How the cerebral serotonin homeostasis predicts environmental changes: a model to explain seasonal changes of brain 5-HTT as intermediate phenotype of the 5-HTTLPR

2013 ◽  
Vol 230 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Kalbitzer ◽  
Urs Kalbitzer ◽  
Gitte Moos Knudsen ◽  
Paul Cumming ◽  
Andreas Heinz
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Intermediate Phenotype

Effect of seasonal environmental changes on selected reproductive parameters in mares

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-218
Author(s):  
Z. Vilhanová ◽  
F. Novotný ◽  
I. Valocký ◽  
V. Hura ◽  
P. Horňáková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Jugular Vein ◽  
Day Length ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Spearman Correlation ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles

The aim of this study was to monitor and evaluate the seasonal changes on selected reproductive parameters in mares. Ninety-six mares of different breeds, aged 3 to 23 years were evaluated during the breeding season 2015–2018 at the Equine clinic at University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmaco­logy in Košice, Slovakia (48°42´N, 21°15´E). The beginning of the estrus was determined by history or observation, mares were examined every 6 hours, blood for progesterone analysis was taken from the jugular vein. Correlation analyses were performed using both the Pearson and the Spearman correlation coefficient. Statistical analysis was performed using the functions of Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism. The day length (r = -0.708, P<0.0001) and the average ambient temperature (r = -0.754, P<0.0001) had a statistically significant effect on the duration of estrus. The shortest estrus was recorded in July with day length of 15 hours 40 minutes at an average temperature of 21.4 ± 0.52 °C, with duration 4.67 ± 0.58 days. The longest estrus was recorded in April with day length of 11 hours 48 minutes at average temperature of 6.9 °C. The environmental factors did not affect the size of the preovulatory follicles, the concentration of progesterone, the internal changes of uterus and the external manifestations of estrus.

scholarly journals Broad seasonal changes in thermoregulation of Podarcis lilfordi (Squamata, Lacertidae) at Binicodrell islet (Menorca, Spain)

Herpetozoa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 57-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaida Ortega ◽  
Abraham Mencía ◽  
Aline Giroux ◽  
Valentín Pérez-Mellado
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Sunlight Exposure ◽  
Behavioural Thermoregulation ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Know How ◽  
Podarcis Lilfordi ◽  
Wind Intensity ◽  
Operative Temperatures

Most lizards maintain quite constant body temperatures by behavioural means. Seasonal variations of environmental factors, such as temperature, sunlight exposure and wind intensity, influence lizard thermoregulatory abilities. Understanding how seasonal environmental shifts influence lizards’ thermoregulation helps us to know how they deal behaviourally with environmental changes, in general. We examined seasonal shifts (spring vs. summer) in behavioural thermoregulation in Podarcislilfordi from Binicodrell islet (Menorca, Spain). Operative temperatures varied between microhabitats and seasons, being lower in spring than in summer, regardless of sunlight exposure. Lizard body temperatures were also lower in spring than in summer. Lizards used sunny microhabitats more frequently in spring and shaded areas in summer. Habitat thermal quality was similar during both seasons, but lizards thermoregulated less accurately in spring than in summer. Thermoregulatory effectiveness was low in spring (0.28) and moderate in summer (0.76). In comparison with previously published results, our findings showed the marked seasonal variation in the effectiveness of thermoregulation amongst island populations, which should be considered in future comparative studies.

scholarly journals Composição e Diversidade da Fauna de Grilos (Orthoptera: Grylloidea) em um Fragmento de Floresta Pluvial Atlântica do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Santos Pantoja de Oliveira ◽  
Matheus Prem Mendes ◽  
Marcelo Netto Duarte ◽  
William Costa Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Population Variation ◽  
Atlantic Rain Forest ◽  
Lower Abundance ◽  
Sampling Points ◽  
Janeiro State

