THE SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY - SEB Autumn 2023 magazine

BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY

SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AUTUMN 2023

The SEB Magazine is published biannually — Spring and Autumn (online) — by the Society for Experimental Biology and is distributed to all SEB members.

Advertising Advertising in the SEB magazine is a great opportunity to reach a large community of biologists.

For more details contact b.danois@sebiology.org Design and artwork: Robert Wood, Time Design Studio rob@timedesignstudio.co.uk Contribute with an article!

Interested in writing an article for the SEB magazine?

Get in touch: b.danois@sebiology.org Deadline for copy: Issue: Spring 2024 Deadline: 1st June 2024 SEB Executive Team: SEB Main Office The Society for Experimental Biology County Main, A012/A013 Lancaster University, Bailrigg LA1 4YW, UK admin@sebiology.org Chief Executive Officer Pamela Mortimer (p.mortimer@sebiology.org) Events Manager Louise Tully (l.tully@sebiology.org) Events and Grants Assistant Keji Aofiyebi (k.aofiyebi@sebiology.org) Events officer Jennifer Symons (j.symons@sebiology.org) Membership Manager Jordy Turl (j.turl@sebiology.org) Office Administrator Julius Kelly (j.kelly@sebiology.org) Education, Outreach and Diversity Manager Dr Rebecca Ellerington (r.ellerington@sebiology.org) Education, Outreach and Diversity Ana Caroline Colombo (a.colombo@sebiology.org) Communications Manager Benjamin Danois (b.danois@sebiology.org) SEB Honorary Officers: President Tracey Lawson (tlawson@essex.ac.uk) Vice President Gudrun De Boeck (gudrun.deboeck@uantwerpen.be) Treasurer John Love (J.Love@exeter.ac.uk) Publications Officer Martin Parry (martin.parry@bbsrc.ac.uk) Plant Section Chair Stefan Kepinski (S.Kepinski@leeds.ac.uk) Cell Section Chair Ross Sozzani (ross_sozzani@ncsu.edu) Animal Section Chair Felix Mark (Felix.Christopher.Mark@awi.de) Outreach, Education and Diversity Trustee Sheila Amici-Dargan (anzsld@bristol.ac.uk) SEB Journal Editors: Journal of Experimental Botany John Lunn (Lunn@mpimp-golm.mpg.de) The Plant Journal Lee Sweetlove (lee.sweetlove@plants.ox.ac.uk) Plant Biotechnology Journal Henry Daniell (henry.daniell@ucf.edu) Conservation Physiology Steven Cooke (steven_cooke@carleton.ca) Plant Direct Ivan Baxter (ibaxter@danforthcenter.org) In association with ASPB Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or the Society for Experimental Biology.

The Society for Experimental Biology is a registered charity No. 273795

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NEWS & VIEWS

1 EDITORIAL (BEHAVORIAL)............ 06

PRESIDENT’S LETTER................. 07 SEB NEWS .......................... 08

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS ................ 10

FEATURES

SPOTLIGHT

OUTREACH EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

234 ANIMAL FEATURE: ANIMALS UNDER THREAT: HOW EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY BENEFITS CONSERVATION...... 14

CELL FEATURE: SAVE THE CELL, SAVE THE WORLD........ 18 PLANT FEATURE: NEW PLANT SCIENCE FOR BETTER HUMAN HEALT....................... 22

JOURNALS - CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY.. 28

A WORLDWIDE #SEBPARTY! ............. 42

JOURNALS - THE PLANT JOURNAL........ 29

THE JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY “CALL FOR PAPERS”.................. 45

JOURNALS - JXB..................... 30 IN CONVERSATION WITH FELIX MARK..... 32

IN CONVERSATION WITH ERIKA ELIASON.. 34 SPOTLIGHT ON ANA KIJANOVIC.......... 36 SPOTLIGHT ON TSU-WEI CHEN........... 38

ADVANCES IN ANIMAL WELFARE BY SEB MEMBERS BY BRITTNEY G. BOROWIEC..... 46 TRAVEL GRANTS AND SPONSORSHIP RESEARCH PROJECT ON BIODIVERSITY

BY ETHAN MITCHELL-INNES (TRAVEL GRANTS TO GO)............... 48

BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY | AUTUMN 2023

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NEWS & VIEWS

EDITORIAL (BEHAVORIAL)............ 06

PRESIDENT’S LETTER................. 07 SEB NEWS .......................... 08 MEMBERS IN THE NEWS ................ 10

BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY | AUTUMN 2023

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EXPLORING BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY: NURTURING THE ROOTS OF LIFE

BY BENJAMIN DANOIS

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s we mark the changing hues of autumn, the SEB Magazine delves into the captivating world of behavioural ecology. This edition aims to illuminate the intricate dance of interactions between organisms and their environments, exploring the fascinating dynamics that shape behaviours across the animal, cell and plant kingdoms.

FEATURES In the realm of animal behaviour, Alex Evans guides us through the compelling theme, ‘Animals under Threat: How Experimental Biology Benefits Conservation’. Unveiling the secrets of the animal kingdom, this feature sheds light on the critical role of experimental biology in conservation efforts.

From endangered species to delicate ecosystems, the insights gained from experimental studies contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.

Moving into the cellular domain, Alex continues the exploration with ‘Save the Cell, Save the World’. Delving into the microscopic world, this piece unravels the significance of cellular health in the grand tapestry of life. Highlighting the interconnectedness of cellular processes with broader ecological systems, it emphasises the pivotal role cells play in maintaining the delicate balance of our planet.

Caroline Woods takes the stage in the plantcentric feature, titled ‘New Plant Science for Better Human Health’. This segment examines the intricate relationships between plants and human wellbeing. From medicinal properties to nutritional benefits, the exploration of plant science opens a window to a healthier future, illustrating the profound impact of plants on human health.

OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND DIVERSITY: CELEBRATING VIBRANCY Our commitment to outreach, education and diversity is reflected in a vibrant array of articles: ‘A Worldwide #SEBparty!’ kicks off a celebration

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of the global SEB community, emphasising the diversity and unity within our society.

Amanda Cavanagh leads a PEPG workshop, offering valuable insights into professional development and growth.

Brittney G. Borowiec explores ‘Advances in Animal Welfare by SEB Members’, showcasing the Society’s collective efforts to improve the wellbeing of animals.

MEMBERS HIGHLIGHTS: SHINING STARS In this issue’s spotlight on our members, we proudly showcase the outstanding achievements of our community. Explore the remarkable work and contributions of our members, each a shining star in the SEB constellation.

