Size in the city: morphological differences between city and forest great tits have a genetic basis DOI Creative Commons
Barbara M. Tomotani,

Mika Couweleers,

Bram ten Brinke

et al.

Evolution Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 6, 2025

Abstract Animals living in cities are smaller than their conspecifics from rural areas but whether such differences caused by genetic or food constraints remains untested. We performed a multi-generation common garden study where we raised great tits (Parus major), originating eggs collected multiple Dutch and forests under the same conditions for two generations. Offspring city birds had tarsus forest both generations, demonstrating that these morphological genetic. Next, tested size an adaptation to low abundance when offspring city. Third-generation of origins were given amounts mimicking being during second part nestling development. While treatment resulted lower feeding frequency be smaller, responded way, suggesting do not cope better with reduced availability. Our shows urban has basis is only plastic response restricted resources environment. experiment does provide evidence have evolved as adaptive availability cities.

Language: Английский

Light pollution in complex ecological systems DOI
Myriam R. Hirt, Darren M. Evans, Colleen R. Miller

et al.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1892)

Published: Oct. 29, 2023

Light pollution has emerged as a burgeoning area of scientific interest, receiving increasing attention in recent years. The resulting body literature revealed diverse array species-specific and context-dependent responses to artificial light at night (ALAN). Because predicting generalizing community-level effects is difficult, our current comprehension the ecological impacts on complex systems remains notably limited. It critical better understand ALAN's higher levels organization order comprehend mitigate repercussions ALAN ecosystem functioning stability amidst ongoing global change. This theme issue seeks explore systems, by bridging various realms scaling up from individual processes functions communities networks. Through this integrated approach, collection aims shed intricate interplay between pollution, dynamics humans world increasingly impacted anthropogenic lighting. article part 'Light systems'.

Language: Английский

Citations

14
Does environmental pollution affect male reproductive system in naturally exposed vertebrates? A systematic review DOI Creative Commons

Caroline Paula Assunção de Oliveira,

Alice Arantes Carneiro,

Luiz Otávio Guimarães Ervilha

et al.

Theriogenology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 198, P. 305 - 316

Published: Jan. 5, 2023

Language: Английский

Citations

13
Light, Sleep and Performance in Diurnal Birds DOI Creative Commons
Anne E. Aulsebrook, Robin D. Johnsson, John A. Lesku

et al.

Clocks & Sleep, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 3(1), P. 115 - 131

Published: Jan. 28, 2021

Sleep has a multitude of benefits and is generally considered necessary for optimal performance. Disruption sleep by extended photoperiods, moonlight artificial light could therefore impair performance in humans non-human animals alike. Here, we review the evidence effects on subsequent birds. There accumulating that exposure to natural sources regulates suppresses diurnal also avian cognitive performance, including during early development. Nevertheless, multiple studies suggest can prolong wakefulness birds without impairing Although there still limited research this topic, these results raise intriguing questions about adaptive value sleep. Further into links between light, underlying mechanisms consequences fitness, shed new evolution urban ecology.

Language: Английский

Citations

29
Variable and consistent traffic noise negatively affect the sleep behavior of a free-living songbird DOI
Melissa L. Grunst, Andrea S. Grunst, Rianne Pinxten

et al.

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 778, P. 146338 - 146338

Published: March 11, 2021

Language: Английский

Citations

27
A review of the effects of artificial light at night in urban areas on the ecosystem level and the remedial measures DOI Creative Commons
Justine Mushobozi Katabaro, Yonghong Yan,

Tao Hu

et al.

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Sept. 30, 2022

This paper attempts to realize the balance between humans and ecology in designing nighttime light environment of urban parks by clarifying influence artificial on ecosystem parks. Firstly, we reviewed effects individual predation reproduction animals personal growth plants. Secondly, discuss impact changes caused lighting function at analyze its advantages disadvantages. The results showed that had a double-sided ecosystem, which would hurt function, but positive effect green space, lacked natural high plant density. focuses areas with increased application rich species plants night cities, such as forest spaces. It discusses how reduce intrusion ecosystems make better use light.

Language: Английский

Citations

22
Artificial light at night reverses monthly foraging pattern under simulated moonlight DOI Creative Commons
Svenja Tidau,

Jack Whittle,

Stuart R. Jenkins

et al.