O objetivo foi analisar a fauna de grilídeos, sua relação com diferentes composições vegetais, o nível de serapilheira e os efeitos da sazonalidade. Foram realizadas quatro coletas, nas quatro estações do ano, entre abril de 2008 e março de 2009. Foram coletados 503 grilídeos com armadilhas de solo, em oito pontos de coleta. Os insetos coletados foram identificados os seguintes gêneros Anurogryllus, Anurogryllus, Argizala, Hygronemobius, Nemobius, Odontogryllus e Pteronemobius. Os grilídeos não possuem afinidade com solos descampados, diminuindo consideravelmente no local mais impactado. O nível de serapilheira não interferiu na abundância e as mudanças sazonais mostraram importância na variação populacional, entretanto, a diversidade e dominância mostraram-se fiéis às alterações ambientais mesmo em menores valores de abundância. Esses resultados mostram que os grilídeos podem ser indicadores ambientais, pois respondem às modificações do meio. Composition and Diversity of the Crickets Fauna (Orthoptera: Grylloidea) in a Fragment of Atlantic Rain Forest in the Rio de Janeiro State Abstract. This study aimed to analyze the fauna of cricket, its relation with different plant compositions, litter level and seasonality effects. Four collections were performed, in four season of the year, between April 2008 and March 2009. It was collected 503 crickets using soil traps, in eight sampling points. The insects collected were identified as the genera Anurogryllus, Argizala, Hygronemobius, Nemobius, Odontogryllus e Pteronemobius. The crickets have no affinity with uncovered soil, decreasing significantly in more impacted places. The litter level did not affect the abundance and the seasonal changes shown importance in the population variation, however, diversity and dominance showed fidelity to environmental changes even in lower abundance. These results show that crickets may be environmental indicators due to the answers the changes in environment.

RUTUCHARYA AN AYURVEDOKTA REGIMEN & ITS PRESENT-DAY IMPLICATION

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 848-855
Author(s):  
Yuvaraj Patil ◽  
Sachin S. Waghmare
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Biological Clock ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases

World is suffering a huge crisis because of COVID 19 pandemic. Apart from this burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCD’s) is also too high. We get very good comprehensive measures in Ayurveda, which will protect our body from both Infective diseases & NCD’s. It is recently; Modern science has come to know about disturbance in circadian rhythms (biological clock) by means of faulty diet, untimely eating & performing tasks at wrong time’s causes many diseases. Ayurveda already knew that environmental changes in whole day have effects on our body and to synchronize with them they mentioned Dincharya. Apart from this they were also aware of ef- fects of seasonal changes on human body and to synchronize with them they have mentioned Rutucharya. Based on seasonal changes Aacharyas have classified six Rutu’s namely Shishira, Vasanta, Grishma, Varsha, Sharad and Hemant. According to their effects on body different Rutucharyas are told. At present Indian calendar seems to be slightly out of phase with seasons but with help of tropical phenomena like solstices, equinoxes with respect Uttarayan, Dakshinayan & seasonal markers mentioned in Samhitas we can mark exact seasons. Based on Ayur- vedic Siddhantas we can understand different Rutucharyas & can implicate them in our present routine. Keywords: Rutucharya, Seasonal Regimen, Lifestyle, Diet, Dakshinayan, Uttarayan.

Seasonal changes in germination and dormancy of buried seeds of endemic Brazilian Eriocaulaceae

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Queila S. Garcia ◽  
Patrícia G. Oliveira ◽  
Daniela M. Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
First Year ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Buried Seeds

AbstractSeeds can synchronize their germination and dormancy cycles to regular seasonal environmental changes. The present work sought to evaluate thein-situlongevity of the buried seeds of two species ofSyngonanthusand two species ofComanthera(Eriocaulaceae) in the region of natural occurrence (Serra do Cipó Range, south-eastern Brazil), and to relate their germination responses to seasonal climatic changes. Samples were exhumed bimonthly and germination was tested under a 12-h photoperiod (30 μmol m− 2s− 1) at optimal germination temperature. The seeds ofComantherashowed high deterioration after the first year of burial, especiallyC. elegans, which reflects their incapacity to form viable soil seed banks. The buried seeds ofC. bisulcata, S. anthemidiflorusandS. verticillatusacquired secondary dormancy during the rainy season (spring/summer, higher temperatures) which was alleviated during the subsequent dry season (autumn/winter, lower temperatures). It is concluded thatC. bisulcata, S. anthemidiflorus, andS. verticillatusform seed banks of the persistent type and demonstrate consecutive cycles of germination/dormancy, accompanying annual seasonal changes for at least 2 years.

scholarly journals Early hatching enhances survival despite beneficial phenotypic effects of late-season developmental environments

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1874) ◽  
pp. 20180256 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Pearson ◽  
D. A. Warner
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Late Season ◽  
Thermal Regimes ◽  
Environmental Matching ◽  
Matching Hypothesis ◽  
Seasonal Shifts