SPOTLIGHT This edition’s ‘In Conversation With’ series features two distinguished individuals: Felix Mark, the Animal Section Chair, shares insights into the challenges and triumphs of leading the animal-focused endeavours within the SEB. Erika Eliason, Convenor of the Animal Ecophysiology Group, provides a window into the fascinating world of animal ecophysiology and the group’s impactful contributions.

Our spotlight turns to Ana Kijanovic and Tsu-Wei Chen, celebrating their unique perspectives and significant contributions to the field. Their stories enrich the diverse tapestry of the SEB community. .

SEB CELL SYMPOSIUM: PLANT EPIGENETICS Get ready for the SEB Cell Symposium on Plant Epigenetics 2024, taking place in Clermont-Ferrand, France, from 10 to 12 July. The event is organised

by the brilliant biologists from the Institute of Genetics, Reproduction & Development (iGReD): Olivier Mathieu, Margaux Olivier, Aline Probst and Christophe Tatout.

Mark your calendars and anticipate an intellectually stimulating experience as we delve into the intricate world of plant epigenetics.

Stay tuned for more information, including details on registration and abstract submissions, which will be revealed very soon.

SEB ANNUAL CONFERENCE PRAGUE 2024: A SNEAK PEEK Excitement is building as we look forward to the SEB Annual Conference in Prague, scheduled for the 2–5 July 2024.

Save the dates, and stay tuned for further details, including registration and abstract submission information, available this coming January.

Join us for an unforgettable exploration of the latest research, diverse perspectives and networking opportunities in the heart of Europe.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

PROFESSOR TRACY LAWSON PRESIDENT, SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY Welcome to the Autumn 2023 newsletter of the SEB in our Centenary Year.

T

This marks my inaugural letter as President, and provides an opportunity to reflect on our remarkable Centenary Annual Conference this summer in Edinburgh. This event was a huge success, ushering us back to a sense of normality after the disruptive pandemic that had taken its toll on our regular activities. The scientific sessions in Edinburgh were inspiring, and it was a pleasure to reunite with old friends and colleagues while forging connections with new scientists. The venue itself looked amazing, exuding a centenary grandeur that left a lasting impression. I extend my deepest gratitude to the dedicated SEB staff, whose unwavering hard work and tireless efforts made the celebration of 100 years of SEB possible. Their dedication extended far beyond the Annual Conference, encompassing all the other centenary events that unfolded throughout the year. In this letter, I would also like to express my profound appreciation to Jim Murray, our past president, who played a pivotal role in steering the SEB through the tumultuous waters of the COVID era. On a personal note, I am grateful for the wealth of knowledge and assistance that Jim generously shared as I assumed the role of President. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new vice-president Gudrun De Boeck, from the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Gudrun is a long-time member of the animal section and her research focuses on the effect of environmental factors on the performance of fish in both freshwater and marine environments. I look forward to working with Gudrun as we continue to grow the society and develop new strategies and initiatives in the coming years.

To wrap up an exciting and intense year of event and initiatives, the SEB will host a centenary dinner at the end of November 2023. This will be a unique opportunity to join us in celebrating a century of achievements, progress and the invaluable contributions of individuals who have played an integral role in shaping our history

over the past 100 years (www.sebiology.org/ centenary/centenary-dinner.html). Among the guests are former SEB presidents, current SEB staff, trustees and partners. To honour our founding year, this will be a 1920s-themed event, with a black, white and gold formal dress code to reflect our centenary logo. The dinner will consist of a drinks reception and formal sit-down meal.

There will be live music and a keepsake for members.

This final celebration will be held at Bush House, part of Kings College London, which holds a special place in the history of the SEB because it is where the first known photograph of the SEB was captured 100 years ago (see the website).

We look forward to recreating this image during the evening, generating a memorable connection to our past. The final celebration provides a unique opportunity to network with colleagues to reflect on our past 100 years as a society and to look forward to the next century of exciting innovation, discovery and collaboration. SEB members have the chance to enter a raffle for a free place at the dinner; please visit the website for details of how to enter (https://www.sebiology.org/centenary/ centenary-dinner.html).

As you will hopefully have seen, we have a number of activities still taking place over the next few months, including our Leaders of the Future webinar series that celebrates past SEB awardees and their research (https://www.sebiology.org/centenary/ leaders-of-the-future.html), showcasing their scientific discoveries and progression. They share their scientific journey, explaining how and why the SEB award influenced their career. This series is free to attend and open to the public, and consists of a 30-minute presentation followed by a Q&A session. In October we had our penultimate lectures with Marjorie Lundgren, for the plant section, and in December our final speaker will be Erika Eliason, representing the animal section. If you have missed any of these amazing sessions, they are available to watch on our YouTube channel with links from the website. In the last few months of the year we also have our final Careers and Coffee monthly events (https://www.sebiology.org/ centenary/careers-and-coffee.html), to broaden views of careers available in the field of experimental biology. The webinars are free and consist of a 20-minute talk from invited speakers, who discuss their career journey and provide an overview of different career opportunities within the sector, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

To round off the year, the SEB is providing a

“Successful Grant Writing” workshop to provide an introduction to the research grant funding process and the skills needed to write competitive research grant applications, which is also free to members (https://www.sebiology.org/events/emsevent-calendar/successful-grant-writing.html).

The event will be run over two sessions with morning and afternoon slits to accommodate time zones.

As we bid farewell to our centenary year, our gaze is firmly fixed on the horizon, brimming with anticipation for the future and the exciting events that lie ahead. The ongoing evolution of our exceptional society remains at the forefront of our collective vision. The SEB’s overarching themes—Animal, Plant and Cell—encompass the entire spectrum of biological exploration.

This diversity grants us a distinctive opportunity to pursue a holistic and fully integrated approach to biology, bridging the gap from laboratory research to field studies and from cellular investigations to the complexities of ecosystems. Plans are already in motion for our upcoming 2024 Annual Conference, set to take place in the enchanting city of Prague xxx=xx and the events team are already hard at work preparing for this event. Please put the dates in your diary and I look forward to seeing you there.

I would like to end by expressing my immense gratitude to our entire SEB team, whose tireless efforts behind the scenes ensure that our events run smoothly and are instrumental in upholding the excellence of our society.

Professor Tracey Lawson President, Society for Experimental Biology

BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY | AUTUMN 2023

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SEB NEWS

GOODBYE AND THANK YOU TO FORMER PRESEIDENT JIM MURRAY

She is also helping with the physiological analysis of transgenic plants.

