Article
Ornithology
Chris W. Tyson, Sarah L. Jennings, Brian A. Hoover, Amy Miles
Summary: This study examined sex-specific provisioning in the monomorphic Leach's storm-petrel and found that males provisioned more frequently and made a larger overall contribution to chick feeding than females. Females showed more variable trip durations, suggesting they alternated between short, energetically taxing trips for chick care and longer recovery trips for self-care. These findings suggest that energetic constraints on females lead to male-biased, sex-specific provisioning in monomorphic species.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rhyl Frith, David M. Krug, Robert A. Ronconi, Sarah N. P. Wong
Summary: The Leach's Storm-Petrel is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, but its North American populations are declining with uncertain causes. Detailed long-term studies have been conducted on a large colony in Canada, but nesting petrels on neighboring islands are poorly documented. A recent census on Hay Island revealed lower burrow densities and occupancy rates compared to nearby colonies, highlighting the importance of baseline population estimates for ongoing monitoring and conservation planning.
NORTHEASTERN NATURALIST
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joeline E. Lim, Matthew P. Duda, John P. Smol
Summary: This paleolimnological study examined the impact of changes in Leach's Storm-Petrel colony size on the subfossil Chironomidae assemblages in ponds on Baccalieu Island, Canada. The study found that chironomids tracked the growth and decline of the storm-petrel colony over the past 1700 years, likely due to fluctuations in pH, metal concentrations, and bottom-water oxygen. The observed degradation in chironomids in ponds influenced by storm-petrels was attributed to chitinolytic processes mediated by bacteria and/or fungi thriving on organic matter in productive aquatic systems.
JOURNAL OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Florent Bernardin, Thomas Schwitzer, Karine Angioi-Duprez, Anne Giersch, Fabienne Ligier, Stephanie Bourion-Bedes, Claire Jansen, Raymund Schwan, Vincent Laprevote
Summary: Our study found a link between retinal dysfunction and impaired visual processing in patients with schizophrenia, especially those with visual hallucinations. The group with visual hallucinations showed poorer visual cognition, and there were correlations between the amplitudes of the P50 and N95 waves and visual cognition. These results support the association between retinal anomalies and visual cognition in schizophrenia.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexander L. Bond, Sabina I. Wilhelm, Donald W. Pirie-Hay, Gregory J. Robertson, Ingrid L. Pollet, Jillian L. Arany
Summary: The predation of gulls on sympatric seabirds has been a topic of concern and management action. In Witless Bay, Newfoundland, gulls depredate significant numbers of Leach's Storm-petrels annually. This study quantified the predation on Gull Island and its effects on the storm-petrel population, finding a decline in breeding pairs and a high predation rate by gulls.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Caridad Galindo-Romero, Maria Norte-Munoz, Alejandro Gallego-Ortega, Kristy T. Rodriguez-Ramirez, Fernando Lucas-Ruiz, Maria Josefa Gonzalez-Riquelme, Manuel Vidal-Sanz, Marta Agudo-Barriuso
Summary: This article summarizes the main topographical and functional characteristics of the rat retina, focusing on retinal ganglion cells and photoreceptors. Understanding the normal state of these neurons is crucial for studying neuronal survival and protection.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Hannah F. R. Hereward, Richard J. Facey, Alyssa J. Sargent, Sara Roda, Matthew L. Couldwell, Emma L. Renshaw, Katie H. Shaw, Jack J. Devlin, Sarah E. Long, Ben J. Porter, Jodie M. Henderson, Christa L. Emmett, Laura Astbury, Luke Maggs, Sean A. Rands, Robert J. Thomas
Summary: Custom-built Raspberry Pi cameras are popular in research for their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. A new camera system described in this study is fully portable, weatherproof, and paired with a passive infrared sensor. The system was successfully deployed in monitoring storm-petrel species, showing potential for a wide range of wildlife monitoring applications.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ludovic S. Mure
Summary: This article discusses the profound impact of light on health, particularly emphasizing the role of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in non-image-forming vision. Progress in understanding human ipRGCs, including their morphology, function, and gene expression, could provide insights into how light is perceived by the human eye and aid in developing light-based therapeutic interventions. Further research on ipRGCs is critical for identifying therapeutic approaches and improving cognitive performance, mood, and quality of life through precise light usage recommendations.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rielle Hoeg, Dave Shutler, Ingrid L. Pollet
Summary: Seabird populations are declining globally, with predation being a major threat. A study in two Nova Scotian LHSP breeding colonies found more predation events on Bon Portage Island (BP) where no predator management is in place, compared to Country Island (CI) where management is used.
