Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1186/s12983-025-00593-z
Nitzan Alon,Ariel D Chipman
Current research on insect neurogenesis is focused on Holometabola, which undergo a derived developmental mode that includes metamorphosis, leading to a partial representation of the range of neurogenesis patterns in the embryonic insect nervous system. In this paper, we investigate neurogenesis in the hemimetabolous insect Oncopeltus fasciatus, focusing on both the trunk and brain regions. Our findings reveal early neuroblast formation in the brain, followed by a second phase in the whole embryo. Notably, we did not find gene expression patterns consistent with pro-neural clusters in Oncopeltus, and the brain exhibits characteristics that do not exist in the trunk. We also highlight similarities between segmentation and neurogenesis, proposing that spatial cues play a key role in this differentiation, as both the head and the thorax segment simultaneously. Our analysis suggests that brain development follows a separate trajectory from trunk neurogenesis in at least one neuroblast population that develops earlier than their counterparts. These findings diverge from the commonly presented view of insect neurogenesis and offer new insights into the ancestral roles of key genes involved in neural development.
{"title":"Neurogenesis in the trunk and brain of the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus: insights beyond holometabolan models.","authors":"Nitzan Alon,Ariel D Chipman","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00593-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00593-z","url":null,"abstract":"Current research on insect neurogenesis is focused on Holometabola, which undergo a derived developmental mode that includes metamorphosis, leading to a partial representation of the range of neurogenesis patterns in the embryonic insect nervous system. In this paper, we investigate neurogenesis in the hemimetabolous insect Oncopeltus fasciatus, focusing on both the trunk and brain regions. Our findings reveal early neuroblast formation in the brain, followed by a second phase in the whole embryo. Notably, we did not find gene expression patterns consistent with pro-neural clusters in Oncopeltus, and the brain exhibits characteristics that do not exist in the trunk. We also highlight similarities between segmentation and neurogenesis, proposing that spatial cues play a key role in this differentiation, as both the head and the thorax segment simultaneously. Our analysis suggests that brain development follows a separate trajectory from trunk neurogenesis in at least one neuroblast population that develops earlier than their counterparts. These findings diverge from the commonly presented view of insect neurogenesis and offer new insights into the ancestral roles of key genes involved in neural development.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145717915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Allopolyploidy creates duplicated genomes that drives evolutionary innovation and adaptive diversification under extreme environmental pressures. Although subgenomic architecture is recognized as pivotal in post-polyploid evolution, the mechanisms by which divergent subgenome dynamics shape adaptive potential remain unclear. We investigated how subgenome evolution relates to environmental adaptation in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish, an allotetraploid lineage that repeatedly colonized caves across the karst landscapes of Southwest China. We integrated full-length and short-read transcriptomes from a surface-dwelling species (S. angustiporus) and two independently cave-adapted species (S. microphthalmus and S. furcodorsalis). The two cave dweller species showed consistent B-subgenome dominance in homoeolog expression, whereas the surface species showed balanced expression. Functional enrichment analyses identified lineage-specific functional divergence of dominantly expressed homoeologs. In S. microphthalmus, subgenome-dominant genes were significantly enriched in immunological elements, suggesting an evolutionary shift in immune investment. In S. furcodorsalis, subgenome-dominant genes were significantly enriched in neuromodulatory and metabolic pathways, consistent with energy conservation and sensory regression in nutrient-poor caves. Together, these findings suggest that polyploidy can promote diversification through convergent subgenome dominance. Biased repurposing of distinct stress-responsive modules resolves ancestral genomic conflicts. This, in turn, drives the emergence of lineage-specific functions and links genome duplication to ecological adaptation.
