Metabolic responses to low temperature in fish muscle

Unraveling the metabolic gene expression and energetic patterns of the seasonally acclimatized gilthead seabream

The aim of the present study was to investigate how seasonal changes in the oxidation of biological energy substrates contribute to the thermal tolerance of farmed fish, as well as to explore the potential relationship between seasonality, metabolic pathways, and the energy reserves of a highly important aquaculture species, i.e., the gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata. In a monthly basis collected tissue samples from a fish farm in Evoikos Gulf in Greece, RNA/DNA ratio was measured, representing a highly informative index of the nutritional condition and growth of fish. Additionally, seasonal variations in glucose and lipid metabolism were assessed through relative gene expressions of key metabolic enzymes and proteins such as glucose transporter (Glu), lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH), citrate synthase (CS), 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HOAD), pyruvate kinase (PK), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα/γ). Furthermore, the expression of uncoupling proteins, NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-2), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (Hif-1a), electron transport system activity (ETS), and its components (complex I + III) was also employed as indicators of the respiratory chain activity. The findings reveal two distinct metabolic periods affecting productivity: a cold acclimatization phase marked by significant lipid accumulation and a warm acclimatization phase characterized by elevated carbohydrate metabolic pathways and enhanced corresponding enzymatic activities. However, the decreasing CS enzymatic activity during warm acclimatization may reflect the initiation of mitochondrial dysfunction. These metabolic adjustments underscore the fish adaptive responses to seasonal temperature fluctuations, highlighting their mechanisms of thermal tolerance and energy utilization. This understanding is particularly relevant for sustainability practices under varying thermal conditions.

Transcriptomic profiling revealed the regulatory pathways and key genes associated with cold tolerance in two eel gobies

Closely related species of the eel goby family (Gobiidae) have evolved divergent resistance to low temperatures, but the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study used a comparative transcriptomic approach to identify key pathways and genes associated with cold tolerance in two eel goby species. Expression profiles of the cold-tolerant O. lacepedii and the cold-sensitive O. rebecca in control (23 °C) and cold stress groups (15 °C and 11 °C) were analyzed. Differentially expressed genes closely linked to interspecific cold tolerance divergence were identified through transcriptome profiling and Venn diagram analysis. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that processes related to cellular homeostasis, the PPAR signaling pathway, cellular respiration, and oxidative phosphorylation were activated during the cold tolerance response of eel gobies. WGCNA analysis indicated that the hub genes related to thermogenesis and microtubular stability, specifically PPARGC1A and α-tubulin, may contribute to the high cold tolerance in O. lacepedii. These findings provide key clues for dissection of the molecular mechanisms behind the formation of cold tolerance in eel gobies.

The effect of different oxygen concentrations on oxidative stress and some biochemical parameters in the transfer of adult rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

BACKGROUND

Transfer operations are one of the stress sources that cause mortality in fish. This study investigated the effects of different dissolved oxygen concentrations on oxidative stress and several biochemical parameters during the transfer of adult rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The aim was to determine the optimum dissolved oxygen concentration to minimize stress and potential tissue damage during transfer.

RESULT

The study analyzed GSH-Px, SOD, and LDH enzyme activities; MDA, Cp, TOS, TAS, OSI, cortisol, glucose, urea, uric acid, creatinine, Ca, Mg, and MDA levels; as well as Cp, TOS, TAS, and OSI values in serum and muscle tissue. Findings indicated that transfer and preparation for transfer induced oxidative damage in fish. Comparing different dissolved oxygen levels, it was observed that hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions increased ROS levels, suppressed the antioxidant mechanism, and caused oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the tested conditions, transfer under normoxic conditions with a dissolved oxygen concentration of 10 mg/L was the most effective in minimizing oxidative stress and tissue damage. This suggests that maintaining adequate oxygen levels during transfer plays a crucial role in reducing physiological stress in rainbow trout.

Dietary modification of membrane composition mimics characteristics of thermal acclimation in the eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)

Acclimation in response to seasonal temperature fluctuations is well described across animal taxa. Our previous studies on adult eastern red spotted newts have demonstrated that winter- or cold-acclimated newts prefer lower cloacal temperatures, have higher standard metabolic rates (SMRs), exhibit higher skeletal muscle cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) and citrate synthase (CS) activity, and possess membranes composed of elevated polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content compared with skeletal muscle of summer- or warm-acclimated newts. Acclimation to cold also results in partial compensation of locomotor performance. Additionally, northern populations have higher CS and CCO activity and a higher degree of membrane unsaturation compared with southern populations regardless of acclimation conditions. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that modification of membrane fatty acid composition mimics characteristics of thermal acclimation. We modified membrane composition in newts independent of environmental temperature by feeding them diets differing in fatty acid composition (saturated, monounsaturated, and n3 or n6 PUFA diets) and measured CCO and CS activity, SMR, preferred cloacal temperature, locomotor performance and thermal tolerance. Here, we present data suggesting that a diet-mediated elevation of PUFA in tissue membranes results in lower preferred body temperature, increased metabolic rate, increased burst speed at low temperature and decreased burst speed at high temperature. This introduces an ectothermic vertebrate model system that acclimates characteristics across levels of biological organization in which we can effectively uncouple membrane composition from environmental temperature or light cycle, and further suggests that diet may be an important component of thermal acclimation in nature.

Physiological Traits for Predicting Poleward Extensions in Tropical Fishes: From Lab to Management

Tropicalization, the phenomena by which tropical organisms are extending their distributions poleward into temperate latitudes in response to increasing temperatures and strengthening boundary currents, is occurring globally. Vagrant tropical species have large ecological and economic ramifications for the temperate habitats they invade. However, not all vagrants are able to persist long term in temperate habitats, with the first winter being a potential bottleneck for their persistence. This brings into question how some tropical vagrant species are successful at surviving temperate conditions and the physiology underpinning this success. This provides the opportunity to not only look at the available data introspectively but also forward-thinking by applying a range of holistic physiological traits relevant for biology and management. Therefore, the aim of our review is twofold: to review the current state-of-knowledge of the physiological mechanisms underpinning tropicalization and to develop a physiological framework by which current practices can complement new perspectives and tools. We use range-expanding tropical reef fishes as a model group of over 100 species undergoing climate-driven range shifts and eastern Australia as a case-study location due to it being a primary focal "living laboratory" for understanding tropicalization dynamics since the early 2000s. Current studies suggest that diet, behavior, and metabolic trade-offs may explain vagrant fish persistence, but these studies focus on whole-animal traits. Our framework helps expand upon focal traits, life stages, experimental design, physiological traits (e.g., we highlight the value of genetic and cellular markers for metabolic pathway changes under cold stress as potential biomarkers) and species to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning tropicalization. Taken together, our framework places emphasis on measuring a suite of complimentary physiological traits, from cellular to whole-animal, to help guide future predictions of the long-term persistence of tropical species in temperate habitats.

Interspecies differences in lactate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase activity among damselfish and cardinalfish

Species with different thermal distributions, life-history traits, and behaviours have evolved physiological processes to suit energetic demands. Previous research has argued that these interspecies differences are often reflected in muscle enzyme activity that serve as proxies for aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Here, we measured the maximal enzyme activity of two enzymes, citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase, between two damselfish (Pomacentrus) and cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus) species. Citrate synthase was measured as a proxy for mitochondrial volume density, a marker of aerobic metabolism; lactate dehydrogenase was measured as a proxy for anaerobic energy production, a marker for anaerobic metabolism. Thermal performance curves of maximal enzyme activity were measured from 10 to 50 °C, at 10 °C intervals. Citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase both showed a positive correlation with temperature, that was absent of a plateau. Damselfish displayed higher levels of citate synthase maximal enzyme activity, while cardinalfish displayed a higher lactate dehydrogenase to citrate synthase ratio. Ostorhinchus doederleini, a sedentary cardinalfish, displayed higher level of lactate dehydrogenase maximal enzyme activity. Temperature coefficients (Q10) for lactate dehydrogenase showed a curved relationship, peaking at differences between 30 and 40 °C. No differences in Q10 values were observed between species, suggesting no difference in the thermal sensitivity of enzymes. Interspecies differences in maximal enzyme activity identified in this study compliments previous research, whereby more active species require higher levels of citrate synthase to fuel sustained swimming, as well as energetically demanding locomotion behaviours. Alternatively, more sedentary species possessed higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase and reliance on anaerobic metabolism, possibly due to an increased reliance on infrequent burst swimming behaviours.

