Article
Behavioral Sciences
Keith W. Sockman, Michael Beaulieu
Summary: Despite the expectation of reduction in prevalence, individually consistent behavioural phenotypes persist in diverse populations. The life-history trade-off between current and future reproduction, combined with individual variation in age or condition, may explain this paradox.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicole E. Adams, Suzanne Edmands
Summary: Despite population recovery, the Channel Island fox has experienced a decrease in genetic diversity, and genetic divergence between populations has increased over time. This poses challenges for species conservation, as certain subspecies are having difficulties in recovering genetic variation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Humann-Guilleminot, L. Andreo, E. Blatti, G. Glauser, F. Helfenstein, J. Desprat
Summary: Bird feathers have been commonly used to assess environmental contamination, but little research has been done on the contamination of neonicotinoids in birds' feathers. This study found that clothianidin, a neonicotinoid insecticide, can be absorbed and deposited in birds' feathers. The findings confirm the relevance of using feathers to biomonitor the presence of neonicotinoids.
Article
Microbiology
Sarah C. Kuchinsky, Jeffrey Marano, Seth A. Hawks, Emma Loessberg, Christa F. Honaker, Paul B. Siegel, Chloe Lahondere, Tanya LeRoith, James Weger-Lucarelli, Nisha K. Duggal
Summary: This study demonstrates the susceptibility of house sparrows and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to Usutu virus, and reveals differences in transmission and host suitability between different virus strains.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Francesca Santicchia, Stefan Van Dongen, Adriano Martinoli, Damiano Preatoni, Lucas Armand Wauters
Summary: Animal personality is described by consistent behavioural traits, measured using various methods such as observations and trapping indices. In this study with Eurasian red squirrels, measures of trappability and trap-diversity were found to be repeatable, but not correlated with exploration from OFT, suggesting they represent different aspects of personality (boldness and a different exploration tendency, respectively). Further caution is advised when using OFT behaviors to measure multiple personality traits, and additional methods such as trapping responses can provide reliable proxies for boldness and exploration tendency.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dilan Saatoglu, Alina K. Niskanen, Markku Kuismin, Peter S. Ranke, Ingerid J. Hagen, Yimen G. Araya-Ajoy, Thomas Kvalnes, Henrik Parn, Bernt Ronning, Thor Harald Ringsby, Bernt--Erik Saether, Arild Husby, Mikko J. Sillanpaa, Henrik Jensen
Summary: In this study, 200K Single Nucleotide Polymorphism data and two genetic assignment approaches were used to identify dispersers in a house sparrow metapopulation. The study shows that the BONE method has higher assignment accuracy and discusses potential sources of errors in the assignment results. The accuracy of assignments is high even with low levels of genetic differentiation and increases with the proportion of sampled population. Integrating ecological and genetic data in dispersal studies provides robust assessments of dispersal patterns in natural populations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thibault Leroy, Marjolaine Rousselle, Marie-Ka Tilak, Aude E. Caizergues, Celine Scornavacca, Maria Recuerda, Jerome Fuchs, Juan Carlos Illera, Dawie H. De Swardt, Guillermo Blanco, Christophe Thebaud, Borja Mila, Benoit Nabholz
Summary: This study confirms that island species have lower census population sizes and effective population sizes, resulting in lower nucleotide diversity in coding regions, higher ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous polymorphisms, and lower adaptive substitution rates.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jianan Dong, Haibo Huang, Jiaqing Pei, Yiwei Xu, Jun Cao
Summary: A method of capturing TWPs in tunnels to prevent their release into the environment was proposed and verified through experiments, showing a capture efficiency exceeding 50%. The optimal capture ratio occurs at 60 km/h and is mainly determined by the pressure difference between tunnel ends, with health-related TWPs smaller than 10 ?m being the main source captured. This method provides guidelines for alleviating pollution caused by TWPs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silke Werth, Peter Meidl, Christoph Scheidegger
Summary: The study on the population genetic structure of lichen-forming fungi in Macaronesia highlights deep divergence between populations on the Azores and major splits between archipelagos for endemic species. In contrast, the widespread species shows a complex evolutionary history involving migration between islands and the mainland.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Concepcion Salaberria, Carlos A. Chavez-Zichinelli, Isabel Lopez-Rull, Marta C. Romano, Jorge E. Schondube
Summary: Mexico City is highly polluted, and this study investigates the impact of air pollution on house sparrows. The study finds a negative relationship between ozone concentration and the natural antibody response in house sparrows, suggesting that ozone pollution may constrain the immune system of the sparrows.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anna M. Csergo, Kevin Healy, Darren P. O'Connell, Maude E. A. Baudraz, David J. Kelly, Fionn O. Marcaigh, Annabel L. Smith, Jesus Villellas, Cian White, Qiang Yang, Yvonne M. Buckley
Summary: Spatial isolation is a significant driver of variability in traits and genotypes worldwide, and the effects of isolation vary between marine islands and mainland populations. Phenotypic differentiation is higher between marine islands, while spatial patterns of neutral genetic diversity show no consistent differences between the two systems. Geographic distance has comparatively weak effects on the spatial patterns of phenotypes and neutral genetic diversity.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Agnieszka Gudowska, Szymon M. Drobniak
Summary: This study found that changes in amino acid composition in the diet can affect bird behavior and hormone levels. A diet deficient in phenylalanine and tyrosine slows down the learning process of birds to avoid unpalatable food, reduces their ability to cope with stress, and increases aggression towards conspecifics.
