scholarly journals The Domestication of Evolution

1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond P. Coppinger ◽  
Charles Kay Smith
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Stable Environment ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Species Specific

A coming ‘Age of Interdependent Forms’ seems destined to mark the success of what could be called ‘despecialized/interspecific fitness’ among neotenic strains (perpetuating juvenile traits) of species such as humans and domestic animals. Humans as well as the first domesticants underwent a neotenic evolution in the wild during the repeated interglacial periods which, acting on a number of mammalian forms, selected against adult species-specific ancestral adaptations to a stable environment. Neotenic species continue to look and behave more like ancestral youths than adults—even after sexual maturity and throughout their life-history. As they retain lifelong youthful dependency motivations, they can easily, under suitable conditions, become interdependent forms. By the time of melting of the last Pleistocene glacier, all the domestic partners had already become more dependency-prone than formerly, and were behaviourally despecialized enough to form the alliance that is now changing the order of Nature.

Prey tell: what quillback rockfish early life history traits reveal about their survival in encounters with juvenile coho salmon

2020 ◽  
Vol 650 ◽  
pp. 7-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
HW Fennie ◽  
S Sponaugle ◽  
EA Daly ◽  
RD Brodeur
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Otolith Microstructure Analysis ◽  
Pelagic Juvenile

Predation is a major source of mortality in the early life stages of fishes and a driving force in shaping fish populations. Theoretical, modeling, and laboratory studies have generated hypotheses that larval fish size, age, growth rate, and development rate affect their susceptibility to predation. Empirical data on predator selection in the wild are challenging to obtain, and most selective mortality studies must repeatedly sample populations of survivors to indirectly examine survivorship. While valuable on a population scale, these approaches can obscure selection by particular predators. In May 2018, along the coast of Washington, USA, we simultaneously collected juvenile quillback rockfish Sebastes maliger from both the environment and the stomachs of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. We used otolith microstructure analysis to examine whether juvenile coho salmon were age-, size-, and/or growth-selective predators of juvenile quillback rockfish. Our results indicate that juvenile rockfish consumed by salmon were significantly smaller, slower growing at capture, and younger than surviving (unconsumed) juvenile rockfish, providing direct evidence that juvenile coho salmon are selective predators on juvenile quillback rockfish. These differences in early life history traits between consumed and surviving rockfish are related to timing of parturition and the environmental conditions larval rockfish experienced, suggesting that maternal effects may substantially influence survival at this stage. Our results demonstrate that variability in timing of parturition and sea surface temperature leads to tradeoffs in early life history traits between growth in the larval stage and survival when encountering predators in the pelagic juvenile stage.

scholarly journals Phenotypic plasticity of labile traits in the wild

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon E. Brommer
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Statistical Approach ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Quantitative Genetic Parameters

Abstract Individual-based studies allow quantification of phenotypic plasticity in behavioural, life-history and other labile traits. The study of phenotypic plasticity in the wild can shed new light on the ultimate objectives (1) whether plasticity itself can evolve or is constrained by its genetic architecture, and (2) whether plasticity is associated to other traits, including fitness (selection). I describe the main statistical approach for how repeated records of individuals and a description of the environment (E) allow quantification of variation in plasticity across individuals (IxE) and genotypes (GxE) in wild populations. Based on a literature review of life-history and behavioural studies on plasticity in the wild, I discuss the present state of the two objectives listed above. Few studies have quantified GxE of labile traits in wild populations, and it is likely that power to detect statistically significant GxE is lacking. Apart from the issue of whether it is heritable, plasticity tends to correlate with average trait expression (not fully supported by the few genetic estimates available) and may thus be evolutionary constrained in this way. Individual-specific estimates of plasticity tend to be related to other traits of the individual (including fitness), but these analyses may be anti-conservative because they predominantly concern stats-on-stats. Despite the increased interest in plasticity in wild populations, the putative lack of power to detect GxE in such populations hinders achieving general insights. I discuss possible steps to invigorate the field by moving away from simply testing for presence of GxE to analyses that ‘scale up’ to population level processes and by the development of new behavioural theory to identify quantitative genetic parameters which can be estimated.

Reproductive Ecology of The Allied Rock-wallaby, Petrogale assimilis.