Muscle and Metabolic Genes Are Differentially Expressed During Thermal Acclimation by the Brook Trout Myotome

Cold-water fishes, such as Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), are being challenged by the consequences of climate change. The ability of these fish to acclimate to warmer environmental conditions is vital to their survival. Acclimation to warmer water may allow brook trout to reduce the metabolic costs of higher temperatures. Previous work has shown that brook trout display a significant thermal acclimation response in their myotomal muscle, with slower contractile properties observed in warm acclimated fish. In this study, gene expression was examined in hatchery brook trout acclimated to a range in temperatures (4, 10 or 20°C). Brook trout displayed variations in gene expression in their myotomal muscle in accordance with acclimation temperature. Genes important for muscle function, cellular metabolism, protein degradation, and stress response showed variation to both warm (20°C) and cold (4°C) acclimation. The warm acclimated fish also showed decreased expression of genes associated with aerobic metabolism and increased expression of genes for heat shock proteins, while the cold acclimated fish showed increased expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism and protein turnover. α-tubulin displayed a close association with thermal acclimation, increasing in expression with acclimation temperature. The patterns of muscle gene expression were the opposite of what was expected. Although warm acclimated fish have previously been shown to display slow muscle contractile properties, this study found that warm acclimation is associated with increased expression of genes for kinetically faster isoforms of important muscle proteins. Collectively, the results demonstrate a robust response to elevated temperature in the hatchery fish greater than 10,000 genes showing differential expression with temperature. These results provide a roadmap for the analysis of the acclimation response of native populations of brook trout encountering climate change.

Evaluation of the combined effects of manganese and thermal stress on the metabolic capacities of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

In Northern Canada, pollution from mining discharges represents a significant environmental stressor for aquatic organisms. Variations in water temperature constitute another source of stress for fish. Although numerous studies have investigated the effects of environmental stressors on fish physiology, research specifically addressing their impact on energy metabolism pathways remains limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of manganese (Mn), thermal acclimation, and their combination on cellular energy metabolism pathways in Arctic charr, a cold-water stenotherm. Juvenile charr were acclimatized to two contrasting temperatures (7 °C and 16 °C) for two weeks. Thereafter, half of the specimens where exposed to Mn (1 mg/L) for eight weeks. After 56 days, mortality was higher in fish acclimatized to 16 °C compared to 7 °C. Trace metal analysis performed by ICP-AES showed that bioaccumulation of Mn in gills and kidney was higher at 7 °C than at 16 °C, while the bioaccumulation of Mn in liver and muscle was not affected by temperature. Enzyme assays performed in liver and muscle showed a decrease in aerobic capacity and an increase in glycolytic capacity caused by Mn combined with a high temperature. Hepatic cytochrome C oxidase activity was significantly lower in fish acclimatized at 16 °C and exposed to Mn compared to other treatments. Hepatic citrate synthase activity showed a decrease in fish from the 16 °C and Mn treatment compared to those at 7 °C without Mn exposure. In both tissues, phosphofructokinase activity increased in fish acclimatized at 16 °C and exposed to Mn compared to both treatments at 7 °C. Hepatic lactate dehydrogenase activity was lower at 16 °C than at 7 °C in fish from the control treatment. The activity of β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase was unaffected by temperature or Mn. These results suggest that Mn, combined with high temperature, may affect mitochondrial function leading to a decrease in aerobic capacity. In response to the decline of cellular respiration capacity, metabolic pathways responded differently. Aerobic glycolysis was stimulated, while lipid metabolism showed no metabolic adjustment. This study represents one of the first steps towards understanding Mn toxicity in the context of climate change in a cold-water stenothermic species, and its impact on fish health and metabolism.

Convergent Gene Duplication in Arctic and Antarctic Teleost Fishes

Teleost fishes have independently colonized polar regions multiple times, facing many physiological and biochemical challenges due to frigid temperatures. Although increased gene copy numbers can contribute to adaptive evolution in extreme environments, it remains unclear which categories of genes exhibit increased copy numbers associated with polar colonization. Using 104 species of ray-finned fishes, we systematically identified genes with a significant correlation between copy number and polar colonization after phylogenetic correction. Several genes encoding extracellular glycoproteins, including zona pellucida (ZP) proteins, which increase their copy number in Antarctic notothenioid fishes, exhibited elevated copy numbers across multiple polar fish lineages. Additionally, some genes reported to be highly expressed under cold stress, such as cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP), had significantly increased copy numbers in polar fishes. Further analysis will provide a fundamental basis for understanding the role of gene duplication in polar adaptations.

Uncovering the chromatin-mediated transcriptional regulatory network governing cold stress responses in fish immune cells

Temperature fluctuations challenge ectothermic species, particularly tropical fish dependent on external temperatures for physiological regulation. However, the molecular mechanisms through which low-temperature stress impacts immune responses in these species, especially in relation to chromatin accessibility and epigenetic regulation, remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate chromatin and transcriptional changes in the head kidney and thymus tissues of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a tropical fish of significant economic importance, under cold stress. By analyzing cis-regulatory elements in open chromatin regions and their associated transcription factors (TFs), we construct a comprehensive transcriptional regulatory network (TRN) governing immune responses, including DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Our analysis identifies 119 TFs within the TRN, with Stat1 emerging as a central hub exhibiting distinct binding dynamics under cold stress, as revealed by footprint analysis. Overexpression of Stat1 in immune cells leads to apoptosis and increases the expression of apoptosis-related genes, many of which contain Stat1 binding sites in their regulatory regions, emphasizing its critical role in immune cell survival during cold stress. These results provide insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of immune responses to cold stress in tilapia and highlight Stat1 as a promising target for enhancing cold tolerance in tropical fish species.

Mitochondrial Gene Expression of Three Different Dragonflies Under the Stress of Chlorpyrifos

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate insecticide that is extensively utilized globally due to its effectiveness against over 200 pest species. CPF exhibits its toxicity primarily through the inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, while mitochondrial damage and dysfunction have also been observed. The present study quantified the transcript levels of mitochondria protein-coding genes (mtPCGs) using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in samples of larvae of three dragonfly species (A. parthenope, E. elegans, and G. confluens) under different levels of CPF stress. By exposing larvae from uncontaminated populations to 0.05 μg/L CPF for 24 h, the transcript levels of seven mtPCGs in A. parthenope were significantly increased (p < 0.05) by 1.89 ± 0.42-fold for COI, 4.30 ± 0.24-fold for COIII, 5.94 ± 0.17-fold for ND1, 4.69 ± 0.56-fold for ND2, 3.44 ± 0.48-fold for ND4, 2.19 ± 0.53-fold for ND4L, and 5.05 ± 0.36-fold for Cytb, respectively. In E. elegans, the transcript levels of ND1, ND2, and ND4 increased by 1.23 ± 0.15, 1.48 ± 0.31, and 1.98 ± 0.25-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). In G. confluens, the transcript levels of COI, COIII, and ND4 increased by 1.56 ± 0.13, 1.50 ± 0.26, and 3.74 ± 0.40-fold, respectively (p < 0.01). It was demonstrated that the transcript levels of different mtPCGs showed significant up-regulation in the three different dragonfly larvae under CPF stress in the absence of mortality. ND4 was significantly increased in all three species, indicating that it is an important target gene. The present study underscores the response of mitochondrial gene expression in larvae of three different species in response to CPF pollutants, indicating that pesticide influences can potentially alter mitochondrial gene expression and potentially act as a method for assessing aquatic ecosystem health.

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 (cognate 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.

Interactive effects of temperature, cadmium, and hypoxia on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver mitochondrial bioenergetics

Fish in their natural environments possess elaborate mechanisms that regulate physiological function to mitigate the adverse effects of multiple environmental stressors such as temperature, metals, and hypoxia. We investigated how warm acclimation affects mitochondrial responses to Cd, hypoxia, and acute temperature shifts (heat shock and cold snap) in rainbow trout. We observed that state 3 respiration driven by complex I (CI) was resistant to the stressors while warm acclimation and Cd reduced complex I +II (CI + II) driven state 3 respiration. In contrast, state 4 (leak) respirations for both CI and CI + II were consistently stimulated by warm acclimation resulting in reduced mitochondrial coupling efficiency (respiratory control ratio [RCR]). Warm acclimation and Cd exacerbated their individual effect on leak respiration to further reduce the RCR. Moreover, the effect of warm acclimation on mitochondrial bioenergetics aligned with its inhibitory effect on activities of citrate synthase and both CI and CII. Unlike the Cd and warm acclimation combined exposure, hypoxia alone and in combination with warm acclimation and/or Cd abolished the stimulation of CI and CI + II powered leak respirations resulting in partial recovery of RCR. The response to acute temperature shifts indicated that while state 3 respiration returned to pre-acclimation level, the leak respiration did not. Overall, our findings suggest a complex in vivo interaction of multiple stressors on mitochondrial function that are not adequately predicted by their individual effects.

