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Oliveira RF, Bshary R. Expanding the concept of social behavior to interspecific interactions. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rui F. Oliveira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência Oeiras Portugal
- ISPA – Instituto Universitário Lisboa Portugal
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme Lisboa Portugal
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Institute of Biology University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland
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2
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Quintana L, Jalabert C, Fokidis HB, Soma KK, Zubizarreta L. Neuroendocrine Mechanisms Underlying Non-breeding Aggression: Common Strategies Between Birds and Fish. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:716605. [PMID: 34393727 PMCID: PMC8358322 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.716605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression is an adaptive behavior that plays an important role in gaining access to limited resources. Aggression may occur uncoupled from reproduction, thus offering a valuable context to further understand its neural and hormonal regulation. This review focuses on the contributions from song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) and the weakly electric banded knifefish (Gymnotus omarorum). Together, these models offer clues about the underlying mechanisms of non-breeding aggression, especially the potential roles of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and brain-derived estrogens. The orexigenic NPY is well-conserved between birds and teleost fish, increases in response to low food intake, and influences sex steroid synthesis. In non-breeding M. melodia, NPY increases in the social behavior network, and NPY-Y1 receptor expression is upregulated in response to a territorial challenge. In G. omarorum, NPY is upregulated in the preoptic area of dominant, but not subordinate, individuals. We hypothesize that NPY may signal a seasonal decrease in food availability and promote non-breeding aggression. In both animal models, non-breeding aggression is estrogen-dependent but gonad-independent. In non-breeding M. melodia, neurosteroid synthesis rapidly increases in response to a territorial challenge. In G. omarorum, brain aromatase is upregulated in dominant but not subordinate fish. In both species, the dramatic decrease in food availability in the non-breeding season may promote non-breeding aggression, via changes in NPY and/or neurosteroid signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Quintana
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cecilia Jalabert
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - H Bobby Fokidis
- Department of Biology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, United States
| | - Kiran K Soma
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lucia Zubizarreta
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Celular y Sináptica, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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3
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Ramos A, Alex D, Cardoso SD, Gonçalves D. Androgens and corticosteroids increase in response to mirror images and interacting conspecifics in males of the Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens. Horm Behav 2021; 132:104991. [PMID: 33984609 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The role of hormones as modulators of aggressive behavior in fish remains poorly understood. Androgens and corticosteroids, in particular, have been associated with aggressive behavior in fish but it is still not clear if animals adjust the secretion of these hormones to regulate behavior during ongoing fights, in response to fight outcomes in order to adjust aggressive behavior in subsequent fights, or both. With its stereotyped displays and high aggression levels, the Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens is an excellent model to investigate this question. Here, we compared the behavioral and endocrine response of male B. splendens to fights where there is no winner or loser by presenting them with a size-matched live interacting conspecific behind a transparent partition or with a mirror image. The aggressive response started with threat displays that were overall similar in frequency and duration towards both types of stimuli. Fights transitioned to overt attacks and interacting with a live conspecific elicited a higher frequency of attempted bites and head hits, as compared with the mirror image. There was a pronounced increase in plasma androgens (11-ketotestosterone and testosterone) and corticosteroids (cortisol) levels in response to the aggression challenge, independent of stimulus type. Post-fight intra-group levels of these hormones did not correlate with measures of physical activity or aggressive behavior. A linear discriminant analysis including all behavioral and endocrine data was a poor classifier of fish from the conspecific and mirror trials, showing that overall the behavioral and endocrine response to mirror images and conspecifics was similar. The results show that fight resolution is not necessary to induce an evident increase in peripheral levels of androgens and corticosteroids in B. splendens. However, the function of these hormones during present and future aggressive contests remains to be clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Ramos
- Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Macao.
| | - Deepa Alex
- Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Macao.
| | - Sara D Cardoso
- Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Macao.
| | - David Gonçalves
- Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Macao.
