The association between stressors and telomeres in non‐human vertebrates: a meta‐analysis

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 23(2), P. 381 - 398

Published: Nov. 27, 2019

Abstract Animal response to stressors such as harsh environmental conditions and demanding biological processes requires energy generated through increased mitochondrial activity. This results in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In vitro some vivo studies suggest that oxidative damage DNA caused by ROS is responsible for telomere shortening. Since length correlated with survival many vertebrates, loss hypothesised trigger cellular ageing and/ or reflect harshness environment an individual has experienced. To improve our understanding stress‐induced dynamics non‐human we analysed 109 relevant a meta‐analytical framework. Overall, exposure possible was associated shorter telomeres higher shortening rate (average effect size = −0.16 ± 0.03). relationship consistent all phylogenetic classes priori‐selected stressor categories. It stronger case pathogen infection, competition, reproductive effort high activity level, which emphasises their importance explaining intraspecific variability and, potentially, lifespan variability. Interestingly, association between one hand, stress other covaried, suggesting implication dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Do glucocorticoids mediate the link between environmental conditions and telomere dynamics in wild vertebrates? A review

General and Comparative Endocrinology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 256, P. 99 - 111

Published: July 10, 2017

Language: Английский

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Animal Cognition in an Urbanised World

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: March 4, 2021

Explaining how animals respond to an increasingly urbanised world is a major challenge for evolutionary biologists. Urban environments often present with novel problems that differ from those encountered in their past. To navigate these rapidly changing habitats successfully, may need adjust behaviour flexibly over relatively short timescales. These behavioural changes, turn, be facilitated by ability acquire, store, and process information the environment. The question of cognitive abilities allow avoid threats exploit resources (or constrain do so) attracting increasing research interest, growing number studies investigating differences between urban-dwelling non-urban counterparts. In this review we consider why such might arise, focusing on informational challenges faced living urban environments, different can assist overcoming challenges. We focus largely birds, as avian taxa have been subject most date, but discuss work other species where relevant. also address potential consequences variation at individual level. For instance, select for, or influence development of, particular abilities? Are individuals phenotypes more likely become established habitats? How factors, social personality, interact cognition environments? aim synthesise current knowledge identify key avenues future research, order improve our understanding ecological urbanisation.

Language: Английский

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A global meta‐analysis reveals higher variation in breeding phenology in urban birds than in their non‐urban neighbours

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(11), P. 2552 - 2570

Published: Sept. 22, 2022

Cities pose a major ecological challenge for wildlife worldwide. Phenotypic variation, which can result from underlying genetic variation or plasticity, is an important metric to understand eco-evolutionary responses environmental change. Recent work suggests that urban populations might have higher levels of phenotypic than non-urban counterparts. This prediction, however, has never been tested across species nor over broad geographical range. Here, we conducted meta-analysis the avian literature compare versus means and in phenology (i.e. lay date) reproductive effort clutch size, number fledglings). First, show reproduce earlier smaller broods conspecifics. Second, laying date populations. arises differences between within breeding seasons, conceivably due landscape heterogeneity habitats. These findings reveal novel effect urbanisation on animal life histories with potential implications adaptation environments (which will require further investigation). The birds subjected disturbance could plastic heterogeneous environment, phenology, possibly linked evolutionary potential.

Language: Английский

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Diet induces parallel changes to the gut microbiota and problem solving performance in a wild bird

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Nov. 27, 2020

Abstract The microbial community in the gut is influenced by environmental factors, especially diet, which can moderate host behaviour through microbiome-gut-brain axis. However, ecological relevance of microbiome-mediated behavioural plasticity wild animals unknown. We presented wild-caught great tits ( Parus major ) with a problem-solving task and showed that performance was weakly associated variation microbiome. then manipulated microbiome feeding birds one two diets differed their relative levels fat, protein fibre content: an insect diet (low content), or seed (high content). Microbial communities were less diverse among individuals given compared to those on diet. Individuals likely problem-solve after being same microbiota metrics altered as consequence also correlated problem solving performance. Although effect could have been caused motivational nutritional differences between our treatments, results nevertheless raise possibility dietary induced changes be important mechanism underlying individual populations.

Language: Английский

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Growing in the city: Urban evolutionary ecology of avian growth rates

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 14(1), P. 69 - 84

Published: Aug. 2, 2020

Rapid environmental change driven by urbanization offers a unique insight into the adaptive potential of urban-dwelling organisms. Urban-driven phenotypic differentiation is increasingly often demonstrated, but impact (here modelled as percentage impervious surface (ISA) around each nestbox) on offspring developmental rates and subsequent survival remains poorly understood. Furthermore, role selection urban-driven divergence was rarely investigated to date.

