Geomorphology induces life history changes in invertebrates of sandy beaches: the case of the mole crab Emerita analoga in Chile

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Brazeiro
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Sandy Beaches ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Emerita Analoga ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
Environmental Variations ◽  
Life History Patterns

The hypothesis that vital functions of one of the most successful macroinvertebrates of sandy beaches of Chile, the mole crab Emerita analoga are negatively affected by the environmental conditions of reflective beaches was tested. Twelve exposed sandy beaches distributed along 200 km of coast of central Chile, and selected to cover a wide morphodynamic spectrum were sampled every two months from April 1997 to November 1998. Significant phenotypic differences among local populations of the sand crab were detected. Important life history traits of the sand crab, linked to growth pattern, reproductive biology and burrowing capacity, were negatively affected by the environmental conditions of reflective beaches. The present results reinforce the view that environmental variations associated with beach morphodynamics, play a critical role in the life history patterns of sandy beach organisms.

Relationships between temperature and Pacific hake distribution vary across latitude and life-history stage

2020 ◽  
Vol 639 ◽  
pp. 185-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Malick ◽  
ME Hunsicker ◽  
MA Haltuch ◽  
SL Parker-Stetter ◽  
AM Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Life History Stage ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Merluccius Productus ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Effects Of Temperature

Environmental conditions can have spatially complex effects on the dynamics of marine fish stocks that change across life-history stages. Yet the potential for non-stationary environmental effects across multiple dimensions, e.g. space and ontogeny, are rarely considered. In this study, we examined the evidence for spatial and ontogenetic non-stationary temperature effects on Pacific hake Merluccius productus biomass along the west coast of North America. Specifically, we used Bayesian additive models to estimate the effects of temperature on Pacific hake biomass distribution and whether the effects change across space or life-history stage. We found latitudinal differences in the effects of temperature on mature Pacific hake distribution (i.e. age 3 and older); warmer than average subsurface temperatures were associated with higher biomass north of Vancouver Island, but lower biomass offshore of Washington and southern Vancouver Island. In contrast, immature Pacific hake distribution (i.e. age 2) was better explained by a nonlinear temperature effect; cooler than average temperatures were associated with higher biomass coastwide. Together, our results suggest that Pacific hake distribution is driven by interactions between age composition and environmental conditions and highlight the importance of accounting for varying environmental effects across multiple dimensions.

scholarly journals Extended parenting and the evolution of cognition

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1803) ◽  
pp. 20190495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Uomini ◽  
Joanna Fairlie ◽  
Russell D. Gray ◽  
Michael Griesser
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Cultural Learning

Traditional attempts to understand the evolution of human cognition compare humans with other primates. This research showed that relative brain size covaries with cognitive skills, while adaptations that buffer the developmental and energetic costs of large brains (e.g. allomaternal care), and ecological or social benefits of cognitive abilities, are critical for their evolution. To understand the drivers of cognitive adaptations, it is profitable to consider distant lineages with convergently evolved cognitions. Here, we examine the facilitators of cognitive evolution in corvid birds, where some species display cultural learning, with an emphasis on family life. We propose that extended parenting (protracted parent–offspring association) is pivotal in the evolution of cognition: it combines critical life-history, social and ecological conditions allowing for the development and maintenance of cognitive skillsets that confer fitness benefits to individuals. This novel hypothesis complements the extended childhood idea by considering the parents' role in juvenile development. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses, we show that corvids have larger body sizes, longer development times, extended parenting and larger relative brain sizes than other passerines. Case studies from two corvid species with different ecologies and social systems highlight the critical role of life-history features on juveniles’ cognitive development: extended parenting provides a safe haven, access to tolerant role models, reliable learning opportunities and food, resulting in higher survival. The benefits of extended juvenile learning periods, over evolutionary time, lead to selection for expanded cognitive skillsets. Similarly, in our ancestors, cooperative breeding and increased group sizes facilitated learning and teaching. Our analyses highlight the critical role of life-history, ecological and social factors that underlie both extended parenting and expanded cognitive skillsets. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Life history and learning: how childhood, caregiving and old age shape cognition and culture in humans and other animals’.

scholarly journals Metabolic traits in brown trout (Salmo trutta) vary in response to food restriction and intrinsic factors

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise C Archer ◽  
Stephen A Hutton ◽  
Luke Harman ◽  
W Russell Poole ◽  
Patrick Gargan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Food Restriction ◽  
Metabolic Rates ◽  
Intrinsic Factors ◽  
Metabolic Traits ◽  
Food Conditions

