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opennotspecifiedJan 2017View details →

Figure 4 in Primary utricle structure of six Halimeda species and potential relevance for ocean acidification tolerance

Figure 4: Examples of transmission electron microscope images from which surface diameters of primary utricles (pU) were determined from six Halimeda species collected on reefs from Little Cayman Island. Note aragonite crystals in the primary inter-utricle spaces (pIUS). Scale bar = 10 µm.

opennotspecifiedJan 2017View details →

Figure 3 in Primary utricle structure of six Halimeda species and potential relevance for ocean acidification tolerance

Figure 3: Location of the collection sites and Little Cayman Research Center (LCRC) shown as encircled multi symbol on the northern coast of Little Cayman Island in the Caribbean (inset). The three collection sites were: (A) a shallow (<2 m) back-reef lagoon ~ 250 m from LCRC, (B) a spur and groove fore-reef (~ 15 m) ~ 700 m northeast of LCRC and (C) an outer fore-reef ledge (~ 18 m) ~ 900 m northeast of LCRC.

opennotspecifiedJan 2017View details →

Figure 1 in Primary utricle structure of six Halimeda species and potential relevance for ocean acidification tolerance

Figure 1: Illustration of a vertical section of a Halimeda copiosa segment showing basic architecture of the outermost filaments. Note how the swollen outer filaments or primary utricles (pU) adhere, creating a physical barrier between primary inter-utricle spaces (pIUS) and external seawater (S). Artwork credit: Chris Johnson.

opencc-by-4.0Nov 2024View details →

Probing the high radiation tolerance of minor actinide selective zirconium phosphonate sorbents

Data for the various figures in the article.

opencc-zeroOct 2021View details →

Foraging networks and social tolerance in a cooperatively breeding primate (Callithrix jacchus)

Within-group competition over food resources can be a major cost of social living. In the wild, foragers are confronted with social (e.g. hierarchical rank) and ecological (e.g. food availability and distribution) challenges that affect their foraging decisions and feeding success. Exhibiting prosocial behaviors, such as tolerance at feeding sites, can benefit group members by developing affiliative social relationships, enhancing access to resources and maximizing fitness. We examined social tolerance at feeding sites in Callithrix jacchus, a cooperatively breeding primate species. We investigated the set of social (rank, age, sex) and ecological (food availability) factors that influence the structure and dynamics of within-group foraging association networks. We designed and conducted an experimental field study of four wild groups of common marmosets in which we controlled food distribution (concentrated or scattered) and productivity (high, medium, or low food rewards). Then, we used social network analyses to assess the number and strength of foraging associations among group members, their effects on individual food consumption, and whether recent experiences with conspecifics during foraging affected subsequent associations. Overall, common marmoset foraging association networks were cohesive, as group members jointly occupied feeding sites. The number and strength of associations varied depending on the ecological context. Associations were stronger during conditions in which food was concentrated at a single site. Individuals obtained greater access to food resources when sharing a feeding site with conspecifics, but once a food item was obtained, the forager moved to a nearby tree and consumed it away from others. Additionally, the strength of previous foraging associations and subsequent levels of social tolerance at feeding sites were positively related, a relationship compatible with the ability of memorizing associations over time and recalling the information in future decision-making. In sum, marmosets adjusted their partner choices and the strength of foraging associations in response to food availability. They exhibited increased social tolerance at feeding sites during conditions in which opportunities for contest competition were expected to be greatest. These cooperative breeding primates appear to mutually benefit by maintaining cohesive and strong affiliative relationships, and by increasing opportunities for coordinated behavior and offspring survival.

opencc-zeroNov 2021View details →

Climate change impacts on seabirds and marine mammals: the importance of study duration, thermal tolerance and generation time

Understanding climate change impacts on top predators is fundamental to marine biodiversity conservation, due to their increasingly threatened populations and their importance in marine ecosystems. We conducted a systematic review of the effects of climate change (prolonged, directional change) and climate variability on seabirds and marine mammals. We extracted data from 484 studies (4808 published studies were reviewed), comprising 2215 observations on demography, phenology, distribution, diet, behaviour, body condition and physiology. The likelihood of concluding that climate change had an impact increased with study duration. However, the temporal thresholds for the effects of climate change to be discernible varied from 10 to 29 years depending on the species, the biological response and the oceanic study region. Species with narrow thermal ranges and relatively long generation times were more often reported to be affected by climate change. This provides an important framework for future assessments, with guidance on response- and region-specific temporal dimensions that need to be considered when reporting effects of climate change. Lastly, we found that tropical regions and non-breeding life stages were poorly covered in the literature, a concern that should be addressed to enable a better understanding of the vulnerability of marine predators to climate change.

