Physiological differences between wild and captive animals: a century-old dilemma

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 226(23)

Published: Nov. 30, 2023

ABSTRACT Laboratory-based research dominates the fields of comparative physiology and biomechanics. The power lab work has long been recognized by experimental biologists. For example, in 1932, Georgy Gause published an influential paper Journal Experimental Biology describing a series clever experiments that provided first empirical test competitive exclusion theory, laying foundation for field remains active today. At time, wrestled with dilemma conducting or field, ultimately deciding progress could be best achieved taking advantage high level control offered experiments. However, physiological often yield different, even contradictory, results when conducted versus settings. This is especially concerning Anthropocene, as standard laboratory techniques are increasingly relied upon to predict how wild animals will respond environmental disturbances inform decisions conservation management. In this Commentary, we discuss several hypothesized mechanisms explain disparities between biology field. We propose strategies understanding why these differences occur can use improve our animals. Nearly century beyond Gause's work, still know remarkably little about what makes captive different from ones. Discovering should important goal biologists future.

Language: Английский

---

Numerous independent gains of daily torpor and hibernation across endotherms, linked with adaptation to diverse environments

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

Published: Jan. 5, 2025

Abstract Many endotherms from diverse taxonomic groups can respond to environmental changes through torpor, that is, by greatly reducing their energy expenditure for up 24 hours (daily torpor) or longer (hibernation). We currently have a poor understanding of how torpor evolved across and its associations with physiological traits ecological factors. To fill this gap, we thoroughly examine the evolutionary patterns links 21 key variables 1338 extant endotherms. find daily hibernation are parts an continuum, there several, albeit weak, between species' characteristics. Furthermore, show early endotherm ancestors likely did not hibernate trait multiple times in independent lineages. Overall, our results suggest remarkable variation cannot solely be attributed niches, but partly arises gains various clades. Read free Plain Language Summary article on Journal blog.

Language: Английский

---

Exploring climate‐related gut microbiome variation in bumble bees: An experimental and observational perspective

Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 106(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Abstract Rising temperatures negatively affect bumble bee fitness directly through physiological impacts and indirectly by disrupting mutualistic interactions between bees other organisms, which are crucial in determining species‐specific responses to climate change. Gut microbial symbionts, key regulators of host nutrition health, may be the Achilles' heel thermal insects. They not only modulate biotic with plants pathogens but also exhibit varying sensitivity themselves. Understanding how environmental changes disrupt microbiome communities is a first step determine potential consequences for population responses. We analyzed gut bacterial six species inhabiting different climatic niches along an elevational gradient German Alps using 16S ribosomal DNA amplicon sequencing. investigated whether inter‐ intraspecific differences can linked species' niches, differ temperature, flower resource composition, likely pathogen pressure. A reciprocal translocation experiment distinct regions tested Bombus terrestris lucorum change short‐term when exposed new environments. Finally, we these heat cold wave scenarios within chambers disentangle pure temperature‐driven effects on from effects. Interspecific variation composition exceeded variation. Species levels stability, where stability defined as within‐group variance: lower indicated greater variance, predominantly observed higher elevations. Transplanted showed subtle adjustments, marked increase Lactobacillaceae upon exposure warmer regions; however, microbiomes did under laboratory temperature scenarios. conclude that could lead For example, less stable elevations might indicate increased pathogens. Short‐term following relatively microbiomes, such B. , rapidly integrate bacteria, their capacity cope environments

Language: Английский

---

Diet effects on ectotherm thermal performance

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(4), P. 1537 - 1555

Published: April 14, 2024

ABSTRACT The environment is changing rapidly, and considerable research aimed at understanding the capacity of organisms to respond. Changes in environmental temperature are particularly concerning as most animals ectothermic, with considered a key factor governing their ecology, biogeography, behaviour physiology. ability ectotherms persist an increasingly warm, variable, unpredictable future will depend on nutritional status. Nutritional resources (e.g. food availability, quality, options) vary across space time response change, but also have alter how much they eat what eat, which may help them improve performance under climate change. In this review, we discuss state knowledge intersection between animal nutrition temperature. We take mechanistic approach describe nutrients (i.e. broad macronutrients, specific lipids, micronutrients) that impact thermal currently known about role ectotherm plasticity, thermoregulatory behaviour, diet preference, tolerance. finish by describing topic can inform aquaculture research.