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4
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Mentesana L, Adreani NM. Acute aggressive behavior perturbates the oxidative status of a wild bird independently of testosterone and progesterone. Horm Behav 2021; 128:104913. [PMID: 33316269 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Aerobically demanding activities like aggression can lead to an elevated oxidative metabolism affecting the concentration of pro-oxidant and antioxidant compounds and can result in an overall perturbation of the oxidative status. Aggression may also alter the oxidative status indirectly through an increase in testosterone and progesterone concentrations. Given that changes in the oxidative status could represent a physiological cost of aggression, we tested the hypothesis that acute conspecific aggression impairs the oxidative status and evaluated the role of testosterone and progesterone as potential mediators. To achieve this, we experimentally manipulated the aggressive behavior of wild female and male birds and measured the concentrations of pro-oxidants, enzymatic- and non-enzymatic antioxidants, testosterone and progesterone in blood. After 20 min of conspecific aggressive behavior, both sexes had lower concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidants than control individuals. This effect was independent of testosterone and progesterone concentrations, and much stronger in females than in males. Further, only in females (but not in males) being more aggressive came at the expense of lower antioxidant concentration. We provide the first experimental evidence that acute aggressive behavior perturbates the oxidative state of a wild vertebrate independently of testosterone and progesterone, with potential ecological and evolutionary implications given the role of the redox system in shaping life-history traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Mentesana
- Evolutionary Physiology Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany.
| | - Nicolas M Adreani
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany; Konrad Lorenz Research Centre for Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Grünau im Almtal, Austria
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5
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Ros AFH, Nusbaumer D, Triki Z, Grutter AS, Bshary R. The impact of long-term reduced access to cleaner fish on health indicators of resident client fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb231613. [PMID: 33188063 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.231613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
In many mutualisms, benefits in the form of food are exchanged for services such as transport or protection. In the marine cleaning mutualism, a variety of 'client' reef fishes offer 'cleaner' fish Labroides dimidiatus access to food in the form of their ectoparasites, where parasite removal supposedly protects the clients. Yet, the health benefits individual clients obtain in the long term from repeated ectoparasite removal remain relatively unknown. Here, we tested whether long-term reduced access to cleaning services alters indicators of health status such as body condition, immunity and the steroids cortisol and testosterone in four client damselfish species Pomacentrus amboinensis, Amblyglyphidodon curacao, Acanthochromis polyacanthus and Dischistodus perspicillatus To do so, we took advantage of a long-term experimental project in which several small reefs around Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) have been maintained cleaner-free since the year 2000, while control reefs had their cleaner presence continuously monitored. We found that the four damselfish species from reef sites without cleaners for 13 years had lower body condition than fish from reefs with cleaners. However, immunity measurements and cortisol and testosterone levels did not differ between experimental groups. Our findings suggest that clients use the energetic benefits derived from long-term access to cleaning services to selectively increase body condition, rather than altering hormonal or immune system functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert F H Ros
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Fishery Research Unit, LAZBW, Argenweg 50/1, 88085 Langenargen, Germany
| | - David Nusbaumer
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zegni Triki
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 18 B, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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6
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Félix AS, Roleira A, Oliveira RF. Rising to the challenge? Inter-individual variation of the androgen response to social interactions in cichlid fish. Horm Behav 2020; 124:104755. [PMID: 32380085 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Challenge Hypothesis (Wingfield et al. Am. Nat. 136, 829-846) aims to explain the complex relationship between androgens and social interactions. Despite its well acceptance in the behavioral endocrinology literature, several studies have failed to found an androgen response to staged social interactions. Possible reasons for these inconsistencies are the use of single sampling points that may miss the response peak, and the occurrence of inter-individual variability in the androgen response to social interactions. In this study we addressed these two possible confounding factors by characterizing the temporal pattern of the androgen response to social interactions in the African cichlid, Oreochromis mossambicus, and relating it to inter-individual variation in terms of the individual scope for androgen response (i.e. the difference between baseline and maximum physiological levels for each fish) and behavioral types. We found that the androgen response to territorial intrusions varies between individuals and is related to their scope for response. Individuals that have a lower scope for androgen response did not increase androgens after a territorial intrusion but were more aggressive and exploratory. In contrast males with a higher scope for response had fewer aggressive and exploratory behaviors and exhibited two peaks of KT, an early response 2-15 min after the interaction and a late response at 60-90 min post-interaction. Given that the pharmacological challenge of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonad axis only elicits the late response, we suggest that these two peaks may be regulated by different physiological mechanisms, with the early response being mediated by direct brain-gonad neural pathways. In summary, we suggest that determining the temporal pattern of the androgen response to social interactions and considering inter-individual variation may be the key to understanding the contradictory results of the Challenge Hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Félix
- ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - António Roleira
- ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rui F Oliveira
- ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal.