{"title":"Convergent subgenome dominance but with lineage-specific functional divergence of homoeologs during cave adaptation: insights from full-length transcriptomes of Sinocyclocheilus species.","authors":"Shaohua Xu,Mingming Zhang,Fanwei Meng,Chongnv Wang,Xinxin Li,Baocheng Guo","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00591-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00591-1","url":null,"abstract":"Allopolyploidy creates duplicated genomes that drives evolutionary innovation and adaptive diversification under extreme environmental pressures. Although subgenomic architecture is recognized as pivotal in post-polyploid evolution, the mechanisms by which divergent subgenome dynamics shape adaptive potential remain unclear. We investigated how subgenome evolution relates to environmental adaptation in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish, an allotetraploid lineage that repeatedly colonized caves across the karst landscapes of Southwest China. We integrated full-length and short-read transcriptomes from a surface-dwelling species (S. angustiporus) and two independently cave-adapted species (S. microphthalmus and S. furcodorsalis). The two cave dweller species showed consistent B-subgenome dominance in homoeolog expression, whereas the surface species showed balanced expression. Functional enrichment analyses identified lineage-specific functional divergence of dominantly expressed homoeologs. In S. microphthalmus, subgenome-dominant genes were significantly enriched in immunological elements, suggesting an evolutionary shift in immune investment. In S. furcodorsalis, subgenome-dominant genes were significantly enriched in neuromodulatory and metabolic pathways, consistent with energy conservation and sensory regression in nutrient-poor caves. Together, these findings suggest that polyploidy can promote diversification through convergent subgenome dominance. Biased repurposing of distinct stress-responsive modules resolves ancestral genomic conflicts. This, in turn, drives the emergence of lineage-specific functions and links genome duplication to ecological adaptation.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145613291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-27DOI: 10.1186/s12983-025-00590-2
Johannes Fähnle,Kerstin Wilhelm,Benedikt Wiese,Marta Manser,Tim Clutton-Brock,Simone Sommer,Nadine Müller-Klein
BACKGROUNDThe study of olfaction as a sensory modality has been relatively neglected in comparison to other sensory cues, particularly in wildlife research. Furthermore, the genetic basis of olfaction remains poorly understood in non-model species. Recently, receptors belonging to trace amine-associated receptor (TAAR) family have been identified, and they exhibit considerable natural diversity and copy number variations across a range of species. As such, they represent a promising avenue for exploring olfactory processes, particularly in conjunction with more established olfactory receptors. In meerkats (Suricata suricatta), olfaction plays a significant role in foraging, social communication and predator defence. However, no prior research has investigated the genetics of meerkat olfaction. In this study, we leveraged the extensive longitudinal dataset from the Kalahari Meerkat Project, using samples from 398 individuals alive between 1996 and 2023, to develop a high-throughput sequencing approach for assessing TAAR diversity in wild meerkats.RESULTSA total of nine TAAR-loci were identified in meerkats, with both copy number variations and allelic polymorphisms observed for TAAR6 and TAAR8. Two distinct paralogues of TAAR6 and eleven distinct amino acid alleles across these paralogues were identified. Additionally, three paralogues of TAAR8, containing 14 distinct amino acid alleles, were discovered. Within each paralogue of both TAAR loci, a single allele is present in almost all individuals, while additional alleles show a markedly higher degree of variability in frequency. A similar pattern emerges in the relative abundance of TAAR alleles throughout the course of the study, which spanned more than 20 years. In line with the high prevalence of specific alleles and the considerable number of synonymous nucleotide exchanges, we found evidence for multiple sites under purifying selection in TAAR6 and TAAR8.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study to examine TAAR diversity in a cooperative breeder. Investigating the genetic basis of olfaction and inter-individual natural variation in TAAR diversity has the potential to expand the toolbox for integrative zoological research. Such insights could help elucidate the genetic underpinnings of behaviour, such as social communication, mate choice, and life-history strategies all in relation to TAAR diversity.