WELCOME TO NEW VICE-PRESIDENT GUDRUN DE BOECK

The SEB says goodbye and a sincere thank you to former SEB President Jim Murray for his 2-year leadership. During his time as Society President, Jim led the Society through the highly successful 2022 Annual Conference in Montpellier, France, and chaired numerous Society meetings, including its Council and event planning meetings.

WELCOME TO NEW PRESIDENT TRACEY LAWSON

The SEB warmly welcomes incoming Society President, Tracy Lawson. Tracy is a Professor of Plant Biology and Director of the Plant Phenomics Lab at the University of Essex.

BY JULIUS KELLY 08

NEWS & VIEWS

Tracy is a plant physiologist specialising in photosynthesis, stomatal behaviour and plant water-use efficiency. She is an expert in infrared gas exchange analysis, chlorophyll fluorescence and plant imaging techniques. For the RIPE project, she is manipulating photosynthesis via Calvin cycle enzymes.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in applied biology at Liverpool John Moores University and went on to get her doctorate from the University of Dundee. Her work has been published in Plant Physiology, Journal of Experimental Biology and other publications.

The society welcomes its new Vice-President, Gudrun De Boeck. After studying Biology at the Universities of Hasselt and Leuven, Gudrun obtained a PhD in the Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology research group at the University of Antwerp in 1996. After a 10-year postdoctoral period, Gudrun became Assistant Professor at the Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research group and recently began heading the new ECOSPHERE research group. Gudrun’s research focuses on the effects of environmental factors on the performance of fish. Her studies are comparative in nature and include freshwater and marine teleosts and elasmobranchs.

WELCOME TO …

LOUISE TULLY

and where the next century may lead to. We thank our guest speakers Mathew Williams (Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, Scottish Government), Linda Lawton (Professor of Environmental Microbiology, Robert Gordon University) and Andrew Millar (Chair of Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh).

And further thanks go to Philippa Saunders from the Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, who Chaired the session, and Tracy Lawson, SEB President, who gave the welcoming speech and closing remarks.

The SEB are delighted to bring Louise Tully on to the society executive as the new events manager.

Louise joins the society with a wealth of experience spanning many years in events management and the team very much looks forward to working with her.

SEB CENTENARY CONFERENCE 2023 This year marked the centenary of the Society, and to celebrate this significant milestone, the largest ever SEB Annual Conference was held in Edinburgh, Scotland. The conference was a huge success, comprising many sessions and symposia.

The attendance was the highest to date at just over 1000 attendees, who enjoyed many social and academic events. The society particularly welcomed Plenary speakers Wendy Bickmore (University of Edinburgh), Elizabeth Brainerd (Brown University) and Lisa Ainsworth (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign).

The Society congratulates the President’s medallists’ Cosima Porteus (University of Toronto Scarborough), Yangnan Gu (University of California Berkeley) and Yasin Dagdas (Gregor Mendel Institute).

Sincere thanks go to the special guest speaker, Sir Paul Nurse (Francis Crick Institute, London), as well as all our in-person and virtual attendees, exhibitors and sponsors, of the conference and other numerous events.

Alongside the Annual Conference, the Society also held an exciting evening of lectures and networking at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Celebrating the centenary, the evening brought together prominent biologists to discuss the progress made in experimental biology research over the past century

The Annual Conference closed with a highly successful special lunch celebrating diversity in the scientific community. This sit-down meal featured a special talk from guest speaker Shane Austin (The University of the West Indies), who presented the work of the SEB Awards Nomination Task Force. This task force aims to identify and recognise deserving members of the experimental biology community who may have been overlooked for awards.

SEB CENTENARY DINNER – NOVEMBER 23RD 2023, BUSH HOUSE, KINGS COLLEGE LONDON, UK On the 23rd of November, the Society for Experimental Biology hosted a dazzling Centenary Dinner, commemorating a century of pioneering contributions to the field. The event brought together esteemed members in a celebration of scientific achievement.

Capturing the essence of the evening, a series of photographs immortalized candid moments, laughter among colleagues, and heartfelt expressions during the acknowledgment of achievements.

We invite you to have a look at the picture by following this link: https://www.sebiology.org/resource/a-night-ofcelebration-the-society-for-experimental-biologys-centenary-dinner.html

The lunch closed with another keynote speaker.

Mark Blaxter, Programme Lead for the Tree of Life Programme at the Sanger Institute, gave a fascinating talk about their aspirations to sequence all life on Earth, transforming our understanding of the natural world.

Those who attended the entire conference had the opportunity to enter the Survivors Raffle. The raffle took place as the finale to the Diversity Lunch.

Prizes included free registration to next year’s conference for a whole lab, free training packages, vouchers and gifts from sponsors and supporters.

Sincere thanks to both Shane Austin and Mark Blaxter.

COB TRAVEL GRANT OPENS FOR APPLICATIONS The Society is pleased to announce that the next round of travel grants from The Company of Biologists is open for application. Full details of the CoB grant application process can be found here: https://www.sebiology.org/grants/apply-for-funding. html

GET READY For the SEB Annual Conference 2024 in Prague (2nd to 5th July) The society very much look forward to welcoming members and non-members from across the world to Prague, Czech Republic, in 2024.

COMING TO THE END... ...of our centenary year you can read some of the history of SEB: https://www.sebiology.org/centenary.html.

NEWS & VIEWS

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MEMBER NEWS EDITED BY BENJAMIN DANOIS 10

NEWS & VIEWS

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In each issue of the member magazine, we like to highlight some of the fantastic achievements and research from our members. Here are some of the people we would like to congratulate this time around.

ULRIKE BAUER (UNIVERSITY OF EXETER, UNITED KINGDOM)

Congratulations to Daniel Moreira for his fantastic intitiative.

In 2023, Daniel and some other SEB members, established a Redox Biology Group, uniting approximately 100 researchers at various career stages, from undergraduates to senior investigators, representing institutions in 23 countries.

This diverse and internationally collaborative group has successfully organized six presentations, overcoming the challenges of coordinating across 18 time zones, including researchers from Alaska, Europe, and New Zealand.

The SEB would like to congratulate Ulrike for her new position as a proleptic Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter after three consecutive Research Fellowships.

We are looking forward to an exciting future for her with the EXETER Mechanical Ecology Lab!

DANIEL MOREIRA (UNIVERSIDADE DE BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL)

The presentations cover a range of topics, including molecular and metabolic responses to elevated temperatures in mussels and land snails, stress response in the New Zealand Greenshell mussel, field surveys and experimental approaches in marine invertebrates, oxidative stress in amphibians due to interspecific hybridization, preparation for oxidative stress in frogs from the Brazilian SemiArid Region during estivation, and the development of a biomarker for cold shock in the yellow perch.

