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Sun Y, Hao Y, Zhang Q, Liu X, Wang L, Li J, Li M, Li D. Coping with extremes: Alternations in diet, gut microbiota, and hepatic metabolic functions in a highland passerine. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167079. [PMID: 37714349 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167079] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
In wild animals, diet and gut microbiota interactions are critical moderators of metabolic functions and are highly contingent on habitat conditions. Challenged by the extreme conditions of high-altitude environments, the strategies implemented by highland animals to adjust their diet and gut microbial composition and modulate their metabolic substrates remain largely unexplored. By employing a typical human commensal species, the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus, ETS), as a model species, we studied the differences in diet, digestive tract morphology and enzyme activity, gut microbiota, and metabolic energy profiling between highland (the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, QTP; 3230 m) and lowland (Shijiazhuang, Hebei; 80 m) populations. Our results showed that highland ETSs had enlarged digestive organs and longer small intestinal villi, while no differences in key digestive enzyme activities were observed between the two populations. The 18S rRNA sequencing results revealed that the dietary composition of highland ETSs were more animal-based and less plant-based than those of the lowland ones. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing results suggested that the intestinal microbial communities were structurally segregated between populations. PICRUSt metagenome predictions further indicated that the expression patterns of microbial genes involved in material and energy metabolism, immune system and infection, and xenobiotic biodegradation were strikingly different between the two populations. Analysis of liver metabolomics revealed significant metabolic differences between highland and lowland ETSs in terms of substrate utilization, as well as distinct sex-specific alterations in glycerophospholipids. Furthermore, the interplay between diet, liver metabolism, and gut microbiota suggests a dietary shift resulting in corresponding changes in gut microbiota and metabolic functions. Our findings indicate that highland ETSs have evolved to optimize digestion and absorption, rely on more protein-rich foods, and possess gut microbiota tailored to their dietary composition, likely adaptive physiological and ecological strategies adopted to cope with extreme highland environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Sun
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066003, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Yaotong Hao
- Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066003, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Limin Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Juyong Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Mo Li
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou 061001, China.
| | - Dongming Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China.
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2
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Chapman OS, McLean BS. Seasonal and sex-specific changes in the gastrointestinal tracts of Peromyscus maniculatus. J Mammal 2023; 104:1364-1376. [PMID: 38059007 PMCID: PMC10697414 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyad086] [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: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional traits are phenotypic characteristics that contribute to fitness of individuals in dynamic and changing environments. In mammals, both categorical and continuous (e.g., quantitative) functional traits have been extensively utilized as proxies for diet, locomotion, and other aspects of species ecology, but there has been less focus on form and function of soft tissues. This is particularly true for the digestive system, which varies in size and complexity across Class Mammalia and plays a major role in the energetics of species. To guide more effective utilization of gastrointestinal (GI) morphology as a functional proxy in small mammal ecology, we examined how GI tracts (lengths and masses of four GI sections) varied within a population of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, United States. We collected samples of adult P. maniculatus monthly for 1 year and measured GI tracts to quantify variation with respect to seasonality and trophic level, providing insight into plasticity in this soft tissue trait over time. We found that season had a significant effect on the total length and wet mass of the GI tract, with January mice having the longest GI tracts and lengths being shortest in the summer. The relative shortening of the GI tract in summer corresponded with a partial trophic increase detected by stable isotope signatures. GI length and wet mass also were affected by reproduction, but males and females responded in sex-specific ways to demands of reproduction, with reproductively active males having shorter and lighter GI tracts than nonreproductively active males. Our study provides proof-of-concept for understanding population-level plasticity in a rarely collected soft tissue trait, which may also be complementary to standard craniodental measurements as a functional dietary proxy to understand mammalian ecology and community assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia S Chapman
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 325 McIver Street, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412, USA
| | - Bryan S McLean
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 325 McIver Street, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412, USA
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3
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Deng W, Jin L, Qiu D, Yan C, Liao W. Geographic Variation in Organ Size in a Toad ( Duttaphrynus melanostictus). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2645. [PMID: 37627435 PMCID: PMC10451166 DOI: 10.3390/ani13162645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive evolution is the process by which organisms change their morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics to adapt to different environments during long-term natural selection. Especially, researching variation in organ size can provide important insights into morphological adaptation in amphibians. In this study, we comparatively studied differences in organ sizes (heart, lungs, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen, digestive tract, testes and brain) among five geographical populations of the Asian common toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus. Our results revealed significant variations in the size of these nine specific organs among the populations. Notably, we observed a significant positive correlation between the relative size of the testes and latitude and/or altitude. However, no correlation was found between the relative size of the heart and the length of the digestive tract with altitude across populations, respectively, contradicting Hesse's rule and the digestion theory. These findings suggest that our study does not provide substantial theoretical support for the adaptive evolution of organ size in this particular toad species, but rather contributes to the understanding of the evolution and adaptations of species' different environmental conditions. Further research is warranted to delve deeper into the factors influencing organ size in amphibian populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiye Deng
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Long Jin
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Duojing Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Chengzhi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Wenbo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Yaan 625407, China
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Xie P, Zhu JG, Wang LX, Liu Y, Wei ML, Gong DQ, Liu TW. Effects of different stocking densities on organ development, blood biochemical indices, and antioxidative status of breeder pigeons during the rearing period. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102829. [PMID: 37321032 PMCID: PMC10404787 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102829] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different stocking densities on the organ development, blood biochemical indices, and antioxidative status of breeder pigeons during the rearing period. A total of 280 (half male and half female) 40-day-old young pigeons were allocated into 4 groups, including 3 experimental groups (in compartments of the flying room): the high stocking density (HSD) (0.308 m3/bird), standard stocking density (SD) (0.616 m3/bird), and low stocking density (LSD) (1.232 m3/bird) and a caged control (0.04125 m3/bird). The results showed that the contents of corticosterone and heat shock protein 70 in males and the corticosterone content in females were higher in the control than in the other groups. The relative weight of liver, lung, and gizzard in males of the HSD group was the highest among the 4 treatments, whereas the abdominal fat index in the control group was higher than those in the other 3 treatments. Body weight and the relative weight of liver and abdominal fat in female pigeons in HSD group increased significantly. The levels of serum urea nitrogen and uric acid in pigeons of LSD group increased significantly, while the concentration of total cholesterol and the activity of alanine aminotransferase were higher in the control group. Ion (K+, Ca2+, and Na+) concentrations in female pigeon serum were also elevated in the control. The activity of antioxidant enzymes, including the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in pigeon breast muscle and liver had different degrees of inhibition when the space room was crowded. Moreover, the level of malondialdehyde in the liver of male caged pigeons was higher than that in the other treatments. In summary, rearing in cages or at a high density caused stress responses in the breeder pigeons. The stocking density of breeder pigeons during the rearing period should be ranged from 0.616 m3/bird to 1.232 m3/bird.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Xie
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology Around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China.
