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Tomotani BM, Strauß AFT, Kishkinev D, van de Haar H, Helm B. Circadian clock period length is not consistently linked to chronotype in a wild songbird. Eur J Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 39256897 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16535] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Circadian clock properties vary between individuals and relate to variation in entrained timing in captivity. How this variation translates into behavioural differences in natural settings, however, is poorly understood. Here, we tested in great tits whether variation in the free-running period length (tau) under constant dim light (LL) was linked to the phase angle of the entrained rhythm ("chronotype") in captivity and in the wild, as recently indicated in our study species. We also assessed links between tau and the timing of first activity onset and offset under LL relative to the last experienced light-dark (LD) cycle. We kept 66 great tits, caught in two winters, in LL for 14 days and subsequently released them with a radio transmitter back to the wild, where their activity and body temperature rhythms were tracked for 1 to 22 days. For a subset of birds, chronotype was also recorded in the lab before release. Neither wild nor lab chronotypes were related to tau. We also found no correlation between lab and wild chronotypes. However, the first onset in LL had a positive relationship with tau, but only in males. Our results demonstrate that links between tau and phase of entrainment, postulated on theoretical grounds, may not consistently hold under natural conditions, possibly due to strong masking. This calls for more holistic research on how the many components of the circadian system interact with the environment to shape timing in the wild. Wild birds showed chronotypes in the field that were unlinked to their circadian period length tau measured in captivity. In males only, the first onset of activity after exposure to constant dim light did correlate with tau. Our study emphasises the need to investigate clocks in the real world, including a need to better understand masking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara M Tomotani
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, AB, The Netherlands
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Aurelia F T Strauß
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, AB, The Netherlands
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Huib van de Haar
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, AB, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Helm
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
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2
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Kumar R, Yadav A, Chaturvedi K, Pal LC, Malik S, Rani S. Surviving high temperatures: a case study of the spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:81226-81235. [PMID: 37316627 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28084-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Every year, a combination of summer with extreme weather events such as "heatwaves" affects the life of organisms on earth. Previous studies on humans, rodents, and some birds signify the impact of heat stress on their survival and existence. Over the past four decades, the frequency of heatwaves has increased because of global warming. Therefore, we performed a longitudinal study on a resident bird species, the spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) by simulating a heatwave-like condition. We were interested in understanding how a Passeriformes native to a sub-tropical country deals with heatwave-like conditions. Initially, the birds were subjected to room temperature (25 ± 2 °C; T1) for 10 days, followed by a simulated heatwave-like condition (42 ± 1 °C; T2) for 7 days and again back to room temperature (25 ± 2 °C; RT1) for the next 7 days. To elucidate how birds cope with simulated heatwave conditions, we examined different behavioral and physiological parameters. We found that although heat stress significantly reduced total activity counts and food intake but, the body mass, blood glucose, and hemoglobin levels remained unaffected by any of the temperature conditions. Furthermore, HSP70 and biochemical markers of liver injuries such as ALP, AST, ALT, bilirubin direct, and bilirubin total were found elevated in response to the simulated heatwave-like condition, whereas uric acid and triglyceride were reduced. Creatinine and total protein levels were unaffected by the heatwave. The post heatwave treatment resulted in a rebound of the behavioral and physiological responses, but the recovered responses were not equivalent to the pre-heatwave levels (T1 conditions). Thus, the present study demonstrates heatwave-associated behavioral and physiological changes in a resident passerine finch which has tremendous physiological flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar
- Center, for Biological Timekeeping, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Govt. Girls P.G. College Fatehpur, Prayagraj, UP, India
| | - Anupama Yadav
- Center, for Biological Timekeeping, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India
- CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, UP, India
| | - Khushboo Chaturvedi
- Center, for Biological Timekeeping, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India
| | - Lal Chand Pal
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Shalie Malik
- Center, for Biological Timekeeping, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India
| | - Sangeeta Rani
- Center, for Biological Timekeeping, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India.
