Article
Ecology
Marcus Hall, Oscar Nordahl, Per Larsson, Anders Forsman, Petter Tibblin
Summary: Life history theory suggests that organisms should time their reproduction to maximize fitness. This study found that differences in breeding time among individuals in a perch population were associated with changes in hatching success and reproductive allocation strategies, as well as variation in offspring performance linked to temperature. These time-dependent adaptive differences within the population could influence the population's ability to cope with environmental challenges, such as global warming and exploitation.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily Y. Chen, Diane K. Adams
Summary: This study traces the evolution of pre-feeding phenotypic plasticity in regular sea urchins using molecular mechanisms. It finds that the neurosensory foundation for plasticity is ancestral within echinoids, but the coincident development of the plastic trait and neurosensory system occurs in regular urchins. The study also reveals that plasticity continues to evolve in urchins, often associated with losses of sensory abilities and neurons.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mate Miklos, Levente Laczko, Gabor Sramko, Flora Sebestyen, Zoltan Barta, Jacint Tokolyi
Summary: Facultative clonality is associated with complex life cycles where sexual and asexual forms can be exposed to contrasting selection pressures. Studying coexisting sexual and asexual Hydra oligactis polyps, a freshwater cnidarian, we found high relatedness among populations and evidence of hydras spreading through zoochory. Despite no genetic structure with respect to mode of reproduction, the study revealed phenotypic plasticity and cases of apparent sex change within the same clonal lineages.
Article
Ecology
Quentin Corbel, Pau Carazo
Summary: Adaptive plasticity in life-history traits is crucial for maximizing fitness in changing environments. Perceiving dead conspecifics leads to highly plastic reproductive behavior in female fruit flies, resulting in increased investment in both the quantity and quality of offspring.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Jessica H. Hadlow, Jonathan P. Evans, Rowan A. Lymbery
Summary: Female reproductive fluids (FRFs) play crucial roles in reproductive functions, but their interactions with sperm under different environmental conditions are not well understood. This study investigated the effects of ejaculate age and FRF on sperm traits in a mussel species and found that FRF altered the effects of ejaculate age on sperm motility, with longer-lived sperm exhibiting stronger responses to FRF. There was also significant variation among males in the relationship between sperm motility and ejaculate age, which was only observed in the presence of FRF. These findings highlight the importance of considering female reproductive physiology in understanding sperm phenotypic plasticity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jules Dezeure, Alice Baniel, Alecia Carter, Guy Cowlishaw, Bernard Godelle, Elise Huchard
Summary: This study on wild chacma baboons identifies two optimal birth timings in their annual cycle, maximizing offspring survival or minimizing maternal interbirth intervals. Observed births are most frequent between these optima, suggesting an adaptive trade-off between current and future reproduction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joseph C. Waddell, William G. R. Crampton
Summary: The study investigates the terminal investment hypothesis in five sympatric species of the electric knifefish genus Brachyhypopomus. It finds that terminal investment is synchronized by seasonal breeding and is influenced by circannual environmental variation in mortality risk.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Yong Zhi Foo, Malgorzata Lagisz, Rose E. O'Dea, Shinichi Nakagawa
Summary: Finding the balance between survival and reproduction is a central problem in life-history theory. The terminal investment hypothesis predicts that individuals facing a survival threat will increase immediate reproductive investment to maximize fitness. However, research on this hypothesis has yielded mixed results. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine reproductive investment in multicellular animals after an immune challenge. The results provided some support for the hypotheses, showing stronger terminal investment responses in older individuals with lower residual reproductive values, as well as an increase in variance, particularly in longer-living species.
Article
Entomology
Muhammad Mubashir Saeed, Kevin Tougeron, Abu Bakar Muhammad Raza, Muhammad Afzal, Anjum Aqueel, Guillaume Jean Le Goff, Francois Renoz, Jennifer Pirotte, Thierry Hance
Summary: Diapause is an adaptation that insects use to synchronize their life cycles with seasonal changes in climate and resources. Short day-length conditions, low temperatures, and maternal effects have been found to increase diapause induction.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lin Wang, Yuanyuan Jing, Changlin Xu, Xiaojun Yu
Summary: Plant phenotypic and reproductive plasticity are greatly affected by long-term grazing activities. This study compares the effects of different grazing treatments on Kobresia humilis, a dominant plant species in alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and finds that different grazing treatments have significant impacts on its phenotype and reproductive plasticity.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Charly Jehan, Camille Sabarly, Thierry Rigaud, Yannick Moret
Summary: The study found that female mealworm beetles show a decline in reproductive capacity as they age, rather than increasing reproductive effort late in life as predicted by the terminal investment hypothesis. Instead, females appear to allocate resources according to a priority scheme favoring longevity over reproduction, which aligns with the reproductive restraint hypothesis.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Charly Jehan, Camille Sabarly, Thierry Rigaud, Yannick Moret
Summary: The study found that the age-specific reproductive behavior of female T. molitor under pathogenic threat is inconsistent with the terminal investment hypothesis, suggesting that females may use a reproductive restraint strategy to sustain immunity and future reproductive opportunities.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Natasha Kruger, Jean Secondi, Louis du Preez, Anthony Herrel, John Measey
Summary: Phenotypic variations between populations are often related to climatic variables. In this study, the phenotypic variation of Xenopus laevis tadpoles in two regions with contrasting rainfall regimes in southern Africa was found to be driven by both adaptation and plasticity. However, the reaction norms differed between populations, indicating adaptive and asymmetric plasticity.
