Czechia

Climate change has revived interest in context-dependent species interactions as abiotic environments shift rapidly. An integrative approach, focusing on physiological mechanisms influencing environmental tolerance and performance, provides valuable insights into this research. Using the invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and the endangered Spanish toothcarp (Aphanius iberus) as a case study, we explored salinity impact on metabolism and behaviour. While it is well-documented that salinity influences mosquitofish capacity, the metabolic mechanisms and their impact on behaviour remain unexplored. Our goal is to examine metabolic and behavioural responses in different salinity conditions (freshwater and 15 psu) and the correlation between these variables. Using intermittent-flow respirometry, we measured standard metabolic rates (SMR), maximum metabolic rates (MMR), and absolute aerobic scope (AAS). Behavioural variables, like the proportion of time out of cover, were derived from speed, acceleration, and heading data using Raspberry Pi cameras. Our findings show that, with rising salinity, mosquitofish experience decreased metabolic rates, while toothcarp&#39;s rates remain stable, suggesting lower salinity tolerance in mosquitofish. In terms of behaviour, mosquitofish exhibit higher activity and trajectory count, while toothcarps cover a larger area with increased speed variability. Correlations between metabolism and behaviour are species-specific, with toothcarps&#39; MMR significantly correlating with overall behaviour, particularly time out of cover, and mosquitofish&#39;s SMR correlating with the total distance moved. These insights highlight challenges in mosquitofish metabolism with higher salinities compared to endemic species. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of considering intricate physiological mechanisms and their interactions with behaviour in the context-dependent competition of this globally expanding species.

SEB Conference 2024

Energetic Tango: Metabolic and Behavioural Interplay in the Competition Dynamics of Native and Invasive Freshwater Fish Amid Changing Salinities

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SEB Conference 2025

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 has revived interest in context-dependent species interactions as abiotic environments shift rapidly. An integrative approach, focusing on physiological mechanisms influencing environmental tolerance and performance, provides valuable insights into this research. Using the invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and the endangered Spanish toothcarp (Aphanius iberus) as a case study, we explored salinity impact on metabolism and behaviour. While it is well-documented that salinity influences mosquitofish capacity, the metabolic mechanisms and their impact on behaviour remain unexplored. Our goal is to examine metabolic and behavioural responses in different salinity conditions (freshwater and 15 psu) and the correlation between these variables. Using intermittent-flow respirometry, we measured standard metabolic rates (SMR), maximum metabolic rates (MMR), and absolute aerobic scope (AAS). Behavioural variables, like the proportion of time out of cover, were derived from speed, acceleration, and heading data using Raspberry Pi cameras. Our findings show that, with rising salinity, mosquitofish experience decreased metabolic rates, while toothcarp's rates remain stable, suggesting lower salinity tolerance in mosquitofish. In terms of behaviour, mosquitofish exhibit higher activity and trajectory count, while toothcarps cover a larger area with increased speed variability. Correlations between metabolism and behaviour are species-specific, with toothcarps' MMR significantly correlating with overall behaviour, particularly time out of cover, and mosquitofish's SMR correlating with the total distance moved. These insights highlight challenges in mosquitofish metabolism with higher salinities compared to endemic species. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of considering intricate physiological mechanisms and their interactions with behaviour in the context-dependent competition of this globally expanding species.

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The red rock shrimp, Lysmata californica, is a key species in Southern California's shallow coastal ecosystems where it faces environmental challenges due to seasonal and long-term changes in ocean pH and temperature. These environmental changes could potentially affect the shrimp's molting process by extending postmolt recovery and affecting mortality rates through altering behaviors. This study investigates the impacts of ocean acidification (OA) and warming (OW) conditions on key behaviors of L. californica during postmolt. Shrimp were exposed to a combination of pH (8.1 and 7.7) and temperature (12°C and 15°C) conditions for 50 days, during which we assessed feeding, cleaning behavior, and startle responses at two critical times postmolt (<15 hours and 5 days post-ecdysis). Our findings reveal that reduced pH significantly delays initiation of feeding postmolt and diminishes food consumption postmolt, while warmer temperature increases overall food consumption. Additionally, reduced pH conditions deterred cleaning behavior, whereas warmer temperature enhanced it. There were no discernible effects on startle responses across treatments postmolt. These results demonstrate that OA and OW conditions can alter important behaviors of L. californica during the critical postmolt period, temporarily disrupting their roles within mutualistic symbioses under ongoing climate change.

