Physiological Performance Research Articles

Local adaptation, plasticity, and evolved resistance to hypoxic cold stress in high-altitude deer mice

A fundamental question in evolutionary biology concerns the relative contributions of phenotypic plasticity vs. local adaptation (genotypic specialization) in enabling wide-ranging species to inhabit diverse environmental conditions. Here, we conduct a long-term hypoxia acclimation experiment to assess the relative roles of local adaptation and plasticity in enabling highland and lowland deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) to sustain aerobic thermogenesis at progressively increasing elevations. We assessed the relative physiological performance capacities of highland and lowland natives as they were exposed to progressive, stepwise increases in hypoxia, simulating the gradual ascent from sea level to an elevation of 6,000 m. The final elevation of 6,000 m far exceeds the highest attainable elevations within the species' range, and therefore tests the animals' ability to tolerate levels of hypoxia that surpass the prevailing conditions within their current distributional limits. Our results demonstrate that highland natives exhibit superior thermogenic capacities at the most severe levels of hypoxia, suggesting that the species' broad fundamental niche and its ability to inhabit such a broad range of elevational zones is attributable to genetically based local adaptation, including evolved changes in plasticity. Transcriptomic and physiological measurements identify evolved changes in the acclimation response to hypoxia that contribute to the enhanced thermogenic capacity of highland natives.

Assessing the impact of weathered polystyrene collected from the marine environment on oxidative stress responses in Zophobas morio larvae: A preliminary study

Foamed polystyrene (PS) is a prevalent material in consumer products and thus represents one of the largest constituents of marine litter. PS may interact with and be ingested by various organisms, including insects, which are starting to be used in biodegradation of plastic wastes. This study examines the physiological performances and the potential oxidative stress related to dietary environmental PS exposure of Z. morio larvae. Experimental groups were fed different diets: bran and oatmeal (control), weathered PS collected from the marine environment, and virgin PS. Over a 30-day feeding period, larvae growth, survival, and PS consumption were measured, together with antioxidant enzymatic activities and gene expression profiles. Results showed that PS ingestion supports larval growth similarly to bran, but the two PS-fed groups consumed a different amount of plastic, suggesting that weathered PS might affect the patterns of PS consumption by larvae. We denoted that PS consumption was associated with a decline in total antioxidant capacity, which showed the highest decrease in the environmental PS group. Marked increases in oxidative stress biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity/mRNA levels and malondialdehyde content were also observed in the environmental PS-fed group, indicating an elevated oxidative stress response, probably due to pollutants adsorbed/absorbed on PS. Differently to SOD, catalase at both mRNA and enzyme activity levels was found to be significantly reduced by PS digestion, regardless of PS type. The mRNA levels of glutathione s-transferase (GST) were significantly higher in the environmental PS-fed larvae compared to the virgin PS-fed group. In addition, Principal Component Analysis clearly distinguished between larvae fed different PS types, highlighting the enhanced oxidative stress caused by the ingestion of PS collected from marine environments. These results support the potential of insects in plastic biodegradation processes but also demonstrate the health hazards of using environmental PS as principal dietary component in Z. morio larvae, thus questioning their use in downstream productions.

Reproductive effort affects cellular response in the mantle of Nodipecten subnodosus scallops exposed to acute hyperthermia

In marine ecosystems, temperature regulates the energy metabolism of animals. In the last decades, the temperature increase was related to mass mortality events of marine ectotherms, particularly during high-energy investment for reproduction. In scallops, the mantle has been poorly investigated while this tissue covers more than 40 % of the body mass, contributing to the perception of surrounding environmental stimuli. Our aim was to assess the cellular and molecular responses linked to energy metabolism in the mantle of adult N. subnodosus facing acute hyperthermia during reproductive effort. Scallops collected in spring (late gametogenesis) and summer (ripe gonads) were exposed to a control temperature (22 °C) or acute hyperthermia (30 °C) for 24 h. In spring, increased arginine kinase (AK) activity together with increased pyruvate kinase/citrate synthase ratio (PK/CS) suggested an enhanced carbohydrate, pyruvate, and arginine metabolism to maintain the adenylate energy charge (AEC) in the mantle of scallops coping with acute thermal increase. In summer, animals decreased their AEC (5 %) and arginine phosphate pool (40 %) and increased their anaerobic metabolism as shown by enhanced activities of lactate-dehydrogenase (LDH) and octopine dehydrogenase (ODH), respectively. The abundance of twenty proteins involved in energy metabolism (isocitrate dehydrogenase, ATP synthase subunit β), protein protection (cognates heat shock protein 70), and cytoskeleton (actins and tubulins) were affected only by season. These results underlie the role of the mantle of N. subnodosus in the seasonal responses of this tissue to thermal fluctuations during reproductive effort with possible implications for the physiological performance of scallops under heat waves in wild or harvest conditions.