Seasonal shifts in environmental conditions provide predictable cues to which organisms can respond in adaptive ways. For example, seasonal changes in temperature can induce phenotypes at different times of the year that have season-specific fitness benefits. Here, we tested the hypothesis that embryo responses to seasonal changes in thermal environments are adaptively matched to the timing of reproduction (environmental-matching hypothesis). We collected eggs of the brown anole lizard ( Anolis sagrei ) from early and late seasons, and exposed them to early and late thermal regimes that mimic nest temperatures. After measuring offspring morphology and performance, we quantified their survival in the field. Females had higher fecundity, but produced smaller eggs, early in the season compared with late in the season. Late-season eggs exposed to late thermal regimes had relatively high survival, but early-season eggs exposed to early thermal regimes had similar survival rates to those exposed to mismatched conditions. Late-season nest temperatures and late-season eggs produced offspring that were relatively large and fast runners. However, despite phenotypic benefits of late-season conditions, early-season hatchlings had greater survival in the field. Our results do not fully support the environmental-matching hypothesis but suggest that selection favours seasonal shifts in reproductive investment of mothers (high early-season fecundity) over plastic responses of embryos to seasonal environmental changes.

scholarly journals Low-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation Does Not Affect Natural Regulatory T Cell Population but Attenuates Seasonal Changes in T Cell-Produced IFN-γ: Results From the D-SIRe2 Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wakunyambo Maboshe ◽  
Helen M. Macdonald ◽  
Heather Wassall ◽  
William D. Fraser ◽  
Jonathan C. Y. Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Regulatory T Cell ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Vitamin D Metabolites ◽  
Immune Markers ◽  
Ifn Γ

BackgroundSeasonal variations have been reported for immune markers. However, the relative contributions of sunlight and vitamin D variability on such seasonal changes are unknown.ObjectiveThis double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial tested whether daily 400 IU vitamin D3 supplementation affected short-term (12 weeks) and long-term (43 weeks) natural regulatory T cell (nTreg) populations in healthy participants.Design62 subjects were randomized equally to vitamin D versus placebo in March and assessed at baseline, April (4w), June (12w), September (25w) and January (43w). Circulating nTregs, ex vivo proliferation, IL-10 and IFN-γ productions were measured. Vitamin D metabolites and sunlight exposure were also assessed.ResultsMean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) increased from 35.8(SD 3.0) to 65.3(2.6) nmol/L in April and remained above 75 nmol/L with vitamin D supplementation, whereas it increased from 36.4(3.2) to 49.8(3.5) nmol/L in June to fall back to 39.6(3.5) nmol/L in January with placebo. Immune markers varied similarly between groups according to the season, but independently of 25(OH)D. For nTregs, the mean (%CD3+CD4+CD127lo cells (SEM)) nadir observed in March (2.9(0.1)%) peaked in September at 4.0(0.2)%. Mean T cell proliferation peaked in June (33156(1813) CPM) returning to the nadir in January (17965(978) CPM), while IL-10 peaked in June and reached its nadir in September (median (IQR) of 262(283) to (121(194) pg/ml, respectively). Vitamin D attenuated the seasonal increase in IFN-γ by ~28% with mean ng/ml (SEM) for placebo vs vitamin D, respectively, for April 12.5(1.4) vs 10.0(1.2) (p=0.02); June 13.9(1.3) vs 10.2(1.7) (p=0.02) and January 7.4(1.1) vs 6.0(1.1) (p=0.04).ConclusionsDaily low dose Vitamin D intake did not affect the nTregs population. There were seasonal variation in nTregs, proliferative response and cytokines, suggesting that environmental changes influence immune response, but the mechanism seems independent of vitamin D status. Vitamin D attenuated the seasonal change in T cell-produced IFN-γ, suggesting a decrease in effector response which could be associated with inflammation.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://www.isrctn.com, identifier (ISRCTN 73114576).

scholarly journals Seasonal Changes in Pinus tabuliformis Root-Associated Fungal Microbiota Drive N and P Cycling in Terrestrial Ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Hua Wang ◽  
Hong-Long Chu ◽  
Qing Dou ◽  
Huan Feng ◽  
Ming Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Enzymatic Activities ◽  
Colonization Rate ◽  
Fungal Colonization ◽  
Mycorrhizal Roots ◽  
Edaphic Properties ◽  
Fungal Microbiota ◽  
N And P Cycling