While unconventional in nature, this Redox Biology Group signifies a significant step forward in fostering global collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field, transcending traditional achievements like publications or awards.

EPIPLANT || SOCIETY SOCIETY FOR BIOLOGY EPIPLANT FOREXPERIMENTAL EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY Joint conference JointBIOLOGY conference EPIPLANT | SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL Joint conference

Plant Plant Plant Epigenetics Epigenetics Epigenetics 10-12 July 2024 | Clermont-Ferrand, France 10-12 France 10-12July July2024 2024||Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France Organizers

Speakers

Olivier Mathieu Organizers Organizers iGReD, FR

Rebecca Bart Speakers Speakers Danfort Plant Science Center, US

Sebastian Marquardt

Olivier Mathieu Olivier Mathieu Margaux Olivier iGReD, FR

Rebecca Bart Rebecca Bart Myriam Calonje Danfort Plant Science Center, US

Sebastian Marquardt Sebastian Marquardt Leandro Quadrana Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, DK

Klaus Grasser Myriam Calonje IBVF-CSIC, ES

Myriam Calonje

Leandro Quadrana Robert J. Schmitz Leandro Quadrana IPS2, FR

Klaus Grasser

IBVF-CSIC, Danfort PlantES Science Center, US

iGReD, iGReD, FR FR

Margaux Olivier

Aline V. Probst Margaux iGReD, FROlivier

Universität Regensburg, DE IBVF-CSIC, ES

iGReD, iGReD, FR FR

Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, DK IPS2, FR Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, DK University IPS2, FRof Georgia, US

Christophe Aline V.FRProbstTatout iGReD,

Jose Gutierrez-Marcos Klaus Universität Grasser Regensburg, DE

Robert J. Schmitz Keith Slotkin Robert J. Schmitz University of Georgia, US

Christophe Tatout

Jose Gutierrez-Marcos Jake Harris University of Warwick, GB

Keith Slotkin Sayuri Tsukahara Danfort Plant Science Center, US

Jake Harris Ian Henderson University of Cambridge, GB

Sayuri Tsukahara Yijing Zhang National Institute of Genetics, JP

University of Cambridge, GB

Ian Henderson Yannick Jacob University of Cambridge, GB

National Institute of Genetics, JP Yijing Zhang Daniel Zilberman Fudan University, CN

University Cambridge, GB Yannickof Jacob

Fudan University, CN Daniel Zilberman

Aline V. Probst

University of Warwick, GB

iGReD, FR

Universität Regensburg, DE

iGReD, FR

iGReD, FR Tatout Christophe Registration

Jose Gutierrez-Marcos University of Cambridge, GB

iGReD, FR

Registration & abstract submission Registration

deadline Registration Registration & abstract submission 15 May 2024 deadline & abstract submission Registration 15 May 2024 deadline Students/Postdocs ........ 200 EUR

University of Warwick, GB

Jake Harris University of Cambridge, GB Yale University, US Ian Henderson

Claudia Köhler Yale University, US

15 May 2024 ........................ 250 EUR Academic

MPI-MP, DE Jacob Yannick

Academic ........................

250EUR EUR Students/Postdocs ........ 200

MPI-MP, DE

Students/Postdocs ........ 200 EUR

Yale University, US Claudia Köhler

Claudia Köhler MPI-MP, DE

Academic ........................ 250www.webpageToRegister.com EUR

Danfort Plant Science Center, US

University of Georgia, US

Keith Slotkin National Institute of Genetics, JP

Danfort Plant Science Center, US

Sayuri Tsukahara Fudan University, CN

Institute of Science and Technology, AT Yijing Zhang

Additional speakers chosen AT Institute of Science and Technology, from abstracts Daniel Zilberman

Institute ofspeakers Science and Technology, AT Additional chosen from abstracts

Additional speakers chosen from abstracts

www.webpageToRegister.com

www.webpageToRegister.com

+ sponsors' logos + sponsors'

FEATURES

ANIMAL FEATURE: ANIMALS UNDER THREAT: HOW EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY BENEFITS CONSERVATION...... 14 CELL FEATURE: SAVE THE CELL, SAVE THE WORLD........ 18 PLANT FEATURE: NEW PLANT SCIENCE FOR BETTER HUMAN HEALT....................... 22

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FEATURES

FEATURES

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ANIMALS UNDER THREAT:

HOW EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY BENEFITS CONSERVATION

BY ALEX EVANS The world’s wildlife is in crisis. Species extinction rates are now at least 100 times higher than the naturally expected rate,1 and this is overwhelmingly due to our carbon emissions driving climate change, our habitual destruction of habitats and our overexploitation of animals for food and resources. As the root cause of these problems, it is our responsibility to help vulnerable species as much as we can and as fast as we can. Let’s hear from some researchers that are using exciting experimental biology techniques to identify possible paths to new conservation solutions.

Top: A flat oyster in an ocean acidification experiment chamber Photo credit: Emilien Pousse Bottom: Luca Pettinau catching an adult brown trout in the Enonkoski facility Photo credit: Katja Anttila 14

FEATURES

THE WORLD IS OUR OYSTER (FOR NOW) As well as rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events, another potentially calamitous consequence of climate change is ocean acidification. Emilien Pousse, an ecophysiologist for IFREMER at the Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Environnement Marin (LEMAR) in Brest, France, is investigating what ocean acidification may mean for flat oysters (Ostrea edulis), and how we can identify when things start going from bad to worse. ‘Before this project, I was on another project investigating the energetic costs of ocean acidification on three different bivalve species at three different pH levels,’ explains Emilien.

‘This was a bit frustrating for me, as we could see that respiration and feeding looked to be decreasing with decreasing pH, but I was never able to accurately find the tipping points—where did the physiology of the animals actually start changing?’

When Emilien first started working at LEMAR, he got the idea for an experiment where instead of three different pH levels, he would investigate 12 levels to get more precise measurements of the feeding and respiration rate tipping points. ‘We did that for both fed and unfed conditions, to see how food availability would affect these tipping points,’ he says. ‘This was also useful as calibration

THERE IS AN AMAZING EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE SCIENTISTS AND THE PUBLIC! for an energetic model to allow us to project the growth of an individual.’ With Emilien’s 12-point ocean acidification scale, he was able to identify a much clearer relationship between ocean pH and the oyster’s physiology. ‘This is really important, because the pH in our oceans has already started to decrease, so now for every tiny change in pH, there is an effect on the energy budget of the oysters,’ he says.

