Belgium

Climate change is anticipated to drive both temperature and atmospheric water levels beyond the physiological tolerances of many species, with potentially cascading effects on animal populations that vary based on their life-history characteristics. Even closely related species may show divergent responses to climate change depending on their ecological strategies. We investigated how nesting behavior influences climate adaptation by comparing two bee genera: stem-nesting Ceratina and ground-nesting Lasioglossum. Specimens were collected across a 3,000 km latitudinal gradient in Japan, spanning sub-arctic to sub-tropical climates. We experimentally tested thermal (critical thermal maximum/minimum) and hygric traits (desiccation resistance, water loss rate), comparing tolerances to local temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Our results revealed that stem-nesting bees maintained broader physiological tolerances, while ground-nesting species showed significantly higher rates of water loss, especially in high-VPD regions (low latitude). Ground nesters also exhibited narrower thermal safety margins that decreased with latitude. These patterns likely reflect adaptation to different microclimate variability in nesting sites, with stable underground conditions potentially selecting against high thermal and desiccation stress tolerance. While ground-nesting bees can behaviorally thermoregulate within their burrows, their lower physiological plasticity—particularly their reduced desiccation resistance—may limit their ability to forage during extreme temperature events. Our findings emphasize that desiccation tolerance, during periods of high thermal stress, may be a critical determinant of pollinator vulnerability to climate change. Understanding how nesting strategies and other life-history traits mediate species&#39; responses to climate change will be essential for predicting and protecting pollinator populations.

SEB Conference 2025

Life-history strategy and local adaptation shape resilience to climate change in bees

climate vulnerability

nesting

desiccation resistance

pollinators

thermal tolerance

adaptation

climate change

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SEB Conference 2026

SEB’s Annual Conference is celebrated for creating the perfect composition of research, new discoveries and collaborative connections. Be creative and innovative by exchanging ideas and knowledge with masters of biology from all over the world. 

Climate change is anticipated to drive both temperature and atmospheric water levels beyond the physiological tolerances of many species, with potentially cascading effects on animal populations that vary based on their life-history characteristics. Even closely related species may show divergent responses to climate change depending on their ecological strategies. We investigated how nesting behavior influences climate adaptation by comparing two bee genera: stem-nesting Ceratina and ground-nesting Lasioglossum. Specimens were collected across a 3,000 km latitudinal gradient in Japan, spanning sub-arctic to sub-tropical climates. We experimentally tested thermal (critical thermal maximum/minimum) and hygric traits (desiccation resistance, water loss rate), comparing tolerances to local temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Our results revealed that stem-nesting bees maintained broader physiological tolerances, while ground-nesting species showed significantly higher rates of water loss, especially in high-VPD regions (low latitude). Ground nesters also exhibited narrower thermal safety margins that decreased with latitude. These patterns likely reflect adaptation to different microclimate variability in nesting sites, with stable underground conditions potentially selecting against high thermal and desiccation stress tolerance. While ground-nesting bees can behaviorally thermoregulate within their burrows, their lower physiological plasticity—particularly their reduced desiccation resistance—may limit their ability to forage during extreme temperature events. Our findings emphasize that desiccation tolerance, during periods of high thermal stress, may be a critical determinant of pollinator vulnerability to climate change. Understanding how nesting strategies and other life-history traits mediate species' responses to climate change will be essential for predicting and protecting pollinator populations.

technical paper

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It has been proposed that larger individuals within fish species may be more sensitive to global warming, as a result of limitations in their capacity to provide oxygen for aerobic metabolic activities. This could affect size distributions of populations in a warmer world but requires investigation. We studied four groups of individuals over a ~10-fold range in mass (20 – 800 g overall), two farmed species, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), and two species captured in the wild, European seabass and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). In all groups, capacity to provide oxygen for aerobic activities (Absolute Aerobic Scope) was independent of mass at their acclimation temperature. Tolerance of acute warming, however, declined significantly with mass in all groups, when evaluated as the critical temperature for fatigue from aerobic swimming (CTSmax ). The CTSmax  protocol challenges a fish to meet the oxygen demands of constant aerobic exercise while their metabolic demands are accelerated by incremental warming, until fatigue. The maximum rates achieved prior to fatigue declined very significantly with mass. Mass-related variation in CTSmax  and maximum oxygen uptake rates were positively related in all groups, which may indicate a causal relationship. When fish populations are faced with acute thermal stress, larger individuals may become constrained in their ability to perform aerobic activities at lower temperatures than smaller conspecifics. This could affect survival and fitness of larger fish in a future world with more frequent and extreme heatwaves, with consequences for population productivity.

