Impact of developmental temperature on neural growth, connectivity, and function

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 11(3)

Published: Jan. 15, 2025

Environmental temperature dictates the developmental pace of poikilothermic animals. In Drosophila , slower development at lower temperatures results in higher brain connectivity, but generality such scaling across and regions its impact on function are unclear. Here, we show that connectivity scales continuously temperatures, agreement with a first-principle model postulates different metabolic constraints for growth organism. The predicts wiring under cycles nonuniform temporal neural temperatures. Developmental has notable effects odor-driven behavior. Dissecting circuit architecture neurons olfactory pathway, demonstrate does not alter odor encoding first- second-order neurons, it shifts specificity connections onto third-order mediate innate behaviors. We conclude while some computations robust to wiring, others exhibit phenotypic plasticity possible adaptive advantages.

Language: Английский

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The Presence of a Shelter in an Open Field Test Has Differential Effects on the Behavior and Stress Response of Two Mouse Species

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 27, 2025

ABSTRACT The open field test (OFT) is frequently used in research to assess anxiety‐like behavior and locomotor activity. Its simple design can lead the misconception that it a standardized procedure comparable between laboratories. However, some modifications setup cause changes behavior. Different species might also react differently introduced. There thus need for better understanding of impact their value question. Here, we tested two closely related mouse species, Mus musculus spretus , an OFT with without presence shelter. We assessed exploratory through analysis multiple behavioral traits, stress response measurement circulating cortisol levels. Both had elevated levels during contrast control animals which were not exposed OFT. While shelter increased both M. but showed reduction Also, other measured behaviors show rather proactive coping strategy commensal reactive non‐commensal . Our study revealed strong species‐specific influence on resulting mice, illustrating importance designs account characteristics under study. addition be considered improve experimental results by promoting animal welfare.

Language: Английский

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Developmental plasticity to pond drying has carryover costs on metamorph performance

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

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Increasing variable hydroperiods may leave ectotherms with complex life cycles more vulnerable to the impacts of environmental drying. While developmental plasticity enable some species escape drying ponds, this might result in trade-offs performance and subsequent fitness adults. Here, we used rice paddy frogs (Fejervarya limnocharis) test how pond influences tadpoles, resulting carryover effects on body size jumping performance. We predicted that tadpoles under simulated drought conditions (2–0.25 cm depth) compared low stable water level (0.25 would develop faster, metamorphs be smaller exhibit lower show had a faster rate than treatments. The from treatment was similar high-water treatments (2 depth), but maximum distance individuals condition treatment. These results indicate for F. limnocharis increase development without reduction at metamorphosis, poorer mass-independent locomotor performance, which can potentially impact their survival.

Language: Английский

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Post‐metamorphic growth partially compensates for the effects of climate‐driven stressors on juvenile frog performance

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Abstract Human‐induced climate change, land use changes, and urbanization are predicted to dramatically impact landscape hydrology, which can have devastating impacts on aquatic organisms. For amphibians that rely environments breed develop, it is essential understand how the larval environment development, condition, performance later in life. Two important of urbanization, changes reduced hydroperiod variable density. Here, we explored density affect morphology, physiology, immune defenses at metamorphosis 35 days post‐metamorphosis frog Rana pipiens . We found high‐density conditions had a large negative development resulted longer periods, likelihood metamorphosis, smaller size shorter femur body length ratio, microbiome species evenness compared with animals developed low‐density conditions. However, from treatment experienced compensatory growth post‐metamorphosis, demonstrating accelerated relative treatments, despite not “catching‐up” size. also observed an increase gut liver than those treatment, as well higher bacterial killing ability, greater jump distances their leg across different temperatures. Finally, metabolic rate was overall but especially test temperatures for under conditions, indicating these may expend more energy response acute temperature changes. While effects change direct post‐metamorphosis; however, might come cost reduce ability cope further environmental such increased

Language: Английский

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Varying Thermal Dependence of Life History Traits Predicts Responses to Environmental Change in Aquatic Amphibian Larvae

Freshwater Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 70(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Many organisms respond to environmental changes through plastic modifications of their phenotypes. While phenotypic plasticity has been extensively studied in response single factors laboratory settings, nature face the combined effects diverse biotic and abiotic stressors. These multistressor complicate predictions about impact on population dynamics. One approach improving predictive accuracy is identify common mechanistic links variations life‐history traits. In this study, we examined how stressors influence variation, using based differing thermal sensitivities differentiation growth rates aquatic amphibian larvae subsequent behaviour terrestrial juveniles. Using a mesocosm experiment, exposed two sympatric newt species, Ichthyosaura alpestris Lissotriton vulgaris , combinations factor (the presence heterospecifics) an (simulated drying). Our results revealed that simulated drying increased availability high water temperatures, thereby shortening larval period as predicted by sensitivity rates. The heterospecifics, not regime, size at emergence larger I. consistent with relatively low carried over juveniles, affecting covered distance both taxa, while heterospecifics influenced maximum voluntary speed during exploratory This suggests additive subsets behavioural traits combine individual level, depending species identity. Future research should focus interplay between ecologically‐realistic conditions interactions within pond assemblages understand

