- by Techer, M. A., Santana, V. A. P., Woo, B., Marquess, R., Brennan, C., Mechti, A. M. C., Linde, J. B., Behmer, S. T., Sword, G. A., Song, H.This protocol generates gregarious and solitarious density-dependent phenotypes in multiple Schistocerca species under controlled environmental conditions. It describes cage setup, feeding, animal handling, and sterile dissection workflows to isolate nervous, chemosensory, gut, fat body, and female reproductive tissues from nymphs and adults. It emphasizes rapid tissue stabilization and RNase-control practices for downstream single-tissue DNA and RNA analyses.
- by Dubjelova, N., Hadravova, T., Ivanov, M., Horacek, I.The European Pleistocene populations of the narrow-headed vole (Stenocranius gregalis), an index species of the Palearctic glacial communities, were recently found to differ from the extant Asian species by a deep genetic divergence and are to be considered a separate species, Stenocranius anglicus, which had to persist through the interglacial stages in local European refugia. Here, we analyze over 2000 first lower molars from 14 stratified localities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, spanning the Middle Pleistocene to Holocene, employing […]
- by Uchida, T., Yamashita, H., Shimada, G., Shoguchi, E., Shinzato, C.Photosymbiosis with dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae enables giant clams to thrive in oligotrophic coral reef environments. However, mechanisms by which clams utilize algal-derived biomolecules remain largely unexplored. Using newly available genome resources for photosymbiotic bivalves (Tridacna and Fragum), we conducted a comparative genomic analysis to identify positively selected genes from these photosymbiotic bivalve lineages, that are potentially involved in symbiotic adaptations. Among candidate genes, we focused on sulfoquinovosidase (SQase), an enzyme that hydrolyzes sulfoquinovose (SQ) from sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG), […]
- by Caspar, K. R., del Marmol, D., Gerdes, L., Zockoll, A., Schülpen, S., Begall, S.It has been hypothesized that subterranean mammals have evolved increased skin elasticity to reduce friction when moving through their underground tunnel systems. This trait is commonly believed to be mediated by greatly elongated hyaluronan (HA) polymers in the dermal extracellular matrix, which have been reported from different distantly related burrowing mammals. However, replicating these findings has proven difficult, and a mechanism by which HA polymer size could modify skin elasticity has not been proposed. In fact, experimental data on skin […]
- by Kuo, P.-C., Benson, R., Field, D. J.In birds, the quadrate bone serves as a hinge articulating with the lower jaw and the skull, playing an important mechanical role in the feeding apparatus. Avian cranial kinesis is dependent on the streptostylic quadrate transferring force from the adductor muscles at the back of the skull toward the beak, as part of a four-bar mechanical linkage to elevate and depress the bill. The complex morphology of the bird quadrate has led to authors adopting a range of alternative terminologies […]
- by Biswas, A., Karanth, P.Physical barriers are well known to restrict gene flow and generate population structure, yet what drives genetic differentiation in the absence of such barriers remains less understood. In these cases, long-term climatic fluctuations may shape genomic variation by altering habitat connectivity through time. The Western Ghats mountains in Peninsular India, marked by high endemism and in-situ radiations, provide a compelling natural laboratory to understand how historical climate change can shape genetic diversity. While the role of topographic barriers in generating […]
- by Kerr, A. M., Papeschi, S.We present new distributional records of Argiope spiders in India, based on more than 10,000 digital images of the genus from the region curated by iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org). Notable range expansions to India are documented for three species: A. chloreides Chrysanthus, 1961, A. mangal Koh, 1991, and A. sector (Forssk[a]l, 1776). Second, previously unrecorded field characters, updated distributional data, and a re-examination of published descriptions of type material, support the resurrection of A. undulata Thorell, 1887 as a valid species, long […]
- by Albaina, A., Lanzen, A., Miguel, I., Rendo, F., Santos, M.The recovery of amplifiable DNA from formaldehyde{square}fixed (FF) zooplankton samples has long been considered unfeasible. Nevertheless, advances in DNA sequencing and methods for retrieving highly degraded genetic material have demonstrated that even million{square}year{square}old samples and FF museum specimens can yield usable DNA. To access the biological information preserved in long{square}term zooplankton time series, we assessed methodologies for extracting amplifiable DNA from community samples stored for up to 28 years in formaldehyde at room temperature. On one hand, we report the […]
- by He, Y., Xi, X., Zeng, S., Wang, K., Li Richter, X., Wang, D.O_LIStudying the reproduction process, which is a key determinant of individual and population fitness in endangered species, is challenging but urgently needed. The crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), a flagship endangered species recovering from an extreme population bottleneck, provides a valuable opportunity to examine how life-history strategies shape reproductive success and inform future conservation practices. C_LIO_LIWe monitored 176 breeding pairs of crested ibis over three consecutive breeding seasons and investigated the effects of three key life-history traits, namely breeding timing, clutch […]
- by Matute, D. R.BackgroundTemperature choice is a vector trait that influences microhabitat selection and can have important implications for vector species, as it may affect how often vectors encounter hosts. Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are disease vectors whose geographic ranges continue to expand each year. One aspect that remains largely understudied is the altitudinal range of these species and the extent of differences in thermal behavior between lowland and highland populations. MethodsI collected Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus on the islands of […]
