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Mertz NE, Paterson RA, Finstad B, Brandsegg H, Andersskog IPØ, Fossøy F. Molecular quantification of parasitic sea louse larvae depends on species and life stage. J Fish Dis 2024; 47:e13908. [PMID: 38146073 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Sea lice cause substantial economic and environmental harm to Norway's aquaculture industry and wild salmonid populations. Rapid, accurate quantification of lice larval densities in coastal waters remains the greatest bottleneck for providing empirical data on infestation risk within wild salmon habitats and aquaculture production regions. We evaluated the capability of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) as an absolute quantification method for the planktonic stages of two parasitic louse species, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) and Caligus elongatus (von Nordman). Results demonstrated linear relationships between the DNA quantity measured and the number of spiked larvae for both species and life stages. However, L. salmonis contained a significantly greater number of DNA copies than C. elongatus individuals and for C. elongatus, nauplii displayed a significantly higher number of DNA copies than copepodids. Our results suggest that ddPCR can effectively enumerate louse larvae, but interpreting ddPCR results differ between the two louse species. Obtaining larval abundance estimates from marine plankton samples will depend on the nauplii to copepodid ratio for C. elongatus, but not for L. salmonis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan E Mertz
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Bengt Finstad
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Hege Brandsegg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Frode Fossøy
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
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2
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Pilotto F, Walseng B, Jensen TC, Schartau AK. The recovery of crustacean zooplankton from acidification depends on lake type. Glob Chang Biol 2023; 29:6066-6076. [PMID: 37609877 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Acidification has harmed freshwater ecosystems in Northern Europe since the early 1900s. Stricter regulations aimed at decreasing acidic emissions have improved surface-water chemistry since the late 1980s but the recovery of biotic communities has not been consistent. Generally, the recovery of flora and fauna has been documented only for a few lakes or regions and large-scale assessments of long-term dynamics of biotic communities due to improved water quality are still lacking. This study investigates a large biomonitoring dataset of pelagic and littoral crustacean zooplankton (Cladocera and Copepoda) from 142 acid-sensitive lakes in Norway spanning 24 years (1997-2020). The aims were to assess the changes in zooplankton communities through time, compare patterns of changes across lake types (defined based on calcium and humic content), and identify correlations between abiotic and biological variables. Our results indicate chemical and biological recovery after acidification, as shown by a general increase in pH, acid neutralizing capacity, changes in community composition and increases in the total number of species, number of acid-sensitive species and functional richness through time. However, the zooplankton responses differ across lake types. This indicates that the concentration of calcium (or alkalinity) and total organic carbon (or humic substances) are important factors for the recovery. Therefore, assessment methods and management tools should be adapted to the diverse lake types. Long-term monitoring of freshwater ecosystems is needed to fully comprehend the recovery dynamics of biotic communities from acidification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bjørn Walseng
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
| | - Thomas C Jensen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
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Layton-Matthews K, Vriend SJG, Grøtan V, Loonen MJJE, Sæther BE, Fuglei E, Hansen BB. Extreme events, trophic chain reactions, and shifts in phenotypic selection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15181. [PMID: 37704641 PMCID: PMC10499831 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41940-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Demographic consequences of rapid environmental change and extreme climatic events (ECEs) can cascade across trophic levels with evolutionary implications that have rarely been explored. Here, we show how an ECE in high Arctic Svalbard triggered a trophic chain reaction, directly or indirectly affecting the demography of both overwintering and migratory vertebrates, ultimately inducing a shift in density-dependent phenotypic selection in migratory geese. A record-breaking rain-on-snow event and ice-locked pastures led to reindeer mass starvation and a population crash, followed by a period of low mortality and population recovery. This caused lagged, long-lasting reductions in reindeer carrion numbers and resultant low abundances of Arctic foxes, a scavenger on reindeer and predator of migratory birds. The associated decrease in Arctic fox predation of goose offspring allowed for a rapid increase in barnacle goose densities. As expected according to r- and K-selection theory, the goose body condition (affecting reproduction and post-fledging survival) maximising Malthusian fitness increased with this shift in population density. Thus, the winter ECE acting on reindeer and their scavenger, the Arctic fox, indirectly selected for higher body condition in migratory geese. This high Arctic study provides rare empirical evidence of links between ECEs, community dynamics and evolution, with implications for our understanding of indirect eco-evolutionary impacts of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Layton-Matthews
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NINA, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Stefan J G Vriend
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vidar Grøtan
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Bernt-Erik Sæther
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Eva Fuglei
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Brage Bremset Hansen
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NINA, Trondheim, Norway
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Tekin H, Frøbert O, Græsli AR, Kindberg J, Bilgin M, Buschard K. Hibernation and plasma lipids in free-ranging brown bears-implications for diabetes. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291063. [PMID: 37669305 PMCID: PMC10479895 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Brown bears (Ursus arctos) prepare for winter by overeating and increasing adipose stores, before hibernating for up to six months without eating, drinking, and with minimal movement. In spring, the bears exit the den without any damage to organs or physiology. Recent clinical research has shown that specific lipids and lipid profiles are of special interest for diseases such as diabetes type 1 and 2. Furthermore, rodent experiments show that lipids such as sulfatide protects rodents against diabetes. As free-ranging bears experience fat accumulation and month-long physical inactivity without developing diabetes, they could possibly be affected by similar protective measures. In this study, we investigated whether lipid profiles of brown bears are related to protection against hibernation-induced damage. We sampled plasma from 10 free-ranging Scandinavian brown bears during winter hibernation and repeated sampling during active state in the summer period. With quantitative shotgun lipidomics and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we profiled 314 lipid species from 26 lipid classes. A principal component analysis revealed that active and hibernation samples could be distinguished from each other based on their lipid profiles. Six lipid classes were significantly altered when comparing plasma from active state and hibernation: Hexosylceramide, phosphatidylglycerol, and lysophosphatidylglycerol were higher during hibernation, while phosphatidylcholine ether, phosphatidylethanolamine ether, and phosphatidylinositol were lower. Additionally, sulfatide species with shorter chain lengths were lower, while longer chain length sulfatides were higher during hibernation. Lipids that are altered in bears are described by others as relevant for and associated with diabetes, which strengthens their position as potential effectors during hibernation. From this analysis, a range of lipids are suggested as potential protectors of bear physiology, and of potential importance in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasim Tekin