| | - J G Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - L X Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Y Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology Around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - M L Wei
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology Around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - D Q Gong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - T W Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology Around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
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5
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Williamson JL, Linck EB, Bautista E, Smiley A, McGuire JA, Dudley R, Witt CC. Hummingbird blood traits track oxygen availability across space and time. Ecol Lett 2023. [PMID: 37178017 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Predictable trait variation across environments suggests shared adaptive responses via repeated genetic evolution, phenotypic plasticity or both. Matching of trait-environment associations at phylogenetic and individual scales implies consistency between these processes. Alternatively, mismatch implies that evolutionary divergence has changed the rules of trait-environment covariation. Here we tested whether species adaptation alters elevational variation in blood traits. We measured blood for 1217 Andean hummingbirds of 77 species across a 4600-m elevational gradient. Unexpectedly, elevational variation in haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) was scale independent, suggesting that physics of gas exchange, rather than species differences, determines responses to changing oxygen pressure. However, mechanisms of [Hb] adjustment did show signals of species adaptation: Species at either low or high elevations adjusted cell size, whereas species at mid-elevations adjusted cell number. This elevational variation in red blood cell number versus size suggests that genetic adaptation to high altitude has changed how these traits respond to shifts in oxygen availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie L Williamson
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Ethan B Linck
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Emil Bautista
- Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI), Lima, Peru
| | - Ashley Smiley
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jimmy A McGuire
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Robert Dudley
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Christopher C Witt
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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6
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Macotela L, Naya DE, González-Morales JC, Anaya M, Fajardo V, Manjarrez J. Altitudinal variation in organ mass from three mountain systems: The case of mesquite lizard Sceloporus grammicus. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 281:111426. [PMID: 37059292 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111426] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
High altitude environments provide a fertile ground for investigating the benefits of phenotypic adjustments at several levels of biological organization. Low oxygen partial pressure and low environmental temperature are the main limiting factors that promote phenotypic variation in different organs, such as the lung and heart. Although high-altitude environments act like natural laboratories, most morphological studies conducted to date lack replication. Here, we evaluated organ mass variation in nine populations of Sceloporus grammicus, throughout three altitudinal gradients (mountains) from the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. A total of 84 individuals from three different altitudes at three different mountains were collected. Then, we used generalized linear models to analyze the pattern of variation in internal organs mass as a function of altitude and temperature. We observed a striking pattern of altitudinal variation in the size of cardiorespiratory organs: while heart mass increased with altitude and decreased with temperature, the lung showed a significant statistical interaction between mountain transect and temperature. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that cardiorespiratory organs should be bigger in populations occurring at higher altitudes. Moreover, the study of different mountain systems allowed us to observe some differences in one mountain in relation to the other two.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Macotela
- Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto Literario No. 100, Col. Centro, C. P. 5000 Toluca, Estado de Mexico, Mexico; Instituto para la Conservación de la Cordillera Neovolcánica ante el Cambio Climático, A.C. Calle Lago de Atitlán No. 502, C. P. 50100 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Daniel E Naya
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Juan C González-Morales
- Centro Universitario Amecameca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto Literario 100, Col. Centro, CP 50000 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Mariluz Anaya
- Instituto para la Conservación de la Cordillera Neovolcánica ante el Cambio Climático, A.C. Calle Lago de Atitlán No. 502, C. P. 50100 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico; Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Víctor Fajardo
- Instituto para la Conservación de la Cordillera Neovolcánica ante el Cambio Climático, A.C. Calle Lago de Atitlán No. 502, C. P. 50100 Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Javier Manjarrez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Campus El Cerrillo, Carretera Toluca - Ixtlahuaca Km 15.5, Piedras Blancas, 50200 Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico.
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7
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Nengovhela A, Ivy CM, Scott GR, Denys C, Taylor PJ. Counter-gradient variation and the expensive tissue hypothesis explain parallel brain size reductions at high elevation in cricetid and murid rodents. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5617. [PMID: 37024565 PMCID: PMC10079977 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32498-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
To better understand functional morphological adaptations to high elevation (> 3000 m above sea level) life in both North American and African mountain-associated rodents, we used microCT scanning to acquire 3D images and a 3D morphometric approach to calculate endocranial volumes and skull lengths. This was done on 113 crania of low-elevation and high-elevation populations in species of North American cricetid mice (two Peromyscus species, n = 53), and African murid rodents of two tribes, Otomyini (five species, n = 49) and Praomyini (four species, n = 11). We tested two distinct hypotheses for how endocranial volume might vary in high-elevation populations: the expensive tissue hypothesis, which predicts that brain and endocranial volumes will be reduced to lessen the costs of growing and maintaining a large brain; and the brain-swelling hypothesis, which predicts that endocranial volumes will be increased either as a direct phenotypic effect or as an adaptation to accommodate brain swelling and thus minimize pathological symptoms of altitude sickness. After correcting for general allometric variation in cranial size, we found that in both North American Peromyscus mice and African laminate-toothed (Otomys) rats, highland rodents had smaller endocranial volumes than lower-elevation rodents, consistent with the expensive tissue hypothesis. In the former group, Peromyscus mice, crania were obtained not just from wild-caught mice from high and low elevations but also from those bred in common-garden laboratory conditions from parents caught from either high or low elevations. Our results in these mice showed that brain size responses to elevation might have a strong genetic basis, which counters an opposite but weaker environmental effect on brain volume. These results potentially suggest that selection may act to reduce brain volume across small mammals at high elevations but further experiments are needed to assess the generality of this conclusion and the nature of underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aluwani Nengovhela
- Department of Mammalogy, National Museum, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
| | - Catherine M Ivy
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Graham R Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Christiane Denys
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP51, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Peter J Taylor
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
- Afromontane Unit, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa
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8
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Lövy M, Boratyński Z, Okrouhlík J, Svačinová L, Meheretu Y, Šumbera R. Alternative highland adaptations: organ masses and fur insulation in Afroalpine rodents. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Z. Boratyński
- BIOPOLIS, CIBIO/InBio, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources University of Porto Vairão Portugal
| | - J. Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - L. Svačinová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Y. Meheretu
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research & Development Mekelle University Mekelle Ethiopia
- Department of Wildlife, Fish & Environmental Studies Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
| | - R. Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
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9
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Zhu X, Chen C, Jiang Y, Zhao L, Jin L. Geographical variation of organ size in Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.972942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variation of morphological and physiological traits is assumed to be generated from spatial heterogeneity in environments, and it has been regarded as an important concern domain in evolutionary biology. Organs display markedly size variation among populations along environmental gradients and this variation is associated with changes in oxygen supply and energy demands. Here, we investigated geographical variation in the relative size of organs (i.e., brain, heart, lung, gallbladder, livers, spleen, kidneys, and digestive tract) among 14 populations of Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi) transcending an elevational range from 864 to 2,367 m, and spanning 8° latitude. We found that although the relative sizes of the eight specific organs varied significantly among populations, none organ size was affected by altitude and latitude. However, based on the combined the new data and published data we found a negative relationship between the relative size of the heart and latitude, contrasting to the Hesse’s rule. We also found that the relative size of livers was positively linked to latitude, suggesting that more energy demands and intakes due to slower metabolism in high latitude shaped the evolution of larger livers.
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10
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Tang ZR, Chen SY, Lu W, Zhang HD, Li M, Liu JS. Morphological and physiological correlates of among- individual variation in basal metabolic rate in two passerine birds. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 267:111160. [PMID: 35124186 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111160] [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: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Basal metabolic rate (BMR) has been shown to be a highly phenotypic flexibility trait within species. A significant proportion of an individual's energy budget is accounted for by BMR, hence among-individual variation in this trait may affect other energetic processes, as well as fitness. In this study, we measured BMR, organ mass, mitochondrial respiration capacities and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activities in muscle and liver and circulating levels of plasma triiodothyronine (T3) in Chinese bulbuls (Pycnonotus sinensis) and Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus). Our results showed that heart and kidney mass was positively correlated with BMR in Chinese bulbuls, whereas liver and kidney mass was positively correlated with BMR in Eurasian tree sparrows. Regarding metabolic biochemical markers of tissues, state 4 respiration and COX activity in the muscles of the Chinese bulbuls was correlated with BMR, while state 4 respiration in the muscle and liver was correlated with BMR in Eurasian tree sparrows. T3 was significantly and positively correlated with BMR in Chinese bulbuls and Eurasian tree sparrows. Consistent with the above results, our findings suggest that T3 levels play an important role in modulating BMR in Chinese bulbuls and Eurasian tree sparrows. Moreover, individual variation in BMR can be explained partly by morphological and physiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Ru Tang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Shen-Yue Chen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Wei Lu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Hao-Di Zhang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Ming Li
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Jin-Song Liu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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11
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Qi Y, Zhang T, Wu Y, Yao Z, Qiu X, Pu P, Tang X, Fu J, Yang W. A Multilevel Assessment of Plasticity in Response to High-Altitude Environment for Agama Lizards. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.845072] [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
Upslope range shifting has been documented in diverse species in response to global warming. Plasticity, which refers to the ability of organisms to alter their phenotypes in changing environments, is crucial for the survival of those that newly migrated to a high-altitude environment. The scope and mechanisms of plasticity across biological levels, however, have rarely been examined. We used two agama lizards (genus Phrynocephalus) as model systems and a transplant experiment to comprehensively assess their plasticity on multiple organization levels. Two low-altitude (934 m) agama species, Phrynocephalus axillaris (oviparous) and P. forsythii (viviparous), were transplanted to a high-altitude site (3,400 m). After acclimation for 6 weeks in seminatural enclosures, plasticity was measured from bite force, tail display behavior, gene expression, and metabolome. Both lizards were capable of acclimating to the high-altitude environment without sacrificing their performance in bite force, but they also showed high plasticity in tail display behavior by either decreasing the intensity of a specific display component (P. forsythii) or by the trade-off between display components (P. axillaris). Genes and metabolites associated with lipids, especially fatty acid metabolism, exhibited significant differentiation in expression, compared to individuals from their native habitats. Improved fatty acid storage and metabolism appeared to be a common response among animals at high altitudes. Despite distinct reproductive modes that may differ in response to physiological pressure, the two lizards demonstrated high concordance in plasticity when they faced a novel environment at high altitudes. Taken together, lizards likely acclimate to high-altitude environments by reducing behavioral activity and increasing energy efficiency after range shifting. Our results provide new insights into our understanding of phenotypic plasticity and its importance in today’s changing climate.