- by Navarrete Mendez, M. J., Riera, A. B. Q., Teran-Valdez, A., Naydenova, E., Coloma, L. A., Tarvin, R. D.Non-lethal sampling methods are increasingly essential for amphibian research as global declines intensify and many species persist in small, vulnerable populations. Skin biopsies offer a promising alternative to whole-animal collection and other minimally invasive approaches; however, systematic evaluations of recovery and impacts on body condition remain limited. Here, we assess the effects of small (2-mm) dorsal skin biopsies in four frog species, including three highly endangered Harlequin frogs (Atelopus bomolochos, A. balios, A. longirostris) and the Gualataco marsupial frog (Gastrotheca […]
- by Machado, L. M., Gomes, D. M. d. O., Ribeiro, F. J.Monomorium pharaonis is one of the many invasive ant species which can be found associated with the endosymbiont bacteria of the genus Wolbachia. The association of M. pharaonis ants with Wolbachia is still being studied but is already known for giving the colony a reproductive advantage. The present work aimed to use biodemography analysis to check the effect of Wolbachia in the colonies of M. pharaonis ants, regarding its reproductive potential and rate of fertility (fertility pace). We took advantage […]
- by Nojiri, K., Inoshita, K., Sugeno, H., Taga, T.Animal naming is fundamental to scientific communication, yet it also reflects the historical and cultural contexts in which names are bestowed. Scientific names function as taxonomic labels and enduring records of human engagement with nature. Owing to this dual role, species names have recently attracted increasing attention from historical and humanities perspectives, both for their informative value and for the biases they may encode. To objectively assess these patterns at a large scale, we investigated etymological trends across Animalia using […]
- by Gilbert, M. J., Middleton, E. K., Harris, L. N., Williams, E. P., Landry, T., Christopher, A. R., Lamarre, S. G., Moore, J.-S., Speers-Roesch, B.O_LIHigh northern latitudes experience extreme winters and pronounced environmental variation. Arctic animals possess remarkable and diverse physiological mechanisms to thrive under this variation, but such mechanisms are poorly studied, particularly in the aquatic realm. C_LIO_LIWe combined Arctic field and laboratory experiments to reveal how one of Earths most northerly distributed fish species, the Arctic char, seasonally adjusts its metabolism to conserve energy over winter while not feeding and to capitalize on more optimal growth conditions in summer. C_LIO_LILaboratory reared Arctic […]
- by Westcott, S. M., Bucciarelli, G. M., Heath-Heckman, E. A., Eisthen, H. L.We present here a normal table for post-embryonic development in the California newt (Taricha torosa), part of a genus of newts frequently studied for their toxicity and role within a predator-prey relationship. We generated the table by observing larvae collected as eggs in the wild and hatched and reared in the lab through metamorphosis. Building upon an established table consisting of 40 embryonic stages of development, our table consists of 13 stages based on discrete anatomical changes, primarily in limb […]
- by Arpin, C., Cellier, M., Wolfe, T., Almeida, H., Julliot, C., Villettaz Robichaud, M., Diallo, A. B., Vasseur, E.To investigate how the disturbances associated with a relocation to a bedded-pack barn, such as a housing system change, a milking system change and a social regrouping, impacts the behavior of lactating dairy cows, 38 cows from a total of 9 tie-stall or free-stall commercial farms were moved to a newly built bedded-pack barn on an enrollment basis, with a social regrouping occurring after 2 weeks. Scan sampling of video data was done to assess behavior expression in the pen, […]
- by Perl, C. D., Coto, Z. N., Johnson, R. A., Johnson, M. G., Graber, L. C., Haas, J., Waters, J. S., Traniello, J. F., Harrison, J. F.Despite the importance of neurometabolic costs in brain size evolution, quantitative data on brain metabolic rates are lacking. We measured ex vivo brain metabolic rates among species of the ant genus Pogonomyrmex to differentiate the roles of sociality and body size in brain evolution in a phylogenetic context. Worker body size and colony size (a proxy for social complexity) vary significantly among Pogonomyrmex species and were positively correlated. However, sociality was not a determinant of brain energetics. Worker body size […]
- by Arokiyaraj, C., Sreelakshmi, S., Dharshini, M., Kumar, A.Climate change driven saltwater intrusion is expanding coastal brackish water habitats, promoting the proliferation of salinity-tolerant mosquitoes such as Culex sitiens, a vector of lymphatic filariasis and Japanese encephalitis. This study investigated whether environmental salinity affects mosquito morphology, specifically proboscis length, a trait of ecological significance related to feeding efficiency and vector competence. Late fourth-instar larvae and pupae of Cx. sitiens were collected from habitats with varying salinity levels in the Muttukadu Backwater, Tamil Nadu, India, and reared under controlled […]
- by Mokhtarnazif, S., Nejati, A., Shepley, E., Dallago, G. M., Diallo, A. B., Vasseur, E.Most common housing systems for dairy cows restrict their movement, which can influence welfare, gait, and hoof health of dairy cows. Outdoor access has been proposed as a management practice to offset these restrictions, but reported effects on cows locomotion vary and may not always be captured by traditional clinical assessments. In this study, we investigated gait and hoof through clinical (i.e., visual locomotion scoring and hoof lesion assessment) and subclinical (3D motion analysis, kinetic assessment, hoof infrared thermography and […]
- by Okete, J. A., Etta, E. E., Ikika, P. E., Akpe, T. E., Onoja, B. O.Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease that is still ravaging many rural community dwellers in Nigeria. Different species of freshwater snails, such as Bulinus and Biomphalaria, play passive roles in the transmission of schistosomiasis. A study on the occurrence of snail intermediate hosts of schistosomes was conducted following mass praziquantel administration in Katsina-Ala, Benue State, Nigeria. The objective was to determine the prevalence of freshwater snails. incriminated in transmitting schistosomiasis and their cercaria infectivity. A total of 24,812 freshwater snails belonging […]
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