The Physiological and Performance Effects of Actovegin during Maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Evidence regarding the performance-related effects of Actovegin is limited, despite legislated restrictions being in place for this supplement within sport settings. Our study examined the effects of Actovegin on physiological responses and performance during maximal cardiopulmonary exercise in collegiate athletes. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental design was adopted. Moderately trained collegiate athletes from various sports were randomly allocated to placebo (n = 8) or Actovegin (n = 8) groups. All athletes consumed three capsules across each day for seven days of loading. Athletes underwent two separate cardiopulmonary exercise tests one week apart. Separate 2 × 2 mixed ANOVAs and effect sizes (ηp2) were used to assess for between- and within-group differences. A significant time * group effect (p = 0.036, ηp2 = 0.278) was observed in systolic blood pressure. Significant main effects were only observed for time in several variables, with increases in peak oxygen uptake (VO2) (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.893), peak minute ventilation (p = 0.004, ηp2 = 0.456), ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide (p = 0.002, ηp2 = 0.517), oxygen pulse (p = 0.006, ηp2 = 0.434), VO2 at first ventilatory threshold (p = 0.002, ηp2 = 0.520), velocity at second ventilatory threshold (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.997), VO2 at second ventilatory threshold (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.628), and peak velocity (p = 0.010, ηp2 = 0.386), and a decrease in respiratory exchange ratio (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.695). Our findings suggest that although physiological and performance alterations were evident with Actovegin supplementation during cardiopulmonary exercise, no further benefits beyond those obtained with a placebo were attained.

Effect of seasonal variability on the physiological performance of selected cocoa (Theobroma cacao L) clones in Nigeria

Eleven cocoa clones namely AMAZ 15, ICS 95, IMC 47, MAN 15, PA 150, SCA 9, SPEC 54, UF 67, F3 AMAZON, N 38 and TC 2were hand pollinated and the seeds were raised for 6 months before being transplanted to the field at 6 months. Survival count of the clones was taken for 36 months starting from the first month of establishment. Data on the gas exchange characteristics of cocoa clones started when cocoa were 12 months and continued for the next 2 wet and 2 dry seasons. Majority of cocoa clones showed higher values of stomatal conductance, stomatal transpiration, photosynthetic rates, relative water content, cuticular transpiration and stomata density during wet season while eight of the eleven cocoa clones had higher water use efficiency performance in dry season. The regression analysis also showed a linear, positive and significant relationship between stomatal transpiration and stomatal density of all cocoa clones. The results showed significant differences in the abilities of cocoa clones to cope with water stress while majority of cocoa clones performances significantly differed between dry and wet seasons.

A high-entropy electrode material for electrobiochemical and eletrophysiological signals detection

Electrobiochemical and eletrophysiological signals indicate human physiology, health, and activity performance. It is still a big challenge to detect these biosignals due to the lack of sensing material. Here, we report a high-entropy material for electrobiochemical and eletrophysiological signals sensing. The high-entropy material consists of the conventional transition metallic elements of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn. This high-entropy biosignal sensing material is able to detect the concentration of the biomarker of glucose and electrophysiological signals of Electromyography (EMG), Electroencephalography (EEG), Electrocardiography (ECG). The limitation of the glucose detection is 3.3 μM with the sensitivity of 2861 μA mM−1 cm−2. The HEA electrode also presents good linearship to the glucose concentration in PBS. The cell assay and skin assessment results also demonstrate the excellent biocompatibility of this HEA electrode, indicating good feasibility to the real biosamples. The contact impedance of this HEA electrode is lower than the conventional dry electrode, which leads to the good capability in electrophysiological signals detection. This report not only extends the application of high-entropy material in the field of biomedical engineering but also provides a new pathway for electrobiochemical and eletrophysiological signals detection.