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3
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Parenting in the city: effects of urbanization on incubation behaviour and egg temperature in great tits, Parus major. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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4
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Vilani NMJ, Monteiro DALV, Einat H, Jerome B, Fix VD, de Lauro CAM, Oliveira BDM. Melanopsin expression in the retinas of owls with different daily activity patterns. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpap.2022.100155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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5
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Intrinsic individual variation in daily activity onset and plastic responses on temporal but not spatial scales in female great tits. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18022. [PMID: 36289438 PMCID: PMC9605954 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22935-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In a variety of species, individuals appear to be consistent in the daily timing of their activity onset. Such consistent among-individual differences can result from both intrinsic factors, as individuals may e.g. differ genetically, and extrinsic factors, as the environment may vary on spatial and temporal scales. However, previous studies typically did not differentiate between their respective contributions on individual variation in the timing of activities. Here, we repeatedly measured the onset of activity in female great tits (Parus major) on consecutive days during the egg laying phase of the breeding season in four consecutive years. Subsequently, we used a variance partitioning analysis in order to determine which part of the total variation could be attributed to intrinsic (female identity) and extrinsic (nest box identity) factors. Overall, 27% of the total variation could be attributed to female identity. In addition, we found temporal variation in the activity onset, indicating that individuals can plastically adjust their timing. Yet despite their general ability to change the timing of activities over time, spatial environmental factors did not contribute significantly to the observed variation. Individuals may choose a habitat that matches the preferred timing of activities, or might not benefit from adjusting their timing to environmental factors that might vary on spatial scales.
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Meijdam M, Müller W, Thys B, Eens M. No relationship between chronotype and timing of breeding when variation in daily activity patterns across the breeding season is taken into account. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9353. [PMID: 36188525 PMCID: PMC9490139 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that individuals are consistent in the timing of their daily activities, and that individual variation in temporal behavior is related to the timing of reproduction. However, it remains unclear whether observed patterns relate to the timing of the onset of activity or whether an early onset of activity extends the time that is available for foraging. This may then again facilitate reproduction. Furthermore, the timing of activity onset and offset may vary across the breeding season, which may complicate studying the above-mentioned relationships. Here, we examined in a wild population of great tits (Parus major) whether an early clutch initiation date may be related to an early onset of activity and/or to longer active daylengths. We also investigated how these parameters are affected by the date of measurement. To test these hypotheses, we measured emergence and entry time from/into the nest box as proxies for activity onset and offset in females during the egg laying phase. We then determined active daylength. Both emergence time and active daylength were related to clutch initiation date. However, a more detailed analysis showed that the timing of activities with respect to sunrise and sunset varied throughout the breeding season both within and among individuals. The observed positive relationships are hence potentially statistical artifacts. After methodologically correcting for this date effect, by using data from the pre-egg laying phase, where all individuals were measured on the same days, neither of the relationships remained significant. Taking methodological pitfalls and temporal variation into account may hence be crucial for understanding the significance of chronotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein Meijdam
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology GroupUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
| | - Wendt Müller
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology GroupUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
| | - Bert Thys
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology GroupUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology GroupUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
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Where wildlife and traffic collide: Roadkill rates change through time in a wildlife-tourism hotspot. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Elderbrock EK, Hau M, Greives TJ. Sex steroids modulate circadian behavioral rhythms in captive animals, but does this matter in the wild? Horm Behav 2021; 128:104900. [PMID: 33245879 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nearly all organisms alter physiological and behavioral activities across the twenty-four-hour day. Endogenous timekeeping mechanisms, which are responsive to environmental and internal cues, allow organisms to anticipate predictable environmental changes and time their daily activities. Among-individual variation in the chronotype, or phenotypic output of these timekeeping mechanisms (i.e. timing of daily behaviors), is often observed in organisms studied under naturalistic environmental conditions. The neuroendocrine system, including sex steroids, has been implicated in the regulation and modulation of endogenous clocks and their behavioral outputs. Numerous studies have found clear evidence that sex steroids modulate circadian and daily timing of activities in captive animals under controlled conditions. However, little is known about how sex steroids influence daily behavioral rhythms in wild organisms or what, if any, implication this may have for survival and reproductive fitness. Here we review the evidence that sex steroids modulate daily timing in vertebrates under controlled conditions. We then discuss how this relationship may be relevant for the reproductive success and fitness of wild organisms and discuss the limited evidence that sex steroids modulate circadian rhythms in wild organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Elderbrock
- North Dakota State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Fargo, ND, USA.
