Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Megan Peeks, Lidia Badarnah
Summary: This research investigates the overheating of buildings and the use of biomimetic approach to enhance the cooling ability of concrete panels through surface texture modification. Results show that morphological variables and surface area to volume ratios impact heat loss capabilities differently depending on surface roughness. This study demonstrates the potential of morphological adaptation in buildings for passive cooling and suggests further research areas for novel thermal solutions inspired by nature.
Article
Ecology
Adetunji Alex Adekanmbi, Laurence Dale, Liz Shaw, Tom Sizmur
Summary: This study examines the temperature sensitivities of intracellular metabolic processes and extracellular soil enzyme activities and how they are influenced by previous temperatures. The results show that the intracellular and extracellular steps differ in their temperature sensitivity and the previous temperature a soil is exposed to may influence the potential activity, but not temperature sensitivity, of extracellular and intracellular processes.
Article
Biology
Caleb L. Loughran, Blair O. Wolf
Summary: In lizards, there is a wide variation in their ability to cool down through panting, which affects how long they can tolerate high heat levels. This study examines the relationship between panting, temperature regulation, evaporative water loss, and metabolic costs in 17 lizard species. The results show that the capacity for evaporative cooling varies among species and significantly affects lizards' ability to dissipate heat. Evaporation rates ranged from 0.32 to 1.5 g H2O h-1, with lizards losing up to 6% of their body mass per hour while panting. Despite experiencing an increase in metabolic rate, the energetic costs of panting remained relatively low compared to evaporative water loss. The overall rate of evaporative heat loss is positively correlated with the maximum temperature difference a species can maintain. This study highlights the importance of considering the metabolic and water balance costs associated with evaporative cooling in hot environments.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zia Ur Rahman Farooqi, Iftikhar Ahmad, Allah Ditta, Predrag Ilic, Muhammad Amin, Abdul Basit Naveed, Aadil Gulzar
Summary: Noise exposure has reached a concerning level due to rapid growth in industry, transportation, and urbanization. It is important to raise awareness about noise sources and mitigation strategies, as well as the impacts on health and socio-economic factors. Current research is limited and lacks a comprehensive understanding of all types of noise, their effects on living organisms, and control strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anais Pessato, Andrew E. McKechnie, Mylene M. Mariette
Summary: Understanding the physiological adaptations of animals to tolerate heat and the causes of individual variations is crucial for predicting the impact of climate change on biodiversity. A novel mechanism for transgenerational heat adaptation has been discovered in a desert-adapted bird, where parents use acoustic signals to communicate hot conditions to their embryos. Prenatal exposure to heat-calls has been found to adaptively alter the development and thermal preferences of zebra finches in adulthood, leading to a long-term shift towards a heat-adapted phenotype. However, it is still unknown if this acoustic experience improves long-term thermoregulatory capacities.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Anyuan He, John M. Dean, Irfan J. Lodhi
Summary: Peroxisomes play a crucial role in cellular responses to stress by regulating metabolic adaptation and environmental cues. They are dynamic organelles that can modulate proliferation, morphology, and movement within cells, and engage in crosstalk with other organelles.
TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Katie L. Whytock, Karen D. Corbin, Stephanie A. Parsons, Alok Pachori, Christopher P. Bock, Karen P. Jones, Joshua S. Smith, Fanchao Yi, Hui Xie, Christopher J. Petucci, Stephen J. Gardell, Steven R. Smith
Summary: This study revealed that some overweight/obese individuals may experience significant metabolic adaptation after a 28-day low-calorie diet, along with impaired fat oxidation. Weight loss success was associated with the accumulation of specific metabolites.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucie Gerber, Courtney E. MacSween, James F. Staples, A. Kurt Gamperl
Summary: Metabolic depression and dormancy are strategies used by animals in cold environments. This study found that the metabolic depression in cunner fish is more pronounced than in Atlantic salmon, and involves several cellular processes.
Article
Ecology
Meelyn M. Pandit, Eli S. Bridge, Jeremy D. Ross
Summary: Climate change-induced aridification may alter the avian soundscape, impacting vocal communication, mate attraction, and territorial defense in bird species.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marie E. Herberstein, Donald James McLean, Elizabeth Lowe, Jonas O. Wolff, Md Kawsar Khan, Kaitlyn Smith, Andrew P. Allen, Matthew Bulbert, Bruno A. Buzatto, Mark D. B. Eldridge, Daniel Falster, Laura Fernandez Winzer, Simon C. Griffith, Joshua S. Madin, Ajay Narendra, Mark Westoby, Martin J. Whiting, Ian J. Wright, Alexandra J. R. Carthey
Summary: Trait databases are important resources for comparative studies in ecology and evolution. AnimalTraits database is introduced here, which includes body mass, metabolic rate, and brain size data of terrestrial animals. The database covers a wide range of taxonomic groups and species, sourced from original empirical publications with accompanying metrics and measurements. Additional R scripts are provided to assist researchers in aggregating standardized observations.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Catia Martins, Jessica Roekenes, Barbara A. Gower, Gary R. Hunter
Summary: This study aimed to determine the association between metabolic adaptation and weight loss outcomes. Results showed that metabolic adaptation at the level of resting metabolic rate is significantly correlated with less weight and fat mass loss in response to low-energy diets, even after adjusting for confounders.