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7
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Zubizarreta L, Silva AC, Quintana L. The estrogenic pathway modulates non-breeding female aggression in a teleost fish. Physiol Behav 2020; 220:112883. [PMID: 32199998 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aggressive behaviors are widespread among animals and are critical in the competition for resources. The physiological mechanisms underlying aggression have mostly been examined in breeding males, in which gonadal androgens, acting in part through their aromatization to estrogens, have a key role. There are two alternative models that contribute to further understanding hormonal mechanisms underlying aggression: aggression displayed in the non-breeding season, when gonadal steroids are low, and female aggression. In this study we approach, for the first time, the modulatory role of estrogens and androgens upon non-breeding aggression in a wild female teleost fish. We characterized female aggression in the weakly electric fish Gymnotus omarorum and carried out acute treatments 1 h prior to agonistic encounters in dyads treated with either an aromatase inhibitor or an antagonist of androgen receptors. Anti-androgen treatment had no effect on behavior whereas acute aromatase inhibition caused a strong distortion of aggressive behavior. Territorial non-breeding aggression was robust and depended on rapid estrogen actions to maintain high levels of aggression, and ultimately reach conflict resolution from which dominant/subordinate status emerged. Our results, taken together with our own reports in males and the contributions from non-breeding aggression in bird and mammal models, suggest a common strategy involving fast-acting estrogens in the control of this behavior across species. In addition, further analysis of female non-breeding aggression may shed light on potential sexual differences in the fine tuning of social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Zubizarreta
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Celular y Sináptica, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Avenida Gral. Flores 2125, Montevideo, Uruguay; Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana C Silva
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay; Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Laura Quintana
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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8
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Silva AC, Zubizarreta L, Quintana L. A Teleost Fish Model to Understand Hormonal Mechanisms of Non-breeding Territorial Behavior. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:468. [PMID: 32793118 PMCID: PMC7390828 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggressive behaviors occurring dissociated from the breeding season encourage the search of non-gonadal underlying regulatory mechanisms. Brain estrogen has been shown to be a key modulator of this behavior in bird and mammal species, and it remains to be understood if this is a common mechanism across vertebrates. This review focuses on the contributions of Gymnotus omarorum, the first teleost species in which estrogenic modulation of non-breeding aggression has been demonstrated. Gymnotus omarorum displays year-long aggression, which has been well characterized in the non-breeding season. In the natural habitat, territory size is independent of sex and determined by body size. During the breeding season, on the other hand, territory size no longer correlates to body size, but rather to circulating estrogens and gonadosomatic index in females, and 11-ketotestosterone in males. The hormonal mechanisms underlying non-breeding aggression have been explored in dyadic encounters in lab settings. Males and females display robust aggressive contests, whose outcome depends only on body size asymmetry. This agonistic behavior is independent of gonadal hormones and fast acting androgens. Nevertheless, it is dependent on fast acting estrogenic action, as acute aromatase blockers affect aggression engagement, intensity, and outcome. Transcriptomic profiling in the preoptic area region shows non-breeding individuals express aromatase and other steroidogenic enzyme transcripts. This teleost model reveals there is a role of brain estrogen in the control of non-breeding aggression which seems to be common among distant vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Silva
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucía Zubizarreta
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Celular y Sináptica, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Laura Quintana
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
