The challenges, opportunities and future of comparative physiology in the Global South: perspectives of early-career researchers

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 227(19)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Researchers in the Global South (GS, developing countries) make valuable contributions to field of comparative physiology, but face economic and scientific disparities several unique challenges compared with colleagues North (developed countries). This Perspective highlights some challenges, knowledge gaps opportunity faced by GS researchers, especially those at early-career stages. We propose collaborative solutions help address these issues, advocate for promoting investment cultural societal change a more inclusive research community. Additionally, we highlight role researchers contributing expert on local biodiversity environment; this can shape future allowing us achieve better understanding evolution physiological mechanisms develop innovative environmental biomedical challenges. With Perspective, hope need foster diverse, equitable landscape physiology; one that empowers scientists global associated loss, climate pollution.

Language: Английский

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Thermal sensitivity of field metabolic rate predicts differential futures for bluefin tuna juveniles across the Atlantic Ocean

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Nov. 27, 2023

Language: Английский

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Thyroid hormone links environmental signals to DNA methylation

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

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Hyperoxia Does Not Improve the Acute Upper Thermal Tolerance of a Tropical Marine Fish (Lutjanus apodus)

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 227(21)

Published: Oct. 6, 2024

ABSTRACT Fish can experience hyperoxia in shallow environments due to photosynthetic activity and this has been suggested provide them with a metabolic refuge during acute warming. However, hypothesis never tested on tropical marine species. Thus, we fitted 29°C-acclimated wild schoolmaster snapper (Lutjanus apodus; species known diel mangrove creeks coastal waters) Transonic® flow probes exposed an increase temperature (at 1°C h−1) respirometers under normoxia (150% air saturation), until their critical thermal maximum (CTmax). The CTmax of both groups was ∼39°C, no differences cardiac function were recorded as the fish warmed. temperature-induced factorial aerobic scope significantly greater hyperoxia. These data suggest that will not protect heat waves, despite its effects scope/capacity.

Language: Английский

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Microclimatic changes caused by plant invasions and warming: uncovering thermal costs and benefits to a tortoise

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Non-native plant invasions and climate warming alter the microclimatic conditions that organisms experience in their habitats, with potential implications for fitness of native faunal species, particularly ectotherms. Predictions species conservation increasingly use microclimate data at fine spatial scales relevant to organisms, but they typically overlook modulating effect vegetation changes have on microclimates available habitat. Here we quantify imposed by invasive trees simultaneous habitats assess resulting thermal benefits costs a small tortoise (Homopus areolatus) from an organismal perspective throughout its life cycle. We logged operative temperature above- belowground field, covering diversity microhabitats across four seasons year, assessed species' optimal laboratory. Moving beyond common averages, applied range metrics differences between invaded areas spatio-temporal distributions, combined effects habitat suitability species. found became cooler less exposed temperatures above summer. This buffering is expected become more pronounced further warming, turning into refugia. However, reduced heterogeneity during warm periods, prevalent sub-optimal low winter colder underground incubation could be detrimental long-term performance. Our results reveal mixed nature plants ectotherms, underscoring importance applying suite distribution changes. The approach used here illustrates value integrating physiological information mechanistic understanding problems.

Language: Английский

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Intrinsic factors influence a physiological measure in a forest bird community: adults and females have higher H/L ratios than juveniles and males

Journal of Avian Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 2025(2)

Published: March 1, 2025

Physiological parameters have the potential to serve as valuable early warning indicators for conservation of animal populations. However, measuring physiological adaptations in wildlife is often challenging, due intrinsic differences causing natural variations measures between individuals across species. This study aimed at addressing this by investigating influence factors, including sex, age, body condition, and incubation eggs on H/L ratio a forest bird community. As measure, we used heterophil lymphocyte (H/L) belonging different species community, which was assessed using novel deep learning approach based convolutional neural networks (CNNs) applied whole blood smear scans. Using phylogenetically controlled Bayesian analyses species, found higher ratios adult birds than juveniles observed slightly females males. While condition had no effect ratio, incubating tended non‐reproductive birds, regardless their sex. Furthermore, robust phylogenetic signal studied Our results reveal significant general patterns factors

Language: Английский

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Limited plasticity but increased variance in physiological rates across ectotherm populations under climate change

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 31, 2025

Abstract Climate change causes warmer and more variable temperatures globally, impacting physiological rates function in ectothermic animals. Acclimation of can help maintain function. However, it is unresolved how variance changes with temperature despite its potential ecological evolutionary importance. We developed new effect sizes that capture both the mean variation across (based on coefficient, ) used them to test acclimation acute thermal responses vary aquatic terrestrial ectotherms using meta‐analysis (>1900 effects from 226 species). Comparing magnitude side‐by‐side provides unique opportunities for evaluating importance plasticity selection under climate change. show increases at higher temperatures, but depends habitat. Freshwater marine are capable have greatest increase variance. In contrast, reduced abilities smaller rate. Simulations suggest these patterns may result differences among‐individual breadth optima performance curves habitats. Our results highlight greater vulnerability because a lack capacity limited provide less raw material adaptation. Considering therefore important understanding will impact populations. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Environmental temperature and immune activation during development: effects on organ growth in juvenile degus

Journal of Comparative Physiology B, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 10, 2025

Language: Английский

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The evolution of thermal performance curves in response to rising temperatures across the model genus yeast

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(21)

Published: May 20, 2025

The maintenance of biodiversity crucially depends on the evolutionary potential populations to adapt environmental change. Accelerating climate change and extreme temperature events urge us better understand forecast responses. Here, we harnessed power experimental evolution with microbial model system yeast ( Saccharomyces spp. ) measure future warming, in real-time across entire phylogenetic diversity genus. We tracked thermal performance curves (TPCs) eight genetically ecologically diverse species under gradually increasing conditions, from 25 40 °C, for up 600 generations. found that evolving toward higher critical limits generally came at a cost, causing decrease both tolerance maximum growth performance. TPCs varied significantly between strong genotype-by-environment interactions, revealing two main trajectories: i) Warm-tolerant showed an increase optimum tolerance, consistent “hotter is wider” hypothesis. ii) Cold-tolerant other hand evolved larger breadth limits, but suffered reduced overall, generalist or “a jack all temperatures master none” In addition, cold-tolerant never reached warm-tolerant species’ upper limits. Our results show adaptive strategies are complex, highlighting need consider within when predicting managing impacts populations.

Language: Английский

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Incorporating otolith-isotope inferred field metabolic rate into conservation strategies

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Fluctuating ocean conditions are rearranging whole networks of marine communities—from individual-level physiological thresholds to ecosystem function. Physiological studies support predictions from responses (biochemical, cellular, tissue, respiratory potential) based on laboratory experiments. The otolith-isotope method recovering field metabolic rate has recently filled a gap for the bony fishes, linking otolith stable isotope composition in situ oxygen consumption and experienced temperature estimates. Here, we review focusing biochemical processes that yield estimates rate. We identify multidisciplinary pathway application this method, providing concrete research goals (field, modeling) aimed at data higher levels biological organization. hope will provide researchers with transdisciplinary ‘roadmap’, guiding use bridge between physiology, observational studies, modeling efforts, while ensuring is central policy-making mitigating climatic anthropogenic threats.

Language: Английский

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