Tolerant pattern recognition: Evidence from phonotactic responses in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus (de Geer)

When the amplitude modulation of species-specific acoustic signals is distorted in the transmission channel, signals become difficult to recognise by the receiver. Tolerant auditory pattern recognition systems, which after having perceived the correct species-specific signal transiently broaden their acceptance of communication signals, would be advantageous for animals as an adaptation to the constraints of the environment. Using a well-studied cricket species, Gryllus bimaculatus, we analysed tolerance in auditory steering responses to non-attractive "Odd" and "Silent" chirps by employing a fine-scale open-loop trackball system. Odd chirps on their own did not elicit a phonotactic response. However, when inserted into a calling song pattern with attractive Normal chirps, the females' phonotactic response towards these patterns was significantly larger than to patterns with Silent chirps. Moreover, females actively steered towards non-attractive Odd chirps when these were presented within a sequence of attractive chirps. Our results suggest that crickets employ a tolerant pattern recognition system that, once activated, transiently allows responses to non-attractive sound patterns. As pattern recognition modulates how crickets process non-attractive acoustic signals, the finding is also relevant for the interpretation of two-choice behavioural experiments.

Cold tolerance of laboratory-reared Asian longhorned beetles

Low winter temperatures in temperate climates can limit the success of non-native species. The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is an invasive wood-boring pest of hardwood trees in North America and Europe. Native A. glabripennis populations are spread across several climate zones in China and the Korean Peninsula and are likely to encounter low temperatures in at least some of this range. Understanding the lethal limits of the overwintering life stages of A. glabripennis is essential for accurately modeling the risk that invasive populations pose to non-native environments. In this study, we provide the first systematic characterization of the cold tolerance strategy and lower lethal limits of A. glabripennis eggs, larvae, and pupae. In diapausing larvae, the most common overwintering stage in this species, we measure hemolymph glycerol and osmolality and identify the effects of prolonged low temperature exposure. In developing pupae, we identify sublethal effects caused by low temperature exposure before freezing. Eggs and larvae were the most cold-tolerant life stages; eggs were freeze-avoidant with an average supercooling point of -25.8 °C and larvae were freeze tolerant with an LT90 of -25 °C. Hemolymph osmolality of freeze-tolerant larvae, on average, increased to 811 mOsm during chilling. This increase was primarily driven by a concurrent, average increase of 232 mM hemolymph glycerol. Pupae died upon exposure to freezing temperatures, but accumulate strong sublethal effects prior to freezing, indicating that they are chill susceptible. Taken together, these data will be useful to inform species distribution modeling in A. glabripennis.

Genomic data from: Are you ready for the heat? Phenotypic plasticity vs adaptation of heat tolerance in three-spined stickleback

Heat waves constitute a challenge for aquatic ectotherms. However, the thermal tolerance of animals and their individual phenotypic plasticity to respond to heat waves may be influenced by thermal history. We tested these hypotheses by comparing the upper thermal tolerance and the individual capacities of three-spined sticklebacks from populations with different thermal histories to respond to heat waves. Two populations originated from thermally polluted nuclear power plant (NPP) habitats, while four locations represented geographically adjacent control areas. To disentangle the genetic adaptation from the phenotypic plastic response, we measured the individual upper thermal tolerance and the responses at molecular level in common garden conditions before and after a laboratory-mimicked heat wave. We found that the sticklebacks exhibit considerable phenotypic plasticity in thermal tolerance since the heat wave increased fish upper thermal tolerance significantly. The individual plasticity to respond to the heat wave was also negatively correlated to initial thermal tolerance. On the other hand, neither the thermal tolerance nor the plastic responses differed between NPP and control sites despite detection of significant but low genome-wide divergence in 10 out of 15 pairwise comparisons. Our results suggest that five decades of nuclear power plant activity with warmer water has not resulted in a detectable evolutionary change in either the upper thermal tolerance or its plasticity in three-spined sticklebacks potentially rendering them sensitive to frequent heat waves.

opennotspecifiedJan 2022View details →

FIGURE 2 in Aspergillus sibiricus (Aspergillaceae, Eurotiales), a novel acid-tolerant species in Aspergillus section Fumigati

FIGURE 2. Morphological characters of Aspergillus sibiricus. a. CYA. b. MEA. c. OA. d. M20S. e. CYA reverse. f. MEA reverse. g. YES. h. CZ. i, j. Conidiophores. k. Conidia. Scale bar = 10 μm.