- *Correspondence: Laura Quintana
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9
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Pruitt JN, Keiser CN, Banka BT, Liedle JS, Brooks AJ, Schmitt RJ, Holbrook SJ. Collective aggressiveness of an ecosystem engineer is associated with coral recovery. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan N Pruitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carl N Keiser
- Rice University Academy of Fellows, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Brett T Banka
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - John S Liedle
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Andrew J Brooks
- Rice University Academy of Fellows, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Russell J Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Sally J Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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Peiman KS, Robinson BW. Comparative Analyses of Phenotypic Trait Covariation within and among Populations. Am Nat 2017; 190:451-468. [PMID: 28937814 DOI: 10.1086/693482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Many morphological, behavioral, physiological, and life-history traits covary across the biological scales of individuals, populations, and species. However, the processes that cause traits to covary also change over these scales, challenging our ability to use patterns of trait covariance to infer process. Trait relationships are also widely assumed to have generic functional relationships with similar evolutionary potentials, and even though many different trait relationships are now identified, there is little appreciation that these may influence trait covariation and evolution in unique ways. We use a trait-performance-fitness framework to classify and organize trait relationships into three general classes, address which ones more likely generate trait covariation among individuals in a population, and review how selection shapes phenotypic covariation. We generate predictions about how trait covariance changes within and among populations as a result of trait relationships and in response to selection and consider how these can be tested with comparative data. Careful comparisons of covariation patterns can narrow the set of hypothesized processes that cause trait covariation when the form of the trait relationship and how it responds to selection yield clear predictions about patterns of trait covariation. We discuss the opportunities and limitations of comparative approaches to evaluate hypotheses about the evolutionary causes and consequences of trait covariation and highlight the importance of evaluating patterns within populations replicated in the same and in different selective environments. Explicit hypotheses about trait relationships are key to generating effective predictions about phenotype and its evolution using covariance data.
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11
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Costly neighbours: Heterospecific competitive interactions increase metabolic rates in dominant species. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5177. [PMID: 28701786 PMCID: PMC5507852 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05485-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The energy costs of self-maintenance (standard metabolic rate, SMR) vary substantially among individuals within a population. Despite the importance of SMR for understanding life history strategies, ecological sources of SMR variation remain only partially understood. Stress-mediated increases in SMR are common in subordinate individuals within a population, while the direction and magnitude of the SMR shift induced by interspecific competitive interactions is largely unknown. Using laboratory experiments, we examined the influence of con- and heterospecific pairing on SMR, spontaneous activity, and somatic growth rates in the sympatrically living juvenile newts Ichthyosaura alpestris and Lissotriton vulgaris. The experimental pairing had little influence on SMR and growth rates in the smaller species, L. vulgaris. Individuals exposed to con- and heterospecific interactions were more active than individually reared newts. In the larger species, I. alpestris, heterospecific interactions induced SMR to increase beyond values of individually reared counterparts. Individuals from heterospecific pairs and larger conspecifics grew faster than did newts in other groups. The plastic shift in SMR was independent of the variation in growth rate and activity level. These results reveal a new source of individual SMR variation and potential costs of co-occurrence in ecologically similar taxa.