For his experiments, Emilien uses ecophysiological apparatus that allow him to measure the respiration and feeding rates of the oysters in controlled laboratory conditions. ‘By looking at the difference in oxygen consumption and fluorescence between a chamber with an oyster and a chamber without oysters, we were able to calculate how much energy the oysters were using and how much they were filtering the water,’ he explains.

Emilien and his team found that while some physiological factors were very closely linked to acidification, others were not. ‘Interestingly, we saw that feeding decreased linearly with decreasing pH but that the maintenance cost of respiration wasn’t seemingly affected by pH,’ he says. ‘As soon as there is a lower pH, the oysters start getting less energy from the algae they feed on.’ Perhaps even more surprisingly, they found significant differences between the oysters’ nutritional status. ‘For the unfed oysters, the respiration rate remained flat with pH, but fed oysters did show a tipping point and dropped in a similar manner to the assimilation efficiency. My hypothesis is that digestion activity is compromised below pH 6.85, and so are the energy costs associated with assimilation, which induces this drop in respiration rate.’

Emilien hopes that these findings can help to inform our understanding of the threats that oysters are facing and how we can best predict their chances of survival under a changing climate.

‘I’m working on building dynamic energy models that attempt to describe all of the energetic flux inside an individual and the energetic responses to their environment, so all of our data can be easily incorporated into the model,’ he explains.

‘We will then be able to predict their growth and reproduction under different scenarios and in

different places around the planet or following any climate change projections.’

While this may be the story for flat oysters, other species may react differently to ocean acidification— as has been suggested by one of Emilien’s colleagues.

‘Comparatively, flat oysters are less affected by ocean acidification than Japanese oysters (Crassostrea gigas),’ he says. ‘On the surface, they appear to be more resilient but, interestingly, the Japanese oysters are actually showing more adaptative responses to these environmental challenges.’

All of this is just one half of Emilien’s project at LEMAR, the other half has a much more educational and outreach focus. ‘Firstly, this is an oyster restoration project, but secondly, we also want to show the public what a scientist’s working day looks like,’ he says. ‘In our lab, half of the space is for the researchers but the other half is for the public to come and see the scientists in action–there is an amazing exchange between the scientists and the public!’

CAN HEALTHY HEARTS BEAT THE HEAT?

tool for salmonids,’ explains Luca. ‘However, hatchery fish have difficulties coping with natural conditions and experience low survival in the wild.

One reason for this could be that usual rearing conditions do not allow adult fish to display their normal swimming behaviour, which negatively affects their cardiorespiratory physiology.’

This issue is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, which is increasing the severity and frequency of marine heatwaves, compromising the physiological limits of fish and other aquatic animals. ‘As summers become hotter, fish mass mortalities are becoming more frequent, so there is an important need to understand the physiological ability of fish to cope with high temperatures and to provide solutions to increase their resilience to heatwaves,’ adds Luca.

Previous studies have suggested that temperature tolerance of fish is strongly related to cardiac function, so in his research, Luca studied brown trout at the Natural Resources Institute Finland’s aquaculture facilities in Enonkoski, and trained the fish in rearing tanks, which were modified for exercise training purposes. More specifically, Luca studied the mechanisms that allow the fish heart to adjust its function to cope with warming water.

The research showed that fish need a strong and athletic heart to be able to flexibly respond to warming water. ‘However, hatchery-reared fish are usually kept in low water flow and they get their food without any effort. Thus, they are the fish world’s couch potatoes,’ Luca says. ‘In my thesis, I studied if swimming training can strengthen the heart so that the tolerance of fish to increased temperatures is also improved.’ In a previous study with rainbow trout, it was found that by training fish with several swimming exercise programmes for 5 weeks, only the mild training intensity enhanced heart performance and heart thermal tolerance.

We all know that exercise is good for us, but it turns out it could also be a key ingredient in a restocking programme to sustain vulnerable salmonid populations. Luca Pettinau, during his PhD at the University of Turku, examined whether heart performance during thermal stress in hatchery-reared fish can be enhanced with swimming exercises.

From this research, Luca and his colleagues have found that regular swimming exercises with moderate intensity improves the cardiac performance of fish, as well as their ability to tolerate higher temperatures.2 In particular, it increased the cardiac thermal tolerance of adult fish and, surprisingly, also improved the growth and survival of their offspring. ‘Rearing fish in hatcheries for stocking is a common conservation FEATURES

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Luva also investigated how maternal exercise training in brown trout can have cascading effects on the offspring. He found that exercise training not only enhances the heart physiology of the trained adult brown trout but also improves their reproductive success and offspring’s survival and growth.

‘So, these exercised individuals were having more offspring than the non-exercised fish. More eggs means potentially more fish, and in the context of restocking, this means more successful breeding for conservation!’ he says.

‘Taken together, my results suggest that by increasing the water flow in the rearing tanks, we can improve heart physiology and reproduction, as well as the growth rate of the next generation,’ concludes Luca.

‘With the upcoming increase in water temperatures, these findings have important implications for the sectors where fish are bred in captivity—aquaculture and conservation programmes—providing a valid practice to enhance the resilience of fish to global warming.’

stress physiology of sharks as well as chronic stress biomarkers, both of which are currently lacking,’ says Shamil Debaere, a PhD student at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, and James Cook University, Australia, and lead PhD student of the Physioshark3 project on Mo’orea, French Polynesia.

‘The ultimate goal of my research is to find reliable biomarkers for stress that can be applied in the wild to identify which elasmobranch species are more vulnerable to human and environmental stressors,’ he says.

SEARCHING FOR SIGNS OF STRESS While often portrayed as dangers to humanity, sharks have been subjected to direct and indirect harm from humans for countless years, reducing some species to a fraction of their former abundance.

Those that survive may be inadequately prepared to face new human or environmental stressors.

‘In order to inform and refine future conservation efforts, we need a profound knowledge of the

THESE MAY BE A RELIABLE, NONINVASIVE WAY TO ASSESS PROLONGED STRESS IN WILD SHARK POPULATIONS

‘Sharks and their relatives are one of the most successful groups of marine vertebrates, but in recent years the oceans have fallen victim to the footprint of human activities, and sharks and their relatives are now being exposed to human-driven changes at a rapid pace,’ he says. ‘This is what particularly intrigues me and what first got me interested in researching the stress physiology of sharks; how will these ancient fishes cope with the increasing impacts of human disturbance?’

Additionally, recent research4 has discovered that sharks have some of the lowest mutation rates of all vertebrates, so while shark populations can rebound from disruptions relatively quickly, their genetic diversity may take much longer to recover, leaving them vulnerable to future threats.

