Dietary-based developmental plasticity affects juvenile survival in an aquatic detritivore

Developmental plasticity is ubiquitous in natural populations, but the underlying causes and fitness consequences are poorly understood. For consumers, nutritional variation of juvenile diets is probably associated with plasticity in developmental rates, but little is known about how diet quality can affect phenotypic trajectories in ways that might influence survival to maturity and lifetime reproductive output. Here, we tested how the diet quality of a freshwater detritivorous isopod ( Asellus aquaticus ), in terms of elemental ratios of diet (i.e. carbon : nitrogen : phosphorus; C : N : P), can affect (i) developmental rates of body size and pigmentation and (ii) variation in juvenile survival. We reared 1047 individuals, in a full-sib split-family design (29 families), on either a high- (low C : P, C : N) or low-quality (high C : P, C : N) diet, and quantified developmental trajectories of body size and pigmentation for every individual over 12 weeks. Our diet contrast caused strong divergence in the developmental rates of pigmentation but not growth, culminating in a distribution of adult pigmentation spanning the broad range of phenotypes observed both within and among natural populations. Under low-quality diet, we found highest survival at intermediate growth and pigmentation rates. By contrast, survival under high-quality diet survival increased continuously with pigmentation rate, with longest lifespans at intermediate growth rates and high pigmentation rates. Building on previous work which suggests that visual predation mediates the evolution of cryptic pigmentation in A. aquaticus , our study shows how diet quality and composition can generate substantial phenotypic variation by affecting rates of growth and pigmentation during development in the absence of predation.

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Early predation risk shapes adult learning and cognitive flexibility

10.32942/osf.io/7xyjb ◽

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.

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Diet Quality, a Term Subject to Change over Time

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000104 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 144-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ibrahim Elmadfa ◽

Alexa L. Meyer

Keyword(s):

Diet Quality ◽

Functional Foods ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Well Being ◽

Industrialized Countries ◽

Quality Factors ◽

Long Time ◽

Quality Diet ◽

Important Quality ◽

Health And Well Being

A high-quality diet is one of the foundations of health and well-being. For a long time in human history, diet was chiefly a source of energy and macronutrients meant to still hunger and give the strength for work and activities that were in general much harder than nowadays. Only few persons could afford to emphasize enjoyment. In the assessment of quality, organoleptic properties were major criteria to detect spoilage and oxidative deterioration of food. Today, food hygiene is a quality aspect that is often taken for granted by consumers, despite its lack being at the origin of most food-borne diseases. The discovery of micronutrients entailed fundamental changes of the concept of diet quality. However, non-essential food components with additional health functions were still barely known or not considered important until recently. With the high burden of obesity and its associated diseases on the rise, affluent, industrialized countries have developed an increased interest in these substances, which has led to the development of functional foods to optimize special body functions, reduce disease risk, or even contribute to therapeutic approaches. Indeed, nowadays, high contents of energy, fat, and sugar are factors associated with a lower quality of food, and products with reduced amounts of these components are valued by many consumers. At the same time, enjoyment and convenience are important quality factors, presenting food manufacturers with the dilemma of reconciling low fat content and applicability with good taste and appealing appearance. Functional foods offer an approach to address this challenge. Deeper insights into nutrient-gene interactions may enable personalized nutrition adapted to the special needs of individuals. However, so far, a varied healthy diet remains the best basis for health and well-being.

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Independent evolution towards larger body size in the distinctive Faroe Island mice

G3 Genes|Genome|Genetics ◽

10.1093/g3journal/jkaa051 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ricardo Wilches ◽

William H Beluch ◽

Ellen McConnell ◽

Diethard Tautz ◽

Yingguang Frank Chan

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Small Body ◽

Laboratory Mouse ◽

Large Body ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Size Variation ◽

Phenotypic Traits ◽

Island Population ◽

Multiple Loci

Abstract Most phenotypic traits in nature involve the collective action of many genes. Traits that evolve repeatedly are particularly useful for understanding how selection may act on changing trait values. In mice, large body size has evolved repeatedly on islands and under artificial selection in the laboratory. Identifying the loci and genes involved in this process may shed light on the evolution of complex, polygenic traits. Here, we have mapped the genetic basis of body size variation by making a genetic cross between mice from the Faroe Islands, which are among the largest and most distinctive natural populations of mice in the world, and a laboratory mouse strain selected for small body size, SM/J. Using this F2 intercross of 841 animals, we have identified 111 loci controlling various aspects of body size, weight and growth hormone levels. By comparing against other studies, including the use of a joint meta-analysis, we found that the loci involved in the evolution of large size in the Faroese mice were largely independent from those of a different island population or other laboratory strains. We hypothesize that colonization bottleneck, historical hybridization, or the redundancy between multiple loci have resulted in the Faroese mice achieving an outwardly similar phenotype through a distinct evolutionary path.