Language: Английский

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Big City Living: A Global Meta-Analysis Reveals Positive Impact of Urbanization on Body Size in Lizards

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: Nov. 27, 2020

Urban environments pose different selective pressures than natural ones, leading to changes in animal behavior, physiology, and morphology. Understanding how animals respond urbanization could inform the management of urban habitats. Non-avian reptiles have important roles ecosystems worldwide, yet their responses not been as comprehensively studied those mammals birds. However, unlike birds, most cannot easily move away from disturbances, making pressure adapt especially strong. In recent years, there has a surge research on lizards urbanization, no formal synthesis determined what makes an lizard, other words, which phenotypic traits are likely change with direction? Here, we present qualitative literature quantitative phylogenetic meta-analysis comparing between non-urban lizard populations. The robust finding our analysis is that larger counterparts. This result remained consistent sexes taxonomic groups. Hence, pass through filter access better resources, more time for foraging, and/or selection attaining body size. Other results included increase diameters perches used longer limb digit lengths, although this may be increased were bolder, active or exploratory, did differ immune Overall, studies biased few geographic regions taxa. More 70% all data came three species anoles family Dactyloidae , it difficult generalize patterns clades. Thus, needed across multiple taxa habitats produce meaningful predictions help conservation ecological communities.

Language: Английский

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Great tits and the city: Distribution of genomic diversity and gene–environment associations along an urbanization gradient

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 11(5), P. 593 - 613

Published: Nov. 27, 2017

Abstract Urbanization is a growing concern challenging the evolutionary potential of wild populations by reducing genetic diversity and imposing new selection regimes affecting many key fitness traits. However, genomic footprints urbanization have received little attention so far. Using RAD sequencing, we investigated genomewide effects on neutral adaptive in 140 adult great tits Parus major collected locations with contrasted levels (from natural forest to highly urbanized areas city; Montpellier, France). Heterozygosity was slightly lower more sites compared rural ones. Low but significant effect differentiation found, at site level not nest level, indicative geographic scale impact for local adaptation despite gene flow. Gene–environment association tests identified numerous SNP s small scores urbanization, distributed across genome, from which subset 97 explained up 81% variance overall suggesting polygenic response urban environment. These findings open stimulating perspectives broader applications high‐resolution tools other cities larger sample sizes investigate consistency spatial distribution nature gene–urbanization association.

Language: Английский

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Does urbanization cause stress in wild birds during development? Insights from feather corticosterone levels in juvenile house sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 9(1), P. 640 - 652

Published: Dec. 21, 2018

Abstract Urban landscapes are associated with abiotic and biotic environmental changes that may result in potential stressors for wild vertebrates. exploiters have physiological, morphological, behavioral adaptations to live cities. However, there is increasing evidence urban themselves can suffer from conditions, especially during specific life‐history stages. We looked a link between the degree of urbanization level developmental stress an exploiter (the house sparrow, Passer domesticus ), which has recently been declining multiple European cities (e.g., London, UK). Specifically, we conducted large‐scale study sampled juvenile sparrows 11 rural sites evaluate their feather corticosterone (CORT) levels. found CORT levels were positively correlated urbanization, supporting idea developing conditions. did not find any correlation body size, mass, or condition. This suggests either growth condition impacted by elevated levels, compensate constraints once they left nest. Although baseline slightly response juveniles. conditions potentially long‐lasting effects on physiology sensitivity this exploiter.

Language: Английский

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United colours of the city: A review about urbanisation impact on animal colours

Austral Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 46(4), P. 670 - 679

Published: Feb. 9, 2021

Abstract Habitat colour gradients characterise urban areas: from green prevailing in the least urbanised areas dominated by lawn, shrubs and trees, to grey characteristic of heavily impervious surfaces. These changes may promote modifications community composition intraspecific species occurring areas. This review's objectives were: (1) analyse reported patterns animal change between non‐urban areas; (2) identify main mechanisms underlying those patterns; (3) determine research bias suggest future directions. A bibliometric on using Scopus resulted 62 studies being found their findings assessed. Most were focused birds ( N = 38) conducted Northern Hemisphere 55), with 90% analysing changes. Intraspecific three patterns: melanism, polymorphic insects, reptiles showing darker colouration than dullness, carotenoid‐based plumage colours duller rural a reduction conspicuousness sexually selected plumages Interspecific suggested that are filters for colours, promoting colonisation increase camouflage or exhibit warning predators. More needed Southern at interspecific level role colonisation.

Language: Английский

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