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Small TW, Bebus SE, Bridge ES, Elderbrock EK, Ferguson SM, Jones BC, Schoech SJ. Stress-responsiveness influences baseline glucocorticoid levels: Revisiting the under 3min sampling rule. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 247:152-165. [PMID: 28189590 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Revised: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Plasma glucocorticoid (CORT) levels collected within 3min of capture are commonly believed to reflect pre-stressor, baseline CORT levels. Differences in these "baseline" values are often interpreted as reflecting differences in health, or the amount of social and environmental stress recently experienced by an individual. When interpreting "baseline" values it is generally assumed that any effect of capture-and-handling during the initial sampling period is small enough and consistent enough among individuals to not obscure pre-capture differences in CORT levels. However, plasma CORT increases in less than 3min post-capture in many free-living, endothermic species in which timing has been assessed. In addition, the rate of CORT secretion and the maximum level attained (i.e., the degree of stress-responsiveness) during a severe stressor often differs among individuals of the same species. In Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens), an individual's stress-responsiveness during a 30min post-capture stressor is correlated with CORT levels in samples collected within 1.5min of capture, suggesting there is an intrinsic connection between stress-responsiveness and pre-capture CORT levels. Although differences in stress-responsiveness accounted for just 11% of the variance in these samples, on average, higher stress-responsive jays (top third of individuals) had baseline values twice that of lower stress-responsive jays (bottom third). Further, plasma CORT levels begin to increase around 2min post-capture in this species, but the rate of increase between 2 and 3min differs markedly with CORT increasing more rapidly in jays with higher stress-responsiveness. Together, these data indicate that baseline CORT values can be influenced by an individual's stress response phenotype and the differences due to stress-responsiveness can be exaggerated during sample collection. In some cases, the effects of differences in stress-responsiveness and the increase in CORT during sample collection could obscure, or supersede, differences in pre-capture plasma CORT levels that are caused by extrinsic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Small
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, United States.
| | - Sara E Bebus
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, United States
| | - Eli S Bridge
- Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, United States
| | | | | | - Blake C Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, United States
| | - Stephan J Schoech
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, United States
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Quintana L, Zubizarreta L, Jalabert C, Batista G, Perrone R, Silva A. Building the case for a novel teleost model of non-breeding aggression and its neuroendocrine control. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 110:224-232. [PMID: 27915075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphysparis.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates, aggression has been traditionally associated with high levels of circulating androgens in breeding males. Nevertheless, the centrality of androgens as primary modulators of aggression is being reconsidered in at least in two particular cases: (1) territorial aggression outside the breeding season, and (2) aggression by females. We are developing the weakly electric fish, Gymnotus omarorum, as a novel, advantageous model system to address these two alternative forms of aggression. This species displays a short, escalated contest, after which a clear hierarchical status emerges. Subordination of individuals involves three sequential decisions: interruptions of their electric discharges, retreats, and chirps. These decisions are influenced by both size asymmetry between contenders and aggression levels of dominants. Both females and males are aggressive, and do not differ in fighting ability nor in the value placed on the resource. Aggression is completely independent of gonadal hormones: dominance status is unrelated to circulating androgen and estrogen levels, and gonadectomy in males does not affect aggression. Nevertheless, estrogenic pathways participate in the modulation of this non-breeding aggression. Our results parallel those put forth in other taxa, heightening the value of G. omarorum as a model to identify commonalities in neuroendrocrine strategies of vertebrate aggression control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Quintana
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Lucía Zubizarreta
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay; Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Celular y Sináptica, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, General Flores 2125, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Cecilia Jalabert
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Gervasio Batista
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Rossana Perrone
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Ana Silva
- Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay; Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Sopinka NM, Donaldson MR, O’Connor CM, Suski CD, Cooke SJ. Stress Indicators in Fish. FISH PHYSIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-802728-8.00011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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15
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Interactions between Biliverdin, Oxidative Damage, and Spleen Morphology after Simulated Aggressive Encounters in Veiled Chameleons. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138007. [PMID: 26368930 PMCID: PMC4569575 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressors frequently increase oxidative damage–unless organisms simultaneously mount effective antioxidant responses. One putative mitigative mechanism is the use of biliverdin, an antioxidant produced in the spleen during erythrocyte degradation. We hypothesized that both wild and captive-bred male veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), which are highly aggressive to conspecifics, would respond to agonistic displays with increased levels of oxidative damage, but that increased levels of biliverdin would limit this increase. We found that even just visual exposure to a potential combatant resulted in decreased body mass during the subsequent 48-hour period, but that hematocrit, biliverdin concentration in the bile, relative spleen size, and oxidative damage in plasma, liver, and spleen were unaffected. Contrary to our predictions, we found that individuals with smaller spleens exhibited greater decreases in hematocrit and higher bile biliverdin concentrations, suggesting a revision to the idea of spleen-dependent erythrocyte processing. Interestingly, individuals with larger spleens had reduced oxidative damage in both the liver and spleen, demonstrating the spleen’s importance in modulating oxidative damage. We also uncovered differences in spleen size and oxidative damage between wild and captive-bred chameleons, highlighting environmentally dependent differences in oxidative physiology. Lastly, we found no relationship between oxidative damage and biliverdin concentration, calling into question biliverdin’s antioxidant role in this species.