{"title":"Natural variability of trace-amine associated receptors in wild meerkats.","authors":"Johannes Fähnle,Kerstin Wilhelm,Benedikt Wiese,Marta Manser,Tim Clutton-Brock,Simone Sommer,Nadine Müller-Klein","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00590-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00590-2","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDThe study of olfaction as a sensory modality has been relatively neglected in comparison to other sensory cues, particularly in wildlife research. Furthermore, the genetic basis of olfaction remains poorly understood in non-model species. Recently, receptors belonging to trace amine-associated receptor (TAAR) family have been identified, and they exhibit considerable natural diversity and copy number variations across a range of species. As such, they represent a promising avenue for exploring olfactory processes, particularly in conjunction with more established olfactory receptors. In meerkats (Suricata suricatta), olfaction plays a significant role in foraging, social communication and predator defence. However, no prior research has investigated the genetics of meerkat olfaction. In this study, we leveraged the extensive longitudinal dataset from the Kalahari Meerkat Project, using samples from 398 individuals alive between 1996 and 2023, to develop a high-throughput sequencing approach for assessing TAAR diversity in wild meerkats.RESULTSA total of nine TAAR-loci were identified in meerkats, with both copy number variations and allelic polymorphisms observed for TAAR6 and TAAR8. Two distinct paralogues of TAAR6 and eleven distinct amino acid alleles across these paralogues were identified. Additionally, three paralogues of TAAR8, containing 14 distinct amino acid alleles, were discovered. Within each paralogue of both TAAR loci, a single allele is present in almost all individuals, while additional alleles show a markedly higher degree of variability in frequency. A similar pattern emerges in the relative abundance of TAAR alleles throughout the course of the study, which spanned more than 20 years. In line with the high prevalence of specific alleles and the considerable number of synonymous nucleotide exchanges, we found evidence for multiple sites under purifying selection in TAAR6 and TAAR8.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study to examine TAAR diversity in a cooperative breeder. Investigating the genetic basis of olfaction and inter-individual natural variation in TAAR diversity has the potential to expand the toolbox for integrative zoological research. Such insights could help elucidate the genetic underpinnings of behaviour, such as social communication, mate choice, and life-history strategies all in relation to TAAR diversity.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"29 1","pages":"37"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145613290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-18DOI: 10.1186/s12983-025-00588-w
Jianjun Liu, Min Tang, Guoqing Duan, Huan Wang, Siqi Liu, Liuwang Nie, Huaxing Zhou
This study investigates the early stages of putative sex chromosome evolution in the darkbarbel catfish (Tachysurus vachellii) through whole-genome resequencing of 31 individuals. We identified the sex-determining region (SDR) on chromosome 3 (chr3), with an FST value of 0.5, indicating the presence of relatively putative young XY sex chromosomes. Our analyses revealed significant genetic differentiation between male and female groups, suggesting that these young sex chromosomes contribute to observed genetic divergence. Notably, among SDR, pseudoautosomal region (PAR), and autosomes, PAR exhibits the highest synonymous substitutions (dS) values. And the significantly reduced ratio of nonsynonymous-to-synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) in SDR demonstrates intense purifying selection acting on this region, and the progressive dN/dS gradient (SDR < PAR < autosomes) reveals an incipient differentiation continuum from PAR to SDR. Our findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of sex chromosome evolution in fish and underscore the need for further research to explore these mechanisms.
本研究通过31个个体的全基因组重测序，研究了暗刺鲶鱼（Tachysurus vachellii）性染色体进化的早期阶段。我们在3号染色体（chr3）上发现了性别决定区（SDR）， FST值为0.5，表明存在相对假定的年轻XY性染色体。我们的分析揭示了男性和女性群体之间显著的遗传差异，表明这些年轻的性染色体有助于观察到的遗传差异。值得注意的是，在SDR、假常染色体区域（PAR）和常染色体中，PAR具有最高的同义替换（dS）值。SDR中非同义取代比（dN/dS）的显著降低表明该区域发生了强烈的净化选择，且dN/dS梯度的递进（SDR < PAR <常染色体）揭示了从PAR到SDR的分化连续体。我们的发现为鱼类性染色体进化的动力学提供了有价值的见解，并强调了进一步研究探索这些机制的必要性。
{"title":"Whole-genome resequencing reveals chromosomal fusion-driven early stages of XY chromosomes evolution in the darkbarbel catfish (Tachysurus vachellii)","authors":"Jianjun Liu, Min Tang, Guoqing Duan, Huan Wang, Siqi Liu, Liuwang Nie, Huaxing Zhou","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00588-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00588-w","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the early stages of putative sex chromosome evolution in the darkbarbel catfish (Tachysurus vachellii) through whole-genome resequencing of 31 individuals. We identified the sex-determining region (SDR) on chromosome 3 (chr3), with an FST value of 0.5, indicating the presence of relatively putative young XY sex chromosomes. Our analyses revealed significant genetic differentiation between male and female groups, suggesting that these young sex chromosomes contribute to observed genetic divergence. Notably, among SDR, pseudoautosomal region (PAR), and autosomes, PAR exhibits the highest synonymous substitutions (dS) values. And the significantly reduced ratio of nonsynonymous-to-synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) in SDR demonstrates intense purifying selection acting on this region, and the progressive dN/dS gradient (SDR < PAR < autosomes) reveals an incipient differentiation continuum from PAR to SDR. Our findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of sex chromosome evolution in fish and underscore the need for further research to explore these mechanisms.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"147 5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145535433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1186/s12983-025-00585-z