NUTRITION & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Liam P. McGuire, Nathan W. Fuller, Yvonne A. Dzal, Catherine G. Haase, Kirk A. Silas, Craig K. R. Willis, Sarah H. Olson, Cori L. Lausen
Summary: Variation in hibernation physiology was found to be minimal among populations of the two bat species studied, despite their wide geographic ranges, likely due to behavioral microhabitat selection. Bats are able to find preferred microclimate conditions within their range, resulting in similar selection pressures among populations despite significant differences in macroclimate.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joana L. Rocha, Pedro Silva, Nuno Santos, Monia Nakamura, Sandra Afonso, Abdeljebbar Qninba, Zbyszek Boratynski, Peter H. Sudmant, Jose C. Brito, Rasmus Nielsen, Raquel Godinho
Summary: Analysis of whole genomes of four fox species shows that introgression facilitated adaptation to the hot arid environment of the Sahara Desert and suggests renal water homeostasis as a mechanism of adaptation in the extreme desert specialist species.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Esteban Marcelo Paolucci, Leila Ron, Erik Thuesen
Summary: Plasticity and variability are key characteristics that enable invasive species to survive and spread in new environments. Through studying the metabolic response of the invasive mussel Limnoperna fortunei under different temperatures, it was found that the mussel can survive and reproduce in various habitats.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Issei Kato, Yuta Masuda, Kei Nagashima
Summary: The study found that wearing a surgical mask during mild exercise in hot and humid environment does not increase the risk of heat stroke. Participants in the mask trial experienced higher skin temperature and humidity in the face area, but there was no significant difference in other parameters compared to the control trial.
Article
Entomology
Daniel J. Rogers, John S. Terblanche, Candice A. Owen
Summary: The study found that N. eichhorniae from the warm site were able to maintain activity and tolerate colder temperatures better than those from the cold site. This may be explained by the poor nutrient quality of plants at the cold site, driving low-temperature performance variation that overrides macroclimate variation among sites. Additionally, the cold site weevils may have adapted to survive wide-temperature variability, while the warm site insects have likely adapted to consistent conditions in confinement.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Chantelle Smit, Marion Javal, Philipp Lehmann, John S. Terblanche
Summary: Metabolic rate and aerobic scope show significant increases in larvae of the South African longhorn beetle Cacosceles newmannii at 30 degrees Celsius compared to those at 20 degrees Celsius. Some larvae exhibit cyclic gas exchange patterns at both temperatures, with continuous gas exchange being more prominent at 30 degrees Celsius.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Chantelle Smit, Marion Javal, Desmond E. Conlong, Grant Hall, John S. Terblanche
Summary: The outbreak of Cacosceles newmannii causing damage to sugarcane in 2015 in South Africa was due to a rapid increase in the consumption of C-4 plants by the beetles. It was found that Fabaceae and Poaceae are the most likely host plants of this species. Further research is needed to determine the drivers of this rapid outbreak on sugarcane.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Philipp Lehmann, Marion Javal, Anton Du Plessis, John S. Terblanche
Summary: This study provides insights into rapidly quantifying insect respiratory anatomy on live insects, including the variation of respiratory structures in different body sizes and developmental stages, and the balance between metabolic supply and demand.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
W. P. Amy Liu, Laura M. Phillips, John S. Terblanche, Charlene Janion-Scheepers, Steven L. Chown
Summary: Trait-environment interactions have contributed to the diversity of the invertebrate fauna in the Cape Floristic Region, with the Collembola genus Seira showing greater desiccation tolerance in the warm, dry fynbos shrubland habitats compared to moister environments. This suggests that pronounced desiccation and thermal tolerance have enabled the diversity of Seira species to exploit the hot and dry habitats in the CFR.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Davina L. Saccaggi, Melanie Arendse, John R. U. Wilson, John S. Terblanche
Summary: The dataset presented in this study contains crucial information on imported plant products inspected by the South African Department of Agriculture's laboratories between 1994 and 2019, providing insights on contaminant organisms. Around 30% of the samples tested positive for contaminants, with 13% having multiple contaminants, with fungi, mites, and insects being the most common ones. This dataset serves as an important resource for analyzing contaminant organisms in international trade and informing strategies for risk assessment and biosecurity protocols.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marion Javal, John S. Terblanche, Desmond E. Conlong, Norbert Delahaye, Elizabeth Grobbelaar, Laure Benoit, Carlos Lopez-Vaamonde, Julien M. Haran
