The heritability of spatial memory and caching behaviour in a food-storing bird

Animal Cognition, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(1)

Published: April 10, 2025

Abstract Research examining how cognitive traits evolve in the wild has focussed on finding evidence of ‘Darwinian holy trinity’– consistent individual variation performance that is linked to fitness and a heritable component. In food-storing birds, there growing selection for more accurate spatial memory performance. However, act performance, it must also have genetic this study, we used Bayesian animal models evaluate heritability reference task population toutouwai (North Island robin, Petroica longipes ). We estimated measures caching behaviour theoretically underpins. found little either or measures, as credible intervals were large with lower bounds close zero. This result could suggest may be primarily due non-genetic factors. For example, shaped largely by demands altering decisions response cache theft risk. scenario, underlying mechanisms determining linking would need reconsidered. Alternatively, our estimates an artefact small sample size. Therefore, progress understanding cognition evolves, crucial establish long-term studies collect data from many individuals possible over successive generations, goal increasing reliability estimates.

Language: Английский

Long-term evolution experiments fully reveal the potential for thermal adaptation

Journal of Thermal Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 129, P. 104118 - 104118

Published: April 1, 2025

Evolutionary responses may be crucial in allowing organisms to cope with prolonged effects of climate change. However, a clear understanding the dynamics adaptation warming environments is still lacking. Addressing how reproductive success evolves such deteriorating extremely relevant, as this trait constrained at temperatures below critical thermal limits. Experimental evolution under environment can elucidate potential populations respond rapid environmental changes. The few studies following framework lack analysis long-term response. We here focus on two Drosophila subobscura populations, from different European latitudes, temperatures. tested these ancestral (control) and after ∼50 generations evolution. found general adaptive response long term, since evolving showed increased performance that relative respective control populations. On other hand, no was observed environment. Coupled data previous generations, we highlight slow pace differences between distinct histories. These findings demonstrate need experiments fully reveal for adaptation. It also highlights scrutiny needed measure variation evolutionary within species. Accounting sources - both temporal spatial will allow more robust assessments change responses.

Language: Английский

Disruption of putrescine export in experimentally evolvedRalstonia pseudosolanacearumenhances symbiosis withMimosa pudica

Published: April 16, 2025

Abstract Polyamines are essential molecules across all domains of life, but their role as signaling in host-microbe interactions is increasingly recognized. However, because they produced by both the host and microbe, dual origin makes functional dissection challenging. The plant pathogen Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum GMI1000 secretes large amounts putrescine vitro xylem sap plants. In this study, we investigated genetic changes underlying its experimental evolution into a legume symbiont. We showed that paeA gene (RSc2277), which was repeatedly mutated during process, encodes exporter. Mutations completely abolished excretion enhanced bacterial proliferation within nodules interaction with Mimosa pudica . When these mutations occurred symbionts already capable intracellular infection, it further increased load allowed detection nitrogenase activity. addition, -mutated modulated expression towards more symbiotic state repressing defense-related genes inducing nodule development genes. These include encoding leghemoglobins an arginine decarboxylase, key enzyme biosynthesis. results indicate have distinct functions symbiosis highlight complex polyamines plant-microbe interactions. Importance Rhizobia, nitrogen-fixing legumes, emerged through repeated independent horizontal transfers some alone often insufficient to convert recipient bacterium laboratory experiment, evolved nodulating intracellularly infecting symbiont This transition required genomic modifications activate acquired potential. Here, demonstrated one adaptive inactivation export. polyamine, when microsymbiont, appears act negative signal for plant. study provides new insights roles bacterial- plant-derived interactions, highlighting divergence despite being organisms.

Language: Английский