Different Levels Of Biological Organization Research Articles

Understanding the chemodiversity of plants: Quantification, variation and ecological function

AbstractPlants produce a great number of phytochemicals serving a variety of different functions. Recently, the chemodiversity of these compounds (i.e., the diversity of compounds produced by a plant) has been suggested to be an important aspect of the plant phenotype that may shape interactions between plants, their environment, and other organisms. However, we lack an agreement on how to quantify chemodiversity, which complicates conclusions about the functional importance of it. Here, we discuss how chemodiversity (deconstructed into components of richness, evenness and disparity) may relate to different ecologically relevant aspects of the phenotype. Then, we systematically review the literature on chemodiversity to examine methodological practices, explore patterns of variability in diversity across different levels of biological organization, and investigate the functional role of this diversity in interactions between plants and other organisms. Overall, the reviewed literature suggests that high chemodiversity is often beneficial for plants, although a heterogeneity of methodological approaches partly limits what general conclusions can be drawn. Importantly, to support future research on this topic, we provide a framework with a decision tree facilitating choices on which measures of chemodiversity are best used in different contexts and outline key questions and avenues for future research. A more thorough understanding of chemodiversity will provide insights into its evolution and functional role in ecological interactions between plants and their environment.

Phases of Progression: Students’ meaning-making of Epigenetic Visual Representations within and between Levels of Organization

AbstractThis study investigates the progression of students’ meaning-making of epigenetic phenomena while discussing multiple visual representations depicted at different levels of biological organization. Semi-structured focus group sessions involving ninth-grade students (aged 15-16) from a Swedish lower secondary school were video recorded. Students’ meaning-making with regard to form, function and transfer of scientific ideas was explored by analyzing students’ physical pointing and verbal utterances while interacting with and discussing the epigenetic visual representations. The study uncovered four phases of progression in students’ meaning-making. In phase 1, students’ focus is on unpacking scientific ideas within a single representation. In phase 2, students apply and transfer scientific ideas between different visual representations at the same organizational level. In phase 3, their meaning-making develops into linking between various levels of organization. Here, downward linking, from higher to lower levels, relies on form descriptions that limit the transfer of scientific ideas. In contrast, upward linking, from lower to higher organizational levels, relies on both descriptions of form and functional explanations, which facilitates the transfer of scientific ideas. Finally, in Phase 4, and manifested as “yo-yo reasoning”, students engage in a dynamic and repeated process of downward and upward linking that expresses a coherent understanding of epigenetics. The study findings underscore the significance of recognizing progression phases in facilitating students’ meaning-making of multiple representations of epigenetic phenomena. Future research could expand on these insights by investigating students’ meaning-making across other science education domains.

Key benthic species are affected by predicted warming in winter but show resistance to ocean acidification.

The effects of climate change on coastal biodiversity are a major concern because altered community compositions may change associated rates of ecosystem functioning and services. Whilst responses of single species or taxa have been studied extensively, it remains challenging to estimate responses to climate change across different levels of biological organisation. Studies that consider the effects of moderate realistic near-future levels of ocean warming and acidification are needed to identify and quantify the gradual responses of species to change. Also, studies including different levels of biological complexity may reveal opportunities for amelioration or facilitation under changing environmental conditions. To test experimentally for independent and combined effects of predicted near-future warming and acidification on key benthic species, we manipulated three levels of temperature (winter ambient, +0.8 and +2°C) and two levels of pco 2 (ambient at 450 ppm and elevated at 645 ppm) and quantified their effects on mussels and algae growing separately and together (to also test for inter-specific interactions). Warming increased mussel clearance and mortality rates simultaneously, which meant that total biomass peaked at +0.8°C. Surprisingly, however, no effects of elevated pco 2 were identified on mussels or algae. Moreover, when kept together, mussels and algae had mutually positive effects on each other's performance (i.e. mussel survival and condition index, mussel and algal biomass and proxies for algal productivity including relative maximum electron transport rate [rETRmax], saturating light intensity [I k] and maximum quantum yield [F v/F m]), independent of warming and acidification. Our results show that even moderate warming affected the functioning of key benthic species, and we identified a level of resistance to predicted ocean acidification. Importantly, we show that the presence of a second functional group enhanced the functioning of both groups (mussels and algae), independent of changing environmental conditions, which highlights the ecological and potential economic benefits of conserving biodiversity in marine ecosystems.