MARINE ORNITHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hikaru Fukazawa, Yoshiko Okada-Shudo
Summary: Researchers have developed an artificial ganglion cell receptive field using a protein-based device that can emulate excitation and inhibition in neural responses, successfully detecting image edges and brightness illusions.
Article
Neurosciences
Huseyin O. Taskin, Yuchuan Qiao, Valerie J. Sydnor, Matthew Cieslak, Edda B. Haggerty, Theodore D. Satterthwaite, Jessica I. W. Morgan, Yonggang Shi, Geoffrey K. Aguirre
Summary: There is considerable variation in the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in the eye, which leads to variations in the optic tracts and subsequent structures along the visual pathway. Using diffusion MR analysis, the study investigated the correlation between RGC tissue volume and fiber density (FD) and cross section (FC) measurements from the optic tracts. The results showed that RGC endowment is correlated with FC but not with FD. Additionally, variations in each visual area were found to be correlated with variations in immediately adjacent visual structures.
Article
Neurosciences
Dimokratis Karamanlis, Tim Gollisch
Summary: The study found that while some cells in the early visual system can be accurately predicted using linear receptive field models, many others show pronounced sensitivity to fine spatial contrast and local signal rectification. This highlights the diversity of receptive field nonlinearities as a crucial component for understanding early sensory encoding.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Saad Idrees, Matthias-Philipp Baumann, Maria M. Korympidou, Timm Schubert, Alexandra Kling, Katrin Franke, Ziad M. Hafed, Felix Franke, Thomas A. Muench
Summary: Visual perception remains stable across saccades because of the reduction in visual sensitivity known as saccadic suppression. This suppression is achieved through three independent mechanisms in the retina.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Telias, Kevin K. Sit, Daniel Frozenfar, Benjamin Smith, Arjit Misra, Michael J. Goard, Richard H. Kramer
Summary: Rod and cone photoreceptors degenerate in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). However, downstream neurons survive and undergo physiological changes. Retinoic acid (RA) is identified as the molecular trigger for hyperactivity in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Inhibiting RA synthesis with disulfiram improves visual perception in vision-impaired mice.