Interestingly, shark stress physiology is rather unique, even in comparison to other fishes, which makes existing methods of stress analysis almost redundant. ‘Commonly applied indicators of chronic stress in tetrapods and teleost fishes are glucocorticoids, plasma glucose and lactate, lipid and fatty acid concentrations, and haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration,’ explains Shamil.

‘But the unusual energy metabolism of sharks precludes the use of these conventional vertebrate stress biomarkers.’ This is backed up by the results of Shamil’s experiments, which showed no changes in glucose, haematocrit or haemoglobin in sharks experiencing chronic stress—but their metabolomic investigations have identified several alternative compounds that were upregulated with chronic stress, which hold the potential to become useful biomarkers.

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THESE FINDINGS HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SECTORS WHERE FISH ARE BRED IN CAPTIVITY

Above Weighing a young blacktip reef shark Photo credit: Shamil Debaere Left Measuring a young blacktip reef shark Photo credit: Shamil Debaere Opposite Page Baojun and colleague Teng Li taking a short break in the field work in spring 2023 after collecting lizards Photo credit: Baojun Sun

Similarly, Shamil and his team noticed behavioural changes when sharks were exposed to environmental stress, as well as physiological ones. ‘The baby blacktip reef sharks I work with also appear to change their behaviour during prolonged stress,’ explains Shamil. ‘They lose their appetite and don’t feed as often as the other non-stressed sharks, which also translates into lower growth rates, and they become less active and less responsive to additional stressors.’ To put these findings into a real-world context, Shamil is now looking at how these responses may differ in a semi-wild environment compared to the laboratory to better inform conservation efforts.

As well as looking outwards, Shamil is also keen to look inwards at how chronic stress may affect the energy balance of sharks through their gene expression. ‘Together with Alexandra Schoen, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Winnipeg, I am collecting small muscle and liver biopsies of the baby blacktip reef sharks to investigate the expression of glucose transporters, monocarboxylate transporters and glucocorticoid receptors,’ he explains. ‘This may lead to a suite of possible biomarkers to be added to the physiological toolbox for shark conservation and inform on their role in stress tolerance.’

In order to best refine conservation efforts, Shamil and his team are working to improve our understanding of stress physiology in sharks and the biomarkers that scientists use to identify which species or populations are the most vulnerable to human impact and environmental change. ‘I am a big fan of the conservation physiology toolbox,’5 says Shamil. ‘With my PhD research I want to keep adding new tools to the physiological toolbox for shark conservation but also broaden the scope of the physiological toolbox.’ As well as physiological tools, Shamil and his team are interested in the role of behaviour as an indicator of stress.

‘These may be a reliable, noninvasive way to assess prolonged stress in wild shark populations,’ he says. ‘Behavioural biomarkers will allow in situ measurements of the stress response in addition to laboratory-based experiments and we will be able to take these measurements using minimally invasive techniques.’

Shamil would like to acknowledge that this research is partly being conducted on the land of the Mā’ohi people on Mo’orea, French Polynesia.

COLD-BLOODED IN A HOT WORLD Climate change is a phenomenon associated with a number of worrying environmental shifts, but perhaps none more so than the rising global temperature and the increased frequency of extreme

In order to monitor embryonic tolerance of heat, Baojun and his team simultaneously measured heart rate and embryonic temperature using an integrated digital heart-rate monitor and a thermocouple. Building on their findings, Baojun was able to create a model that incorporated projected nest temperatures to evaluate the effects of heat stress on embryos under future climate change scenarios and predict the future geographic distribution of lizards while factoring in embryonic heat tolerance.

heat events such as heatwaves. These factors can have disastrous consequences for the survival and reproduction of adult wild animals, but what do they mean for animals still in development? And how can we use that knowledge to help protect those animals from the threat of extinction? Thankfully, Baojun Sun, a conservation physiologist from the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China, is on a mission to find the answers to these important questions.

‘Since my time as a PhD student, my research interests have been the behavioural and physiological responses of lizards to climate change,’ he says.

‘In 2018, a series of papers by Ofir Levy and Michael Angellitta sparked my interest in embryonic heat tolerance. They found that the embryonic heat tolerance of lizards was lower than that of adults and these works led me to consider questions about the latitudinal patterns and developmental plasticity of embryonic heat tolerance in lizards.’

Among terrestrial vertebrates, amphibians and reptiles stand out as particularly vulnerable to climate change, which plays a big role in the direction of Baojun’s research. ‘I believe our first step should be identifying the areas that are most vulnerable and prioritising the protection of species’ habitats within these regions,’ he says. ‘This is what I am currently trying to do in China, with a specific focus on reptiles, particularly lizards.’

In 2021, Baojun published a study showing that embryonic heat tolerance in Takydromus lizards was not equal across geographic latitudes.6 ‘We observed that the embryos from high latitudes exhibited higher heat tolerance than their counterparts from low latitudes,’ he explains. ‘This research contributed significantly to our understanding of the variability of embryonic heat tolerance in reptiles and its developmental plasticity against incubation temperatures.’

‘Contrary to the conventional belief that tropical species should exhibit higher heat tolerance, we discovered that embryonic heat tolerance increased towards higher latitudes,’ he says. ‘This surprising finding suggests that reptile embryos from low tropical latitudes may be more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.’ Baojun also found that sudden bursts of heat had a greater impact than a gradual rise in environmental temperature.

‘Our study reveals that tolerance to elevated mean temperatures remains fairly consistent across latitudes,’ he explains. ‘However, tolerance to extreme heat waves primarily determines the possibilities of embryonic survival.’

The current trajectory of Baojun’s research is investigating the biochemical and genetic mechanisms that underpin this latitudinal variation in heat tolerance. ‘A significant breakthrough has been the recognition that the oxygen capacity of embryos plays a crucial role in determining embryonic heat tolerance,’ he explains. ‘Furthermore, our investigations have identified certain mutated genes across latitudinal populations that are closely associated with oxygen capacity.’

Reference: 1. P imm SL, Jenkins CN, Abell R, Brooks, et al. The biodiversity of species and their rates of extinction, distribution, and protection. Science 2014; 344: 1246752.

2. Pettinau L, Seppänen E, Sikanen A, et al. Aerobic exercise training with optimal intensity increases cardiac thermal tolerance in juvenile rainbow trout. Front Mar Sci 2022; 9: 912720.

3. PhysioShark. https://physioshark.org/ 4. Sendell-Price AT, Tulenko FJ, Pettersson M, et al. Low mutation rate in epaulette sharks is consistent with a slow rate of evolution in sharks. Nat Commun 2023; 14: 6628.