Integrating adverse effects of triazole fungicides on reproduction and physiology of farmland birds

The extensive use of pesticides has been recognized as one of the major factors negatively impacting birds in agricultural habitats. One of the pesticide groups most used worldwide are triazole fungicides due to their effectiveness in controlling phytopathogenic fungi in cereals, vineyards and orchards. In the last decades, different experimental studies have reported important negative effects on the health and fitness of birds after exposure to triazoles. Birds can be exposed throughout the year through different routes, including oral uptake, dermal contact with treated surfaces and inhalation by overspray. Yet, the ingestion of treated or sprayed material is the principal route. The most alarming effect of triazoles, which can even occur several months after cessation of the exposure, is the decreasing reproductive outputs of birds, including delay in the onset of laying dates, reduced clutch size and hatching rate, and increased mortality of chicks. In order to synthesize the data and knowledge about the toxic effects of triazoles at different levels of biological organization, here we propose an dverse outcome pathway (AOP) on the mechanisms by which triazoles can affect avian reproduction and physiology. The reported effects highlight that the current risk assessment needs some improvements to avoid undesired effects on birds, especially long‐term effects that can influence stability and viability of avian populations from agricultural habitats.

Use of woody species in the Caatinga dry forest may lead to higher vulnerability to extirpation: An assessment based on ethnobiological, reproductive and conservation criteria

Tropical forests play an important role in maintaining, replenishing and conserving a large portion of the planet's biodiversity. However, these forests have been converted into anthropic landscapes, threatening the persistence of wildlife. The exploitation of forest products can result in different ecological impacts at different levels of biological organization. In this study, we propose a vulnerability index to examine the susceptibility of woody plants used by locals in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (i.e., the Catimbau National Park). We contrasted patterns of (1) plant use by local people (risk of use, collection risk, local importance, and diversity of use), (2) plant reproductive strategies (pollination, sexual and reproductive systems, dispersal mode, flowering and fruiting phenology), and (3) the conservation status of the plant species. We combined this information to propose a vulnerability index expressing species sensitivity to human disturbances in 14 regenerating and 14 old-growth forest stands. We tested the hypothesis that regenerating forest stands will harbor more vulnerable plant species compared to old-growth forest stands. Among the 119 plant species registered in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, 80 species (67.2 %) were recorded as useful for local people in Caatinga. Specifically, about 71.8 % and 70.5 % are exploited by the rural population for some type of use in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, respectively. The most frequent type of use was medicinal, followed by construction and fuel in both regenerating and old-growth forest stands. Regarding the potentially collected plant parts, the total removal of the individual and collection of leaves exhibited similar and higher relevance in regenerating, while leaves were the most collected part in old-growth forest stands. Of the 80 plant species analyzed, 62 % and 58.5 %, respectively, were classified as exhibiting moderate and high vulnerability to extirpation in regenerating and old-growth forest stands; thus not supporting our hypothesis. Our results suggest that in the Caatinga dry forest, (1) woody plant species responsible for forest regeneration in the context of slash-and-burn agriculture are exploited for multiple uses, (2) medicinal use is the main type of use of woody plants occurring in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, (3) total removal of the individual and collection of leaves were the most collected plant parts, and (4) both regenerating and old-growth forest stands showed a high vulnerability to human disturbances in the study area. In the long term, the exploitation of vulnerable plant species may negatively affect the composition and structure of the community and, consequently, the rate and trajectory of succession. It can be expected that as populations of vulnerable plant species are reduced or extirpated from the community, ecological interactions such as pollination and dispersal, which are key to ecosystem maintenance, will change along with the services provided.

Multi-biomarker approach reveals the effects of heavy metal bioaccumulation in the foundation species Prosopis laevigata (Fabaceae).