Influence of water chemistry and contaminant occurrence on the oxidative stress ecology of Cottus gobio in a high-mountain lake (Carnic Alps)

Understanding oxidative stress in high-mountain lake fish offers crucial insights into their health, resilience, and adaptation to extreme environmental changes. This study investigates the oxidative stress response of Cottus gobio in a high-mountain lake (Dimon Lake) located in the northeast Italy during the ice-free season, focusing on the relationship between oxidative stress biomarkers and physicochemical water parameters, as well as persistent and emerging contaminants. Significant seasonal variations were observed in water parameters, with lower oxygen, pH, conductivity, and phosphate levels in summer compared to autumn, while temperature, ammonium, and nitrate were higher in summer. Metal concentrations in C. gobio muscle were higher in autumn, with Zn showing the most significant increase. PAHs, NDL-PCBs, and pesticides were all below the limit of quantification in the fish muscle samples. No microplastics items were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish. Oxidative stress biomarkers revealed organ-specific and seasonal variations. The liver exhibited the highest activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-tranferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR), highlighting its central role in detoxification and metabolic processes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was notably higher in muscle tissue during summer, suggesting increased metabolic activity. A strong correlation was found between pH and the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, and metallothioneins (MTs), emphasizing the importance of water chemistry in influencing oxidative stress responses. This approach not only aids in understanding the local adaptations of these fish but also highlights the impacts of environmental stressors on high-mountain ecosystems. Continuous monitoring of water chemistry, particularly pH, is crucial for understanding and managing oxidative stress in aquatic organisms, especially in the context of global environmental changes.

Cloning of down-regulated genes under cold stress and identification of important genes related to cold tolerance in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Low-temperature stress poses a significant risk to the survival of both cultivated and wild fish populations. Existing studies have found that the pre-acclimation of fishes to moderate cold stress can stimulate the activation of acclimation pathways, thereby enhancing their tolerance to cold stress. The fitness of fish relies heavily on appropriately controlled transcriptional reactions to environmental changes. Despite previous characterization of gene expression profiles in various fish species during cold acclimation, the specific genes responsible for essential functions in this process remain largely unknown, particularly the down-regulated genes induced by cold acclimation. To investigate the genes involved in cold acclimation, this study employed real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), molecular cloning, microinjection techniques, and cold stress experiments to determine the genes that play an essential part in cold acclimation. Consequently, 18 genes were discovered to be down-regulated in larval zebrafish experiencing cold stress. All 18 genes successfully detected overexpression in zebrafish at 96 and 126 hpf (fold change ≥3), which declined with the growth of zebrafish. Following microinjection, it was observed that her8a, cyp51, lss, txnipb, and bhlha9 had an adverse impact on the survival rate of zebrafish larvae under cold stress. These genes have been identified to play significant roles in various biological processes. For instance, bhlha9 has been found to be involved in both limb development and temperature sensing and her8a has been implicated in neural development. Additionally, cyp51 and lss have been identified as participants in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Txnipb has been reported to induce cell apoptosis, thereby potentially influencing the survival rate of zebrafish larvae under cold stress. These findings offered crucial data for the analysis of molecular processes related to cold tolerance and the development of cold-resistant fish breeding.

Molecular characterization of CIRBP from Takifugu fasciatus and its potential roles in cold-induced liver damage

As a potent stressor, environmental cold stress induces severe mitochondrial dysfunction with the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in fish, resulting in liver damage. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cold-induced liver damage remain unclear. In the present study, the cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) from Takifugu fasciatus was characterized, and its role in cold-induced oxidative stress damage was investigated. An acute liver injury model was constructed by exposing T. fasciatus individuals to temperatures of 25, 19, and 13 °C. Cold exposure markedly induced histomorphological liver injury and triggered endogenous apoptosis and NLRP3 inflammatory response. Cold treatment significantly increased CIRBP gene expression. A similar expression pattern was detected for thioredoxin (TRX), suggesting that these two proteins play a role in the establishment of cold adaptation. CIRBP binds directly to the 3'-UTR of TRX. Furthermore, in vivo experiment showed that, when CIRBP expression in T. fasciatus is knocked down, the time to loss equilibrium significantly shortened at 13 °C. Taken together, our study revealed that CIRBP is a critical protective factor against cold induced liver damage and that the CIRBP/TRX pathway could function as an underlying mechanism for cold adaptation in teleosts.

Transcriptome, histology, and enzyme activities analysis of liver in Phoxinus lagowskii to the low temperature stress and recovery

Assessing the response and resilience of fish to low temperatures over different time scales can provide valuable insights into their mechanisms of adaptation to cold conditions. Farmed Amur minnows (Phoxinus lagowskii) frequently encounter low temperatures, especially during winter. However, the specific responses of P. lagowskii to low-temperature stress remain largely unexplored. In this study, we examined serum glucose and cortisol levels, histological changes, enzymes associated with phosphate and carbohydrate metabolism, triglyceride levels, and liver transcriptomics under various conditions: control (CK), short-term cold exposure (6 days, SC), prolonged cold exposure (14 days, PC), and recovery (RY) from cold exposure at 2 °C. Liver vacuolation was observed during short-term cold exposure. Additionally, we analyzed the enzymatic activity related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in serum and liver. Liver transcriptomic data revealed that the PPAR signaling pathway and autophagy-related genes were enriched during short-term cold exposure. Carbohydrate metabolism-related pathways, including the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways, were significantly enriched after prolonged cold exposure. Metabolic pathways such as fat digestion and absorption, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism were significantly enriched in the recovery group. Rapid warming after prolonged cold stress allowed P. lagowskii to recover quickly. These findings suggest that P. lagowskii has a strong adaptive capacity for energy metabolism during prolonged cold exposure and the ability to recover rapidly from cold stress. A comprehensive examination of the histological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of P. lagowskii to low temperatures is crucial for developing effective strategies for cultivating this species in challenging environments.

Hepatic Metabolomic Responses to Low-Temperature Stress in the Invasive Turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans

Investigating the physiological and biochemical changes of ectothermic species before entering hibernation would contribute to the understanding of how they adapt to low-temperature environments. Here, red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) hatchlings were maintained under different thermal treatments (24 °C, slowly decreasing temperatures from 24 °C to 14 °C, and to 4 °C). Hepatic metabolite alterations were measured to assess the metabolic impacts of low-temperature stress in this species. Of these differentially changed metabolites, some (e.g., raffinose, spermidine, allocholic acid, taurohyocholate, 2-ketobutyric acid, acetylcysteine) were shown to decrease, while others (e.g., stearolic acid, D-mannose) increased in low-temperature treatments. Our results indicated that short-term low-temperature stress might have limited impacts on lipid and energy metabolism in this species. The changes in other metabolites (e.g., allocholic acid, taurohyocholate, spermine, acetylcysteine) might be associated with a low food intake (and thus reduced digestive performance) and weakened immune ability of low-temperature-exposed animals.

Regional thermal variation in a coral reef fish

How species respond to climate change will depend on the collective response of populations. Intraspecific variation in traits, evolved through genetic adaptation and phenotypic plasticity, can cause thermal performance curves to vary over species' distributions. Intraspecific variation within marine species has received relatively little attention due to the belief that marine systems lack dispersal barriers strong enough to promote locally adapted traits. Here we show that intraspecific variation is present between low- and high-latitude populations of a coral reef damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus). Co-gradient variation was observed when examining aerobic physiology across a thermal gradient that reflected mean summer temperatures of high- and low-latitude regions, as well as projected future ocean temperatures (i.e. 27, 28.5, 30, 31.5°C). Whilst thermally sensitive, no significant differences were observed between high- and low-latitude regions when measuring immunocompetence, haematocrit and anaerobic enzyme activity. The presence of co-gradient variation suggests that dispersal limitations in marine systems can promote local adaptive responses; however, intraspecific variation may not be ubiquitous amongst traits. Identifying locally adapted traits amongst populations remains necessary to accurately project species responses to climate change and identify differences in adaptive potential.

