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Integrative zoology
Blackwell.
Integrative zoology

Blackwell.

1749-4869

Integrative zoology/Journal Integrative zoology
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    What is the difference between marine and limnetic-terrestrial associations of nematodes with invertebrates?

    Alexei V. TCHESUNOVViatcheslav N. IVANENKO
    30页
    查看更多>>摘要：Zoo- and phyto-parasitic nematodes of the order Rhabditida and zooparasites of the subclass Dorylaimia are well known, due largely to their medical, veterinarian and agricultural significance. However, there have been many switches from a free-living to a symbiotic (including parasitism) mode of existence in the evolutionary trajectories of various nematode clades. Here, we attempt to summarize all known cases of symbioses (from commensalism to true parasitism) between marine nematodes representing nonparasitic taxa and various larger animals, ranging from protists to vertebrates. Most cases are of nematodes relating to dwelling on crustaceans (ectocommensalism) or living in the body cavity and internal organs of various invertebrates (endoparasitism or parasitoidism). Ectocommensal species may differ from their free-living relatives in their longer filiform bodies and enlarged ventral and caudal glands, which may be interpreted as adaptations for the purpose of fixation on the body surface of a motile host. Endoparasitic species are characterized by deep anatomical modification, including rudimentation of the alimentary tract and hypertrophy of reproductive organs. Unlike terrestrial and limnetic invertebrates, marine invertebrates have almost no intestinal nematode dwellers. The evolutionary trajectories of nematode dwellers of marine and nonmarine invertebrates are compared.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    Differential effects of environmental climatic variables on parasite abundances in blue tit nests during a decade

    Francisco CASTA?O-VáZQUEZSantiago MERINO
    19页
    查看更多>>摘要：Models on climate change have predicted an increase of temperature over the earth's surface with potential drastic effects on living organisms. We analyzed the relationships between climatic conditions (temperature, rainfall, and wind speed) and the abundance of blood-sucking flying insects (biting midges and blackflies) and nest-dwelling ectoparasites (mites, fleas, and blowflies) collected from blue tit nests during bird breeding seasons for a period of 10 years. Average temperature, rainfall, and wind speed showed significant differences among years. Temperature and wind speed increased during the period of study while rainfall decreased. Biting midge, blackfly, and blowfly abundances increased across years but not flea and mite abundances. Hatching date decreased and brood size increased across years. Independently of year variation, parasites were related to climatic variables. For example, biting midge, blowfly, mite, and flea abundances were positive and significantly related to average temperature. We also found a positive and significant relationship between abundances of Haemoproteus infections and biting midge abundances during the first year of life of birds out of nests. However, abundance and prevalence of Lankesterella infections in yearlings were positive and significantly related to mite abundances during the year of birth of birds. Leucocytozoon and Lankesterella infections were also significantly related to climatic variables and Haemoproteus and Lankesterella infections increased across years. In addition, body condition of adult females and males were negatively related to flea larvae and blowfly abundance respectively. Nestling body condition was also negatively related to biting midge abundance. Changes in climatic conditions across years could therefore affect several parasites of birds but also to birds themselves.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    The roles of anurans in antagonistic networks are explained by life-habit and body-size

    Amanda Caroline DUDCZAKGabriel Massaccesi DE LA TORRELorena EUCLYDESKarla Magalh?es CAMPI?O...
    13页
    查看更多>>摘要：Interactions among living beings are the structuring basis of ecosystems, and studies of networks allow us to identify the patterns and consistency of such interactions. Antagonistic networks reflect the energy flow of communities, and identifying network structure and the biological aspects that influence its stability is crucial to understanding ecosystem functioning. We used antagonistic anuran interactions-predator-prey and host-parasite-to assess structural patterns and to identify the key anuran species structuring these networks. We tested whether anuran body-size and life-habit are related to their roles in these networks. We collected individuals of 9 species of anurans from an area of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil and identified their prey and helminth parasites. We used network (modularity, specialization, and nestedness) and centrality metrics (degree, closeness, and betweenness) to identify the role of anuran species in both networks. We then evaluated whether anuran body-size or life-habit were related to anuran centrality using generalized linear mixed models. The networks formed specialized interactions in compartments composed by key species from different habits. In our networks, anurans with rheophilic and cryptozoic habit are central in predator-prey networks, and those with larger body size and arboreal and cryptozoic habit in the host-parasite network. This study represents a step towards a better understanding of the influential factors that affect the structure of anuran antagonist networks, as well as to recognize the functioning roles of anuran species.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    Prevalence and molecular characterization of Pentatrichomonas hominis in Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in northeast China