Abstract Metabolic rates vary hugely within and between populations, yet we know relatively little about factors causing intraspecific variation. Since metabolic rate determines the energetic cost of life, uncovering these sources of variation is important to understand and forecast responses to environmental change. Moreover, few studies have examined factors causing intraspecific variation in metabolic flexibility. We explore how extrinsic environmental conditions and intrinsic factors contribute to variation in metabolic traits in brown trout, an iconic and polymorphic species that is threatened across much of its native range. We measured metabolic traits in offspring from two wild populations that naturally show life-history variation in migratory tactics (one anadromous, i.e. sea-migratory, one non-anadromous) that we reared under either optimal food or experimental conditions of long-term food restriction (lasting between 7 and 17 months). Both populations showed decreased standard metabolic rates (SMR—baseline energy requirements) under low food conditions. The anadromous population had higher maximum metabolic rate (MMR) than the non-anadromous population, and marginally higher SMR. The MMR difference was greater than SMR and consequently aerobic scope (AS) was higher in the anadromous population. MMR and AS were both higher in males than females. The anadromous population also had higher AS under low food compared to optimal food conditions, consistent with population-specific effects of food restriction on AS. Our results suggest different components of metabolic rate can vary in their response to environmental conditions, and according to intrinsic (population-background/sex) effects. Populations might further differ in their flexibility of metabolic traits, potentially due to intrinsic factors related to life history (e.g. migratory tactics). More comparisons of populations/individuals with divergent life histories will help to reveal this. Overall, our study suggests that incorporating an understanding of metabolic trait variation and flexibility and linking this to life history and demography will improve our ability to conserve populations experiencing global change.

Population Abundances, Tidal Movement, Burrowing Ability and Oxygen Uptake of Emerita analoga (Stimpson) (Crustacea, Anomura) on a Sandy Beach of South-Central Chile

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariano Lastra ◽  
Eduardo Jaramillo ◽  
Jesus Lopez ◽  
Heraldo Contreras ◽  
Cristian Duarte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Sandy Beach ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
South Central ◽  
Emerita Analoga ◽  
Tidal Movement

Recognition of larvae of the Tetrabothriidae (Eucestoda): implications for the origin of tapeworms in marine homeotherms

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 997-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric P. Hoberg
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Host Switching ◽  
Larval Morphology ◽  
Dominant Group ◽  
Marine Birds ◽  
Marine Communities ◽  
Definitive Evidence ◽  
Life History Patterns ◽  
Ecological Associations

The Tetrabothriidae represent the dominant group of cestodes, previously known only as adult parasites, in marine birds and mammals. Recognition of their unique plerocercoid larvae provides the first definitive evidence for life history patterns and phylogenetic relationships with other cestodes. Affinities of the Tetrabothriidae and Tetraphyllidea, cestodes of elasmobranchs, are indicated by larval morphology and ontogeny. However, patterns of sequential heterochrony in the ontogeny of the adult scolex of Tetrabothrius sp. appear to be unique among the Eucestoda. Tetrabothriids constitute a fauna that originated by host switching from elasmobranchs to homeotherms, via ecological associations, following invasion of marine communities by birds and mammals in the Tertiary.

Life history strategy of Lepraria borealis at an Antarctic inland site, Coal Nunatak

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas ENGELEN ◽  
Peter CONVEY ◽  
Sieglinde OTT
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Sequence Polymorphism ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽  
The West ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Dna Sequence Polymorphism ◽  
Antarctic Continent ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractCoal Nunatak is an ice-free inland nunatak located on southern Alexander Island, adjacent to the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Situated close to the Antarctic continent, it is characterized by harsh environmental conditions. Macroscopic colonization is restricted to micro-niches offering suitable conditions for a small number of lichens and mosses. The extreme environmental conditions place particular pressures on colonizers. Lepraria borealis is the dominant crustose lichen species present on Coal Nunatak, and shows distinctive features in its life history strategy, in particular expressing unusually low selectivity of the mycobiont towards potential photobionts. To assess selectivity, we measured algal DNA sequence polymorphism in a region of 480–660 bp of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. We identified three different photobiont species, belonging to two different genera. We interpret this strategy as being advantageous in facilitating the colonization and community dominance of L. borealis under the isolation and extreme environmental conditions of Coal Nunatak.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document