Size‐dependent costs of migration: Migrant bird species are subordinate to residents, but only at small body sizes

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Martin ◽  
Haley L. Kenyon ◽  
Leah Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Small Body ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Migrant Bird

scholarly journals Unidirectional response to bidirectional selection on body size. I. Phenotypic, life history and endocrine response

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clémentine Renneville ◽  
Alexis Millot ◽  
Simon Agostini ◽  
David Carmignac ◽  
Gersende Maugars ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Control Line ◽  
Large Body Size ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Anthropogenic Perturbations

ABSTRACTAnthropogenic perturbations such as harvesting often select against a large body size and are predicted to induce rapid evolution towards smaller body sizes and earlier maturation. However, body-size evolvability and, hence, adaptability to anthropogenic perturbations remain seldom evaluated in wild populations. Here, we use a laboratory experiment over 6 generations to measure the ability of wild-caught medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) to evolve in response to bidirectional size-dependent selection mimicking opposite harvest regimes. Specifically, we imposed selection against a small body size (Large line), against a large body size (Small line) or random selection (Control line), and measured correlated responses across multiple phenotypic, life-history and endocrine traits. As expected, the Large line evolved faster somatic growth and delayed maturation, but also evolved smaller body sizes at hatch, with no change in average levels of pituitary gene expressions of luteinizing, folliclestimulating or growth (GH) hormones. In contrast, the Small medaka line was unable to evolve smaller body sizes or earlier maturation, but evolved smaller body sizes at hatch and showed marginally-significant signs of increased reproductive investment, including larger egg sizes and elevated pituitary GH production. Natural selection on medaka body size was too weak to significantly hinder the effect of artificial selection, indicating that the asymmetric body-size response to size-dependent selection reflected an asymmetry in body-size evolvability. Our results show that trait evolvability may be contingent upon the direction of selection, and that a detailed knowledge of trait evolutionary potential is needed to forecast population response to anthropogenic change.

scholarly journals Seasonal maturation of Glypthelmins vitellinophilum (Trematoda: Digenea) in Lysapsus limellus (Anura: Pseudidae) from an Argentinian subtropical permanent pond

2006 ◽  
Vol 66 (1a) ◽  
pp. 85-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Hamann
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
The Body ◽  
Climatic Fluctuations ◽  
Parasite Stage ◽  
Permanent Pond ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
The Relationship

From December 1995 to November 2000, the seasonal maturation of Glypthelmins vitellinophilum Dobbin, 1958, in its definitive host, the frog Lysapsus limellus Cope, 1862, was studied in a subtropical permanent pond in northeastern Argentina. The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the infrapopulation dynamics of the parasite, analyzing the seasonal maturation cycle throughout the years; and 2) to examine the relationship between the intensity of trematode infection in different developmental stages (recruitment, growth and maturation) and the host's body length. Of a total of 1,400 frogs examined over 60 months (5 years), 38% were found to be infected with G. vitellinophilum, and the intensity of infection was 1-15 trematodes per frog. Specimens of G. vitellinophilum were present in L. limellus throughout the years, but did not show a pronounced seasonal maturation cycle. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed with reference to climatic fluctuations and biotic factors. The infective period of the parasite (stage I) occurred in summer, autumn and spring, coinciding with the time each frog cohort appeared. These infections were found principally in small body sizes (classes 1 and 2) of L. limellus. Juvenile and nongravid specimens of worms (stage II and III) were found in frogs of different body sizes throughout the period of investigation. Gravid specimens of the parasite (stage IV) were generally recorded in autumn, winter and spring, mainly in the bodies of larger frogs. The body length of Trematodes in stages I and IV was significantly and positively correlated with that of the frogs.

scholarly journals Drivers and Consequences of Partial Migration in an Alpine Bird Species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Øyvind Lorvik Arnekleiv ◽  
Katrine Eldegard ◽  
Pål Fossland Moa ◽  
Lasse Frost Eriksen ◽  
Erlend B. Nilsen
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Partial Migration ◽  
Individual State ◽  
Migratory Behaviour ◽  
Willow Ptarmigan ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Migratory Strategy

1. Partial migration, where a portion of the population migrates between winter and summer (breeding) areas and the rest remain year-round resident, is a common phenomenon across several taxonomic groups. Yet, although several hypotheses have been put forward to explain why some individuals migrate while others stay resident – as well as the fitness consequences of the different strategies – the drivers and consequences of the decision to migrate or not are poorly understood. 2. We used data from radio-tagged female (n=73) willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus in an alpine study area in Central Norway to test if i) the decision to migrate was dependent on individual state variables (age and body size), ii) individuals repeated migratory behaviour between seasons, and iii) the choice of migratory strategy was related to nesting performance.3. Partially supporting our prediction that migratory strategy depends on individual state, we found that juvenile birds with small body sizes were more likely to migrate whereas large juveniles stayed resident. For adult females, we found no relationship between migratory strategy and body weight. We found strong evidence for high individual repeatability of migratory strategy between seasons. Migratory strategy did not explain variation in nesting performance among individuals, suggesting no direct influence of the chosen strategy on nesting success. 4. Our results indicate that partial migration in willow ptarmigan is determined by juvenile body weight, and that migratory behaviour becomes a part of the individual life history as a fixed strategy. Nesting success was not affected by migratory strategy in our study population, but future studies should assess other traits to further test potential fitness consequences.

