DSpace Angular :: Browsing by Author "Bozinovic, Francisco"

Browsing by Author "Bozinovic, Francisco"

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A Multivariate Assessment of Age-Related Cognitive Impairment in Octodon degus
(2021) Rivera, Daniela S.; Lindsay, Carolina B.; Oliva, Carolina A.; Bozinovic, Francisco; Inestrosa, Nibaldo C.
Aging is a progressive functional decline characterized by a gradual deterioration in physiological function and behavior. The most important age-related change in cognitive function is decline in cognitive performance (i.e., the processing or transformation of information to make decisions that includes speed of processing, working memory, and learning). The purpose of this study is to outline the changes in age-related cognitive performance (i.e., short-term recognition memory and long-term learning and memory) in long-lived Octodon degus. The strong similarity between degus and humans in social, metabolic, biochemical, and cognitive aspects makes it a unique animal model for exploring the mechanisms underlying the behavioral and cognitive deficits related to natural aging. In this study, we examined young adult female degus (12- and 24-months-old) and aged female degus (38-, 56-, and 75-months-old) that were exposed to a battery of cognitive-behavioral tests. Multivariate analyses of data from the Social Interaction test or Novel Object/Local Recognition (to measure short-term recognition memory), and the Barnes maze test (to measure long-term learning and memory) revealed a consistent pattern. Young animals formed a separate group of aged degus for both short- and long-term memories. The association between the first component of the principal component analysis (PCA) from short-term memory with the first component of the PCA from long-term memory showed a significant negative correlation. This suggests age-dependent differences in both memories, with the aged degus having higher values of long-term memory ability but poor short-term recognition memory, whereas in the young degus an opposite pattern was found. Approximately 5% of the young and 80% of the aged degus showed an impaired short-term recognition memory; whereas for long-term memory about 32% of the young degus and 57% of the aged degus showed decreased performance on the Barnes maze test. Throughout this study, we outlined age-dependent cognitive performance decline during natural aging in degus. Moreover, we also demonstrated that the use of a multivariate approach let us explore and visualize complex behavioral variables, and identified specific behavioral patterns that allowed us to make powerful conclusions that will facilitate further the study on the biology of aging. In addition, this study could help predict the onset of the aging process based on behavioral performance.
Genetic variation for plasticity in physiological and life-history traits among populations of an invasive species, the terrestrial isopod Porcellio laevis
(2008) Lardies, Marco A.; Bozinovic, Francisco
Background: Evolutionary interpretations of life-history as well as physiological patterns require distinction between genotypic variations and environmentally induced phenotypic variation.
Gut size variation among Bufo spinulosus populations along an altitudinal (and dietary) gradient
(2009) Naya, Daniel E.; Veloso, Claudio; Bozinovic, Francisco
To date, digestive flexibility has been studied in dozens of vertebrate species. However, practically all of these works has ignored the importance of intraspecific physiological variability across populations inhabiting different habitats. Here, we compare the digestive tract gross morphology of three populations of the Andean toad (Bufo spinulosus), inhabiting along an altitudinal gradient and feeding on different food items. Results support a core prediction of digestive theory, i.e., intestinal length increases in parallel with the content of indigestible material in the natural diet. The present study suggest how variation in the abiotic environment associated with altitude (e.g., temperature, water availability, soil quality) can change biotic conditions (e.g., vegetation cover, prey availability), affect feeding behavior of individuals (e.g., width and composition of trophic niche), and, ultimately, individuals' digestive features (e.g., gut morphology).