Article
Biology
Scott C. Harris, Felice A. Dunn
Summary: This study discovers mechanisms involved in motion encoding in vertically tuned retinal ganglion cells and uses these findings to define the signal transformation between retinal output and vertical optokinetic reflex (OKR) behavior. It also reveals contrast-sensitive and asymmetric motion encoding in different direction-preferred retinal ganglion cell types. By subtracting the outputs of these neurons, the trajectories of vertical OKR can be accurately predicted across stimulus conditions in behaving mice.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rune Dietz, Jerome Fort, Christian Sonne, Celine Albert, Jan Ove Bustnes, Thomas Kjaer Christensen, Tomasz Maciej Ciesielski, Johannis Danielsen, Sam Dastnai, Marcel Eens, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Anders Galatius, Svend-Erik Garbus, Olivier Gilg, Sveinn Are Hanssen, Bjorn Helander, Morten Helberg, Veerle L. B. Jaspers, Bjorn Munro Jenssen, Jon Einar Jonsson, Kaarina Kauhala, Yann Kolbeinsson, Line Anker Kyhn, Aili Lage Labansen, Martin Mork Larsen, Ulf Lindstom, Tone K. Reiertsen, Frank F. Riget, Anna Roos, Jakob Strand, Hallvard Strom, Signe Sveegaard, Jens Sondergaard, Jiachen Sun, Jonas Teilmann, Ole Roland Therkildsen, Thorkell Lindberg Thorarinsson, Rune Skjold Tjornlov, Simon Wilson, Igor Eulaers
Summary: The study found that species in the Baltic Sea have shown significant improvements in terms of Hg exposure over the past few decades, although they still carry a legacy of high mercury levels. However, the estimated risk for Baltic populations is not considerably higher compared to the same species in adjacent waters.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Manon Clairbaux, William W. L. Cheung, Paul Mathewson, Warren Porter, Nicolas Courbin, Jerome Fort, Hallvard Strom, Borge Moe, Per Fauchald, Sebastien Descamps, Halfdan Helgason, Vegard S. Brathen, Benjamin Merkel, Tycho Anker-Nilssen, Ingar S. Bringsvor, Olivier Chastel, Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard, Johannis Danielsen, Francis Daunt, Nina Dehnhard, Kjell-Einar Erikstad, Alexei Ezhov, Maria Gavrilo, Yuri Krasnov, Magdalene Langset, Svein-Hakon Lorentsen, Mark Newell, Bergur Olsen, Tone Kirstin Reiertsen, Geir Systad, Torkell L. Torarinsson, Mark Baran, Tony Diamond, Annette L. Fayet, Michelle G. Fitzsimmons, Morten Frederiksen, Grant H. Gilchrist, Tim Guilford, Nicholas P. Huffeldt, Mark Jessopp, Kasper L. Johansen, Amy L. Kouwenberg, Jannie F. Linnebjerg, Laura McFarlane Tranquilla, Mark Mallory, Flemming R. Merkel, William Montevecchi, Anders Mosbech, Aevar Petersen, David Gremillet
Summary: By analyzing tracking data of five North Atlantic seabird species, researchers predicted shifts in winter habitats under different climate change scenarios. Results suggest that meeting the Paris Agreement objectives will help limit changes in seabird habitats, providing valuable information for the design of adaptive marine-protected areas.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Celine Albert, Halfdan Helgi Helgason, Maud Brault-Favrou, Gregory J. Robertson, Sebastien Descamps, Francoise Amelineau, Johannis Danielsen, Rune Dietz, Kyle Elliott, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Igor Eulaers, Alexey Ezhov, Michelle G. Fitzsimmons, Maria Gavrilo, Elena Golubova, David Gremillet, Scott Hatch, Nicholas P. Huffeldt, Dariusz Jakubas, Alexander Kitaysky, Yann Kolbeinsson, Yuri Krasnov, Svein-Hakon Lorentsen, Erlend Lorentzen, Mark L. Mallory, Benjamin Merkel, Flemming Ravn Merkel, William Montevecchi, Anders Mosbech, Bergur Olsen, Rachael A. Orben, Allison Patterson, Jennifer Provencher, Christine Plumejeaud, Isabeau Pratte, Tone Kristin Reiertsen, Heather Renner, Nora Rojek, Marc Romano, Hallvard Strom, Geir Helge Systad, Akinori Takahashi, Jean-Baptiste Thiebot, Thorkell Lindberg Thorarinsson, Alexis P. Will, Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas, Paco Bustamante, Jerome Fort
