scholarly journals Patterns of annual and seasonal immune investment in a temporal reproductive opportunist

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Schultz ◽  
Christian E. Gunning ◽  
Jamie M. Cornelius ◽  
Dustin G. Reichard ◽  
Kirk C. Klasing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Ideal System ◽  
Environmental Fluctuations ◽  
Conifer Seeds ◽  
One Year ◽  
Seasonally Breeding ◽  
Potential Interactions

AbstractHistorically, investigations of how organisms’ investments in immunity fluctuate in response to environmental and physiological changes have focused on seasonally breeding organisms that confine reproduction to seasons with mild environmental conditions and abundant resources. Consequently, knowledge of how harsh environmental conditions and reproductive effort may interact to shape investment in immunity remains limited. The red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra, is a songbird that can breed on both short, cold and long, warm days if conifer seeds are abundant. This species provides an ideal system to investigate the influence of environmental fluctuations, reproductive investment, and their potential interactions on patterns of immune investment. In this study, we measured inter- and intra-annual immune variation in crossbills across four consecutive summers (2010-2013) and multiple seasons within one year (summer 2011-spring 2012) to explore how physiological and environmental factors impact this immune variation. Overall, the data suggest that immunity varies seasonally, among years, and in response to environmental fluctuations in food resources, precipitation, and temperature, but less in response to physiological measures such as reproduction. Collectively, this system demonstrates that a reproductively flexible organism may breed when conditions allow simultaneous investment in survival-related processes rather than at the expense of them.

scholarly journals Patterns of annual and seasonal immune investment in a temporal reproductive opportunist

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1929) ◽  
pp. 20192993
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Schultz ◽  
Christian E. Gunning ◽  
Jamie M. Cornelius ◽  
Dustin G. Reichard ◽  
Kirk C. Klasing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Annual Variation ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Reproductive Effects ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Weak Evidence ◽  
Ideal System ◽  
Single Cone ◽  
Conifer Seeds ◽  
Seasonally Breeding

Historically, investigations of how organismal investments in immunity fluctuate in response to environmental and physiological changes have focused on seasonally breeding organisms that confine reproduction to seasons with relatively unchallenging environmental conditions and abundant resources. The red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra , is a songbird that can breed opportunistically if conifer seeds are abundant, on both short, cold, and long, warm days, providing an ideal system to investigate environmental and reproductive effects on immunity. In this study, we measured inter- and intra-annual variation in complement, natural antibodies, PIT54 and leucocytes in crossbills across four summers (2010–2013) and multiple seasons within 1 year (summer 2011–spring 2012). Overall, we observed substantial changes in crossbill immune investment among summers, with interannual variation driven largely by food resources, while variation across multiple seasons within a single cone year was less pronounced and lacked a dominant predictor of immune investment. However, we found weak evidence that physiological processes (e.g. reproductive condition, moult) or abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, precipitation) affect immune investment. Collectively, this study suggests that a reproductively flexible organism may be able to invest in both reproduction and survival-related processes, potentially by exploiting rich patches with abundant resources. More broadly, these results emphasize the need for more longitudinal studies of trade-offs associated with immune investment.

A Successful Adaptation of Systematic Desensitization in the Treatment of a Phobia of Babies

1985 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
Michael Free ◽  
Margaret Beekhuis
Keyword(s):  
Young Woman ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Treatment Strategy ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Systematic Desensitization ◽  
Physiological Measure ◽  
One Year

A case study is presented of a young woman with an unusual phobia, a fear of babies. Barabasz's (1977) technique of systematic desensitization using psycho-physiological measures was chosen as the main treatment strategy. Difficulties arose as the client was unable to visualise scenes involving babies. Nor could she look at photographs of babies long enough for the hierarchy to be ordered using a psycho-physiological measure (skin conductance). A set of photographs was eventually used for the hierarchy, but it was ordered in terms of the length of time the client could look at the various photographs. Systematic desensitization was carried out using the set of photographs instead of imaginary scenes, together with some in vivo exposure in the latter stages of treatment. At termination the client could approach babies without discomfort. Improvement was maintained at one year follow-up.