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Damjanovic K, Glauser G, Bshary R, Ros AFH. Intra- and interspecific social challenges modulate the levels of an androgen precursor in a seasonally territorial tropical damselfish. Horm Behav 2015; 71:75-82. [PMID: 25917864 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Studies on different vertebrate groups have provided evidence that androgen levels in males increase after competitive social interactions during the breeding season, as postulated by the Challenge Hypothesis. However, social modulation of androgen levels may vary with latitude and may differ between species holding seasonal versus year-round territories. Here, we tested the Challenge Hypothesis on a seasonal tropical damselfish, Abudefduf sexfasciatus, where males temporarily defend territory and eggs against both intra- and interspecific individuals. Carrying out simulated territorial intrusions (STIs) in the laboratory, we document for the first time a consistent increase in the plasma level of the androgen precursor 11-ketoandrostenedione (11KA) in fish confronted to either intra- or interspecific challenges. Collecting samples in the field also revealed higher 11KA levels in fish facing frequent territorial interactions than in non-territorial individuals. Levels of 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) were high in territorial males in the field, but were not incremented after simulated territorial intrusions in the laboratory. Plasma levels of cortisol and testosterone were not affected by challenges but were different in wild and captive specimens. Although the endocrine responses to STIs did not differ between intra- and interspecific challenges, agonistic displays expressed by resident fish were more intense towards intraspecific intruders. Taken together, our study emphasizes the need to incorporate androgen precursor concentrations to advance our understanding on the physiology of territorial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Damjanovic
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Gaétan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, University of Neuchâtel, CH-2009 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2009 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
| | - Albert F H Ros
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2009 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
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Ros AFH, Damjanovic K, Glauser G, Bshary R. No scope for social modulation of steroid levels in a year-round territorial damselfish. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 323:80-8. [PMID: 25366877 DOI: 10.1002/jez.1900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Both latitude and mating system have been proposed to shape relationships between steroid hormone levels and social behavior. Recently it has been postulated that species with long lasting non-seasonal territorial behavior have low androgen responsiveness. Tropical damselfishes are an ideal family to test this proposition because they show a large variety in mating systems. Here we contribute to the comparative dataset by measuring the response in steroid levels after social modulation in the banded sergeant, Abudefduf septemfasciatus, a species with non-seasonal territoriality. In highly territorial and brooding males, we found low androgen and cortisol levels that did not increase after experimental intraspecific simulated territorial intrusions (STI tests). No relationship was found between the variation in steroid hormone levels and territorial responses to naturally occurring territorial intrusions. Although steroid levels were low, male A. septemfasciatus were highly territorial both to STI challenges and to fishes that passed the territory. They often chased intruders for several meters away from the territory. This indicates that during nest defence in a non-seasonal territorial damselfish species, territorial behaviors are shown independent of variation in androgen and cortisol levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Frank Huascar Ros
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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