Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kimberly A. Terrell, Richard P. Quintero, Veronica Acosta Galicia, Ed Bronikowski, Matthew Evans, John D. Kleopfer, Suzan Murray, James B. Murphy, Bradley D. Nissen, Brian Gratwicke
Summary: This study investigated the physiological consequences of temperature variation on juvenile hellbenders under current and warmer climates. Cold exposure was associated with weight loss, increased stress, and reduced bacteria-killing ability in the blood. Warmer climates may help maintain body condition in winter, but prolonged lack of growth in summer could have population-level consequences for hellbenders entering the fall breeding season.
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Otto Monge, Christian H. Schulze, Stefan Dullinger, Leonida Fusani, Ivan Maggini
Summary: This study explores the heat tolerance of tropical montane birds and suggests that future global warming may pose a threat to their water balance and survival. The results indicate that unshaded coffee farms increase the demand for water to maintain stability, which could have negative effects on their health and survival.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katharine Sanderson
Summary: The question of how to maintain athletic performance in extreme heat becomes urgent as climate change worsens.
Article
Ecology
Fredrik Jutfelt, Tommy Norin, Eirik R. Asheim, Lauren E. Rowsey, Anna H. Andreassen, Rachael Morgan, Timothy D. Clark, Ben Speers-Roesch
Summary: The research proposes a hypothesis about water-breathing ectothermic animals, suggesting that they regulate peak specific dynamic action response during times of warming by reducing meal sizes to protect postprandial residual aerobic scope, leading to reductions in growth.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
William B. Sutton, Matthew Grisnik, Lori A. Williams, John D. Groves
Summary: This study analyzed the vulnerability of the eastern Hellbender amphibian species and found that future climate change and the lack of formally protected habitats were the primary drivers of vulnerability. The ecoregions of Northern Allegheny Plateau, Erie Drift Plains, Interior Plateau, and Interior River Valleys and Hills were identified as the most vulnerable. To decrease vulnerability, strategies such as establishing permanent conservation areas, continuing conservation and monitoring of current habitats, increasing stream connectivity, and restoring targeted stream ecosystems should be implemented.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Austin R. Cruz, Goggy Davidowitz, Christopher M. Moore, Judith L. Bronstein
Summary: Predicting the impacts of global warming on mutualisms is a significant challenge, but crucial because all species depend on each other for survival and reproduction. The field of thermal ecology provides insights and tools to address this challenge.
Review
Physiology
Rasmus Ern, Anna H. Andreassen, Fredrik Jutfelt
Summary: This review investigates the reasons behind fish heat failure at thermal extremes and the physiological mechanisms that determine acute upper thermal tolerance. The study proposes that rapid direct thermal impacts on fish are influenced by molecular mechanisms such as reaction rates, protein structure, and membrane fluidity. These molecular effects during acute warming lead to loss of equilibrium and death through different cellular, organ, and physiological pathways, including mitochondrial dysfunction, oxygen limitation, and impacted excitability of excitable cells. The study concludes that a single mechanism for acute upper thermal tolerance is not found across species and contexts, suggesting that the limiting mechanisms during acute warming differ between species, life stages, and recent thermal history. Future research is proposed to elucidate major patterns of physiological thermal limitations in fish.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Thomas M. Galligan, Richard F. Helm, Brian F. Case, Catherine M. Bodinof Jachowski, Clara L. Frazier, Valentina Alaasam, William A. Hopkins
Summary: Seasonally breeding species such as the eastern hellbender show cyclic changes in circulating steroid hormone profiles that correspond with reproductive behaviors and ecology. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone seem to be the predominant androgens in eastern hellbenders, playing important roles in regulating reproductive processes for both males and females. Additionally, the study provides a physiological framework for future research on hellbender reproductive biology, which could be crucial for their conservation efforts.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Guillermo Garcia-Costoya, Claire E. E. Williams, Trevor M. M. Faske, Jacob D. D. Moorman, Michael L. L. Logan
Summary: Mounting evidence suggests that rapid evolutionary adaptation can rescue organisms from climate change impacts, but evolutionary constraints may hinder this process. Genetic correlations underlying thermal physiology can influence population dynamics under climate change, with declines in population size varying depending on the type of correlation present. Surprisingly, populations constrained by genetic correlations may decline less rapidly than unconstrained populations. Understanding the genetic architecture of selected traits is crucial for accurate forecasts of climate change impact on ectotherms.
