Article
Zoology
C. E. Cooper, C. Erbe, P. C. Withers, J. M. Barker, N. Ball, L. Todd-Jones
Summary: Acoustic communication is found in various terrestrial vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. This study provides quantitative evidence for acoustic communication in short-beaked echidnas through analysis of vocalization recordings. While echidnas produce infrequent vocalizations, their distinctive "cooing" tones have been confirmed.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
R. J. T. Doneley, C. Sprohnle-Barrera
Summary: Botryomycosis is a rare chronic bacterial infection caused by nonbranching bacteria such as Staphylococcus spp., usually requiring surgical excision and long-term antibiotics for treatment. A wild echidna presented classical symptoms of the disease and was euthanased on welfare grounds.
AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biology
Christine Elizabeth Cooper, Philip Carew Withers
Summary: We have discovered a new evaporative window in short-beaked echidnas, as well as demonstrated the insulating properties of their spines through infrared thermography. The moist tip of their beak functions as a wet bulb globe thermometer, maximizing evaporative heat loss. Poorly insulated areas on the ventral surface and inside the legs act as postural thermal windows, while the spines provide flexible insulation.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Daniel Mota-Rojas, Ada Braghieri, Marcelo Ghezzi, Maria Carolina Ceriani, Julio Martinez-Burnes, Pamela Anahi Lendez, Alfredo M. F. Pereira, Karina Lezama-Garcia, Adriana Dominguez-Oliva, Alejandro Casas-Alvarado, Emilio Sabia, Corrado Pacelli, Fabio Napolitano
Summary: Water buffaloes are susceptible to hypothermia in the first hours of life. This study aims to analyze the strategies to cope with thermal stressors and highlight the importance of infrared thermography in monitoring hypothermia states in newborn water buffaloes.
Article
Microbiology
Isini Buthgamuwa, Jane C. Fenelon, Alice Roser, Haley Meer, Stephen D. Johnston, Ashley M. Dungan
Summary: This study describes the gut/fecal microbiome of female short-beaked echidnas and explores the changes that occur in their microbiome during pregnancy. The echidna microbiome remains stable across different gestation stages, but there is a significant difference in microbiota composition between male and female echidnas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shannon E. Keating, Jane C. Fenelon, Michael Pyne, Brendan J. Pinto, Iran Andira Guzman-Mendez, Stephen D. Johnston, Marilyn B. Renfree, Tony Gamble
Summary: In this study, novel sex-specific markers were identified and validated in the short-beaked echidna using RADseq. These markers provide a non-invasive genetic sex test for the species. Additionally, the study assessed how laboratory conditions can affect the outcome of genetic sex tests.
CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jane C. Fenelon, Caleb McElrea, Geoff Shaw, Alistair R. Evans, Michael Pyne, Stephen D. Johnston, Marilyn B. Renfree
Summary: Monotremes diverged from therian mammal ancestors approximately 184 million years ago and have unique reproductive characteristics, including their penile morphology. Despite differences between echidna and platypus phalluses, research has shown that the echidna penis shares many similarities with other mammal penises and some features homologous with reptiles. The mechanism by which unilateral ejaculation occurs in echidnas involves the direction of blood flow to specific corpora spongiosa in the penis.
SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Moriah Hunstiger, Michelle Marie Johannsen, S. Ryan Oliver
Summary: By analyzing the protein expression and metabolites of wild Arctic ground squirrels, it was found that they have different thermoregulation mechanisms during the hibernation season. White adipose tissue does not express uncoupling protein 1, while brown adipose tissue peaks in the expression of uncoupling protein 1 in winter and decreases after arousal in spring. Non-shivering thermogenesis in muscles decreases during hibernation and recovers in spring. These findings suggest distinct thermogenic functions may depend on temperature, resources, and seasonal demands.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Facundo Luna, Jorge Sastre-Serra, Jordi Oliver, C. Daniel Antenucci
Summary: In mammals, the integrated requirements of all activities must conform to a sustained rate of metabolism for the pup's development and adult life. Partitioning available energy according to short-term priorities allows animals to optimize long-term reproductive success. In this study, the development of thermogenic capacity in altricial rodent pups, specifically Ctenomys talarum, was evaluated. The results showed that non-shivering thermogenesis was absent in the pups until day 60, despite the presence of molecular markers for thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue deposits. However, the total thermogenic capacity became fixed at an early age, indicating an improvement in shivering thermogenesis efficiency after day 10.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Freya A. Russell, Stephen D. Johnston, Andrew Hill, Alice Roser, Haley Meer, Jane C. Fenelon, Marilyn B. Renfree, Tamara Keeley
Summary: This study validates a non-invasive method to assess the adrenal response in echidnas, indicating that their stress response may differ from that of other mammals and rely less on the HPA axis.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
A. G. Hill, S. P. Boyd, N. J. Clark, T. Proboste
Summary: The study found a prevalence of 56% for H. tachyglossi in short-beaked echidnas, but it may not be an effective prognostic indicator. Additionally, piroplasms presumed to be Theileria tachyglossi were identified in the erythrocytes of most echidnas, with a statistical association with the location where the animals were found. Further research using molecular tools is needed to clarify the identity of H. tachyglossi.
AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Arthur Ferguson, Belinda Laming
Summary: This article reports the methods used for monitoring and managing the breeding females and their young of short-beaked echidnas at Perth Zoo. The growth and development of the young were quantified through regular weighing, and maternal care was monitored using video camera surveillance. Our observations indicate that the maternal care and development of captive-bred young are consistent with those of wild echidnas.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Shannon J. Dundas, Lara Osborne, Anna J. M. Hopkins, Katinka X. Ruthrof, Patricia A. Fleming
Summary: The short-beaked echidna plays an important role in soil turnover in Australian forest ecosystems, contributing to approximately 1.23 tonnes of soil turnover per hectare annually. As the only Australian digging mammal not severely impacted by decline, its functional contribution to forest health and resilience is increasingly significant.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yoshito Takahashi, Akihisa Nomoto, Shu Yoda, Ryo Hisayama, Masayuki Ogata, Yoshiichi Ozeki, Shin-ichi Tanabe
Summary: The JOS-3 thermoregulation model is developed based on JOS-2, predicting human physiological responses in various temperature environments considering personal characteristics, with greater accuracy than JOS-2 in cold conditions.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sang Hyuck Lee, Mi Ae Kim, Young Chang Sohn
Summary: This study characterized the CCAP signaling system in Pacific abalone and revealed its relationship with the calcium/PKC and cAMP/PKA signal transduction pathways. It provides new insights into the evolutionary origins of the NPS and OT/VP signaling systems in protostomes.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hanna Scheuffele, Erica V. Todd, John A. Donald, Timothy D. Clark
Summary: Global warming is causing an increase in extreme weather events, affecting ecosystems and the behavior of ectotherms. More research is needed to understand the impact of diurnal thermal variability and improve climate change predictions.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaakko Haverinen, Ahmed Badr, Markus Eskelinen, Matti Vornanen
Summary: The acclimatization of certain ectothermic vertebrates to winter conditions involves reduced energy consumption, achieved through decreased movement activity, depression of cellular functions, or switching to anaerobic energy production. This study on crucian carp showed that winter-acclimatized fish exhibited lower metabolic rates and a shift to anaerobic energy production during anoxia. Winter dormancy in crucian carp is achieved through active reduction of energy consumption, a slowed metabolic rate, and a direct response to oxygen absence.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Cruz Sueiro, Cynthia A. Awruch, Gustavo M. Somoza, Walter S. Svagelj, Maria G. Palacios
Summary: According to life-history theory, there might be different immunological strategies between reproductive and non-reproductive periods due to limited resources. Our study on two sympatric marine fish species, rockfish and sandperch, found that reproductive individuals showed lower immune function, but higher levels of natural antibodies in rockfish females, compared to their non-reproductive counterparts. On the other hand, reproductively active sandperch males showed lower levels of natural antibodies and higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and spleen index compared to non-reproductive males. The study highlights the species-specific patterns of immunity and the potential influence of resource limitation and abiotic factors on immune trade-offs in fish.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James B. Cummins, Dane A. Crossley II
Summary: This study focuses on cardiovascular development in altricial bird species, which has been less studied compared to precocial species. The researchers investigated the cholinergic and adrenergic receptor mediated control of arterial blood pressure and heart rate in the neotropic cormorant. The findings suggest that both cholinergic and adrenergic tone play a role in cardiovascular regulation in embryonic birds.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ru Xia, Hong-Kang Liu, Xi-Feng Liu, Xin Deng, Chuan-Jie Qin, Yuan-Fa He, Shi-Mei Lin, Yong-Jun Chen
Summary: This study cloned the genes encoding glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit in largemouth bass, revealing their distribution and transcriptional regulation. The results showed that the functions of G6pc and Gck in LMB were highly conserved in evolution, and the interconversion of glucose and G6P in the liver was well regulated at the transcript level under high starch diet, but a futile cycle was induced after a glucose load.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
