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Yang Z, Zhang J, Haruka N, Murat C, Arakawa H. Spectral analysis of environmental microplastic polyethylene (PE) using average spectra. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:171871. [PMID: 38531446 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
In this study, microplastic samples from surface seawater of Tokyo Bay were collected, polyethylene (PE) microplastics were used to calculate carbonyl index (CI), and average spectra of PE were analyzed and compared with a previous study applying agitation during chemical treatment. It was found that PE and polypropylene (PP) were the predominant polymer type in the samples. Among PE samples, fragments were the most commonly observed shape, with white being the dominant color. Deviations were found in the average spectra among different shapes and colors when compared to the standard PE spectrum. A comparison of the average spectra between the two datasets suggests that pronounced peaks related to oxidation are most likely resulted from agitation during the chemical treatment. Additionally, it was found a closer spectral resemblance between the sample spectra and the spectrum of standard sample of oxidized PE (PEOx) than with the standard PE spectrum, suggesting that using the oxidized PE as a reference spectrum might be more effective for identification. These findings highlight the complex factors affecting the spectral properties of microplastics and highlight the importance of understanding these variations to enhance the accuracy of microplastic identification workflows and understanding of environmental fate of microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijiang Yang
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
| | - Nakano Haruka
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan.
| | - Celik Murat
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Hisayuki Arakawa
- Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
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2
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Sahanashree R, Punnath A, Rajan Priyadarsanan D. A remarkable new species of Paraparatrechina Donisthorpe (1947) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) from the Eastern Himalayas, India. Zookeys 2024; 1203:159-172. [PMID: 38855795 PMCID: PMC11161688 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1203.114168] [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: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
A new ant species, Paraparatrechinaneela sp. nov., with a captivating metallic-blue color is described based on the worker caste from the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. This discovery signifies the first new species of Paraparatrechina in 121 years, since the description of the sole previously known species, P.aseta (Forel, 1902), in the Indian subcontinent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramakrishnaiah Sahanashree
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Jakkur Post, Bengaluru – 560064, Karnataka, IndiaAshoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the EnvironmentBengaluruIndia
| | - Aswaj Punnath
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USAUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States of America
| | - Dharma Rajan Priyadarsanan
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Jakkur Post, Bengaluru – 560064, Karnataka, IndiaAshoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the EnvironmentBengaluruIndia
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3
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Gupta P, Saha M, Suneel V, Rathore C, Chndrasekhararao AV, Gupta GVM, Junaid CK. Microplastics in the sediments along the eastern Arabian Sea shelf: Distribution, governing factors and risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 910:168629. [PMID: 37977402 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite the omnipresence of microplastics (MPs), the studies around the western continental shelf of Indian Ocean (Eastern Arabian Sea-EAS) are uncovered and understudied. Thus, the present study was focused to understand the spatial distribution, characterization and risk assessment of MPs in sediment across seven coastal transects (10 to 50 m) all along the EAS shelf. The highest MPs concentration (MPs/kg d.w.) was detected in the northern EAS (NEAS; 2260 ± 1050) followed by central (CEAS; 1550 ± 1012) and southern (SEAS; 1300 ± 513) shelves. Among all distinct locations, the highest concentration of MPs (2500 ± 1042) was detected in the north coastal sediments off Mumbai, followed by off Mangalore (1480 ± 1169) in the center and off Kochi (1350 ± 212) in the south. MPs were found in the form of fibres, fragments and films with a predominance of fibres (~70-80 %). Approximately 74.6 % of the total MPs were in the size range of 300 μm to 5 mm. The surface of detected MPs was rough, irregular, and mechanical weathering features such as pits, grooves also observed and spotted with bacterial community structures. Polypropylene (PP; 34 %), polyisoprene (PIP; 19 %), butyl rubber (18 %), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE; 13 %) were dominant polymers. The pollution load index highlighted minor risk while the polymer hazard index exhibited a hazard level of V. Litter discharge, fishing activities, and active marine navigation are among the many high-risk sources of plastic contamination in this region. Due to the prevailing winds, currents, low sea surface height, and high precipitation, the conditions in the EAS are favorable for the accumulation of both sea-based and land-based particles. Hence, this study provides novel insights into the potential risks posed by MP to the IO rim and associated marine ecosystem which will enhance our knowledge of the ecological implications and consequences of MP pollution, ultimately aiding in developing effective management and mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyansha Gupta
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Mahua Saha