Francisco Javier Zamora-Camacho, Pedro Aragón
Two central elements of the global change are a rise in average temperatures and the contamination of natural habitats, among others, with agricultural fertilizers, which can stress living beings. Avoidance of these stressors is often impossible for animals confined in certain habitats, such as pond-dwelling tadpoles, which can indeed select less stressful microhabitats after metamorphosis. However, the stressors faced during the larval stage may have long-term repercussions. In this work, we reared tadpoles in either heated or non-heated tanks, in each case either exposed or not to ammonium contamination. The resultant metamorphs were reared, released from such stressors, until adulthood, when their body size, body condition and locomotor performance were gauged. Whereas larvae reared in non-heated tanks responded to ammonium with a lower body size as adults, in accordance with previous experiments, the opposite was true for those reared in heated tanks. Body condition was greater in ammonium-exposed individuals, in which locomotor performance was reduced, as compared with non-ammonium-exposed conspecifics. Greater body size in adults in heated water as a response to ammonium could be a consequence of temperature mediating detoxifying metabolic routes of tadpoles. Better body condition and worse locomotor performance in ammonium-exposed individuals could reflect a prioritization of the storage of resources to the detriment of locomotion in ammonium-exposed individuals, or a limitation in the ability to optimize locomotion but not storage of resources.
{"title":"When time turns the tide: the interactive effects of ammonium and warming during the larval stage on the resulting adult frogs","authors":"Francisco Javier Zamora-Camacho, Pedro Aragón","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00585-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00585-z","url":null,"abstract":"Two central elements of the global change are a rise in average temperatures and the contamination of natural habitats, among others, with agricultural fertilizers, which can stress living beings. Avoidance of these stressors is often impossible for animals confined in certain habitats, such as pond-dwelling tadpoles, which can indeed select less stressful microhabitats after metamorphosis. However, the stressors faced during the larval stage may have long-term repercussions. In this work, we reared tadpoles in either heated or non-heated tanks, in each case either exposed or not to ammonium contamination. The resultant metamorphs were reared, released from such stressors, until adulthood, when their body size, body condition and locomotor performance were gauged. Whereas larvae reared in non-heated tanks responded to ammonium with a lower body size as adults, in accordance with previous experiments, the opposite was true for those reared in heated tanks. Body condition was greater in ammonium-exposed individuals, in which locomotor performance was reduced, as compared with non-ammonium-exposed conspecifics. Greater body size in adults in heated water as a response to ammonium could be a consequence of temperature mediating detoxifying metabolic routes of tadpoles. Better body condition and worse locomotor performance in ammonium-exposed individuals could reflect a prioritization of the storage of resources to the detriment of locomotion in ammonium-exposed individuals, or a limitation in the ability to optimize locomotion but not storage of resources.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145499480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1186/s12983-025-00587-x
Adrian Surmacki, Piotr Minias
Ear tufts are plumage features which have particularly high prevalence in owls (Strigidae). Several hypotheses have been developed to explain their function, mostly including camouflage, species recognition, deterring predators/mobbers, and visual signaling among conspecifics. In the present study, we used phylogenetically-informed comparative approach to reconstruct evolutionary history of ear tufts across the entire Strigidae family (184 species). Specifically, data on the occurrence and relative size of ear tufts compiled from color plates and photographs were analyzed in relation to life history and ecological traits. We found that ear tuft occurrence coevolved with circadian activity rhythm and predominated in species with strictly nocturnal activity. The highest evolutionary rate was found for transitions from nocturnal to mixed activity in species without ear tufts and from mixed towards nocturnal activity in species with ear tufts. Consistently, strictly nocturnal owl species showed larger ear tufts (controlling for differences in body size) compared to species with mixed activity. We also found that owls preying upon birds had relatively larger ear tufts. Finally, a strong phylogenetic signal in tuft occurrence provided evidence for high evolutionary conservedness of this trait. Our results suggest that ear tufts may enhance camouflage of nocturnal owls during the daylight rest, when they might be threatened by visually oriented predators or mobbed by their potential prey. Our results lay foundations for further experimental research required to determine the ultimate function of ear tufts in owls.