scholarly journals Aquatic insects are dramatically underrepresented in genomic research

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Hotaling ◽  
Joanna L. Kelley ◽  
Paul B. Frandsen
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Insects ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Aquatic Insect ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Insect Genome ◽  
Terrestrial Insect ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Terrestrial Insects ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractAquatic insects comprise 10% of all insect diversity, can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and are key components of freshwater ecosystems. Yet aquatic insect genome biology lags dramatically behind that of terrestrial insects. If genomic effort was spread evenly, one aquatic insect genome would be sequenced for every ∼9 terrestrial insect genomes. Instead, ∼24 terrestrial insect genomes have been sequenced for every aquatic insect genome. This discrepancy is even more dramatic if the quality of genomic resources is considered; for instance, while no aquatic insect genome has been assembled to the chromosome level, 29 terrestrial insect genomes spanning four orders have. We argue that a lack of aquatic insect genomes is not due to any underlying difficulty (e.g., small body sizes or unusually large genomes) yet it is severely hampering aquatic insect research at both fundamental and applied scales. By expanding the availability of aquatic insect genomes, we will gain key insight into insect diversification and empower future research for a globally important taxonomic group.Simple SummaryAquatic insects comprise 10% of all insect diversity, can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and are key components of freshwater ecosystems. Yet aquatic insect genome biology lags dramatically behind that of terrestrial insects. If genomic effort was spread evenly, one aquatic insect genome would be sequenced for every ∼9 terrestrial insect genomes. Instead, ∼24 terrestrial insect genomes have been sequenced for every aquatic insect genome. We argue that the limited availability of aquatic insect genomes is not due to practical limitations—e.g., small body sizes or overly complex genomes—but instead reflects a lack of research interest. We call for targeted efforts to expand the availability of aquatic insect genomic resources to gain key molecular insight into insect diversification and empower future research.

scholarly journals Brain size is correlated with endangerment status in mammals

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1825) ◽  
pp. 20152772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric S. Abelson
Keyword(s):  
Brain Size ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Metabolic Cost ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Relationship

Increases in relative encephalization (RE), brain size after controlling for body size, comes at a great metabolic cost and is correlated with a host of cognitive traits, from the ability to count objects to higher rates of innovation. Despite many studies examining the implications and trade-offs accompanying increased RE, the relationship between mammalian extinction risk and RE is unknown. I examine whether mammals with larger levels of RE are more or less likely to be at risk of endangerment than less-encephalized species. I find that extant species with large levels of encephalization are at greater risk of endangerment, with this effect being strongest in species with small body sizes. These results suggest that RE could be a valuable asset in estimating extinction vulnerability. Additionally, these findings suggest that the cost–benefit trade-off of RE is different in large-bodied species when compared with small-bodied species.

Reproductive performance in a phyletic dwarf, the spider crab Petramithrax pygmaeus (Bell, 1836) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Mithracidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-329
Author(s):  
Joshua T Fields ◽  
Hayden K Mullen ◽  
Clayr M Kroenke ◽  
Kyla A Salomon ◽  
Abby J Craft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Spider Crab ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Body Sizes

Abstract The spider crab Petramithrax pygmaeus (Bell, 1836), a phyletic dwarf, was used to test predictions regarding reproductive performance in small marine invertebrates. Considering the disproportional increase in brooding costs and the allometry of egg production with increasing body size, it was expected that this minute-size species would produce large broods compared to closely related species that attain much larger body sizes. Fecundity in P. pygmaeus females carrying early and late eggs varied, respectively, between 17 and 172 eggs crab–1 (mean ± SD = 87.97 ± 48.39) and between 13 and 159 eggs crab–1 (55.04 ± 40.29). Females did not experience brood loss during egg development. Egg volume in females carrying early and late eggs varied, respectively, between 0.13 and 0.40 mm3 (0.22 ± 0.07) and between 0.15 and 0.42 mm3 (0.26 ± 0.06 mm3). Reproductive output (RO) varied between 0.91 and 8.73% (3.81 ± 2.17%) of female dry body weight. The RO of P. pygmaeus was lower than that reported for closely related species with larger body sizes. The slope (b = 0.95 ± 0.15) of the line describing the relationship between brood and parental female dry weight was not statistically significant from unity. Overall, our results disagree with the notion that the allometry of gamete production and increased physiological costs with increased brood size explain the association between brooding and small body size in marine invertebrates. Comparative studies on the reproductive investment of brooding species belonging to monophyletic clades with extensive differences in body size are warranted to further our understanding about disparity in egg production in brooding marine invertebrates.

