Article
Biology
Anais Degut, Klaus Fischer, Martin Quque, Francois Criscuolo, Peter Michalik, Michael Beaulieu
Summary: Phenotypic plasticity within populations allows for adaptive phenotypic variation in response to seasonal changes, with long-term effects on adult morphology and performance. This plasticity may facilitate life-history strategies to cope with climate change.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
G. Li, J. Xu, S. Chen, S. Tan, H. Li
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the color diversity of egg shells in chickens producing eggs of different colors and analyze gene expression in the uterus. Findings suggest significant differences in pigment concentration and color values, with Delta b, Delta E, and protoporphyrin being potential important indicators. HO-1 and BLVRA genes were identified as key candidates for selecting dark blue eggs.
BRITISH POULTRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Emilie Realis-Doyelle, Nathalie Cottin, Martin Daufresne, Emmanuel Naffrechoux, Stephane Reynaud, Jean Guillard
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of PCB pollution on the Arctic char population and explore how increased water temperature could magnify the effects of PCB. The results showed that co-exposure to increased temperature and maternal PCB contamination influenced biodemographic, physiological, and behavioural parameters, with the effects highly dependent on the developmental stage. Based on the pace-of-life syndrome theory, a continuum of life traits that may reflect potential physiological and behavioural modifications in response to these concurrent stressors is highlighted.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Gabriel Pigeon, Julie Landes, Marco Festa-Bianchet, Fanie Pelletier
Summary: Research shows that early-life environmental conditions have important long-term effects on later survival and reproductive success in wild bighorn sheep. Factors such as high population density, winter precipitation, and temperature may lead to decreased survival rates in old age, while high temperatures and high Pacific decadal oscillation can reduce reproductive success in later life. However, the study did not find any influence of early-life environment on the rate of senescence, nor did it find a trade-off between reproductive allocation and senescence.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marie R. G. Attard, James Bowen, Rene Corado, Linnea S. Hall, Robert A. Dorey, Steven J. Portugal
Summary: Complex and extreme environments have led many bird species to develop unique eggshell surface properties to protect embryos from external threats; the wettability of eggshells is primarily explained by body mass, annual temperature, and eggshell maculation across nesting environments; distinct adaptations of eggshell wettability are identified in different nesting environments, driven by the need to retain heat and prevent microbial colonization.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Psychology, Developmental
Ohad Szepsenwol
Summary: The adaptation-based approach focuses on how early-life environments shape development, offering an alternative to the deficit model for understanding development under stress. However, challenges remain in finding convincing evidence for developmental adaptations to stress and eliminating alternative explanations. Improving this approach may involve generating specific theoretical predictions, using consistent operational definitions, and designing studies with better controls and assessments of mediators.
INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Shruti Garg, Ming Wai Wan, Jannath Begum-Ali, Anna Kolesnik-Taylor, Jonathan Green, Mark H. Johnson, Emily Jones, EDEN-STAARS Team
Summary: This study examines the trajectories of cognitive, motor, and behavioral development in infants with NF1. The results showed no significant group differences in cognitive and behavioral measures, but the NF1 group had less sleep and took longer to settle to sleep compared to the control group. Maternal education was associated with developmental outcomes in both groups.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Isabella Lucia Chiara Mariani Wigley, Eleonora Mascheroni, Denis Peruzzo, Roberto Giorda, Sabrina Bonichini, Rosario Montirosso
Summary: This study systematically reviewed the role of DNA methylation in neural cell fate, focusing on the link between DNA methylation, neuroimaging data, early life stress, and behavioral outcomes. Results showed associations between DNA methylation and brain structure/functions in individuals with adverse early life experiences, with various genes and neuroimaging techniques being investigated. Statistical models used ranged from correlational to moderated mediation models, emphasizing the importance of understanding the interaction between DNA methylation, neural correlates, early life stress, and behavioral outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Barbara Casillas-Perez, Christopher D. Pull, Filip Naiser, Elisabeth Naderlinger, Jiri Matas, Sylvia Cremer