Evidence that tolerance of acute warming declines with increasing body mass in fishes

Ocean warming is a major threat to shallow water marine communities, particularly their invertebrate species, whose biological rates are temperature dependent. Accurately predicting their fate in the face of ongoing warming will require to account for biological variation, particularly between males and females, of which we currently have little understanding. We experimentally evaluated the physiological and metabolomic responses, as well as reproductive output, of the marine amphipod Gammarus locusta exposed to a temperature gradient. Females and males were collected from a coastal lagoon subjected to four acclimation temperatures (16, 21, 26 and 31 ºC) for 21 days. Specimens were individually sampled for metabolomics profiling. Additionally, Critical Thermal Maximum (CTMax), thermal safety margins and acclimation response ratio were assessed in different specimens at day 21. Higher exposure temperatures led to higher CTMax, confirming thatG. locustais capable to adjust its CTMax via physiological plasticity. A positive thermal safety margin was found, and females displayed higher CTMax than males, suggesting that thermal tolerance is sex dependent. Additionally, offsprings number was significantly reduced at higher temperatures, suggesting negative impacts of OW on fecundity. Further metabolomics analysis will be performed to assess test the hypothesis that warming causes females to enhance energy production via TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism more than males to support heat stress and reproductive costs. We conclude that G. locusta is physiologically plastic, females being more plastic than males, but that population viability may still be at risk due to reduced reproductive output under OW.

The Battle of the Sexes: Male and Female Amphipods Differences in Thermal Tolerance and Metabolomic Profiles in a Warming Ocean

DNA microsatellites are small tandem repeats within the genome, which are ideal for individual identification and paternity.  While this technique was developed for use in crime-scene investigations, it is now regularly used to aid in animal breeding, conservation efforts, and field research. For example, microsatellites are often used to determine chick paternity, which helps determine which chicks resulted from extrapair copulations (EPCs).
We generated DNA microsatellites profiles for all male and female quail (Coturnix coturnix) within our breeding colony. To evaluate sperm donor identity only, we removed the blastodisc from the PVM prior to gDNA isolation. Sperm donor identity was determined by generating MS profiles from PVMs to exclude females and non-contributing males.
We were able to successfully exclude all but one male in 50% of the eggs analyzed using four MS primer sets. We expect that adding more MS primer sets will allow us to successfully identify the male donor in all eggs.
Because studbooks are mostly based on pairings and not genetic testing, paternity in colony managed populations may not be accurate depending on EPC rates, making studbooks paternity inaccurate. Using this method, EPC rates for specific colonies or species can be analyzed allowing facilities to determine whether the costs of chick paternity testing is justified.
Unlike chick paternity, this method shows all sperm donors present at the oocyte membrane which could significantly impact captive management and our understanding of basic avian reproductive physiology, including cryptic female choice and sperm storage tubule function, and behaviors such as EPCs.