The ecology of sympatric scincid lizards (Ctenotus) in arid South Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Read
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Local Species ◽  
Olympic Dam

Ctenotus skinks are the most diverse and abundant diurnal reptile genus at Olympic Dam, in the South Australian arid zone. The home range, demography, reproduction and diet of five syntopic Ctenotus species was studied over a 6-year period in chenopod shrubland. Longevity frequently exceeded three years in C. regius, four years in C. schomburgkii and five years in C. leonhardii, with a 7-year-old specimen of C. leonhardii being recorded. Females of most species tended to be larger and lived longer than males. Two eggs were typically laid by each species in early summer. Annual reproductive effort, particularly in C. leonhardii, varied considerably depending upon the prevailing environmental conditions. All local species apparently occupied home ranges, with maximum recapture radii in different species of 40–60 m. Ctenotus appear to be unspecialised insectivores, although plant material and lizards are sometimes eaten by the larger species.

scholarly journals Diversity of parental environments increases phenotypic variation in Arabidopsis populations more than genetic diversity but similarly affects productivity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Puy ◽  
Carlos P Carmona ◽  
Hana Dvořáková ◽  
Vít Latzel ◽  
Francesco de Bello
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Population Type ◽  
Diversity Effect ◽  
Environmental Fluctuations ◽  
Intraspecific Trait Variability ◽  
Trait Variability

Abstract Background and Aims The observed positive diversity effect on ecosystem functioning has rarely been assessed in terms of intraspecific trait variability within populations. Intraspecific phenotypic variability could stem both from underlying genetic diversity and from plasticity in response to environmental cues. The latter might derive from modifications to a plant’s epigenome and potentially last multiple generations in response to previous environmental conditions. We experimentally disentangled the role of genetic diversity and diversity of parental environments on population productivity, resistance against environmental fluctuations and intraspecific phenotypic variation. Methods A glasshouse experiment was conducted in which different types of Arabidopsis thaliana populations were established: one population type with differing levels of genetic diversity and another type, genetically identical, but with varying diversity levels of the parental environments (parents grown in the same or different environments). The latter population type was further combined, or not, with experimental demethylation to reduce the potential epigenetic diversity produced by the diversity of parental environments. Furthermore, all populations were each grown under different environmental conditions (control, fertilization and waterlogging). Mortality, productivity and trait variability were measured in each population. Key Results Parental environments triggered phenotypic modifications in the offspring, which translated into more functionally diverse populations when offspring from parents grown under different conditions were brought together in mixtures. In general, neither the increase in genetic diversity nor the increase in diversity of parental environments had a remarkable effect on productivity or resistance to environmental fluctuations. However, when the epigenetic variation was reduced via demethylation, mixtures were less productive than monocultures (i.e. negative net diversity effect), caused by the reduction of phenotypic differences between different parental origins. Conclusions A diversity of environmental parental origins within a population could ameliorate the negative effect of competition between coexisting individuals by increasing intraspecific phenotypic variation. A diversity of parental environments could thus have comparable effects to genetic diversity. Disentangling the effect of genetic diversity and that of parental environments appears to be an important step in understanding the effect of intraspecific trait variability on coexistence and ecosystem functioning.

Altitudinal variation in reproductive strategy of the toad-headed lizard, Phrynocephalus vlangalii in North Tibet Plateau (Qinghai)

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-Ting Jin ◽  
Nai-Fa Liu
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Sand Lizard ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
The Common ◽  
Anatomical Constraints

Abstract Phrynocephalus vlangalii, a toad-headed viviparous sand lizard, is endemic in the Northern Tibet (Qinghai) Plateau in China. Lizards were collected from 14 localities along the large altitudinal gradient (2289-4565 m a.s.l) to analyze the variation of reproductive traits among localities. Both litter size and mean offspring (scaled embryo) mass were positively correlated with female snout-vent length (SVL). Females produced fewer and larger offspring with increasing elevation when the effect of body size (SVL) was removed. This strategy may possibly be correlated with early survival and growth of offspring. The decreased litter size cline along altitudinal gradient might be correlated with more anatomical constraints at higher altitudes. The lizard has lower coefficient of variation (CV) of litter size at higher environments. Moreover, females from higher elevations had less reproductive investment (relative litter mass, RLM). Study concluded that P. vlangalii fit into the common pattern of higher elevation animals that have smaller clutches of larger offspring and lower reproductive effort.

scholarly journals Monitored data on occupants’ presence and actions in an office building

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ardeshir Mahdavi ◽  
Christiane Berger ◽  
Farhang Tahmasebi ◽  
Matthias Schuss
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Global Irradiance ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Plug Loads ◽  
One Year ◽  
Development And Validation

