraspecific signals used by conspecifics to assess the quality of opponents, and (2) contests between male lizards fit classical models of escalated aggression, where lizards increase aggression displays in response to an opponent's behavior. The results conform to our hypothesis because male lizards displayed more pushups when they had more ticks. Moreover, some parasites may modulate the levels of aggression because lizards infected by hematic coccidians performed fewer pushups. Interestingly, lizards also displayed fewer pushups when both the chroma and size of the opponent's blue patch were greater. The results thus also supported the role of the blue patch of S. occidentalis as a sexual armament, because it contributed to the deterrence of aggression from opponent lizards. We revealed that natural parasitic infections in lizard hosts can contribute to their agonistic behavior. We encourage future studies to account for parasites in behavioral tests with lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Megía-Palma
- Department of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Parasitology Unit, Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), E-28805, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, P-4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, P-4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Dhanashree Paranjpe
- Rupa Rahul Bajaj Center for Environment and Art, Empress Botanical Gardens, Kavade Mala, Pune, India
| | - Robert D Cooper
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Pauline Blaimont
- Department of Biology, University of Houston Downtown, 1 Main St., Houston, TX 77002, USA
| | - Barry Sinervo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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6
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Recknagel H, Harvey WT, Layton M, Elmer KR. Common lizard microhabitat selection varies by sex, parity mode, and colouration. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:47. [PMID: 37667183 PMCID: PMC10478496 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02158-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animals select and interact with their environment in various ways, including to ensure their physiology is at its optimal capacity, access to prey is possible, and predators can be avoided. Often conflicting, the balance of choices made may vary depending on an individual's life-history and condition. The common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) has egg-laying and live-bearing lineages and displays a variety of dorsal patterns and colouration. How colouration and reproductive mode affect habitat selection decisions on the landscape is not known. In this study, we first tested if co-occurring male and female viviparous and oviparous common lizards differ in their microhabitat selection. Second, we tested if the dorsal colouration of an individual lizard matched its basking site choice within the microhabitat where it was encountered, which could be related to camouflage and crypsis. RESULTS We found that site use differed from the habitat otherwise available, suggesting lizards actively choose the composition and structure of their microhabitat. Females were found in areas with more wood and less bare ground compared to males; we speculate that this may be for better camouflage and reducing predation risk during pregnancy, when females are less mobile. Microhabitat use also differed by parity mode: viviparous lizards were found in areas with more density of flowering plants, while oviparous lizards were found in areas that were wetter and had more moss. This may relate to differing habitat preferences of viviparous vs. oviparous for clutch lay sites. We found that an individual's dorsal colouration matched that of the substrate of its basking site. This could indicate that individuals may choose their basking site to optimise camouflage within microhabitat. Further, all individuals were found basking in areas close to cover, which we expect could be used to escape predation. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that common lizards may actively choose their microhabitat and basking site, balancing physiological requirements, escape response and camouflage as a tactic for predator avoidance. This varies for parity modes, sexes, and dorsal colourations, suggesting that individual optimisation strategies are influenced by inter-individual variation within populations as well as determined by evolutionary differences associated with life history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Recknagel
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - William T Harvey
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Megan Layton
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Kathryn R Elmer
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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Rogerson G, Bock S, Loera Y, Parrott B, Mulley JF. Incubation temperature alters stripe formation and head colouration in American alligator hatchlings and is unaffected by estradiol-induced sex reversal. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245219. [PMID: 36861779 PMCID: PMC10112970 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Considerations of the impact climate change has on reptiles are typically focused on habitat change or loss, range shifts and skewed sex ratios in species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Here, we show that incubation temperature alters stripe number and head colouration of hatchling American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Animals incubated at higher temperatures (33.5°C) had, on average, one more stripe than those at lower temperatures (29.5°C), and also had significantly lighter heads. These patterns were not affected by estradiol-induced sex reversal, suggesting independence from hatchling sex. Therefore, increases in nest temperatures as a result of climate change have the potential to alter pigmentation patterning, which may have implications for offspring fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Rogerson
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Samantha Bock
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia,Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Yeraldi Loera
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Benjamin Parrott
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia,Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - John F. Mulley
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
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Large scale phenotypic characterisation of Hierophis viridiflavus (Squamata: Serpentes): climatic and environmental drivers suggest the role of evolutionary processes in a polymorphic species. Evol Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-023-10234-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
AbstractColour variability is largely widespread in the animal world as it is tightly associated with fitness and survivorship. Therefore, the drivers and implications of such variability have been of great interest for zoologists in the past decades. Reptiles are excellent models to investigate colour variations and expression under different conditions. Here, we focused on melanism occurrence in the two main lineages of Hierophis viridiflavus at the scale of the species distribution, by extracting available data from iNaturalist, a citizen science network, with the aim of detecting any pure effect of climate or local habitat on colour expression. Our analyses highlighted that habitat does not explain differences in phenotypes, whereas marked effects of geographic and climatic variables were detected. However, the observed climatic effects could be a proxy of the geographical distribution of the two groups, and thus the high occurrence of bright colourations in western populations of the eastern lineage could be addressed to an ongoing event of asymmetric gene flow in contact zones. The current distribution of phenotypes could be the outcome of the evolutionary history of the species combined with the geological history of the Mediterranean region. This investigation, though, is only preliminary and molecular analyses on highly variable regions of the genome are mandatory to address this issue.
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Elevation and blood traits in the mesquite lizard: Are patterns repeatable between mountains? Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 276:111338. [PMID: 36336309 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111338] [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: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Ecogeographical patterns describe predictable variation in phenotypic traits between ecological communities. For example, high-altitude animals are expected to show elevated hematological values as an adaptation to the lower oxygen pressure. Mountains act like ecological islands and therefore are considered natural laboratories. However, the majority of ecophysiological studies on blood traits lack replication that would allow us to infer if the pattern reported is a local event or whether it is a widespread pattern resulting from larger-scale ecological processes. In lizards, in fact, the increase of hematological values at high altitudes has received mixed support. Here, for the first time, we compare blood traits in lizards along elevational gradients with replication. We tested the repeatability of blood traits in mesquite lizards between different elevations in three different mountains from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. We measured hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte size in blood samples of low, medium, and high-elevation lizards. We obtained similar elevational patterns between mountains, but the blood traits differed among mountains. Middle-altitude populations had greater oxygen-carrying capacity than lizards from low and high altitudes. The differences found between mountain systems could be the result of phenotypic plasticity or genetic differentiation as a consequence of abiotic factors not considered.