| | - Michaela Hau
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Evolutionary Physiology Research Group, Seewiesen, Germany; University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Timothy J Greives
- North Dakota State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Fargo, ND, USA
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9
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Laine VN, Verhagen I, Mateman AC, Pijl A, Williams TD, Gienapp P, van Oers K, Visser ME. Exploration of tissue-specific gene expression patterns underlying timing of breeding in contrasting temperature environments in a song bird. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:693. [PMID: 31477015 PMCID: PMC6720064 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6043-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seasonal timing of breeding is a life history trait with major fitness consequences but the genetic basis of the physiological mechanism underlying it, and how gene expression is affected by date and temperature, is not well known. In order to study this, we measured patterns of gene expression over different time points in three different tissues of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver axis, and investigated specifically how temperature affects this axis during breeding. We studied female great tits (Parus major) from lines artificially selected for early and late timing of breeding that were housed in two contrasting temperature environments in climate-controlled aviaries. We collected hypothalamus, liver and ovary samples at three different time points (before and after onset of egg-laying). For each tissue, we sequenced whole transcriptomes of 12 pools (n = 3 females) to analyse gene expression. RESULTS Birds from the selection lines differed in expression especially for one gene with clear reproductive functions, zona pellucida glycoprotein 4 (ZP4), which has also been shown to be under selection in these lines. Genes were differentially expressed at different time points in all tissues and most of the differentially expressed genes between the two temperature treatments were found in the liver. We identified a set of hub genes from all the tissues which showed high association to hormonal functions, suggesting that they have a core function in timing of breeding. We also found ample differentially expressed genes with largely unknown functions in birds. CONCLUSIONS We found differentially expressed genes associated with selection line and temperature treatment. Interestingly, the latter mainly in the liver suggesting that temperature effects on egg-laying date may happen down-stream in the physiological pathway. These findings, as well as our datasets, will further the knowledge of the mechanisms of tissue-specific avian seasonality in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika N. Laine
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Irene Verhagen
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - A. Christa Mateman
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Agata Pijl
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tony D. Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Phillip Gienapp
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel E. Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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10
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Rittenhouse JL, Robart AR, Watts HE. Variation in chronotype is associated with migratory timing in a songbird. Biol Lett 2019; 15:20190453. [PMID: 31455169 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Like many organisms, birds exhibit daily (circadian) and seasonal biological rhythms, and within populations both daily and seasonal timing often vary among individuals. Because photoperiod interacts with the circadian rhythms of many organisms to induce seasonal changes in behaviour and physiology, it is hypothesized that differences in daily timing, called chronotypes, underpin differences among individuals in the timing of seasonal events. For seasonal events stimulated by increasing daylength, this hypothesis predicts a positive relationship between the timing of daily and seasonal activities of individuals, with advanced chronotypes expressing events earlier in the year. The few previous tests of this hypothesis have focused on seasonal reproductive timing in birds. However, the hypothesis predicts that this relationship should extend to other photoinduced seasonal events. Therefore, we tested whether variation in chronotype was associated with variation in spring migratory timing in a captive songbird model, the pine siskin (Spinus pinus). We found that pine siskins expressing migratory restlessness exhibited repeatable chronotypes in their timing of nocturnal activity. Further, chronotype was significantly associated with the onset date of migratory behaviour, consistent with the hypothesized relationship between chronotype and seasonal timing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley R Robart