scholarly journals Genetic characterization of a novel picornavirus distantly related to the marine mammal-infecting aquamaviruses in a long-distance migrant bird species, European roller (Coracias garrulus)

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (9) ◽  
pp. 2029-2035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ákos Boros ◽  
Tamás Kiss ◽  
Orsolya Kiss ◽  
Péter Pankovics ◽  
Beatrix Kapusinszky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Coracias Garrulus ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
European Roller ◽  
Migrant Bird

Despite the continuously growing number of known avian picornaviruses (family Picornaviridae), knowledge of their genetic diversity in wild birds, especially in long-distance migrant species is very limited. In this study, we report the presence of a novel picornavirus identified from one of 18 analysed faecal samples of an Afro-Palearctic migrant bird, the European roller (Coracias garrulus L., 1758), which is distantly related to the marine-mammal-infecting seal aquamavirus A1 (genus Aquamavirus). The phylogenetic analyses and the low sequence identity (P1 26.3 %, P2 25.8 % and P3 28.4 %) suggest that this picornavirus could be the founding member of a novel picornavirus genus that we have provisionally named ‘Kunsagivirus’, with ‘Greplavirus A’ (strain roller/SZAL6-KuV/2011/HUN, GenBank accession no. KC935379) as the candidate type species.

Potential invasion of the Gulf of Mexico by Protemblemaria punctata (Teleostei: Chaenopsidae), a cryptobenthic fish endemic to Venezuela

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimmy Argüelles-Jiménez ◽  
Merari Contreras-Juarez ◽  
Eduardo Palacio Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Small Body ◽  
The Past ◽  
Oil Platforms ◽  
Offshore Oil Platforms ◽  
Viable Population ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Offshore Oil

The movement of species to areas outside their native ranges has greatly intensified over the past few decades. However, detecting invasive species often requires detailed and regular surveys, especially for animals with small body sizes. A cryptobenthic fish endemic to the Caribbean coast of Venezuela, Protemblemaria punctata (Cervigón, 1966), is reported here from the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, based on the collection of 8 specimens (5 males and 3 females) from Bajo Mersey, a coral reef in the Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (PNSAV). The collected specimens were taken from sessile worm tubes that grew on PVC structures previously placed on the reef at a depth of 6 m. The number of P. punctata specimens we collected could indicate that the species has established a viable population on the reefs in the PNSAV. The colonization of P. punctata in the Gulf of Mexico waters may be due to the dispersal of individuals present on offshore oil platforms that are transported from Trinidad to Venezuela and the Gulf of Mexico.

Experimental analysis of intraspecific composition in an intertidal gastropod, Littorina unifasciata

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
GM Branch ◽  
ML Branch
Keyword(s):  
Food Availability ◽  
Intraspecific Competition ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Standing Stock ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Physiological Tolerance ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Population Mortality

L. unifasciata dominates the upper levels of rocky shores at Cape Banks, New South Wales. Peak densities of up to 9600 m-2 occur near the centre of the littorine's vertical zonation and are associated with small body sizes. Density declines, and mean size rises, further down and more particularly further up the shore. Largest animals occur at the top of the shore and in areas experiencing strong wave action, where densities are low. Field experiments showed that increase in density results in a decrease in body weight and an increase in mortality. However, even at a density four times that of the natural population, mortality remained remarkably low, and this is probably a key feature allowing L. unifasciata to penetrate high up the shore. L. unifasciata feeds mainly on lichens and food levels are low over most of the zone occupied by this littorine, rising above and below this zone and being particularly high in the supralittoral immediately above the range of L. unifasciata. Thus, food cannot be a factor limiting the height that L. unifasciata extends up the shore. Experimental caging shows that the standing stock of lichen is inversely related to the density of L. unifasciata. The zonation pattern and size gradient of L. unifasciata may be due to a combination of two factors: a decline of body size due to increasing intraspecific competition at higher densities, and the tendency of L. unifasciata to migrate (probably upwards) away from areas of low food availability. The latter was experimentally demonstrated. L. unifasciata suffers from intense intraspecific competition and is responsible for limiting the availability of its food. Its populations are seemingly not regulated by predators. It borders on a zone of high food availability in which there are no important competitors. These are all circumstances favouring range expansion of the species, to the limits of physiological tolerance, to allow the species to capitalize on the adjacent rich food source.

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