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10
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Liu X, Cai HM, Wang WQ, Lin W, Su ZW, Ma ZH. Why is the beautyberry so colourful? Evolution, biogeography, and diversification of fruit colours in Callicarpa (Lamiaceae). PLANT DIVERSITY 2023; 45:6-19. [PMID: 36876305 PMCID: PMC9975479 DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fruit colour is essential to seed dispersal, speciation, and biological diversity in global ecosystems. The relationship between fruit-colour variation and species diversification has long been of interest in evolutionary biology, but remains poorly understood at the genus level. Here, we used Callicarpa, a typical representative of pantropical angiosperm, to analyse whether fruit colours are correlated with biogeographic distribution, dispersal events, and diversification rate. We estimated a time-calibrated phylogeny for Callicarpa and reconstructed ancestral fruit colour. Utilizing phylogenetic methods, we estimated the major dispersal events across the phylogenetic tree and the most likely fruit colours related to each dispersal event, and tested whether the dispersal frequencies and distances of the four fruit colours between major biogeographical areas were equal. We then tested whether fruit colours are correlated with latitude, elevation, and diversification rate. Biogeographical reconstructions showed that Callicarpa originated in the East Asia and Southeast Asia during the Eocene (∼35.53 Ma) and diverse species diverged mainly in the Miocene and lasted into the Pleistocene. Large-scale dispersal events were significantly associated with violet-fruited lineages. Furthermore, different fruit colours were markedly correlated with different latitudes and elevations (e.g., violet fruits were correlated with higher latitudes and elevations; red fruits and black fruits with lower latitudes; white fruits with higher elevations). Notably, violet fruits were statistically associated with highest diversification rates, driving fruit colour variation among different regions globally. Our results contribute to further understanding why fruit colour is so variable at the genus level of angiosperms in different areas around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Liu
- Department of Agricultural College, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Hui-Min Cai
- Department of Agricultural College, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Wen-Qiao Wang
- Department of Agricultural College, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of Agricultural College, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Zhi-Wei Su
- Institute of Marine Drugs, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Zhong-Hui Ma
- Department of Agricultural College, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, PR China
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11
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Zhao JR, Hu SY, Zhang LJ, Zhang L, Yang XZ, Yuan ML. Differential gene expression patterns between the head and thorax of Gynaephora aureata are associated with high-altitude adaptation. Front Genet 2023; 14:1137618. [PMID: 37144120 PMCID: PMC10151491 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1137618] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Grassland caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Gynaephora) are important pests in alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). These pests have morphological, behavioral, and genetic adaptations for survival in high-altitude environments. However, mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation in QTP Gynaephora species remain largely unknown. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of the head and thorax transcriptomes of G. aureata to explore the genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation. We detected 8,736 significantly differentially expressed genes (sDEGs) between the head and thorax, including genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, epidermal proteins, and detoxification. These sDEGs were significantly enriched in 312 Gene Ontology terms and 16 KEGG pathways. We identified 73 pigment-associated genes, including 8 rhodopsin-associated genes, 19 ommochrome-associated genes, 1 pteridine-associated gene, 37 melanin-associated genes, and 12 heme-associated genes. These pigment-associated genes were related to the formation of the red head and black thorax of G. aureata. A key gene, yellow-h, in the melanin pathway was significantly upregulated in the thorax, suggesting that it is related to the formation of the black body and contributed to the adaptation of G. aureata to low temperatures and high ultraviolet radiation in the QTP. Another key gene, cardinal, in the ommochrome pathway was significantly upregulated in the head and may be related to red warning color formation. We also identified 107 olfactory-related genes in G. aureata, including genes encoding 29 odorant-binding proteins, 16 chemosensory proteins, 22 odorant receptor proteins, 14 ionotropic receptors, 12 gustatory receptors, 12 odorant degrading enzymes, and 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins. Diversification of olfactory-related genes may be associated with the feeding habits of G. aureata, including larvae dispersal and searching for plant resources available in the QTP. These results provide new insights into high-altitude adaptation of Gynaephora in the QTP and may contribute to the development of new control strategies for these pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Rui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, China
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shi-Yun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, China
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Li-Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, China
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, China
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xing-Zhuo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, China
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ming-Long Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, China
- Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, China
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ming-Long Yuan,
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12
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Guo Q, Jiang Y, Wang Z, Bi Y, Chen G, Bai H, Chang G. Genome-Wide Association Study for Screening and Identifying Potential Shin Color Loci in Ducks. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081391. [PMID: 36011302 PMCID: PMC9407491 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Shin color diversity is a widespread phenomenon in birds. In this study, ducks were assessed to identify candidate genes for yellow, black, and spotted tibiae. For this purpose, we performed whole-genome resequencing of an F2 population consisting of 275 ducks crossed between Runzhou crested-white ducks and Cherry Valley ducks. We obtained 12.6 Mb of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, and the three shin colors were subsequently genotyped. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were performed to identify candidate and potential SNPs for the three shin colors. According to the results, 2947 and 3451 significant SNPs were associated with black and yellow shins, respectively, and six potential SNPs were associated with spotted shins. Based on the SNP annotations, the MITF, EDNRB2, POU family members, and the SLC superfamily were the candidate genes regulating pigmentation. In addition, the isoforms of EDNRB2, TYR, TYRP1, and MITF-M were significantly different between the black and yellow tibiae. MITF and EDNRB2 may have synergistic roles in the regulation of melanin synthesis, and their mutations may lead to phenotypic differences in the melanin deposition between individuals. This study provides new insights into the genetic factors that may influence tibia color diversity in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixin Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zhixiu Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yulin Bi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Guohong Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hao Bai
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Guobin Chang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence:
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13
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Niu Y, Zhang X, Xu T, Li X, Zhang H, Wu A, Storey KB, Chen Q. Physiological and Biochemical Adaptations to High Altitude in Tibetan Frogs, Nanorana parkeri. Front Physiol 2022; 13:942037. [PMID: 35874536 PMCID: PMC9298763 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.942037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Xizang plateau frog, N. parkeri (Anura: Dicroglossidae), is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, ranging from 2,850 to 5,100 m above sea level. The present study explores physiological and biochemical adaptations to high altitude in this species with a particular emphasis on parameters of hematology, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense in adult and juvenile N. parkeri collected from high (4,600 m a.s.l) and low (3,400 m a.s.l) altitudes. Hematological results showed that hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), hematocrit (Hct), and red blood cell (RBC) counts were significantly higher in high-altitude N. parkeri. High-altitude juveniles had lower RBC sizes than low-altitude juveniles. Higher levels of GSH and GSSG were indicated only in juveniles from high altitude, not in adults. High-altitude individuals also showed lower oxidative damage, assessed as malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl groups (CG) in the liver. High-altitude adults also showed higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as well as total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the liver as compared to low-altitude adults. Moreover, higher GPX activity and T-AOC were observed in the heart and brain of high-altitude adults. Liver CAT, GPX, and T-AOC showed significant increases in high-altitude juveniles. Vitamin C content was also higher in the heart of high-altitude frogs compared to low-altitude individuals. In summary, the high-altitude population of N. parkeri showed more robust hematological parameters, less oxidative damage, and stronger antioxidant defenses than the low-altitude population, all contributing to increased protection for survival in high-altitude environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Niu
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Xuejing Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tisen Xu
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Xiangyong Li
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Haiying Zhang
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Anran Wu
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | | | - Qiang Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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14
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Badiane A, Dupoué A, Blaimont P, Miles DB, Gilbert AL, Leroux-Coyau M, Kawamoto A, Rozen-Rechels D, Meylan S, Clobert J, Le Galliard JF. Environmental conditions and male quality traits simultaneously explain variation of multiple colour signals in male lizards. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1906-1917. [PMID: 35837855 PMCID: PMC9542398 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Male lizards often display multiple pigment‐based and structural colour signals which may reflect various quality traits (e.g. performance, parasitism), with testosterone (T) often mediating these relationships. Furthermore, environmental conditions can explain colour signal variation by affecting processes such as signal efficacy, thermoregulation and camouflage. The relationships between colour signals, male quality traits and environmental factors have often been analysed in isolation, but simultaneous analyses are rare. Thus, the response of multiple colour signals to variation in all these factors in an integrative analysis remains to be investigated. Here, we investigated how multiple colour signals relate to their information content, examined the role of T as a potential mediator of these relationships and how environmental factors explain colour signal variation. We performed an integrative study to examine the covariation between three colour signals (melanin‐based black, carotenoid‐based yellow–orange and structural UV), physiological performance, parasitism, T levels and environmental factors (microclimate, forest cover) in male common lizards Zootoca vivipara from 13 populations. We found that the three colour signals conveyed information on different aspects of male condition, supporting a multiple message hypothesis. T influenced only parasitism, suggesting that T does not directly mediate the relationships between colour signals and their information content. Moreover, colour signals became more saturated in forested habitats, suggesting an adaptation to degraded light conditions, and became generally brighter in mesic conditions, in contradiction with the thermal melanism hypothesis. We show that distinct individual quality traits and environmental factors simultaneously explain variations of multiple colour signals with different production modes. Our study therefore highlights the complexity of colour signal evolution, involving various sets of selective pressures acting at the same time, but in different ways depending on colour production mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Badiane
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement (IEES), Paris, France
| | - Andréaz Dupoué
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement (IEES), Paris, France
| | | | - Donald B Miles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | | | - Mathieu Leroux-Coyau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement (IEES), Paris, France
| | - Anna Kawamoto
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement (IEES), Paris, France
| | - David Rozen-Rechels
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement (IEES), Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Meylan
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement (IEES), Paris, France
| | - Jean Clobert
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), USR5321, CNRS, Moulis, France
| | - Jean-François Le Galliard
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement (IEES), Paris, France.,Centre de Recherche en Écologie Expérimentale et Prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron IleDeFrance), Département de biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, PSL Research University, UMS 3194, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
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15
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Megía-Palma R, Merino S, Barrientos R. Longitudinal effects of habitat quality, body condition, and parasites on colour patches of a multiornamented lizard. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03182-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Ontogeny is expected to be a determinant factor affecting production of colour patches in lizards, while immune challenges or sudden weight loss may impair the maintenance of pigment-based coloration within a breeding season. We translocated males of the lizard Psammodromus algirus between two sampling plots that differed in distance to a road, vegetation structure, and predator abundance. We analysed variation in spectral reflectance of their colour patches the same and the following year. The change in the reflectance of the lizard colour patches within the first breeding season was explained by the interaction between plot and treatment, but not body condition. The maintenance of the breeding coloration was impaired only in those males translocated close to the road, probably reflecting that it is a poor-quality habitat for P. algirus. The following year, lizards that produced a more elaborate coloration were those that increased their body condition and controlled some parasitic infections, although suffered an increase of others. This study shows that colour patch production is plastic in P. algirus. Lizards increasing parasites or losing weight reduced pigmentation, although habitat quality can cushion these negative effects on pigmentation. However, not all parasites constrain the investment in coloration. In fact, some increased in those lizards that allocated more pigments to colour patches. In conclusion, longitudinal studies following experimental manipulation can contribute to understand pigment allocation rules in lizards.