Eco-physiological Impacts of Ocean Acidification and Warming on Postmolt Red Rock Shrimp, Lysmata californica

Controlling on their body size, several bird taxa show cognitive abilities outperforming the mammals. This applies namely to parrots and passerines. Yet, in birds we still have only limited information about the physiological circuits regulating the nervous system including neuro-immune interactions. In our previous research we have identified a gene loss of an important neuro-immune regulator CNR2 that is specific for parrots. Compared to songbirds parrots show significantly higher expression of pro-inflammatory markers (IL1B and IL6) in brains of individuals with sterile-induced abdominal inflammation. Parrots frequently suffer from behavioural disorders (depression and feather plucking) that can result from impaired inflammatory regulation. Here we measured gene expression of important neuropeptides that are involved in regulation of behaviour in brains and periphery (ileum) of parrots during acute neuroinflammation. Unlike in brain in the ileum we have identified differential gene expression of POMC. Next we compared the patterns of neuropeptides expression during acute inflammation to chronic inflammation. We have revealed association between expression of key pro-inflammatory cytokines and several neuropeptides (NPY, PDYN, POMC, TAC1 and VIP). Finally, we followed the relationships between cytokine and neuropeptide expression and behavioural patterns in the experimental animals. Our results support the importance of neuro-immune interactions in regulation of avian behaviour during inflammatory conditions. Targeting neuropeptide expression during chronic inflammation could offer novel therapeutic strategies to treat depression-like disorders in parrots.

Effects of peripheral inflammation on neural regulation in birds

Meiosis is a unique cell division process for sexual reproduction in plants and animals. In the meiotic cell cycle, a single round of DNA 
replication is followed by two rounds of chromosome division, called meiosis I and meiosis II. Both rounds of the meiotic cell cycle contain 
prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Chromosomes segregate at metaphase and form two cells after a new cell wall is built 
during telophase I. In dicotyledons, instead of a real cell wall, a band structure consisting of vesicles derived from different organelles is 
act as a physical barrier between homologous chromosome until the end of telophase II. During Metaphase II, the position between
spindle is precisely controlled to ensure the division of chromosomes. JASON (JAS) maintains organelle band to separate spindle 
(Brownfield, Yi et al. 2015), while actin network limited the spindle and organelle band at certain area to achieve the dynamic role of 
organelle band. In this study, jas are used to study the function of actin network in regulating the organelle band during metaphase II.

Regulating the Organelle Band through Actin Dynamics in Male Meiosis of Arabidopsis

Acute monocytic leukaemia (AML-M5) is a bone marrow disease that affects young children. Astonishingly, the discovery of disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) capable of recapitulating human pathogenesis allows us to model this disease in vitro. We had previously generated AML-M5-specific-iPSC (AML-M5-iPSCs) from THP-1 cells obtained from a patient[1]. These AML-M5-iPSCs were then induced with growth supplements to enter haematopoietic differentiation to generate monocytic cells. We noticed that reprogramming transgenes Oct3/4, Sox2 and c-Myc were unintentionally integrated into the genome of AML-M5-iPSC during reprogramming. Out of scientific interest, the effects of transgene integration on drug responses were investigated. Firstly, the monocytic cells were characterised to determine their morphological and phagocytotic properties, and compared with their parental cell line THP-1 across 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-day post-differentiation. Subsequently, cytotoxic effect of Doxorubicin at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4μM on both cells were investigated with CCK-SK viability assay, and apoptotic effect investigated with cell cycle analysis. 
Our results revealed that in terms of size and morphology, both THP-1 and differentiated monocytic cells remained comparable up to 25 days post-differentiation. Within the same duration, their phagocytotic rates also exhibited no significant differences (p>0.05) when investigated with carboxylate-modified red fluorescent latex beads. However, after 24h Doxorubicin treatment, the IC50 value determined for THP-1 cells was 0.59µM, but the IC50 value for differentiated monocytic cells could not be determined; suggesting that they were significantly (p<0.05) less responsive to Doxorubicin. Upon similar treatment conditions, 92.5±3.9% of THP-1 cells entered late apoptosis stage. However, for differentiated monocytic cells, only 0.3±0.2% entered late apoptosis stage, 37.2±1.5% entered necrosis stage and 62.5±1.6% remained in viable stage. Our results showed that transgenes integration was causing monocytic cells to be resistant to Doxorubicin despite the fact the they should only affect haematopoietic differentiation. In addition, the apoptotic effect of Doxorubicin had also been switched to necrotic effect. More interesting, transgene integration did not seem to alter the morphology and phagocytosis of monocytic cells. We postulate that transgenes Oct3/4, Sox2 and c-Myc interfered with the intercalation of Doxorubicin into the DNA, subsequently altering downstream pathways thereby disrupting cell death via apoptosis. In conclusion, further investigations are warranted to determine the mechanism of reprogramming transgene-induced drug resistance in monocytic cells derived from AML-M5-iPSC.