- Bartholin Instituttet, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Frøbert
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Health, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne Randi Græsli
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway
| | - Jonas Kindberg
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Mesut Bilgin
- Lipidomics Core Facility, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Gómez-Ramírez P, Bustnes JO, Eulaers I, Johnsen TV, Lepoint G, Pérez-García JM, García-Fernández AJ, Espín S, Jaspers VLB. Mercury Exposure in Birds of Prey from Norway: Relation to Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Signatures in Body Feathers. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2023; 110:100. [PMID: 37266735 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-023-03740-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were analysed in body feathers from nestlings of white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) (WTE; n = 13) and Northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) (NG; n = 8) and in red blood cells (RBC) from NG (n = 11) from Norway. According to linear mixed model, species factor was significant in explaining the Hg concentration in feathers (LMM; p < 0.001, estimate (WTE) = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.26, 3.76), with concentrations higher in WTE (3.01 ± 1.34 µg g-1 dry weight) than in NG (0.51 ± 0.34 µg g-1 dry weight). This difference and the isotopic patterns for each species, likely reflect their diet, as WTE predominantly feed on a marine and higher trophic-chain diet compared to the terrestrial NG. In addition, Hg concentrations in RBCs of NG nestlings were positively correlated with feather Hg concentrations (Rho = 0.77, p = 0.03), supporting the potential usefulness of nestling body feathers to biomonitor and estimate Hg exposure. Hg levels in both species were generally below the commonly applied toxicity threshold of 5 µg g-1 in feathers, although exceeded in two WTE (6.08 and 5.19 µg g-1 dry weight).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
- Toxicology Group, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Giles Lepoint
- Laboratory of Oceanology, UR FOCUS, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Antonio Juan García-Fernández
- Toxicology Group, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Espín
- Toxicology Group, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Veerle Leontina Bernard Jaspers
- Environmental Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024, Trondheim, Norway.
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Eriksen LF, Ringsby TH, Pedersen HC, Nilsen EB. Climatic forcing and individual heterogeneity in a resident mountain bird: legacy data reveal effects on reproductive strategies. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:221427. [PMID: 37234506 PMCID: PMC10206478 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Optimization of clutch size and timing of reproduction have substantial effects on lifetime reproductive success in vertebrates, and both individual quality and environmental variation may impact life history strategies. We tested hypotheses related to maternal investment and timing of reproduction, using 17 years (1978-1994) of individual-based life history data on willow ptarmigan (Lagopus l. lagopus, n = 290 breeding females with n = 319 breeding attempts) in central Norway. We analysed whether climatic variation and individual state variables (age and body mass) affected the number of offspring and timing of reproduction, and individual repeatability in strategies. The results suggest that willow ptarmigan share a common optimal clutch size that is largely independent of measured individual states. While we found no clear direct weather effects on clutch size, higher spring temperatures advanced onset of breeding, and early breeding was followed by an increased number of offspring. Warmer springs were positively related to maternal mass, and mass interacted with clutch size in production of hatchlings. Finally, clutch size and timing of reproduction were highly repeatable within individuals, indicating that individual quality guided trade-offs in reproductive effort. Our results demonstrate how climatic forcing and individual heterogeneity in combination influenced life history traits in a resident montane keystone species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lasse Frost Eriksen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
- Terrestrial Biodiversity Department, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA), Nord University, 7713 Steinkjer, Norway
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Hans Chr. Pedersen
- Terrestrial Biodiversity Department, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Erlend B. Nilsen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
- Terrestrial Biodiversity Department, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA), Nord University, 7713 Steinkjer, Norway
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Bolstad GH, Karlsson S, Hagen IJ, Fiske P, Urdal K, Sægrov H, Florø-Larsen B, Sollien VP, Østborg G, Diserud OH, Jensen AJ, Hindar K. Introgression from farmed escapees affects the full life cycle of wild Atlantic salmon. Sci Adv 2021; 7:eabj3397. [PMID: 34936452 PMCID: PMC8694624 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj3397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
After a half a century of salmon farming, we have yet to understand how the influx of genes from farmed escapees affects the full life history of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the wild. Using scale samples of over 6900 wild adult salmon from 105 rivers, we document that increased farmed genetic ancestry is associated with increased growth throughout life and a younger age at both seaward migration and sexual maturity. There was large among-population variation in the effects of introgression. Most saliently, the increased growth at sea following introgression declined with the population’s average growth potential. Variation at two major-effect loci associated with age at maturity was little affected by farmed genetic ancestry and could not explain the observed phenotypic effects of introgression. Our study provides knowledge crucial for predicting the ecological and evolutionary consequences of increased aquaculture production worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir H. Bolstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sten Karlsson
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ingerid J. Hagen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Peder Fiske
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kurt Urdal
- Rådgivende Biologer, NO-5059 Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | | | - Gunnel Østborg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ola H. Diserud
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Arne J. Jensen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kjetil Hindar
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
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