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Food insecurity, diet quality and body composition: data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) pilot survey in urban Soweto, South Africa

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898002100046x ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Sarah H Kehoe ◽

Stephanie V Wrottesley ◽

Lisa Ware ◽

Alessandra Prioreschi ◽

Catherine Draper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Body Composition ◽

Food Security ◽

Body Size ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Urban Poor ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Healthy Life ◽

Life Trajectories

Abstract Objective: To determine whether food security, diet diversity and diet quality are associated with anthropometric measurements and body composition among women of reproductive age. The association between food security and anaemia prevalence was also tested. Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) study. Food security and dietary data were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Hb levels were measured using a HemoCue, and anaemia was classified as an altitude-adjusted haemoglobin level < 12·5 g/dl. Body size and composition were assessed using anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Setting: The urban township of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants: Non-pregnant women aged 18–25 years (n 1534). Results: Almost half of the women were overweight or obese (44 %), and 9 % were underweight. Almost a third of women were anaemic (30 %). The prevalence rates of anaemia and food insecurity were similar across BMI categories. Food insecure women had the least diverse diets, and food security was negatively associated with diet quality (food security category v. diet quality score: B = –0·35, 95 % CI –0·70, –0·01, P = 0·049). Significant univariate associations were observed between food security and total lean mass. However, there were no associations between food security and body size or composition variables in multivariate models. Conclusions: Our data indicate that food security is an important determinant of diet quality in this urban-poor, highly transitioned setting. Interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition should recognise both food security and the food environment as critical elements within their developmental phases.

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Diet Quality Is Associated with a High Newborn Size and Reduction in the Risk of Low Birth Weight and Small for Gestational Age in a Group of Mexican Pregnant Women: An Observational Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13061853 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1853

Author(s):

María A. Reyes-López. ◽

Carla P. González-Leyva ◽

Ameyalli M. Rodríguez-Cano ◽

Carolina Rodríguez-Hernández ◽

Eloisa Colin-Ramírez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Small For Gestational Age ◽

Mexican Women ◽

High Quality ◽

Quality Diet ◽

Newborn Size

A high-quality diet during pregnancy may have positive effects on fetal growth and nutritional status at birth, and it may modify the risk of developing chronic diseases later in life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between diet quality and newborn nutritional status in a group of pregnant Mexican women. As part of the ongoing Mexican prospective cohort study, OBESO, we studied 226 healthy pregnant women. We adapted the Alternated Healthy Eating Index-2010 for pregnancy (AHEI-10P). The association between maternal diet and newborn nutritional status was investigated by multiple linear regression and logistic regression models. We applied three 24-h recalls during the second half of gestation. As the AHEI-10P score improved by 5 units, the birth weight and length increased (β = 74.8 ± 35.0 g and β = 0.3 ± 0.4 cm, respectively, p < 0.05). Similarly, the risk of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) decreased (OR: 0.47, 95%CI: 0.27–0.82 and OR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.36–0.85, respectively). In women without preeclampsia and/or GDM, the risk of stunting decreased as the diet quality score increased (+5 units) (OR: 0.62, 95%IC: 0.40–0.96). A high-quality diet during pregnancy was associated with a higher newborn size and a reduced risk of LBW and SGA in this group of pregnant Mexican women.

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Association of food quality index with subclinical inflammation in middle-aged obese men

Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.3233/mnm-200502 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

M.L. Bellotto ◽

A. Castro ◽

I.L.P. Bonfante ◽

D.T. Brunelli ◽

M.P.T. Chacon-Mikahil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Quality ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Quality Index ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Food Groups ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Inflammatory Status ◽