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - V Suneel
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Chayanika Rathore
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | | | - G V M Gupta
- Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Puthuvype, Kochi 682508, India
| | - C K Junaid
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India
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4
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Feng Q, An C, Chen Z, Lee K, Wang Z. Identification of the driving factors of microplastic load and morphology in estuaries for improving monitoring and management strategies: A global meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122014. [PMID: 37336353 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Estuaries are one of the primary pathways for transferring microplastics (MPs) from the land to the ocean. A comprehensive understanding of the load, morphological characteristics, driving factors, and potential risks of MPs in estuaries is imperative to inform reliable management in this critical transboundary area. Extracted from 135 publications, a global meta-analysis comprising 1477 observations and 124 estuaries was conducted. MP abundance in estuaries was tremendously variable, reaching a mean of 21,342.43 ± 122,557.53 items/m3 in water and 1312.79 ± 6295.73 items/kg in sediment. Fibers and fragments take up a majority proportion in estuaries. Polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene are the most detected MP types. Around 68.73% and 85.51% of MPs detected in water and sediment are smaller than 1 μm. The redundancy analysis revealed that the explanatory factors influencing the morphological characteristics of MPs differed between water and sediment. Regression analysis shows that MP abundance in water is significantly inversely correlated with mesh/filter size, per capita plastic waste, and the Human Development Index, whereas it is significantly positively correlated with population density and share of global mismanaged plastic waste. MP abundance in sediment significantly positively correlated with aridity index and probability of plastic entering the ocean, while significantly negatively correlated with mesh/filter size. Analysis based on Geodector identified that the extraction method, density of flotation fluid, and sampling depth are the top three explanatory factors for MP abundance in water, while the share of global mismanaged plastic waste, the probability of plastic being emitted into the ocean, and population density are the top three explanatory factors for MP abundance in sediment. In the studied estuaries, 46.75% of the water and 2.74% of the sediment are categorized into extremely high levels of pollution, while 73.08% of the water and 43.48% of the sediment belong to class V of the potential ecological index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Feng
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Chunjiang An
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
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5
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Riley JL, Haff TM, Ryeland J, Drinkwater E, Umbers KDL. The protective value of the colour and shape of the mountain katydid's antipredator defence. J Evol Biol 2022. [PMID: 35960499 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Deimatic behaviour is performed by prey when attacked by predators as part of an antipredator strategy. The behaviour is part of a sequence that consists of several defences, for example they can be preceded by camouflage and followed by a hidden putatively aposematic signal that is only revealed when the deimatic behaviour is performed. When displaying their hidden signal, mountain katydids (Acripeza reticulata) hold their wings vertically, exposing striking red and black stripes with blue spots and oozing an alkaloid-rich chemical defence derived from its Senecio diet. Understanding differences and interactions between deimatism and aposematism has proven problematic, so in this study we isolated the putative aposematic signal of the mountain katydid's antipredator strategy to measure its survival value in the absence of their deimatic behaviour. We manipulated two aspects of the mountain katydid's signal, colour pattern and whole body shape during display. We deployed five kinds of clay models, one negative control and four katydid-like treatments, in 15 grids across part of the mountain katydid's distribution to test the hypothesis that their hidden signal is aposematic. If this hypothesis holds true, we expected that the models, which most closely resembled real katydids would be attacked the least. Instead, we found that models that most closely resembled real katydids were the most likely to be attacked. We suggest several ideas to explain these results, including that the deimatic phase of the katydid's display, the change from a camouflaged state to exposing its hidden signal, may have important protective value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L Riley
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tonya M Haff
- Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Julia Ryeland
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eleanor Drinkwater
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Kate D L Umbers
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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6
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Anthony CJ, Heagy M, Bentlage B. Phenotypic plasticity in Cassiopea ornata (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae) suggests environmentally driven morphology. ZOOMORPHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00435-022-00558-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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7