{"title":"Evolutionary history reveals information on the functionality of ear tufts in owls (family: Strigidae)","authors":"Adrian Surmacki, Piotr Minias","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00587-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00587-x","url":null,"abstract":"Ear tufts are plumage features which have particularly high prevalence in owls (Strigidae). Several hypotheses have been developed to explain their function, mostly including camouflage, species recognition, deterring predators/mobbers, and visual signaling among conspecifics. In the present study, we used phylogenetically-informed comparative approach to reconstruct evolutionary history of ear tufts across the entire Strigidae family (184 species). Specifically, data on the occurrence and relative size of ear tufts compiled from color plates and photographs were analyzed in relation to life history and ecological traits. We found that ear tuft occurrence coevolved with circadian activity rhythm and predominated in species with strictly nocturnal activity. The highest evolutionary rate was found for transitions from nocturnal to mixed activity in species without ear tufts and from mixed towards nocturnal activity in species with ear tufts. Consistently, strictly nocturnal owl species showed larger ear tufts (controlling for differences in body size) compared to species with mixed activity. We also found that owls preying upon birds had relatively larger ear tufts. Finally, a strong phylogenetic signal in tuft occurrence provided evidence for high evolutionary conservedness of this trait. Our results suggest that ear tufts may enhance camouflage of nocturnal owls during the daylight rest, when they might be threatened by visually oriented predators or mobbed by their potential prey. Our results lay foundations for further experimental research required to determine the ultimate function of ear tufts in owls.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145499479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1186/s12983-025-00589-9
Hila Dror, Tamar Lotan, Dror Angel
Aeolid nudibranchs prey on various cnidarians and incorporate nematocysts from their prey into the cnidosac, located at the tip of their cerata for self-defense. This study examined the predator–prey interactions between two nudibranch species, Caloria militaris and Flabellina affinis, and various cnidarians, focusing on scyphozoan polyps from common eastern Mediterranean medusae, including Aurelia sp. Cassiopea andromeda, Phyllorhiza punctata, and Rhopilema nomadica. An initial short-term experiment assessed predation by both nudibranch species, after which subsequent experiments focused exclusively on C. militaris. Short-term experiments for 24 h and long-term experiments lasting up to 258 days were conducted to determine whether C. militaris consumes a variety of cnidarians, and if it incorporates the prey nematocysts into its cnidosacs. Laboratory experiments indicate that while F. affinis avoids scyphozoan polyps, C. militaris readily consumes all tested scyphozoan and hydrozoan species and can subsist on them for extended durations of up to 258 days. C. militaris predation rate, reaching 95 polyps day−1 increased with greater prey availability, but did not reach saturation even at very high prey abundances (> 80 polyps day−1), suggesting a higher predation capacity. Surprisingly, despite this intense predation, C. militaris did not incorporate any of the scyphozoan nematocysts in its cnidosac; only nematocysts from its known hydrozoan prey were identified in the cnidosac. C. militaris is a generalist that preys on hydrozoa and can extensively feed on a variety of scyphozoan polyps, yet it does not incorporate scyphozoan nematocysts into its cnidosacs. This is the first report to demonstrate complete selectivity in nematocyst sequestration over an extended feeding period in a nudibranch possessing a functional cnidosac. These findings contribute to understanding nudibranch feeding ecology and the potential role these predators may play in regulating jellyfish blooms.