Gender-Specific Physiological Profiles and Performance Metrics in Young Elite Table Tennis Players

Table tennis requires a combination of anaerobic and aerobic energy systems, agility, short reaction times, and precise motor skills. The aim of this study is to investigate gender-specific physiological profiles and performance measures in young elite table tennis players. The objectives are to identify key physical and anthropometric attributes contributing to table tennis performance, compare these attributes between male and female athletes, and develop targeted training recommendations. The study involved sixteen players (8 males and 8 females) within the age range of 10 to 18 years who train regularly at Istanbul Pendik Sports Hall. Inclusion criteria required training at least three times per week and participating at championship levels. Anthropometric measurements were taken using a Seca 220R stadiometer and a Seca 710R weighing scale, with body fat percentage estimated via a Tanita scale. Performance tests included vertical jump height (Witty Microgate device), reaction times (custom device), and heart rates (Activio Sport System). Assessments were carried out between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Male athletes had higher mean values in height (159.00 ± 13.29 cm), weight (50.00 ± 12.06 kg), and vertical jump height, whereas female athletes had better reaction times (1.17 ± 0.14 seconds). No statistically significant differences were found in body fat percentage and mean heart rate. t-Tests revealed that gender differences in most performance metrics were not statistically significant, but correlation analysis showed statistically significant relationships between various physical characteristics and performance outcomes (p&amp;lt;0.05). As a result, physical fitness and reaction time are crucial for table tennis performance. Tailored training programs should focus on these attributes to enhance performance in young elite players. Future studies should follow these metrics longitudinally to understand their impact on competitive success.

Stretchable Sweat Lactate Sensor with Dual-Signal Read-Outs.

Innovations in wearable sweat sensors hold great promise to provide deeper insights into molecular level health information non-invasively. Lactate, a key metabolite present in sweat, holds immense significance in assessing physiological conditions and performance in sports physiology and health sensing. This paper presents the development and characterization of stretchable electrodes with ultrahigh active surface area of 648 % for lactate sensing. The as-printed stretchable electrodes were functionalized with an electron transfer layer comprising Toluidine Blue O and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and an enzymatic layer consisting of lactate dehydrogenase with β-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as the cofactor for lactate selectivity. This sensor achieves a dual-signal read-out in which both electrochemical and fluorescence signals were obtained during lactate detection, demonstrating promising sensor performance in terms of sensitivity and reliability. We demonstrate the robustness of the dual-signal sensor under simulated conditions of physical deformation and shifted excitation. Under these compromised conditions, the performance of the stretchable electrodes remained largely unaffected, showcasing their potential for robust and adaptable sensing platforms in wearable health monitoring applications.

Interference of mechanical damage on the physiological performance of corn seeds

Corn (Zea mays L.) is cultivated and consumed globally due to its nutritional qualities and short production cycle. However, during harvesting, processing, transportation, and storage, seeds are susceptible to various types of damage that can compromise their productive capacity, affecting both germination and plant vigor. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of corn seeds subjected to different types of mechanical damage. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Storage and Processing of Agricultural Products at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. Corn seeds were subjected to four types of mechanical damage: hammering, cutting, abrasion, and perforation, alongside a control sample that did not undergo any mechanical damage. Each treatment (mechanical damage) consisted of 200 seeds, which were evaluated through germination tests, including first count, germination rate, germination speed index (GSI), seedling dry weight, and root length. The experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Design. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance, and means were compared using the Scott-Knott test (P ≤ 0.05) when necessary. Mechanical damage reduces the germination and vigor of corn seeds. Cutting-type damage affects corn seeds more severely, reducing germination by an average of 80% and impairing vigor.