Intergenerational effects of ocean temperature variation: Early life benefits are short-lived in threespine stickleback

Current climate change models predict an increase in temperature variability and extreme events such as heatwaves, and organisms need to cope with consequent changes to environmental variation. Non-genetic inheritance mechanisms can enable parental generations to prime their offspring's abilities to acclimate to environmental change-but they may also be deleterious. When parents are exposed to predictable environments, intergenerational plasticity can lead to better offspring trait performance in matching environments. Alternatively, parents exposed to variable or unpredictable environments may use plastic bet-hedging strategies to adjust the phenotypic variance among offspring. Here, we used a model species, the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), to test whether putatively adaptive intergenerational effects can occur in response to shifts in environmental variation as well as to shifts in environmental mean, and whether parents employ plastic bet-hedging strategies in response to increasing environmental variation. We used a full-factorial, split-clutch experiment with parents and offspring exposed to three temperature regimes: constant, natural variation, and increased variation. We show that within-generation exposure to increased temperature variation reduces growth of offspring, but having parents that were exposed to natural temperature variation during gametogenesis may offset some early-life negative growth effects. However, these mitigating intergenerational effects do not appear to persist later in life. We found no indication that stickleback mothers plastically altered offspring phenotypic variance (egg size or clutch size) in response to temperature variation. However, lower inter-individual variance of juvenile fish morphology in offspring of increased variation parents may imply the presence of conservative bet-hedging strategies in natural populations. Overall, in our experiment, parental exposure to temperature variation had limited effects on offspring fitness-related traits. Natural levels of environmental variation promoted a potentially adaptive intergenerational response in early life development, but under more challenging conditions associated with increased environmental variation, the effect was lost.

Multigenerational exposure to temperature influences mitochondrial oxygen fluxes in the Medaka fish (Oryzias latipes)

AIM

Thermal sensitivity of cellular metabolism is crucial for animal physiology and survival under climate change. Despite recent efforts, effects of multigenerational exposure to temperature on the metabolic functioning remain poorly understood. We aimed at determining whether multigenerational exposure to temperature modulate the mitochondrial respiratory response of Medaka fish.

METHODS

We conducted a multigenerational exposure with Medaka fish reared multiple generations at 20 and 30°C (COLD and WARM fish, respectively). We then measured the oxygen consumption of tail muscle at two assay temperatures (20 and 30°C). Mitochondrial function was determined as the respiration supporting ATP synthesis (OXPHOS) and the respiration required to offset proton leak (LEAK(Omy)) in a full factorial design (COLD-20°C; COLD-30°C; WARM-20°C; WARM-30°C).

RESULTS

We found that higher OXPHOS and LEAK fluxes at 30°C compared to 20°C assay temperature. At each assay temperature, WARM fish had lower tissue oxygen fluxes than COLD fish. Interestingly, we did not find significant differences in respiratory flux when mitochondria were assessed at the rearing temperature of the fish (i.e., COLD-20°C vs. WARM -30°C).

CONCLUSION

The lower OXPHOS and LEAK capacities in warm fish are likely the result of the multigenerational exposure to warm temperature. This is consistent with a modulatory response of mitochondrial capacity to compensate for potential detrimental effects of warming on metabolism. Finally, the absence of significant differences in respiratory fluxes between COLD-20°C and WARM-30°C fish likely reflects an optimal respiration flux when organisms adapt to their thermal conditions.

Flies on the rise: acclimation effect on mitochondrial oxidation capacity at normal and high temperatures in Drosophila melanogaster

Increased average temperatures and extreme thermal events (such as heatwaves) brought forth by climate change impose important constraints on aerobic metabolism. Notably, mitochondrial metabolism, which is affected by both long- and short-term temperature changes, has been put forward as an important determinant for thermal tolerance of organisms. This study examined the influence of phenotypic plasticity on metabolic and physiological parameters in Drosophila melanogaster and the link between mitochondrial function and their upper thermal limits. We showed that D. melanogaster acclimated to 15°C have a 0.65°C lower critical thermal maximum (CTmax) compared with those acclimated to 24°C. Drosophila melanogaster acclimated to 15°C exhibited a higher proportion of shorter saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, concomitant with lower proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids. No mitochondrial quantitative changes (fractional area and number) were detected between acclimation groups, but changes of mitochondrial oxidation capacities were observed. Specifically, in both 15°C- and 24°C-acclimated flies, complex I-induced respiration was increased when measured between 15 and 24°C, but drastically declined when measured at 40°C. When succinate and glycerol-3-phosphate were added, this decrease was however compensated for in flies acclimated to 24°C, suggesting an important impact of acclimation on mitochondrial function related to thermal tolerance. Our study reveals that the use of oxidative substrates at high temperatures is influenced by acclimation temperature and strongly related to upper thermal tolerance as a difference of 0.65°C in CTmax translates into significant mitochondrial changes.

The role of temperature in vitality and survival assessments of beam-trawled and discarded European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)

Thermal stress can influence the recovery of fish released after capture. Vitality assessments using reflex and behavioural responses require that responses can be observed reliably, independent of temperature. Here, we tested whether reflex and behavioural impairment and survival of beam-trawled and discarded European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) are independent from seasonal air and water temperature deviations. In total, 324 beam-trawled plaice (n = 196 in summer and n = 128 in winter) were exposed to two air temperature treatments and two water treatments (i.e. modified and ambient temperatures for both). The modified treatments (i.e. cooled in summer, warmed in winter) represent the thermal shock a fish may experience when being returned to the water. All reflexes and tested behaviours were affected by ambient temperature, with high impairment noted in summer. None of the reflexes were affected by temperature shocks alone, only body flex was. Body flex was highly impaired under every exposure combination. Fish size and duration of air exposure further influenced impairment of reflexes such as head complex and tail grab. More generally, post-release survival was assessed as 21% [95% CI: 16-28%] in summer and 99% [97-100%] in winter. Beam trawling in summer is likely to induce high reflex impairment and mortality in discarded plaice, and therefore spatial-temporal mitigation approaches should be prioritized over control of on-board temperatures.

Effects of hibernation on two important contractile tissues in tibetan frogs, Nanorana parkeri: a perspective from transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches

BACKGROUND

In response to seasonal cold and food shortage, the Xizang plateau frogs, Nanorana parkeri (Anura: Dicroglossidae), enter a reversible hypometabolic state where heart rate and oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle are strongly suppressed. However, the effect of winter hibernation on gene expression and metabolic profiling in these two tissues remains unknown. In the present study, we conducted transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of heart and skeletal muscle from summer- and winter-collected N. parkeri to explore mechanisms involved in seasonal hibernation.

RESULTS

We identified 2407 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in heart and 2938 DEGs in skeletal muscle. Enrichment analysis showed that shared DEGs in both tissues were enriched mainly in translation and metabolic processes. Of these, the expression of genes functionally categorized as "response to stress", "defense mechanisms", or "muscle contraction" were particularly associated with hibernation. Metabolomic analysis identified 24 and 22 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in myocardium and skeletal muscle, respectively. In particular, pathway analysis showed that DEMs in myocardium were involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, glycerolipid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. By contrast, DEMs in skeletal muscle were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, natural adaptations of myocardium and skeletal muscle in hibernating N. parkeri involved transcriptional alterations in translation, stress response, protective mechanisms, and muscle contraction processes as well as metabolic remodeling. This study provides new insights into the transcriptional and metabolic adjustments that aid winter survival of high-altitude frogs N. parkeri.

Environmental variation associated with overwintering elicits marked metabolic plasticity in a temperate salmonid, Salvelinus fontinalis

Poleward winters commonly expose animals, including fish, to frigid temperatures and low food availability. Fishes that remain active over winter must therefore balance trade-offs between conserving energy and maintaining physiological performance in the cold, yet the extent and underlying mechanisms of these trade-offs are not well understood. We investigated the metabolic plasticity of brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis), a temperate salmonid, from the biochemical to whole-animal level in response to cold and food deprivation. Acute cooling (1°C day-1) from 14°C to 2°C had no effect on food consumption but reduced activity by 77%. We then assessed metabolic performance and demand over 90 days with exposure to warm (8°C) or cold winter (2°C) temperatures while fish were fed or starved. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) decreased substantially during initial cooling from 8°C to 2°C (Q10=4.2-4.5) but brook char exhibited remarkable thermal compensation during acclimation (Q10=1.4-1.6). Conversely, RMR was substantially lower (40-48%) in starved fish, conserving energy. Thus, the absolute magnitude of thermal plasticity may be masked or modified under food restriction. This reduction in RMR was associated with atrophy and decreases in in vivo protein synthesis rates, primarily in non-essential tissues. Remarkably, food deprivation had no effect on maximum oxygen uptake rates and thus aerobic capacity, supporting the notion that metabolic capacity can be decoupled from RMR in certain contexts. Overall, our study highlights the multi-faceted energetic flexibility of Salvelinus spp. that likely contributes to their success in harsh and variable environments and may be emblematic of winter-active fishes more broadly.