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12
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Sultan SE, Moczek AP, Walsh D. Bridging the explanatory gaps: What can we learn from a biological agency perspective? Bioessays 2021; 44:e2100185. [PMID: 34747061 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We begin this article by delineating the explanatory gaps left by prevailing gene-focused approaches in our understanding of phenotype determination, inheritance, and the origin of novel traits. We aim not to diminish the value of these approaches but to highlight where their implementation, despite best efforts, has encountered persistent limitations. We then discuss how each of these explanatory gaps can be addressed by expanding research foci to take into account biological agency-the capacity of living systems at various levels to participate in their own development, maintenance, and function by regulating their structures and activities in response to conditions they encounter. Here we aim to define formally what agency and agents are and-just as importantly-what they are not, emphasizing that agency is an empirical property connoting neither intention nor consciousness. Lastly, we discuss how incorporating agency helps to bridge explanatory gaps left by conventional approaches, highlight scientific fields in which implicit agency approaches are already proving valuable, and assess the opportunities and challenges of more systematically incorporating biological agency into research programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia E Sultan
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, USA
| | - Armin P Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Denis Walsh
- Department of Philosophy, Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Xu K, Wang Y. Analysis of atmospheric temperature data by 4D spatial-temporal statistical model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18691. [PMID: 34548566 PMCID: PMC8455604 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98125-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The meteorological data such as temperature of the upper atmosphere is ssential for accurate weather forecasting. The Universal Rawinsonde Observation Program (RAOB) establishes an extensive radiosonde network worldwide to observe atmospheric meteorological data from the surface to the low stratosphere. The RAOB data data has very high accuracy but can offer a very limited spatial coverage. Meanwhile, ERA-Interim reanalysis data is widely available but with low-quality. We propose a 4D spatiotemporal statistical model which can make effective inferences from ERA-Interim reanalysis data to RAOB data. Finally, we can obtain a huge amount of RAOB data with high-quality and can offer a very wide spatial coverage. In empirical research, we collected data from 200 launch sites around the world in January 2015. The 4D spatiotemporal statistical model successfully analyzed the observation gaps at different pressure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xu
- School of Statistics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China.
| | - Yaqiong Wang
- Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, Beijing, China
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14
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Zhang T, Chen J, Zhang J, Guo YT, Zhou X, Li MW, Zheng ZZ, Zhang TZ, Murphy RW, Nevo E, Shi P. Phenotypic and genomic adaptations to the extremely high elevation in plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi). Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5765-5779. [PMID: 34510615 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary outcomes of high elevation adaptation have been extensively described. However, whether widely distributed high elevation endemic animals adopt uniform mechanisms during adaptation to different elevational environments remains unknown, especially with respect to extreme high elevation environments. To explore this, we analysed the phenotypic and genomic data of seven populations of plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) along elevations ranging from 2,700 to 4,300 m. Based on whole-genome sequencing data and demographic reconstruction of the evolutionary history, we show that two populations of plateau zokor living at elevations exceeding 3,700 m diverged from other populations nearly 10,000 years ago. Further, phenotypic comparisons reveal stress-dependent adaptation, as two populations living at elevations exceeding 3,700 m have elevated ratios of heart mass to body mass relative to other populations, and the highest population (4,300 m) displays alterations in erythrocytes. Correspondingly, genomic analysis of selective sweeps indicates that positive selection might contribute to the observed phenotypic alterations in these two extremely high elevation populations, with the adaptive cardiovascular phenotypes of both populations possibly evolving under the functional constrains of their common ancestral population. Taken together, phenotypic and genomic evidence demonstrates that heterogeneous stressors impact adaptations to extreme elevations and reveals stress-dependent and genetically constrained adaptation to hypoxia, collectively providing new insights into the high elevation adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yuan-Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Meng-Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhi-Zhong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Tong-Zuo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Robert W Murphy
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Peng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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15
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Sex-dependent elevational effects on bird feather moult. Evol Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-021-10123-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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16
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Robertson CE, McClelland GB. Evolved changes in maternal care in high-altitude native deer mice. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:238725. [PMID: 34424979 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.235218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
At high altitude (HA), unremitting low oxygen and persistent cold push small mammals close to their metabolic ceilings, leaving limited scope for aerobically demanding activities. However, HA breeding seasons are relatively short and endemic rodents compensate with larger litters than low altitude (LA) conspecifics. Rodent mothers are the sole source of heat and nutrition for altricial offspring and lactation is energetically costly. Thus, it is unclear how HA females balance energy allocation during the nursing period. We hypothesized that HA female rodents invest heavily in each litter to ensure postnatal survival. We measured maternal energetic output and behaviour in nursing deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) native to LA (400 m a.s.l.) and HA (4350 m a.s.l.) under control (24°C, 760 mmHg) and cold hypoxia conditions, simulating HA (5°C, 430 mmHg). Strikingly, resting metabolic rates of lactating HA and LA females under cold hypoxia were 70-85% of their maximum aerobic capacity. In cold hypoxia, LA mothers increased both nursing time and milk fat content, however their pups were leaner and severely growth restricted at weaning. HA mothers also increased nursing in cold hypoxia but for far less time than LA mothers. Despite receiving less care, HA pups in cold hypoxia only experienced small growth restrictions at weaning and maintained body composition. As adults, HA mice raised in cold hypoxia had increased aerobic capacity compared to controls. These data suggest that HA mothers prioritize their own maintenance costs over investing heavily in their offspring. Pups compensate for this lack of care, likely by reducing their own metabolic costs during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cayleih E Robertson
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Grant B McClelland
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
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17
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Robertson CE, Wilsterman K. Developmental and reproductive physiology of small mammals at high altitude: challenges and evolutionary innovations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/24/jeb215350. [PMID: 33443053 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.215350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
High-altitude environments, characterized by low oxygen levels and low ambient temperatures, have been repeatedly colonized by small altricial mammals. These species inhabit mountainous regions year-round, enduring chronic cold and hypoxia. The adaptations that allow small mammals to thrive at altitude have been well studied in non-reproducing adults; however, our knowledge of adaptations specific to earlier life stages and reproductive females is extremely limited. In lowland natives, chronic hypoxia during gestation affects maternal physiology and placental function, ultimately limiting fetal growth. During post-natal development, hypoxia and cold further limit growth both directly by acting on neonatal physiology and indirectly via impacts on maternal milk production and care. Although lowland natives can survive brief sojourns to even extreme high altitude as adults, reproductive success in these environments is very low, and lowland young rarely survive to sexual maturity in chronic cold and hypoxia. Here, we review the limits to maternal and offspring physiology - both pre-natal and post-natal - that highland-adapted species have overcome, with a focus on recent studies on high-altitude populations of the North American deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). We conclude that a combination of maternal and developmental adaptations were likely to have been critical steps in the evolutionary history of high-altitude native mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kathryn Wilsterman
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59802, USA
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18
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Kuang S, Liu L, Qing M, Zhang Y, Feng X, Wang D, Jiang Y, Zhang X, Li D. Anatomical, Phytochemical, and Histochemical Study of Juniperus rigida Needles at Different Altitudes. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2019; 25:1213-1223. [PMID: 31451123 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927619014818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Needles of Juniperus rigida are used in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of brucellosis, dropsy, skin disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. This is the first study that reports anatomical structures of the J. rigida needles collected at different altitudes. The most common anatomical, phytochemical, and histochemical techniques and methods are used. The results show that anatomical structures and chemical composition change significantly at different altitudes. The main anatomical characters are significant xeromorphic structures (thick epidermis, hypodermis, and cuticle), a stomatal band, a developed vascular bundle, and a marginal resin duct. The xeromorphic structures become more pronounced with increasing altitude. The phytochemical and histochemical results demonstrate that the content of the main chemical compounds (phenols and terpenoids) basically increases at a higher elevation. Histochemical analysis localizes the phenols in epidermal cells, sponge tissue, endothelial layer cells, and stomatal bands, and the terpenoids in palisade tissue, sponge tissue, and the edge of the resin duct. This work reveals the relation between anatomy and chemistry in J. rigida needles, contributes to the quality control of its ethno-medicine, and provides the evidence to develop the commercial cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Kuang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Linfang Liu
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Mingliang Qing
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yujia Zhang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xueping Feng
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Dongmei Wang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yun Jiang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Dengwu Li
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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19
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Wang L, Caviedes-Vidal E, Karasov WH. Diet composition modulates intestinal hydrolytic enzymes in white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
We tested whether white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) modulate the activity of three key intestinal digestive enzymes (maltase, sucrase, and aminopeptidase-N [APN]) based on diet composition. To test the adaptive modulation hypothesis (AMH), we fed mice either of three kinds of synthetic diet, high starch (HS, 50% carbohydrate), high protein (HP, 60% protein), and high lipid (HL, 25% lipid), and determined their digestive responses. First, there was no effect of either diet itself, or time eating the diet, on body mass, or mass and length of small intestine. Second, the activity of both disaccharidases summed over the entire small intestine was highest on the HS diet, which was higher than on the HP diet by about 45% and higher than on the HL diet by 400%. This was consistent with our prediction that starch induces disaccharidase activity, and demonstrated induction of disaccharidase activities by high dietary carbohydrate in a wild mammal. Third, both summed and mass-specific activity of maltase and sucrase of HL mice were lower than those of HP mice, even though their diets had the same content of starch, which suggests that lipid in the HL diet inhibited disaccharidase activity. Finally, the summed activity of APN was highest on the HP diet, which was higher than on the HS diet or HL diet by ~100%, consistent with our prediction that high protein content induces peptidase activity. Taken together, our results support the AMH, though they also illustrate that high lipid content in the diet can confound some predicted patterns. Flexibility of digestive enzyme activity is likely important in allowing white-footed mice to cope with fluctuations in the environmental availability of different food types.