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Heather E Watts
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.,Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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11
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Trivedi AK, Sur S, Sharma A, Taufique ST, Gupta NJ, Kumar V. Temperature alters the hypothalamic transcription of photoperiod responsive genes in induction of seasonal response in migratory redheaded buntings. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 493:110454. [PMID: 31121264 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the temperature effects on hypothalamic transcription of genes involved in the induction of photoperiodic response in redheaded buntings. Birds were exposed at 22 and 38 °C to 13-h long photoperiods (LP), with controls at 22 °C on 8-h short photoperiods (SP). At 22 °C, compared to SP, we found higher tshb, eya3 and dio2 and low dio3 and gnih mRNA expressions after a week of LP; concomitant with testis recrudescence this confirmed buntings' responsiveness to LP-induced photostimulation. tshb, dio2 and gnrh mRNA levels were further increased by 2.5 weeks of LP at 38 °C. Temperature sensitive trpm8, but not trpv4, bdnf or adcyap1 also showed LP-induced expression at 22 °C. Concomitant changes in dnmt3b and tet2 mRNA expressions further suggested epigenetic modification of temperature influence on photoperiodic responses. These results demonstrate the role of temperature in hypothalamic molecular regulation of the photoperiodic gonadal response in seasonally breeding birds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sayantan Sur
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Aakansha Sharma
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | | | - Neelu Jain Gupta
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
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12
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Nocturnal resting behaviour in urban great tits and its relation to anthropogenic disturbance and microclimate. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2624-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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13
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Graham JL, Cook NJ, Needham KB, Hau M, Greives TJ. Early to rise, early to breed: a role for daily rhythms in seasonal reproduction. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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14
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Stuber E, Dingemanse N, Mueller J. Temperature affects frequency but not rhythmicity of nocturnal awakenings in free-living great tits, Parus major. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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15
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Latitude affects Morningness-Eveningness: evidence for the environment hypothesis based on a systematic review. Sci Rep 2017; 7:39976. [PMID: 28045131 PMCID: PMC5206670 DOI: 10.1038/srep39976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Morningness-eveningness (M/E) is an individual trait related to a person’s sleep-wake cycle and preference for morning or evening hours. The “environment hypothesis” suggests that M/E is dependent on environmental factors, such as latitude, mean average temperature and photoperiod. We here analyzed a large number of datasets to assess this effect based on a systematic review. Data were from a total of 87 datasets and 35,589 individuals based on 28 countries. Partial correlations correcting for age revealed significant relationships between M/E and latitude, mean yearly temperature, photoperiod and sunset. Evening orientation was related to higher latitude, longer days and later sunset. Morning orientation was related to higher average temperatures. Percentage of females and sunrise time had no significant influence. These variables (sunset, temperature, photoperiod) were then input in a general linear model. The full model showed an influence of age and of sunset on CSM scores, but not of photoperiod and average temperature. Sunset, therefore, seems to be the most important statistical predictor for the observed latitudinal gradient.