Effects of Temperature Adaptation on the Metabolism and Physiological Properties of Sturgeon Fish Larvae Cell Line

This study investigated how Atlantic sturgeon cells respond to elevated temperatures, shedding light on the potential impacts of climate change on fish. Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus), an IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List species and evolutionarily related to paleonisiform species, may have considerable physiological adaptability, suggesting that this species may be able to cope with changing climatic conditions and higher temperatures. To test this hypothesis, the AOXlar7y cell line was examined at 20 °C (control) and at elevated temperatures of 25 °C and 28 °C. Parameters including proliferation, vitality, morphology, and gene expressions related to proliferation, stemness, and stress were evaluated. Additionally, to achieve a comprehensive understanding of cellular changes, mitochondrial and metabolic activities were assessed using Seahorse XF96. AOXlar7y cells adapted to 28 °C exhibited enhanced mitochondrial adaptability, plasticity, heightened cell proliferation, and increased hsp70 expression. Increased baseline respiration indicated elevated ATP demand, which is potentially linked to higher cell proliferation and heat stress defense. Cells at 28 °C also displayed elevated reserve respiration capacity, suggesting adaptation to energy demands. At 25 °C, AOXlar7y cells showed no changes in basal respiration or mitochondrial capacity, suggesting unchanged ATP demand compared to cells cultivated at 20 °C. Proliferation and glycolytic response to energy requirements were diminished, implying a connection between glycolysis inhibition and proliferation suppression. These research results indicate sturgeon cells are capable of withstanding and adapting to an 8 °C temperature increase. This cellular analysis lays a foundation for future studies aimed at a deeper understanding of fish cell physiological adaptations, which will contribute to a better knowledge of environmental threats facing Atlantic sturgeon and fish populations amid climate change.

Mitochondrial metabolism and respiration adjustments following temperature acclimation in Daphnia magna

Seasonal temperature changes and local variations in the water column challenge lentic zooplankton in their habitat. At the cellular level, exposure to varying temperatures affects the mitochondrial functional properties of poikilothermic organisms. Metabolic enzymes that supply reduced substrates to the electron transport chain and elements of the oxidative phosphorylation system must therefore adjust their activity and flux rates to the altered temperature conditions. In the present study, Daphnia magna respiration was analyzed in response to acute and chronic changes in ambient temperature. Oxygen consumption as well as substrate and electron flux rates were measured at the animals' acclimation temperature and at two additional acute temperatures. High activity of citrate synthase (CS) in cold-acclimated animals (10 °C) may have resulted from mitochondrial quantitative adjustments. However, thermal sensitivity of the functional properties of mitochondrial enzymes was greater in warm-acclimated animals (30 °C). In whole animals, temperature-induced changes were partly compensated by acclimation, but these changes were promoted by acclimation in the case of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Thus, respiration realised in whole animals was limited by the provision of reduced substrates in the tricarboxylic acid cycle rather than by restrictions of the respiratory chain complexes. This may minimize production of reactive oxygen species and resulting damage and reduce waste of substrates from the animals' energy reserves. Still, the integrated biomarker response indicated increased defense against oxidative stress at elevated temperatures.

Combined effects of microfibers and polychlorinated biphenyls on the immune function of hemocytes in the mussel Mytilus coruscus

Numerous studies have shown that microplastics can interact with other pollutants in the environment to produce synergistic effects, leading to more serious impacts. To date, there is little consensus on the combined effects of microfibers (MFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, Aroclor 1254), two legacy and alarming environmental pollutants. There is an urgent need to assess the impact of combined exposures on bivalve immune defences. In this study, we assessed the immune response of the mussels (Mytilus coruscus) hemocyte to MFs and PCBs alone and in combination by using flow cytometry. M. coruscus were exposed to MFs (1000 pieces/L) and PCBs (PCBs) (100 ng/L and 1000 ng/L) alone or in combination for 14 consecutive days and recovered for 7 days. The hemocyte of M. coruscus was collected on day 7, 14 and 21. MF exposure alone had no effect on the hemocyte. The total hemocyte count (THC), esterase (EA), lysosomal contents (LC), mitochondrial number (MN) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of mussels showed a decreasing trend with increasing PCB concentrations, both individually and in combination; The decreases in EA, MN and MMP were associated with the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hemocyte mortality (HM) was associated with a decrease in THC. Combined exposure to MFs and PCBs would exacerbate the effects on hemocyte immunity. These new findings improve our understanding of the toxic effects of MFs and organic chemical pollutants, and demonstrate the potential mechanism of PCBs to bivalves through changes in hemolymph immunity-related indicators.

Welfare and performance of ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) reared at two different temperatures after a preparatory feeding trial with enhanced dietary eicosapentaenoic acid

Concerns have long been raised about the welfare of ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) used for the biological control of sea lice in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture. This study assessed the effect of increased dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels and initial condition factor (CF) on the subsequent performance and welfare of ballan wrasse farmed in high and low water temperatures. Fish were fed a diet with either commercial or high EPA levels for 3 months at 15°C. Subsequently, fish were tagged with a passive integrated transponder, measured for their CF and divided into two groups consisting of fish from both treatments and reared for 4.5 months at either 15 or 6°C fed a commercial diet. Each fish was categorized as high (≥2.7) or low CF (<2.7) fish based on the calculated average CF of the population. Dietary composition influenced the fatty acid (FA) profile of the stored lipids without affecting the growth or welfare of ballan wrasse. Fish reared at 15°C showed higher growth, more fat and energy reserves and less ash content. Fish reared at 6°C lost weight, using up their body lipids at the end of the temperature trial. Gene expression analyses showed upregulation of the positive growth marker (GHrα) and two genes involved in the synthesis and oxidation of FAs (elovl5, cpt1) and downregulation of the negative growth marker (mstn) in fish reared at 15°C compared to those reared at 6°C. Fish reared at 6°C showed upregulated levels of il-6 compared to those reared at 15°C, suggesting an enhanced immune reaction in response to low temperature. Fish with high CF showed better survival, growth and performance compared to those with low CF. External welfare scoring showed higher prevalence and severity in emaciation, scale loss and the sum index score (of all measured welfare parameters) in fish reared at 6°C compared to those reared at 15°C and better welfare in fish with high CF compared to those with low CF. Histological examination of the skin showed that fish reared at 6°C had decreased epidermal thickness, a lower overall number of mucous cells in the inner and outer epidermis and a different organization of mucous cells compared to fish reared at 15°C, indicating stress in fish reared at 6°C. Overall, low water temperatures had profound effects on the performance and external and internal welfare parameters of ballan wrasse and can be considered a stressor likely affecting the delousing efficacy. These findings support the seasonal use of different cleaner fish species. High CF, but not increased dietary EPA levels, appeared to help fish cope better with low water temperatures and should thus be assessed and considered before deploying them in salmon cages.

Comparison of metabolic rate between two genetically distinct populations of lake sturgeon

Environmental temperatures differ across latitudes in the temperate zone, with relatively lower summer and fall temperatures in the north leading to a shorter growing season prior to winter. As an adaptive response, during early life stages, fish in northern latitudes may grow faster than their conspecifics in southern latitudes, which potentially manifests as different allometric relationships between body mass and metabolic rate. In the present study, we examined if population or year class had an effect on the variation of metabolic rate and metabolic scaling of age-0 lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) by examining these traits in both a northern (Nelson River) and a southern (Winnipeg River) population. We compiled 6 years of data that used intermittent flow respirometry to measure metabolic rate within the first year of life for developing sturgeon that were raised in the same environment at 16°C. We then used a Bayesian modeling approach to examine the impacts of population and year class on metabolic rate and mass-scaling of metabolic rate. Despite previous reports of genetic differences between populations, our results showed that there were no significant differences in standard metabolic rate, routine metabolic rate, maximum metabolic rate, and metabolic scaling between the two geographically separated populations at a temperature of 16°C. Our analysis implied that the lack of metabolic differences between populations could be due to family effects/parental contribution, or the rearing temperature used in the study. The present research provided insights for conservation and reintroduction strategies for these populations of lake sturgeon, which are endangered or threatened across most of their natural range.