Probamos si el ratón de patas blancas (Peromyscus leucopus) modula las actividades de tres enzimas digestivas intestinales claves – maltasa, sacarasa y N-aminopeptidasa- al modificarse la composición de la dieta. Para someter a prueba la hipótesis de la modulación adaptativa, se alimentaron paralelamente ratones con tres tipos de dietas semi-sintéticas, una alta en almidón (HS, 50% carbohidratos), otra alta en proteína (HP, 60% proteínas), y una alta en lípidos (HL, 25% lípidos), y se determinaron sus respuestas digestivas. No se observó un efecto de la dieta o del tiempo que la consumieron sobre la masa corporal o la masa y el largo del intestino delgado (SI). La sumatoria de las actividades de cada una de las disacaridasas a lo largo de todo el intestino delgado fue más alta con la dieta HS que con las dietas HP y HL, un 45% y un 400% mayor, respectivamente. Esto fue consistente con nuestra predicción acerca de que el almidón induce la actividad disacaridásica, constituyendo el primer estudio que demuestra inequívocamente en un animal silvestre, que la inducción de las actividades de las disacaridasas intestinales es mediada por un incremento de los carbohidratos en la dieta. Las actividades hidrolíticas totales y masa-específicas de la maltasa y sacarasa de los ratones HL fueron más bajas que las de los alimentados con dieta HP, aun cuando sus dietas tenían el mismo contenido de almidón, lo que sugiere que los lípidos en la dieta HL inhiben la actividad de las disacaridasas. La actividad hidrolítica total de la N-aminopeptidasa fue mayor con la dieta HP, ~100% más alta que para las dietas HS y HL, de manera consistente con la predicción que propone que la presencia de mayor cantidad de proteína en la dieta induce la actividad peptidásica. En conjunto nuestros resultados dan soporte a la hipótesis de la modulación adaptativa, además de ilustrar que los lípidos en las dietas pueden confundir la predicción de patrones de procesamiento de alimentos. La flexibilidad de la actividad de las enzimas digestivas es probablemente importante para los ratones de patas blancas, ya que les permite adecuarse a las fluctuaciones ambientales de disponibilidad de diferentes tipos de recursos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Wang
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Enrique Caviedes-Vidal
- Departamento de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional de San Luis and Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biologicas de San Luis, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, San Luis, Argentina
| | - William H Karasov
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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20
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Migration and reproduction are associated with similar degrees of phenotypic flexibility in an insectivorous bat. Oecologia 2019; 190:747-755. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04449-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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21
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Velotta JP, Ivy CM, Wolf CJ, Scott GR, Cheviron ZA. Maladaptive phenotypic plasticity in cardiac muscle growth is suppressed in high-altitude deer mice. Evolution 2018; 72:2712-2727. [PMID: 30318588 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
How often phenotypic plasticity acts to promote or inhibit adaptive evolution is an ongoing debate among biologists. Recent work suggests that adaptive phenotypic plasticity promotes evolutionary divergence, though several studies have also suggested that maladaptive plasticity can potentiate adaptation. The role of phenotypic plasticity, adaptive, or maladaptive, in evolutionary divergence remains controversial. We examined the role of plasticity in evolutionary divergence between two species of Peromyscus mice that differ in native elevations. We used cardiac mass as a model phenotype, since ancestral hypoxia-induced responses of the heart may be both adaptive and maladaptive at high-altitude. While left ventricle growth should enhance oxygen delivery to tissues, hypertrophy of the right ventricle can lead to heart failure and death. We compared left- and right-ventricle plasticity in response to hypoxia between captive-bred P. leucopus (representing the ancestral lowland condition) and P. maniculatus from high-altitude. We found that maladaptive ancestral plasticity in right ventricle hypertrophy is reduced in high-altitude deer mice. Analysis of the heart transcriptome suggests that changes in expression of inflammatory signaling genes, particularly interferon regulatory factors, contribute to the suppression of right ventricle hypertrophy. We found weak evidence that adaptive plasticity of left ventricle mass contributes to evolution. Our results suggest that selection to suppress ancestral maladaptive plasticity plays a role in adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Velotta
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
| | - Catherine M Ivy
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cole J Wolf
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
| | - Graham R Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zachary A Cheviron
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
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22
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Xie P, Wan XP, Bu Z, Diao EJ, Gong DQ, Zou XT. Changes in hormone profiles, growth factors, and mRNA expression of the related receptors in crop tissue, relative organ weight, and serum biochemical parameters in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia) during incubation and chick-rearing periods under artificial farming conditions. Poult Sci 2018; 97:2189-2202. [PMID: 29554306 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pey061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study was conducted to determine the changes in concentrations of hormones and growth factors and their related receptor gene expressions in crop tissue, relative organ weight, and serum biochemical parameters in male and female pigeons during incubation and chick-rearing periods under artificial farming conditions. Seventy-eight pairs of 60-week-old White King pigeons with 2 fertile eggs per pair were randomly divided into 13 groups by different breeding stages. Serum prolactin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations in crop tissue homogenates were the highest in both male and female pigeons at 1 d of chick-rearing (R1), while epidermal growth factor (EGF) in female pigeons peaked at d 17 of incubation (I17) (P < 0.05). mRNA expression of the prolactin and EGF receptors in the crop tissue increased at the end of incubation and the early chick-rearing stage in both sexes. However, estrogen, progesterone, and growth hormone receptor expression each decreased during the early chick-rearing stage (P < 0.05). In male pigeons, IGF-1 receptor gene expression reached its peak at R7, while in female pigeons, it increased at the end of incubation. The relative weight of breast and abdominal fat in both sexes and thighs in the males was lowest at R7, and then gradually increased to the incubation period level. Serum total protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations increased to the highest levels at I17 (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein reached their highest values at I17 in male pigeons and R25 in female pigeons (P < 0.05). In conclusion, hormones, growth factors, and their receptors potentially underlie pigeon crop tissue development. Changes in organs and serum biochemical profiles suggested their different breeding-cycle patterns with sexual effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Xie
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Safety and Nutrition Function Evaluation, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - X P Wan
- Feed Science Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | - Z Bu
- Poultry Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou 225125, China
| | - E J Diao
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture & Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Safety and Nutrition Function Evaluation, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - D Q Gong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - X T Zou
- Feed Science Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
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23
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Ramos YGC, Aximoff IA, Rosa CAD. Capybaras (Rodentia: Cavidae) in highlands: environmental variables related to distribution, and herbivory effects on a common plant species. J NAT HIST 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1492749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Gabriel Celli Ramos
- Laboratory of Mammal Ecology, Ecology Department, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Izar Araujo Aximoff
- Laboratory of Taxonomy, Ecology and Restoration, Research Department, Research Institute of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (JBRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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24
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Sassi PL, Menéndez J, Cuevas MF. Geographic variation in life-history traits: factors shaping energy investment in reproduction in a highland dwelling rodent. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. L. Sassi
- CCT-Mendoza CONICET; Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad; CONICET; Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas; Mendoza Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Mendoza Argentina
| | - J. Menéndez
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Mendoza Argentina
| | - M. F. Cuevas
- CCT-Mendoza CONICET; Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad; CONICET; Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas; Mendoza Argentina
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25
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Tate KB, Ivy CM, Velotta JP, Storz JF, McClelland GB, Cheviron ZA, Scott GR. Circulatory mechanisms underlying adaptive increases in thermogenic capacity in high-altitude deer mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:3616-3620. [PMID: 28839010 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.164491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
We examined the circulatory mechanisms underlying adaptive increases in thermogenic capacity in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) native to the cold hypoxic environment at high altitudes. Deer mice from high- and low-altitude populations were born and raised in captivity to adulthood, and then acclimated to normoxia or hypobaric hypoxia (simulating hypoxia at ∼4300 m). Thermogenic capacity [maximal O2 consumption (V̇O2,max), during cold exposure] was measured in hypoxia, along with arterial O2 saturation (SaO2 ) and heart rate (fH). Hypoxia acclimation increased V̇O2,max by a greater magnitude in highlanders than in lowlanders. Highlanders also had higher SaO2 and extracted more O2 from the blood per heartbeat (O2 pulse=V̇O2,max/fH). Hypoxia acclimation increased fH, O2 pulse and capillary density in the left ventricle of the heart. Our results suggest that adaptive increases in thermogenic capacity involve integrated functional changes across the O2 cascade that augment O2 circulation and extraction from the blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B Tate
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Catherine M Ivy
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Jonathan P Velotta
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Jay F Storz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Grant B McClelland
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Zachary A Cheviron
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Graham R Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