Summary: Mercury concentrations in Arctic seabirds vary between breeding and non-breeding periods, with non-breeding concentrations potentially reaching three times those of breeding periods. Spatial differences exist in Hg concentrations, with some breeding populations vulnerable to non-breeding Hg exposure. Therefore, improving spatial ecotoxicology knowledge of Hg contamination in Arctic seabirds is crucial for understanding associated risks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Benjamin Merkel, Sebastien Descamps, Nigel G. Yoccoz, David Gremillet, Per Fauchald, Johannis Danielsen, Francis Daunt, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Aleksey Ezhov, Mike P. Harris, Maria Gavrilo, Svein-Hakon Lorentsen, Tone K. Reiertsen, Geir H. Systad, Thorkell Lindberg Thorarinsson, Sarah Wanless, Hallvard Strom
Summary: This study revealed strong migratory connectivity within and between two sympatric seabird species based on large-scale tracking data. Individuals from different breeding populations in both species were clustered in their space and environmental use, utilizing only a fraction of the potential species-wide range. Space use varied among seasons, emphasizing the variable constraints faced by both species during different stages of their annual cycle.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manon Clairbaux, Paul Mathewson, Warren Porter, Jerome Fort, Hallvard Strom, Borge Moe, Per Fauchald, Sebastien Descamps, Halfdan H. Helgason, Vegard S. Brathen, Benjamin Merkel, Tycho Anker-Nilssen, Ingar S. Bringsvor, Olivier Chastel, Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard, Johannis Danielsen, Francis Daunt, Nina Dehnhard, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Alexey Ezhov, Maria Gavrilo, Yuri Krasnov, Magdalene Langset, Svein-H. Lorentsen, Mark Newell, Bergur Olsen, Tone K. Reiertsen, Geir Helge Systad, Thorkell L. Thorarinsson, Mark Baran, Tony Diamond, Annette L. Fayet, Michelle G. Fitzsimmons, Morten Frederiksen, Hugh G. Gilchrist, Tim Guilford, Nicholas P. Huffeldt, Mark Jessopp, Kasper L. Johansen, Amy-Lee Kouwenberg, Jannie F. Linnebjerg, Heather L. Major, Laura McFarlane Tranquilla, Mark Mallory, Flemming R. Merkel, William Montevecchi, Anders Mosbech, Aevar Petersen, David Gremillet
Summary: The study demonstrates that high-intensity cyclones impact seabird populations in the North Atlantic, especially those aggregating in specific regions. The main cause of seabird mortality is the unavailability of prey or the inability to feed during cyclones.
Article
Biology
Sandra Chaib, Juliane Gaviraghi Mussoi, Olle Lind, Almut Kelber
Summary: The study found that the target acuity of budgerigars for moving single targets is lower than their acuity for gratings, similar to their acuity for stationary single objects.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
M. Asmi Jezeera, Pierre Tichit, G. S. Balamurali, Emily Baird, Almut Kelber, Hema Somanathan
Summary: Stingless bee Tetragonula iridipennis was studied to understand its eye structure, spatial resolution, and optical sensitivity. Results showed that it has lower spatial resolution but higher optical sensitivity compared to other bees. Experimental measurements indicated that it has higher contrast sensitivity.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Martin Bergman, Jochen Smolka, Dan-Eric Nilsson, Almut Kelber
Summary: Studying the visual systems of animals in conjunction with imaging their visual environment can enhance our understanding of how they perceive their surroundings. The male speckled wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria, has sexually dimorphic eyes and adopts specific body postures to maximize their chance of detecting passing females. By combining both methods, researchers were able to provide a detailed description of the males' visual field, spatial resolution, and behavior in their natural habitat.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Correction
Environmental Sciences
Reyd A. Smith, David J. Yurkowski, Kyle J. L. Parkinson, Jerome Fort, Holly L. Hennin, H. Grant Gilchrist, Keith A. Hobson, Mark L. Mallory, Paco Bustamante, Johannis Danielsen, Svend E. Garbus, Sveinn A. Hanssen, Jon Einar Jonsson, Christopher J. Latty, Ellen Magnusdottir, Borge Moe, Glen J. Parsons, Christian Sonne, Grigori Tertitski, Oliver P. Love
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Casper J. van der Kooi, Almut Kelber