Article
Biology
Sandeep S. Beepat, Simon K. Davy, Clinton A. Oakley, Amirhossein Mashini, Lifeng Peng, James J. Bell
Summary: Tropical lagoon-inhabiting organisms, particularly lagoonal sponges, are highly vulnerable to thermal stress from climate change. A study on the stress response mechanisms of the lagoon-inhabiting sponge Amphimedon navalis exposed to elevated temperatures found significant declines in buoyant weight, increased pumping and oxygen consumption rates, as well as a shift in the proteome dynamics. The increase in detoxification proteins and disruption in cellular growth and cytoskeletal activities suggest that sustained thermal exposure can induce significant disruption in cellular homeostasis in these susceptible organisms.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Luis Enrique Angeles-Gonzalez, Enrique Martinez-Meyer, Carlos Yanez-Arenas, Ivan Velazquez-Abunader, Jorge A. Lopez-Rocha, Josymar Torrejon-Magallanes, Carlos Rosas
Summary: This study used two niche models to predict the suitability and distribution of the red octopus in the Yucatan Peninsula under different climate change scenarios. The results suggest that the suitability of the red octopus may be slightly reduced in the future, with potential impacts on fisheries in the region.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Claire E. Williams, Jordan G. Kueneman, Daniel J. Nicholson, Adam A. Rosso, Edita Folfas, Brianna Casement, Maria A. Gallegos-Koyner, Lauren K. Neel, John David Curlis, W. Owen McMillan, Christian L. Cox, Michael L. Logan
Summary: As climate change progresses, understanding how animals respond to shifts in their local environments is crucial. Changes in microbial communities that live in and on host organisms are part of this response. We investigated the effects of shifting climates on the gut microbiome of slender anole lizards through field and laboratory studies, including transplants to warmer islands in the Panama Canal. We found that slender anole microbiomes remained stable in response to short-term warming but may be sensitive to sustained climate anomalies, such as droughts. These findings have important implications for a species considered highly vulnerable to climate change.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peyton A. Thomas, Emily E. Peele, Kara E. Yopak, Culum Brown, Charlie Huveneers, Connor R. Gervais, Stephen T. Kinsey
Summary: Despite regional variations, juvenile Port Jackson sharks showed limited acclimatory potential to alter muscle metabolic features under a temperature increase, potentially making this species vulnerable to climate change, as indicated by the study on their skeletal muscle tissue morphological features.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Julia M. Smith, Rory S. Telemeco, Bryan A. Briones Ortiz, Cesar R. Nufio, Lauren B. Buckley
Summary: The sensitivity of insect populations to environmental conditions can impact their growth, development, and performance. High-elevation and season-limited populations exhibit developmental plasticity, enabling them to advance or prolong development in specific conditions, consistent with field phenology. This plasticity is driven by increased thermal sensitivity of development under short day conditions early in the season.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zara-Louise Cowan, Anna H. Andreassen, Jeremy De Bonville, Leon Green, Sandra A. Binning, Lorena Silva-Garay, Fredrik Jutfelt, Josefin Sundin
Summary: Aquatic ectotherms, particularly fish embryos, are sensitive to thermal stress. Critical thermal methodology, specifically critical thermal maximum (CTmax), is commonly used to characterize acute thermal tolerances in fishes. Measuring CTmax in fish embryos is challenging, but a novel method based on last movement has been proposed. This method allows for comparisons of acute thermal tolerance between species and life stages, and is more conservative and easier to record compared to measurements based on last heartbeat.
