News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katharine Sanderson
Summary: The question of how to maintain athletic performance in extreme heat becomes urgent as climate change worsens.
Letter
Biodiversity Conservation
Adam Terando, John Kevin Hiers, Marcus Williams, Scott L. Goodrick, Joseph J. O'Brien
Summary: Fill et al. reported significant increases in dry season length over the past 120 years in the Southeast US, suggesting increased wildfire risk. However, there are doubts about the existence of a climatologically meaningful 'dry season' in the region and the flawed sampling method used in the study.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ellen Whitman, Sean A. Parks, Lisa M. Holsinger, Marc-Andre Parisien
Summary: Climate change has significant implications for wildfire activity in North American ecosystems, and a study in northwestern Canada has found a significant increase in fire activity over the past 50 years, which is closely related to annual climate variability. The increasing fire activity may have consequences for forest ecology and habitat availability.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Andrea D. Rummel, Sharon M. Swartz, Richard L. Marsh
Summary: The study reveals differences in temperature sensitivity among different wing muscles in bats, with distal muscles being less affected by temperature than proximal muscles. This suggests that temperature variation may have an impact on locomotor performance in endotherms.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Taraka Davies-Barnard, Jennifer L. Catto, Anna B. Harper, Muhammad Ali Imron, F. J. Frank van Veen
Summary: Research has shown that fire risk in the tropical peatland forests of Borneo is influenced by both climate change and deforestation. While deforestation may increase precipitation, the impact of climate change on fire risk is larger. Therefore, high-resolution simulations provide valuable guidance for identifying vulnerable areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Theodore M. Giannaros, Georgios Papavasileiou
Summary: The recent increase in destructive fire seasons worldwide has raised concerns about the impact of climate change on the frequency, intensity, and extent of wildfires. Analysis of fire weather extremes and burned area in Europe shows a positive correlation, indicating that fire weather is a prominent driver of fire activity. The study suggests that fire weather extremes in Europe have become more frequent and are affecting larger areas, occurring earlier and later in the fire season. The occurrence of statistically significant change-points in the time series of extreme fire weather days further supports this finding.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Y. Park, K. Takahashi, J. Takakura, F. Li, S. Fujimori, T. Hasegawa, A. Ito, D. K. Lee
Summary: Global fire emissions are mainly driven by deforestation, and future trends in fire regimes anticipate a decrease in burnt areas due to factors such as socioeconomics and climate change. South America, Indonesia, and Australia are identified as high-risk regions for future deforestation and vegetation degradation fires.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yusnita A. Thalib, Ros Suhaida Razali, Suhaini Mohamad, Rabi'atul 'Adawiyyah Zainuddin, Sharifah Rahmah, Mazlan Abd Ghaffar, Hua Thai Nhan, Hon Jung Liew
Summary: Rising temperature and acidification due to anthropogenic climates have significantly impacted aquatic life, with small changes in the environment leading to physiological constraints in individuals. This study found that warm water temperature and low pH conditions affected the growth performance of hybrid groupers, but surprisingly, positive effects were observed under the interactive effects of warm water and low pH exposure, leading to higher living costs for the fish.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Courtney P. P. Leisner, Neha Potnis, Alvaro Sanz-Saez
Summary: As sessile organisms, plants face constant challenges from a changing environment, including fluctuations in temperature, water availability, light levels, and changes in atmospheric constituents such as CO2 and O3. They also experience biotic stress from plant pathogens and herbivores. Increased atmospheric CO2 levels and climate change are impacting plant growth environments and the prevalence and virulence of plant pathogens. Closing the knowledge gap in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress is crucial for developing climate resilient crops in the future.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arif Masrur, Alan Taylor, Lucas Harris, Jennifer Barnes, Andrey Petrov
Summary: This study investigates the impact of fire history, climate, topography, and vegetation on fire occurrence and size in Alaskan tundra. It finds that fire frequency is positively correlated with mean summer temperatures and that fire occurrence is primarily driven by topographic complexity and elevation. Additionally, fire size is affected by fire history and winter-spring climate.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aaron Hasenei, Jennifer M. Donelson, Timothy Ravasi, Jodie L. Rummer
Summary: Elasmobranchs, such as sharks, skates, and rays, have strong evolutionary adaptability and may provide important perspectives on phenotypic plasticity and adaptation in response to climate change. However, due to their long lifespan and delayed sexual maturity, research on the phenotypic plasticity of elasmobranch species remains limited.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Richard S. Vachula, Jake R. Nelson, Anthony G. Hall
Summary: Although climate change plays a role in increasing wildfire activity in the US, humans also significantly contribute to wildfires, particularly on Independence Day due to the use of fireworks. The location and timing of fireworks-caused ignitions vary, with concentrations in the western and north central US on tribal lands. This study suggests that human behavior, cultural factors, and fireworks regulations affect the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of fireworks-caused ignitions. The findings have important management and policy implications, considering the predictability of these ignitions and the rising costs of wildfire mitigation.
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)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammad Reza Alizadeh, John T. Abatzoglou, Charles H. Luce, Jan F. Adamowski, Arvin Farid, Mojtaba Sadegh
Summary: Research indicates a significant increase in burned area and occurrence of forest fires in mountainous regions of the western United States over the past few decades, especially above 2,500 meters in elevation. There is a strong interannual relationship between high-elevation fires and warm season vapor pressure deficit, suggesting the impact of climate warming on high-elevation flammability barrier is crucial.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Alessandro Filazzola, Stephen F. Matter, J. Scott MacIvor
Summary: The review article provides a synthesis of the impact of extreme climate events on insect biodiversity, emphasizing the need for further research on the effects of extreme events on non-trophic interactions, population dynamics, and community functional traits. It highlights the importance of understanding the sensitivity and resilience of individuals, populations, and communities to climate extremes in order to mitigate the loss of insect biodiversity and ecosystem services.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biology
Christine Elizabeth Cooper, Philip Carew Withers, Gerhard Kortner, Fritz Geiser
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Mari Aas Fjelldal, Jonathan Wright, Clare Stawski
Summary: Torpor is a common energy conservation strategy used by many mammal and bird species, especially in unfavourable environmental conditions. Research on Australian eastern long-eared bats showed that they use torpor more frequently in winter and at subtropical locations. Environmental factors such as lower ambient temperatures, increased rain, wind and humidity, decreasing barometric pressure, and brighter moonlight all influence the nightly torpor patterns of these bats.