Increasing importance of heat stress for cattle farming under future global climate scenarios
(2021) Carvajal, Mario A.; Alaniz, Alberto J.; Gutierrez-Gomez, Constanza; Vergara, Pablo M.; Sejian, Veerasamy; Bozinovic, Francisco
In the last decades, livestock species have been severely affected by heat stress because of increasing temperatures, which has threatened animal welfare and decreased production. Based on thermal comfort indices and ensemble climate projections, we analyzed the current and future global spatiotemporal patterns of the heat exposure of cattle in 10 agroclimatic zones. The results show that similar to 7% of the global cattle population is currently exposed to dangerous heat conditions. This percentage is projected to increase to similar to 48% before 2100 under a scenario of growing emissions. Tropical agroclimatic zones are expected to face an early increase in the exposure to intense heat before 2050. Heat exposure was negatively correlated with the socioeconomic variables, showing that poor and livestock-dependent tropical countries are the most affected. Our results demonstrate the near future consequences of heat stress on livestock, emphasizing the limited time available to implement effective abatement strategies. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Integrative Physiological Responses to Acute Dehydration in the Rufous-Collared Sparrow: Metabolic, Enzymatic, and Oxidative Traits
(2021) Navarrete, Lucas; Bozinovic, Francisco; Pena-Villalobos, Isaac; Contreras-Ramos, Carolina; Sanchez-Hernandez, Juan C.; Newsome, Seth D.; Nespolo, Roberto F.; Sabat, Pablo
Predictions indicate that birds worldwide will be affected by global warming and extreme climatic events which is especially relevant for passerines because the diurnal habits, small body size, and high mass-adjusted metabolic rates of this group make it particularly susceptible to increases in temperature and aridity. Some bird species respond to conditions that stress osmoregulation by increasing their rates of energy expenditure, nevertheless, the effect of dehydration on metabolic rates in birds has produced contrasting results. It also remains unknown whether hydration state may cause shifts in tissue-specific metabolic rates or modify tissue oxidative status. We used the rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), to experimentally test the effect of dehydration on metabolic enzymes in erythrocytes, tissue oxidative status, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and total evaporative water loss. We found a significant increase in mass-adjusted BMR in water restricted (WR) birds compared to control birds (CT). Activity of cytochrome-c-oxidase (COX) in red blood cells (RBCs) was also significantly higher in the WR group relative to the CT group and this activity was positively correlated with mass-adjusted BMR. We found a moderate effect of water restriction on membrane damage of skeletal muscle. In a second set of individuals subjected to the same experimental conditions, lean mass and total water were tightly correlated and decreased by 10 and 12%, respectively, in birds in the WR group relative to the CT group. Decreases in total water and lean mass leads to an increase in mass-adjusted BMR in WR Z. capensis, suggesting that birds may simultaneously increase protein catabolism and production of metabolic water through oxidation. The significant positive relationship between BMR and COX in RBCs is a finding that requires additional research to determine whether erythrocyte metabolism is affected by dehydration per se and or it more generally reflects rates of energy expenditure in birds.
Phenotypic variability in byssus thread production of intertidal mussels induced by predators with different feeding strategies
(INTER-RESEARCH, 2008) Caro, Andres U.; Escobar, Joan; Bozinovic, Francisco; Navarrete, Sergio A.; Castilla, Juan Carlos
Predator-induced defenses have a significant influence on the expression of morphological and behavioral traits of marine species. In mussels, common responses to predators include thickening of the shell, enlargement of the adductor muscle and increases in byssus production. We hypothesize that predators with different feeding strategies have different effects on byssus production of the common intertidal mussels Perumytilus purpuratus and Semimytilus algosus in central Chile, Predators that dislodge prey mussels before killing them, such as crabs and seastars, should elicit increased byssus production in their prey compared to other predators such as whelks, which use different feeding mechanisms. Laboratory experiments with the seastar Heliaster helianthus, the crab Acanthocylus gayi, and the muricid gastropods Concholepas concholepas and Acanthina monodon showed that: only A. gayi induced significant increases in byssus production, causing remarkably similar responses in both mussel species. Further experiments in which individual mussels with different: attachment strengths were offered to A. gayi showed that the crabs first tried different mussels and then selected those with the weakest attachment, leading to consumption rates of weakly attached mussels that were 5 to 6 times higher than those of mussels with strong attachment to the substratum. Measurements of mussel attachment: strengths in the field showed that, where A. gayi is abundant, both mussel species are more strongly attached than in habitats where this predator is scarce. While responses of mussels to crabs seem to be adaptive, the lack of a response to H. helianthus is intriguing, because it is one of the most important. mussel predators in the system which can dislodge entire Clumps Of Mussels at a time. It is possible that increased byssus production is ineffective in reducing predation by this large predator; however, this adaptive explanation requires further studies. These results highlight the predator-specific nature of many prey phenotypic responses and the importance of considering the multiplicity of predators typically present in most habitats.