Cardiorespiratory physiology and swimming capacity of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at cold temperatures

We investigated how acclimation to 8, 4 and 1°C, and acute cooling from 8  to 1°C, affected the Atlantic salmon's aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, and cardiac function, during a critical swim speed (Ucrit) test. This study revealed several interesting temperature-dependent effects. First, while differences in resting heart rate (fH) between groups were predictable based on previous research (range ∼28-65 beats  min-1), with values for 1°C-acclimated fish slightly higher than those of acutely exposed conspecifics, the resting cardiac output () of 1°C-acclimated fish was much lower and compensated for by a higher resting blood oxygen extraction (ṀO2/). In contrast, the acutely exposed fish had a ∼2-fold greater resting stroke volume (VS) compared with that of the other groups. Second, increases in fH (1.2- to 1.4-fold) contributed little to during the Ucrit test, and the contributions of (VS) versus ṀO2/ to aerobic scope (AS) were very different in the two groups tested at 1°C (1°C-acclimated and 8-1°C fish). Finally, Ucrit was 2.08 and 1.69 body lengths (BL) s-1 in the 8 and 4°C-acclimated groups, but only 1.27 and 1.44 BL s-1 in the 1°C-acclimated and 8-1°C fish, respectively - this lower value in 1°C versus 8-1°C fish despite higher values for maximum metabolic rate and AS. These data: support recent studies which suggest that the capacity to increase fH is constrained at low temperatures; show that cardiorespiratory function at cold temperatures, and its response to increased demands, depends on exposure duration; and suggest that AS does not constrain swimming capacity in salmon when chronically exposed to temperatures approaching their lower limit.

Sex-specific transgenerational plasticity: developmental temperatures of mothers and fathers have different effects on sons and daughters

Each parent can influence offspring phenotype via provisioning of the zygote or sex-specific DNA methylation. Transgenerational plasticity may therefore depend on the environmental conditions experienced by each parent. We tested this hypothesis by conducting a fully factorial experiment across three generations of guppies (Poecilia reticulata), determining the effects of warm (28°C) and cold (21°C) thermal backgrounds of mothers and fathers on mass and length, and thermal performance (sustained and sprint swimming speeds, citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase activities; 18, 24, 28, 32 and 36°C test temperatures) of sons and daughters. Offspring sex was significant for all traits except for sprint speed. Warmer mothers produced sons and daughters with reduced mass and length, and warmer fathers produced shorter sons. Sustained swimming speed (Ucrit) of male offspring was greatest when both parents were raised at 28°C, and warmer fathers produced daughters with greater Ucrit. Similarly, warmer fathers produced sons and daughters with greater metabolic capacity. We show that the thermal variation experienced by parents can modify offspring phenotype, and that predicting the impacts of environmental change on populations would require knowledge of the thermal background of each mother and father, particularly where sexes are spatially segregated.

How can physiology best contribute to wildlife conservation in a warming world?

Global warming is now predicted to exceed 1.5°C by 2033 and 2°C by the end of the 21st century. This level of warming and the associated environmental variability are already increasing pressure on natural and human systems. Here we emphasize the role of physiology in the light of the latest assessment of climate warming by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We describe how physiology can contribute to contemporary conservation programmes. We focus on thermal responses of animals, but we acknowledge that the impacts of climate change are much broader phylogenetically and environmentally. A physiological contribution would encompass environmental monitoring, coupled with measuring individual sensitivities to temperature change and upscaling these to ecosystem level. The latest version of the widely accepted Conservation Standards designed by the Conservation Measures Partnership includes several explicit climate change considerations. We argue that physiology has a unique role to play in addressing these considerations. Moreover, physiology can be incorporated by institutions and organizations that range from international bodies to national governments and to local communities, and in doing so, it brings a mechanistic approach to conservation and the management of biological resources.

Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Enhanced Mitochondrial Activity as a Cold Adaptive Strategy to Hypothermia in Zebrafish Muscle

The utilisation of synthetic torpor for interplanetary travel once seemed farfetched. However, mounting evidence points to torpor-induced protective benefits from the main hazards of space travel, namely, exposure to radiation and microgravity. To determine the radio-protective effects of an induced torpor-like state we exploited the ectothermic nature of the Danio rerio (zebrafish) in reducing their body temperatures to replicate the hypothermic states seen during natural torpor. We also administered melatonin as a sedative to reduce physical activity. Zebrafish were then exposed to low-dose radiation (0.3 Gy) to simulate radiation exposure on long-term space missions. Transcriptomic analysis found that radiation exposure led to an upregulation of inflammatory and immune signatures and a differentiation and regeneration phenotype driven by STAT3 and MYOD1 transcription factors. In addition, DNA repair processes were downregulated in the muscle two days' post-irradiation. The effects of hypothermia led to an increase in mitochondrial translation including genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and a downregulation of extracellular matrix and developmental genes. Upon radiation exposure, increases in endoplasmic reticulum stress genes were observed in a torpor+radiation group with downregulation of immune-related and ECM genes. Exposing hypothermic zebrafish to radiation also resulted in a downregulation of ECM and developmental genes however, immune/inflammatory related pathways were downregulated in contrast to that observed in the radiation only group. A cross-species comparison was performed with the muscle of hibernating Ursus arctos horribilis (brown bear) to define shared mechanisms of cold tolerance. Shared responses show an upregulation of protein translation and metabolism of amino acids, as well as a hypoxia response with the shared downregulation of glycolysis, ECM, and developmental genes.

Thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate mirrors biogeographic differences between teleosts and elasmobranchs

Environmental temperature affects physiological functions, representing a barrier for the range expansions of ectothermic species. To understand the link between thermal physiology and biogeography, a key question is whether among-species thermal sensitivity of metabolic rates is mechanistically constrained or buffered through physiological remodeling over evolutionary time. The former conception, the Universal Temperature Dependence hypothesis, predicts similar among- and within-species thermal sensitivity. The latter conception, the Metabolic Cold Adaptation hypothesis, predicts lower among-species thermal sensitivity than within-species sensitivity. Previous studies that tested these hypotheses for fishes overwhelmingly investigated teleosts with elasmobranchs understudied. Here, we show that among-species thermal sensitivity of resting metabolic rates is lower than within-species sensitivity in teleosts but not in elasmobranchs. Further, species richness declines with latitude more rapidly in elasmobranchs than in teleosts. Metabolic Cold Adaptation exhibited by teleosts might underpin their high diversity at high latitudes, whereas the inflexible thermal sensitivity approximated by Universal Temperature Dependence of elasmobranchs might explain their low diversity at high latitudes.

Diet changes thermal acclimation capacity, but not acclimation rate, in a marine ectotherm (Girella nigricans) during warming

Global climate change is increasing thermal variability in coastal marine environments and the frequency, intensity and duration of marine heatwaves. At the same time, food availability and quality are being altered by anthropogenic environmental changes. Marine ectotherms often cope with changes in temperature through physiological acclimation, which can take several weeks and is a nutritionally demanding process. Here, we tested the hypothesis that different ecologically relevant diets (omnivorous, herbivorous, carnivorous) impact thermal acclimation rate and capacity, using a temperate omnivorous fish as a model (opaleye, Girella nigricans). We measured acute thermal performance curves for maximum heart rate because cardiac function has been observed to set upper thermal limits in ectotherms. Opaleye acclimated rapidly after raising water temperatures, but their thermal limits and acclimation rate were not affected by their diet. However, the fish's acclimation capacity for maximum heart rate was sensitive to diet, with fish in the herbivorous treatment displaying the smallest change in heart rate throughout acclimation. Mechanistically, ventricle fatty acid composition differed with diet treatment and was related to cardiac performance in ways consistent with homoviscous adaptation. Our results suggest that diet is an important, but often overlooked, determinant of thermal performance in ectotherms on environmentally relevant time scales.

Thermal acclimation in brook trout myotomal muscle varies with fiber type and age

As climate change alters the thermal environment of the planet, interest has grown in how animals may mitigate the impact of a changing environment on physiological function. Thermal acclimation to a warm environment may, for instance, blunt the impact of a warming environment on metabolism by allowing a fish to shift to slower isoforms of functionally significant proteins such as myosin heavy chain. The thermal acclimation of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was examined by comparing swimming performance, myotomal muscle contraction kinetics and muscle histology in groups of fish acclimated to 4, 10 and 20 °C. Brook trout show a significant acclimation response in their maximum aerobic swimming performance (U_crit), with acclimation to warm water leading to lower U_crit values. Maximum muscle shortening velocity (V_max) decreased significantly with warm acclimation for both red or slow-twitch and white or fast-twitch muscle. Immunohistochemical analysis of myotomal muscle suggests changes in myosin expression underly the thermal acclimation of swimming performance and contraction kinetics. Physiological and histological data suggest a robust acclimation response to a warming environment, one that would reduce the added metabolic costs incurred by an ectotherm when environmental temperature rises for sustained periods of time.