Summary: Infections early in life can have lasting effects on an organism's development and immunity, including social insect colonies. High brood rearing efforts can interfere with the queen's immune system, while early-life pathogen exposure can improve the immunocompetence of her worker offspring. Transgenerational transfer of the queen's pathogen experience can reduce the disease susceptibility of the entire superorganism.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Shixiang Fan, Jiansong Zhang, Yubao Duan, Xu Luo
Summary: The breeding biology of the Spectacled Fulvetta was studied on Humashan Mountain in Southwest China for two years. The study found that the breeding season is from March to June, with most nests located in dense shrubs. The clutch size is 2-3 eggs, with an incubation period of 13-14 days and a nesting period of 12-14 days. This study provides valuable scientific information for understanding the Spectacled Fulvetta and related species.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Viktor Nilsson-Ortman, Locke Rowe
Summary: Developing organisms mature earlier and at larger sizes in favorable growth conditions, with theory suggesting that the existence of critical size thresholds affects maturation time and size. This study demonstrates that food manipulations can indeed influence the timing and size at maturity, supporting the validity of the threshold model. The results also suggest that the evolution of threshold sizes plays a key role in the diversity of reaction norms for age and size at maturity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Psychiatry
Tiffany C. Ho, Lucy S. King
Summary: This article discusses the impact of early exposure to psychosocial adversity on the risk of depression, focusing on stress models centered around developmental processes. It proposes a general framework for understanding how psychosocial adversity in early life disrupts or calibrates the biobehavioral systems implicated in depression, emphasizing the different effects of adversity depending on the timing and developmental stage.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Marie-Pierre Chapuis, Benjamin Pelissie, Cyril Piou, Floriane Chardonnet, Christine Pages, Antoine Foucart, Elodie Chapuis, Helene Jourdan-Pineau
Summary: Under environmental stress, desert locust traits show different levels of additive genetic variation, with traits closely linked to fitness largely unaffected. Traits under strong stabilizing selection display genetic invariance in stressful environments, while traits less associated with fitness exhibit a marked increase in additive genetic variation. This study emphasizes the importance of assessing the proximity to fitness of a trait on a case-by-case basis and considering the processes of canalization and plasticity in controlling phenotypic variation.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Michael Garratt, Ilkim Erturk, Roxann Alonzo, Frank Zufall, Trese Leinders-Zufall, Scott D. Pletcher, Richard A. Miller
Summary: Previous research has suggested that young mice are particularly sensitive to endocrine or nutritional signals during the first few weeks of life. Olfactory cues can influence early development and lifespan in mice, with female mice showing a significant increase in lifespan when exposed to odors from adult females during early stages.
Article
Biology
Jia Jia, Guangzhao Li, Ke-Qin Gao
Summary: The study demonstrates the importance of palate shape and vomerine teeth-related features in the ecology and evolution of salamanders. Analysis of the morphospace of the palate highlights disparity patterns in ecological preferences, life history strategies, and taxonomic affiliations, as well as evolutionary rates and ancestral states.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aysegul Birand, Phillip Cassey, Joshua Ross, James C. Russell, Paul Thomas, Thomas A. A. Prowse
Summary: This study develops a model to simulate the ability of CRISPR-based gene drives to eradicate invasive house mice populations. The results show that both homing and shredding drives can be used effectively for population suppression, while factors such as drive efficiency and demography strongly influence performance. The study also considers the impact of polyandrous mating and sperm competition on gene drive strategies, finding that the efficacy of the drives is unlikely to be compromised. Understanding the spatial ecology of the target species is critical for predicting the outcome of a gene-drive release.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Cedric Zimmer, H. Arthur Woods, Lynn B. Martin
Summary: Information theory is underutilized in stress endocrinology, despite its importance in understanding the information content of hormones. The free energy principle from neuroscience could provide insights into how hormones like glucocorticoids encode information and how cells respond to them. Further research is needed to explore these ideas and potential applications.