Rapid turnover of a pea aphid superclone mediated by thermal endurance in central Chile
(2024) Martel, Sebastian I.; Zamora, Cristian A.; Ricote, Natalia; Sepulveda, Daniela A.; Maheo, Frederique; Simon, Jean-Christophe; Figueroa, Christian C.; Rezende, Enrico L.; Bozinovic, Francisco
Global change drivers are imposing novel conditions on Earth's ecosystems at an unprecedented rate. Among them, biological invasions and climate change are of critical concern. It is generally thought that strictly asexual populations will be more susceptible to rapid environmental alterations due to their lack of genetic variability and, thus, of adaptive responses. In this study, we evaluated the persistence of a widely distributed asexual lineage of the alfalfa race of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, along a latitudinal transect of approximately 600 km in central Chile after facing environmental change for a decade. Based on microsatellite markers, we found an almost total replacement of the original aphid superclone by a new variant. Considering the unprecedented warming that this region has experienced in recent years, we experimentally evaluated the reproductive performance of these two A. pisum lineages at different thermal regimes. The new variant exhibits higher rates of population increase at warmer temperatures, and computer simulations employing a representative temperature dataset suggest that it might competitively displace the original superclone. These results support the idea of a superclone turnover mediated by differential reproductive performance under changing temperatures.
Retinal Photoreceptor Arrangement, SWS1 and LWS Opsin Sequence, and Electroretinography in the South American Marsupial Thylamys elegans (Waterhouse, 1839)
(2010) Palacios, Adrian G.; Bozinovic, Francisco; Vielma, Alex; Arrese, Catherine A.; Hunt, David M.; Peichl, Leo
We studied the retinal photoreceptors in the mouse opossum Thylamys elegans, a nocturnal South American marsupial. A variety of photoreceptor properties and color vision capabilities have been documented in Australian marsupials, and we were interested to establish what similarities and differences this American marsupial showed. Thylamys opsin gene sequencing revealed two cone opsins, a longwave-sensitive (LWS) opsin and a shortwave-sensitive (SWS1) opsin with deduced peak sensitivities at 560 nm and 360 nm (ultraviolet), respectively. Immunocytochemistry located these opsins to separate cone populations, a majority of LWS cones (density range 1,600 5,6 5,600/mm(2)) and a minority of SWS1 cones (density range 100-690/mm(2)). With rod densities of 440,000-590,000/mm(2), the cones constituted 0.4-1.2% of the photoreceptors. This is a suitable adaptation to nocturnal vision. Cone densities peaked in a horizontally elongated region ventral to the optic nerve head. In ventral-but not dorsal-retina, roughly 40% of the LWS opsin-expressing cones occurred as close pairs (double cones), and one member of each double cone contained a colorless oil droplet. The corneal electroretinogram (ERG) showed a high scotopic sensitivity with a rod peak sensitivity at 505 nm. At mesopic light levels, the spectral ERG revealed the contributions of a UV-sensitive SWS1 cone mechanism and an LWS cone mechanism with peak sensitivities at 365 nm and 555 nm, respectively, confirming the tuning predictions from the cone opsin sequences. The two spectral cone types provide the basis for dichromatic color vision, or trichromacy if the rods contribute to color processing at mesopic light levels. J. Comp. Neurol. 5 18:1589-1602, 2010. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Spatial and Seasonal Plasticity in Digestive Morphology of Cavies (Microcavia australis) Inhabiting Habitats with Different Plant Qualities
(2007) Sassi, Paola L.; Borghi, Carlos E.; Bozinovic, Francisco
Ecological physiology examines how animals cope with changing environmental demands. In low-productivity desert habitats, small mammals should consume low-quality, high-fiber food as a consequence of necessity rather than by choice. Diet quality of populations can differ at both spatial and temporal scales. Nevertheless, spatial and temporal variation in the digestive system has not been extensively studied in the field. We captured individuals from 4 populations of Microcavia australis and measured their digestive morphological traits. Fieldwork was carried out in 4 localities belonging to and and semiarid regions, in dry and wet seasons. We also estimated diet quality for each population and season. We found significant effects of sex, season, and site on the size of digestive organs. The concentration of fiber and nitrogen in the plants consumed differed between populations and varied seasonally: dietary fiber was higher in the dry season and nitrogen concentration was higher in the wet season. As predicted by theory, the cecum, the organ most closely related to cellulose fermentation, was significantly larger in animals facing the lowest quality diet. The other organs also were affected by reproductive state and water requirements. Intraspecific variation in the digestive morphology of M. australis probably helps this species cope with remarkable seasonal and geographical variability.