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Thompson LJ, Downs CT. Altitudinal variation in metabolic parameters of a small Afrotropical bird. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2017; 212:88-96. [PMID: 28774754 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Of the numerous factors affecting avian metabolic rate, altitude is one of the least studied. We used mass-flow respirometry to measure resting metabolic rate (RMR), evaporative water loss (EWL) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in two populations of a small (10-12g) Afrotropical bird, the Cape White-eye (Zosterops virens), in summer and in winter. In total, 51 freshly wild-caught adult Cape White-eyes were measured overnight. Altitude was included as a source of variation in the best approximating models for body mass, whole-animal RMR, RER, whole-animal standard EWL and whole-animal basal EWL. RER was significantly lower in winter, suggesting a greater proportion of lipid oxidation at lower ambient temperatures (Ta). Cape White-eyes were 0.8g heavier at the higher altitude site and 0.5g heavier in winter, suggesting they may have increased their metabolic machinery to cope with cooler temperatures. EWL was generally significantly lower in winter than in summer, suggesting that birds may increase EWL with increasing Ta, as the need for evaporative cooling increases. Our results support the argument that the subtle and complex effects of altitude (and ambient temperature) should be taken into account in studies on avian metabolic rate. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN Of the numerous studies known to affect avian metabolic rate, altitude is one of the least studied. Although trends are not always clear, generally, at higher altitudes, avian metabolic rate increases. WHAT THE STUDY ADDS There were statistically significant seasonal and altitudinal differences in various physiological parameters of Cape White-eyes. These results highlight the importance of accounting for altitude in studies of avian metabolic rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindy J Thompson
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa.
| | - Colleen T Downs
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa.
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27
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Time scaled phylogeography and demography of Bradypus torquatus (Pilosa: Bradypodidae). Glob Ecol Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Wang W, Zhang R, Yin Q, Zhang S, Li W, Li D, Mi Z. Digestive tract length is positively correlated with altitude across Fejervarya limnocharis populations. ANIM BIOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-00002534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In animals, the amount of nutrients acquired through foraging and the proportion of metabolisable energy gained is reflected in the digestive tract length. This digestion theory predicts that the consumption of food with high content of indigestible material will lead to increased gut dimensions. Here, we analyzed geographic variation in digestive tract length related to diet among 14 Fejervarya limnocharis populations to test the digestion theory. Relative digestive tract length significantly differed between males and females and among populations. The relative length of the digestive tract increased with altitude. We also found a positive correlation between the proportion of plant material and digestive tract length for both sexes, which is consistent with the prediction of the digestion theory. Our findings suggest that variation in temperature associated with altitude affects food composition, and, thereby ultimately gut morphology of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yu Wang
- 1College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Hexing Road 26, Harbin 150040, China
- 2College of Life Science and Agriculture Forestry, Qiqihar University, Wenhua Street 42, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- 3Micangshan Nature Reserve, Wangcang, 628200, Sichuan, China
| | - Qing Xiao Yin
- 3Micangshan Nature Reserve, Wangcang, 628200, Sichuan, China
| | - Shi Peng Zhang
- 3Micangshan Nature Reserve, Wangcang, 628200, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Qin Li
- 4Key Laboratory of Southwest China, Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Da Yong Li
- 4Key Laboratory of Southwest China, Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Zhi Ping Mi
- 4Key Laboratory of Southwest China, Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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Sun YF, Ren ZP, Wu YF, Lei FM, Dudley R, Li DM. Flying high: limits to flight performance by sparrows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:3642-3648. [PMID: 27609759 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.142216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Limits to flight performance at high altitude potentially reflect variable constraints deriving from the simultaneous challenges of hypobaric, hypodense and cold air. Differences in flight-related morphology and maximum lifting capacity have been well characterized for different hummingbird species across elevational gradients, but relevant within-species variation has not yet been identified in any bird species. Here we evaluate load-lifting capacity for Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) populations at three different elevations in China, and correlate maximum lifted loads with relevant anatomical features including wing shape, wing size, and heart and lung masses. Sparrows were heavier and possessed more rounded and longer wings at higher elevations; relative heart and lung masses were also greater with altitude, although relative flight muscle mass remained constant. By contrast, maximum lifting capacity relative to body weight declined over the same elevational range, while the effective wing loading in flight (i.e. the ratio of body weight and maximum lifted weight to total wing area) remained constant, suggesting aerodynamic constraints on performance in parallel with enhanced heart and lung masses to offset hypoxic challenge. Mechanical limits to take-off performance may thus be exacerbated at higher elevations, which may in turn result in behavioral differences in escape responses among populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Feng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, People's Republic of China.,Ocean College, Agricultural University of Hebei, Qinhuangdao 066003, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Peng Ren
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue-Feng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, People's Republic of China
| | - Fu-Min Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Robert Dudley
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Dong-Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, People's Republic of China
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Han J, Guo R, Li J, Guan C, Chen Y, Zhao W. Organ Mass Variation in a Toad Headed Lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii in Response to Hypoxia and Low Temperature in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162572. [PMID: 27603795 PMCID: PMC5015776 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia and low temperature at high altitudes are the main environmental pressures for alpine animals, inducing phenotypic plasticity at several levels. To investigate the effect of these variables on the organ mass of Phrynocephalus vlangalii, 138 individuals belonging to four populations living along an altitudinal gradient in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (China) were dissected to remove heart, lungs, stomach, and intestinal tract. Organ dry mass, individuals’ sex, and body mass, as well as mean annual temperature and average air pressure (calculated from a 30-year-data series obtained from the National Climatic Data Center) were subjected to two-way analyses of covariance and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). Except for the heart, organ mass varied significantly among populations, although only lung and stomach mass increased significantly with increasing altitude. Males’ heart and lung mass was higher than that of females, which might be due to their different behavior and reproductive efforts. GLMM analyses indicated that air pressure had a positive effect on heart, lung and intestinal tract mass, whereas temperature had a negative effect on these three organs. In order to explain the effect of hypoxia and low temperature on P. vlangalii’s organ mass, further rigorous study on respiration, energy budget and food intake was encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Han
- School of life sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu province, China
| | - Ronghui Guo
- School of life sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu province, China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Chen Guan
- School of life sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu province, China
| | - Yu Chen
- School of life sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu province, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- School of life sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu province, China
- * E-mail:
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31
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Cardilini APA, Buchanan KL, Sherman CDH, Cassey P, Symonds MRE. Tests of ecogeographical relationships in a non-native species: what rules avian morphology? Oecologia 2016; 181:783-93. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3590-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Time budget, oxygen consumption and body mass responses to parasites in juvenile and adult wild rodents. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:120. [PMID: 26932152 PMCID: PMC4774152 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1407-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The study of changes in a host’s energy allocation in response to parasites is crucial for understanding parasite impact on both individual- and population-level processes. Experimental studies have explored such responses mainly in a single subsample of hosts per study, primarily adult males, and have only assessed either the overall energy acquisition or expenditure, rather than their different components simultaneously, or the behavioral responses. Accordingly, two fundamental questions arise: why have multiple host strategies evolved to cope with increased energy expenditure? and, which factors determine this variation (e.g. host species, identity, age)? This study provides an important step towards addressing both questions by experimentally disentangling the short-term physiological and behavioral responses of juvenile and non-reproductive adult rodents to natural levels of flea infestation. These two cohorts represent extreme cases of the energy demand continuum, as the former, in contrast to the latter, is involved in growth - a highly energy-demanding process - and may not be able to operate far below its upper limit of energy expenditure, and thus should reduce its energy expenses upon the occurrence of extra demands (e.g. due to parasitic pressure). Accordingly, we hypothesized that the response to fleas is age-dependent and varies according to the age-specific energy requirements and constraints. Methods We monitored the behavior and physiology of juvenile and non-reproductive adult rodents before and after experimental flea infestation. First, we used a model selection approach to search for the factors that best explained the variability in the time budget, oxygen consumption, and body mass change in response to fleas. Then, using a path analysis approach, we quantified the different pathways connecting the important associations revealed at stage 1. Results Compared to their flea-free counterparts, flea-infested adults groomed longer and had a higher oxygen consumption rate, but did not lose body mass. Infested juveniles also groomed longer but grew slower and had a similar rate of oxygen consumption. Conclusions Results suggest that both juvenile and adult rodents suffer from natural flea infestation levels. However, the comparison between the responses of juveniles and adults to experimental infestation, also suggests that juveniles may reallocate their energy expenditure from growth to maintenance, while non-reproductive adults increase their energy acquisition. Such age-dependent responses suggest that juveniles may be constrained by their higher need to rest for full functioning or by an upper limit in energy expenditure. Taken together, our study provides experimental evidence that hosts can compensate for the costs incurred by parasitism through physiological and behavioral plasticity, depending on their age, which probably determines their requirements and constraints. These compensatory responses may have important implications for the population dynamics of hosts and their parasites.