Host preference and physiological performance of the invasive hemiparasite of coastal communities &lt;i&gt;Cassytha filiformis&lt;/i&gt; L. (Lauraceae)

Background: Invasive parasitic species have barely been studied despite their impact on the communities they invade. Questions: What is the host range used by the invasive parasite Cassytha filiformis in the coastal scrubland of northern Yucatan? Does C. filiformis show host preference? Does the physiological performance of C. fliformis (water deficit and chlorophyll content) vary among hosts on which it establishes and reproduces? Study species: Cassytha filiformis, an invasive hemiparasitic vine of coastal communities. Study sites and dates: Telchac, Yucatán, México. The study lasted from October 2022 to June 2023. Methods: The incidence of C. filiformis parasitism was recorded. Histological analysis confirmed parasitism, and the water potential and chlorophyll concentration of C. filiformis in its main hosts were determined. Results: C. filiformis parasitized 10 species, showing a preference for shrubs. Its main hosts were Scaevola plumieri, Phitecellobium keyense and Croton punctatus. Differences between hosts were observed in water potential variation and total chlorophyll concentration. Differences between stem types (young and mature) in chlorophyll concentration were also observed. Conclusions: C. filiformis prefers shrub species to establish. The physiological performance of C. filiformis varied depending on host identity. Differences in chlorophyll concentration between stem types of C. filiformis suggest functional physiological differences between them.

The physical demands and physiological responses to CrossFit®: a scoping review with evidence gap map and meta-correlation

BackgroundCrossFit® combines different types of activities (weightlifting, gymnastics, and cardiovascular training) that challenge aerobic and anaerobic pathways. Over the last few years, the scientific interest in CrossFit® has increased considerably. However, there have been no published reviews characterizing the physical demands and physiological responses to CrossFit®. The present study synthesizes current evidence on the physical demands and physiological responses to CrossFit®.MethodsThe search was performed in three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Manuscripts related to the physical and physiological performance of adult CrossFit® participants written in English, Portuguese, and Spanish were retrieved for the analysis.ResultsIn addition, a meta-correlation was conducted to examine the predictors of CrossFit® performance. A total of 68 papers were included in the review. Physical and physiological markers differed between the different workouts analyzed. In addition, 48 to 72 h are needed to recover from a CrossFit® challenge. Specific tests that involve CrossFit® movements were more related to CrossFit® performance than non-specific.ConclusionAlthough the characterization of CrossFit® is dependent on the workout examined, the benefits of muscle hypertrophy are aligned with the recent findings of concurrent training. The characterization of CrossFit® entire sessions and appropriate recovery strategies should be considered in future studies to help coaches manipulate and adjust the training load.

Involvement of the Metallothionein gene OsMT2b in Drought and Cadmium Ions Stress in Rice

Abiotic stress is one of the major factors restricting the production of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Developing rice varieties with dual abiotic stress tolerance is essential to ensure sustained rice production, which is necessary to illustrate the regulation mechanisms underlying dual stress tolerance. At present, only a few genes that regulate dual abiotic stress tolerance have been reported. In this study, we determined that the expression of OsMT2b was induced by both drought and Cd2+ stress. After stress treatment, OsMT2b-overexpression lines exhibited enhanced drought tolerance and better physiological performance in terms of relative water content and electrolyte leakage compared with wild-type (WT). Further analysis indicated that ROS levels were lower in OsMT2b-overexpression lines than in WT following stress treatment, suggesting that OsMT2b-overexpression lines had a stronger ability to scavenge ROS under stress. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) results demonstrated that under drought stress, OsMT2b influenced the expression of genes involved in ROS scavenging to enhance drought tolerance in rice. In addition, OsMT2b-overexpression plants displayed increased tolerance to Cd2+ stress, and physiological assessment results were consistent with the observed phenotypic improvements. Thus, enhancing ROS scavenging ability through OsMT2b overexpression is a novel strategy to boost rice tolerance to both drought and Cd2+ stress, offering a promising approach for developing rice germplasm with enhanced resistance to the abiotic stressors.

Hormetic responses to cadmium exposure in wheat seedlings: insights into morphological, physiological, and biochemical adaptations.