Mining is a major economic activity in many developing countries. However, it disturbs the environment, producing enormous quantities of waste, known as mine tailings, which can have deleterious environmental impact, due to their high heavy metals (HM) content. Often, foundation species that establish on mine tailings are good candidates to study the effects of HM bioaccumulation at different levels of biological organization. Prosopis laevigata is considered a HM hyperaccumulator which presents attributes of a foundation species (FS) and establishes naturally on mine tailings. We evaluated the bioaccumulation of Cu, Pb, and Zn in P. laevigata foliar tissue, the leaf micro- and macro-morphological characters, DNA damage, and population genetic effects. In total, 80 P. laevigata individuals (20/site) belonging to four populations: The individuals from both sites (exposed and reference) bioaccumulated HMs (Pb > Cu > Zn). However, in the exposed individuals, Pb and Cu bioaccumulation was significantly higher. Also, a significant effect of macro- and micro-morphological characters was registered, showing significantly lower values in individuals from the exposed sites. In addition, we found significant differences in genotoxic damage in P. laevigata individuals, between the exposed and reference sites. In contrast, for the micro-morphological characters, none of the analyzed metals had any influence. P. laevigata did not show significant differences in the genetic structure and diversity between exposed and reference populations. However, four haplotypes and four private alleles were found in the exposed populations. Since P. laevigata is a species that establishes naturally in polluted sites and bioaccumulates HM in its foliar tissues, the resulting genetic, individual and population effects have not been severe enough to show detrimental effects; hence, P. laevigata can be a useful tool in phytoremediation strategies for soils polluted with Pb and Cu, maintaining its important ecological functions.

“Quantifying the Impacts of Multiple Stressors” (QIMS)—a new experimental platform for robust multifactorial experiments in benthic ecosystems

AbstractTo predict the ecological consequences of expected global change, we need to understand the independent and combined effects of multiple stressors. Multiple experimental treatments are required to simultaneously test for effects of multiple stressors at different levels of intensity, independently and combined, and at different levels of biological organization. Most marine multiple stressors studies to date are conducted on assembled communities in mesocosms with a low number of treatments or low replication of treatments or both. These limitations prevent (1) robust data analyses, (2) characterization of single and combined effects of multiple stressors, and (3) identification of mechanisms underpinning biological responses. We present a new mesocosm‐based experimental platform for benthic communities: Quantifying the Impacts of Multiple Stressors (QIMS). Here, 96 independent mesocosms facilitate multifactorial and multilevel experimental designs with the high replication required for robust tests of multiple stressors and biological interactions. For example, three distinct pH levels are achieved by manipulating CO2 concentrations in the air supply, and three water temperature levels are provided by a cooling system in a fully crossed design that is required to identify all potential interactions, from which all combinations can be replicated 10 times (i.e., 90 experimental units). We demonstrate clearly how different levels of temperature and pCO2/pH can be manipulated precisely and maintained for at least 7 weeks. QIMS complements the limited number of permanently installed marine mesocosm facilities worldwide that simulate ocean warming and/or acidification and expedites multiple stressor research by providing an unprecedented level of replication for statistical robustness.

СОВРЕМЕННОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЯ ОКРУЖАЮЩЕЙ СРЕДЫ СРЕДСТВАМИ ИНДИВИДУАЛЬНОЙ ЗАЩИТЫ МЕДИЦИНСКОГО НАЗНАЧЕНИЯ

A new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has changed the lives of many people around the world. During the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of genomic sequences of the new coronavirus were formed, and its steady transmission from person to person remains. The use of disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) has become necessary to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of their production. Is of great concern the accumulation of the number of used PPE (medical and household waste), as well as their further disposal. The presence of various fragments of plastic and chemicals in disposable PPE can cause ecotoxicological effects on representatives of aquatic and terrestrial habitats at different levels of biological organization. In addition, PPE is a great danger for the further spread of various viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, since viruses can remain on different surfaces for several days. In the current situation, it is obvious that there is a need to conduct research to assess environmental risks and the impact of used PPE on the environment and human health

Multi‐omics analyses reveal the signatures of metabolite transfers across trophic levels in a high‐CO2 ocean