Significance statement
Pigments involved in colour patches of animals are limiting resources that can be reallocated off the skin to other functions. However, longitudinal evidence of this phenomenon is scarce in reptiles. We designed a manipulative mark-recapture experiment to investigate effects of habitat and parasitic infections on colour patch maintenance (within-year variation) and production (between-year variation) in male free-ranging lizards that were reciprocally translocated between two patches of habitat that differed in quality. During the first year, lizards translocated to the habitat with more predators and worse vegetation impoverished their coloration, while lizards translocated to the more favourable habitat maintained it despite all translocated lizards loose body condition. The next year we detected different effects on the coloration of three different parasites investigated, suggesting that coloration can reflect the virulence of the infections.
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16
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Mader S, Goldenberg J, Massetti F, Bisschop K, D’Alba L, Etienne RS, Clusella‐Trullas S, Shawkey MD. How melanism affects the sensitivity of lizards to climate change. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Mader
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group Department of Biology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
- Theoretical Research in Evolutionary Life Sciences Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan Goldenberg
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group Department of Biology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Federico Massetti
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Karen Bisschop
- Theoretical Research in Evolutionary Life Sciences Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit Department of Biology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Liliana D’Alba
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group Department of Biology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Rampal S. Etienne
- Theoretical Research in Evolutionary Life Sciences Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Susana Clusella‐Trullas
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Matthew D. Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group Department of Biology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
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17
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Megía-Palma R, Barja I, Barrientos R. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and ectoparasites as biomarkers of heat stress close to roads in a Mediterranean lizard. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 802:149919. [PMID: 34525719 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Differences between air and ground temperatures are expected to narrow with the advance of the season in temperate regions (aka seasonal restriction in the availability of thermal microhabitats), which may activate behavioral and physiological responses of ectotherm species adapted to temperate climates. However, according to cost-benefit models of ectotherm thermoregulation, we hypothesize that these responses may also carry some costs. We quantified seasonal shifts in thermoregulatory precision, concentration of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, and load of ectoparasites in a Mediterranean lizard, Psammodromus algirus. We also tested whether the proximity to a road, a putative source of chronic stress, can facilitate the glucocorticoid-mediated response of lizards to heat stress. As expected, differences between body and environmental temperatures narrowed during the reproductive season and lizards responded by increasing their thermoregulatory precision and the secretion of glucocorticoids, as indicated by metabolites in feces. Interestingly, lizards tended to have higher glucocorticoid concentration when captured far from the road. This might reflect either a putative impairment of the glucocorticoid-mediated response of the lizards to heat stress close to the road or the plastic capability of P. algirus to acclimate to sources of moderate chronic stress. In the latter direction, the increase of both glucocorticoid metabolites and thermoregulatory precision supported that this Mediterranean species responds to environmental thermal restrictions with adaptive behavioral and physiological mechanisms. However, this was also associated with an increase in its susceptibility to ectoparasites, which represents an added cost to the current cost-benefit models of ectotherm thermoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Megía-Palma
- Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Spain; CIBIO-InBIO: Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Portugal.
| | - I Barja
- Laboratory of Etho-Physiology, Department Biology (Unit Zoology), Autónoma University of Madrid, Spain; Research Centre in Biodiversity and Global Change (CIBC-UAM), Autónoma University of Madrid, Spain
| | - R Barrientos
- Road Ecology Lab, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, School of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
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18
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Wan L, Liu Z, Wang T, Yang M, Li J, Sun H, Niu C, Zhao W, Jin Y. Camouflage versus running performance as strategies against predation in a lizard inhabiting different habitats. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:17409-17416. [PMID: 34938517 PMCID: PMC8668757 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Running speed and camouflage are associated with the foraging and anti-predator abilities of animals. The toad-headed lizard, Phrynocephalus versicolor, has evolved a darker dorsal color in melanistic habitats and maintained a lighter color in adjacent, non-melanistic habitats. We test the hypothesis that lizards have weaker running speed on well-matching backgrounds than on less matching backgrounds. We used lizard models to compare the predation pressure, while the running speed of dark and light lizards were compared in field tunnels using a video recording method. Our results indicated that both the dark lizards in melanistic Heishankou (HSK) and the light lizards in non-melanistic Guazhou (GZ) face lower predation pressure than potential color-background unmatched lizards. The light lizards have a potentially higher running speed than darker lizards in melanistic habitats, which implies that substrate color matching populations with benefits of camouflage might have lower anti-predation pressure, and the costs of investment in melanin production may reduce running capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Wan
- College of Life SciencesNorthwest Normal UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Zhenxia Liu
- College of Life SciencesNorthwest Normal UniversityLanzhouChina
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Tao Wang
- College of life sciences and medicineZhejiang Sci‐Tech UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Minglu Yang
- College of Life SciencesNorthwest Normal UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Jiasheng Li
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Hui Sun
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chenkai Niu
- College of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Wei Zhao
- College of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Yuanting Jin
- College of Life SciencesChina Jiliang UniversityHangzhouChina
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19
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Newell C, Walker H, Caro T. Pig pigmentation: testing Gloger’s rule. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab090] [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
Abstract
Comparative studies indicate that several mammalian clades obey Gloger’s rule in that they exhibit darker coloration in humid warm climates, although the mechanisms responsible for this association still are poorly understood. We surveyed external appearances of a single species, the feral pig (Sus scrofa), shot at 48 hunting lodges across North America and matched these to potential abiotic drivers, namely: relative humidity, temperature, precipitation, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and to biotic factors of habitat shade and predation pressure. We found that darker animals occupy locations of greater precipitation and warmer temperatures, as expected from Gloger’s rule. The recent range expansion of S. scrofa implies selection for pelage coloration has occurred very rapidly. Separating pelage coloration into eumelanin- and phaeomelanin-based pigmentation, we found more pronounced eumelanin-based pelage in areas of higher rainfall and temperatures and UV radiation, whereas pelage phaeomelanin is related to cool dry climates with lower UV radiation. This implies that humidity or UV protection but not crypsis are the mechanisms underlying Gloger’s rule in this species and the factors driving eumelanin and phaeomelanin expression in mammalian pelage are different, reinforcing new interpretations of this venerable rule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Newell
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Hannah Walker
- Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Tim Caro
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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20
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Jin Y, Tong H, Shao G, Li J, Lv Y, Wo Y, Brown RP, Fu C. Dorsal Pigmentation and Its Association with Functional Variation in MC1R in a Lizard from Different Elevations on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:2303-2313. [PMID: 33095228 PMCID: PMC7719228 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of the role of the MC1R gene has provided major insights into variation in skin pigmentation in several organisms, including humans, but the evolutionary genetics of this variation is less well established. Variation in this gene and its relationship with degree of melanism was analyzed in one of the world’s highest-elevation lizards, Phrynocephalus theobaldi from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Individuals from the low-elevation group were shown to have darker dorsal pigmentation than individuals from a high-elevation group. The existence of climatic variation across these elevations was quantified, with lower elevations exhibiting higher air pressure, temperatures, and humidity, but less wind and insolation. Analysis of the MC1R gene in 214 individuals revealed amino acid differences at five sites between intraspecific sister lineages from different elevations, with two sites showing distinct fixed residues at low elevations. Three of the four single-nucleotide polymorphisms that underpinned these amino acid differences were highly significant outliers, relative to the generalized MC1R population structuring, suggestive of selection. Transfection of cells with an MC1R allele from a lighter high-elevation population caused a 43% reduction in agonist-induced cyclic AMP accumulation, and hence lowered melanin synthesis, relative to transfection with an allele from a darker low-elevation population. The high-elevation allele led to less efficient integration of the MC1R protein into melanocyte membranes. Our study identifies variation in the degree of melanism that can be explained by four or fewer MC1R substitutions. We establish a functional link between these substitutions and melanin synthesis and demonstrate elevation-associated shifts in their frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanting Jin
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haojie Tong
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gang Shao
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiasheng Li
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yudie Lv
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yubin Wo
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Richard P Brown
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China.,School of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom
| | - Caiyun Fu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
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21
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Miranda-Calle AB, Pacheco LF, Aparicio J, Méndez-De la Cruz FR. Thermoregulation of Liolaemus aparicioi (Iguania: Liolaemidae) along a 1000 m elevational gradient in La Paz Valley, La Paz, Bolivia. J Therm Biol 2021; 99:102940. [PMID: 34420606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.102940] [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: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Lizard species have diverse behavioral and physiological responses to thermo-environmental conditions, which allow them to inhabit a broad range of latitudes and elevations. Because the availability of suitable thermal resources is limited and more variable at high-elevation environments than at lower elevations, we expect high-elevation lizards to be constrained in their thermoregulation relative to lizards at lower elevations by the fewer available thermal resources to reach optimal temperatures (colder environment). We studied the thermal biology of an endemic and Critically Endangered lizard, Liolaemus aparicioi, to assess its thermal responses along a 1000 m elevational gradient in La Paz Valley from May to August of 2015 (dry season). We took field body and microhabitat temperatures at capture sites (substrate and air above ground), and body size (snout-vent length and mass) of individuals at Taypichullo (3000 m asl), Gran Jardín de la Revolución Municipal Park (3500 m asl), and Taucachi (4000 m asl) localities. Operative temperatures were taken from calibrated models deployed in different available microhabitats. Preferred temperatures and thermal tolerance limits were determined in laboratory settings for lizards from each locality. Field body, microhabitat, and operative temperatures decreased with increasing elevation and differed between sexes. Lizards at the high elevation locality had the lowest thermoregulatory efficiency as compared with the mid and lower elevation localities. In laboratory measurements, while the preferred temperatures varied between sexes, pooled preferred temperatures and thermal tolerances were similar in all localities. Although thermal resources at high elevation can limit thermoregulatory possibilities in L. aparicioi, behavioral microhabitat use, time allocated to thermoregulation, and physiological adjustments seem to be possible strategies to counteract thermal costs along elevational gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Bruno Miranda-Calle
- Carrera de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Naturales, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Campus Universitario, c/27 Cota Cota, C.P. 10077, Correo Central, La Paz, Bolivia; Área de Herpetología, Colección Boliviana de Fauna, Campus Universitario, c/27 Cota Cota, C.P. 08706, Correo Central, La Paz, Bolivia; Red de Investigadores en Herpetología, La Paz, Bolivia.