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ben C. Scheele, Frank Pasmans, Lee F. Skerratt, Lee Berger, An Martel, Wouter Beukema, Aldemar A. Acevedo, Patricia A. Burrowes, Tamilie Carvalho, Alessandro Catenazzi, Ignacio De la Riva, Matthew C. Fisher, Sandra V. Flechas, Claire N. Foster, Patricia Frias-Alvarez, Trenton W. J. Garner, Brian Gratwicke, Juan M. Guayasamin, Mareike Hirschfeld, Jonathan E. Kolby, Tiffany A. Kosch, Enrique La Marca, David B. Lindenmayer, Karen R. Lips, Ana V. Longo, Raul Maneyro, Cait A. McDonald, Joseph Mendelson, Pablo Palacios-Rodriguez, Gabriela Parra-Olea, Corinne L. Richards-Zawacki, Mark-Oliver Roedel, Sean M. Rovito, Claudio Soto-Azat, Luis Felipe Toledo, Jamie Voyles, Che Weldon, Steven M. Whitfield, Mark Wilkinson, Kelly R. Zamudio, Stefano Canessa
Article
Zoology
Bradley D. Nissen, Nathan F. Bendik
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nathan F. Bendik, Dee Ann Chamberlain, Thomas J. Devitt, Sarah E. Donelson, Bradley Nissen, Jacob D. Owen, Donelle Robinson, Blake N. Sissel, Kenneth Sparks
Summary: By analyzing four years of robust-design capture-recapture data, the researchers found that body size is a key factor influencing temporary emigration and survival of Barton Springs salamanders, with larger individuals more likely to temporarily emigrate into subterranean habitat. The surface population dynamics are impacted by movement below ground, indicating that surface abundance estimates do not reflect the total superpopulation of the species.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Randall R. Jimenez, Amy Carfagno, Luke Linhoff, Brian Gratwicke, Douglas C. Woodhams, Liana Soares Chafran, Molly C. Bletz, Barney Bishop, Carly R. Muletz-Wolz
Summary: Mucosal defenses are crucial in protecting animals from pathogens. This study examines the defense mechanisms of four salamander species against chytrid pathogens and reveals the innate mechanisms that impact pathogen growth.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jordan Kueneman, Molly Bletz, Matthew Becker, Brian Gratwicke, Orlando A. Garces, Andreas Hertz, Whitney M. Holden, Roberto Ibanez, Andrew Loudon, Valerie McKenzie, Laura Parfrey, Brandon Sheafor, Louise A. Rollins-Smith, Corinne Richards-Zawacki, Jamie Voyles, Douglas C. Woodhams
Summary: Captive breeding plays an important role in safeguarding animal groups, but it can have significant effects on the microbial communities and health of captive-reared animals. This study conducted a meta-analysis on the skin microbiomes of 18 amphibian species and found substantial differences between captive and wild individuals. The impact of captivity on diversity metrics and antifungal function varied depending on the species, highlighting the need for individual species evaluations and a cohesive approach to mitigate the effects of captivity on amphibian skin microbes.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Angie Estrada, Daniel Medina, Brian Gratwicke, Roberto Ibanez, Lisa K. Belden
Summary: This study conducted a soft-release trial of limosa harlequin frogs, finding that body condition and skin bacteria of captive-born frogs became similar to wild conspecifics after 27 days in mesocosms. Prevalence of chytrid fungus in wild conspecifics was 13-27%, while 15% of captive-born frogs in mesocosms became infected with chytrid fungus, without observed mortality. Body condition, skin microbiome, and chytrid status can all change within one month of releasing captive-born individuals back into the wild.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alyssa W. Kaganer, Robert J. Ossiboff, Nicole I. Keith, Krysten L. Schuler, Pierre Comizzoli, Matthew P. Hare, Robert C. Fleischer, Brian Gratwicke, Elizabeth M. Bunting
Summary: Dynamic interactions between host, pathogen, and host-associated microbiome were investigated in Eastern hellbender salamanders challenged with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Vaccination did not affect pathogen load, but stimulated different host gene expression depending on the vaccination type. The microbiome was altered by Bd, but anti-Bd microbe abundance or richness did not correlate with pathogen burden. Our findings suggest that the immune response of hellbenders to Bd is initially vigorous but ineffective in controlling disease, and interactions with antifungal skin microbiota do not influence disease progression.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Sinlan Poo, Ana Karen Candia, Kristina L. Cohen, Francesca T. Erickson, Sara A. Mason, Bradley D. Nissen, Adair F. McNear, Jonathon J. Reinig, Joseph S. Sherrock, Ashley R. Aguiluz, Letitia L. Jacques, Hanna E. R. Jenkins, Anne Devan-Song