Article
Ecology
Luz Garcia-Longoria, Sergio Magallanes, Xi Huang, Anna Drews, Lars Raberg, Alfonso Marzal, Staffan Bensch, Helena Westerdahl
Summary: Birds often simultaneously carry several blood parasite species, and these co-infections can lead to within-host interactions, including mutualism and competition, which may affect the virulence and transmission of parasites. In this study, Plasmodium and Haemoproteus parasites in house sparrows were investigated using qPCR, and reciprocal positive relationships in parasitemia between the two parasites were found in adult birds, indicating potential mutualistic interactions or individual variation in immune responses.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ursula K. Beattie, Nina Fefferman, Michael Romero
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether different intensities of chronic stress would produce proportional physiological responses. The results showed that while the changes in body weight and blood metabolites varied across different stress groups, these metrics were not reliable indicators of the intensity of long-term chronic stress.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Katarzyna Grzesiak-Kopec, Barbara Strug, Grazyna Slusarczyk
Summary: This paper proposes an evolutionary technique for generating new design solutions for the floor layout problem, presenting a case study of one-story houses and discussing the evaluation method. The obtained results, advantages and issues related to this approach are also discussed.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Benedikt Holtmann, Carlos E. Lara, Eduardo S. A. Santos, Joanne E. Gillum, Neil J. Gemmell, Shinichi Nakagawa
Summary: This study investigated the influence of individual behavioral traits on social relationships and reproductive success in a wild population of dunnocks. The findings suggested that in polygamous groups, cooperative breeding males exhibited differences in behavior, and there was evidence of assortative mating based on behavioral traits for alpha males and females. Additionally, male provisioning significantly impacted reproductive success for both sexes, while female provisioning only correlated with her own reproductive output.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Emily A. Hennessy, Rebecca L. Acabchuk, Pieter A. Arnold, Adam G. Dunn, Yong Zhi Foo, Blair T. Johnson, Sonya R. Geange, Neal R. Haddaway, Shinichi Nakagawa, Witness Mapanga, Kerrie Mengersen, Matthew J. Page, Alfredo Sanchez-Tojar, Vivian Welch, Luke A. McGuinness
Summary: It is crucial to robustly synthesize available evidence to inform and improve prevention efforts and policy, yet barriers such as inaccurate terminology and unclear reporting hinder comprehensive evidence synthesis. Practical guidelines and tools are provided to assist prevention scientists in preparing synthesis-ready research, with step-by-step guidance and software suggestions for standardizing data design and public archiving to facilitate synthesis-ready research. Using a recent mindfulness trial as an example, ways to ensure discoverability of primary studies and the presence of necessary data are demonstrated.
PREVENTION SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Biology
Daniel W. A. Noble, Patrice Pottier, Malgorzata Lagisz, Samantha Burke, Szymon M. Drobniak, Rose E. O'Dea, Shinichi Nakagawa
Summary: Meta-analysis is a powerful tool that allows researchers in comparative physiology to account for study differences and make results more comparable. By using standardised effect sizes and multilevel meta-regression models, researchers can explore new questions and make large-scale data more accessible and interpretable.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Erin L. Macartney, Malgorzata Lagisz, Shinichi Nakagawa
Summary: Environmental enrichment (EE) is expected to alleviate the negative effects of stress on cognitive performance. This study shows the synergetic interaction between EE and stress, where EE provides a greater benefit to stressed individuals compared to conventional housing. Furthermore, EE can fully compensate for the negative effects of stress. The study also highlights the importance of other mediating factors such as treatment exposure order, duration and type of stress, type of EE, and type of cognitive assays used.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lina M. Giraldo-Deck, Jasmine L. Loveland, Wolfgang Goymann, Barbara Tschirren, Terry Burke, Bart Kempenaers, David B. Lank, Clemens Kuepper
Summary: In the ruff Calidris pugnax, a supergene controlled by chromosomal inversions determines three male mating morphs, with female individuals showing differences in reproductive success. Faeder females with un-recombined inversion haplotypes have lower reproductive success compared to Independent females without the inversion, while Satellite females with recombined haplotypes show intermediate reproductive performance. This suggests that intralocus conflicts may play a key role in the evolution and maintenance of supergene variants.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Charli S. Davies, Sarah F. Worsley, Kathryn H. Maher, Jan Komdeur, Terry Burke, Hannah L. Dugdale, David S. Richardson
Summary: This study found that components of the host's immune system, specifically MHC-I and MHC-II variation, can influence the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome. This suggests that host-microbiome coevolution may play a role in maintaining immunogenetic variation within populations.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sophie Bennett, Antje Girndt, Alfredo Sanchez-Tojar, Terry Burke, Mirre Simons, Julia Schroeder
Summary: Offspring of older parents in many species have decreased longevity, a faster aging rate, and lower fecundity. Telomeres, biomarkers of aging that tend to shorten as individuals age, may provide insights into the mechanisms of parental age effects. This study on house sparrows found that the effect of parental age on telomere length was sex-specific, with older fathers producing daughters with longer telomere lengths. The telomere length of chicks increased between 0.5 and 3 months of age, which is unusual in birds but more commonly seen in non-avian taxa. Further research on similar patterns in different species and taxa will contribute to a better understanding of telomere length variation and its evolution.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mirjam J. Borger, David S. Richardson, Hannah Dugdale, Terry Burke, Jan Komdeur
Summary: Species are facing challenges from rapidly changing environments, such as increased frequency of extreme weather events. While natural selection acts slowly, organisms may use mechanisms like cooperative breeding to cope with rapid change. However, our study on the Seychelles warbler found that low rainfall was associated with reduced reproductive output, but cooperative breeding did not seem to buffer against harsh environments. This highlights the importance of considering the interaction between environment and life histories when studying species survival.