Summary: DNA barcoding has been successfully applied in temperate regions for bio-surveillance of forest and agricultural pests, with limited applications in the tropics and Africa. The study identified the damaging pest Cacosceles newmannii in sugarcane plantations in South Africa and emphasized the need for a reliable tool for identification and monitoring. The research also established a DNA barcoding reference library and found two highly divergent genetic clusters in C. newmannii, indicating potential new cryptic species.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amparo Hidalgo-Galiana, Ignacio Ribera, John S. Terblanche
Summary: This study investigated thermal limits and acclimation capacity in diving beetles from diverse regions in South Africa, finding significant variation among species with limited acclimation ability. Taxonomic affiliation and ecoregions were found to be influencing factors for thermal limits. The limited plasticity observed in the thermal limits may not be sufficient to cope with climate change impacts.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Quentin Willot, Ben Loos, John S. Terblanche
Summary: The study found that warmer adult acclimation is a key factor in increasing the survival rate of flies to high heat stress, while the interaction between adult and developmental acclimation gradually becomes important as stress persists. The dynamic interplay between the two forms of acclimation ultimately enhances thermal tolerance as a function of stress duration. Investigating recovery rates post-stress, it was also found that the process of heat-hardening and recovery post-heat knockdown are likely based on different mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Davina L. Saccaggi, John R. U. Wilson, Andrew P. Robinson, John S. Terblanche
Summary: This study analyzed a dataset of arthropod contaminants on plant imports in South Africa from 2005 to 2019 to determine factors influencing the likelihood of harmful organisms being present in imports. While some variables were found to have an impact in specific cases, there was little general predictive power in the data. Instead, an individualized approach is needed to understand the details of pest arrivals and movement for effective biosecurity.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Ecology
H. Arthur Woods, Sylvain Pincebourde, Michael E. Dillon, John S. Terblanche
Summary: Historical approaches have traditionally viewed climate change as an external factor affecting organisms, but organisms can also influence their own climate experience by moving within microclimates. Attention is now shifting towards how organisms alter microclimates through extended phenotypes, which extend beyond the organism's surface. Understanding the expression and consequences of extended phenotypes, as well as their impact on microclimatic niches, will be crucial for predicting the effects of climate change on organismal performance and fitness.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Vernon M. Steyn, Katherine A. Mitchell, Casper Nyamukondiwa, John S. Terblanche
Summary: This study examines the effects of thermal acclimation on thermal performance and tolerance traits of the Mediterranean fruit fly in different operational environments. The results reveal the trait- and context-specific nature of how thermal acclimation influences these traits, highlighting the differences in dispersal-related performance in different environments.
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Brent J. Sinclair, Jesper Givskov Sorensen, John S. Terblanche
Summary: This article synthesizes the literature on thermal plasticity in insects and explores the opportunities to enhance the performance of released insects by modifying temperature regimes. The authors discuss how temperature affects insect biology and identify potential mismatches between thermal acclimation and field temperatures. They also address the challenges in implementing optimal thermal regimes and highlight the importance of considering trade-offs with other traits. Overall, the study suggests that thermal physiological plasticity can be effectively utilized in release programs.
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Nomalizo C. Ngomane, John S. Terblanche, Des E. Conlong
Summary: The study reveals that adding sterols can accelerate the pupation process of Eldana saccharina, while cryoprotectants can enhance its cold tolerance. However, the addition of cryoprotectants has negative effects on the fertility of female insects. The preferred diet for E. saccharina is the one containing 0.2g cholesterol and stigmasterol, as it shortens the larval growth period without trade-offs in key life cycle parameters.
Article
Entomology
Elizabeth J. Huisamen, Minette Karsten, John S. Terblanche
Summary: In this study, two experiments were conducted to investigate how developmental temperature and transport conditions affect the low-temperature performance and flight ability of false codling moth (FCM) adults. The results showed that fluctuating thermal regime (FTR) improved cold tolerance, flight performance, and egg-laying capacity with minimal costs. Additionally, transport conditions did not negatively impact the flight and low-temperature performance of FCM. These findings are important for optimizing conditions in an SIT program for FCM.