Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mari-Ann Lind, Tuul Sepp, Kristiina Stseglova, Peeter Horak
Summary: Carotenoid plumage coloration in greenfinches is affected by the antibiotic METRO, leading to significantly higher chroma of yellow parts in feathers grown during the experiment.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ashlee J. Mikkelsen, Damon B. Lesmeister, Kathleen M. O'Reilly, Katie M. Dugger
Summary: The study found that feather corticosterone in juvenile spotted owls is positively related to temperature and precipitation, and negatively related to juvenile mass at banding. Importantly, in lighter juveniles, increased precipitation is associated with higher levels of feather corticosterone, while greater mass can decrease the effect of precipitation.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
T. Bartels, J. Berk, K. Cramer, E. Kanitz, W. Otten
Summary: The study analyzed the effects of corticosterone supplementation on feather corticosterone concentrations (fCORT) in layer pullets, finding that increased corticosterone levels led to decreased body weight, shorter and lighter feathers, and a delayed molt. The results suggest that fCORT measurement can be a useful tool for evaluating long-term stress in chickens and may have implications for animal welfare research.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xin Li, Jiawei Bian, Tong Xing, Liang Zhao, Jiaolong Li, Lin Zhang, Feng Gao
Summary: Heat stress can cause immune dysregulation in broilers, but dietary supplementation of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) can reduce corticosterone levels and improve immune function.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Brittney Russell, Wendy K. Adams, Kelly M. Hrelja, Fiona D. Zeeb, Matthew D. Taves, Sukhbir Kaur, Kiran K. Soma, Catharine A. Winstanley
Summary: Social isolation is a known risk factor for mental illness and impaired immune function. Research shows that neuroinflammatory processes may contribute to mental illness through cytokine-induced neural activity modulation. The study examined the effects of LPS administration and social home cage environment on cognitive performance and corticosterone and cytokine levels in rats. The results suggest that social isolation and LPS administration can both affect cognitive performance and hormone levels in rats.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
T. Bartels, J. Berk, K. Cramer, E. Kanitz, W. Otten
Summary: The study found that prior contamination of feathers with excreta can significantly increase corticosterone concentration in laying hens, which remains detectable even after washing.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zachery R. Forsburg, Alex Guzman, Caitlin R. Gabor
Summary: Artificial light at night (ALAN) can physiologically stress tadpoles of Rio Grande leopard frog and Gulf Coast toad, but the response varies between species. Short-term exposure to constant or pulsed light at night may contribute to stress in tadpoles, with different modulation of the stress response observed between the two species.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Adriana P. Furtado, Izabelle T. S. Carvalho, Erin L. Lewis, Cole A. Bleke, Davi L. Pantoja, Guarino R. Colli, Susannah S. French, Giane R. Paludo
Summary: Wildfires can have adverse effects on lizard populations by altering their habitat and impacting their physiology, immunity, and health. In this study, we investigated the effects of a recent wildfire on Tropidurus oreadicus lizards in Brazil. We found that the burned site had higher air temperatures compared to the unburned site. While prey availability was not affected, lizards in the burned site showed reduced bactericidal capacity and body mass, indicating compromised immune function and potential clinical disease. Additionally, there was an increase in heterophile-lymphocyte ratios, suggesting increased stress levels. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the impacts of wildfires on lizard populations and their ecological implications.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART A-ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Davide M. Dominoni, Dylon Teo, Claire J. Branston, Aryan Jakhar, Bedur Faleh A. Albalawi, Neil P. Evans
Summary: Urbanization drives phenotypic variation in many animal species, with environmental factors potentially causing physiological differences between urban and rural animals. Research suggests that artificial light at night may influence the glucocorticoid response of urban and rural animals differently.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Conor C. Taff, John C. Wingfield, Maren N. Vitousek
Summary: The acute glucocorticoid response is crucial for the coordinated vertebrate response to unpredictable challenges. There are variations in both the scope and speed of the glucocorticoid response across species, and these variations are associated with individual differences in performance, environment, and life history. The relative speed of the glucocorticoid response can vary independently of the absolute scope, suggesting that both features can be independently shaped by selection. The speed of the glucocorticoid response is linked to coping ability and might be regulated through non-genomic receptors.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Danilo A. Moraes, Ricardo B. Machado, Michael Koban, Gloria E. Hoffman, Deborah Suchecki
Summary: This study compared the stress responses of animals exposed to different stressors to those of animals subjected to paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD). The results showed that the pituitary-adrenal response to PSD was similar to that induced by psychological stress.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Betzi Perez-Ortega, Andrew P. Hendry
Summary: Free-ranging wild vertebrates need to deal with stressors that affect their behavior and physiology, and glucocorticoid hormones are commonly used as biomarkers to measure their stress responses in areas with high human disturbance. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the impact of human disturbances on baseline glucocorticoid hormones in wild vertebrates and found that living in unprotected areas or areas with habitat conversion increased hormone levels compared to living in protected or undisturbed areas. Ecotourism and habitat degradation did not consistently increase hormone levels. Mammals were more sensitive to human disturbance than birds.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
L. Michael Romero, Ursula K. Beattie
Summary: Glucocorticoid levels do not always indicate distress in animals; low concentrations do not necessarily mean the animal is healthy; sustained high levels do not necessarily indicate chronic stress; and glucocorticoids do not mobilize energy for short-term stress, but instead hinder glucose utilization. Additionally, measurements in non-blood tissues give imperfect reflections of blood concentrations.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART A-ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Sylvain Milla, Alain Pasquet, Leila El Mohajer, Pascal Fontaine
Summary: Domestication has significant effects on the phenotypes of teleosts, inducing complex biological changes. However, these changes vary greatly among species and physiological functions. Despite the lack of comprehensive understanding, gathering and clarifying information can help predict the effects of domestication better.