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
R. Delaney
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Reproductive Ecology ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Embryonic Diapause ◽  
Minimum Age

Petrogale assimilis has a typical life history and reproductive ecology for a macropodid of its size. Both sexes are capable of reproducing continuously; gestation is about the same length as the oestrous cycle (approximately one month); a single young is born and, a post-partum oestrus and embryonic diapause probably occurs. The sex ratio of young is unbiased. Pouch young remain permanently attached to the teat until 110 - 143 days (n=11). Permanent exit from the pouch occurs at 180 - 231 days (mean=201 days, n=25), and weaning occurs between 267 - 387 days (n=5). Sexual maturity occurs at a minimum age of 17.5 months in females and 23 months in males.

scholarly journals The application of life history information to the conservation management of Chrysoritis butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.F. Terblanche ◽  
H. Van Hamburg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Aesthetic Value ◽  
Wing Patterns ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
History Of ◽  
Voucher Specimens

Due to their intricate life histories and the unique wing patterns and colouring the butterflies of the genus Chrysoritis are of significant conservation and aesthetic value. Thisoverview probes into practical examples of butterfly life history research applicable to environmental management of this relatively well-known invertebrate group in South Africa. Despite the pioneer work on life histories of Chrysoritis in the past, more should be done to understand the life history of the butterflies in the wild, especially their natural host plants and the behaviour of adults and larvae. A system of voucher specimens of host plants should be introduced in South Africa. Although various host plant species in nature are used by the members of Chrysoritis, including the Chrysoritis chrysaor group, the choice of these in nature by each species is significant for conservation management and in the case of Chrysoritis aureus perhaps even as a specific characteristic.A revision of the ant genus Crematogaster will benefit the conservation management of Chrysoritis species since some of these ant species may consist of a number of specieswith much more restricted distributions than previously thought. Rigorous quantified tudies of population dynamics of Chrysoritis butterflies are absent and the introductionof such studies will benefit conservation management of these localised butterflies extensively.

Darwinian fishery science: lessons from the Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia)

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 730-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
David O Conover ◽  
Stephen A Arnott ◽  
Matthew R Walsh ◽  
Stephan B Munch
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Menidia Menidia ◽  
Adaptive Genetic Variation ◽  
Atlantic Silverside ◽  
Fishery Science ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Contrary Evidence

The potential of fishing mortality to cause rapid evolutionary changes in life history has received relatively little attention. By focusing only on ecological responses, standard fisheries theory and practice implicitly assume either that genetic influences on life history in the wild are negligible or that natural selection and adaptation is a slow process that can be effectively ignored. Lack of contrary evidence has allowed these assumptions to persist. Drawing upon >25 years of research on the Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), we show that adaptive genetic variation in many traits is finely tuned to natural variation in climate. Much of this variation is caused by a gradient in size-selective winter mortality and involves two- to threefold changes in physiological traits that influence population productivity. Many other species are now known to display similar patterns. Harvest experiments show that these traits can evolve rapidly in response to size-selective fishing. Hence, the pool of genotypes that code for life history traits is a highly dynamic property of populations. We argue that the lessons from Menidia are applicable to many exploited species where similar observations would be difficult to obtain and advocate greater use of species models to address fundamental questions in fishery science.

scholarly journals Effect of NaCl on seed germination in some Centaurium Hill. Species (Gentianaceae)

2007 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Zivkovic ◽  
M. Devic ◽  
B. Filipovic ◽  
Z. Giba ◽  
D. Grubisic
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Gibberellic Acid ◽  
White Light ◽  
The Other ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Nacl Concentration ◽  
History Of ◽  
Species Specific