Language: Английский

---

Commentary: The microbial dependence continuum: Towards a comparative physiology approach to understand host reliance on microbes

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 296, P. 111690 - 111690

Published: July 2, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Antibiotics alter development and gene expression in the model cnidarian Nematostella vectensis

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e17349 - e17349

Published: May 20, 2024

Antibiotics are commonly used for controlling microbial growth in diseased organisms. However, antibiotic treatments during early developmental stages can have negative impacts on development and physiology that could offset the positive effects of reducing or eliminating pathogens. Similarly, antibiotics shift community due to differential effectiveness resistant susceptible bacteria. Though application does not typically result mortality marine invertebrates, little is known about transcriptional effects. These sublethal reduce fitness host organism lead changes after removal antibiotics. Here, we quantify impact treatment development, gene expression, culturable bacterial a model cnidarian,

Language: Английский

---

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

---

Microbiome at the Interface between Environmental Stress and Animal Health: An Example from the Most Threatened Vertebrate Group

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Nitrate pollution and increased temperatures due to climate change are ubiquitous stressors likely interact affect the health survival of wildlife, particularly aquatic ectotherms. Commensal/symbiotic microorganisms (microbiome) that inhabit animal bodies may contribute maintenance their under such stressful circumstances. We conducted a common-garden experiment crossing three nitrate levels (0, 50, 100 mg/L) five temperature treatments (18 °C, 22 26 28 fluctuation regime: 17–26.5 °C) investigate interactive individual effects these on biomarkers (water-borne corticosterone, body condition, developmental rate) an ectotherm its gut microbiome diversity composition, using amphibian larvae as model organisms. All reflected thermal stress imposed larvae, outcomes being more explained by changes in composition than diversity. Based detected OTUs, we predicted increase reduction pathway decrease several nucleotide biosynthesis pathways with increasing pollution, alterations degradation temperature. urge for studies investigating different environmental conditions consequences host world threatened biodiversity loss.

Language: Английский

---

Warming effects on lizard gut microbiome depend on habitat connectivity

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2021)

Published: April 24, 2024

Climate warming and landscape fragmentation are both factors well known to threaten biodiversity generate species responses adaptation. However, the impact of interplay on organismal remains largely under-explored, especially when it comes gut symbionts, which may play a key role in essential host functions traits by extending its functional genetic repertoire. Here, we experimentally examined combined effects climate habitat connectivity bacterial communities common lizard ( Zootoca vivipara ) over three years. While strength varied years, found that 2°C warmer decreases microbiome diversity isolated habitats. enabling among habitats with cooler climates offset or even reversed effects. The association between dispersal behaviour appear be potential driver this interplay. This study suggests preserving will mitigating change impacts, including microbiome, calls for more studies combining multiple anthropogenic stressors predicting persistence through global changes.

Language: Английский

---

The microbiome at the interface between environmental stress and animal health: an example from the most threatened vertebrate group

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2031)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Nitrate pollution and global warming are ubiquitous stressors likely to interact affect the health survival of wildlife, particularly aquatic ectotherms. Animal is largely influenced by its microbiome (commensal/symbiotic microorganisms), which responds such stressors. We used a crossed experimental design including three nitrate levels five temperature regimes investigate their interactive individual effects on an ectotherm, European common frog. associated biomarkers in larvae with changes gut bacteria diversity composition. Larvae experienced higher stress lower body condition under high temperatures exposure. Developmental rate increased but decreased pollution. Alterations composition not correlate observed outcomes health. Leucine degradation at corroborating accelerated development, level reduced increase lysine biosynthesis may have helped deal combined both These results reinforce importance associating traditional underlying changes. Therefore, we urge studies environmental consequences for host world threatened biodiversity loss.

Language: Английский

---