Article
Physiology
Chaonan Zhang, Fei Wang, Qiujie Wang, Jixing Zou, Junjie Zhu
Summary: Microplastics have different effects on fish feeding behavior, intestinal morphology, and inflammatory response. By using largemouth bass, grass carp, and Jian carp as model organisms, the study explored the effects of microplastics concentration and size, as well as exposure and depuration times. Histological analysis showed abnormalities in the intestines of all three species after exposure to microplastics. The mRNA abundance of immune-related genes in the intestines fluctuated significantly. The differential gene expressions in response to different sizes and concentrations of microplastics exposure varied among different fish species. The reason for the different effects of microplastics on fishes remains unclear, but it may be related to the differences in the structure and function of the digestive system. These results provide a theoretical basis for further analysis of the mechanism of fish intestinal pathology caused by microplastics.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andre M. de Roos
Summary: The study shows that incorporating differences in vulnerability to predation and foraging efficiency between juvenile and adult individuals can result in larger and more complex communities in model simulations. These diverse communities are stable or fluctuate with limited amplitude, even with a highly connected population-level interaction network. This suggests that differences between juveniles and adults may have a significant impact on the stability of natural communities.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuichi Takeuchi, Yuna Higuchi, Koki Ikeya, Masataka Tagami, Yoichi Oda
Summary: This study examined the effect of behavioral experience on the acquisition of lateralized predation in scale-eating cichlid fish. The results showed that juvenile fish learned lateralized attacks by modifying their mouth morphology and improving body flexion, while young fish developed attack side preference and speed through predation experience. However, naive adults lost the inherent laterality and did not improve their predation skills.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Peter T. Ruhr, Thomas van de Kamp, Tomas Farago, Joerg U. Hammel, Fabian Wilde, Elena Borisova, Carina Edel, Melina Frenzel, Tilo Baumbach, Alexander Blanke
Summary: Metamorphosis can reduce adaptive conflicts between different life phases, allowing each phase to independently adapt to its ecological niche. It appears that hemimetabolan metamorphosis in earwigs and stoneflies does not achieve high degrees of adaptive decoupling, and strong ontogenetic niche shifts may lead to increased adult head shape disparity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paula Ramos-Silva, Mari-Lee Odendaal, Deborah Wall-Palmer, Lisette Mekkes, Katja T. C. A. Peijnenburg
Summary: The study investigated the response of different life stages of atlantid gastropods to ocean acidification. The results showed that juveniles were more sensitive to acidification, experiencing significant changes in shell growth and transcriptomic response. On the other hand, adults had significant changes in gene expression but no significant differences in shell growth.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Thomas Stamp, David Clarke, Shaun Plenty, Tim Robbins, James E. Stewart, Elizabeth West, Emma Sheehan
Summary: The European bass in the northern Atlantic has seen a rapid decline in spawning stock biomass due to high fishing pressure and poor recruitment. By tracking juvenile fish, their spatial ecology can be determined to implement fisheries management policies to boost recruitment. Additionally, the study found that juvenile European bass display high site fidelity, with coastal nursery sites being essential habitats.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Pauline Narvaez, Renato A. Morais, Kate S. Hutson, Mark I. McCormick, Alexandra S. Grutter
Summary: The study reveals that chemical cues from dead corals can increase the infection rate of micropredatory parasites in juvenile fish, but not in adults. Juvenile fish also have a higher mortality rate after infection, emphasizing the importance of including parasitism in ecological studies of global environmental change.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Chang-Yuan Cheng, Kuang-Hui Lin, Chih-Wen Shih
Summary: This study examines the impact of resource competition and environmental adaptation on the evolution of ecological populations by analyzing a model with two life stages and competition between two species. The findings reveal that competition strength is determined by the maturation times of the species and multiple competition outcomes exist.
JOURNAL OF DYNAMICS AND DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Huaxing Lin, Shuqing He, Beiping Tan, Xiaomin Zhang, Yi Lin, Qihui Yang
Summary: Fishmeal is an important protein source in aquafeeds, but there is a shortage of resources. Rice protein meal has been found to be a good alternative, with the ability to replace 10% of fishmeal in shrimp feed without adverse effects on growth. In fact, it can improve the immunity and other health indicators of the shrimp. Additionally, the replacement of fishmeal with rice protein meal improves digestibility, protein synthesis, antioxidant capacity, and disease resistance in Litopenaeus vannamei.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vanessa K. Lo, Benjamin T. Martin, Eric M. Danner, Dennis E. Cocherell, Joseph J. Cech, Nann A. Fangue
Summary: This study examines the impact of temperature on the metabolic cost associated with feeding and digestion in juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon. The results show that temperature has a significant positive effect on the fish's standard metabolic rate and maximum metabolic rate, but not on its absolute aerobic scope. Additionally, temperature does not have a significant impact on the total oxygen cost of digestion.
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Ramaseshadri Parthasarathy, Subba Reddy Palli
Summary: The discovery of juvenile hormones and their synthetic analogs did not meet the high expectations of replacing traditional insecticides, but recent advancements have provided more insights into their mode of action. This review summarizes the stage-specific action of three commercially used analogs on different pests and disease vectors.
JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ievgeniia Gazo, Ravindra Naraine, Ievgen Lebeda, Ales Tomcala, Mariola Dietrich, Roman Franek, Martin Psenicka, Radek Sindelka
Summary: This study analyzed the effect of DNA damage on embryo development and found significant changes in the transcriptome and proteome patterns after exposure to genotoxicants. The results suggest a correlation between phenotype formation and changes in transcriptomic and proteomic profiles. Additionally, markers of DNA damage response and adaptive stress response were identified.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Nina A. Vasilieva, Liudmila E. Savinetskaya, Andrey Tchabovsky
Summary: The study analyzed the factors affecting juvenile survival in yellow ground squirrels. Individual characteristics and early environment were found to be the primary determinants of early life expectancy, with body mass being a crucial predictor of juvenile survival. Male squirrels had higher mortality after dispersal, and later emerged juveniles had lower life expectancy. Local juvenile density had a positive effect on survival. Prolonged lactation did not enhance juvenile survival.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kazue Ishitsuka, Mayumi Tsuji, Megumi Yamamoto, Rie Tanaka, Reiko Suga, Mami Kuwamura, Toshihide Sakuragi, Masayuki Shimono, Koichi Kusuhara
Summary: Fish paste consumption may increase the risk of preterm birth, while other types of fish consumption is not significantly associated with preterm birth risk. Further studies are required to confirm this association.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Brittany J. Baugher, Benjamin D. Sachs
Summary: Early life stress can affect subsequent stress susceptibility and behavior, with factors such as sex, timing, and severity playing a role in determining the outcomes. Maternal separation in early life reduces anxiety-like behavior, particularly in males.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kathrin Jeske, Barbara Herzig-Straschil, Cristian Raileanu, Dusan Kunec, Oliver Tauchmann, Duygu Emirhar, Sabrina Schmidt, Jakob Trimpert, Cornelia Silaghi, Gerald Heckel, Rainer G. Ulrich, Stephan Drewes
Summary: The study showed that the striped field mouse in Austria carries various zoonotic pathogens, including DOBV and Leptospira spp. Two DOBV-positive mice and one Leptospira borgpetersenii-positive mouse were detected in the screening of 35 mice collected near the Hungarian border.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Regina Vega-Trejo, Raissa A. Boer, John L. Fitzpatrick, Alexander Kotrschal
Summary: Inbreeding depression affects males and females differently, with females experiencing slightly higher levels of inbreeding depression. Despite considering factors such as sexual size dimorphism, heterogamety, trait types, and testing environment, there is still a large amount of unexplained heterogeneity. Further research across different species is needed to understand the occurrence and causes of sex-specific inbreeding depression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qindong Tang, Reto Burri, Yang Liu, Alexander Suh, Gombobaatar Sundev, Gerald Heckel, Manuel Schweizer
Summary: Through genetic analysis, this study identified three deeply differentiated lineages of the pale sand martin species in Central and East Asia. The research highlighted differences in gene flow and migration behavior between lowland and high-altitude populations, suggesting that allochrony and optimal migration routes play a role in maintaining evolutionary diversity and preventing hybridization.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Moritz Saxenhofer, Anton Labutin, Thomas A. White, Gerald Heckel
Summary: By studying genomic polymorphisms in a natural rodent host, a strong genetic barrier to the transmission of European Tula orthohantavirus (TULV) was identified. The genetic variation explained a significant proportion of clade-specific TULV infections, with associated genes related to immune response and membrane transport functions. This study highlights the importance of natural hybrid zones for understanding evolutionary divergence and detecting evolving genetic barriers for specialized parasites.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kathrin Jeske, Jana Schulz, Duygu Tekemen, Linas Balciauskas, Laima Balciauskiene, Melanie Hiltbrunner, Stephan Drewes, Anne Mayer-Scholl, Gerald Heckel, Rainer G. Ulrich
Summary: Zoonotic Leptospira and orthohantaviruses were detected in rodent reservoirs in Lithuania, indicating the need for increased awareness of public health institutions and improved molecular diagnostics for pathogen identification.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jana A. Eccard, Antje Herde, Andrea C. Schuster, Thilo Liesenjohann, Tatjana Knopp, Gerald Heckel, Melanie Dammhahn
Summary: Individuals in a population can display different pace-of-life syndromes and this is related to their personalities. Risk-taking behavior is associated with life history trade-offs, but there is still debate over the empirical evidence for this hypothesis. In this study, using common voles as a model species, it was found that bolder individuals were more likely to take risks and bold males had higher reproductive success. Space use was also influenced by sex and boldness type.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Virology
Alexander Falkenhagen, Simon H. Tausch, Anton Labutin, Josephine Gruetzke, Gerald Heckel, Rainer G. Ulrich, Reimar Johne
Summary: Species A rotaviruses (RVAs) are important pathogens causing severe diarrhea in young children. They are widely distributed in mammals and birds and can be transmitted between animals and humans. This study sequenced the genome of an RVA strain from a common shrew and found that it showed high similarity to other common shrew RVAs but low identity to RVAs from other species. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that common shrew RVAs are ancestral branches of other mammalian and avian RVAs. However, no viable reassortants could be rescued by exchanging specific genome segments, indicating low zoonotic potential.