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Zhao N, Ge X, Jiang K, Huang J, Wei K, Sun C, Chen SX. Ultrastructure and regulation of color change in blue spots of leopard coral trout Plectropomus leopardus. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:984081. [PMID: 36339398 PMCID: PMC9630599 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.984081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The leopard coral trout generally exhibited numerous round, minute blue spots covering its head (about the size of nostril) and body (except ventral side). This is a characteristic that distinguishes them from similar species. Recently, however, we found the leopard coral trout with black spots. Here, the distribution and ultrastructure of chromatophores in the blue and black spots were investigated with light and transmission electron microscopies. The results showed that in the blue spots, two types of chromatophores are present in the dermis, with the light-reflecting iridophores located in the upper layer and the aggregated light-absorbing melanophores in the lower layer. Black spots have a similar chromatophore composition, except that the melanosomes within the melanophores disperse their dendritic processes to encircle the iridophores. Interestingly, after the treatment of forskolin, a potent adenylate cyclase activator, the blue spots on the body surface turned black. On the other hand, using the skin preparations in vitro, the electrical stimulation and norepinephrine treatment returned the spots to blue color again, indicating the sympathetic nerves were involved in regulating the coloration of blue spots. Taken together, our results revealed that the blue spots of the leopard coral trout can change color to black and vice versa, resulting from the differences in the distribution of melanosomes, which enriches our understanding of the body color and color changes of fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ke Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ke Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Shi Xi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- *Correspondence: Shi Xi Chen,
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8
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Heinen‐Kay JL, Kay AD, Zuk M. How urbanization affects sexual communication. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:17625-17650. [PMID: 35003629 PMCID: PMC8717295 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is rapidly altering landscapes worldwide, changing environmental conditions, and creating novel selection pressures for many organisms. Local environmental conditions affect the expression and evolution of sexual signals and mating behaviors; changes in such traits have important evolutionary consequences because of their effect on reproduction. In this review, we synthesize research investigating how sexual communication is affected by the environmental changes associated with urbanization-including pollution from noise, light, and heavy metals, habitat fragmentation, impervious surfaces, urban heat islands, and changes in resources and predation. Urbanization often has negative effects on sexual communication through signal masking, altering condition-dependent signal expression, and weakening female preferences. Though there are documented instances of seemingly adaptive shifts in trait expression, the ultimate impact on fitness is rarely tested. The field of urban evolution is still relatively young, and most work has tested whether differences occur in response to various aspects of urbanization. There is limited information available about whether these responses represent phenotypic plasticity or genetic changes, and the extent to which observed shifts in sexual communication affect reproductive fitness. Our understanding of how sexual selection operates in novel, urbanized environments would be bolstered by more studies that perform common garden studies and reciprocal transplants, and that simultaneously evaluate multiple environmental factors to tease out causal drivers of observed phenotypic shifts. Urbanization provides a unique testing ground for evolutionary biologists to study the interplay between ecology and sexual selection, and we suggest that more researchers take advantage of these natural experiments. Furthermore, understanding how sexual communication and mating systems differ between cities and rural areas can offer insights on how to mitigate negative, and accentuate positive, consequences of urban expansion on the biota, and provide new opportunities to underscore the relevance of evolutionary biology in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justa L. Heinen‐Kay
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulUSA
| | - Adam D. Kay
- Biology DepartmentUniversity of St. ThomasSt. PaulUSA
| | - Marlene Zuk
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulUSA
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9
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Yeager J, Barnett JB. The influence of ultraviolet reflectance differs between conspicuous aposematic signals in neotropical butterflies and poison frogs. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:13633-13640. [PMID: 34707805 PMCID: PMC8525173 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Warning signals are often characterized by highly contrasting, distinctive, and memorable colors. Greater chromatic (hue) and achromatic (brightness) contrast have both been found to contribute to greater signal efficacy, making longwave colored signals (e.g., red and yellow), that are perceived by both chromatic and achromatic visual pathways, particularly common. Conversely, shortwave colors (e.g., blue and ultraviolet) do not contribute to luminance perception yet are also commonly found in warning signals. Our understanding of the role of UV in aposematic signals is currently incomplete as UV perception is not universal, and evidence for its utility is at best mixed. We used visual modeling to quantify how UV affects signal contrast in aposematic heliconiian butterflies and poison frogs both of which reflect UV wavelengths, occupy similar habitats, and share similar classes of predators. Previous work on butterflies has found that UV reflectance does not affect predation risk but is involved in mate choice. As the butterflies, but not the frogs, have UV-sensitive vision, the function of UV reflectance in poison frogs is currently unknown. We found that despite showing up strongly in UV photographs, UV reflectance only appreciably affected visual contrast in the butterflies. As such, these results support the notion that although UV reflectance is associated with intraspecific communication in butterflies, it appears to be nonfunctional in frogs. Consequently, our data highlight that we should be careful when assigning a selection-based benefit to the presence of UV reflectance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Yeager