AbstractAlthough the diverse impacts of elevated dissolved CO2 and warming on organisms within various trophic levels in marine food webs are well documented, we have yet to explore the biological links across different levels of biological organization from primary producers to secondary producers on an evolutionary time scale in a high‐CO2 ocean. Here, we cultured a model marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum (primary producer) in predicted future high‐CO2 and/or warming conditions for ~ 1250 d with an experimental evolution approach and then fed them to the clam Coelomactra antiquata (secondary producer). We present an in‐depth multi‐omics analysis along the methylome (primary producer)–transcriptome (primary producer)–metabolome (primary producer)–metabolome (secondary producer) continuum. Our results showed that the downregulated terpenoid backbone biosynthesis in the methylome and transcriptome lead to decreased pyruvate levels and upregulation of some pathways (such as phenylalanine metabolism) in the metabolome of the primary producer in the long‐term warming conditions. These changes in metabolomic profile in the primary producer were then transferred to the secondary producer, resulting in changes in abundance of some metabolites, such as decreases in pyruvate, and in pyruvaldhyde (also known as methylglyoxal), and increases in 2‐hydroxylamino‐4,6‐dinitrotoluene. Our study provides a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the trophic transfer from primary to secondary producers in a future high‐CO2 ocean and may provide more accurate projections of marine ecosystem services and functions over the next century.

Network-based artificial intelligence approaches for advancing personalized psychiatry.

Psychiatric disorders have a complex biological underpinning likely involving an interplay of genetic and environmental risk contributions. Substantial efforts are being made to use artificial intelligence approaches to integrate features within and across data types to increase our etiological understanding and advance personalized psychiatry. Network science offers a conceptual framework for exploring the often complex relationships across different levels of biological organization, from cellular mechanistic to brain-functional and phenotypic networks. Utilizing such network information effectively as part of artificial intelligence approaches is a promising route toward a more in-depth understanding of illness biology, the deciphering of patient heterogeneity, and the identification of signatures that may be sufficiently predictive to be clinically useful. Here, we present examples of how network information has been used as part of artificial intelligence within psychiatry and beyond and outline future perspectives on how personalized psychiatry approaches may profit from a closer integration of psychiatric research, artificial intelligence development, and network science.

Multiscale topology classifies cells in subcellular spatial transcriptomics

Spatial transcriptomics measures in situ gene expression at millions of locations within a tissue1, hitherto with some trade-off between transcriptome depth, spatial resolution and sample size2. Although integration of image-based segmentation has enabled impactful work in this context, it is limited by imaging quality and tissue heterogeneity. By contrast, recent array-based technologies offer the ability to measure the entire transcriptome at subcellular resolution across large samples3–6. Presently, there exist no approaches for cell type identification that directly leverage this information to annotate individual cells. Here we propose a multiscale approach to automatically classify cell types at this subcellular level, using both transcriptomic information and spatial context. We showcase this on both targeted and whole-transcriptome spatial platforms, improving cell classification and morphology for human kidney tissue and pinpointing individual sparsely distributed renal mouse immune cells without reliance on image data. By integrating these predictions into a topological pipeline based on multiparameter persistent homology7–9, we identify cell spatial relationships characteristic of a mouse model of lupus nephritis, which we validate experimentally by immunofluorescence. The proposed framework readily generalizes to new platforms, providing a comprehensive pipeline bridging different levels of biological organization from genes through to tissues.

Chronic effects of commercial pesticide preparations on biomarkers and reproductive success in earthworm Eisenia andrei