{"title":"Predation on scyphozoan polyps and selective hydrozoan nematocyst incorporation dynamics in an alien aeolid nudibranch","authors":"Hila Dror, Tamar Lotan, Dror Angel","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00589-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00589-9","url":null,"abstract":"Aeolid nudibranchs prey on various cnidarians and incorporate nematocysts from their prey into the cnidosac, located at the tip of their cerata for self-defense. This study examined the predator–prey interactions between two nudibranch species, Caloria militaris and Flabellina affinis, and various cnidarians, focusing on scyphozoan polyps from common eastern Mediterranean medusae, including Aurelia sp. Cassiopea andromeda, Phyllorhiza punctata, and Rhopilema nomadica. An initial short-term experiment assessed predation by both nudibranch species, after which subsequent experiments focused exclusively on C. militaris. Short-term experiments for 24 h and long-term experiments lasting up to 258 days were conducted to determine whether C. militaris consumes a variety of cnidarians, and if it incorporates the prey nematocysts into its cnidosacs. Laboratory experiments indicate that while F. affinis avoids scyphozoan polyps, C. militaris readily consumes all tested scyphozoan and hydrozoan species and can subsist on them for extended durations of up to 258 days. C. militaris predation rate, reaching 95 polyps day−1 increased with greater prey availability, but did not reach saturation even at very high prey abundances (> 80 polyps day−1), suggesting a higher predation capacity. Surprisingly, despite this intense predation, C. militaris did not incorporate any of the scyphozoan nematocysts in its cnidosac; only nematocysts from its known hydrozoan prey were identified in the cnidosac. C. militaris is a generalist that preys on hydrozoa and can extensively feed on a variety of scyphozoan polyps, yet it does not incorporate scyphozoan nematocysts into its cnidosacs. This is the first report to demonstrate complete selectivity in nematocyst sequestration over an extended feeding period in a nudibranch possessing a functional cnidosac. These findings contribute to understanding nudibranch feeding ecology and the potential role these predators may play in regulating jellyfish blooms. ","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145447196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1186/s12983-025-00586-y
Marko Glogoški, Tomislav Gojak, Duje Lisičić, Ivan Cizelj, Iva Sabolić, Anamaria Štambuk
Behavioral adaptations are considered an important factor of population success in colonizing novel environments. Individuals can be selected for specific behavioral traits during transport, introduction and especially establishment phase of the invasion process. Aside from population level average of behavioral traits, both among- and within individual variability can contribute to achieving behavioral optima for efficiently acquiring resources in new habitats. Here, we study activity/exploration behavioral traits and boldness in a novel insular population of Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) with a known colonizing history and propagule pressure. We apply Bayesian mixed-effects models and variance partitioning to compare the activity/exploration behavioral traits and boldness between ancestral population from Pod Kopište island and novel population from Pod Mrčaru island. We found no difference in average levels of activity/exploration behavioral traits (distance moved and angular velocity) or boldness between populations or sexes. Among-individual variance in both behaviors was preserved in novel population, despite small propagule size of ten individuals. Females from ancestral Pod Kopište had substantially lower within-individual variability of distance moved than males. However, females within-individual variability for this trait increased in the novel Pod Mrčaru population, while males remained the same. Females on Pod Mrčaru population also exhibited strong increase in within-individual variability in angular velocity, even surpassing the values denoted for males in that population. In contrast, within-individual variance in boldness did not differ across population by sex groups. Our results show that among-individual behavioral variation can be preserved even in populations founded by small propagule. Our study also demonstrates sexual dimorphism in the within-individual variability of activity/exploration behavioral traits, both within the populations and in the direction and intensity of change in a new environment. Collectively, this study highlights the importance of studying behavioral flexibility in addition to average population or individual behavioral traits and emphasizes the role of females’ activity/exploration in adaptation to new environments.