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Zhang JY, Zhao XY, Wen J, Tan S, Zhao ZJ. Plasticity in gastrointestinal morphology and enzyme activity in lactating striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis). J Exp Biol 2016; 219:1327-36. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.138396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In small mammals marked phenotypic plasticity of digestive physiology has been shown to make it easier to cope with the energetically stressful periods, such as lactation. It has been proposed that the capacity of the gut to digest and absorb food is not the factor limiting to sustained energy intake (SusEI) during peak lactation. In this study, plasticity in energy intake and gastrointestinal morphology was examined in striped hamsters at different stages of reproduction and raising litters of different sizes. Mechanisms associated with digestive enzymes and neuroendocrine hormones underpinning the plasticity were also examined. The females significantly increased energy intake, digestibility, masses of digestive tracts and activity of stomach pepsin and maltase, sucrase and aminopeptidase of small intestine in peak lactation compared to the non-productive and post-lactating periods. Further, the females raising large litters significantly increased energy intake, digestibility, gastrointestinal mass and activity of digestive enzymes, and weaned heavier offspring compared with those nursing small and medium litters, indicating that the significant plasticity of digestive physiology increased reproductive performance. The agouti-related protein (AgRP) mRNA expression in the hypothalamus was up-regulated significantly in the females raising large litters relative to those raising small litters. Serum leptin levels, hypothalamus neuropeptide Y (NPY), or anorexigenic neuropeptides (pro-opiomelanocortin / cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, POMC / CART) mRNA expression did not differ among the females raising small, medium and large litters, indicating that leptin levels in lactation might only reflect a state of energy balance rather than being the prime driver of hyperphagia. Some hypothalamic neuropeptides, such as NPY, POMC and CART, would be involved in the limits to the SusEI during lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Ying Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xiao-Ya Zhao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jing Wen
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Song Tan
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Zhao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
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Orgeig S, Morrison JL, Daniels CB. Evolution, Development, and Function of the Pulmonary Surfactant System in Normal and Perturbed Environments. Compr Physiol 2015; 6:363-422. [PMID: 26756637 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c150003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Surfactant lipids and proteins form a surface active film at the air-liquid interface of internal gas exchange organs, including swim bladders and lungs. The system is uniquely positioned to meet both the physical challenges associated with a dynamically changing internal air-liquid interface, and the environmental challenges associated with the foreign pathogens and particles to which the internal surface is exposed. Lungs range from simple, transparent, bag-like units to complex, multilobed, compartmentalized structures. Despite this anatomical variability, the surfactant system is remarkably conserved. Here, we discuss the evolutionary origin of the surfactant system, which likely predates lungs. We describe the evolution of surfactant structure and function in invertebrates and vertebrates. We focus on changes in lipid and protein composition and surfactant function from its antiadhesive and innate immune to its alveolar stability and structural integrity functions. We discuss the biochemical, hormonal, autonomic, and mechanical factors that regulate normal surfactant secretion in mature animals. We present an analysis of the ontogeny of surfactant development among the vertebrates and the contribution of different regulatory mechanisms that control this development. We also discuss environmental (oxygen), hormonal and biochemical (glucocorticoids and glucose) and pollutant (maternal smoking, alcohol, and common "recreational" drugs) effects that impact surfactant development. On the adult surfactant system, we focus on environmental variables including temperature, pressure, and hypoxia that have shaped its evolution and we discuss the resultant biochemical, biophysical, and cellular adaptations. Finally, we discuss the effect of major modern gaseous and particulate pollutants on the lung and surfactant system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Orgeig
- School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences and Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences and Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Christopher B Daniels
- School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences and Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
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Zhou LM, Xia SS, Chen Q, Wang RM, Zheng WH, Liu JS. Phenotypic flexibility of thermogenesis in the hwamei (Garrulax canorus): responses to cold acclimation. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2015; 310:R330-6. [PMID: 26661097 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00259.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cold acclimation in birds involves a comprehensive array of physiological and morphological adjustment ranging from changes in aerobic enzyme activity to metabolic rate and organ mass. In the present study, we investigated phenotypic variation in thermogenic activity in the hwamei (Garrulax canorus) under normal (35°C) or cold (15°C) ambient temperature conditions. Acclimation to an ambient temperature of 15°C for 4 wk significantly increased the body mass, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and energy intake, including both gross energy intake and digestible energy intake, compared with birds kept at 35°C. Furthermore, birds acclimated to 15°C increased the dry mass of their liver and kidneys, but not their heart and pectoral muscles, and displayed higher state-4 respiration in the liver, kidneys, heart, and pectoral muscles, and higher cytochrome-c oxidase (COX) activity in liver, kidney, and pectoral muscle, compared with those kept at 35°C. There was a positive correlation between BMR and state-4 respiration in all of the above organs except the liver, and between BMR and COX activity in all of the above organs. Taken together, these data illustrate the morphological, physiological, and enzymatic changes associated with cold acclimation, and support the notion that the hwamei is a bird species from temperate climates that exhibits high phenotypic flexibility of thermogenic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Meng Zhou
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China; and
| | - Su-Su Xia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China; and
| | - Qian Chen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China; and
| | - Run-Mei Wang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China; and
| | - Wei-Hong Zheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China; and Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jin-Song Liu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China; and Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou, China
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Sassi PL, Taraborelli P, Albanese S, Gutierrez A. Effect of Temperature on Activity Patterns in a Small Andean Rodent: Behavioral Plasticity and Intraspecific Variation. Ethology 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paola L. Sassi
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad; CONICET; Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; CCT; Mendoza Argentina
| | - Paula Taraborelli
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad; CONICET; Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; CCT; Mendoza Argentina
| | - Soledad Albanese
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad; CONICET; Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; CCT; Mendoza Argentina
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Rothhammer F, Fuentes-Guajardo M, Chakraborty R, Lorenzo Bermejo J, Dittmar M. Neonatal variables, altitude of residence and Aymara ancestry in northern Chile. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121834. [PMID: 25885573 PMCID: PMC4401771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies performed in the Andean plateau, one of the highest inhabited areas in the world, have reported that reduced availability of oxygen is associated to fetal growth retardation and lower birth weight, which are established predictors of morbidity and mortality during the first year of life. To test this hypothesis, perinatal variables of neonates born at the Juan Noé Hospital of Arica, Chile, were analyzed in relation to altitude of residence and Aymara ancestry of their mothers. The study population comprised the offspring of 5,295 mothers born between February 2004 and August 2010. Information included birth weight, height, head circumference, gestational age, altitude of residence and socioeconomic status, and was obtained from medical records. Mother´s ancestry was assessed based on surnames which were linked to percentages of Aymara admixture estimates relying on 40 selected ancestry informative markers. After correcting for the effect of multicollinearity among predictor variables, neonates born to mothers with an increased component of Aymara ancestry showed significantly higher birth weight and height at sea level, a marginally significant (p-value 0.06) decrease of birth weight and a significant decrease of height with altitude in comparison with the offspring of mothers with low Aymara ancestry. Since observed tendencies are suggestive of a possible genetic adaptation to hypoxia of the Chilean Aymara, we discuss briefly preliminary evidence related to fetal oxygen transport, particularly polymorphisms in the promoters of the HBG1 and HBG2 genes that are modulators of HbF synthesis, obtained in this ethnic group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Rothhammer
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
- Centro de Investigaciones del Hombre en el Desierto (CIHDE), Arica, Chile
- * E-mail:
| | - Macarena Fuentes-Guajardo
- Departmento de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
| | - Ranajit Chakraborty
- Center for Computational Genomics, Institute of Applied Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United State of America
| | - Justo Lorenzo Bermejo
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuela Dittmar
- Department of Human Biology, Zoological Institute, Christian Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
