scholarly journals Vegetation cover induces developmental plasticity of lateralization in tadpoles

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-399
Author(s):  
Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato ◽  
Marco Dadda ◽  
Angelo Bisazza
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Environmental Stability ◽  
Substantial Variation ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Pelophylax Esculentus ◽  
Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity

Abstract Lateralization of cognitive functions influences a large number of fitness-related behaviors and shows, in most species, substantial variation in strength and direction. Laboratory works and field data have suggested that this variation is often due to adaptive phenotypic plasticity. Strong lateralization should be favored in some ecological conditions, for example, under high risk of predation. For anuran tadpoles, the presence of cover affects predation risk, with tadpoles being more exposed to predators in environments with reduced cover. We tested the hypothesis that the amount of cover experienced early in life affects lateralization in the edible frog, Pelophylax esculentus, tadpoles. We exposed embryos and larvae to high or low vegetation cover environments. For half of the subjects, the treatment was constant whereas the remaining subjects were switched to the opposite treatment after hatching. In agreement with the theoretical expectation, tadpoles exposed to low vegetation cover for the entire development were more lateralized and showed a stronger alignment in directionality of lateralization compared with tadpoles exposed to high vegetation cover. This indicates a possible role of natural variation in vegetation abundance and developmental plasticity as determinants of between-population and between-individual differences in lateralization. We also found that shifting from high to low vegetation cover treatments and vice versa disrupted lateralization alignment, suggesting that developmental trajectories for this trait are determined at the embryonic stage and need environmental stability to be fully expressed.

scholarly journals Early predation risk shapes adult learning and cognitive flexibility

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Vila Pouca ◽  
David Joseph Mitchell ◽  
Jérémy Lefèvre ◽  
Regina Vega-Trejo ◽  
Alexander Kotrschal
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Early Ontogeny ◽  
General Role

Predation risk during early ontogeny can impact developmental trajectories and permanently alter adult phenotypes. Such phenotypic plasticity often leads to adaptive changes in traits involved in anti-predator responses. While plastic changes in cognition may increase survival, it remains unclear whether early predation experience shapes cognitive investment and drives developmental plasticity in cognitive abilities. Here, we show that predation risk during early ontogeny induces developmental plasticity in two cognitive domains. We reared guppies (Poecilia reticulata) with and without predator cues and tested their adult cognitive abilities. We found that animals reared under simulated predation took longer to learn a simple association task, yet outperformed animals reared without predation threat in a reversal learning task testing cognitive flexibility. These results show that predation pressure during ontogeny shapes adult cognitive abilities, which we argue is likely to be adaptive. Our study highlights the important role of predator-mediated developmental plasticity on cognitive investment in natural populations and the general role of plasticity in cognitive performance.

Hormones and Behavior

2019 ◽  
pp. 11-26
Author(s):  
Maren N. Vitousek ◽  
Laura A. Schoenle
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
And Behavior

Hormones mediate the expression of life history traits—phenotypic traits that contribute to lifetime fitness (i.e., reproductive timing, growth rate, number and size of offspring). The endocrine system shapes phenotype by organizing tissues during developmental periods and by activating changes in behavior, physiology, and morphology in response to varying physical and social environments. Because hormones can simultaneously regulate many traits (hormonal pleiotropy), they are important mediators of life history trade-offs among growth, reproduction, and survival. This chapter reviews the role of hormones in shaping life histories with an emphasis on developmental plasticity and reversible flexibility in endocrine and life history traits. It also discusses the advantages of studying hormone–behavior interactions from an evolutionary perspective. Recent research in evolutionary endocrinology has provided insight into the heritability of endocrine traits, how selection on hormone systems may influence the evolution of life histories, and the role of hormonal pleiotropy in driving or constraining evolution.

scholarly journals Evolution and expansion of the RUNX2 QA repeat corresponds with the emergence of vertebrate complexity