Article
Biology
Karoline H. Skara, Claus Bech, Mari Aas Fjelldal, Jeroen van Der Kooij, Rune Soras, Clare Stawski
Summary: This study investigated the thermoregulatory strategies of the whiskered bat, the smallest species within Chiroptera, near the northern limits of its distribution range. The metabolic measurements showed no significant differences in basal metabolic rate (BMR) compared to other vespertilionid bats, and environmental temperature had no effect on BMR within the Vespertilionidae family. The metabolic adaptation of these tiny bats to high latitude living remains an open question.
Article
Ecology
Yaara Aharon-Rotman, John F. McEvoy, Christa Beckmann, Fritz Geiser
Summary: Torpor is a controlled reduction of metabolism and body temperature that helps small birds like the eastern yellow robin adapt and survive in challenging conditions. This study found evidence of torpor expression in the eastern yellow robin during winter, reducing metabolic rate by up to 32% and showcasing the potential advantages of flexible energy requirements in wild passerines.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clare Stawski, Emily G. Simmonds
Summary: Animals adjust physiological and behavioral mechanisms to cope with climate and habitat changes, such as increasing torpor to save energy. Different levels of vegetation in habitats affect animal responses, with some species decreasing torpor use in dense vegetation while others employing more torpor to store fat reserves.
Article
Zoology
Melissa Chenery, Fritz Geiser, Clare Stawski
Summary: Insectivorous bats use torpor and appropriate roost selection to maintain body temperature and conserve energy during the cold season. These behaviors are crucial for their winter survival.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Rune Soras, Mari Aas Fjelldal, Claus Bech, Jeroen van der Kooij, Karoline H. Skara, Katrine Eldegard, Clare Stawski
Summary: To cope with unfavorable conditions, brown long-eared bats can enter torpor to save energy. The energetics and thermoregulatory ability during torpor are influenced by individual factors, such as body mass. These individual traits can be more flexible than previously assumed.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Mari Aas Fjelldal, Clare Stawski, Rune Soras, Jonathan Wright
Summary: Technological advancements have allowed for the measurement of skin or body temperatures in small animals, leading to debates on how to accurately define torpor. This study proposes a quantitative method for defining torpor entries, arousals, and stable torpor periods, providing insight into individual use of torpor. By avoiding strict threshold values, the researchers identified potential underestimations of torpor bout durations. Differentiating between torpor phases, particularly active arousals, is crucial for evaluating energetic savings gained through torpor use.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luc Kieffer, Rune Soras, Tomasz M. Ciesielski, Clare Stawski
Summary: To assess the impact of increasing pollutant levels on wildlife, chemical contaminant loads in bats were measured. The concentrations of 55 elements in bat fur were measured using ICP-MS. Variations in element concentrations were analyzed, with a focus on arsenic, mercury, and lead. The results indicate potential dangers to bat health and offspring due to high levels of chemical contamination, emphasizing the conservation concern for these important insect control agents.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Julia Nowack, Clare Stawski, Fritz Geiser, Danielle L. Levesque
Summary: Torpor, traditionally believed to be a winter survival mechanism for animals in cold habitats, is not limited to Northern hemisphere species and can be triggered by various factors. Our macroanalysis of torpor use in mammal species reveals that predictable, seasonal torpor patterns observed in temperate and polar species are highly evolved forms, while the opportunistic and variable forms seen in tropical species are likely closer to ancestral patterns. These findings emphasize that torpor patterns in the tropics should be considered as the norm rather than the exception.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Adne M. Nafstad, Bernt Ronning, Kenneth Aase, Thor Harald Ringsby, Ingerid J. Hagen, Peter S. Ranke, Thomas Kvalnes, Clare Stawski, Katja Raesaenen, Bernt-Erik Saether, Stefanie Muff, Henrik Jensen
Summary: The study explores the evolutionary potential of basal metabolic rate (BMR) in two populations of house sparrows. The results indicate that BMR is genetically correlated with body mass and has the potential to evolve independently of it. The spatial population structure also affects the evolutionary potential of BMR.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Mari Aas Fjelldal, Amandine Sophie Muller, Irja Ida Ratikainen, Clare Stawski, Jonathan Wright
Summary: Strong seasonality at high latitudes poses challenges for endotherms, and bats employ torpor during summer to save energy. Small-bats-in-summer at high latitudes face the challenge of short summer nights and even a lack of true night.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. L. Hebart, R. M. Herd, V. H. Oddy, F. Geiser, W. S. Pitchford
Summary: The study found that high-RFI mice consumed more feed, had less body fat, and differed in protein synthesis rate, basal metabolic rate, and activity level compared to low-RFI mice.
ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Andrew W. Claridge, Guy Ballard, Gerhard Koertner, Peter J. S. Fleming, Trent Forge, Abby Hine
Summary: The study investigated the impact of aerial baiting on female spotted-tailed quolls and their pouch young during spring in New South Wales. No direct mortality of adult females or higher pouch young mortality was observed, and the development of pouch young was unaffected by the baiting. These findings are consistent with previous studies showing no population-level impacts of 1080 baits on spotted-tailed quolls.