Article
Ecology
Shinichi Nakagawa, Daniel W. A. Noble, Malgorzata Lagisz, Rebecca Spake, Wolfgang Viechtbauer, Alistair M. Senior
Summary: The log response ratio (lnRR) is commonly used in ecology meta-analysis, but missing standard deviations (SDs) pose a challenge in estimating the sampling variance. We propose a new method using weighted average coefficient of variation (CV) from studies reporting SDs to address this issue. Our results show that using the average CV to estimate sampling variances for all observations, regardless of missingness, performs better than the conventional approach using individual study-specific CV with complete data. This approach is broadly applicable and can be implemented in all lnRR meta-analyses.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Eleanor J. Phillips, Mirre J. P. Simons
Summary: Dietary restriction and rapamycin treatment have different effects on immune function. Rapamycin treatment improves post-infection survival rate, while dietary restriction may reduce it. These results suggest the potential benefits of rapamycin for the immune system, while caution is needed in considering the immune costs of dietary restriction. Further clinical trials of rapamycin to boost immunity in humans are warranted.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jamie Dunning, Terry Burke, Alex Hoi Hang Chan, Heung Ying Janet Chik, Tim Evans, Julia Schroeder
Summary: Animal sociality, especially opposite-sex sociality, has fitness consequences through mate choice, increasing annual fitness success but not translating to lifetime fitness. Stabilizing selection on opposite-sex sociality and general sociality suggests that reported benefits are short-lived in a wild population, with selection favoring average sociality.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Rebecca Spake, Diana E. Bowler, Corey T. Callaghan, Shane A. Blowes, C. Patrick Doncaster, Laura H. Antao, Shinichi Nakagawa, Richard McElreath, Jonathan M. Chase
Summary: Ecologists often use statistical models to detect and explain interactions among ecological drivers, but overlook two fundamental properties: the measurement scale and symmetry. Overlooking these properties can lead to three types of inferential errors: misinterpretation of detection and magnitude, misinterpretation of the sign of effect modification, and misidentification of underlying processes. We illustrate these errors using various ecological questions and propose guidelines to improve the study of interactions in ecology.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Sarah Dobson, Jamie Dunning, Terry Burke, Heung Ying Janet Chik, Julia Schroeder
Summary: A study found that indirect genetic effects (IGEs) between social partners have a significant influence on extra-pair reproduction, revealing hidden genetic variation. While IGEs do not alter genetic correlations between sexes, they reduce uncertainty in those estimates. Future research should explore the impact of IGEs on sex-specific mechanisms of extra-pair reproduction.
Article
Ecology
Luke J. Eberhart-Hertel, Lourenco Falcao Rodrigues, Johannes Krietsch, Anne G. Hertel, Medardo Cruz-Lopez, Karina Alejandra Vazquez-Rojas, Erick Gonzalez-Medina, Julia Schroeder, Clemens Kuepper
Summary: Gamete size variation is important in understanding sex roles, but the relationship between within-sex gamete size variation and sex role variation is still unclear. Our study found that polyandrous females breed earlier and produce smaller eggs. However, we did not find a clear link between gamete size variation and mating behavior at the individual level, suggesting limited adaptive potential.
Article
Ecology
Fonti Kar, Shinichi Nakagawa, Daniel W. A. Noble
Summary: Selective processes influence phenotypic variation, but the evolutionary potential relies on heritable variation. Developmental plasticity is an important source of phenotypic variation, but its relationship with genetic variation is not well understood. In this study, we used an animal model and a genomic relatedness matrix to investigate the impact of developmental temperature on growth in lizards. We found that developmental temperature influenced the mass of lizards but not their growth rate. Additionally, we observed changes in the heritability and maternal effects of growth over time.