| | - Luis F Pacheco
- Instituto de Ecología, Carrera de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Naturales, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Campus Universitario, c/27 Cota Cota, C.P. 10077, Correo Central, La Paz, Bolivia.
| | - James Aparicio
- Área de Herpetología, Colección Boliviana de Fauna, Campus Universitario, c/27 Cota Cota, C.P. 08706, Correo Central, La Paz, Bolivia; Red de Investigadores en Herpetología, La Paz, Bolivia.
| | - Fausto R Méndez-De la Cruz
- Laboratorio de Herpetología, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, C.P. 04510, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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22
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Aguado S, Clusella-Trullas S. Intra-specific variation of thermal performance, skin reflectance and body size partially co-vary with climate in a lizard. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Thermal adaptation theory posits that variation of thermal traits such as those affecting thermal budgets and the performance of ectotherms should be associated with climate gradients. Under a simple scenario, thermal traits should also co-vary to shape optimal thermal phenotypes under a particular climate. However, geographical variation and covariation of thermal traits can result from other sources of selection and a wide range of other mechanisms. Here, we explore variation and covariation of skin reflectance (melanization), body size and thermal performance traits among three populations of the lizard Cordylus cordylus, a species endemic to South Africa. We also examine relationships between skin reflectance and substrate reflectance, body size and crevice size to test alternative hypotheses. We found partial support for predictions of thermal adaptation to climate regimes for body size, melanization and chill-coma recovery time. Darker lizards also performed optimally at higher temperatures than lighter coloured lizards but there was limited individual covariation between morphological and performance traits. Despite partial support for thermal adaptation, the complex interactions between sex and body size and between substrate reflectance and size underlying skin reflectance emphasized the importance of testing multiple hypotheses when exploring drivers of thermal trait variation within species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Aguado
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo, and Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Biodiversidad (UMIB, CSIC-UO-PA), Oviedo, Spain
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23
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Torres MDM, Viladrich LJ, Naretto S. Role of coloration in antipredator strategies of Pristidactylus achalensis (Squamata: Leiosauridae) related to sex and stages of predation. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The interaction between behavioural and phenotypic traits, such as coloration, plays a specific role at different stages of the predatory sequence. Cryptic coloration involves a match to the background that reduces the risk of detection, and it is usually optimized by immobility behaviour. In lizards, sexual dichromatism and within-individual changes of colour can influence the level of their crypsis and thus influence antipredator behaviour and the decision to flee. Here, we examined variation in coloration and antipredator behaviour between the sexes of the Achala copper lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis). We measured sexual dichromatism and crypsis in accordance with avian vision. We also exposed lizards to a raptor dummy to assess the colour change and behaviour at the detection and approach stages of the predatory event. Finally, we tested escape behaviour in the natural habitat. We found that males were more conspicuous than females. Additionally, individuals showed distinct behaviours at different stages of the predation simulation, but there were no differences between the sexes. However, in their natural habitat males initiated flight at greater distances than females, which might be related to their more conspicuous coloration. In summary, this study shows how differences in crypsis between the sexes affect escape behaviour during the approach stage of predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Del Milagro Torres
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Leonel Jeremías Viladrich
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Sergio Naretto
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
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24
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Nicolaï MPJ, D'Alba L, Goldenberg J, Gansemans Y, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Clusella-Trullas S, Shawkey MD. Untangling the structural and molecular mechanisms underlying colour and rapid colour change in a lizard, Agama atra. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2262-2284. [PMID: 33772941 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
With functions as diverse as communication, protection and thermoregulation, coloration is one of the most important traits in lizards. The ability to change colour as a function of varying social and environmental conditions is thus an important innovation. While colour change is present in animals ranging from squids, to fish and reptiles, not much is known about the mechanisms behind it. Traditionally, colour change was attributed to migration of pigments, in particular melanin. More recent work has shown that the changes in nanostructural configuration inside iridophores are able to produce a wide palette of colours. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying colour, and colour change in particular, remain unstudied. Here we use a combination of transcriptomic and microscopic data to show that melanin, iridophores and pteridines are the main colour-producing mechanisms in Agama atra, and provide molecular and structural data suggesting that rapid colour change is achieved via melanin dispersal in combination with iridophore organization. This work demonstrates the power of combining genotypic (gene expression) and phenotypic (microscopy) information for addressing physiological questions, providing a basis for future studies of colour change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël P J Nicolaï
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liliana D'Alba
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Goldenberg
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yannick Gansemans
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Nieuwerburgh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Susana Clusella-Trullas
- Department of Botany and Zoology & Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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25
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Cerdeña J, Farfán J, Quiroz AJ. A high mountain lizard from Peru: The world’s highest-altitude reptile. HERPETOZOA 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.34.61393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Life at high altitudes is particularly challenging for ectothermic animals like reptiles and involves the evolution of specialised adaptations to deal with low temperatures, hypoxia and intense UV radiation. As a result, only very few reptile taxa are able to survive above 5,000 m elevation and herpetological observations from these altitudes are exceedingly rare. We report here an exceptional observation of a lizard population (Liolaemus aff. tacnae; Reptilia, Squamata) from the high Andes of Peru. During an ascent of Chachani mountain (6,054 m, 16°11'S, 71°32'W), we observed and documented photographically this species living between 5,000 and 5,400 m above sea level. Following a review of literature, we show that this is the highest known record of a reptile species.
