Different solutions lead to similar life history traits across the great divides of the amniote tree of life

Journal of Biological Research - Thessaloniki, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 28(1)

Published: Feb. 8, 2021

Abstract Amniote vertebrates share a suite of extra-embryonic membranes that distinguish them from anamniotes. Other than that, however, their reproductive characteristics could not be more different. They differ in basic ectothermic vs endothermic physiology, two clades evolved powered flight, and one clade protective shell. In terms strategies, some produce eggs others give birth to live young, at various degrees development. Crucially, endotherms provide lengthy parental care, including thermal food provisioning—whereas ectotherms seldom do. These differences expected manifest themselves major between quantitative traits. We review the characteristics, distributions brood sizes, breeding frequencies, offspring sizes derivatives (yearly fecundity biomass production rates) four amniote (mammals, birds, turtles squamates), several subclades (birds: Palaeognathae, Galloanserae, Neoaves; mammals: Metatheria Eutheria). While there are these traits, they generally show similar ranges, distribution shapes central tendencies across placental mammals squamates. Marsupials turtles, having smaller offspring, strategy which subsequently influences other

Language: Английский

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Phenotypic responses to climate change are significantly dampened in big‐brained birds

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(4), P. 939 - 947

Published: Feb. 9, 2022

Anthropogenic climate change is rapidly altering local environments and threatening biodiversity throughout the world. Although many wildlife responses to this phenomenon appear largely idiosyncratic, a wealth of basic research on topic enabling identification general patterns across taxa. Here, we expand those efforts by investigating how avian are affected ability cope with ecological variation through behavioural flexibility (as measured relative brain size). After accounting for effects phylogenetic uncertainty interspecific in adaptive potential, confirm that although warming generally correlated major body size reductions North American migrants, these significantly weaker species larger sizes. Our findings suggest cognition can play an important role organismal global actively buffering individuals from environmental temperatures.

Language: Английский

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Best of both worlds: Acclimation to fluctuating environments confers advantages and minimizes costs of constant environments

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(4), P. 724 - 738

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Abstract Thermal acclimation is often considered critical in organismal responses to novel thermal conditions. Our understanding of the physiological implications largely derived from lab studies that either manipulate daytime basking availability or use constant regimes. In contrast, importance nocturnal environment (e.g. extent respite) overlooked yet could play a vital role wild. To fill this gap, we acclimated lizards ( Amphibolurus muricatus ) under three regimes (Hot Constant, Cold Constant and Alternating) compared their (Metabolic Rate, Sprint Speed, Preferences Limits). We found animals maintained constantly at hot temperatures (preferred temperature, 35°C) gained sprint performance increases exhibited shifts optima not seen those cold (20°C), suffered costs growth (in smaller animals) maintenance (mass loss larger animals). Animals alternating (12 h 20°C; 12 had benefits similar treatment, without experiencing reductions juvenile adult mass. showed significant lower preferred voluntary maximum temperature regime. no impact treatment on behavioural limits standard metabolic rate. Overall, show between access having periods energetic rest confer greatest for our animals. These results highlight natural body variation enhancing overall ectotherm physiology, environments fail provide variation. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Environmental temperature predicts resting metabolic rates in tropidurinae lizards

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 337(9-10), P. 1039 - 1052

Published: Sept. 20, 2022

Abstract Interspecific variation in metabolic rates may be associated with climate, habitat structure, and resource availability. Despite a strong link between ecology physiology, there is dearth the understanding of how costs body maintenance change during ecological transitions. We focused on an ecologically diverse group neotropical lizards (Tropidurinae) to investigate whether resting rate (RMR) evolved under divergent micro‐ macrohabitat conditions. Using phylogenetic framework, we tested species from hot dry habitats had lower RMRs relation those cooler mesic habitats, investigated microhabitat usage effect over mass‐adjusted RMRs. Our results suggest that are not phylogenetically structured Tropidurinae. found no correlation metabolism, precipitation, usage. Species warmer RMR compared supporting mechanism negative compensation responses temperature. Ectotherms can limit energetic demand expenditure through reduced RMR, whereas sustain activity despite thermal constraints via increased RMR. work highlights role temperature shaping lizards, giving additional support notion physiology contexts intertwined.