Quality Diet ◽

Anti Inflammatory

BACKGROUND: High visceral fat storage unbalance secretion inflammatory peptides, however diet plays an important role-protecting metabolism against chronic diseases inherent to this condition. OBJECTIVE: To assess obese diet quality and find association with inflammatory biomarkers. METHODS: aMED, a Food Quality Index, classified the inflammatory power of 26 obese men’s diet (aged: 48.1±5.1; BMI: 31.1±2.45). Pearson correlation coefficient associated diet quality in tertiles (1st as low, 2nd as average and 3 rd as high quality diet) with inflammatory variables (cytokines and waist circumference). RESULTS: The intake of anti-inflammatory food groups was significantly higher among tertiles (3rd > 2nd > 1st; P < 0.001). Adiponectin was lower in the 2nd tertile than in the 1st (P < 0.05). Whole cereal presented a positive correlation with TNF-alpha (p = 0.049), and a negative correlation with IL–15 (p = 0.002). Fish presented a positive correlation with IL–10 (p = 0.024), Resistin (p = 0.039) and PGE–2 (p = 0.001). These findings pointed to pro and anti-inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS: The method may need adjustments when used to assess obese food intake, since they don't usually meet the daily-recommended intake. Other lifestyles variables should be considered, which may affect the inflammatory status.

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An ecological explanation for hyperallometric scaling of reproduction

10.1101/2021.03.12.435090 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tomos Potter ◽

Anja Felmy

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Reproductive Output ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Scaling Exponent ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Wet Season ◽

Size Dependent ◽

In The Wild ◽

The Relationship

AbstractIn wild populations, large individuals have disproportionately higher reproductive output than smaller individuals. We suggest an ecological explanation for this observation: asymmetry within populations in rates of resource assimilation, where greater assimilation causes both increased reproduction and body size. We assessed how the relationship between size and reproduction differs between wild and lab-reared Trinidadian guppies. We show that (i) reproduction increased disproportionately with body size in the wild but not in the lab, where effects of resource competition were eliminated; (ii) in the wild, the scaling exponent was greatest during the wet season, when resource competition is strongest; and (iii) detection of hyperallometric scaling of reproduction is inevitable if individual differences in assimilation are ignored. We propose that variation among individuals in assimilation – caused by size-dependent resource competition, niche expansion, and chance – can explain patterns of hyperallometric scaling of reproduction in natural populations.

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Variation in growth and instar number in field and laboratory Manduca sexta

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2006.0036 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 274 (1612) ◽

pp. 977-981 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Joel G Kingsolver

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Body Size ◽

Manduca Sexta ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Developmental Plasticity ◽

Larval Growth ◽

Physiological Control ◽

Larval Instars ◽

Laboratory Colony ◽

Early Larval Development

The tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta has been an important model system for understanding physiological control of growth, development and metamorphosis of insects for more than half a century. Like all Manduca , M. sexta typically has five larval instars, with developmental commitment to metamorphosis occurring early in the 5th (final) instar. Here we show that M. sexta from a field population in North Carolina (USA) shows substantial intraspecific variation in the number of larval instars when feeding on a modified artificial diet. Individuals with six instars consistently exhibited slower growth rates during early larval development than individuals with five instars. The frequency of individuals with six instars decreased with increased rearing temperature. In contrast, M. sexta from a laboratory colony consistently had five instars, and had more rapid larval growth rates than M. sexta from the field. We identify a threshold body size at the start of the 5th instar that predicts whether an individual will have five (greater than 600 mg) or six instars (less than 600 mg). Variation in field populations in Manduca provides an important resource for understanding physiological control, developmental plasticity and evolution of growth rate, body size and instar number.

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Distribution, Growth, and Seasonal Abundance of Hyalella azteca (Amphipoda) in Relation to Sediment Microflora

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f70-073 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 685-699 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Barry T. Hargrave

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Egg Production ◽

Sediment Cores ◽

Hyalella Azteca ◽

Maximum Density ◽

Seasonal Abundance ◽

Juvenile Survival ◽

Substrate Choice ◽

Deposit Feeding ◽

The Vertical Distribution

Growth, density, and body size of the deposit-feeding amphipod Hyalella azteca, and its food, epibenthic algae, and sediment microflora, were greatest in shallow-water areas of Marion Lake. The vertical distribution of Hyalella was limited to the upper 2 cm of sediment cores. Highest concentrations of sedimentary chlorophyll and lowest concentrations of nondigestible ligninlike material also occurred at the sediment surface.In laboratory substrate-choice experiments, Hyalella differentiated between sediments with different concentrations of microorganisms, and growth depended upon the quantity of microflora in the diet. In Marion Lake, increased growth of Hyalella during June was independent of temperature and closely correlated with increased rates of epibenthic primary production.Egg production, related to body size in a nonlinear manner, began during May as growth rates increased. As a combined result of egg production and juvenile survival, the maximum density of Hyalella in Marion Lake was reached in August.

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