In terrestrial ecosystems, mycorrhizal roots play a key role in the cycling of soil carbon (C) and other nutrients. The impact of environmental factors on the mycorrhizal fungal community has been well studied; however, the seasonal variations in the root-associated fungal microbiota affected by environmental changes are less clear. To improve the understanding of how environmental factors shape the fungal microbiota in mycorrhizal roots, seasonal changes in Pinus tabuliformis root-associated fungi were investigated. In the present study, the seasonal dynamics of edaphic properties, soil enzymatic activities, root fungal colonization rates, and root-associated fungal microbiota in P. tabuliformis forests were studied across four seasons during a whole year to reveal their correlations with environmental changes. The results indicate that the soil functions, such as the enzymatic activities related to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) degradation, were varied with the seasonal changes in microclimate factors, resulting in a significant fluctuation of edaphic properties. In addition, the ectomycorrhizal fungal colonization rate in the host pine tree roots increased during warm seasons (summer and autumn), while the fungal colonization rate of dark septate endophyte was declined. Moreover, the present study indicates that the fungal biomass increased in both the pine roots and rhizospheric soils during warm seasons, while the fungal species richness and diversity decreased. While the Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were the two dominant phyla in both root and soil fungal communities, the higher relative abundance of Basidiomycota taxa presented in warm seasons. In addition, the fungal microbial network complexity declined under the higher temperature and humidity conditions. The present study illustrates that the varieties in connectivity between the microbial networks and in functional taxa of root-associated fungal microbiota significantly influence the soil ecosystem functions, especially the N and P cycling.

scholarly journals Functional Diversity Facilitates Stability Under Environmental Changes in an Outdoor Microalgal Cultivation System

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Mattsson ◽  
Eva Sörenson ◽  
Eric Capo ◽  
Hanna Maria Farnelid ◽  
Maurice Hirwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Bacterial Population ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Microbial Consortia ◽  
Temperate Latitude ◽  
Cultivation System ◽  
Microalgal Cultivation

Functionally uniform monocultures have remained the paradigm in microalgal cultivation despite the apparent challenges to avoid invasions by other microorganisms. A mixed microbial consortium approach has the potential to optimize and maintain biomass production despite of seasonal changes and to be more resilient toward contaminations. Here we present a 3-year outdoor production of mixed consortia of locally adapted microalgae and bacteria in cold temperate latitude. Microalgal consortia were cultivated in flat panel photobioreactors using brackish Baltic Sea water and CO2 from a cement factory (Degerhamn, Cementa AB, Heidelberg Cement Group) as a sustainable CO2 source. To evaluate the ability of the microbial consortia to maintain stable biomass production while exposed to seasonal changes in both light and temperature, we tracked changes in the microbial community using molecular methods (16S and 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing) and monitored the biomass production and quality (lipid, protein, and carbohydrate content) over 3 years. Despite changes in environmental conditions, the mixed consortia maintained stable biomass production by alternating between two different predominant green microalgae (Monoraphidium and Mychonastes) with complementary tolerance to temperature. The bacterial population was few taxa co-occured over time and the composition did not have any connection to the shifts in microalgal taxa. We propose that a locally adapted and mixed microalgal consortia, with complementary traits, can be useful for optimizing yield of commercial scale microalgal cultivation.

scholarly journals Different Responses of Bacterial and Archaeal Communities in River Sediments to Water Diversion and Seasonal Changes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 782
Author(s):  
Jiali Lv ◽  
Yangdan Niu ◽  
Ruiqiang Yuan ◽  
Shiqin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
River Sediments ◽  
Water Transfer ◽  
Water Diversion ◽  
Bacterial And Archaeal Communities ◽  
Archaeal Communities

In recent years, different responses of archaea and bacteria to environmental changes have attracted increasing scientific interest. In the mid-latitude region, Fen River receives water transferred from the Yellow River, electrical conductivity (EC), concentrations of Cl− and Na+ in water, total phosphorus (TP), and Olsen phosphorus (OP) in sediments were significantly affected by water transfer. Meanwhile, temperature and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of water showed significant seasonal variations. Based on 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology, the composition of bacteria and archaea in sediments was determined in winter and summer, respectively. Results showed that the dominance of bacterial core flora decreased and that of archaeal core flora increased after water diversion. The abundance and diversity of bacterial communities in river sediments were more sensitive to anthropogenic and naturally induced environmental changes than that of archaeal communities. Bacterial communities showed greater resistance than archaeal communities under long-term external disturbances, such as seasonal changes, because of rich species composition and complex community structure. Archaea were more stable than bacteria, especially under short-term drastic environmental disturbances, such as water transfer, due to their insensitivity to environmental changes. These results have important implications for understanding the responses of bacterial and archaeal communities to environmental changes in river ecosystems affected by water diversion.

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