Chemical pollution resulting from pesticide usage has been a continuous issue since the 1960s, despite comprehensive European Union legislation designed to safeguard human health and the environment from the adverse effects of pesticides. While regulatory risk assessments primarily focus on the active ingredients, recent research indicates ecotoxicological impacts of commercial preparations on non-target organisms, particularly within the soil ecosystem where key species such as earthworms play a vital role in maintaining soil quality and fertility. Therefore, the aim of this study was the assessment of the long-term effects of the following respective commercial preparations: the insecticides Sumialfa (esfenvalerate) and Calypso (thiacloprid), as well as the herbicides Frontier (dimethenamid-p) and Filon (prosulfocarb) on the earthworm Eisenia andrei in standardized soil during long-term exposures of 7, 14, and 28 days. To study the possible effects on different levels of biological organization, enzymatic biomarkers: acetylcholinesterase (AChE), carboxylesterase (CES) glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx); non-enzymatic biomarkers: multixenobiotic resistance activity (MXR), levels of glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reproductive success were investigated. While Calypso appeared to be the least toxic substance, all pesticides showed significant effect on multiobiomarker response in E. fetida. That being said, the response of MXR activity was significantly altered by all tested pesticides indicating MXR being the most sensitive endpoint of the present research. Recovery of MXR was observed after 28 days, however, only in case of exposure to Filon, while the recovery of CAT activity was recorded after 28 days as well, subsequent to Sumialfa exposure. Reproductive success was negatively impacted regarding the Frontier and Sumialfa exposure at the highest concentration (100 mg/kg) reflected in reduced number of cocoons, while only the exposure to Frontier (100 mg/kg) reduced the number of juveniles. Based on the results, it is important to include commercial pesticide formulations in pesticide risk assessments. The toxicity classifications of the studied pesticides suggest the potential detrimental consequences to the key soil species in terrestrial ecosystems at various concentrations. Future studies should include other soil species as well as investigation of higher levels of biological organization, i.e., behavioral endpoints, to determine the potential risks to terrestrial ecosystems.

Bioaccumulation and biological effects of hydrogenated cement particles in the marine bivalve, Mytilusgalloprovincialis

The decommissioning and normal functioning of nuclear facilities can result in the production and release of airborne particles in the environment. Aquatic biota are expected to be exposed to these particles considering that nuclear facilities are often located near water bodies. Aerosols, such as cement dust, can interact with radionuclides as well as with heavy metals, and therefore elicit not only radiological impacts but also chemical toxicity. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of hydrogenated cement particles (HCPs) as a first step before evaluating any radiotoxicity of tritiated cement particles in the marine mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis. Responses at different levels of biological organisation were assessed, including clearance rate (CR), tissue specific accumulation, DNA damage and transcriptional expression of key stress related genes. Acute (5 h) and medium-term, chronic (11 d) exposures to 1000 μg L−1 HCPs showed that bioaccumulation, assessed using Cu as a proxy and determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, was time and tissue dependent. The highest levels of Cu were found in the digestive gland (DG) after 11 d. HCP exposure caused changes in the expression of oxidative and other stress-related genes, including mt20 in DG and gst and sod in the gill after 5 h exposure, while an overexpression of hsp70 in the gill was observed after 11 d. Genotoxic effects in haemocytes were observed after 11 d of HCP exposure. Multivariate analysis indicated that oxidative stress is the most probable factor contributing to overall physiological dysfunction. Our results provide a baseline to perform further studies employing tritiated cement particles. Specifically, future work should focus on the DG since only this tissue showed significant bioaccumulation when compared to the negative control.

Improving the performance of macroinvertebrate based multi-metric indices by incorporating functional traits and an index performance-driven approach

Human-driven multiple pressures impact freshwater ecosystems worldwide, reducing biodiversity, and impacting ecosystem functioning and services provided to human societies. Multi-metric indices (MMIs) are suitable tools for tracking the effects of anthropogenic pressures on freshwater ecosystems because they incorporate various biological metrics responding to multiple pressures at different levels of biological organization. However, the performance and applicability of MMIs depend on their metrics' selection and their calibration against natural environmental gradients. In this study, we aimed to unravel i) how incorporating functional trait-based metrics affects the performance of MMIs, ii) how disentangling the natural environmental gradients from anthropogenic pressures effects affects the performance of MMIs, and iii) how the performance of MMIs developed using a metric performance-driven approach compares with MMIs developed using an index performance-driven approach. We carried out a field survey measuring abiotic and biotic variables at 53 sites in the Karun River basin (Iran) in 2018. For functional trait-based metrics, we used 15 macroinvertebrate traits and calculated community-weighted mean trait values and functional diversity indices. We used random forest modeling to account for the effect of natural environmental gradients on each metric. Based on our results, incorporating functional traits increased the MMI performance significantly and facilitated ecological interpretation of MMIs. Both taxonomic and functional components of macroinvertebrate assemblages co-varied strongly with natural environmental gradients, and accounting for these covariations improved the performance of MMIs. Finally, we found that index performance-driven MMIs performed better in terms of precision, bias, sensitivity, and responsiveness than metric performance-driven MMIs.