TRENDS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Shan Su, Miquel Vall-llosera, Phillip Cassey, Tim M. Blackburn, Martina Carrete, Jose L. Tella
Summary: The global pet trade serves as a major pathway for the introduction of invasive alien species, with market demands influenced by historical and cultural factors. Parrots and songbirds are the most commonly traded alien bird taxa, with preferences in Western markets influenced by colonial histories, cultural similarity, and strict regulations, while preferences in Eastern markets are strongly influenced by regional culture and proximity.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Mary J. Woodruff, Cedric Zimmer, Daniel R. Ardia, Maren N. Vitousek, Kimberly A. Rosvall
Summary: Climate change is impacting our planet, and understanding the effects on wild birds' thermal tolerance is limited. Through studying Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), researchers found natural variation in heat shock protein (HSP) gene expression among different tissues and populations. The brain tissues consistently showed higher HSP gene expression compared to the pectoral muscle. Additionally, populations in southern regions exhibited higher neural HSP gene expression than those in northern regions.
Article
Ecology
Meryl Theng, Cyril Milleret, Chloe Bracis, Phillip Cassey, Steven Delean
Summary: The study evaluates spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models and suggests that while they are robust for estimating population density, they may struggle to capture finer scale effects of resource quality on detectability and space use.
Article
Ecology
Maren N. Vitousek, Jennifer L. Houtz, Monique A. Pipkin, David A. Chang van Oordt, Kelly K. Hallinger, Jennifer J. Uehling, Cedric Zimmer, Conor C. Taff
Summary: As global climate changes, many species are at risk due to shifting thermal regimes. The ability to cope with cold is crucial for populations facing more frequent or extreme cold. Experiments have shown that extreme cold or rapid temperature declines usually result in an increase in stress hormones in captive animals. However, it is unclear whether free-living adults, who may better handle cold effects, show a similar response to ecologically relevant thermal challenges. The effects of cold on sensitivity to future challenges and the long-term consequences are not well understood.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elisabetta Versace, Paola Sgado, Julia George, Jasmine L. Loveland, Joseph Ward, Peter Thorpe, Lars Juhl Jensen, Karen A. Spencer, Silvia Paracchini, Giorgio Vallortigara
Summary: The study reveals a transient effect of light exposure on gene expression related to lateralisation, with downregulation of the sensitive-period mediator gene DIO2 in the right retina. No significant differences were found in gene expression between the right and left telencephalon. Gene networks associated with lateralisation were connected to vascularisation, cell motility, and extracellular matrix.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Cedric Zimmer, Conor C. Taff, Daniel R. Ardia, Kimberly A. Rosvall, Christine Kallenberg, Alexandra B. Bentz, Audrey R. Taylor, L. Scott Johnson, Maren N. Vitousek
Summary: This study compares gene expression in female tree swallows from different breeding environments and finds that the expression of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in the hypothalamus varies among populations. The variation in circulating glucocorticoids predicts differences in gene expression, suggesting a combination of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity in the stress response. The results highlight the importance of considering regulatory traits in the evolutionary study of stress response.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Peter Caley, Phillip Cassey
Summary: Invasive alien species cause biodiversity loss and environmental damage. Citizen reports are currently the main source of alien species detections. Mining social media data may improve citizen surveillance, but it needs to demonstrate its effectiveness and value compared to alternative approaches.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Marine Morvan, Ivan Miks
Summary: Collagen, the most abundant protein in animal and human bodies, undergoes age-related changes such as increased hydrophobicity, post-translational modifications, and amino acid racemization. This study found that protein hydrolysis under deuterium conditions helps to limit natural racemization, preserving the homochirality of recent collagens. However, natural amino acid racemization was observed in aging collagens, indicating that the percentage of D-amino acids increases with age. The degradation of collagen over time leads to the loss of one-fifth of the sequence information. Post-translational modifications may explain the changes in hydrophobicity in aging collagens.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veronika Gvozdikova Javurkova, Ivan Miksik
Summary: Recent research has found that maternal egg yolk components, which have effects on the developing embryo, are interconnected and co-adapted. However, there has been no study on the associations between maternal albumen steroids, proteins, and eggshell compounds. This study investigates these associations and reveals their potential impact on avian embryo and offspring phenotype.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Elizabeth Sheldon, Cedric Zimmer, Haley Hanson, Bilal Koussayer, Aaron Schrey, Darrys Reese, Paul Wigley, Amy L. Wedley, Lynn B. Martin
Summary: Animals moving into new areas face novel challenges, including pathogen exposure. DNA methylation regulates plasticity by affecting gene expression. Non-native house sparrows with high epigenetic potential (EP) in the promoter of a key microbial surveillance gene, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), were better able to resist pathogenic infection.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Ivan Miksik, Marine Morvan, Jaroslav Bruzek
Summary: Proteomics has emerged as an attractive alternative to DNA analysis for studying human and animal material. It overcomes the limitations of DNA amplification in ancient samples, contamination, high cost, and limited preservation of nuclear DNA. Proteomics allows for relatively simple and cost-effective sex estimation by analyzing proteins preserved in tooth enamel, offering reduced destruction and minimum sample size requirements.
JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Samantha L. Flores-Lopez, Ana Arenillas, Ivan Miksik, J. Angel Menendez, Miguel A. Montes-Moran
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of novel reduced graphene oxide aerogels (rGO) as extractants of mixtures of three UV-benzotriazoles in water at low concentrations. The rGO aerogels containing 60% rGO performed the best, achieving recoveries of 80-100% when using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as an elution solvent. The method is simple, fast, and achieves a detection limit of 1 ng mL(-1).
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jessica Harvey-Carroll, Tyler J. Stevenson, Karen A. Spencer
Summary: Maternal signals play a crucial role in shaping embryonic development and post-natal phenotypes. RNA deposition is one method of maternal signaling, and it is believed to transmit circadian rhythms to offspring. However, the extent to which maternal developmental conditions influence maternal circadian gene transcripts and early embryonic gene transcription remains unclear.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xiaomeng Li, Charles Brighton Ndandala, Qi Zhou, Chunyan Huang, Guangli Li, Huapu Chen
Summary: This study investigated the role of estrogen receptors (ERs) in vitellogenesis (Vtgs) regulation in pompano fish. The findings suggest that E2 may regulate the expression of different subtypes of vtg through ERs, displaying a compensatory expression effect on the regulation of ers and vtgs. This provides a theoretical basis for further research on reproductive endocrinology in pompano fish.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Norio Kansaku, Takeshi Ohkubo
Summary: Endocrine changes during bird reproduction, particularly the relationship between prolactin and incubation behavior, were investigated. The study monitored the physiological status and incubation behavior of Silkie hens over 1-2 years. The results showed that most mature hens exhibited incubation behavior multiple times, and there was a noticeable increase in nest occupancy 7-10 days before incubation onset. Protein analysis revealed that secreted prolactin during the reproductive cycle contains various isoforms, suggesting post-translational modifications like glycosylation and phosphorylation.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Minghui Li, Lina Sun, Linyan Zhou, Deshou Wang
Summary: This article summarizes the importance of the Nile tilapia as an excellent animal model for studying reproductive endocrinology in fish, with a focus on the crucial role of estrogen in female development.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Breanna N. Harris, Carolyn M. Bauer, James A. Carr, Caitlin R. Gabor, Jennifer L. Grindstaff, Caleigh Guoynes, Jennifer J. Heppner, Cris C. Ledon-Rettig, Patricia C. Lopes, Sharon E. Lynn, Carla B. Madelaire, Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Maria G. Palacios, Paul Soto, Jennifer Terry
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on academics, particularly on those with minoritized identities or who were early career, caregivers, or had intersecting identities. The pandemic altered the impact factors of academia, including scholarly products, and affected the way individuals could respond. It is predicted that the pandemic will have long-term impacts on the population dynamics, composition, and landscape of the academic ecosystem. The number of journal submissions decreased, especially among women authors, and the pandemic heavily impacted women authors from Asia and the Middle East.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)