Integration of reprogramming transgenes into AML-M5-iPSC caused differentiated monocytic cells to be resistant to Doxorubicin

Engaging our students and supporting them to develop agency in assessment and feedback is important for driving effective self-regulation (Sadler, 2010). We will showcase several novel initiatives we have introduced in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, including a student partnership project to co-create an assessment and feedback portfolio (AFP) with interactive assessment landscapes; converting our AFP from a voluntary activity to a summative assessment to ‘force’ our final year UG students to reflect and act on their feedback; introducing a regular Biological Sciences ‘feedback café’ to promote dialogic feedback, co-creating a new programme of assessments for a Biological Sciences professional placement year and a scaffolding our peer-assisted study scheme (PASS) around assessments.

Empowering student agency in assessment and feedback in Biological Sciences.

Scientific discovery relies on high-quality research that is transparent, reproducible, and available for outside scrutiny. Unfortunately, the current reward system often selects for poor quality research by incentivising practices that favour sensationalism, shortcuts, and novelty rather than quality and rigour. Globally, the annual science budget wasted on irreproducible research is estimated in the tens of billions of dollars. Such alarming levels of irreproducibility are not solely due to issues of poor statistical practices, confirmation bias, and selective reporting - various forms of misconduct play large roles. Regardless of the reasons for which misconduct occurs, scientists have a moral and ethical obligation to report it when observed. Here, we present guidance for researchers who suspect or discover scientific misconduct, ranging from the initial stages of fact checking to the later stages of formal investigations. We use our own experiences and lessons learned from conversations with other scientists who have had the unfortunate experience of witnessing fraud. We confirm that whistleblowing is one example of the self-correcting nature of science.

Scientific misconduct - advice on being a whistle-blower

The continual progression of climate change is creating intense challenges for food producers, as delivering adequate crop yield and quality to a growing population is becoming increasingly difficult. Incremental increases in atmospheric CO2 concentrations unpredictably affect crop physiology and biochemical profiles, leading to inconsistent crop yields and nutritional quality. Of course, eCO2 will not occur in isolation and, when coupled with high temperatures, may further deteriorate crop nutrient content. Research suggests that plants using the rare C2 carbon concentrating mechanism may tolerate warm temperature better than plants using the very common C3 photosynthetic pathway. C2 photosynthesis uses a glycine shuttle to effectively concentrate and reclaim carbon released from photorespiration, ultimately boosting rates of photosynthesis under warm and dry environments that promote high rates of photorespiration. Although C3 plants are predicted to fix more carbon under eCO2, the warm temperatures that accompany climate change should disadvantage C3 plants. eCO2 also influence plant biochemistry and consequently nutrition. The carbon dilution effect effectively reduces nutrient and protein contents, which translates into lower quality crops. How the nutritive properties of C2 plants will respond to eCO2 has never been investigated. Using diverse cultivars of wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), the only crop in commercial food production that uses C2 photosynthesis, we examine the combined effects of temperature and eCO2 on the nutritional profile of this salad crop.