{"title":"Sex-specific behavioral flexibility in rapid adaptation to a new environment","authors":"Marko Glogoški, Tomislav Gojak, Duje Lisičić, Ivan Cizelj, Iva Sabolić, Anamaria Štambuk","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00586-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00586-y","url":null,"abstract":"Behavioral adaptations are considered an important factor of population success in colonizing novel environments. Individuals can be selected for specific behavioral traits during transport, introduction and especially establishment phase of the invasion process. Aside from population level average of behavioral traits, both among- and within individual variability can contribute to achieving behavioral optima for efficiently acquiring resources in new habitats. Here, we study activity/exploration behavioral traits and boldness in a novel insular population of Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) with a known colonizing history and propagule pressure. We apply Bayesian mixed-effects models and variance partitioning to compare the activity/exploration behavioral traits and boldness between ancestral population from Pod Kopište island and novel population from Pod Mrčaru island. We found no difference in average levels of activity/exploration behavioral traits (distance moved and angular velocity) or boldness between populations or sexes. Among-individual variance in both behaviors was preserved in novel population, despite small propagule size of ten individuals. Females from ancestral Pod Kopište had substantially lower within-individual variability of distance moved than males. However, females within-individual variability for this trait increased in the novel Pod Mrčaru population, while males remained the same. Females on Pod Mrčaru population also exhibited strong increase in within-individual variability in angular velocity, even surpassing the values denoted for males in that population. In contrast, within-individual variance in boldness did not differ across population by sex groups. Our results show that among-individual behavioral variation can be preserved even in populations founded by small propagule. Our study also demonstrates sexual dimorphism in the within-individual variability of activity/exploration behavioral traits, both within the populations and in the direction and intensity of change in a new environment. Collectively, this study highlights the importance of studying behavioral flexibility in addition to average population or individual behavioral traits and emphasizes the role of females’ activity/exploration in adaptation to new environments.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145434998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1186/s12983-025-00580-4
Serena Price, Robert Guralnick, Coleman M. Sheehy, Jacob Idec
Facultative, physiological color change has many potential adaptive functions, and the ability of the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) to shift between brown and green coloration is no exception. Three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses for such color changes include: 1) The camouflage hypothesis, which states that individual anoles use brown and green coloration to blend into their background; 2) The social signaling hypothesis, which states that coloration shifts convey intraspecific signals such as dominance, submission, and mating status during interactions; 3) The thermoregulation hypothesis, which states that shifting to darker brown coloration during colder temperatures allows for increased absorption of solar radiation as heat. We showcase the utility of a computer vision pipeline to derive individual-level color (green versus brown) from a large dataset of citizen science observations spanning the southeastern USA. We used this color information along with climate, seasonal timing information and background in images to test associations between color morph, temperature and time of year. Results show that brown-presenting A. carolinensis were observed more frequently at lower temperatures during winter. However, the observed correlation between presenting color and temperature was absent during the summer breeding season. We did not find strong evidence for background color matching. We found support for both the thermoregulatory hypothesis and social signaling hypothesis dependent on time of year, which suggests multiple independent drivers are influencing physiological color changes in A. carolinensis. Further, this work shows the power of leveraging large-scale digital field images and machine learning to derive insights about how species can regulate phenotype to maintain their thermal and biotic niche optima.