5. M adliger CL, Love OP, Hultine KR, et al. The conservation physiology toolbox: status and opportunities. Conserv Physiol 2018; 6: coy029.

6. S un BJ, Ma L, Wang Y, et al. Latitudinal embryonic thermal tolerance and plasticity shape the vulnerability of oviparous species to climate change. Ecological Monographs 2021; 91: e01468.

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SAVE THE CELL, SAVE THE WORLD

BY ALEX EVANS Climate change, overexploitation and a range of other perennial threats create a complex landscape of hazards for today’s vulnerable species. Whilst these are largescale problems, many of our most useful tools lie in better understanding the genetic and subcellular processes that play major roles in determining how species will resist or adapt to these growing concerns. We caught up with a few researchers working on small-scale solutions to global conservation challenges.

Opposite Page Gudrun with piranha Photo credit: Gudrun De Boeck 18

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CAN WHEAT TAKE THE HEAT? Conservation is a term often associated in the public eye with protecting wild animals and plants, but there are also many cultivated species that are under threat—with potentially disastrous consequences for humankind. One such cultivated species, bread wheat, provides around 20% of the food energy and protein for the entire world’s population, as well as being used widely in animal feed.1 Liam Barratt, a PhD student at the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) at the University of York, is researching stress tolerance in bread wheat at the genetic level to help us better understand how microscopic genetic changes can have macroscopic impacts on global crop productivity and survival.

‘Protecting key crops, such as bread wheat, against the damaging effects of the changing climate, such as increased temperatures, will be crucial if world societies are to remain fed,’ says Liam. ‘The scale and global importance of this issue is something I found captivating straight away!’

Sadly, this crop conservation scenario isn’t just hypothetical; it’s already happening. ‘As a cool season crop, wheat generally grows best at temperatures of around 20°C, so increased global temperatures and increasingly prevalent periods of extreme temperatures will cause damage to the plant— reducing growth and yield.’ Through research like Liam’s, there are hopes to ensure that novel genetic varieties of wheat are more prepared to deal with environmental challenges and maintain food security around the world. ‘My research represents the early stages of an exploratory examination of the bread wheat transcriptome, under both control conditions and periods of heat stress,’ he explains. ‘This includes identifying genes that likely act as regulators of both inherent tolerance to heat stress and the response to increasing temperatures.’ Liam hopes that these genes can not only be used as priority targets in breeding strategies to create new thermotolerant varieties, but also deepen our understanding of how these processes are coordinated.

‘So far, using this approach, we have been able to identify candidate regulators of inherent thermotolerance2 and of the response to early drought stress,3 as well as of the response to early heat stress,’ says Liam. ‘It’s been great to identify these candidate regulators, which has opened lots of doors for further exploration to better understand how these processes are regulated.’

Liam’s research is still underway, and while the initial published results are promising, he teases that there is plenty more in store: ‘There have been a few particularly exciting and unexpected findings; however, you will have to keep your eyes peeled for new papers coming out of the Harper group to find out more!’

By taking advantage of RNA-sequencing technologies, Liam is trying to better understand the transcriptomic landscape of different wheat varieties, before and after their exposure to heat stress. ‘With these data, I employ various comparative transcriptomic approaches to identify which genes, from which functional groups or families, are being differentially expressed in response to the change in temperature,’ he explains.

‘I then marry these results with those of a coexpression network analysis to identify genes that may be acting to regulate this expression response in large groups of genes particularly associated with the physiological heat stress response.’

Ecotoxicology is a fundamentally integrative field, comprising a complex network of interacting processes that starts at the subcellular level but potentially impacts the very survival of entire ecosystems. The cascading nature of environmental contaminants in the food chain makes them an important area of research for conservation scientists working to protect vulnerable species.

One such scientist is Gudrun De Boeck, a Professor of Animal Physiology and leader of the ECOSPHERE research group at the University of Antwerp, Belgium,4 and Vice-President of the Society for Experimental Biology. ‘We aim to study both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that are continuously challenged by natural and anthropogenic stressors,’ she explains. ‘ECOSPHERE’s research focuses on acquiring fundamental and applied knowledge at different levels of structural and functional organisation in order to underpin environmental management decisions.’

Liam’s research group uses a previously produced panel of over 340 genetically and phenotypically distinct wheat varieties, which has allowed him to identify candidate genes for thermotolerance. ‘Because these varieties have adapted to grow in various different regions around the world, they are suited to very different environmental conditions and show a wide range of physiological and transcriptomic responses to heat stress exposure,’ says Liam. ‘Crucially, varieties containing unique patterns of gene expression that may aid the physiological heat-stress response could be used to directly implant such patterns into highyielding elite wheat varieties, and subsequently improve their tolerance to heat stress.’

HOW TO AVOID A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP

We’ve already seen the impacts that irresponsible biomolecule pollution can have in the context of conservation. For example, the use of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) as a synthetic agricultural insecticide resulted in widespread environmental contamination that affected many species but had disastrous effects on apex predators. ‘It is a good example to demonstrate a few of the principles of ecotoxicology,’ she says.

‘Besides bioaccumulation, which is the increasing concentrations of a persistent pollutant in an organism over time, it also shows biomagnification, which is the increasing concentration building up through the food chain, and why the top predatory birds were most affected.’

WE ARE ON A QUEST TO FIND A RELIABLE BIOMARKER

into decline. ‘It is becoming clear that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), also known as forever chemicals, have entered the environment worldwide with devastating consequences,’ says Gudrun. ‘Sadly, the list of examples is almost endless.’

By looking at the possible consequences of harmful chemicals early on, Gudrun and her team hope to avoid or reduce the cascading effects these pollutants can have in the environment.

‘This is where biomarkers come into the picture,’ says Gudrun. ‘A biomarker is a naturally occurring molecule, gene or characteristic by which a particular pathological or physiological process (disease) can be identified’. Because new chemicals are synthesised continuously, it is crucial to understand how they act at the molecular and cellular levels to extrapolate the large-scale and long-term effects in wild organisms.

‘During my postdoctoral time, I spent many years finding out why rainbow trout are more sensitive to copper pollution than common carp, which are, in turn, more sensitive than crucian carp and goldfish,’ says Gudrun. ‘After many years of partial explanations, the best predictor of sensitivity appeared to be at the subcellular level, where the crucian carp were so much better at storing the accumulated copper in the biologically inactive compartment (in granules or bound to detoxifying proteins), while it remained in the biologically active compartment in the rainbow trout cells.