- Biodiversidad Medio Ambiente y Salud Universidad de Las Américas Quito Ecuador
| | - James B Barnett
- Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University Hamilton ON Canada
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10
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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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11
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Badejo O, Skaldina O, Gilev A, Sorvari J. Benefits of insect colours: a review from social insect studies. Oecologia 2020; 194:27-40. [PMID: 32876763 PMCID: PMC7561587 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04738-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Insect colours assist in body protection, signalling, and physiological adaptations. Colours also convey multiple channels of information. These channels are valuable for species identification, distinguishing individual quality, and revealing ecological or evolutionary aspects of animals' life. During recent years, the emerging interest in colour research has been raised in social hymenopterans such as ants, wasps, and bees. These insects provide important ecosystem services and many of those are model research organisms. Here we review benefits that various colour types give to social insects, summarize practical applications, and highlight further directions. Ants might use colours principally for camouflage, however the evolutionary function of colour in ants needs more attention; in case of melanin colouration there is evidence for its interrelation with thermoregulation and pathogen resistance. Colours in wasps and bees have confirmed linkages to thermoregulation, which is increasingly important in face of global climate change. Besides wasps use colours for various types of signalling. Colour variations of well chemically defended social insects are the mimetic model for unprotected organisms. Despite recent progress in molecular identification of species, colour variations are still widely in use for species identification. Therefore, further studies on variability is encouraged. Being closely interconnected with physiological and biochemical processes, insect colouration is a great source for finding new ecological indicators and biomarkers. Due to novel digital imaging techniques, software, and artificial intelligence there are emerging possibilities for new advances in this topic. Further colour research in social insects should consider specific features of sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatobi Badejo
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Oksana Skaldina
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Aleksei Gilev
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (IPAE), Ural Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Marta Street, 202, 620144, Yekaterinburg, Russia.,Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Federal University, Mira Street, 19, 620002, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Jouni Sorvari
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
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12
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Martí E, Martin C, Galli M, Echevarría F, Duarte CM, Cózar A. The Colors of the Ocean Plastics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6594-6601. [PMID: 32392043 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Characterization of the color of the plastic is often included in studies on plastic pollution. However, the comparability and relevance of this information is limited by methodology or observer subjectivity. Based on the analysis of thousands of floating plastic fragments from a global collection, here we propose a systematic semiautomatic method to analyze colors by using a reference palette of 120 Pantone colors. The most abundant colors were white and transparent/translucent (47%), yellow and brown (26%), and blue-like (9%). The white color increased in the smallest pieces (<5 mm) and far from coastal sources (>500 km). Both fragmentation and discolouration of ocean plastics may occur because of longer exposure time to sunlight in nature. In addition, yellow items peaked at around 1 cm and brown colors at around 1 mm, supporting the notion that yellowing precedes tanning in the aging process, which is paralleled by fragmentation. Apart from the effects of the weathering, our results suggest a second-order modulation of the color distributions of marine microplastics by the selective action of visual predators. The present work provides methodological tools and a wide empirical background to further the interpretation and applicability of the color information on ocean plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Martí
- Departamento de Biología, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Marinas (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, E-11510 Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Cecilia Martin
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Matteo Galli
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Fidel Echevarría
- Departamento de Biología, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Marinas (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, E-11510 Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Andrés Cózar
- Departamento de Biología, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Marinas (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, E-11510 Puerto Real, Spain