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Goldenberg J, D'Alba L, Bisschop K, Vanthournout B, Shawkey MD. Substrate thermal properties influence ventral brightness evolution in ectotherms. Commun Biol 2021; 4:26. [PMID: 33398079 PMCID: PMC7782800 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01524-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The thermal environment can affect the evolution of morpho-behavioral adaptations of ectotherms. Heat is transferred from substrates to organisms by conduction and reflected radiation. Because brightness influences the degree of heat absorption, substrates could affect the evolution of integumentary optical properties. Here, we show that vipers (Squamata:Viperidae) inhabiting hot, highly radiative and superficially conductive substrates have evolved bright ventra for efficient heat transfer. We analyzed the brightness of 4161 publicly available images from 126 species, and we found that substrate type, alongside latitude and body mass, strongly influences ventral brightness. Substrate type also significantly affects dorsal brightness, but this is associated with different selective forces: activity-pattern and altitude. Ancestral estimation analysis suggests that the ancestral ventral condition was likely moderately bright and, following divergence events, some species convergently increased their brightness. Vipers diversified during the Miocene and the enhancement of ventral brightness may have facilitated the exploitation of arid grounds. We provide evidence that integument brightness can impact the behavioral ecology of ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Goldenberg
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Liliana D'Alba
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karen Bisschop
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Theoretical Research in Evolutionary Life Sciences, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Vanthournout
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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27
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Domínguez-Godoy MA, Hudson R, Pérez-Mendoza HA, Ancona S, Díaz de la Vega-Pérez AH. Living on the edge: Lower thermal quality but greater survival probability at a high altitude mountain for the mesquite lizard (Sceloporus grammicus). J Therm Biol 2020; 94:102757. [PMID: 33292998 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A 20-month recapture analysis of 1001 individually marked mesquite lizards (Sceloporus grammicus) suggests that variation in thermal quality across three altitudes influences survival probability. Each additional unit of deviation from the temperature selected by these lizards in previous laboratory experiments (i.e. decreased thermal quality) meant an increase of roughly 1.01% in survival probability. Survival probabilities ranged from 0.80 to 0.90 at the lowest elevation site (2600 m), from 0.76 to 0.87 at the middle elevation site (3100 m) and from 0.90 to 0.94 at the highest elevation site (4150 m). These results suggest that in poor thermal quality environments mesquite lizards may employ thermoregulatory strategies (behavioral, physiological and/or morphological) to decrease their metabolic expenditure and their exposure to predators, maximizing survival. These findings highlight the relevance of thermal quality of the habitat in determining survival probability of ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Domínguez-Godoy
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla km 1.5 C.P., 90062, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P., 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Hibrahim A Pérez-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva de Anfibios y Reptiles, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de Los Barrios Número 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, 54090, Mexico
| | - Sergio Ancona
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P., 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Aníbal H Díaz de la Vega-Pérez
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla km 1.5, C.P., 90062, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
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28
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González-Morales JC, Rivera-Rea J, Moreno-Rueda G, Bastiaans E, Díaz-Albiter H, Díaz de la Vega-Pérez AH, Bautista A, Fajardo V. To be small and dark is advantageous for gaining heat in mezquite lizards, Sceloporus grammicus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Body temperature is important in determining individual performance in ectotherms such as lizards. Environmental temperature decreases with increasing altitude, but nevertheless many lizards inhabit high-altitude environments. The ‘thermal melanism hypothesis’ proposes that a dark dorsal coloration enables darker individuals to heat up faster because they absorb more solar radiation and thus being darker may be advantageous in cold habitats. The aim of the present study is to evaluate how heating rate, cooling rate and net heat gain vary with body size and dorsal skin coloration in Sceloporus grammicus lizards along an altitudinal gradient. We measured these traits multiple times in the same individuals with a radiation heat source and spectrophotometry under laboratory conditions. Our results showed that S. grammicus lizards are smaller and darker at high elevations than at low elevations. In addition, the smallest and darkest lizards showed the greatest heating rate and net heat gain. Therefore, in S. grammicus, we suggest that small body size and dark dorsal coloration provide thermoregulatory benefits in high-altitude environments. Hence, this study supports the thermal melanism hypothesis in a lizard species under varied thermal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos González-Morales
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Km 1.5 Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla S/N, AP, Tlaxcala, México
- Instituto para la Conservación de la cordillera Neovolcánica ante al Cambio Climático, Lago Atitlán, Colonia Nueva Oxtotitlán, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P., México
| | - Jimena Rivera-Rea
- Instituto para la Conservación de la cordillera Neovolcánica ante al Cambio Climático, Lago Atitlán, Colonia Nueva Oxtotitlán, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P., México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, México. Instituto Literario, Colonia Centro, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P., México
| | - Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva S/N, Granada, Spain
| | - Elizabeth Bastiaans
- Biology Department, State University of New York College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY, USA
| | - Héctor Díaz-Albiter
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Km 1.5 Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla S/N, Tlaxcala, México
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Amando Bautista
- Unidad Villahermosa, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Tabasco CP, México
| | - Víctor Fajardo
- Instituto para la Conservación de la cordillera Neovolcánica ante al Cambio Climático, Lago Atitlán, Colonia Nueva Oxtotitlán, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P., México
- Universidad del Istmo, Campus Juchitán, Carretera Transísmica Juchitán - La Ventosa Km. 14, La Ventosa, C.P. Oaxaca, México
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29
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Domínguez-Godoy MA, Gómez-Campos JE, Hudson R, Díaz de la Vega-Pérez AH. Lower Predation with Increasing Altitude in the Mesquite Lizard Sceloporus grammicus. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2020. [DOI: 10.3398/064.080.0401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Domínguez-Godoy
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - J. Erick Gómez-Campos
- Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
| | - Aníbal H. Díaz de la Vega-Pérez
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala. Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla km 1.5 C.P. Tlaxcala, 90062 Mexico
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30
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Márquez R, Linderoth TP, Mejía-Vargas D, Nielsen R, Amézquita A, Kronforst MR. Divergence, gene flow, and the origin of leapfrog geographic distributions: The history of colour pattern variation in Phyllobates poison-dart frogs. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3702-3719. [PMID: 32814358 PMCID: PMC8164878 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The geographic distribution of phenotypic variation among closely related populations is a valuable source of information about the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. Leapfrog distributions, in which phenotypically similar populations are disjunctly distributed and separated by one or more phenotypically distinct populations, represent geographic replicates for the existence of a phenotype, and are therefore especially informative. These geographic patterns have mostly been studied from phylogenetic perspectives to understand how common ancestry and divergent evolution drive their formation. Other processes, such as gene flow between populations, have not received as much attention. Here, we investigate the roles of divergence and gene flow between populations in the origin and maintenance of a leapfrog distribution in Phyllobates poison frogs. We found evidence for high levels of gene flow between neighbouring populations but not over long distances, indicating that gene flow between populations exhibiting the central phenotype may have a homogenizing effect that maintains their similarity, and that introgression between 'leapfroging' taxa has not played a prominent role as a driver of phenotypic diversity in Phyllobates. Although phylogenetic analyses suggest that the leapfrog distribution was formed through independent evolution of the peripheral (i.e. leapfrogging) populations, the elevated levels of gene flow between geographically close populations poise alternative scenarios, such as the history of phenotypic change becoming decoupled from genome-averaged patterns of divergence, which we cannot rule out. These results highlight the importance of incorporating gene flow between populations into the study of geographic variation in phenotypes, both as a driver of phenotypic diversity and as a confounding factor of phylogeographic inferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Márquez
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago. Chicago, IL. 60637, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes. A.A. 4976, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Tyler P. Linderoth
- Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA. 94720, USA
| | - Daniel Mejía-Vargas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes. A.A. 4976, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Rasmus Nielsen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA. 94720, USA
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA. 94720, USA
- Center for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark
| | - Adolfo Amézquita
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes. A.A. 4976, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Marcus R. Kronforst
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago. Chicago, IL. 60637, USA
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31
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Thermal melanism explains macroevolutionary variation of dorsal pigmentation in Eurasian vipers. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16122. [PMID: 32999337 PMCID: PMC7528074 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72871-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Colouration may endorse thermoregulatory and antipredatory functions in snakes. The thermal melanism hypothesis predicts that dark-coloured individuals are ecologically favoured in cool climates. However, the loss of aposematic and cryptic colourations may imply high predation for melanistic snakes. Here, we used the monophyletic group of Eurasian vipers (subfamily Viperinae) to test whether an increase in the extent of dark area inside the characteristic zigzag dorsal pattern is associated to colder environments. We measured two colouration traits in zigzag-patterned individuals (number of dorsal marks and weighted pigmentation index) and used a phylogenetic comparative approach to explore macroevolutionary patterns of dorsal pigmentation and test whether its extent is associated to ecogeographic characteristics of lineages’ ranges. Phylogenetically-naïve and phylogenetically-informed analyses yielded a significant association between the degree of pigmentation of the zigzag pattern and environmental variables such as solar radiation, elevation and latitude. The degree of pigmentation of the zigzag pattern is highlighted as an adaptive trait that matches range attributes mirroring cold environments irrespective of the phylogeny. These results constitute the first large-scale evidence supporting the thermal melanism hypothesis in snakes, opening new avenues of inquiry for the mechanisms that shape the evolution of colour phenotypes.