Summary: This study investigates the hatching of a tree frog with terrestrial eggs in response to flooding conditions. The findings suggest that flooding-induced hatching is important for the survival of the frog, and the ability to hatch early improves survival rates. These results highlight the significance of hatching plasticity in amphibians with terrestrial eggs.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Eliza Baker, Rebecca H. Hardman, William B. Sutton, Sherri Reinsch, Michael Freake, Emily Holder, Carlin Frost, Bradley Nissen, Emilly Nolan, Richard Gerhold, Debra Miller
Summary: Populations of eastern hellbenders have been declining due to anthropogenic habitat disturbance and sedimentation. The impact of parasite-associated morbidity and mortality on hellbender populations is not well understood. This study detected trypanosome infection in hellbenders from Virginia, with the first report of the partial 18s rRNA sequence from hellbender trypanosomes in North America. Further research is needed to understand trypanosome epidemiology and implications for hellbender health.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bradley D. Nissen, Michael J. Freake, Emilly Nolan, Rebecca H. Hardman, William B. Sutton
Summary: Translocations of freshwater species have become a widespread conservation strategy, but are often not rigorously monitored to determine their success. This study demonstrates the importance of monitoring pre- and post-translocation movements and home-range sizes of a stream salamander species to evaluate translocation success in a freshwater environment.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Staci M. Amburgey, Brian Gratwicke, Victor Acosta Chaves, Anat M. Belasen, David Bickford, Carsten A. Bruehl, Natalie E. Calatayud, Nick Clemann, Simon Clulow, Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailovic, Jeff Dawson, David A. De Angelis, C. Kenneth Dodd, Annette Evans, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Mattia Falaschi, Sergio Gonzalez-Mollinedo, David M. Green, Roseanna Gamlen-Greene, Richard A. Griffiths, Brian J. Halstead, Craig Hassapakis, Geoffrey Heard, Catharina Karlsson, Tom Kirschey, Blake Klocke, Tiffany A. Kosch, Sophia Kusterko Novaes, Luke Linhoff, John C. Maerz, Brittany A. Mosher, Katherine O'Donnell, Leticia M. Ochoa-Ochoa, Deanna H. Olson, Kristiina Ovaska, J. Dale Roberts, Aimee J. Silla, Tariq Stark, Jeanne Tarrant, R. Upton, Judit Voros, Erin Muths
Summary: Extensive research has been conducted on the problem of global amphibian declines in the past three decades, with a recent shift towards evidence-based research to identify best solutions and improve conservation outcomes. However, there are still knowledge gaps and disconnects between science and action that hinder conservation efforts.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kimberly A. Terrell, Richard P. Quintero, Veronica Acosta Galicia, Ed Bronikowski, Matthew Evans, John D. Kleopfer, Suzan Murray, James B. Murphy, Bradley D. Nissen, Brian Gratwicke
Summary: This study investigated the physiological consequences of temperature variation on juvenile hellbenders under current and warmer climates. Cold exposure was associated with weight loss, increased stress, and reduced bacteria-killing ability in the blood. Warmer climates may help maintain body condition in winter, but prolonged lack of growth in summer could have population-level consequences for hellbenders entering the fall breeding season.
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Emilly Nolan, Bradley Nissen, William Sutton, Michael Freake, Rebecca Hardman
Summary: Disease monitoring is crucial in translocation projects, especially in amphibians where emerging pathogens like the chytrid fungus Bd are linked to population declines. A translocation study of wild adult hellbenders was conducted in Tennessee, USA, to determine the effects of translocation on Bd prevalence. The results showed that translocation did not lead to an increase in pathogen prevalence, indicating that chytrid did not impact the success of short-term translocations of eastern hellbenders in the Blue Ridge ecoregion.
DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Vanessa Smilansky, Miloslav Jirku, David S. Milner, Roberto Ibanez, Brian Gratwicke, Andrew Nicholls, Julius Lukes, Aurelie Chambouvet, Thomas A. Richards
Summary: Severe Perkinsea infection in amphibians, particularly tadpoles, has been observed in North America, Panama, and the UK. Phylogenetic analysis suggests a close relationship between PPC sequences from different locations. This study provides insight into the biogeography and host range of PPC, which is crucial for conservation planning.