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 18(7)

Published: July 1, 2022

Mounting evidence shows that artificial light at night (ALAN) alters biological processes across levels of organization, from cells to communities. Yet, the combined impacts ALAN and natural sources night-time illumination remain little explored. This is in part due lack accurate simulations complex changes moonlight intensity, timing spectra throughout a single lunar cycles laboratory experiments. We custom-built novel system simulate patterns test how different intensities affect predator–prey relationships over full cycle. Exposure high intensity (10 50 lx) reversed lunar-guided foraging pattern by gastropod mesopredator Nucella lapillus on its prey Semibalanus balanoides . Foraging decreased during brighter naturally lit conditions. When exposed ALAN, increased with moonlight. Low (0.1 0.5 had no impact foraging. Our results show guided brightness. ecosystems can depend cycles. Accurate cycle will warrant more realistic insights into also facilitate advances fundamental ecology chronobiology.

Language: Английский

Citations

21
Thyroid hormone links environmental signals to DNA methylation DOI Open Access
Frank Seebacher, Alex G. Little

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1898)

Published: Feb. 5, 2024

Environmental conditions experienced within and across generations can impact individual phenotypes via so-called ‘epigenetic' processes. Here we suggest that endocrine signalling acts as a ‘sensor' linking environmental inputs to epigenetic modifications. We focus on thyroid hormone DNA methylation, but other mechanisms are likely act in similar manner. methylation is one of the most important mechanisms, which alters gene expression patterns by methylating cytosine bases methyltransferase enzymes. Thyroid mechanistically linked at least partly regulating activity 3a, principal enzyme mediates responses change. sensitive natural anthropogenic impacts (e.g. light, temperature, endocrine-disrupting pollution), here propose an sensor mediate The nexus between integrate multiple signals modify phenotypes, coordinate phenotypic plasticity different time scales, such generations. These dynamics have wide-ranging effects health fitness animals, because they influence course adjustments potentially range stimuli elicit responses. This article part theme issue ‘Endocrine variation: conceptual approaches recent developments’.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
The combined effects of elevated predation risk and anthropogenic noise on dwarf mongoose vigilance behaviour DOI Creative Commons

Lucy Westover,

Amy Morris‐Drake, Megan Layton

et al.

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Anthropogenic noise is a pervasive pollutant in the world’s ecosystems, with numerous studies demonstrating negative physiological, developmental and behavioural impacts across taxa. However, research has tended to focus on anthropogenic isolation; many species often experience this conjunction other natural stressors. Here, we used field experiment investigate combined effects of sequential elevation perceived predation risk followed by exposure road vigilance behaviour dwarf mongooses ( Helogale parvula ). As expected, both alarm-call playback (simulating greater risk) road-noise independently led more compared close-call ambient-sound (control) playbacks, respectively. The two stressors had an equivalent effect total vigilance, lending support risk-disturbance hypothesis. combination did not, however, generate significantly different amount alone. Thus, our provides further evidence that can influence vigilance–foraging trade-off but no indication additive or synergistic when stressor elevated risk. Further investigation combined-stressor critical if are understand true disturbances communities.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Exploring the Factors Driving the Success of Urban-Exploiting Spiders DOI
Nikolas J. Willmott, Bob B. M. Wong, Kathryn B. McNamara

et al.

The Quarterly Review of Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 100(1), P. 5 - 28

Published: Feb. 11, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Eye catching light: Anthropogenic light at night and its evolutionary influence on the avian eye DOI Creative Commons
Myles Wolf, Clinton D. Francis

iScience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(3), P. 112039 - 112039

Published: Feb. 22, 2025

Variation among avian species in their responses to artificial night lighting was recently linked differences dim light vision, but whether vision is under selection from human-caused unexplored. Here, we approximated using eye geometries museum specimens of six collected across 100+ years and sought determine proxies for were related within-species variation vision. We found strongly three weakly a forth, the relationship varied by species. This likely ecological traits may also reflect facilitates increased temporal activity or results physiological costs each These suggest that altered sensory environments are source shaping abilities animals anthropocene.

Language: Английский

Citations

0