Cadmium is commonly recognized as toxic to plant growth, low-level Cd has promoting effects on growth performance, which is so-called hormesis. Although Cd toxicity in wheat has been widely investigated, knowledge of growth response to a broad range of Cd concentrations, especially extremely low concentrations, is still unknown. In this study, the morphological, physiological, and biochemical performance of wheat seedlings to a wide range of Cd concentrations (0-100 µΜ) were explored. Low Cd treatment (0.1-0.5µM) improved wheat biomass and root development by enhancing the photosynthetic system and antioxidant system ability. Photosynthetic rate (Pn) was improved by 5.72% under lower Cd treatment (1 µΜ), but inhibited by 6.05-49.85% from 5 to 100 µΜ. Excessive Cd accumulation induced oxidative injury manifesting higher MDA content, resulting in lower photosynthetic efficiency, stunted growth, and reduction of biomass. Further, the contents of ascorbate, glutathione, non-protein thiols, and phytochelatins were improved under 5-100 µΜ Cd treatment. The ascorbate peroxidase activity in the leaf showed a hormetic dose-response characteristic. Correlation analysis and partial least squares (PLS) results indicated that antioxidant enzymes and metabolites were closely correlated with Cd tolerance and accumulation. The results of the element network, correlation analysis, and PLS showed a crucial role for exogenous Cd levels in K, Fe, Cu, and Mn uptake and accumulation. These results provided a deeper understanding of the hormetic effect of Cd in wheat, which would be beneficial for improving the quality of hazard and risk assessments.

Exploring Thinopyrum spp. Group 7 Chromosome Introgressions to Improve Durum Wheat Performance under Intense Daytime and Night-Time Heat Stress at Anthesis.

Durum wheat (DW) is one of the major crops grown in the Mediterranean area, a climate-vulnerable region where the increase in day/night (d/n) temperature is severely threatening DW yield stability. In order to improve DW heat tolerance, the introgression of chromosomal segments derived from the wild gene pool is a promising strategy. Here, four DW-Thinopyrum spp. near-isogenic recombinant lines (NIRLs) were assessed for their physiological response and productive performance after intense heat stress (IH, 37/27 °C d/n) had been applied for 3 days at anthesis. The NIRLs included two primary types (R5, R112), carriers (+) of a differently sized Th. ponticum 7el1L segment on the DW 7AL arm, and two corresponding secondary types (R69-9/R5, R69-9/R112), possessing a Th. elongatum 7EL segment distally inserted into the 7el1L ones. Their response to the IH stress was compared to that of corresponding non-carrier sib lines (-) and the heat-tolerant cv. Margherita. Overall, the R112+, R69-9/R5+ and R69-9/R112+ NIRLs exhibited a tolerant behaviour towards the applied stress, standing out for the maintenance of leaf relative water content but also for the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars in the flag leaf and the preservation of photosynthetic efficiency. As a result, all the above three NIRLs (R112+ > R69-9/R5+ > R69-9/R112+) displayed good yield stability under the IH, also in comparison with cv. Margherita. R112+ particularly relied on the strength of spike fertility/grain number traits, while R69-9/R5+ benefited from efficient compensation by the grain weight increase. This work largely confirmed and further substantiated the value of exploiting the wild germplasm of Thinopyrum species as a useful source for the improvement of DW tolerance to even extreme abiotic stress conditions, such as the severe heat treatment throughout day- and night-time applied here.

A portable multi-taxa phenotyping device to retrieve physiological performance traits

Organismal phenotyping to identify fitness traits is transforming our understanding of adaptive responses and ecological interactions of species within changing environments. Here we present a portable Multi-Taxa Phenotyping (MTP) system that can retrieve a suite of metabolic and photophysiological parameter across light, temperature, and/or chemical gradients, using real time bio-optical (oxygen and chlorophyll a fluorescence) measurements. The MTP system integrates three well-established technologies for the first time: an imaging Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) chlorophyll a fluorometer, custom-designed well plates equipped with optical oxygen sensors, and a thermocycler. We demonstrate the ability of the MTP system to distinguish phenotypic performance characteristics of diverse aquatic taxa spanning corals, mangroves and algae based on metabolic parameters and Photosystem II dynamics, in a high-throughput capacity and accounting for interactions of different environmental gradients on performance. Extracted metrics from the MTP system can not only provide information on the performance of aquatic taxa exposed to differing environmental gradients, but also provide predicted phenotypic responses of key aquatic organisms to environmental change. Further work validating how rapid phenotyping tools such as the MTP system predict phenotypic responses to long term environmental changes in situ are urgently required to best inform how these tools can support management efforts.