What drives growth responses of nitrogen and phosphorus (co-)limited primary producer communities?

The growth of autotroph communities is frequently (co-)limited by essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the observed co-limitation patterns at different levels of biological organization, especially at the biochemical level for individual species. When considering communities, the presence of different species and functional groups with contrasting physiologies and nutrient requirements leads to a more difficult understanding of the mechanisms involved in nutrient (co-)limitation. To investigate what drives co-limitation patterns and possible underlying mechanisms based on biomass responses in autotroph communities, we grew phytoplankton communities differing in species composition in experimental microcosms on three N:P ratios to impose different limiting conditions. Afterwards, N, P, both, or none were factorially supplied to the communities to test which nutrients were limiting growth. We measured the biovolume of single species in the communities to assess how they responded to nutrient additions and compared it to the response of the overall community biovolume. The types of nutrient (co-)limitation identified, i.e. the factorial limitation scenarios for community biomass were single N limitation or simultaneous co-limitation by N and P, and were strongly driven by the dominant species. The phytoplankton species in the communities responded differently to the nutrient addition treatments, i.e. they showed contrasting limitation outcomes and therefore likely different nutrient requirements. Our experiment indicates that phylogenetically distantly-related phytoplankton species grown in a community can have different resource use efficiencies and thus can be limited by different nutrients. We suggest that the dominance of species or groups with similar traits in nutrient requirements and acquisition is one of the leading mechanisms that determines the biomass pattern of nutrient (co-)limitation observed at the community level. This work also highlights the potential of predicting community growth limitation outcomes based on knowledge of nutrient use efficiencies of one or few dominant species, which can be a suitable tool for lake restoration and oligotrophication efforts.

Thermo-priming triggers species-specific physiological and transcriptome responses in Mediterranean seagrasses

Heat-priming improves plants' tolerance to a recurring heat stress event. The underlying molecular mechanisms of heat-priming are largely unknown in seagrasses. Here, ad hoc mesocosm experiments were conducted with two Mediterranean seagrass species, Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa. Plants were first exposed to heat-priming, followed by a heat-triggering event. A comprehensive assessment of plant stress response across different levels of biological organization was performed at the end of the triggering event. Morphological and physiological results showed an improved response of heat-primed P. oceanica plants while in C. nodosa both heat- and non-primed plants enhanced their growth rates at the end of the triggering event. As resulting from whole transcriptome sequencing, molecular functions related to several cellular compartments and processes were involved in the response to warming of non-primed plants, while the response of heat-primed plants involved a limited group of processes. Our results suggest that seagrasses acquire a primed state during the priming event, that eventually gives plants the ability to induce a more energy-effective response when the thermal stress event recurs. Different species may differ in their ability to perform an improved heat stress response after priming. This study provides pioneer molecular insights into the emerging topic of seagrass stress priming and may benefit future studies in the field.

Parental exposure to antidepressants has lasting effects on offspring? A case study with zebrafish