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Orton RW, Kinsey CT, McBrayer LD. Mite load predicts the quality of sexual color and locomotor performance in a sexually dichromatic lizard. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:3152-3163. [PMID: 32273977 PMCID: PMC7141043 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since Darwin, the maintenance of bright sexual colors has recurrently been linked to mate preference. However, the mechanisms underpinning such preferences for bright colors would not be resolved for another century. Likely, the idea of selection for colors that could decrease the chances of survival (e.g., flashy colors that can inadvertently attract predators) was perceived as counterintuitive. It is now widely accepted that these extreme colors often communicate to mates the ability to survive despite a "handicap" and act as honest signals of individual quality when they are correlated with the quality of other traits that are directly linked to individual fitness. Sexual colors in males are frequently perceived as indicators of infection resistance, in particular. Still, there remains considerable discord among studies attempting to parse the relationships between the variables associating sexual color and infection resistance, such as habitat type and body size. This discord may arise from complex interactions between these variables. Here, we ask if sexual color in male Florida scrub lizards (Sceloporus woodi) is an honest signal of resistance to chigger mite infection. To this end, we use linear modeling to explore relationships between mite load, different components of sexual color, ecological performance, body size, and habitat type. Our data show that that the brightness of sexual color in scrub lizards is negatively associated with the interaction between mite load and body size, and scrub lizards suffer decreased endurance capacity with increases in mite load. Our data also indicate that mite load, performance, and sexual color in male scrub lizards can vary between habitat types. Collectively, these results suggest that sexual color in scrub lizards is an honest indicator of individual quality and further underscore the importance of considering multiple factors when testing hypotheses related to the maintenance of sexual color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W. Orton
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonTXUSA
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14
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Grant HE, Williams ST. Phylogenetic distribution of shell colour in Bivalvia (Mollusca). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Heather E Grant
- Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, UK
- Imperial College London, Department of Life Sciences, London, UK
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Lee C, Yo S, Clark RW, Hsu J, Liao C, Tseng H, Huang W. The role of different visual characters of weevils signalling aposematism to sympatric lizard predators. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C.‐Y. Lee
- Department of Life Sciences National Chung Hsing University Taichung Taiwan
| | - S.‐P. Yo
- Department of Life Sciences National Chung Hsing University Taichung Taiwan
| | - R. W. Clark
- Department of Biology San Diego State University San Diego CA USA
| | - J.‐Y. Hsu
- Department of Biology National Museum of Natural Science Taichung Taiwan
| | - C.‐P. Liao
- Department of Biology National Museum of Natural Science Taichung Taiwan
| | - H.‐Y. Tseng
- Department of Biology National Museum of Natural Science Taichung Taiwan
| | - W.‐S. Huang
- Department of Life Sciences National Chung Hsing University Taichung Taiwan
- Department of Biology National Museum of Natural Science Taichung Taiwan
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16
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Montgomery EM, Hamel JF, Mercier A. Patterns and Drivers of Egg Pigment Intensity and Colour Diversity in the Ocean: A Meta-Analysis of Phylum Echinodermata. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2016; 76:41-104. [PMID: 28065296 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Egg pigmentation is proposed to serve numerous ecological, physiological, and adaptive functions in egg-laying animals. Despite the predominance and taxonomic diversity of egg layers, syntheses reviewing the putative functions and drivers of egg pigmentation have been relatively narrow in scope, centring almost exclusively on birds. Nonvertebrate and aquatic species are essentially overlooked, yet many of them produce maternally provisioned eggs in strikingly varied colours, from pale yellow to bright red or green. We explore the ways in which these colour patterns correlate with behavioural, morphological, geographic and phylogenetic variables in extant classes of Echinodermata, a phylum that has close phylogenetic ties with chordates and representatives in nearly all marine environments. Results of multivariate analyses show that intensely pigmented eggs are characteristic of pelagic or external development whereas pale eggs are commonly brooded internally. Of the five egg colours catalogued, orange and yellow are the most common. Yellow eggs are a primitive character, associated with all types of development (predominant in internal brooders), whereas green eggs are always pelagic, occur in the most derived orders of each class and are restricted to the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Orange eggs are geographically ubiquitous and may represent a 'universal' egg pigment that functions well under a diversity of environmental conditions. Finally, green occurs chiefly in the classes Holothuroidea and Ophiuroidea, orange in Asteroidea, yellow in Echinoidea, and brown in Holothuroidea. By examining an unprecedented combination of egg colours/intensities and reproductive strategies, this phylum-wide study sheds new light on the role and drivers of egg pigmentation, drawing parallels with theories developed from the study of more derived vertebrate taxa. The primary use of pigments (of any colour) to protect externally developing eggs from oxidative damage and predation is supported by the comparatively pale colour of equally large, internally brooded eggs. Secondarily, geographic location drives the evolution of egg colour diversity, presumably through the selection of better-adapted, more costly pigments in response to ecological pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J-F Hamel