Detection of perivitelline-bound sperm donor identity using DNA microsatellites analysis: A tool for extrapair and cryptic mate choice evaluation

Reproduction, particularly lactation, is one of the costliest energetic processes for mammals. During this period, females must allocate energy to offspring growth and development while also sustaining their own metabolic requirements. In an income breeder like roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), particularly during the early hider phase, energy requirements of the mother, and hence foraging and ranging behaviour, increase substantially to support fawn growth. Using biologging data from 90 GPS-collared reproductive female roe deer over a 17-year period, we investigated activity patterns linked to foraging during three key phases of reproduction (late gestation, early lactation, late lactation until weaning) to determine how the energy- and time- budgets were related to reproductive outcomes (number of fawns at weaning). We found that activity peaked during the first month post-parturition with a predicted increase in daily time spent active from 48% pre-parturition to 56% during peak lactation. The number of fawns at weaning explained some of the variation in both timing and intensity of activity: females with one or two fawns were more active overall, particularly during mid-day, compared to those with no fawns at weaning. Females with two fawns had higher activity levels, although not doubled, than those with just one. Our preliminary results therefore suggest that females with two fawns either acquire energy more efficiently, or face a trade-off between maintenance and allocation to fawn growth. Further investigations will elucidate these potential trade-offs, allowing us to better map the relationship between energetic constraints and reproductive outcome in this income breeder.

Linking activity patterns and reproductive outcome in an income breeder

The concept of the "island syndrome" phenomenon has been recognised since the era of Darwin, and it is characterised by the presence of distinct behavioural and morphological traits within island populations that differ from those of the mainland. While most studies have investigated changes that have already occurred, questions regarding the mechanisms and causes of these changes remain unanswered. In this study, we have focused on the founding generation of wild house mice relocated to "islands," a situation analogous to being introduced to novel environments by human transportation. The "islands" utilised in this study are seminatural and comprise distinct dietary regimens. These diets differed in consistency but were comparable in caloric content and mimicked the natural diet of the mice. We then compared mice's behaviour and morphological traits from these "islands" with those of a control population maintained on an artificial pellet diet after seven months. The behavioural stress-coping strategies and foraging behaviours of the subjects were examined, as these are critical for survival during and after environmental change. The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in stress-coping, however, there were some differences in foraging behaviour. The examination of morphological traits, including body length, tail length, and masticatory muscle strength, revealed a trend suggesting that these traits were beginning to diverge from those of the control population. This outcome is particularly noteworthy given that these were the founder generations that underwent relocations during their early life stages.

The effect of relocation and dietary change on the founder generation of wild house mice

Most non-human primates commonly exhibit exceptional jumping performance, particularly optimized for arboreal leaping. In contrast, humans appear more grounded, and arboreal leaping would represent an extremely risky behavior for them. This contrast raises two key questions: why do non-human primates possess such remarkable jumping abilities, and why did human primates lose this adaptation? In this presentation, we will review the leaping capabilities of primates, including their vertical jumping performance, drawing on various studies, notably those conducted by Prof. Peter Aerts. Using insights from functional morphology, we will explore the anatomical and biomechanical factors underlying the exceptional jumping performance of non-human primates, such as morphotype, lever arms, muscle properties, and muscle power. Finally, we will discuss when and why these capacities may have been reduced or lost in the human lineage, that is, how natural selection ceased to maintain this trait.

Vertical jumping performance in human and non-human primates: an example of relaxed selection?

During reproduction of the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), chemical communication mainly relies on urinary steroidal glucuronides (sex pheromones) that dominant males release to prime the final ovulation in pre-ovulatory females and increase reproductive readiness. However, the role of steroids in chemical communication in females has received less attention. Here, we aimed to determine whether 17β-estradiol 3-glucuronate released by pre-ovulatory females functions as a reproductive signal towards males. We investigated the preference of focal males to visual, chemical (female conditioned water), and a combination of both stimuli from pre-ovulatory or post-spawning females, and 10−9  M 17β-estradiol 3-glucuronate. Compared to the control zone, where no stimuli were present, males were more responsive (time spent near the stimuli, digging behaviour, and urination frequency) in the visual and visual + chemical zones than in the chemical-only zone. Males preferred pre-ovulatory to post-spawning female-conditioned water. Interestingly, the time spent by focal males near the source of 17β-estradiol 3-glucuronate was similar to pre-ovulatory conditioned water. However, there was no significant difference in digging and urine pulses in response to 17β-estradiol 3-glucuronate compared to the control group. We suggest that male tilapia recognise the ovulation status of females using visual and chemical cues, and 17β-estradiol 3-glucuronate is part of the pheromone released by pre-ovulatory females to communicate their reproductive status.
This study received Portuguese national funds from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology through projects UIDB/04326/2020, UIDP/04326/2020 and LA/P/0101/2020.