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32
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San-Jose LM, Roulin A. On the Potential Role of the Neural Crest Cells in Integrating Pigmentation Into Behavioral and Physiological Syndromes. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
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33
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Burraco P, Comas M, Reguera S, Zamora-Camacho FJ, Moreno-Rueda G. Telomere length mirrors age structure along a 2200-m altitudinal gradient in a Mediterranean lizard. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 247:110741. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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34
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Rutschmann A, Rozen‐Rechels D, Dupoué A, Blaimont P, de Villemereuil P, Miles DB, Richard M, Clobert J. Climate dependent heating efficiency in the common lizard. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:8007-8017. [PMID: 32788957 PMCID: PMC7417243 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of body temperature is crucial for optimizing physiological performance in ectotherms but imposes constraints in time and energy. Time and energy spent thermoregulating can be reduced through behavioral (e.g., basking adjustments) or biophysical (e.g., heating rate physiology) means. In a heterogeneous environment, we expect thermoregulation costs to vary according to local, climatic conditions and therefore to drive the evolution of both behavioral and biophysical thermoregulation. To date, there are limited data showing that thermal physiological adjustments have a direct relationship to climatic conditions. In this study, we explored the effect of environmental conditions on heating rates in the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara). We sampled lizards from 10 populations in the Massif Central Mountain range of France and measured whether differences in heating rates of individuals correlated with phenotypic traits (i.e., body condition and dorsal darkness) or abiotic factors (temperature and rainfall). Our results show that heat gain is faster for lizards with a higher body condition, but also for individuals from habitats with higher amount of precipitation. Altogether, they demonstrate that environmentally induced constraints can shape biophysical aspects of thermoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Rutschmann
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), CNRSMoulisFrance
| | - David Rozen‐Rechels
- Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES)‐ParisCNRS, IRD, INRASorbonne UniversitéParisFrance
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de ChizéLa Rochelle UniversitéCNRSVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Andréaz Dupoué
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), CNRSMoulisFrance
| | - Pauline Blaimont
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)Santa CruzCAUSA
| | | | - Donald B. Miles
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), CNRSMoulisFrance
- Department of Biological SciencesOhio UniversityAthensOHUSA
| | - Murielle Richard
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), CNRSMoulisFrance
| | - Jean Clobert
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), CNRSMoulisFrance
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Megía-Palma R, Jiménez-Robles O, Hernández-Agüero JA, De la Riva I. Plasticity of haemoglobin concentration and thermoregulation in a mountain lizard. J Therm Biol 2020; 92:102656. [PMID: 32888560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The plastic capability of species to cope with the new conditions created by climate change is poorly understood. This is particularly relevant for organisms restricted to high elevations because they are adapted to cold temperatures and low oxygen availability. Therefore, evaluating trait plasticity of mountain specialists is fundamental to understand their vulnerability to environmental change. We transplanted mountain lizards, Iberolacerta cyreni, 800 m downhill to evaluate the plastic response in body condition, thermoregulation traits, haemoglobin level, and haemoparasite load. Initial measurements of body mass, total haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), hematic parasite intensities, dorsal luminance, and thermoregulatory behaviour were resampled after two and four weeks of acclimation. We also tested whether an anti-parasitic drug reduced haemoparasite intensity. After only two weeks of acclimation to a lower elevation, lizards decreased 42% in [Hb], had 17% less parasite intensities, increased body condition by 25%, and raised by ~3% their mean preferred temperatures and their voluntary thermal maximum. The anti-parasitic treatment had no significant effect on the intensity of hematic parasites, but our results suggest that negative effects of haemoparasites on [Hb] are relaxed at lower elevation. The rapid plastic changes observed in thermal preferences, body condition, [Hb], and parasite intensity of I. cyreni demonstrate a potential plastic response of a mountain specialist. This may be adaptive under the climatic extremes typical of mountain habitats. However, there is uncertainty in whether the observed plasticity can also help overcome long term environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Megía-Palma
- CIBIO, InBIO - Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade Do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, P-4485-661, Vairão, Portugal; Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, E-28006, Spain.
| | - O Jiménez-Robles
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006, Madrid, Spain; Department of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - J A Hernández-Agüero
- Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, University Rey Juan Carlos, C/ Tulipán S/n, E-28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - I De la Riva
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006, Madrid, Spain
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Naretto S, Chiaraviglio M. Factors driving sexual dimorphism and colour variability in the Achala Copper Lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis), an endemic species to the highland mountains in central Argentina. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The intensity of mating competition varies according to the temporal and spatial distribution of individuals. Measuring sexual dimorphism over time and interpreting the association between individuals is therefore important if we aim to understand how sexual traits are influenced. We examined sex differences in the Achala Copper Lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis (Gallardo, 1964)), an endemic species from the highest part of mountains of central Argentina. Over 4 years, we explored sex-specific variation in body size, head size, interlimb length, and body colouration. Furthermore, we evaluated how these traits varied temporally, and we also explored whether the spatial distribution of individuals is explained by variation in these traits. We found that P. achalensis is a species with sexual dimorphism in multiple characters, including body size, head size, and colouration. Interestingly, some traits related to mating, such as head width, show a temporal variability in both sexes, whereas other traits, such as colouration, varies seasonally only in males. Our results underline the intriguing possibility of seasonal morphological changes related to mating, and more broadly that sex differences are influenced by sexual selection pressures mediated by temporal variation in mate competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Naretto
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Vélez Sársfield 299, CP X5000JJC, Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Vélez Sársfield 299, CP X5000JJC, Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - M. Chiaraviglio
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Vélez Sársfield 299, CP X5000JJC, Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Vélez Sársfield 299, CP X5000JJC, Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
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Nicolaï MPJ, Shawkey MD, Porchetta S, Claus R, D'Alba L. Exposure to UV radiance predicts repeated evolution of concealed black skin in birds. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2414. [PMID: 32415098 PMCID: PMC7229023 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15894-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Plumage is among the most well-studied components of integumentary colouration. However, plumage conceals most skin in birds, and as a result the presence, evolution and function of skin colour remains unexplored. Here we show, using a database of 2259 species encompassing >99% of bird genera, that melanin-rich, black skin is found in a small but sizeable percentage (~5%) of birds, and that it evolved over 100 times. The spatial distribution of black skin follows Gloger’s rule, which states that pigmentation of endothermic animals increases towards the equator. Furthermore, most black-skinned birds inhabit high irradiation regions, and tend to be bald and/or have white feathers. Thus, taken together, our results suggest that melanin-rich, black skin helps to protect birds against ultraviolet irradiation. More generally, our results illustrate that feathered skin colour varies taxonomically, ontogenetically and temporally, providing an additional dimension for avian colour research. In contrast to bird plumage, little is known about the evolution of bird skin color. Here, Nicolaï et al. find that black skin has evolved over 100 times in birds and is associated with baldness and/or white feathers as well as with high irradiation habitats, suggesting a role in UV protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël P J Nicolaï
- Biology Department, Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. .,Department of Recent Vertebrates, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Biology Department, Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sara Porchetta
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium.,von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium
| | - Ruben Claus
- Biology Department, Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liliana D'Alba
- Biology Department, Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Gomides SC, Junior MT, Leal F, Thomassen H, Cassimiro J, Recoder RS, Pinto HBDA, Rodrigues MT, Leite FSF. Redescription and Geographical Distribution of a Rare Microteiid Lizard: Rhachisaurus brachylepis (Dixon, 1974) (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae). SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-17-00078.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C. Gomides
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CEP 31270‑901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mauro Teixeira Junior
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, CEP 05508‑090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Leal
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CEP 31270‑901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Hans Thomassen
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CEP 31270‑901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - José Cassimiro
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, CEP 05508‑090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renato Sousa Recoder
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, CEP 05508‑090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hugo Bonfim de Arruda Pinto
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Répteis e Anfíbios, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Rua 229, 95, Leste Universitário, CEP 74605‑090, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, CEP 05508‑090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felipe Sá Fortes Leite
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Florestal, CEP 35690‑000, Florestal, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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de Souza AR, Mayorquin AZ, Sarmiento CE. Paper wasps are darker at high elevation. J Therm Biol 2020; 89:102535. [PMID: 32364980 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
High mountains are harsh environments in which colder temperatures and higher levels of UV-B radiation are common. These abiotic conditions strongly affect animals' biology, often constraining their survival and reproduction. As a result, adaptations to live in such habitats are expected to evolve. Body color is thought to be adaptive to the environment that animals experience. Tegument melanization improves heat gain and provides photoprotection. Therefore, at high elevation, ectotherms are expected to be darker (well-melanized). We test this prediction in the paper wasp Agelaia pallipes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), a species distributed across an elevational gradient in the Colombian Andes. We used Malaise traps and sampled a total of 146 wasps along nine elevations, ranging from 2,600-3,380 m above sea level. Standard digital photography was used to measure the body luminance and colour patterning in different body parts of dry-preserved specimens. There was striking variation in body luminance (darker and lighter), color patterning (patched, smoothed, homogeneous) and surface texture (shiny and matte), but the kind and degree of variation depended on the body part examined. Wasps from higher elevations had darker thoraces, confirming our prediction. Besides, at high elevation, the frequency of wasps with a matte rather than a shiny face strongly increased. Overall, our findings support the thermal melanism hypothesis and suggest that intraspecific color variation might be an adaptation to the environment of paper wasps.