Fish have common neurotransmitter pathways with humans, exhibiting a significant degree of conservation and homology. Thus, exposure to fluoxetine makes fish potentially susceptible to biochemical and physiological changes, similarly to what is observed in humans. Over the years, several studies demonstrated the potential effects of fluoxetine on different fish species and at different levels of biological organization. However, the effects of parental exposure to unexposed offspring remain largely unknown. The consequences of 15-day parental exposure to relevant concentrations of fluoxetine (100 and 1000 ng/L) were assessed on offspring using zebrafish as a model organism. Parental exposure resulted in offspring early hatching, non-inflation of the swimming bladder, increased malformation frequency, decreased heart rate and blood flow, and reduced growth. Additionally, a significant behavioral impairment was also found (reduced startle response, basal locomotor activity, and altered non-associative learning during early stages and a negative geotaxis and scototaxis, reduced thigmotaxis, and anti-social behavior at later life stages). These behavior alterations are consistent with decreased anxiety, a significant increase in the expression of the monoaminergic genes slc6a4a (sert), slc6a3 (dat), slc18a2 (vmat2), mao, tph1a, and th2, and altered levels of monoaminergic neurotransmitters. Alterations in behavior, expression of monoaminergic genes, and neurotransmitter levels persisted until offspring adulthood. Given the high conservation of neuronal pathways between fish and humans, data show the possibility of potential transgenerational and multigenerational effects of pharmaceuticals’ exposure. These results reinforce the need for transgenerational and multigenerational studies in fish, under realistic scenarios, to provide realistic insights into the impact of these pharmaceuticals.

Assessing combined effects of long-term exposure to copper and marine heatwaves on the reef-forming serpulid Ficopomatus enigmaticus through a biomarker approach

Sessile benthic organisms can be affected by global changes and local pressures, such as metal pollution, that can lead to damages at different levels of biological organization. Effects of exposure to marine heatwaves (MHWs) alone and in combination with environmentally relevant concentration of copper (Cu) were evaluated in the reef-forming tubeworm Ficopomatus enigmaticus using a multi-biomarker approach. Biomarkers of cell membrane damage, enzymatic antioxidant defences, metabolic activity, neurotoxicity, and DNA integrity were analyzed. The exposure to Cu alone did not produce any significant effect. Exposure to MHWs alone produced effects only on metabolic activity (increase of glutathione S-transferase) and energy reserves (decrease in protein content). MHWs in combination with copper was the condition that most influenced the status of cell homeostasis of exposed F. enigmaticus. The combination of MHWs plus Cu exposure induced increase of protein carbonylation and glutathione S-transferase activity, decrease in protein/carbohydrate content and carboxylesterase activity. This study on a reef-forming organism highlighted the additive effect of a climate change-related stressor to metals pollution of marine and brackish waters.

Investigating students’ meaning-making of multiple visual representations of epigenetics at different levels of biological organisation

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate students’ meaning–making of multiple visual representations of epigenetics at different levels of biological organisation, and to discern what visual aspects of the multiple visual representations might influence students’ reasoning. Adopting an exploratory approach, we analysed how students made meaning of visually communicated epigenetics phenomena while pointing at and reasoning about the multiple visual representations as part of semi-structured focus groups. We investigated students’ meaning-making of the multiple visual representations by analysing their indications through physical pointing and accompanying verbal utterances. The analysis revealed meaning-making and the nature of linking between levels of organisation in four distinct patterns, namely intra horizontal linking, inter horizontal linking, one level vertical linking and two level vertical linking. In addition, five different visual characteristics of the multiple visual representations emerged as influencing students’ reasoning while linking between different organisation levels: multiple visual representations, salient visual features, analogous visual features, familiar visual elements, and textual adjuncts. The study shows that multiple visual representations at different levels of organisation can support students’ meaning-making of epigenetics, indicating that this way of communicating can be transferable to other biological domains. Potential implications for future research and teaching practice are provided.

Marine protected areas promote stability of reef fish communities under climate warming

Protection from direct human impacts can safeguard marine life, yet ocean warming crosses marine protected area boundaries. Here, we test whether protection offers resilience to marine heatwaves from local to network scales. We examine 71,269 timeseries of population abundances for 2269 reef fish species surveyed in 357 protected versus 747 open sites worldwide. We quantify the stability of reef fish abundance from populations to metacommunities, considering responses of species and functional diversity including thermal affinity of different trophic groups. Overall, protection mitigates adverse effects of marine heatwaves on fish abundance, community stability, asynchronous fluctuations and functional richness. We find that local stability is positively related to distance from centers of high human density only in protected areas. We provide evidence that networks of protected areas have persistent reef fish communities in warming oceans by maintaining large populations and promoting stability at different levels of biological organization.