The influence of high NaCl concentrations on seed germination in both light and darkness was examined in the species Centaurium pulchellum, C. erythraea, C. littorale, C. spicatum, and C. tenuiflorum. Salt tolerance was found to depend on the life history of the seeds. To be specific, seeds of all five species failed to complete germination when exposed to continuous white light if kept all the time in the presence of 100-200 mM and greater NaCl concentrations. However, when after two weeks NaCl was rinsed from the seeds and the seeds were left in distilled water under white light for an additional two weeks, all species completed germination to a certain extent. The percent of germination not only depended on NaCl concentration in the prior medium, but was also species specific. Thus, seeds of C. pulchellum, C. erythraea, and C. littorale completed germination well almost irrespective of the salt concentration previously experienced. On the other hand, seeds of C. tenuiflorum completed germination poorly if NaCl concentrations in the prior media were greater than 200 mM. When seeds after washing were transferred to darkness for an additional 14 days, they failed to complete germination if previously imbibed on media containing NaCl concentrations greater than 400 mM. However, the seeds of all species, even if previously imbibed at 800 mM NaCl, could be induced to complete germination in darkness by 1 mM gibberellic acid. .

scholarly journals Transposable Elements in the Organization and Diversification of the Genome of Aegilops speltoides Tausch (Poaceae, Triticeae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Raskina
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Mobile Element ◽  
Plant Genome ◽  
Aegilops Speltoides ◽  
Genome Architecture ◽  
Different Types ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Current Species

Repetitive DNA—specifically, transposable elements (TEs)—is a prevailing genomic fraction in cereals that underlies extensive genome reshuffling and intraspecific diversification in the wild. Although large amounts of data have been accumulated, the effect of TEs on the genome architecture and functioning is not fully understood. Here, plant genome organization was addressed by means of cloning and sequencing TE fragments of different types, which compose the largest portion of the Aegilops speltoides genome. Individual genotypes were analyzed cytogenetically using the cloned TE fragments as the DNA probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The obtained TE sequences of the Ty1-copia, Ty3-gypsy, LINE, and CACTA superfamilies showed the relatedness of the Ae. speltoides genome to the Triticeae tribe and similarities to evolutionarily distant species. A significant number of clones consisted of intercalated fragments of TEs of various types, in which Fatima (Ty3-gypsy) sequences predominated. At the chromosomal level, different TE clones demonstrated sequence-specific patterning, emphasizing the effect of the TE fraction on the Ae. speltoides genome architecture and intraspecific diversification. Altogether, the obtained data highlight the current species-specific organization and patterning of the mobile element fraction and point to ancient evolutionary events in the genome of Ae. speltoides.

An Agent-Based Model of the Spread of Devil Facial Tumor Disease in an Isolated Population of Tasmanian Devils

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Charles E. Knadler
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Isolated Population ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Disease Mechanism ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease

The Tasmanian devil population is being reduced in the wild at an alarming rate due to an epidemic, which is the result of an unusual disease mechanism. Infected animals “inject” cancer cells into other devils, which then clone the cells, developing tumors. These tumors are invariably fatal. Field observers have developed hypotheses that include a life- history change for the species. It is hypothesized that this change has the potential to improve the population’s survivability. An agent-based model of Tasmanian devils is used to evaluate these hypotheses. The model results suggest that the devils’ intra-gender aggression as well as their aggressive mating practices render the life-history change hypotheses’ correctness improbable.

scholarly journals  Pain in domestic animals and how to assess it: a review

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 185-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Landa
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Adult Humans ◽  
Clinical Responses ◽  
General Signs ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Pain Recognition

 In recent years more attention has been paid to the issue of pain in animals, particularly in association with increasing awareness of animal welfare. It is therefore necessary for veterinarians to be able recognise unambiguously whether an animal suffers from pain. Adult humans suffering from pain can more or less characterise their painful experiences, including the site and intensity of the pain. However, pain in animals is in some aspects more complex and it can be rather difficult to evaluate the seriousness and impact of painful events. Therefore, in animals we have to recognise the signs of pain according to indirect markers which involve behavioural, physiological and finally clinical responses. Moreover, in particular the behavioural changes associated with pain can be along with the general signs also species-specific, and hardly recognisable (and for an inexperienced observer seemingly unimportant) which makes pain assessment even more complicated. Therefore, the current review formulates definitions of pain, its classification and is focused on methods that may facilitate pain recognition in animals, which is crucial for an effective pain assessment and consequent effective pain management. The review combines recent knowledge with well proven facts concerning pain and furthermore also highlights the author’s own research on pain assessment.    

scholarly journals Digest: Mitonuclear interactions modulate life history phenotypes in the wild*

Evolution ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
pp. 1877-1878
Author(s):  
M. Florencia Camus
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
In The Wild
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