Article
Ecology
Salvador Zarco-Perello, David Fairclough, Chris Dowling, Joey DiBattista, Rachel Austin, Thomas Wernberg, Brett Taylor
Summary: Global warming is affecting the phenology, life-history traits, and biogeography of species. This study examines the life-history traits of two successful range-extending fish species and finds that populations at higher latitudes have shorter reproductive periods, slower growth rates, but higher fecundity and longer lifespans.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Natia Barateli, David Tarkhnishvili, Giorgi Iankoshvili, Luka Kokiashvili
Summary: This study compared the life history differences between small and large-bodied unisexual and bisexual Caucasian rock lizard species. The results showed that there were differences between the two parthenogenetic species and their paternal bisexual lizards. However, the pattern did not hold true for both lineages. Other interspecific differences such as body size or evolutionary distance also influenced the differences between the parthenogenetic and bisexual relatives.
ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aapo Kahilainen, Vicencio Oostra, Panu Somervuo, Guillaume Minard, Marjo Saastamoinen
Summary: Predicting the effects of climate change on plant-insect herbivore interactions is challenging, with responses to water limitation-induced host plant quality change in a Glanville fritillary butterfly metapopulation showing marked variability. Intraspecific variability in plasticity suggests potential for buffering against drought-induced changes in host plant quality within the Finnish M. cinxia metapopulation.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Mariska M. Beekman, Suzanne H. Donner, Jordy J. H. Litjens, Marcel Dicke, Bas J. Zwaan, Eveline C. Verhulst, Bart A. Pannebakker
Summary: This study investigates the genetic variation and microbiome composition of aphids in Dutch sweet pepper greenhouses and finds no evidence that protective endosymbionts or endogenous resistance affect the success of parasitoid-based biocontrol of aphids.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel A. Steward, Maaike A. de Jong, Vicencio Oostra, Christopher W. Wheat
Summary: This study investigates the role of alternative splicing and other posttranscriptional molecular mechanisms in seasonal plasticity using transcriptomic and genomic data from the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. The research finds that differential splicing affects a smaller but functionally unique set of genes compared to differential expression. Additionally, spliced genes are more susceptible than differentially expressed genes to erosion of genetic variation due to selection on seasonal plasticity. These results highlight the potential genetic constraints on splicing plasticity and its impact on populations' response to changing environments.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Olli-Pekka Smolander, Daniel Blande, Virpi Ahola, Pasi Rastas, Jaakko Tanskanen, Juhana I. Kammonen, Vicencio Oostra, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Suvi Ikonen, Tad Dallas, Michelle F. DiLeo, Anne Duplouy, Ilhan Cem Duru, Pauliina Halimaa, Aapo Kahilainen, Suyog S. Kuwar, Sirpa O. Kaerenlampi, Elvira Lafuente, Shiqi Luo, Jenny Makkonen, Abhilash Nair, Maria de la Paz Celorio-Mancera, Ville Pennanen, Annukka Ruokolainen, Tarja Sundell, Arja I. Tervahauta, Victoria Twort, Erik van Bergen, Janina Osterman-Udd, Lars Paulin, Mikko J. Frilander, Petri Auvinen, Marjo Saastamoinen
Summary: Researchers provide a chromosome-level assembly of the Glanville fritillary butterfly genome from Pacific Biosciences sequencing of a pool of males, which is a valuable resource for future comparative genomics, molecular biology, transcriptome, and genetics studies.
Article
Plant Sciences
Niccolo Bassetti, Lotte Caarls, Gabriella Bukovinszkine'Kiss, Mohamed El-Soda, Jeroen van Veen, Klaas Bouwmeester, Bas J. Zwaan, M. Eric Schranz, Guusje Bonnema, Nina E. Fatouros
Summary: This study reveals the genetic basis of HR-like cell death induced by Pieris eggs in Brassica crops, providing directions for breeders to further investigate and validate candidate genes.