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Affiliation(s)
- André R de Souza
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, 14040-901, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Angie Z Mayorquin
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Cr 30 No. 45 03 edif 425, of. 303, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Carlos E Sarmiento
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Cr 30 No. 45 03 edif 425, of. 303, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Comas M, Reguera S, Zamora-Camacho FJ, Moreno-Rueda G. Age structure of a lizard along an elevational gradient reveals nonlinear lifespan patterns with altitude. Curr Zool 2019; 66:373-382. [PMID: 32939218 PMCID: PMC7485750 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lifespan is one of the main components of life history. Shorter lifespans can be expected
in marginal habitats. However, in the case of ectotherms, lifespan typically increases
with altitude, even though temperature—one of the main factors to determine ectotherms’
life history—declines with elevation. This pattern can be explained by the fact that a
shorter activity time favors survival. In this study, we analyzed how lifespan and other
life-history traits of the lizard Psammodromus algirus vary along a
2,200 m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada (SE Spain). Populations at intermediate
altitudes (1,200–1,700 m), corresponding to the optimal habitat for this species, had the
shortest lifespans, whereas populations inhabiting marginal habitats (at both low and at
high altitudes) lived longest. Therefore, this lizard did not follow the typical pattern
of ectotherms, as it also lived longer at the lower limit of its distribution, nor did it
show a longer lifespan in areas with optimal habitats. These results might be explained by
a complex combination of different gradients along the mountain, namely that activity time
decreases with altitude whereas food availability increases. This could explain why
lifespan was maximum at both high (limited activity time) and low (limited food
availability) altitudes, resulting in similar lifespans in areas with contrasting
environmental conditions. Our findings also indicated that reproductive investment and
body condition increase with elevation, suggesting that alpine populations are locally
adapted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Comas
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain.,Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Américo Vespucio 26, Sevilla, E-41092, Spain
| | - Senda Reguera
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain
| | - Francisco J Zamora-Camacho
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain.,Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain
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Abstract
Predation usually selects for visual crypsis, the colour matching between an animal and its background. Geographic co-variation between animal and background colourations is well known, but how crypsis varies along elevational gradients remains unknown. We predict that dorsal colouration in the lizard Psammodromus algirus should covary with the colour of bare soil—where this lizard is mainly found—along a 2200 m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada (SE Spain). Moreover, we predict that crypsis should decrease with elevation for two reasons: (1) Predation pressure typically decreases with elevation, and (2) at high elevation, dorsal colouration is under conflicting selection for both crypsis and thermoregulation. By means of standardised photographies of the substratum and colourimetric measurements of lizard dorsal skin, we tested the colour matching between lizard dorsum and background. We found that, along the gradient, lizard dorsal colouration covaried with the colouration of bare soil, but not with other background elements where the lizard is rarely detected. Moreover, supporting our prediction, the degree of crypsis against bare soil decreased with elevation. Hence, our findings suggest local adaptation for crypsis in this lizard along an elevational gradient, but this local adaptation would be hindered at high elevations.
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Ulbing CKS, Muuse JM, Miner BE. Melanism protects alpine zooplankton from DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20192075. [PMID: 31690236 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanism is widely observed among animals, and is adaptive in various contexts for its thermoregulatory, camouflaging, mate-attraction or photoprotective properties. Many organisms exposed to ultraviolet radiation show increased fitness resulting from melanin pigmentation; this has been assumed to result in part from reduced UV-induced damage to DNA. However, to effectively test the hypothesis that melanin pigmentation reduces UV-induced DNA damage requires quantification of UV-specific DNA damage lesions following UV exposure under controlled conditions using individuals that vary in pigmentation intensity. We accomplished this using alpine genotypes of the freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia melanica, for which we quantified cyclobutane pyrimide dimers in DNA, a damage structure that can only be generated by UV exposure. For genotypes with carapace melanin pigmentation, we found that individuals with greater melanin content sustained lower levels of UV-induced DNA damage. Individuals with more melanin were also more likely to survive exposure to ecologically relevant levels of UV-B radiation. Parallel experiments with conspecific genotypes that lack carapace melanin pigmentation provide additional support for our conclusion that melanism protects individuals from UV-induced DNA damage. Finally, within-genotype comparisons with asexually produced clonal siblings demonstrate that melanin content influences DNA damage even among genetically identical individuals raised in the same environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia K S Ulbing
- Department of Biology, Ithaca College, 953 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Julia M Muuse
- Department of Biology, Ithaca College, 953 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Brooks E Miner
- Department of Biology, Ithaca College, 953 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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Ortega J, Martín J, Crochet PA, López P, Clobert J. Seasonal and interpopulational phenotypic variation in morphology and sexual signals of Podarcis liolepis lizards. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211686. [PMID: 30875384 PMCID: PMC6419997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Widespread species often show extensive phenotypic variation due to the contrasting abiotic and biotic factors that shape selective pressures in different environments. In this context, the gradual and predictable patterns of variation in climatic and environmental conditions found in mountain areas offer a great opportunity to explore intraspecific phenotypic variation. For instance, temperature is negatively correlated with altitude and virtually all aspects of the behavior and physiology of ectotherms are sensitive to body temperature. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that morphology, dorsal and ventral coloration and the chemical profile of femoral secretions show interpopulational and seasonal variation in the lacertid lizard (Podarcis liolepis). We compared lizards from three populations inhabiting lowland and highland habitats in the French Pyrenees that were closely related genetically. We found that highland lizards were larger, stockier, had longer heads and more femoral pores and had a darker dorsal coloration than lowland ones. In addition, we detected interpopulational differences in both the abundance and the richness of chemical compounds in the glandular secretions, and we also found seasonal variation in the overall chemical composition. Dorsal and ventral coloration differed seasonally and between populations. Ventral and dorsal brightness were higher in lowland than in highland lizards in the reproductive season whereas the reversed trend was found in the non-reproductive season but only for dorsal brightness. In addition, all lizards had browner dorsal coloration in the non-reproductive season, and lowland lizards were greener in the reproductive season. By integrating information from both visual and chemical systems, our works offers a comprehensive view of how these lizards communicate in a multimodal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Ortega
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - José Martín
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain
| | - Pierre-André Crochet
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Montpellier, CNRS-UMR 5175, France
| | - Pilar López
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain
| | - Jean Clobert
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, Moulis, France
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Zamora-Camacho FJ, Comas M. Beyond Sexual Dimorphism and Habitat Boundaries: Coloration Correlates with Morphology, Age, and Locomotor Performance in a Toad. Evol Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-018-9466-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Corbalán V, Vicenzi N, Moreno Azócar D, Literas S. Chromatic variability and sexual dimorphism in the rocky lizard Phymaturus verdugo. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The genus Phymaturus comprises lizards that inhabit cold environments at high altitudes or latitudes. Phymaturus verdugo Cei and Videla, 2003 is characterized by cephalic melanism, which is interpreted as a character present only in males and associated with sexual dimorphism. Using spectrophotometry and photography, we demonstrate that this species has high chromatic variability and that melanism is also present in females. By comparing colour variables on 15 patches of the body, we find significant differences between sexes in all patches, indicating strong sexual dichromatism for the entire body, not only the cephalic region. Body temperature had no effect on skin reflectance or melanism, which indicates that thermoregulation early in the day is not mediated by colour changes. Contrary to our predictions, we found no evidence of better body condition in darker individuals. Our study breaks some paradigms about the genus Phymaturus and suggests that human perception of colour, as well as working with small samples, can lead to misidentification or erroneous descriptions of species. We believe that future studies should explore heating rates and other functions of melanism such as crypsis, sexual selection, immune response, and UV protection to understand chromatic variability within this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Corbalán
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas (IDIZA–CONICET), Centro Científico y Tecnológico (CCT Mendoza–CONICET), Avenida Ruiz Leal s/n, CP 5500, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - N. Vicenzi
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas (IDIZA–CONICET), Centro Científico y Tecnológico (CCT Mendoza–CONICET), Avenida Ruiz Leal s/n, CP 5500, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - D.L. Moreno Azócar
- Laboratorio de Fotobiología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET–UNCOMA, Quintral 1250, Bariloche, 8400, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - S. Literas
- Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza. Almirante Brown 500, M5528AHB Chacras de Coria-Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
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46