Study the effect of Cordyceps militaris supplement in the diet on Physiological Performance and Quality of Eggs of Japanese Quail

Study the effect of Cordyceps militaris supplement in the diet on Physiological Performance and Quality of Eggs of Japanese Quail

Exploring the Effects of Irrigation Schedules on Evapotranspiration Partitioning and Crop Water Productivity of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in North China Plain Using RZWQM2

ABSTRACTA significant basis for winter wheat production in China is the North China Plain (NCP). However, winter wheat production is severely hampered by water shortages in this area. Transpiration co‐occurs with photosynthesis, affecting crop water productivity (CWP). The purpose of this experiment is to use Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) to study actual transpiration (AT) and evaporation (AE) under different irrigation schedules and then determine its impact on grain yield and CWP. In the 2019–2022 winter wheat growing seasons, four experimental treatments were set up: no irrigation during growth period (I0), irrigation at jointing stage (I1), irrigation at jointing and anthesis stage (I2) and irrigation at jointing, anthesis and filling stage (I3), and the RZWQM2 model was calibrated and verified in this experiment. A higher yield (7840.90 kg/ha for an average of 3 years) and the highest CWP can be obtained in I2 treatment (increased by 12.72%, 5.98% and 4.28% for an average of 3 years, respectively, compared to the other three treatments). The model has a good simulation effect on soil water dynamic change and plant physiological performance of the four treatments; the model showed that irrigation increased the simulated AE and AT; however, reduced AE/actual evapotranspiration. For the whole growth period, AT in I3, I2, I1 and I0 was 351.70, 317.30, 271.50 and 223.70 mm, respectively. Especially in the late growth stage of winter wheat, the AT in I3 was 65.20 mm for an average of 3 years, which was significantly higher than I2, I1 and I0 by 31.60, 13.50 and 10.00 mm, respectively. Thus, I3 increased AT at the late growth stage of winter wheat and resulted in an increase in grain yield; however, it did not significantly increase CWP. This study demonstrated that irrigation at winter wheat jointing and anthesis stages can improve the CWP to achieve the goal of stable grain yield and water saving.

PSVIII-9 Effects of growth implants and timing of vaccination on calf immunity and growth performance

Abstract This study assessed calf growth performance and blood parameters of beef calves under different growth implants and timing of vaccination protocols. Crossbreed beef calves (n = 59) were stratified by birth body weight (BW) and age (41 ± 5.2 kg of BW and 70 ± 8 d of age) and randomly assigned in a split-plot design with implant strategy as the main plot and timing of vaccination as the subplot. The main plot (treatment) consisted of 3 implant strategies: 1) Synovex C (SC; n = 20; 100 mg progesterone/10 mg estradiol benzoate, or 2) Synovex One Grower (SG; n = 19; 150 mg trenbolone acetate and 21 mg estradiol benzoate; or 3) no implant (CON; n = 20). Subplot treatments were the timing of vaccination booster against bovine respiratory disease pathogens on 1) weaning (WV; n = 29) or 2) 7-d post-weaning (PWV; n = 30). Cow-calf pairs were treated alike in a single pasture during the pre-weaning phase, receiving the same vaccine (Bovi-Shield Gold One Shot and Ultrabac 7) on d 0 (implantation day) and booster time (WV or PWV). After weaning (approximately 187 d of age), calves were allocated in a single pen receiving ad libitum hay until d 60 post-weaning. Body weight and blood were collected on d 0, weaning, d 0 and 28 relative to vaccination booster, and d 60 post-weaning. Blood was collected to determine insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), cortisol, and leptin concentrations and to perform a complete blood cell count. WV calves had decreased cortisol concentrations on booster day and 28 d post-vaccine (P = 0.01). Regardless of implant treatment, calves tended to have decreased IGF-1 concentrations 28-d post-vaccine booster (P = 0.09). An effect of treatment (P &amp;lt; 0.01) was detected for lymphocyte counts, with CON having greater concentrations vs. SG and SC calves. A treatment × timing of vaccination (P &amp;lt; 0.01) interaction was detected for monocyte counts, where SG-PWV calves had the greatest concentrations. A treatment effect (P &amp;lt; 0.02) was observed for eosinophil percentage, where SG had reduced percentages than CON, while SC was intermediate. An effect of treatment was detected for leptin (P &amp;lt; 0.01), with SG calves having the least, CON being intermediate, and SC the greatest concentrations. From d 0 to 60 d post-weaning, SG tended to have greater ADG (P ≤ 0.07) compared with CON, while SC was intermediate. On d 28 and d 35 post-weaning, calves implanted with SG were heavier (P ≤ 0.04) than the CON but not than SC. In summary, this study demonstrates that growth implants and timing of vaccination significantly affect both physiological parameters and growth performance in beef calves. Implanting calves with Synovex One Grower resulted in improved growth performance.