Review
Microbiology
Matthew C. Fisher, Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo, Judith Berman, Tihana Bicanic, Elaine M. Bignell, Paul Bowyer, Michael Bromley, Roger Brueggemann, Gary Garber, Oliver A. Cornely, Sarah J. Gurr, Thomas S. Harrison, Ed Kuijper, Johanna Rhodes, Donald C. Sheppard, Adilia Warris, P. Lewis White, Jianping Xu, Bas Zwaan, Paul E. Verweij
Summary: This review emphasizes the important threat of invasive fungal infections to public health and the emergence of antifungal resistance. It discusses the main mechanisms of antifungal resistance and compares them with bacterial resistance to antimicrobial control. The review also explores the research and innovation topics needed to minimize the occurrence and impact of antifungal resistance, including environmental links, surveillance, diagnostics, transmission routes, novel therapeutics, and hotspot mitigation strategies. The need for global efforts to manage existing antifungal drugs and direct future research and development of therapies and interventions is highlighted.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Anneloes E. Groenenboom, Joost van den Heuvel, Bas J. Zwaan, Eddy J. Smid, Sijmen E. Schoustra
Summary: Our experimental work shows how selective pressures shape microbial ecosystems over long-term ecological time scales. Short-term selection can cause changes in the composition and functionality of microbial communities, influenced by factors such as initial composition and random processes. Using the natural bacterial community in the traditional Zambian fermented food Mabisi, we conducted experiments in a laboratory environment to examine the factors affecting community composition. The results indicate that initial composition and random processes play key roles in driving changes, and highlight the ability of different species combinations to achieve similar ecosystem functionality.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bwalya Katati, Pierre Schoenmakers, Henry Njapau, Paul W. Kachapulula, Bas J. Zwaan, Anne D. van Diepeningen, Sijmen E. Schoustra
Summary: Fungi contamination in maize crops is influenced by weather conditions. The abundance and composition of preharvest maize mycobiome vary based on rainfall pattern and dry spell. Aspergillus and Fusarium genera play a significant role in mycotoxin production, with Aspergillus associated with dry conditions and Fusarium unaffected by weather patterns. Understanding the spectrum of preharvest fungi and their relationship with weather conditions can help in managing crop health and mycotoxin contamination.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sabine M. E. Vreeburg, Ben Auxier, Bas Jacobs, Peter M. Bourke, Joost van den Heuvel, Bas J. Zwaan, Duur K. Aanen
Summary: This study produced the first linkage map of a species of Termitomyces and found that the reduced rate of recombination is primarily due to genome expansion of gene-poor repetitive sequences. This highlights the importance of genomic context in cross-species comparisons of recombination rate.
Article
Ecology
Giannoula Bogka, Eirini Anastasaki, Panagiotis G. G. Milonas, Aikaterini Psoma, Emmanouil M. M. Kabourakis, Bas J. J. Zwaan, Bart A. A. Pannebakker, Nina E. E. Fatouros
Summary: This study investigated the effect of infochemicals derived from the habitat, host plant, and host insect on the foraging behavior of the olive fruit fly larval parasitoid. The results showed that the parasitoid strongly preferred volatiles emitted by B. oleae larval-infested fruits and cues emitted by B. oleae females. Volatile analysis revealed qualitative differences in volatile profiles of egg- and larval-infested fruits, indicating that olives change volatile emissions in response to larval infestation. These findings suggest that infochemicals play an important role in the host location behavior of the parasitoid.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Bwalya Katati, Stan Kovacs, Henry Njapau, Paul W. Kachapulula, Bas J. Zwaan, Anne D. van Diepeningen, Sijmen E. Schoustra
Summary: Aflatoxins have important functions in Aspergillus section Flavi, including antioxidative, antifungal, and antibiosis roles. Atoxigenic Flavi degrade AF-B1 while toxigenic Flavi modulate its levels through an antioxidative mechanism. Atoxigenic strains have higher fitness than toxigenic strains at a plant non-lethal dose.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
S. Helena Donner, Mariska M. Beekman, Kathrin Barth, Marcel Dicke, Bas J. Zwaan, Eveline C. Verhulst, Bart A. Pannebakker
Summary: This study assesses the aphid species present in Dutch strawberry crops, the facultative endosymbionts they carry, and how these endosymbionts affect the parasitism success of biocontrol parasitoid wasps. The results show that facultative endosymbiont infections can protect aphids against certain parasitoids, but the level of protection varies among aphid species and parasitoid species.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Niccolo Bassetti, Lotte Caarls, Klaas Bouwmeester, Patrick Verbaarschot, Ewan van Eijden, Bas J. Zwaan, Guusje Bonnema, M. Eric Schranz, Nina E. Fatouros
Summary: This study identified a single locus, named PEK, potentially involved in HR-like cell death induced by insect eggs in Brassica nigra. Further research will shed light on the role of TIR-NBS-LRR receptors in egg-killing hypersensitive response.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Y. C. J. Wientjes, P. Bijma, J. van den Heuvel, B. J. Zwaan, Z. G. Vitezica, M. P. L. Calus
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yvonne C. J. Wientjes, Piter Bijma, Mario P. L. Calus, Bas J. Zwaan, Zulma G. Vitezica, Joost van den Heuvel
Summary: Our stochastic simulations demonstrate that genomic selection outperforms pedigree selection in terms of long-term genetic gain, while genetic variance reduction is similar between the two methods. The genetic architecture of traits changed considerably across generations, particularly under accurate selection and when non-additive effects were present.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2022)