Language: Английский

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Consequences of developmental and growth-rate plasticity within and across life stages in wood frogs ( Rana sylvatica )

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(5)

Published: May 1, 2025

Increased trait responsiveness to the environment can provide short-term benefits but may induce delayed costs. Anurans (frogs and toads) an excellent system examine phenotypic plasticity developmental carry-over effects given their ecologically distinct life stages, which have development growth opportunities. Previous research has predominantly assessed phenotype at metamorphosis rather than within across stages. To address this knowledge gap, we reared wood frogs ( Rana sylvatica ) two densities morphology survival multiple larval post-metamorphic timepoints. As expected, high-density rearing depressed early size survivorship metamorphosis. However, compensatory growth-rate enabled tadpoles metamorphose a similar as low-density tadpoles. Regardless of density, duration was negatively correlated with metamorphic mass for earliest developers influenced morphology, found evidence trade-off between later-life survival. Our results reinforce need sample timepoints stages understand interactions environment. More broadly, study contributes understanding trade-offs compensation associated plasticity, will become even more critical accelerating rates global environmental change.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal variation of behavioural thermoregulation in a fossorial salamander ( Ambystoma maculatum )

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Temperature seasonality plays a pivotal role in shaping the thermal biology of ectotherms. However, we still have limited understanding how ectotherms maintain balance face varying temperatures, especially fossorial species. Due to buffering underground, ecology theory predicts relaxed selection pressure over thermoregulation As result, typically show low thermoregulatory precision and evidence thermotactic behaviours laboratory gradients. Here, evaluated temperature ( T sel ) associated differed between seasons amphibian, spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum ). By comparing parameters active overwintering seasons, that A. engages behavioural despite being fossorial. In both was consistently offset higher than acclimatization temperatures. Thermoregulation with salamanders having showing greater thermophilic compared season. Additionally, our work lends support experimental assumptions commonly made but seldom tested studies. Ultimately, study demonstrates combination careful measurements is necessary step better understand mechanisms underlie body control amphibians.

Language: Английский

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Developmental temperature modulates microplastics impact on amphibian life history without affecting ontogenetic microplastic transfer

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 477, P. 135325 - 135325

Published: July 28, 2024

This study examines how temperature influences the response of Japanese tree frogs (Dryophytes japonicus) to microplastic (MP) pollution, assessing whether can regulate harmful effects MPs on their life history and dispersal across habitats. analysis aims understand ecological physiological ramifications MP pollution. Our results demonstrated an ontogenetic transfer particles amphibian metamorphosis, possibly allowing facilitating translocation ecosystems. Temperature did not significantly affect aquatic land. However, high temperatures reduced mortality hindlimb deformities caused by MPs, thereby mitigating impact histories. Importantly, our found that cause during potentially linked oxidative stress. Additionally, exposure ingestion induced a plastic in morphology digestive tract changes fecal microbiome, which were evident at but low temperatures. The persisted even after transitioned terrestrial stage, suggesting may have complex, long-term impacts population sustainability. enhance understanding intricate environmental challenges posed underscore significant role ectotherms regarding pollutant interactions.

Language: Английский

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Through the looking glass: attempting to predict future opportunities and challenges in experimental biology

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 226(24)

Published: Dec. 7, 2023

ABSTRACT To celebrate its centenary year, Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB) commissioned a collection articles examining the past, present and future experimental biology. This Commentary closes by considering important research opportunities challenges that await us in future. We expect researchers will harness power technological advances, such as ‘-omics’ gene editing, to probe resistance resilience environmental change well other organismal responses. The capacity handle large data sets allow high-resolution be collected for individual animals understand population, species community availability also place greater emphasis on approaches modeling simulations. Finally, increasing sophistication biologgers more comprehensive wild. Collectively, these provide an unprecedented understanding ‘how work’ keys safeguarding at time when anthropogenic activities are degrading natural environment.

Language: Английский

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Developmental plasticity to desiccation risk in tadpoles of a tropical inselberg specialist

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: June 7, 2024

Developmental plasticity evolves in heterogeneous environmental conditions as long individuals can accurately perceive them. A paradigmatic example of developmental is the ability amphibian larvae to alter growth and development response risk pond drying. Such responses are often found species breeding highly dynamic water bodies with high desiccation risk. The inselbergs Guianan Shield rocky outcrops extremely fluctuating temperatures a marked seasonality precipitation. During rainy season, eroded depressions form precipitation-dependent pools variable within timeframe few days. frog Leptodactylus lithonaetes specializes this extreme environment, its tadpoles thus forced cope by adjusting their trajectories physiological performance. We experimentally assessed effect different levels risk, under controlled temperature conditions, on rate, growth, temperature-dependent locomotor performance . did not find an but simulated drying showed larger body size, greater mass, enhanced compared constant (high or low) levels. These results suggest that offer cues trigger behavioral changes these tadpoles, enabling them enhance over short time span without accelerating development. discuss potential compensatory mechanisms behind highlight need for further investigations semiterrestrial life histories environments.

Language: Английский

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