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel H. Newton ◽  
Andrew J. Pask
Keyword(s):  
Natural Variation ◽  
Skeletal Development ◽  
Skull Shape ◽  
Morphological Novelty ◽  
Transactivation Potential ◽  
Repeat Domain ◽  
Related Transcription Factor ◽  
Mammalian Skull ◽  
Evolutionary Tuning

AbstractRunt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is critical for the development of the vertebrate bony skeleton. Unlike other RUNX family members, RUNX2 possesses a variable poly-glutamine, poly-alanine (QA) repeat domain. Natural variation within this repeat is able to alter the transactivation potential of RUNX2, acting as an evolutionary ‘tuning knob’ suggested to influence mammalian skull shape. However, the broader role of the RUNX2 QA repeat throughout vertebrate evolution is unknown. In this perspective, we examine the role of the RUNX2 QA repeat during skeletal development and discuss how its emergence and expansion may have facilitated the evolution of morphological novelty in vertebrates.

scholarly journals Heterokairy: a significant form of developmental plasticity?

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 20160509 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Rundle ◽  
J. I. Spicer
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Research Interest ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Comparative Embryology ◽  
A Current

There is a current surge of research interest in the potential role of developmental plasticity in adaptation and evolution. Here we make a case that some of this research effort should explore the adaptive significance of heterokairy, a specific type of plasticity that describes environmentally driven, altered timing of development within a species. This emphasis seems warranted given the pervasive occurrence of heterochrony, altered developmental timing between species, in evolution. We briefly review studies investigating heterochrony within an adaptive context across animal taxa, including examples that explore links between heterokairy and heterochrony. We then outline how sequence heterokairy could be included within the research agenda for developmental plasticity. We suggest that the study of heterokairy may be particularly pertinent in (i) determining the importance of non-adaptive plasticity, and (ii) embedding concepts from comparative embryology such as developmental modularity and disassociation within a developmental plasticity framework.

A role of serotonin and the insula in vigor: Tracking environmental and physiological resources

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattie Tops ◽  
Maarten A. S. Boksem ◽  
Jesus Montero-Marin ◽  
Dimitri van der Linden
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Stability

Abstract We describe a neural monitor of environmental and physiological resources that informs effort expenditure. Depending on resources and environmental stability, serotonergic and dopaminergic neuromodulations favor different behavioral controls that are organized in corticostriatal loops. This broader perspective produces some suggestions and questions that may not be covered by the foraging approach to vigor of Shadmehr and Ahmed (2020).

scholarly journals Iridescent structural colour production in male blue-black grassquit feather barbules: the role of keratin and melanin

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Maia ◽  
João Victor O Caetano ◽  
Sônia N Báo ◽  
Regina H Macedo
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Coherent Scattering ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Stray Light ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Keratin Layer

Iridescent coloration plays an important role in the visual communication system of many animal taxa. It is known that iridescent structural colours result from layers of materials with different refractive indexes, which in feathers usually are keratin, melanin and air. However, the role of these materials in the production of structural iridescent coloration is still poorly documented. Despite the great interspecific variation in the organization of such structures in bird plumage, melanin layers are usually considered too opaque, suggesting its main role is to delineate the outermost keratin layer and absorb incoherently scattered stray light. We combined spectrometry, electron microscopy and thin-film optical modelling to describe the UV-reflecting iridescent colour of feather barbules of male blue-black grassquits ( Volatinia jacarina ), characterized by a keratin layer overlying a single melanin layer. Our models indicate that both the keratin and the melanin layers are essential for production of the observed colour, influencing the coherent scattering of light. The melanin layer in some barbules may be thin enough to allow interaction with the underlying keratin; however, individuals usually have, on an average, the minimum number of granules that optimizes absorbance by this layer. Also, we show that altering optical properties of the materials resulted in better-fitting models relative to the empirically measured spectra. These results add to previous findings concerning the influence of melanin in single-layer iridescence, and stress the importance of considering natural variation when characterizing such photonic structures.