Summary: Studies on animal color vision often focus on spectral distribution while ignoring the intensity aspect of stimuli. However, experimental data and optical modeling suggest that achromatic cues of plant flowers play an important role in plant-pollinator signaling.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Anna Stockl, Rebecca Grittner, Gavin Taylor, Christoph Rau, Andrew J. Bodey, Almut Kelber, Emily Baird
Summary: Body size can affect the function of organs and body parts in animals, with eyes being a prime example. Studies on the allometric scaling of insect compound eyes can reveal trade-offs between spatial resolution and visual sensitivity. Research shows that the eyes of the hummingbird hawkmoth maintain an optimal balance between these performance measures across all body sizes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Olivier Chastel, Jerome Fort, Joshua T. Ackerman, Celine Albert, Frederic Angelier, Niladri Basu, Pierre Blevin, Maud Brault-Favrou, Jan Ove Bustnes, Paco Bustamante, Johannis Danielsen, Sebastien Descamps, Rune Dietz, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Igor Eulaers, Alexey Ezhov, Abram B. Fleishman, Geir W. Gabrielsen, Maria Gavrilo, Grant Gilchrist, Olivier Gilg, Sindri Gislason, Elena Golubova, Aurelie Goutte, David Gremillet, Gunnar T. Hallgrimsson, Erpur S. Hansen, Sveinn Are Hanssen, Scott Hatch, Nicholas P. Huffeldt, Dariusz Jakubas, Jon Einar Jonsson, Alexander S. Kitaysky, Yann Kolbeinsson, Yuri Krasnov, Robert J. Letcher, Jannie F. Linnebjerg, Mark Mallory, Flemming Ravn Merkel, Borge Moe, William J. Montevecchi, Anders Mosbech, Bergur Olsen, Rachael A. Orben, Jennifer F. Provencher, Sunna B. Ragnarsdottir, Tone K. Reiertsen, Nora Rojek, Marc Romano, Jens Sondergaard, Hallvard Strom, Akinori Takahashi, Sabrina Tartu, Thorkell L. Thorarinsson, Jean-Baptiste Thiebot, Alexis P. Will, Simon Wilson, Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas, Glenn Yannic
Summary: This review article investigates the contemporary mercury exposure and potential health risk to Arctic seabirds and shorebirds. It finds that some Arctic seabird populations have mercury concentrations exceeding toxicity benchmarks, while most seabirds and shorebirds have a lower risk to mercury toxicity. Recent studies have reported negative effects of mercury on hormone levels, genetic damage, and reproductive performance in some bird species. The findings highlight the importance of considering mercury exposure in conjunction with other stressors when assessing the impact on Arctic birds.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Baheerathan Murugavel, Mindaugas Mitkus, Hema Somanathan, Almut Kelber
Summary: Pteropodidae is the only bat family that relies primarily on visual and olfactory cues for orientation and foraging. Although the eye size and retinal density vary among species, there is no clear relationship between roosting preferences and visual acuity. Further research is needed to improve our understanding of the sensory ecology of pteropodids, which play important roles in tropical ecosystems.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Baheerathan Murugavel, Anbalagan Rathinakumar, Subbian Baskaran, Ganapathy Marimuthu, Almut Kelber, Hema Somanathan
Summary: Artificial lighting at nights affects behaviour and activity of frugivorous bats, with potential consequences on their physiology and ecology. This study compared the flight activities of two bat species in naturally-lit and artificially-lit roosts, and found that artificial lighting influenced their emergence times and flight durations. Further research is needed to understand the impact of artificial lighting on seed dispersal and pollination services provided by fruit bats.
JOURNAL OF ETHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Baheerathan Murugavel, Almut Kelber, Hema Somanathan
Summary: Fruit-feeding pteropodid bats choose roosts under varying light conditions. Tree-roosting bats and cave-roosting bats show significant differences in flight emergence and termination times, with cave-roosting bats flying at comparatively lower light levels. The observed interspecific differences suggest that bat species in the same landscapes may respond differently to light pollution.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)