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Moreno-Rueda G, Melero E, Reguera S, Zamora-Camacho FJ, Álvarez-Benito I. Prey availability, prey selection, and trophic niche width in the lizard Psammodromus algirus along an elevational gradient. Curr Zool 2018; 64:603-613. [PMID: 30323839 PMCID: PMC6178790 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mountains imply enormous environmental variation, with alpine habitats entailing harsh environments, especially for ectotherms such as lizards. This environmental variability also may imply variation in prey availability. However, little is known about how lizard trophic ecology varies with elevation. In this study, we analyze diet, prey availability, prey selection, and trophic niche width in the lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus along a 2,200-m elevational gradient in the Sierra Nevada (SE Spain). The analysis of fecal samples has shown that Orthoptera, Formicidae, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, and Araneae are the main prey, although, according to their abundance in pitfall traps, Formicidae and Coleoptera are rejected by the lizard whereas Orthoptera, Hemiptera, and Araneae are preferred. Prey abundance and diversity increase with elevation and diet subtly varies along with the elevational gradient. The consumption of Coleoptera increases with elevation probably as a consequence of the lizard foraging more in open areas while basking. The electivity for Araneae increases with elevation. Araneae are rejected in the lowlands—where they are relatively abundant—whereas, at high elevation, this lizard positively selects them, despite they being less abundant. The lizard trophic niche width expands with elevation due to concomitant greater prey diversity and hence this lizard feeds on more prey types in highlands. Although no sex difference in diet has been found, the trophic niche is broader in females than males. As a whole, alpine lizards show a trophic niche similar to that found at lower elevations, suggesting that P. algirus is well adapted to the harsh environment found in alpine areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Elena Melero
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Senda Reguera
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco J Zamora-Camacho
- Departamento de Biogeografía y Cambio Global, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Álvarez-Benito
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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Abstract
The thermal ecology of ectotherms has been studied for almost 2 centuries, but additional attention is currently being paid to it, to understand how organisms deal with the environment in a climate change context. A consensus is still far away due to the large number of factors involved and their complex interactions. In this context, 3 analyses in lacertid lizards were carried out: (i) a meta-analysis, to test for differences between body and air temperatures from 71 populations; (ii) a meta-analysis concerning correlations between body and air temperatures from 60 populations; and (iii) a multimodel inference of thermoregulation effectiveness indices from 45 populations. The importance of different factors, including body size, habitat, insularity, altitude, climate and season, was evaluated in all analyses to model the response variables. A strong seasonality effect was observed, with a consistent pattern of less effective thermoregulation in summer compared to other seasons. Altitude was the second most important factor, with a consistent higher thermoregulation effort in populations occurring at high elevations (>1000 m above sea level). Other factors, such as insularity or body size, can also be important, but did not exhibit a clear pattern. Finally, thermoregulation was less affected by climate and habitat type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaida Ortega
- Postgraduate Program in Ecology and Conservation, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.,Department of Statistics, University of Salamanca, Spain
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48
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Lu HL, Xu CX, Zeng ZG, Du WG. Environmental causes of between-population difference in growth rate of a high-altitude lizard. BMC Ecol 2018; 18:37. [PMID: 30249235 PMCID: PMC6154872 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-018-0194-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ectothermic animals living in cold (high latitude or high elevation) regions are predicted to grow slower due to limited thermal opportunities for activity and food resources than those living in warm regions. However, the Qinghai toad-headed lizards (Phrynocephalus vlangalii) grow faster and reach a larger adult size at a high-elevation site than at a low-elevation site. In this study, we aimed to identify the genetic and environmental causes of this between-population difference in growth rate by conducting mark-recapture and common garden experiments on juvenile growth rate, and investigating the thermal environment, lizard body temperature, potential prey availability at the two elevation sites. Results Compared with low-elevation individuals, high-elevation juvenile lizards had higher growth rates in the field, but grew at similar rates in the laboratory. High-elevation lizards had higher active body temperatures than low-elevation lizards despite similar air temperatures in the period of field investigation. The high-elevation site had relatively more and larger preys than the low-elevation site. Conclusions Inter-population difference in growth rate of P. vlangalii may primarily result from developmental plasticity in response to the difference in environmental resources, rather than genetic differentiation. The higher growth rate of high-elevation lizards is likely associated with higher potential food availability and higher active body temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Liang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Hangzhou City for Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chun-Xia Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Zhi-Gao Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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49
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Yang J, Wu Q, Xiao R, Zhao J, Chen J, Jiao X. Seasonal variations in body melanism and size of the wolf spider Pardosa astrigera (Araneae: Lycosidae). Ecol Evol 2018; 8:4352-4359. [PMID: 29721303 PMCID: PMC5916282 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Variations in species morphology and life‐history traits strongly correlate with geographic and climatic characteristics. Most studies on morphological variations in animals focus on ectotherms distributed on a large geographic scale across latitudinal and/or altitudinal gradient. However, the morphological variations of spiders living in the same habitats across different seasons have not been reported. In this study, we used the wolf spider, Pardosa astrigera, as a model to determine seasonal differences in adult body size, melanism, fecundity, and egg diameter both in the overwintering and the first generation for 2010 and 2016. The results showed that in 2010, both females and males of the overwintering generation were significantly darker than the first generation. Moreover, the overwintering females were markedly larger and produced more and bigger eggs than the first generation in both 2010 and 2016. Considering the overwintering P. astrigera experiencing low temperature and/or desiccation stress, these results suggest that substantially darker and larger body of the overwintering generation is adaptive to adverse conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjian Yang
- Center for Behavioral Ecology & Evolution Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources College of Life Sciences Hubei University Wuhan China
| | - Qijia Wu
- Center for Behavioral Ecology & Evolution Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources College of Life Sciences Hubei University Wuhan China
| | - Rong Xiao
- Center for Behavioral Ecology & Evolution Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources College of Life Sciences Hubei University Wuhan China
| | - Jupeng Zhao
- Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Technology Center Guangzhou China
| | - Jian Chen
- Center for Behavioral Ecology & Evolution Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources College of Life Sciences Hubei University Wuhan China
| | - Xiaoguo Jiao
- Center for Behavioral Ecology & Evolution Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources College of Life Sciences Hubei University Wuhan China
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50
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Álvarez-Ruiz L, Megía-Palma R, Reguera S, Ruiz S, Zamora-Camacho FJ, Figuerola J, Moreno-Rueda G. Opposed elevational variation in prevalence and intensity of endoparasites and their vectors in a lizard. Curr Zool 2018; 64:197-204. [PMID: 30402060 PMCID: PMC5905508 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying the causes of parasite geographic distribution is relevant to understand ecological and evolutionary processes that affect host populations as well as for species conservation. Temperature is one of the most important environmental variables affecting parasite distribution, as raising temperatures positively affect development, reproduction, and rate of transmission of both endo- and ectoparasites. In this context, it is generally accepted that, in mountains, parasite abundance decreases with elevation. However, empirical evidence on this topic is limited. In the present study, we analyzed the elevational variation of hemoparasites and ectoparasites of a lizard, Psammodromus algirus, along a 2,200-m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada (SE Spain). As predicted, ectoparasite (mites, ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies) abundance decreased with elevation. However, hemoparasite prevalence and intensity in the lizard augmented with altitude, showing a pattern contrary to their vectors (mites). We suggest that tolerance to hemoparasites may increase with elevation as a consequence of lizards at high altitudes taking advantage of increased body condition and food availability, and reduced oxidative stress. Moreover, lizards could have been selected for higher resistance against hemoparasites at lowlands (where higher rates of replication are expected), thus reducing hemoparasite prevalence and load. Our findings imply that, in a scenario of climate warming, populations of lizards at high elevation may face increased abundance of ectoparasites, accompanied with strong negative effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Álvarez-Ruiz
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación-CSIC, Ctra. Náquera Km. 4.5, Moncada, Valencia, E-46113, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Megía-Palma
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, c/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, E-28006, Spain
| | - Senda Reguera
- Unit of Ethology and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary, University CEU Cardenal Herrera, Alfara del Patriarca, (Valencia), E-46113, Spain
| | - Santiago Ruiz
- Servicio de Control de Mosquitos, Diputación Provincial de Huelva, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Huelva, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Francisco J Zamora-Camacho
- Departamento de Biogeografía y Cambio Global, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, E-28006, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC, c/Américo Vespucio s/n, Sevilla, E-41092, Spain
| | - Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain
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