{"title":"Using large-scale community science data and computer vision to evaluate thermoregulation as an adaptive driver of physiological color change in Anolis carolinensis","authors":"Serena Price, Robert Guralnick, Coleman M. Sheehy, Jacob Idec","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00580-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00580-4","url":null,"abstract":"Facultative, physiological color change has many potential adaptive functions, and the ability of the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) to shift between brown and green coloration is no exception. Three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses for such color changes include: 1) The camouflage hypothesis, which states that individual anoles use brown and green coloration to blend into their background; 2) The social signaling hypothesis, which states that coloration shifts convey intraspecific signals such as dominance, submission, and mating status during interactions; 3) The thermoregulation hypothesis, which states that shifting to darker brown coloration during colder temperatures allows for increased absorption of solar radiation as heat. We showcase the utility of a computer vision pipeline to derive individual-level color (green versus brown) from a large dataset of citizen science observations spanning the southeastern USA. We used this color information along with climate, seasonal timing information and background in images to test associations between color morph, temperature and time of year. Results show that brown-presenting A. carolinensis were observed more frequently at lower temperatures during winter. However, the observed correlation between presenting color and temperature was absent during the summer breeding season. We did not find strong evidence for background color matching. We found support for both the thermoregulatory hypothesis and social signaling hypothesis dependent on time of year, which suggests multiple independent drivers are influencing physiological color changes in A. carolinensis. Further, this work shows the power of leveraging large-scale digital field images and machine learning to derive insights about how species can regulate phenotype to maintain their thermal and biotic niche optima.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145246602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The present study investigates the potential role of ants as dispersal hosts for tardigrades and for the first time provides evidence of ant-mediated tardigrade phoresy. Tardigrades are microscopic cosmopolitan animals which have limited autonomous dispersal abilities but can withstand extreme conditions in a desiccated state. Being dominant terrestrial organisms, ants interact with many components of ecosystems, yet their role in dispersing meiofaunal organisms is unknown. In a field survey, four arboreal ant species were first analyzed to test the presence of tardigrades in their nests (i.e. tree galls), and on their bodies. In another experiment, galls were maintained isolated, then exposed to ant colonization to evaluate any transport of tardigrades by ants. Finally, the behavior of the ant Colobopsis truncata was tested by crafting an experimental apparatus to verify the actual phoresy of tardigrades. The field survey and gall colonization experiments show an association of tardigrades, especially with C. truncata. Gall colonization and laboratory experiments reveal that the ants transport tardigrades and other meiofaunal organisms, such as nematodes and rotifers. This phoresy can be direct (transporting animals) or indirect (transporting substrates with animals), over significant distances, thereby suggesting an unknown ecological interaction. Thanks to the widespread presence and abundance of ant species, this myrmecophoretic dispersion could play a crucial role in the spreading of meiofaunal organisms in terrestrial environments. These findings may represent just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of an unexplored passive dispersal modality for terrestrial meiofauna micrometazoans, expanding our knowledge of phoretic relationships.
{"title":"Dispersion and new shelters offered by ants: myrmecophoresy of tardigrades","authors":"Daniele Giannetti, Ilaria Giovannini, Edoardo Massa, Enrico Schifani, Lorena Rebecchi, Roberto Guidetti, Donato A. Grasso","doi":"10.1186/s12983-025-00581-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-025-00581-3","url":null,"abstract":"The present study investigates the potential role of ants as dispersal hosts for tardigrades and for the first time provides evidence of ant-mediated tardigrade phoresy. Tardigrades are microscopic cosmopolitan animals which have limited autonomous dispersal abilities but can withstand extreme conditions in a desiccated state. Being dominant terrestrial organisms, ants interact with many components of ecosystems, yet their role in dispersing meiofaunal organisms is unknown. In a field survey, four arboreal ant species were first analyzed to test the presence of tardigrades in their nests (i.e. tree galls), and on their bodies. In another experiment, galls were maintained isolated, then exposed to ant colonization to evaluate any transport of tardigrades by ants. Finally, the behavior of the ant Colobopsis truncata was tested by crafting an experimental apparatus to verify the actual phoresy of tardigrades. The field survey and gall colonization experiments show an association of tardigrades, especially with C. truncata. Gall colonization and laboratory experiments reveal that the ants transport tardigrades and other meiofaunal organisms, such as nematodes and rotifers. This phoresy can be direct (transporting animals) or indirect (transporting substrates with animals), over significant distances, thereby suggesting an unknown ecological interaction. Thanks to the widespread presence and abundance of ant species, this myrmecophoretic dispersion could play a crucial role in the spreading of meiofaunal organisms in terrestrial environments. These findings may represent just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of an unexplored passive dispersal modality for terrestrial meiofauna micrometazoans, expanding our knowledge of phoretic relationships.","PeriodicalId":55142,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Zoology","volume":"77 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145228957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：