The air-breathing Alaska blackfish (Dallia pectoralis) suppresses brain mitochondrial reactive oxygen species to survive cold hypoxic winters

The Alaska blackfish (Dallia pectoralis) is the only air-breathing fish in the Arctic. In the summer, a modified esophagus allows the fish to extract oxygen from the air, but this behavior is not possible in the winter because of ice and snow cover. The lack of oxygen (hypoxia) and near freezing temperatures in winter is expected to severely compromise metabolism, and yet remarkably, overwintering Alaska blackfish remain active. To maintain energy balance in the brain and limit the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we hypothesized that cold hypoxic conditions would trigger brain mitochondrial remodeling in the Alaska blackfish. To address this hypothesis, fish were acclimated to warm (15 °C) normoxia, cold (5 °C) normoxia or cold hypoxia (5 °C, 2.1-4.2 kPa; no air access) for 5-8 weeks. Mitochondrial respiration, ADP affinity and H₂0₂ production were measured at 10 °C in isolated brain homogenates with an Oroboros respirometer. Cold acclimation and chronic hypoxia had no effects on mitochondrial aerobic capacity or ADP affinity. However, cold acclimation in normoxia led to a suppression of brain mitochondrial H₂0₂ production, which persisted and became more pronounced in the cold hypoxic fish. Overall, our study suggests cold acclimation supresses ROS production in Alaska blackfish, which may protect the fish from oxidative stress when oxygen becomes limited during winter.

Red porgy's (Pagrus pagrus) cellular physiology and antioxidant defense in response to seasonality

Physiological stress patterns of marine organisms in their natural habitats are considerably complex in space and time. These patterns can eventually contribute in the shaping of fish' thermal limits under natural conditions. In the view of the knowledge gap regarding red porgy's thermal physiology, in combination with the characterization of the Mediterranean Sea as a climate change ''hotspot'', the aim of the present study was to investigate this species biochemical responses to constantly changing field conditions. To achieve this goal, Heat Shock Response (HSR), MAPKs pathway, autophagy, apoptosis, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense were estimated and exhibited a seasonal pattern. In general, all the examined biochemical indicators expressed high levels parallel to the increasing seawater temperature in spring, although several bio-indicators have shown increased levels when fish were cold-acclimatized. Similar to other sparids, the observed patterns of physiological responses in red porgy may support the concept of eurythermy.

Structural functionality of skeletal muscle mitochondria and its correlation with metabolic diseases

The skeletal muscle is one of the largest organs in the mammalian body. Its remarkable ability to swiftly shift its substrate selection allows other organs like the brain to choose their preferred substrate first. Healthy skeletal muscle has a high level of metabolic flexibility, which is reduced in several metabolic diseases, including obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Skeletal muscle health is highly dependent on optimally functioning mitochondria that exist in a highly integrated network with the sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcolemma. The three major mitochondrial processes: biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy, taken together, determine the quality of the mitochondrial network in the muscle. Since muscle health is primarily dependent on mitochondrial status, the mitochondrial processes are very tightly regulated in the skeletal muscle via transcription factors like peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, estrogen-related receptors, nuclear respiratory factor, and Transcription factor A, mitochondrial. Physiological stimuli that enhance muscle energy expenditure, like cold and exercise, also promote a healthy mitochondrial phenotype and muscle health. In contrast, conditions like metabolic disorders, muscle dystrophies, and aging impair the mitochondrial phenotype, which is associated with poor muscle health. Further, exercise training is known to improve muscle health in aged individuals or during the early stages of metabolic disorders. This might suggest that conditions enhancing mitochondrial health can promote muscle health. Therefore, in this review, we take a critical overview of current knowledge about skeletal muscle mitochondria and the regulation of their quality. Also, we have discussed the molecular derailments that happen during various pathophysiological conditions and whether it is an effect or a cause.

Blood biomarkers as diagnostic tools: An overview of climate-driven stress responses in fish

Global climate change due to anthropogenic activities affects the dynamics of aquatic communities by altering the adaptive capacities of their inhabitants. Analysis of blood provides valuable insights in the form of a comprehensive representation of the physiological and functional status of fish under various environmental and treatment conditions. This review synthesizes currently available information about blood biomarkers used in climate change induced stress responses in fish. Alterations in informative blood-based indicators are used to monitor the physiological fitness of individual fishes or entire populations. Specific characteristics of fish blood, such as serum and plasma metabolites, cell composition, cellular abnormalities, cellular and antioxidant enzymes necessitate adapted protocols, as well as careful attention to experimental designs and meticulous interpretation of patterns of data. Moreover, the sampling technique, transportation, type of culture system, acclimation procedure, and water quality must all be considered for valid interpretation of hemato-biochemical parameters. Besides, blood collection, handling, and storage time of blood samples can all have significant impacts on the results of a hematological analysis, so it is optimal to perform hemato-biochemical evaluations immediately after blood collection because long-term storage can alter the results of the analyses, at least in part as a result of storage-related degenerative changes that may occur. However, the scarcity of high-throughput sophisticated approaches makes fish blood examination studies promising for climate-driven stress responses in fish.

Rising floor and dropping ceiling: organ heterogeneity in response to cold acclimation of the largest extant amphibian

Low temperature imposes strong selective pressure on ectotherms. To maximize their overall fitness under cold conditions, the ectotherms may either try to maintain their physiological activities through metabolic compensation or enter into metabolic depression; however, some species adopt both strategies to cope with different degrees of cold. Nevertheless, how these two seemingly opposite strategies are coordinated has rarely been elucidated. Here, we investigated the molecular strategy underlying the cold acclimation of Andrias davidianus, the largest extant amphibian, using multi-organ metabolomics and transcriptomics. The results showed remarkable organ heterogeneity in response to cold. While most organs showed transcriptional upregulation of metabolic processes, the heart exhibited downregulation. This heterogeneity explained the adaptive reorganization in resource allocation, which compensates for metabolic maintenance by compromising growth. Importantly, the cardiac function might constitute a 'ceiling' to constrain the space for compensation, especially under colder conditions. Additionally, the opposite transcriptional regulation of oxidative phosphorylation and other pathways might also shape the overall metabolic capacity under cold conditions. The heterogeneity in cold responses may have directed a shift in cold adaptive strategy from compensation to depression with a drop in temperature. These results provide a novel insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying cold survival strategies of ectotherms.

Morphological and Molecular Responses of Lateolabrax maculatus Skeletal Muscle Cells to Different Temperatures

Temperature strongly modulates muscle development and growth in ectothermic teleosts; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, primary cultures of skeletal muscle cells of Lateolabrax maculatus were conducted and reared at different temperatures (21, 25, and 28 °C) in both the proliferation and differentiation stages. CCK-8, EdU, wound scratch and nuclear fusion index assays revealed that the proliferation, myogenic differentiation, and migration processes of skeletal muscle cells were significantly accelerated as the temperature raises. Based on the GO, GSEA, and WGCNA, higher temperature (28 °C) induced genes involved in HSF1 activation, DNA replication, and ECM organization processes at the proliferation stage, as well as HSF1 activation, calcium activity regulation, myogenic differentiation, and myoblast fusion, and sarcomere assembly processes at the differentiation stage. In contrast, lower temperature (21 °C) increased the expression levels of genes associated with DNA damage, DNA repair and apoptosis processes at the proliferation stage, and cytokine signaling and neutrophil degranulation processes at the differentiation stage. Additionally, we screened several hub genes regulating myogenesis processes. Our results could facilitate the understanding of the regulatory mechanism of temperature on fish skeletal muscle growth and further contribute to utilizing rational management strategies and promoting organism growth and development.