AbstractWithin a study, an open plan area and one closed office in a university building with a floor area of around 200 m2 were monitored. The present data set covers a period of one year (from 2013-01-01 to 2013-12-31). The collected data pertains to indoor environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) as well as plug loads and external factors (temperature, humidity, wind speed, and global irradiance) along with occupants’ presence and operation of windows and lights. The monitored data can be used for multiple purposes, including the development and validation of occupancy-related models.

scholarly journals Extreme climatic events in relation to global change and their impact on life histories

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Moreno ◽  
Anders Pape Møller
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Reproductive Failure ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Extreme Climatic Events ◽  
Empirical Tests ◽  
Living Organisms

Abstract Extreme weather conditions occur at an increasing rate as evidenced by higher frequency of hurricanes and more extreme precipitation and temperature anomalies. Such extreme environmental conditions will have important implications for all living organisms through greater frequency of reproductive failure and reduced adult survival. We review examples of reproductive failure and reduced survival related to extreme weather conditions. Phenotypic plasticity may not be sufficient to allow adaptation to extreme weather for many animals. Theory predicts reduced reproductive effort as a response to increased stochasticity. We predict that patterns of natural selection will change towards truncation selection as environmental conditions become more extreme. Such changes in patterns of selection may facilitate adaptation to extreme events. However, effects of selection on reproductive effort are difficult to detect. We present a number of predictions for the effects of extreme weather conditions in need of empirical tests. Finally, we suggest a number of empirical reviews that could improve our ability to judge the effects of extreme environmental conditions on life history.

scholarly journals Strategic female reproductive investment in response to male attractiveness in birds

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1726) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terézia Horváthová ◽  
Shinichi Nakagawa ◽  
Tobias Uller
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Egg Yolk ◽  
Phenotypic Quality ◽  
Immune Stimulants ◽  
Returns On Investment ◽  
Allocation Strategies

Life-history theory predicts that individuals should adjust their reproductive effort according to the expected fitness returns on investment. Because sexually selected male traits should provide honest information about male genetic or phenotypic quality, females may invest more when paired with attractive males. However, there is substantial disagreement in the literature whether such differential allocation is a general pattern. Using a comparative meta-regression approach, we show that female birds generally invest more into reproduction when paired with attractive males, both in terms of egg size and number as well as food provisioning. However, whereas females of species with bi-parental care tend to primarily increase the number of eggs when paired with attractive males, females of species with female-only care produce larger, but not more, eggs. These patterns may reflect adaptive differences in female allocation strategies arising from variation in the signal content of sexually selected male traits between systems of parental care. In contrast to reproductive effort, female allocation of immune-stimulants, anti-oxidants and androgens to the egg yolk was not consistently increased when mated to attractive males, which probably reflects the context-dependent costs and benefits of those yolk compounds to females and offspring.

scholarly journals Spring protection and watercourse and its relationship with environmental quality in family property, in the Caparaó region of Espírito Santo, Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-181
Author(s):  
Sara Carvalho Failla ◽  
Davi Salgado de Senna ◽  
Fábio Luiz de Oliveira ◽  
Leonard Campos Avellar Machado ◽  
Hélia de Barros Kobi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Forest Coverage ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
One Year ◽  
High Degree

Inappropriate use and management of land has generated processes of environmental degradation, in which the increasing removal of forest coverage has impaired the hydrological cycle, water and soil quality. The objective of this work is to know the effects of the protection of the spring, and the initial part of its watercourse, on the environmental conditions in a family property. The study was carried out on the property located in the Rainha da Paz Community, in Alegre-ES, using indicators used for environmental monitoring, at the beginning in September 2013 and after one year (September 2014) of the Water Planters Project. The quality indicators used in the evaluation clearly show that the initial situation in the spring APP, and APP around the main watercourse was inadequate, in several indicators mainly due to the occupation of the area with agricultural use, specifically pasture, occurring cattle trampling within a radius of 50 meters of the spring's permanent preservation area, causing soil compaction and silting, showing a high degree of degradation, reflecting the lack of environmental adequacy, thus not complying with current environmental legislation. The project promoted improvements in the environmental conditions of the family property, through the natural regeneration of native species, bringing gains to the floristic composition, in addition to improvements in the soil conditions.

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