opennotspecifiedJan 2022View details →

FIGURE 1 in Aspergillus sibiricus (Aspergillaceae, Eurotiales), a novel acid-tolerant species in Aspergillus section Fumigati

FIGURE 1. Phylogenetic tree based on maximum likelihood (ML) analysis of combined ITS+BenA+CaM+RPB2 sequences showing relationships of Aspergillus sibiricus to other Aspergillus species in section Fumigati. The tree is rooted with A. clavatus NRRL 1. The bootstrap percentages>50% are given at the nodes. The scale bar indicates the number of substitutions per site. The new species A. sibiricus (CBS 143307) is shown in bold. The lilac colour defines the species belonging to series Unilaterales.

opencc-zeroJan 2022View details →

Heterogeneous environmental seascape across a biogeographic brake influences the thermal physiology and tolerances to ocean acidification in an ecosystem

Aim: Understanding how spatio-temporal environmental variability influences stress tolerance, local adaptation, and phenotypic variation among populations is a key challenge for evolutionary ecology and climate change biology. Coastal biogeographic breaks are natural laboratories to explore this fundamental research question due to the contrasting environmental conditions experienced by natural populations across these regions. Location: In the South East Pacific (SEP) coast a major break (30º-32ºS) is characterized by extreme natural variability in sea surface temperature (SST) and carbonate chemistry parameters related to temporal and spatial dynamics in upwelling events. Calcifying organisms inhibiting this zone are exposed to marked fluctuations and clines in SST that together with naturally acidified waters can impact their metabolism, calcification and fitness, making them particularly prone to the effects of climate change (e.g., ocean acidification, OA). We investigated to what extent the spatial and temporal environmental variability (in SST and seawater carbonate conditions) that characterizes the biogeographic break in the SEP, influences intra-specific differences in the thermal ecology and the tolerances to OA of the limpet Scurria araucana. Methods: During two years, we conducted field surveys of limpet populations at sites across the SEP break (27ºS, 30ºS and 32ºS). We collected individuals from each population to test for geographic differences in morphometric (e.g., total buoyancy weight, shell length) and physiological (e.g., oxygen consumption rate, cardiac activity, and thermal performance curves; TPC) responses to local environmental conditions (Tº and pH/pCO2) and to simulated OA scenarios. Results: Populations of S. Araucana exhibit high tolerance to OA with no signal of geographic influence on this attribute. However, inter-population differences in thermal physiology (metabolic rates and performances) where found across the biogeographic break in the SEP coast. Limpets from the central part of the break (30ºS) exhibit higher thermal performance compared to limpets from populations at both sides of the break. Main conclusions: Variation in SST has a greater effect shaping inter-population differences in thermal physiology of the limpet S. araucana. These physiological differences are aligned the thermal heterogenous seascape along the biogeographic break in the SEP. Contrary, temporal and spatial variation in seawater carbonate conditions does not influence inter-population differences in phenotypic response populations, but an overall high tolerance to OA.

opencc-zeroFeb 2022View details →

Thermal tolerance of fish to heatwaves in agricultural streams: What does not kill you makes you stronger?

Heatwaves are increasing in frequency and intensity under climate change. Freshwater ecosystems are among the most thermally impacted systems, within which agricultural streams are experiencing the most extreme heatwaves and deserve prioritized focus. Heatwaves are approaching the upper thermal limits of many fishes but have received little attention to date. To study whether and how fish tolerate heatwaves from a physiological perspective, we simulated single, multiple, and extended heatwaves at 32 and 34 °C in the laboratory, based on high-resolution summer temperatures recorded in agricultural vs. forested streams in Illinois, USA. By investigating the effects of heatwaves on 25 °C acclimated fathead minnow Pimephales promelas, an important prey species across North America, we witnessed its high thermal resilience, including a rapid return to metabolic homeostasis after single and multiple heatwaves, measured by oxygen consumption rate (ṀO2). During extended heatwave, fathead minnow were still able to lower ṀO2 after the initial exposure, despite without complete thermal compensation. We also found transient increases in their critical thermal maximum (CTmax), especially after higher intensity and frequency of heatwaves. However, the thermal resilience of fathead minnow did come with costs, including reduced anaerobic capacity indicated by decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity and impaired antioxidant defense indicated by reduced superoxide dismutase in white muscle. By monitoring metabolic costs and physiological adjustments of fish during and after heatwaves, we showed that fathead minnow were resilient to simulated current and near-future heatwaves, which may allow them to cope with thermal extremes expected in agricultural streams. Overall, the real-time monitoring of fish responses to heatwaves incorporates natural dynamics of thermal patterns. It facilitates the mechanistic understandings of how fish react to thermal challenges in the real world and offers opportunities to incorporate high-resolution metabolic costs into future bioenergetic modeling.