REVIEWS IN AQUACULTURE
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Sang Hun Ha, Hwan Ku Kang, Abdolreza Hosseindoust, Jun Young Mun, Joseph Moturi, Habeeb Tajudeen, Hwa Lee, Eun Ju Cheong, Jin Soo Kim
Summary: SK supplementation reduces oxidative stress in chickens, improves meat quality and antioxidant status; low stocking density and SK supplementation increase cholesterol levels.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Triin Laisk, Olga Tsuiko, Tatjana Jatsenko, Peeter Horak, Marjut Otala, Mirkka Lahdenpera, Virpi Lummaa, Timo Tuuri, Andres Salumets, Juha S. Tapanainen
HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE
(2019)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Janek Urvik, Kalev Rattiste, Peeter Horak, Richard Meitern, Tuul Sepp
Review
Biology
Tuul Sepp, Beata Ujvari, Paul W. Ewald, Frederic Thomas, Mathieu Giraudeau
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mathieu Giraudeau, Frederic Angelier, Tuul Sepp
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Peeter Horak, Markus Valge, Krista Fischer, Reedik Magi, Tanel Kaart
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2019)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Markus Valge, Richard Meitern, Peeter Horak
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Richard Meitern, Jerome Fort, Mathieu Giraudeau, Kalev Rattiste, Elin Sild, Tuul Sepp
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2020)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ciara Baines, Adelaide Lerebours, Frederic Thomas, Jerome Fort, Randel Kreitsberg, Sophie Gentes, Richard Meitern, Lauri Saks, Beata Ujvari, Mathieu Giraudeau, Tuul Sepp
Summary: This article discusses the relationship between pollution and cancer in aquatic ecosystems and suggests further research directions. The focus should be on specific physiological pathways and pathologies that link pollution to wildlife health deterioration, and determining the vulnerability of different wild populations to pollution-induced cancer. Novel research avenues and methods are proposed for future studies.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biology
Ann-Kathrin Ziegler, Hannah Watson, Arne Hegemann, Richard Meitern, Virginie Canoine, Jan-Ake Nilsson, Caroline Isaksson
Summary: The study found that exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) affects the innate immune response of nestlings, resulting in lower haptoglobin levels and higher nitric oxide levels, potentially mediated by melatonin regulation. This phenomenon may be one of the physiological mechanisms underlying the differences in immune function between urban and rural birds, and could have long-term effects on nestling physiology and behavior.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Markus Valge, Richard Meitern, Peeter Horak
Summary: Natural selection plays a key role in evolution, and this study examines how it affects educational attainment and bodily traits in Estonian children. The direction of selection on these traits is sexually antagonistic, and different for boys and girls.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ciara Baines, Richard Meitern, Randel Kreitsberg, Tuul Sepp
Summary: This study provides the first comparative analysis of cancer-related gene copy number variation in fish. The analysis reveals a relationship between the copy number of tumor suppressor genes and maximum lifespan, suggesting a role of these genes in longevity. The results shed light on the genetics of cancer suppression in fish and offer insights into the evolution and ecology of cancer.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Barbara Rani-Borges, Richard Meitern, Paul Teesalu, Merilin Raudna-Kristoffersen, Randel Kreitsberg, Margit Heinlaan, Arvo Tuvikene, Angela Ivask
Summary: The lack of studies on the toxicity of microplastics (MP) at environmentally relevant concentrations and exposure times is concerning. In this study, the potential adverse effects of low density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics on two species of competing amphipods were analyzed. The results showed that both amphipods effectively ingested and egested LDPE microplastics, and high concentrations of LDPE microplastics had negative impacts on mortality, swimming ability, and oxidative stress levels. G. lacustris was more sensitive to LDPE microplastics and may lose its competitiveness in MP polluted environments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bridgette Farnworth, Richard Meitern, John Innes, Joseph R. Waas
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)