    Hongbo ZHANGNan ZHANGPengtao GONGShuqin CHENG...
    7页
    查看更多>>摘要：Pentatrichomonas hominis, an anaerobic flagellated protozoan that inhabits the large intestines of mammals and belongs to the Trichomonadidae family (Wenrich 1944; Kim et al. 2010; Li et al. 2014b, 2016, 2018a, 2020; Maritz et al. 2014; Zhang et al. 2019), is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route. It was originally presumed to be a commensal protozoan (Tolbert et al. 2012) but was found to cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea in humans, dogs, and cats (Gookin et al. 2005; Kim et al. 2010; Meloni et al. 2011; Maritz et al. 2014; Bastos et al. 2018; Do?an & Tuzemen 2018). It is also associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, irritable bowel syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis in humans (Jongwutiwes et al. 2000; Meloni et al. 2011; Compaoré et al. 2013). It is well established that approximately 41.54% of P. hominis infections are found in Chinese patients with gastrointestinal cancer (Zhang et al. 2019). In recent years, awareness of the zoonotic and pathologic potential of P. hominis led to the increasing number of studies on the prevalence and pathogenicity of P. hominis infections in different vertebrates. P. hominis infection has been investigated in humans, domestic animals, and several wildlife species such as sika deer (Cervus nippon), rex rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), blue foxes (Alopex lagopus), silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes fulva), raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), and minks (Neovison vison) (Meloni et al. 1993; Inoue et al. 2015; Li et al. 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018a,b, 2020). However, the prevalence of this parasite in Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) has not yet been assessed.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    Natural nest substrates influence squamate embryo physiology but have little effect on hatchling phenotypes

    Joshua M. HALLJocelyn MIRACLECindy D. SCRUGGSDaniel A. WARNER...
    17页
    查看更多>>摘要：Vertebrate embryos require access to water; however, many species nest in terrestrial habitats that vary considerably in moisture content. Oviparous, non-avian reptiles have served as models to understand how environmental factors, like moisture availability, influence development because eggs are often exposed to prevailing environments in the absence of parental care. Though much research demonstrates the importance of water absorption by eggs, many ecological factors that influence moisture availability in natural nests have received little attention. For example, the type of substrate in which nests are constructed is understudied. We experimentally incubated eggs of the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) in 2 naturally occurring nest substrates that were treated with varying amounts of water to determine how natural substrates influence development at different moisture concentrations. One substrate consisted of sand and crushed seashells and the other was mostly organic material (i.e. decayed plant material). Both are common nesting substrates at our field site. When controlling for water uptake by eggs, we found that egg survival and hatchling phenotypes were similar between substrates; however, embryos developed more quickly in the sand/shell substrate than the organic substrate, indicating substrate-specific effects on embryo physiology. These results demonstrate that different natural substrates can result in similar developmental outcomes if the water available to eggs is comparable; however, some aspects of development, like developmental rate, are affected by the type of substrate, independent of water availability. Further study is required to determine how natural substrates influence embryo physiology independent of water content.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    Every breath you take: assessing metabolic costs of toxin resistance in garter snakes (Thamnophis)