PSXIII-13 Evaluation of physiological functions and performance in laying hens in different housing systems

Abstract Egg production faces many challenges of economics, disease control and animal welfare concerns. Therefore, investigation of physiological characteristics in laying hens should be required for further discussion on such issues from a scientific point of view. In this study, we evaluated physiological functions and production parameters of hens raised in three different housing systems, conventional battery cage (CC), enriched cage (EC) and aviary system (AV). Lohmann Selected Leghorn Lite laying hens (n = 251) were used. At first, all the pullets were housed in CC. Then, a telemetric transmitter was implanted to randomly selected 18 hens on d 171 after birth to record electrocardiograms (ECGs), heart rate (HR), body temperature (BT) and locomotor activity (LA). Heart rate variability (HRV), which was analyzed using ECG, has been established as a suitable method for investigating autonomic nervous functions, and to assess stress and well-being of housing systems. On d 200 after birth, some of the hens were randomly selected and transferred to EC or AV (CC; n = 88, EC; n = 72, AV; n = 91), including hens implanted a transmitter (6 hens in each group). All parameters at 10 d before and 1 wk after the group division were compared. Egg laying rate (ELR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and shell deformation were evaluated for egg production parameters. Hens were basically housed under the same management condition, and a constant light-dark cycle (light-on from 0300 to 1930 h). Feeding was conducted during light-phase, and water was supplied ad libitum. Statistical significance was defined as P &amp;lt; 0.05. Comparing the physiological parameter, HR during dark-phase and LA during light-phase after transferred to EC or AV were greater than those in CC. However, there was no significant difference in HR during light-phase or LA during dark-phase between CC and the other two groups. The high frequency (HF) power of HRV, which reflects parasympathetic nervous function, was high during the dark-phase (7.59 ± 1.56) and low during the light-phase (6.04 ± 0.78) in CC. This diurnal variation disappeared in EC or AV because the HF power during the dark-phase decreased. As for production, ELR, FCR and shell deformation were decreased after moved to AV, which were not found in other two groups after the group division. This study was conducted to clarify the effects of housing systems on the physiological functions and productivity of laying hens, and these results suggest that CC might provide hens with parasympathetic dominance with greater quality of rest in dark-phase, and AV causes the reduction of egg production. However, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that these results are influenced by movement to a different housing system. Therefore, further analysis should be performed to assess the relations between physiological functions, management and egg production.

Physiological resilience of intertidal chitons in a persistent upwelling coastal region

Current climate projections for mid-latitude regions globally indicate an intensification of wind-driven coastal upwelling due to warming conditions. The dynamics of mid-latitude coastal upwelling are marked by environmental variability across temporal scales, which affect key physiological processes in marine calcifying organisms and can impact their large-scale distribution patterns. In this context, marine invertebrates often exhibit phenotypic plasticity, enabling them to adapt to environmental change. In this study, we examined the physiological performance (i.e., metabolism, Thermal Performance Curves, and biomass and calcification rates) of individuals of the intertidal mollusk Chiton granosus, a chiton found from northern Peru to Cape Horn (5° to 55°S). Our spatial study design indicated a pattern of contrasting conditions among locations. The Talcaruca site, characterized by persistent upwelling and serving as a biogeographic break, exhibited lower pH and carbonate saturation states, along with higher pCO2, compared to the sites located to the north and south of this location (Huasco and Los Molles, respectively). In agreement with the spatial pattern in carbonate system parameters, long-term temperature records showed lower temperatures that changed faster over synoptic scales (1–15 days) at Talcaruca, in contrast to the more stable conditions at the sites outside the break. Physiological performance traits from individuals from the Talcaruca population exhibited higher values and more significant variability, along with significantly broader and greater warming tolerance than chitons from the Huasco and Los Molles populations. Moreover, marked changes in local abundance patterns over three years suggested population-level responses to the challenging environmental conditions at the biogeographic break. Thus, C. granosus from the Talcaruca upwelling zone represents a local population with wide tolerance ranges that may be capable of withstanding future upwelling intensification on the Southern Eastern Pacific coast and likely serving as a source of propagules for less adapted populations.