No consistent effect of daytime versus night-time measurement of thermal tolerance in nocturnal and diurnal lizards

While essential in understanding impacts of climate change for organisms, diel variation remains an understudied component of temporal variation in thermal tolerance limits (i.e. the critical thermal minimum (CTmin) and maximum (CTmax)). For example, a higher Ctmax might be expected for an individual if the measurement is taken during the day (when heat stress is most likely to occur) instead of at night. We measured thermal tolerance (Ctmin and Ctmax) during both the daytime and night-time in 101 nocturnal and diurnal geckos and skinks in Hong Kong and in South Africa, representing six species, and covering a range of habitats. We found that period of measurement (day vs. night) only affected Ctmin in South Africa (but not in Hong Kong) and that Ctmax was unaffected. Body size and species were important factors for determining Ctmax in Hong Kong and Ctmin in South Africa, respectively. Overall, however, we did not find consistent diel variation of thermal tolerance and suggest that measurements of critical thermal limits may be influenced by timing of measurement – but that such effects, when present, are likely to be context-dependent.

Tolerance niche expansion and potential distribution prediction during Asian openbill bird range expansion

It is prevalent to use ecological niche models in the analysis of species expansion and niche changes. However, it is difficult to estimate the niche when alien species fail to establish in exotic areas. Here, we applied the tolerance niche concept, which means that niche of species can live and grow but preclude a species from establishing self-sustaining populations, in such fail-to-establish events. Taking the rapidly expanded bird, Asian openbill (Anastomus oscitans), as a model species, we investigated niche dynamics and its potential effects on the population by Niche A and ecospat, predicted potential distribution by biomod2. Results showed that niche expansion has occurred in two non-native populations caused by the tolerance of colder and wetter environments, and potential distribution mainly concentrated on equatorial islands. Our study suggested that the expanded niche belongs to tolerance niche concept according to the populations' dynamics and GPS tracking evidence. It is essential to consider source populations when we analyse the alien species. We recommended more consideration to the application of tolerance niche in alien species research, and there is still a need for standard measurement frameworks for analysing the tolerance niche.

Data from: Energy and physiological tolerance explain multi-trophic soil diversity in temperate mountains

Aim – Although soil biodiversity is extremely rich and spatially variable, both in terms of species and trophic groups, we still know little about its main drivers. Here, we contrast four long-standing hypotheses to explain the spatial variation of soil multi-trophic diversity: energy, physiological tolerance, habitat heterogeneity, and resource heterogeneity. Location – French Alps Methods – We built on a large-scale observatory across the French Alps (Orchamp) made of seventeen elevational gradients (~90 plots) ranging from low to very high altitude (280 - 3160 m), and encompassing large variations in climate, vegetation and pedological conditions. Biodiversity measurements of 36 soil trophic groups were obtained through environmental DNA metabarcoding. Using a machine learning approach, we assessed 1) the relative importance of predictors linked to different ecological hypotheses in explaining overall multi-trophic soil biodiversity, and 2) the consistency of the response curves across trophic groups. Results – We showed that predictors associated with the four hypotheses had a statistically significant influence on soil multi-trophic diversity, with the strongest support for the energy and physiological tolerance hypotheses. Physiological tolerance explained spatial variation in soil diversity consistently across trophic groups, and was an especially strong predictor for bacteria, protists and microfauna. The effect of energy was more group-specific, with energy input through soil organic matter strongly affecting groups related to the detritus channel. Habitat and resource heterogeneity had overall weaker and more specific impacts on biodiversity with habitat heterogeneity affecting mostly autotrophs, and resource heterogeneity affecting bacterivores, phytophagous insects, enchytraeids and saprotrophic fungi. Main Conclusions – Despite the variability of responses to the environmental drivers found across soil trophic groups, major commonalities on the ecological processes structuring soil biodiversity emerged. We conclude that among the major ecological hypotheses traditionally applied to aboveground organisms, some are particularly relevant to predict the spatial variation in soil biodiversity across the major soil trophic groups.