Language: Английский

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The Relevance of Time in Biological Scaling

Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(8), P. 1084 - 1084

Published: Aug. 3, 2023

Various phenotypic traits relate to the size of a living system in regular but often disproportionate (allometric) ways. These “biological scaling” relationships have been studied by biologists for over century, their causes remain hotly debated. Here, I focus on patterns and possible body-mass scaling rates/durations various biological processes life-history events, i.e., “pace life”. Many regarded rate metabolism or energy use as master driver life” its with body size. Although this “energy perspective” has provided valuable insight, here argue that “time may be equally even more important. evaluate major ways time relevant scaling, including (1) an independent “fourth dimension” dimensional analyses, (2) universal clock” synchronizes rates/durations, (3) method uses periods (allochrony) metrics, rather than measures physical (allometry), traditionally performed, (4) ultimate body-size-related constraint rates/timing processes/events is set inevitability death, (5) geological “deep time” approach viewing evolution patterns. previously proposed four-dimensional space-time views are problematic, novel approaches using allochronic analyses perspectives based size-related rates individual mortality species origination/extinction provide new insights.

Language: Английский

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Rewilding a vanishing taxon – Restoring aquatic ecosystems using amphibians

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 292, P. 110559 - 110559

Published: March 21, 2024

The increasing rate of biodiversity loss and the number threatened or endangered species worldwide has accelerated conservation recovery strategies, emphasising fish, birds, mammals. This focus mostly neglected amphibians, which are currently facing most existential crisis among all vertebrates, with declining populations across habitats. factors driving global amphibian declines diverse, often synergistic, predominantly anthropogenic. Amphibians urgently require rapid action, we cannot afford to wait while important critical elements required initiate effective efforts known. We recommend (re)introduction this "forgotten" taxon via guidelines trophic rewilding. Amphibian rewilding initiatives may provide early indications ecological health better contribute goals, by simultaneously protecting highly species, promoting stability in these ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Body Mass Shapes Most Life History Traits and a Fast‐Slow Continuum in Amphibians

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Amphibians have the least studied life histories among vertebrates, although they unique and most diverse within this group. We compiled a new dataset on adult body mass 16 other history traits of 2069 amphibian species across three orders (1796 frogs, 236 salamanders, 37 caecilians). These characterise fecundity, offspring development from egg deposition to metamorphosis life. established allometric models for all amphibians each assess potential scaling then checked whether slopes were consistent with two different metabolic exponents. Further, we examined possible fast-slow continuum in amphibians, as well frogs salamanders by applying principal component analysis (PCA) five traits. Our indicated positive 11 12 10 out eight analysed caecilians. Allometric characterising not significant. All did support three-quarter exponent, whereas age at maturity maximum longevity an exponent 0.88. As fishes, reptiles, birds, mammals, first axes our PCAs mass-dependent amphibians. Amphibian slow larger masses, later sexual maturities longer lifespans lay more eggs than fast histories, pattern also known reptiles. The second trade-off between size number. was nearly independent mass, hypothesise that occupied broad range ecological niches without evolutionary changes mass.

Language: Английский

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Mitochondria as central characters in a complex narrative: Linking genomics, energetics, pace-of-life, and aging in natural populations of garter snakes

Experimental Gerontology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 137, P. 110967 - 110967

Published: May 6, 2020

Language: Английский

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Dietary restriction and ageing: Recent evolutionary perspectives

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 208, P. 111741 - 111741

Published: Sept. 24, 2022

Language: Английский

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The Evolution of Brain Size in Ectothermic Tetrapods: Large Brain Mass Trades-Off with Lifespan in Reptiles

Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 49(2), P. 180 - 188

Published: March 18, 2022

Language: Английский

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