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Tyler NJC, Gregorini P, Forchhammer MC, Stokkan KA, van Oort BEH, Hazlerigg DG. Behavioral Timing without Clockwork: Photoperiod-Dependent Trade-Off between Predation Hazard and Energy Balance in an Arctic Ungulate. J Biol Rhythms 2016; 31:522-33. [PMID: 27634928 DOI: 10.1177/0748730416662778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Occurrence of 24-h rhythms in species apparently lacking functional molecular clockwork indicates that strong circadian mechanisms are not essential prerequisites of robust timing, and that rhythmical patterns may arise instead as passive responses to periodically changing environmental stimuli. Thus, in a new synthesis of grazing in a ruminant (MINDY), crepuscular peaks of activity emerge from interactions between internal and external stimuli that influence motivation to feed, and the influence of the light/dark cycle is mediated through the effect of low nocturnal levels of food intake on gastric function. Drawing on risk allocation theory, we hypothesized that the timing of behavior in ruminants is influenced by the independent effects of light on motivation to feed and perceived risk of predation. We predicted that the antithetical relationship between these 2 drivers would vary with photoperiod, resulting in a systematic shift in the phase of activity relative to the solar cycle across the year. This prediction was formalized in a model in which phase of activity emerges from a photoperiod-dependent trade-off between food and safety. We tested this model using data on the temporal pattern of activity in reindeer/caribou Rangifer tarandus free-living at natural mountain pasture in sub-Arctic Norway. The resulting nonlinear relationship between the phasing of crepuscular activity and photoperiod, consistent with the model, suggests a mechanism for behavioral timing that is independent of the core circadian system. We anticipate that such timing depends on integration of metabolic feedback from the digestive system and the activity of the glucocorticoid axis which modulates the behavioral responses of the animal to environmental hazard. The hypothalamus is the obvious neural substrate to achieve this integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J C Tyler
- Centre for Saami Studies, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Mads C Forchhammer
- The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Norway Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) and Greenland Perspective, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karl-Arne Stokkan
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - David G Hazlerigg
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Jankowski KS, Zajenkowski M. The Role of Morningness and Endurance in Mood and Attention During Morning and Evening Hours. JOURNAL OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2016. [DOI: 10.1027/1614-0001/a000189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. This study aimed at testing the effects of morningness-eveningness and endurance on mood and selective attention during morning and evening hours. University students (N = 80) completed the Polish version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Formal Characteristics of Behaviour-Temperament Inventory, and two testing sessions scheduled during the morning and evening hours. Each testing session consisted of completing the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist composed of three scales: energetic arousal (EA), tense arousal (TA), and hedonic tone (HT), and a computerized visual search task. Without consideration of morningness and endurance, a time-of-day effect appeared in the visual attention but not in affect: participants were more accurate and faster in the evening than in the morning. Considering morningness and endurance, neither of them influenced the selective attention but they did influence mood. Morningness influenced diurnal variations in EA and HT in such a way that from morning to evening hours, morning chronotypes showed a decrease and evening types an increase in EA and HT. During morning hours, morningness was related to higher EA and HT and lower TA, but endurance was not. During evening hours, morningness was unrelated to mood, but endurance was linked to higher EA. It is concluded that morningness and endurance impact mood differently throughout the day, with the role of morningness decreasing and the role of endurance increasing as the day progresses.
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18
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Gupta NJ, Das S. Even a mild spell of cold weather affects feeding in migrating redheaded buntings. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2015.1088187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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19
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Stuber E, Dingemanse N, Kempenaers B, Mueller J. Sources of intraspecific variation in sleep behaviour of wild great tits. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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20
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Silva JP, Catry I, Palmeirim JM, Moreira F. Freezing heat: thermally imposed constraints on the daily activity patterns of a free-ranging grassland bird. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00454.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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21