Spectral sensitivities of photoreceptors and their role in colour discrimination in the green-backed firecrown hummingbird (Sephanoides sephaniodes)
(2008) Herrera, Gonzalo; Zagal, Juan Cristobal; Diaz, Marcelo; Fernandez, Maria Jose; Vielma, Alex; Cure, Michel; Martinez, Jaime; Bozinovic, Francisco; Palacios, Adrian G.
We studied the photopic spectral sensitivity in the green-backed firecrown, Sephanoides sephaniodes, a South American hummingbird, and its possible ecological relationship with preferred flowers and body colouration. Avian colour vision is in general tetrachromatic with at least four types of cones, which vary in sensitivity from the near ultraviolet (UV) to the red wavelength range. Hummingbirds represent an important family of birds, yet little is known about their eye sensitivity, especially about the role of photoreceptors and their oil droplet complements. The photopic electroretinogram shows a main sensitivity peak at 560 nm and a secondary peak in the UV, and may be explained by the presence of four single cones (lambda(max) at similar to 370, 440, 508 and 560 nm), and a double cone (lambda(max) at 560 nm) screened by oil droplets. The flowers preferred by the firecrown are those in which the red-green wavelength region predominates and have higher contrast than other flowers. The crown plumage of males is highly iridescent in the red wavelength range (peak at 650 nm) and UV; when plotted in a high-dimensional tetrachromatic space, it falls in a "red + UV" purple hue line, suggesting a potential significant communication signal for sexual differentiation.
Temperature adaptation and its impact on the shape of performance curves in Drosophila populations
(2023) Alruiz, Jose M.; Peralta-Maraver, Ignacio; Bozinovic, Francisco; Santos, Mauro; Rezende, Enrico L.
Understanding how species adapt to different temperatures is crucial to predict their response to global warming, and thermal performance curves (TPCs) have been employed recurrently to study this topic. Nevertheless, fundamental questions regarding how thermodynamic constraints and evolution interact to shape TPCs in lineages inhabiting different environments remain unanswered. Here, we study Drosophila simulans along a latitudinal gradient spanning 3000 km to test opposing hypotheses based on thermodynamic constrains (hotter-is-better) versus biochemical adaptation (jack-of-all-temperatures) as primary determinants of TPCs variation across populations. We compare thermal responses in metabolic rate and the egg-to-adult survival as descriptors of organismal performance and fitness, respectively, and show that different descriptors of TPCs vary in tandem with mean environmental temperatures, providing strong support to hotter-is-better. Thermodynamic constraints also resulted in a strong negative association between maximum performance and thermal breadth. Lastly, we show that descriptors of TPCs for metabolism and egg-to-adult survival are highly correlated, providing evidence of co-adaptation, and that curves for egg-to-adult survival are systematically narrower and displaced toward lower temperatures. Taken together, our results support the pervasive role of thermodynamics constraining thermal responses in Drosophila populations along a latitudinal gradient, that are only partly compensated by evolutionary adaptation.