scholarly journals Reproductive Success of American Kestrels: The Role of Prey Abundance and Weather

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 814-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell D. Dawson ◽  
Gary R. Bortolotti
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Prey Abundance ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Minimum Threshold ◽  
Provisioning Behavior ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Parental Provisioning

Abstract We investigated how natural variation in abundance and availability of the main prey of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), small mammals, influenced provisioning rates by parents, and offspring size and survival. Provisioning behavior of kestrels was not constrained by the abundance of food in the environment; however, the availability of food, mediated through variation in weather, appeared to significantly influence parental provisioning behavior. Moreover, variation in weather had clear effects on reproductive success because nestlings exposed to inclement weather were smaller and lighter at fledging, and less likely to survive to fledging, compared to nestlings raised during good weather conditions. Prey abundance was not related to offspring size or survival. Our results suggest American Kestrels are limited by the availability, as opposed to abundance, of food on territories. It is likely that during our study, prey abundance was above some minimum threshold necessary to support successful reproduction, and so variation in weather affected reproduction more than variation in prey abundance.

scholarly journals Precision Medicine, Developmental Plasticity and Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Wang ◽  
John Attia ◽  
Stephen Lye ◽  
Wendy Oddy ◽  
Lawrence Beilin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Precision Medicine ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Lower Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Adult Disease ◽  
Healthy Nutrition ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Abstract Background: It is well established that genetics, environment, and interplay between them play crucial roles in adult disease. We aimed to evaluate the role of genetics, early life nutrition, and interaction between them, on optimal adult health. Methods: As part of a large international consortium (n~154,000), we identified 60 SNPs associated with both birthweight and adult disease. Utilising the Raine Study, we developed a birthweight polygenic score (BW-PGS) based the 60 SNPs and examined relationships between BW-PGS and adulthood cardiovascular risk factors, specifically evaluating interactions with early life nutrition. Findings: Healthy nutrition was beneficial for all individuals; longer duration of any breastfeeding was associated with lower BMI and lower Systolic Blood Pressure in those with higher BW-PGS. Interpretation: Optimal breastfeeding offers the greatest benefit to reduce adult obesity and hypertension in those genetically predisposed to high birthweight. This provides an example of how precision medicine in early life can improve adult health.

scholarly journals A long post-reproductive lifespan is a shared trait among genetically distinct killer whale populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Nielsen ◽  
Samuel Ellis ◽  
Jared Towers ◽  
Thomas Doniol-Valcroze ◽  
Daniel Franks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Killer Whale ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Substantial Variation ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Reproductive Conflict ◽  
Demographic Patterns ◽  
General Prediction

The extended female post-reproductive lifespan found in humans and some toothed whales remains an evolutionary puzzle. Theory predicts demographic patterns resulting in increased female relatedness with age (kinship dynamics) can select for a prolonged post-reproductive lifespan due to the combined costs of inter-generational reproductive conflict and benefits of late-life helping. Here we test this prediction using >40 years of longitudinal demographic data from the sympatric yet genetically distinct killer whale ecotypes: resident and Bigg’s killer whales. The female relatedness with age is predicted to increase in both ecotypes, but with a less steep increase in Bigg’s due to their different social structure. Here, we show that there is a significant post-reproductive lifespan in both ecotypes with >30% of adult female years being lived as post-reproductive, supporting the general prediction that an increase in local relatedness with age predisposes the evolution of a post-reproductive lifespan. Differences in the magnitude of kinship dynamics however, did not influence the timing or duration of the post-reproductive lifespan with females in both ecotypes terminating reproduction before their mid-40s followed by an expected post-reproductive period of ~20 years. Our results highlight the important role of kinship dynamics in the evolution of a long post-reproductive lifespan in long-lived mammals, while further implying that the timing of menopause may be a robust trait that is persistent despite substantial variation in demographic patterns among population.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document