Article
Biology
Aitor Somoano, Cristiane Bastos-Silveira, Jacint Ventura, Marcos Minarro, Gerald Heckel
Summary: The population dynamics of animal species in agro-ecosystems are influenced by landscape characteristics, but this influence can have both positive and negative effects. This study examines the genetic structure of agricultural pest voles in a highly variegated landscape, and finds a hierarchical pattern of genetic clusters and a metapopulation-type structure.
Article
Ecology
Regina Vega-Trejo, Catarina Vila-Pouca, David J. Mitchell, Alexander Kotrschal
Summary: Predation pressure can impact the size and morphology of an individual's brain, but this effect is dependent on the individual's body size.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wen Bo Liao, Ying Jiang, Da Yong Li, Long Jin, Mao Jun Zhong, Yin Qi, Stefan Lupold, Alexander Kotrschal
Summary: While crypsis is a prominent antipredator adaptation, the role of the brain in predator-driven evolution remains controversial. This study provides comparative evidence across 102 Chinese frog species, suggesting that reduced predation risk through crypsis can relax predation-driven selection on the brain, allowing frogs to use their large brain for cognitive predator evasion.
Article
Ecology
Mateusz Baca, Danijela Popovic, Anna Lemanik, Sandra Banuls-Cardona, Nicholas J. Conard, Gloria Cuenca-Bescos, Emmanuel Desclaux, Helen Fewlass, Jesus T. Garcia, Tereza Hadravova, Gerald Heckel, Ivan Horacek, Monika Vlasta Knul, Loic Lebreton, Juan Manuel Lopez-Garcia, Elisa Luzi, Zoran Markovic, Jadranka Mauch Lenardic, Xabier Murelaga, Pierre Noiret, Alexandru Petculescu, Vasil Popov, Sara E. Rhodes, Bogdan Ridush, Aurelien Royer, John R. Stewart, Joanna Stojak, Sahra Talamo, Xuejing Wang, Jan M. Wojcik, Adam Nadachowski
Summary: This study investigated the population dynamics of the common vole and found that the decrease in open habitat during the last glacial period was the main factor affecting their populations. Climate deterioration during the Last Glacial Maximum had little impact on their population dynamics.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Maysaa Dafalla, Anna Orlowska, Sinan Julian Keles, Petra Strakova, Kore Schlottau, Kathrin Jeske, Bernd Hoffmann, Gudrun Wibbelt, Marcin Smreczak, Thomas Mueller, Conrad Martin Freuling, Xuejing Wang, Jerzy Rola, Stephan Drewes, Sasan Fereidouni, Gerald Heckel, Rainer G. Ulrich
Summary: A new hantavirus (BRNV) was detected in bats, but its geographical distribution and prevalence are still unknown. This study tested bats from Germany, Austria, and Poland to evaluate the distribution and host specificity of BRNV. The results showed that BRNV was detected in common noctules from different countries, indicating high host specificity but low prevalence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xuejing Wang, Stephan Peischl, Gerald Heckel
Summary: Increased human activities have caused genetic isolation and negative fitness effects in many species. Through full genome sequencing, it has been discovered that common voles in the Orkney archipelago have remained genetically isolated from mainland populations for over 5,000 years. Despite large population sizes, Orkney voles have low genetic diversity and high levels of deleterious variation. The long-term persistence and success of Orkney voles in isolation may be attributed to benign environmental conditions and the effects of soft selection.
Article
Virology
Elisa Heuser, Stephan Drewes, Jakob Trimpert, Dusan Kunec, Calvin Mehl, Marieke P. de Cock, Ankje de Vries, Christiane Klier, Martin Oskamp, Peter Tenhaken, Fatima Hashemi, Daniela Heinz, Mariana Nascimento, Marc Boelhauve, Rasa Petraityte-Burneikiene, Dina Raafat, Miriam Maas, Detlev H. Krueger, Andreas Latz, Joerg Hofmann, Gerald Heckel, Johannes Dreesman, Rainer G. Ulrich
Summary: In 2019, the first autochthonous human case of Seoul orthohantavirus (SEOV)-induced hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome was reported in Germany, with a pet rat identified as the source. Further investigation found SEOV RNA and antibodies in the patient's rats and some rats belonging to another owner. Surveillance of pet, breeder, and wild rats is needed to identify the origin and prevent transmission of SEOV in Europe.
Article
Biology
Krista van den Heuvel, John L. L. Quinn, Alexander Kotrschal, Kees van Oers
Summary: Cognitive flexibility, influenced by memory and prior experience, is a complex trait that controls how animals respond to changing environmental conditions. In a study on great tits (Parus major), researchers conducted an artificial selection experiment to assess the repeatability and heritability of cognitive flexibility. They found low repeatability but no genetic correlation between associative and reversal learning, highlighting the importance of prior information in the latter. The study also emphasized the need for future research to identify the cognitive components underlying variation in reversal learning and explore their genetic contributions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)