Leading trait dimensions in flood-tolerant plants

Background and Aims While trait-based approaches have provided critical insights into general plant functioning, we lack a comprehensive quantitative view on plant strategies in flooded conditions. Plants adapted to flooded conditions have specific traits (e.g. root porosity, low root/shoot ratio and shoot elongation) to cope with the environmental stressors including anoxic sediments, and the subsequent presence of phytotoxic compounds. In flooded habitats, plants also respond to potential nutrient and light limitations, e.g. through the expression of leaf economics traits and size-related traits, respectively. However, we do not know whether and how these trait dimensions are connected. Methods Based on a trait dataset compiled on 131 plant species from 141 studies in flooded habitats, we quantitatively analysed how flooding-induced traits are positioned in relation to the other two dominant trait dimensions: leaf economics traits and size-related traits. We evaluated how these key trait components are expressed along wetness gradients, across habitat types and among plant life forms. Key Results We found that flooding-induced traits constitute a trait dimension independent from leaf economics traits and size-related traits, indicating that there is no generic trade-off associated with flooding adaptations. Moreover, individual flooding-induced traits themselves are to a large extent decoupled from each other. These results suggest that adaptation to stressful environments, such as flooding, can be stressor specific without generic adverse effects on plant functioning (e.g. causing trade-offs on leaf economics traits). Conclusions The trait expression across multiple dimensions promotes plant adaptations and coexistence across multifaceted flooded environments. The decoupled trait dimensions, as related to different environmental drivers, also explain why ecosystem functioning (including, for example, methane emissions) are species and habitat specific. Thus, our results provide a backbone for applying trait-based approaches in wetland ecology by considering flooding-induced traits as an independent trait dimension.

opencc-zeroApr 2022View details →

Historical exposure to chemicals reduces tolerance to novel chemical stress in Daphnia (waterflea)

Until the last few decades, anthropogenic chemicals used in most production processes didn't have a comprehensive assessment of their risk and impact on wildlife and humans. They are transported globally and usually end up in the environment as unintentional pollutants causing long-term adverse effects. Modern toxicology practises typically use acute toxicity tests of unrealistic concentrations of chemicals to determine their safe use, missing pathological effects arising from long-term exposures to environmentally relevant concentrations. Here, we study the transgenerational effect of environmentally relevant concentrations of five chemicals on the priority list of international regulatory frameworks on the keystone species Daphnia magna. We expose Daphnia genotypes resurrected from the sedimentary archive of a lake with a known history of chemical pollution to the five chemicals to understand how historical exposure to chemicals influences adaptive responses to novel chemical stress. We measure within and transgenerational plasticity in fitness-linked life history traits following exposure of 'experienced' and 'naive' genotypes to novel chemical stress. As the revived Daphnia originates from the same genetic pool sampled at different times in the past, we are able to quantify the long-term evolutionary impact of chemical pollution by studying genome-wide diversity and identifying functional pathways affected by historical chemical stress. Our results suggest that historical exposure to chemical stress causes reduced genome-wide diversity, leading to lower cross-generational tolerance to novel chemical stress. Lower tolerance is underpinned by reduced gene diversity at detoxification, catabolism and endocrine genes in experienced genotypes. We show that these genes sit within pathways that are conserved and potential chemical targets in other species, including humans.

Decomposing cover crops modify root-associated microbiome composition and disease tolerance of cash crop seedlings

The assembly of root-associated microbes during the seedling stage has strong impact on subsequent performance of crops. Major factors influencing this assembly are crop species identity and composition of potential root-colonizing microbes in the bulk soil. The latter can be modified by soil management, such as organic amendments. The incorporation of residues of cover crops before the start of the growing season of cash crops presents an interesting option for steering of root-associated seedling microbiomes as there is a wide range of cover crops species with different properties available for farmers. In a greenhouse study, we examined the effect of soil amendments with milled shoot and root materials of seven cover crop species (niger seed, phacelia, rapeseed, radish, vetch, black oat and buckwheat) on the soil nitrogen and biomass of seedlings of four cash crop species (asparagus, carrot, onion and sugar beet) and their root-associated bacteria and fungi. Field-grown cover crops material used for the study was collected at two time points (before and after winter) which had strong impact on plant elemental composition. Since the soil used for the study was a mixture of sandy arable soils with a history of soil-borne fungal diseases (Fusarium and Rhizoctonia), we also examined whether decomposing cover crop residues had an influence on the severity of damping-off diseases. Within the context of a strong selection of root-associated microbes by cash crop species, we found significant modifying effects by cover crop materials. High-quality residues (with low C/N ratio) caused profound shifts within root-associated Proteobacteria and increases in relative abundance of certain microbial groups such as Bacillaceae and Mortierellomycetes. These changes coincided with differences in establishment and survival of cash crop seedlings. This indicates that fine-tuning of cover crops amendments for different cash crops is required to realize enhanced functioning of root microbiomes.