- Society for Exploration and Valuing of the Environment (SEVE), Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, NL, Canada
| | - A Mercier
- Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada
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Abstract
The vibrant colors of many birds' eggs, particularly those that are blue to blue-green, are extraordinary in that they are striking traits present in hundreds of species that have nevertheless eluded evolutionary functional explanation. We propose that egg pigmentation mediates a trade-off between two routes by which solar radiation can harm bird embryos: transmittance through the eggshell and overheating through absorbance. We quantitatively test four components of this hypothesis on variably colored eggs of the village weaverbird (Ploceus cucullatus) in a controlled light environment: (1) damaging ultraviolet radiation can transmit through bird eggshells, (2) infrared radiation at natural intensities can heat the interior of eggs, (3) more intense egg coloration decreases light transmittance ("pigment as parasol"), and (4) more intense egg coloration increases absorbance of light by the eggshell and heats the egg interior ("dark car effect"). Results support all of these predictions. Thus, in sunlit nesting environments, less pigmentation will increase the detrimental effect of transmittance, but more pigmentation will increase the detrimental effect of absorbance. The optimal pigmentation level for a bird egg in a given light environment, all other things being equal, will depend on the balance between light transmittance and absorbance in relation to embryo fitness.
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Hsiung BK, Deheyn DD, Shawkey MD, Blackledge TA. Blue reflectance in tarantulas is evolutionarily conserved despite nanostructural diversity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2015; 1:e1500709. [PMID: 26702433 PMCID: PMC4681340 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1500709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Slight shifts in arrangement within biological photonic nanostructures can produce large color differences, and sexual selection often leads to high color diversity in clades with structural colors. We use phylogenetic reconstruction, electron microscopy, spectrophotometry, and optical modeling to show an opposing pattern of nanostructural diversification accompanied by unusual conservation of blue color in tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae). In contrast to other clades, blue coloration in phylogenetically distant tarantulas peaks within a narrow 20-nm region around 450 nm. Both quasi-ordered and multilayer nanostructures found in different tarantulas produce this blue color. Thus, even within monophyletic lineages, tarantulas have evolved strikingly similar blue coloration through divergent mechanisms. The poor color perception and lack of conspicuous display during courtship of tarantulas argue that these colors are not sexually selected. Therefore, our data contrast with sexual selection that typically produces a diverse array of colors with a single structural mechanism by showing that natural selection on structural color in tarantulas resulted in convergence on similar color through diverse structural mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bor-Kai Hsiung
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325–3908, USA
| | - Dimitri D. Deheyn
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Matthew D. Shawkey
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325–3908, USA
| | - Todd A. Blackledge
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325–3908, USA
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Abramjan A, Bauerová A, Somerová B, Frynta D. Why is the tongue of blue-tongued skinks blue? Reflectance of lingual surface and its consequences for visual perception by conspecifics and predators. Naturwissenschaften 2015; 102:42. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-015-1293-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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20
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Pegram KV, Han HA, Rutowski RL. Warning Signal Efficacy: Assessing the Effects of Color, Iridescence, and Time of Day in the Field. Ethology 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanh A. Han
- School of Life Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe AZ USA
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Plasman M, Reynoso VH, Nicolás L, Torres R. Multiple colour traits signal performance and immune response in the Dickerson’s collared lizard Crotaphytus dickersonae. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-015-1892-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Relative effectiveness of blue and orange warning colours in the contexts of innate avoidance, learning and generalization. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Fabricant SA, Exnerová A, Ježová D, Štys P. Scared by shiny? The value of iridescence in aposematic signalling of the hibiscus harlequin bug. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Taylor LA, Maier EB, Byrne KJ, Amin Z, Morehouse NI. Colour use by tiny predators: jumping spiders show colour biases during foraging. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Pérez i de Lanuza G, Carazo P, Font E. Colours of quality: structural (but not pigment) coloration informs about male quality in a polychromatic lizard. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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