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Baerwald MR, Meek MH, Stephens MR, Nagarajan RP, Goodbla AM, Tomalty KMH, Thorgaard GH, May B, Nichols KM. Migration-related phenotypic divergence is associated with epigenetic modifications in rainbow trout. Mol Ecol 2015; 25:1785-1800. [PMID: 25958780 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Revised: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Migration is essential for the reproduction and survival of many animals, yet little is understood about its underlying molecular mechanisms. We used the salmonid Oncorhynchus mykiss to gain mechanistic insight into smoltification, which is a morphological, physiological and behavioural transition undertaken by juveniles in preparation for seaward migration. O. mykiss is experimentally tractable and displays intra- and interpopulation variation in migration propensity. Migratory individuals can produce nonmigratory progeny and vice versa, indicating a high degree of phenotypic plasticity. One potential way that phenotypic plasticity might be linked to variation in migration-related life history tactics is through epigenetic regulation of gene expression. To explore this, we quantitatively measured genome-scale DNA methylation in fin tissue using reduced representation bisulphite sequencing of F2 siblings produced from a cross between steelhead (migratory) and rainbow trout (nonmigratory) lines. We identified 57 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between smolt and resident O. mykiss juveniles. DMRs were high in magnitude, with up to 62% differential methylation between life history types, and over half of the gene-associated DMRs were in transcriptional regulatory regions. Many of the DMRs encode proteins with activity relevant to migration-related transitions (e.g. circadian rhythm pathway, nervous system development, protein kinase activity). This study provides the first evidence of a relationship between epigenetic variation and life history divergence associated with migration-related traits in any species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda R Baerwald
- Department of Animal Science, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Mariah H Meek
- Department of Animal Science, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Molly R Stephens
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California - Merced, Merced, CA, 95343
| | - Raman P Nagarajan
- GlaxoSmithKline, Cancer Epigenetics Discovery Performance Unit, Collegeville, PA 19426
| | - Alisha M Goodbla
- Department of Animal Science, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
| | | | - Gary H Thorgaard
- School of Biological Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164
| | - Bernie May
- Department of Animal Science, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Krista M Nichols
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112
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22
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"Seasonal changes in the neuroendocrine system": some reflections. Front Neuroendocrinol 2015; 37:3-12. [PMID: 25462591 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This perspective considers first the general issue of seasonality and how it is shaped ecologically. It asks what is the relative importance of "strategic" (photoperiod-dependent) versus "tactical" (supplemental) cues in seasonality and what neural circuits are involved? It then considers recent developments as reflected in the Special Issue. What don't we understand about the photoperiodic clock and also the long-term timing mechanisms underlying refractoriness? Are these latter related to the endogenous annual rhythms? Can we finally identify the opsins involved in photodetection? What is the present position with regard to melatonin as "the" annual calendar? An exciting development has been the recognition of the involvement of thyroid hormones in seasonality but how does the Dio/TSH/thyroid hormone pathway integrate with downstream components of the photoperiodic response system? Finally, there are the seasonal changes within the central nervous system itself--perhaps the most exciting aspect of all.
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23
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24
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Chakarov N, Jonker RM, Boerner M, Hoffman JI, Krüger O. Variation at phenological candidate genes correlates with timing of dispersal and plumage morph in a sedentary bird of prey. Mol Ecol 2013; 22:5430-40. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 08/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nayden Chakarov
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; PO Box 10 01 31 33501 Bielefeld Germany
| | - Rudy M. Jonker
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; PO Box 10 01 31 33501 Bielefeld Germany
| | - Martina Boerner
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; PO Box 10 01 31 33501 Bielefeld Germany
| | - Joseph I. Hoffman
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; PO Box 10 01 31 33501 Bielefeld Germany
| | - Oliver Krüger
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; PO Box 10 01 31 33501 Bielefeld Germany
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25
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Caro SP, Schaper SV, Hut RA, Ball GF, Visser ME. The case of the missing mechanism: how does temperature influence seasonal timing in endotherms? PLoS Biol 2013; 11:e1001517. [PMID: 23565055 PMCID: PMC3614498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
How temperature affects the timing of life cycles in warm-blooded organisms remains a mystery but must be addressed in order to predict the future consequences of global warming. Temperature has a strong effect on the seasonal timing of life-history stages in both mammals and birds, even though these species can regulate their body temperature under a wide range of ambient temperatures. Correlational studies showing this effect have recently been supported by experiments demonstrating a direct, causal relationship between ambient temperature and seasonal timing. Predicting how endotherms will respond to global warming requires an understanding of the physiological mechanisms by which temperature affects the seasonal timing of life histories. These mechanisms, however, remain obscure. We outline a road map for research aimed at identifying the pathways through which temperature is translated into seasonal timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel P Caro
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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