    Haley A. MONIZMolly A. RICHARDC. M. GIENGERChris R. FELDMAN...
    14页
    查看更多>>摘要：Trait specialization often comes at the expense of original trait function, potentially causing evolutionary tradeoffs that may render specialist populations vulnerable to extinction. However, many specialized adaptations evolve repeatedly, suggesting selection favors specialization in specific environments. Some garter snake (Thamnophis) populations possess specialized mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels that allow them to consume Pacific newts (Taricha) defended by a highly potent neurotoxin (tetrodotoxin). These mutations, however, also decrease protein and muscle function, suggesting garter snakes may suffer evolutionary tradeoffs. We measured a key physiological process, standard metabolic rate (SMR), to investigate whether specialized adaptations in toxin-resistant garter snakes affect baseline energy expenditure. In snakes, skeletal muscles influence metabolism and power ventilation, so inefficiencies of sodium channels in these muscles might impact whole-animal energy expenditure. Further, because sodium channels are membrane-bound proteins, inefficiencies of channel kinetics and performance might be exacerbated at suboptimal temperatures. We measured SMR in 2 species, Thamnophis atratus and Thamnophis sirtalis, that independently evolved tetrodotoxin resistance through unique mutations, providing replicate experiments with distinct underlying genetics and potential physiological costs. Despite our expectations, neither resistance phenotype nor sodium channel genotype affected metabolism and resistant snakes did not perform worse under suboptimal body temperature. Instead, T. atratus and T. sirtalis show nearly identical rates of mass-adjusted energy expenditure at both temperatures, despite differing eco-morphologies, life histories, and distant phylogenetic positions. These findings suggest SMR may be a conserved feature of Thamnophis, and that any organismal tradeoffs may be compensated to retain whole-animal function.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    Antioxidant response to severe hypoxia in Brandt's vole Lasiopodomys brandtii

    Luye SHIBojian CHENXinrui WANGMaolin HUANG...
    15页
    查看更多>>摘要：The antioxidant defense system is essential for animals to cope with homeostasis disruption and overcome oxidative stress caused by adverse environmental conditions such as hypoxia. However, our understanding of how this system works in subterranean rodents remains limited. In this study, Brandt's vole Lasiopodomys brandtii was exposed to normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (mild or severe hypoxia: 10% or 5% O2) for 6 h. Changes in key enzymes of the classic enzymatic antioxidant system at both mRNA and enzyme activity levels, and tissue antioxidant levels of the low-molecular-weight antioxidant system were determined in brain, liver, and kidney. Transcript levels of the upstream regulator NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were also measured. We found that the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant enzyme genes in L. brandtii were relatively conserved in response to hypoxia in most tissues and genes tested, except in the liver. Hepatic Nrf2, Cu/Zn SOD, GPx1, and GPx3 levels were significantly upregulated in response to mild hypoxia, whereas Mn SOD level decreased significantly in severe hypoxia. Unmatched with changes at the RNA level, constitutively high and relatively stable antioxidant enzyme activities were maintained throughout. For the low-molecular-weight antioxidant system, an abrupt increase of cerebral ascorbic acid (AA) levels in hypoxia indicated a tissue-specific antioxidant response. Although hypoxia did not cause significant oxidative damage in most tissues tested, the significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities (GPX and GR) and increase in lipid peroxidation in the kidney suggest that prolonged hypoxia may pose a critical threat to this species.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    Relationships between soil pollution by heavy metals and melanin-dependent coloration of a fossorial amphisbaenian reptile