Transcriptomic and Phenotypic Analysis of CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated gluk2 Knockout in Zebrafish

As a subtype of kainite receptors (KARs), GluK2 plays a role in the perception of cold in the periphery sensory neuron. However, the molecular mechanism for gluk2 on the cold stress in fish has not been reported. In this article, real-time PCR assays showed that gluk2 was highly expressed in the brain and eyes of adult zebrafish. To study the functions of gluk2, gene knockout was carried out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. According to RNA-seq analysis, we selected the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that had significant differences in at least three tissues of the liver, gill, intestine, skin, brain, and eyes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that cry1ba, cry2, per1b, per2, hsp70.1, hsp70.2, hsp70l, hsp90aa1.1, hsp90aa1.2, hspb1, trpv1, slc27a1b, park2, ucp3, and METRNL were significantly enriched in the ‘Response to temperature stimulus’ pathway. Through behavioral phenotyping assay, the gluk2^−/− larval mutant displayed obvious deficiency in cold stress. Furthermore, TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling) staining proved that the gill apoptosis of gluk2^−/− mutant was increased approximately 60 times compared with the wild-type after gradient cooling to 8 °C for 15 h. Overall, our data suggested that gluk2 was necessary for cold tolerance in zebrafish.

Exposure of zebrafish to a cold environment triggered cellular autophagy in zebrafish liver

Water temperature is the major ecophysiological factor for fish survival in nature and aquaculture. Compared with many homeotherms, fish can survive prolonged periods under the condition of low temperature. However, the metabolic strategies of the liver under a cold environment are still unknown in this species. In our present study, adult zebrafish were exposed to a cold or cold plus starvation environment to analyse the morphological characteristics of hepatocytes by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The fish livers were dissected and observed under a microscope, and the liver size and shape appeared normal in all groups. Periodic acid-Schiff and TEM analysis showed that hepatic glycogen was significantly lower in zebrafish exposed to cold acclimation (CF group) than that zebrafish at the control water temperature (CT group). Moreover, qPCR and IHC results indicated that the expression of PYGL (a key enzyme involved in glycogenolysis) markedly increased in the CF group. After cold plus starvation treatment (CS group), autophagy activity was significantly enhanced and numerous mitophagic vacuoles were present in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. In conclusion, hepatic glycogen was first mobilizing to supply energy, and then autophagy, especially mitophagy, played vital roles during nutrient deprivation in fish species.

Tissue-Specific and Differential Cold Responses in the Domesticated Cold Tolerant Fugu

Domestication can be defined as the artificial selection in animals to achieve morphological, physiological, and developmental conformity to human needs, with the aim of improving various limitations in species under a human feeding environment. The future sustainability of aquaculture may rely partly on the availability of numerous domesticated fish species. However, the underlying adaptive mechanisms that result in the domestication of fish are still unclear. Because they are poikilothermic, temperature is a key environmental element that affects the entire life of fish, so studying the association between physiological and behavioral changes in low-temperature domesticated fish can provide a model for understanding the response mechanisms of fish under cold stress. Through 5 generations and 10 years of artificial selection at low temperatures, we used cold-tolerant fugu as a biological model to compare transcriptome changes in brain and liver tissues to study the effects of cold stress on fish. It was found that the expression of genes such as apoptosis, p53, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial β-oxidation in the brain of cold-tolerant fugu was significantly lower than the wild type due to cold stress, while excessive energy metabolism would lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exacerbate the brain damage, thus causing rollover and coma. Meanwhile, under cold stress, the signaling pathways involved in glycogenolysis and lipid metabolism, such as insulin signaling, adipocytokines, and mTOR signaling pathways, were significantly up-regulated in the liver of cold-tolerant fugu. Although the mitochondrial β-oxidation pathway was increased in cold-tolerant fugu liver tissues, the transcriptome was not enriched in apoptotic. These phenomena predict that in response to low-temperature conditions, cold-tolerant fugu employs a dynamic inter-organ metabolic regulation strategy to cope with cold stress and reduce damage to brain tissues.

Recognizing salinity threats in the climate crisis

Climate change is causing habitat salinity to transform at unprecedented rates across the globe. While much of the research on climate change has focused on rapid shifts in temperature, far less attention has focused on the effects of changes in environmental salinity. Consequently, predictive studies on the physiological, evolutionary, and migratory responses of organisms and populations to the threats of salinity change are relatively lacking. This omission represents a major oversight, given that salinity is among the most important factors that define biogeographic boundaries in aquatic habitats. In this perspective, we briefly touch on responses of organisms and populations to rapid changes in salinity occurring on contemporary time scales. We then discuss factors that might confer resilience to certain taxa, enabling them to survive rapid salinity shifts. Next, we consider approaches for predicting how geographic distributions will shift in response to salinity change. Finally, we identify additional data that are needed to make better predictions in the future. Future studies on climate change should account for the multiple environmental factors that are rapidly changing, especially habitat salinity.

Can slowing the rate of water temperature decline be utilized to reduce the impacts of cold water pollution from dam releases on fish physiology and performance?

Cold water pollution (CWP) is caused by releases of unseasonably cold water from large, thermally stratified dams. Rapid and prolonged decreases in water temperature can have depressive effects on the metabolism, growth and swimming performance of fish. However, it is unknown if reducing the rate of temperature decrease could mitigate these negative effects by allowing thermal acclimation/acclimatization to occur. This study investigated the rate of temperature decrease as a potential CWP mitigation strategy in juvenile Murray cod Maccullochella peelii. M. peelii were exposed to a gradual, intermediate or rapid temperature decrease from 24 to 14°C. Energetic costs, locomotor performance, growth and survival were measured to determine if the initial thermal regime affected the thermal acclimation capacity of M. peelii. Cold exposure had significant acute and lasting depressive effects regardless of the rate of temperature decrease, although M. peelii showed varying degrees of thermal compensation in swimming performance and metabolism after 8 weeks of exposure to low temperatures. The short-term effects of CWP-like reductions in temperature are significant, but over time M. peelii can offset some of the depressive effects of CWP through thermal plasticity. This study highlights the importance of understanding physiological responses of fish to inform management and conservation. We conclude that rate of water temperature decline cannot be used to mitigate the sublethal effects of CWP on juvenile M. peelii but may still be useful for managing the negative effects in other native Australian fish species.

Life in the freezer: protein metabolism in Antarctic fish

Whole-animal, in vivo protein metabolism rates have been reported in temperate and tropical, but not Antarctic fish. Growth in Antarctic species is generally slower than lower latitude species. Protein metabolism data for Antarctic invertebrates show low rates of protein synthesis and unusually high rates of protein degradation. Additionally, in Antarctic fish, increasing evidence suggests a lower frequency of successful folding of nascent proteins and reduced protein stability. This study reports the first whole-animal protein metabolism data for an Antarctic fish. Groups of Antarctic, Harpagifer antarcticus, and temperate, Lipophrys pholis, fish were acclimatized to a range of overlapping water temperatures and food consumption, whole-animal growth and protein metabolism measured. The rates of protein synthesis and growth in Antarctic, but not temperate fish, were relatively insensitive to temperature and were significantly lower in H. antarcticus at 3°C than in L. pholis. Protein degradation was independent of temperature in H. antarcticus and not significantly different to L. pholis at 3°C, while protein synthesis retention efficiency was significantly higher in L. pholis than H. antarcticus at 3°C. These results suggest Antarctic fish degrade a significantly larger proportion of synthesized protein than temperate fish, with fundamental energetic implications for growth at low temperatures.

Evolution of plasticity: metabolic compensation for fluctuating energy demands at the origin of life

Phenotypic plasticity of physiological functions enables rapid responses to changing environments and may thereby increase the resilience of organisms to environmental change. Here, we argue that the principal hallmarks of life itself, self-replication and maintenance, are contingent on the plasticity of metabolic processes ('metabolic plasticity'). It is likely that the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA), 4 billion years ago, already possessed energy-sensing molecules that could adjust energy (ATP) production to meet demand. The earliest manifestation of metabolic plasticity, switching cells from growth and storage (anabolism) to breakdown and ATP production (catabolism), coincides with the advent of Darwinian evolution. Darwinian evolution depends on reliable translation of information from information-carrying molecules, and on cell genealogy where information is accurately passed between cell generations. Both of these processes create fluctuating energy demands that necessitate metabolic plasticity to facilitate replication of genetic material and (proto)cell division. We propose that LUCA possessed rudimentary forms of these capabilities. Since LUCA, metabolic networks have increased in complexity. Generalist founder enzymes formed the basis of many derived networks, and complexity arose partly by recruiting novel pathways from the untapped pool of reactions that are present in cells but do not have current physiological functions (the so-called 'underground metabolism'). Complexity may thereby be specific to environmental contexts and phylogenetic lineages. We suggest that a Boolean network analysis could be useful to model the transition of metabolic networks over evolutionary time. Network analyses can be effective in modelling phenotypic plasticity in metabolic functions for different phylogenetic groups because they incorporate actual biochemical regulators that can be updated as new empirical insights are gained.