Understanding nutritional response to eCO2 under a range of temperatures in wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) 


Seed aging is a process that seed gradually loses its ability to germinate. Improper storage conditions can diminish seed vigor, adversely affecting seed germination and seedling establishment. Therefore, understanding the seed-aging process and exploring strategies to enhance seed-aging resistance are paramount. In this study, we observed that seed aging during storage leads to a decline in seed vigor and can coincide with the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the radicle, resulting in compromised or uneven germination and asynchronous seedling emergence. We identified the abscisic acid (ABA) catabolism gene, abscisic acid 8’-hydroxylase 2 (OsABA8ox2), as significantly induced by aging treatment. Interestingly, transgenic seeds overexpressing OsABA8ox2 exhibited reduced seed vigor, while gene knockout enhanced seed vigor, suggesting its role as a negative regulator. Similarly, seeds pretreated with ABA or diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI, an H2O2 inhibitor) showed increased resistance to aging, with more robust early seedling establishment. Both OsABA8ox2 mutant seeds and seeds pretreated with ABA or DPI displayed lower H2O2 content during aging treatment. Overall, our findings indicate that ABA mitigates rice seed aging by reducing H2O2 accumulation in the radicle. This study offers valuable germplasm resources and presents a novel approach to enhancing seed resistance against aging.

ABA Inhibits Rice Seed Aging by Reducing H2O2 Accumulation in the Radicle of Seeds

Despite the evidence of the effect of topography on forest systems at the landscape level, only a few reports are available regarding the impact of varied topography on physiology and tree growth within catchment areas of the mountain ecosystem. The topographic influence of topoclimate and catchment hydrology plays a significant role in shaping forest feedback to future climate conditions and shapes the structure and function of the forest. The studies to model the forest response to environmental alterations comprise landscape-level processes but generally exclude finer-scale dynamics, which may be similarly significant to the ecosystem functions of the forest. The present study revealed aspect-regulated finer-scale variations in leaf ecophysiology. During our study, these variations were evidenced by increased photosynthesis of Q. semecarpifolia, growing in higher light, warmer, and drier conditions of the south (S) aspect relative to the contrasting north (N) aspect of the same catchment, in the subalpine forest of the central Himalaya. In general, the seasonality and aspect-driven light environments both posed remarkable changes in the leaf ecophysiology (i.e., leaf gas exchange and plant water relation). The effect of variation in the light environment was more pronounced and affected the overall productivity and leaf ecophysiology of the plants more severely, seasonally as well as diurnally. It has also been realized throughout the study that photosynthesis and other leaf gas exchange parameters were highly variable and highly influenced by microclimatic environmental factors like air temperature, soil moisture, relative humidity, light quality, intensity, and duration. Therefore, while predicting the gross primary productivity, it needs to take more site-specific, time-specific (diurnal), and season-specific data to accurately and precisely account for forest productivity. Our study also suggests that brown oak interspecifically adapts by adjusting its physiological traits against several abiotic stresses to maintain its higher productivity.


Influence of Topography on Variation and Intra-specific adaptations in Leaf Ecophysiology of Quercus Semecarpifolia Forest of High Altitudinal Central Himalaya

Abstract: Clonal propagation is a widely utilised technique in forestry and horticulture and holds significant promise for conserving desired traits within specific species. Successful adventitious root development from cutting stems bases is essential and depends on environmental and physiological factors among which plant hormones play a crucial role. This study investigates the effect of auxin and jasmonic acid on cutting adventitious root development, both independently and in interaction, across three distinct peas cultivars: ‘Meteor’, ‘RTP’, and ‘Torsdag’. Our findings reveal cultivar-specific responses to auxin and jasmonic acid in a dosage dependent manner. Moreover, our study reveals the hormone dosage is directly related to the speed of adventitious root development. By further exploring the site and timing of hormone interaction, we aim to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying successful root formation. These findings have significant implications for tree production through cutting propagation, offering insights that can optimise hormone treatments, improve efficiency, and promote sustainability in forestry and horticulture practices. Ultimately, our research contributes to advancing the understanding of hormonal regulation in clonal propagation, paving the way for more efficient and scalable tree production methods.

Next from SEB Conference 2024

Eco-physiological Impacts of Ocean Acidification and Warming on Postmolt Red Rock Shrimp, Lysmata californica

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