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Sassi PL, Novillo A. Acclimating to thermal changes: Intraspecific variation in a small mammal from the Andes Mountains. Mamm Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Lui MA, Mahalingam S, Patel P, Connaty AD, Ivy CM, Cheviron ZA, Storz JF, McClelland GB, Scott GR. High-altitude ancestry and hypoxia acclimation have distinct effects on exercise capacity and muscle phenotype in deer mice. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2015; 308:R779-91. [PMID: 25695288 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00362.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The hypoxic and cold environment at high altitudes requires that small mammals sustain high rates of O2 transport for exercise and thermogenesis while facing a diminished O2 availability. We used laboratory-born and -raised deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) from highland and lowland populations to determine the interactive effects of ancestry and hypoxia acclimation on exercise performance. Maximal O₂consumption (V̇o(2max)) during exercise in hypoxia increased after hypoxia acclimation (equivalent to the hypoxia at ∼4,300 m elevation for 6-8 wk) and was consistently greater in highlanders than in lowlanders. V̇o(2max) during exercise in normoxia was not affected by ancestry or acclimation. Highlanders also had consistently greater capillarity, oxidative fiber density, and maximal activities of oxidative enzymes (cytochrome c oxidase and citrate synthase) in the gastrocnemius muscle, lower lactate dehydrogenase activity in the gastrocnemius, and greater cytochrome c oxidase activity in the diaphragm. Hypoxia acclimation did not affect any of these muscle traits. The unique gastrocnemius phenotype of highlanders was associated with higher mRNA and protein abundances of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) transcript abundance was lower in highlanders, and hypoxia acclimation reduced the expression of numerous genes that regulate angiogenesis and energy metabolism, in contrast to the observed population differences in muscle phenotype. Lowlanders exhibited greater increases in blood hemoglobin content, hematocrit, and wet lung mass (but not dry lung mass) than highlanders after hypoxia acclimation. Genotypic adaptation to high altitude, therefore, improves exercise performance in hypoxia by mechanisms that are at least partially distinct from those underlying hypoxia acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikaela A Lui
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sajeni Mahalingam
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paras Patel
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alex D Connaty
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine M Ivy
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zachary A Cheviron
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois; and
| | - Jay F Storz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
| | | | - Graham R Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;
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40
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Wojtal KA, Cee A, Lang S, Götze O, Frühauf H, Geier A, Pastor-Anglada M, Torres-Torronteras J, Martí R, Fried M, Lutz TA, Maggiorini M, Gassmann M, Rogler G, Vavricka SR. Downregulation of duodenal SLC transporters and activation of proinflammatory signaling constitute the early response to high altitude in humans. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2014; 307:G673-88. [PMID: 24970780 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00353.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Solute carrier (SLC) transporters mediate the uptake of biologically active compounds in the intestine. Reduced oxygenation (hypoxia) is an important factor influencing intestinal homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathophysiological consequences of hypoxia on the expression and function of SLCs in human intestine. Hypoxia was induced in human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in vitro (0.2; 1% O2 or CoCl2). For human in vivo studies, duodenal biopsies and serum samples were obtained from individuals (n = 16) acutely exposed to 4,554 meters above sea levels. Expression of relevant targets was analyzed by quantitative PCR, Western blotting, or immunofluorescence. Serum levels of inflammatory mediators and nucleosides were determined by ELISA and LC/MS-MS, respectively. In the duodenum of volunteers exposed to high altitude we observed decreased mRNA levels of apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT), concentrative nucleoside transporters 1/2 (CNT1/2), organic anion transporting polypeptide 2B1 (OATP2B1), organic cation transporter 2 (OCTN2), peptide transporter 1 (PEPT1), serotonin transporter (SERT), and higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17A. Serum levels of IL-10, IFN-γ, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and serotonin were elevated, whereas the levels of uridine decreased upon exposure to hypoxia. Hypoxic IECs showed reduced levels of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 (ENT2), OCTN2, and SERT mRNAs in vitro, which was confirmed on the protein level and was accompanied by activation of ERK1/2, increase of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) proteins, and production of IL-8 mRNA. Costimulation with IFN-γ and IL-6 during hypoxia further decreased the expression of SERT, ENT2, and CNT2 in vitro. Reduced oxygen supply affects the expression pattern of duodenal SLCs that is accompanied by changes in serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and biologically active compounds demonstrating that intestinal transport is affected during systemic exposure to hypoxia in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacper A Wojtal
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Alexandra Cee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Lang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Götze
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Clinic Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Heiko Frühauf
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital Triemli, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Geier
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Clinic Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marçal Pastor-Anglada
- Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedicine and Oncology Programme, National Biomedical Research Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease (CIBER EHD), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Torres-Torronteras
- Neuromuscular and Mitochondrial Disorders Unit, and Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Martí
- Neuromuscular and Mitochondrial Disorders Unit, and Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael Fried
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas A Lutz
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Maggiorini
- Intensive Care Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Max Gassmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Cayetano Heredia University (UPCH), Lima, Peru; and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Rogler
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stephan R Vavricka
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital Triemli, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), Zurich, Switzerland
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41
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Cortés PA, Franco M, Moreno-Gómez FN, Barrientos K, Nespolo RF. Thermoregulatory capacities and torpor in the South American marsupial, Dromiciops gliroides. J Therm Biol 2014; 45:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Revised: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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42
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Zheng WH, Li M, Liu JS, Shao SL, Xu XJ. Seasonal Variation of Metabolic Thermogenesis in Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) over a Latitudinal Gradient. Physiol Biochem Zool 2014; 87:704-18. [DOI: 10.1086/676832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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43
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Shirkey NJ, Hammond KA. The relationship between cardiopulmonary size and aerobic performance in adult deer mice at high altitude. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 217:3758-64. [PMID: 25147245 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.103713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus sonoriensis) populations in the White Mountains of Eastern California are found across a substantial range of partial pressures of oxygen (PO₂). Reduction in PO₂ at high altitude can have a negative impact on aerobic performance. We studied plastic changes in organ mass and volume involved in aerobic respiration in response to acclimation to high altitude, and how those changes are matched with aerobic performance measured by VO₂,max. Adult deer mice born and raised at 340 m were acclimated at either 340 or 3800 m for a period of 9 weeks. Lung volume increased by 9% in mice acclimated to high altitude. VO₂,max was also significantly higher under hypoxic conditions after high altitude acclimation compared with controls. Body mass-corrected residuals of VO₂,max were significantly correlated with an index of cardiopulmonary size (summed standardized residuals of lung volume and heart mass) under both hypoxic and normoxic conditions. These data show that phenotypic plasticity in lung volume and heart mass plays an important role in maintaining aerobic performance under hypoxic conditions, and accounts for up to 55% of the variance in aerobic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Shirkey
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Kimberly A Hammond
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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44
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Zheng WH, Liu JS, Swanson DL. Seasonal Phenotypic Flexibility of Body Mass, Organ Masses, and Tissue Oxidative Capacity and Their Relationship to Resting Metabolic Rate in Chinese Bulbuls. Physiol Biochem Zool 2014; 87:432-44. [DOI: 10.1086/675439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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45
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Gillooly JF, McCoy MW. Brain size varies with temperature in vertebrates. PeerJ 2014; 2:e301. [PMID: 24688876 PMCID: PMC3961153 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The tremendous variation in brain size among vertebrates has long been thought to be related to differences in species’ metabolic rates. It is thought that species with higher metabolic rates can supply more energy to support the relatively high cost of brain tissue. And yet, while body temperature is known to be a major determinant of metabolic rate, the possible effects of temperature on brain size have scarcely been explored. Thus, here we explore the effects of temperature on brain size among diverse vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). We find that, after controlling for body size, brain size increases exponentially with temperature in much the same way as metabolic rate. These results suggest that temperature-dependent changes in aerobic capacity, which have long been known to affect physical performance, similarly affect brain size. The observed temperature-dependence of brain size may explain observed gradients in brain size among both ectotherms and endotherms across broad spatial and temporal scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Gillooly
- Department of Biology, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL , USA
| | - Michael W McCoy
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University , Greenville, NC , USA
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46