The Mean and Variance of Environmental Temperature Interact to Determine Physiological Tolerance and Fitness
(UNIV CHICAGO PRESS, 2011) Bozinovic, Francisco; Bastias, Daniel A.; Boher, Francisca; Clavijo Baquet, Sabrina; Estay, Sergio A.; Angilletta, Michael J., Jr.
Global climate change poses one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Most analyses of the potential biological impacts have focused on changes in mean temperature, but changes in thermal variance will also impact organisms and populations. We assessed the combined effects of the mean and variance of temperature on thermal tolerances, organismal survival, and population growth in Drosophila melanogaster. Because the performance of ectotherms relates nonlinearly to temperature, we predicted that responses to thermal variation (+/-0 degrees or +/-5 degrees C) would depend on the mean temperature (17 degrees or 24 degrees C). Consistent with our prediction, thermal variation enhanced the rate of population growth (r(max)) at a low mean temperature but depressed this rate at a high mean temperature. The interactive effect on fitness occurred despite the fact that flies improved their heat and cold tolerances through acclimation to thermal conditions. Flies exposed to a high mean and a high variance of temperature recovered from heat coma faster and survived heat exposure better than did flies that developed at other conditions. Relatively high survival following heat exposure was associated with low survival following cold exposure. Recovery from chill coma was affected primarily by the mean temperature; flies acclimated to a low mean temperature recovered much faster than did flies acclimated to a high mean temperature. To develop more realistic predictions about the biological impacts of climate change, one must consider the interactions between the mean environmental temperature and the variance of environmental temperature.
Thermal performance of the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma infestans, under thermal variability
(2021) Clavijo-Baquet, Sabrina; Cavieres, Grisel; Gonzalez, Avia; Cattan, Pedro E.; Bozinovic, Francisco
Vector-borne diseases (VBD) are particularly susceptible to climate change because most of the diseases' vectors are ectotherms, which themselves are susceptible to thermal changes. The Chagas disease is one neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. One of the main vectors of the Chagas disease in South America is Triatoma infestans, a species traditionally considered to be restricted to domestic or peridomestic habitats, but sylvatic foci have also been described along its distribution. The infestation of wild individuals, together with the projections of environmental changes due to global warming, urge the need to understand the relationship between temperature and the vector's performance. Here, we evaluated the impact of temperature variability on the thermal response of T. infestans. We acclimated individuals to six thermal treatments for five weeks to then estimate their thermal performance curves (TPCs) by measuring the walking speed of the individuals. We found that the TPCs varied with thermal acclimation and body mass. Individuals acclimated to a low and variable ambient temperature (18 degrees C +/- 5 degrees C) exhibited lower performances than those individuals acclimated to an optimal temperature (27 degrees C +/- 0 degrees C); while those individuals acclimated to a low but constant temperature (18 degrees C +/- 0 degrees C) did not differ in their maximal performance from those at an optimal temperature. Additionally, thermal variability (i.e., +/- 5 degrees C) at a high temperature (30 degrees C) increased performance. These results evidenced the plastic response of T. infestans to thermal acclimation. This plastic response and the non-linear effect of thermal variability on the performance of T. infestans posit challenges when predicting changes in the vector's distribution range under climate change.
Thermal tolerance in Drosophila : Repercussions for distribution, community coexistence and responses to climate change
(2022) Alruiz, José M. ; Peralta‐Maraver, Ignacio ; Bozinovic, Francisco ; Santos, Mauro ; Enrico L. Rezende
Here we combined controlled experiments and field surveys to determine if estimates of heat tolerance predict distributional ranges and phenology of different Drosophila species in southern South America. We contrasted thermal death time curves, which consider both magnitude and duration of the challenge to estimate heat tolerance, against the thermal range where populations are viable based on field surveys in an 8-year longitudinal study. We observed a strong correspondence of the physiological limits, the thermal niche for population growth, and the geographic ranges across studied species, which suggests that the thermal biology of different species provides a common currency to understand how species will respond to warming temperatures both at a local level and throughout their distribution range. Our approach represents a novel analytical toolbox to anticipate how natural communities of ectothermic organisms will respond to global warming.

Browsing by Author "Bozinovic, Francisco"

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