    José MARTíNPablo RECIOGonzalo RODRíGUEZ-RUIZIsabel BARJA...
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要：Melanin is the basis of coloration in many animals, and although it is often used in communication, thermoregulation, or camouflage, melanin has many other physiological functions. For example, in polluted habitats, melanin can have a detoxifying function. Melanic coloration would help to sequester in the skin the heavy metal contaminants from inside the body, which will be expelled to the exterior when the skin is sloughed. Moreover, animals should have evolved more melanic colorations in more polluted habitats ("industrial melanism" hypothesis). We examined whether the fossorial amphisbaenian reptile, Trogonophis wiegmanni, is able to eliminate heavy metals, derived from soil pollution by seagull depositions, through sloughing its skin. Our results suggest a covariation between levels of soil pollution by heavy metals and the concentration of heavy metals in the sloughed skins of amphisbaenians. This suggests that amphisbaenians may expel heavy metals from their bodies when they slough the skins. We also tested whether amphisbaenians inhabiting soils with higher levels of heavy metal pollution had darker (melanin-dependent) body colorations. However, contrary to predictions from the "industrial melanization" hypothesis, we found a negative relationship between soil pollution and proportions of melanic coloration. This contradictory result could, however, be explained because heavy metals have endocrine disruption effects that increase physiological stress, and higher stress levels could result in decreased melanogenesis. We suggest that although amphisbaenians might have some detoxifying mechanism linked to melanin in the skin, this process might be negatively affected by stress and result ineffective under conditions of high soil pollution.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    Role of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 in behavioral thermoregulation of the Mongolian gerbil Meriones unguiculatus

    Luye SHIBojian CHENXinrui WANGMaolin HUANG...
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：The antioxidant defense system is essential for animals to cope with homeostasis disruption and overcome oxidative stress caused by adverse environmental conditions such as hypoxia. However, our understanding of how this system works in subterranean rodents remains limited. In this study, Brandt's vole Lasiopodomys brandtii was exposed to normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (mild or severe hypoxia: 10% or 5% O2) for 6 h. Changes in key enzymes of the classic enzymatic antioxidant system at both mRNA and enzyme activity levels, and tissue antioxidant levels of the low-molecular-weight antioxidant system were determined in brain, liver, and kidney. Transcript levels of the upstream regulator NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were also measured. We found that the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant enzyme genes in L. brandtii were relatively conserved in response to hypoxia in most tissues and genes tested, except in the liver. Hepatic Nrf2, Cu/Zn SOD, GPx1, and GPx3 levels were significantly upregulated in response to mild hypoxia, whereas Mn SOD level decreased significantly in severe hypoxia. Unmatched with changes at the RNA level, constitutively high and relatively stable antioxidant enzyme activities were maintained throughout. For the low-molecular-weight antioxidant system, an abrupt increase of cerebral ascorbic acid (AA) levels in hypoxia indicated a tissue-specific antioxidant response. Although hypoxia did not cause significant oxidative damage in most tissues tested, the significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities (GPX and GR) and increase in lipid peroxidation in the kidney suggest that prolonged hypoxia may pose a critical threat to this species.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley

    Latitudinal pattern of the thermal sensitivity of running speed in the endemic lizard Liolaemus multimaculatus

    Oscar Aníbal STELLATELLILaura E. VEGACarolina BLOCKCamila ROCCA...
    19页
    查看更多>>摘要：Physiological performance in lizards may be affected by climate across latitudinal or altitudinal gradients. In the coastal dune barriers in central-eastern Argentina, the annual maximum environmental temperature decreases up to 2℃ from low to high latitudes, while the mean relative humidity of the air decreases from 50% to 25%. Liolaemus multimaculatus, a lizard in the family Liolaemidae, is restricted to these coastal dunes. We investigated the locomotor performance of the species at 6 different sites distributed throughout its range in these dune barriers. We inquired whether locomotor performance metrics were sensitive to the thermal regime attributable to latitude. The thermal performance breadth increased from 7% to 82% with latitude, due to a decrease in its critical thermal minimum of up to 5℃ at higher latitudes. Lizards from high latitude sites showed a thermal optimum, that is, the body temperature at which maximum speed is achieved, up to 4℃ lower than that of lizards from the low latitude. At relatively low temperatures, the maximum running speed of high-latitude individuals was faster than that of low-latitude ones. Thermal parameters of locomotor performance were labile, decreasing as a function of latitude. These results show populations of L. multimaculatus adjust thermal physiology to cope with local climatic variations. This suggests that thermal sensitivity responds to the magnitude of latitudinal fluctuations in environmental temperature.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Wiley