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Zhao ZJ, Chi QS, Liu QS, Zheng WH, Liu JS, Wang DH. The shift of thermoneutral zone in striped hamster acclimated to different temperatures. PLoS One 2014; 9:e84396. [PMID: 24400087 PMCID: PMC3882234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperature affects all biological functions and will therefore modulate ecologically significant interactions between animals and their environment. Here, we examined the effect of ambient temperature (Ta) on the thermal biology and energy budget in striped hamsters acclimated to cold (5°C), warm (21°C) and hot temperatures (31°C). Thermoneutral zone (TNZ) was 22.5–32.5°C, 25–32.5°C and 30–32.5°C in the cold-, warm- and hot-acclimated hamsters, respectively. The cold acclimation decreased the lower critical temperature and made the TNZ wider, and hot exposure elevated the lower critical temperature, resulting in a narrow TNZ. Within the TNZ, cold-acclimated hamsters showed a significantly higher rate of metabolism and thermogenesis than those acclimated to hot temperature. Digestive enzymes activities, including intestinal sucrase, maltase, L-alanine aminopeptidase-N and leucine aminopeptidase were higher in the cold than in the hot. The changes in metabolic rate and thermogenesis at different temperatures were in parallel with cytochrome c oxidase activity and uncoupling protein 1 gene expression of brown adipose tissue. This suggests that the shift of the lower critical temperature of TNZ is possibly associated with the rate of metabolism and thermogenesis, as well as with the digestive capacity of the gastrointestinal tract at different Ta. The upper critical temperature of TNZ may be independent of the changes in Ta. The changes of lower critical temperature of TNZ are an important strategy in adaption to variations of Ta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Jun Zhao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management for Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Qing-Sheng Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management for Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Quan-Sheng Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Agriculture, Guangdong Entomological Institute, 105 Xin’gang Xilu, Haizhu, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Hong Zheng
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jin-Song Liu
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - De-Hua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management for Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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47
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McGuire LP, Fenton MB, Guglielmo CG. Phenotypic flexibility in migrating bats: seasonal variation in body composition, organ sizes and fatty acid profiles. J Exp Biol 2013; 216:800-8. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.072868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY
Many species of bats migrate long distances, but the physiological challenges of migration are poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that migration is physiologically demanding for bats by examining migration-related phenotypic flexibility. Both bats and birds are endothermic, flying vertebrates; therefore, we predicted that migration would result in similar physiological trade-offs. We compared hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) during spring migration and summer non-migratory periods, comparing our results with previous observations of birds. Migrating bats had reduced digestive organs, enlarged exercise organs, and fat stores had higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). These results are consistent with previous studies of migrating birds; however, we also found sex differences not typically associated with bird migration. Migrating female hoary bats increased the relative size of fat stores by reducing lean body components, while males maintained the same relative amount of fat in both seasons. The ratio of n-6 to n-3 PUFA in flight muscle membrane increased in migrating males and decreased in migrating females, consistent with males using torpor more frequently than females during spring migration. Enlarged exercise organs, reduced digestive organs and changes in adipose tissue composition reflect the elevated energetic demands of migration. Sex-specific patterns of fat storage and muscle membrane composition likely reflect challenges faced by females that migrate while pregnant. Our results provide some of the first insights into the physiological demands of bat migration and highlight key differences between bats and birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam P. McGuire
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street N., London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - M. Brock Fenton
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street N., London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Christopher G. Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street N., London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7
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48
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Tufts DM, Revsbech IG, Cheviron ZA, Weber RE, Fago A, Storz JF. Phenotypic plasticity in blood-oxygen transport in highland and lowland deer mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 216:1167-73. [PMID: 23239893 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.079848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates living at high altitude, arterial hypoxemia may be ameliorated by reversible changes in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood (regulated by erythropoiesis) and/or changes in blood-oxygen affinity (regulated by allosteric effectors of hemoglobin function). These hematological traits often differ between taxa that are native to different elevational zones, but it is often unknown whether the observed physiological differences reflect fixed, genetically based differences or environmentally induced acclimatization responses (phenotypic plasticity). Here, we report measurements of hematological traits related to blood-O2 transport in populations of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) that are native to high- and low-altitude environments. We conducted a common-garden breeding experiment to assess whether altitude-related physiological differences were attributable to developmental plasticity and/or physiological plasticity during adulthood. Under conditions prevailing in their native habitats, high-altitude deer mice from the Rocky Mountains exhibited a number of pronounced hematological differences relative to low-altitude conspecifics from the Great Plains: higher hemoglobin concentrations, higher hematocrits, higher erythrocytic concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (an allosteric regulator of hemoglobin-oxygen affinity), lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations and smaller red blood cells. However, these differences disappeared after 6 weeks of acclimation to normoxia at low altitude. The measured traits were also indistinguishable between the F1 progeny of highland and lowland mice, indicating that there were no persistent differences in phenotype that could be attributed to developmental plasticity. These results indicate that the naturally occurring hematological differences between highland and lowland mice are environmentally induced and are largely attributable to physiological plasticity during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Tufts
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
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49
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Cheviron ZA, Bachman GC, Storz JF. Contributions of phenotypic plasticity to differences in thermogenic performance between highland and lowland deer mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [PMID: 23197099 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.075598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Small mammals face especially severe thermoregulatory challenges at high altitude because the reduced O2 availability constrains the capacity for aerobic thermogenesis. Adaptive enhancement of thermogenic performance under hypoxic conditions may be achieved via physiological adjustments that occur within the lifetime of individuals (phenotypic plasticity) and/or genetically based changes that occur across generations, but their relative contributions to performance differences between highland and lowland natives are unclear. Here, we examined potentially evolved differences in thermogenic performance between populations of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) that are native to different altitudes. The purpose of the study was to assess the contribution of phenotypic plasticity to population differences in thermogenic performance under hypoxia. We used a common-garden deacclimation experiment to demonstrate that highland deer mice have enhanced thermogenic capacities under hypoxia, and that performance differences between highland and lowland mice persist when individuals are born and reared under common-garden conditions, suggesting that differences in thermogenic capacity have a genetic basis. Conversely, population differences in thermogenic endurance appear to be entirely attributable to physiological plasticity during adulthood. These combined results reveal distinct sources of phenotypic plasticity for different aspects of thermogenic performance, and suggest that thermogenic capacity and endurance may have different mechanistic underpinnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Cheviron
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
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50
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Regulatory changes contribute to the adaptive enhancement of thermogenic capacity in high-altitude deer mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:8635-40. [PMID: 22586089 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1120523109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to hypoxic stress, many animals compensate for a reduced cellular O(2) supply by suppressing total metabolism, thereby reducing O(2) demand. For small endotherms that are native to high-altitude environments, this is not always a viable strategy, as the capacity for sustained aerobic thermogenesis is critical for survival during periods of prolonged cold stress. For example, survivorship studies of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) have demonstrated that thermogenic capacity is under strong directional selection at high altitude. Here, we integrate measures of whole-organism thermogenic performance with measures of metabolic enzyme activities and genomic transcriptional profiles to examine the mechanistic underpinnings of adaptive variation in this complex trait in deer mice that are native to different elevations. We demonstrate that highland deer mice have an enhanced thermogenic capacity under hypoxia compared with lowland conspecifics and a closely related lowland species, Peromyscus leucopus. Our findings suggest that the enhanced thermogenic performance of highland deer mice is largely attributable to an increased capacity to oxidize lipids as a primary metabolic fuel source. This enhanced capacity for aerobic thermogenesis is associated with elevated activities of muscle metabolic enzymes that influence flux through fatty-acid oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation pathways in high-altitude deer mice and by concomitant changes in the expression of genes in these same pathways. Contrary to predictions derived from studies of humans at high altitude, our results suggest that selection to sustain prolonged thermogenesis under hypoxia promotes a shift in metabolic fuel use in favor of lipids over carbohydrates.
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