Behavioural responses to visual and chemical cues in Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus): A putative pheromonal role for 17β-estradiol 3-glucuronate

Ross seals (Ommatophoca rossii) spend most of their year foraging pelagically and only haul out in dense consolidated sea ice for a brief period. The Ross seal is one of the least studied of the Antarctic ice-dependent pinnipeds. Here, we aimed to find out what information we can get from steroid hormones (progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol) measured in hair (males=7, females=14) and serum (males=7, females=13) samples intermittently collected from Ross seals in die Lazarev Sea, Antarctica, between 2016 and 2023. Sex of the animal can be correlated with 85% accuracy using progesterone to testosterone hormone concentrations ratios measured in serum. Sex correlation accuracy in hair samples was lower at 70% using the same progesterone to testosterone hormone concentrations ratios. Thereafter, Ross seal sex could be predicted from samples for two unknown individuals, which turned out to be males. The testosterone and progesterone concentrations in serum and hair were not significantly linked to body length in males and females respectively. Thus, the hormones cannot be used to estimate age of assumed mature Ross seals. Finally, the results suggest that hair likely cannot be used as a historical marker of stress, and reproduction as there was no significant difference in hair glucocorticoid, progesterone, and testosterone hormone concentrations between new and old hair sampled during moult. These are the first ever measurements of steroid hormone, testosterone and progesterone concentrations for one of the rarest Antarctic seal species and aim to serve as a baseline for future research to build on.

What steroid hormones can tell us about Ross seals (Ommatophoca rossii)

Empowering students to assist in curriculum co-design fosters ownership and development of employability skills. At a time where student numbers are increasing, and the job market is becoming increasingly competitive, it is crucial that student education places emphasis on the development of skills increasing employability, such as critical thinking, self advocacy, and resilience. Furthermore, rising student numbers and saturated lectures and practical laboratory classes means less resources per student, and risks students becoming disengaged and falling behind in their own development and learning journey. Empowering students to assist in co-curriculum design addresses both of these challenges. Providing the students’ with autonomy and the support required to assist in designing their own honours projects encourages critical thinking and gives students a sense of ownership over their own work and studies, while also developing key skills. Here I will discuss my experiences as a student co-creator on the University of Glasgow project and my perspectives on the curriculum design project

Empowering Students in Curriculum Design: Fostering Ownership, Skill Development, and Career Readiness in the Life Sciences

An ability to engineer the total chloroplast complement of cells could be transformational, in relation to attempts to engineer photosynthesis, including its alternative metabolic versions.
Detailed analyses of chloroplast biogenesis during leaf development have revealed stages of plastid proliferation, biogenic machinery assembly and eventually greening (synthesis of photosynthetic components). Those analyses have also demonstrated our very limited knowledge of the drivers of chloroplast biogenesis, with currently known ones involved primarily in the greening phase. Particularly well understood are the GOLDEN-LIKE 1 and 2 (GLK1 and GLK2) transcription factors. The total chloroplast content of photosynthetic leaf cells, their chloroplast compartment, is remarkably constant even in plants which carry mutations in chloroplast division genes. glk1,2 double mutants in Arabidopsis are pale, with chloroplasts in similar numbers (to those in the wild type) but smaller, with less developed internal photosynthetic membranes, and creating a smaller chloroplast compartment within the cells harbouring them.
In order to search for novel genetic factors involved early in chloroplast biogenesis, we have carried out genetic screens for loss- and gain-of-function suppressor mutants of the Arabidopsis glk1,2 double mutant.  In at least two of those cases, identification of the responsible gene and isolation of mutants carrying that specific mutation alone has produced plants with an increased degree of greening and an enlarged chloroplast compartment of cells.
These newly-identified genes may open the door to uses in crop plants.

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Evidence that tolerance of acute warming declines with increasing body mass in fishes

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