I believe in the usefulness of developing the adverse outcome pathways, trying to find unifying cellular events and their consequences at a larger scale.’

One of Gudrun’s special areas of interest is sharks, a group containing some of the world’s most threatened fish species, which is surprising given their survival since before the time of the dinosaurs.

‘Yet, these robust looking animals seemed incredibly

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sensitive to silver pollution and accumulate it much faster than any other metal—but there is no good biomarker for chronic stress in these ancient fish,’ says Gudrun. ‘So, we are on a quest to find a reliable biomarker that can tell us whether an environment is stressful for these animals or not so that we can support conservation efforts and aid management decisions.’

THE LONG AND SHORT OF TELOMERES Practical organismal-level conservation has a very important role in protecting wildlife under threat, but for some vulnerable species, these efforts may become irrelevant if these species’ expected lifespans and responses to stress are largely predetermined by their chromosomes, or even just the tips. Telomeres are long stretches of noncoding DNA at the ends of chromosomes that protect chromosomal DNA from degrading, but these stetches shorten throughout life owing to cell division or as a result of stress. ‘Short telomeres are bad news,’ explains Anne Peters, Head of the Bird Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology research group at Monash University, Australia. ‘Cells with short telomeres die due to apoptosis, and at an organismal level we then begin to see the signs of aging and ultimately death.’

Short telomeres generally cannot simply be elongated, because ill-controlled telomere extension results in cell immortality, also known as cancer, so shorter telomeres are associated with shorter lifespans and higher risks of mortality. ‘At a species level, if many individuals are more stressed, they live less long and extinction risk could increase,’ says Anne. ‘This means that measuring telomere length could tell us about extinction risk before the population starts declining, which could be particularly relevant for long-lived species.’ Anne’s research is based on long-term observations

INFERENCES FROM GENOMIC DATA ARE FAR REACHING WHEN IT COMES TO INFORMING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS

of a population of purple-crowned fairywrens, where they can track life-history and fitness traits.

‘We are very fortunate that purple-crowned fairywrens are quite easy to follow throughout life because they mostly stay put,’ says Anne. However, this is just one half of the puzzle. ‘Measuring telomeres is not super easy,’ she says. ‘Luckily, my postdoc, Justin Eastwood, is a lab whizz, and he optimised and validated the assay very nicely.’

For tiny birds, purple-crowned fairywrens can routinely live surprising long lives (10+ years).

Amazingly, Anne’s team found that telomere length in nestlings only 7 days old was able to predict lifespan, but this was not the case for telomere length later in life.5 ‘Clearly, early life is really important, which is a bit of a worry, because nestlings and growing young animals in general are very vulnerable to all kinds of perturbances and adversity,’ says Anne. ‘We have known for a long time that adversity in early life can affect individual function and fitness for life, even if there are no immediate obvious . Shorter telomeres might be the mechanism underlying this observation.’

Practically speaking, is it possible for bird populations to adapt longer telomere lengths? Anne believes so, but it will take more time and research to fully understand how. ‘Our analysis did show that if telomere length were able to evolve, which we modelled by including heritability in the model, all would be well,’6 she explains. ‘However, we do not know if telomeres are able to evolve in the simple way that we modelled so far.’ Clearly, the work in this field of research is far from over, so Anne and her team plan to further investigate the relationship between telomere length and the in-nest heat-stress responses of nestlings and the heritability of telomere lengths, all with the goal of deepening our understanding of the roles that cell science can play in conservation.

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MEASURING TELOMERE LENGTH COULD TELL US ABOUT EXTINCTION RISK BEFORE THE POPULATION STARTS DECLINING’

Above Adult purple-crested fairywren Photo credit: Laurent Lermusiaux Left Purple-crested fairywren chicks Photo credit: Niki Teunissen

Reference:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST Many aspects of the world are rapidly changing, but one thing that remains the same is the importance of genetic diversity in a species—even after that species has long gone extinct. David Díez del Molino, a researcher at the Department of Zoology of Stockholm University and Group Leader at the Centre for Palaeogenetics, is bridging what we can learn from the ancient DNA of past populations to modern day problems of conservation through the wonder of palaeogenomics.

David began working on paleogenetics during his first postdoctoral position, using DNA from ancient humans to investigate the origins of farming. More recently, he has been using palaeogenomics to investigate the genomics of small populations in extinct species and comparing them to contemporary endangered species at risk of extinction. ‘The fact that we can use genomic information from extinct species data from different points in time to predict extinction risk in engendered species today is so exciting that I have been working on that topic for the last 8 years, and will probably keep investigating it for years to come,’ says David.

High genetic diversity is crucial for the ability of a population or species to adapt to changing environments, but genetic diversity can be reduced by two main processes, genetic drift and inbreeding, which have been increasingly driven by human activity for the past 200 years. ‘We pioneered the idea that we could use genomic data from historical specimens, collected before the species was threatened and typically preserved in natural history museum collections, and use their levels of genetic diversity as the baseline to compare with the levels of diversity in modern-day endangered populations,’ says David. Specifically, David and his team want to assess how much genetic diversity has been reduced by population decline and inbreeding, and how many damaging mutations have accumulated. ‘In the last few years, we have done this kind of study in several endangered species, including mountain gorillas, Sumatran rhinoceros7 and the kakapo,’ he adds.

these sequences have changed during the decline of the studied species.

THE NATURE OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN GENETIC DIVERSITY AND EXTINCTION IS NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD YET

‘The story seems more complicated than anticipated for the accumulation of damaging mutations in small populations, because we were expecting that most species with low diversity and high inbreeding would also have high levels of damaging mutations,’ he says. ‘However, we are finding that in many of these species the modern, smaller populations actually have fewer damaging mutations than the historical, larger populations, therefore showing some sort of “genetic load purging”‘. While this is a known phenomenon, from David’s results and the results of others, it seems a more prevalent phenomenon than previously predicted.

In terms of practical applications for conservation, this information can provide invaluable insights for decision-makers. ‘Inferences from genomic data are far reaching when it comes to informing relevant management decisions,’ says David. ‘They can help select the individuals with less damaging mutations for ex situ breeding programmes, select individuals with high genetic diversity or low inbreeding for translocations to other populations, detect levels of differentiation in the past between subpopulations and make decisions on whether to mix populations to increase genetic diversity levels.’

While this research has provided some fascinating insights into past and present species extinctions, we may just be scratching the surface of the true relationship between them. ‘The nature of the correlation between genetic diversity and extinction is not fully understood yet,’ says David. ‘We now know that some species, such as the cheetahs, have survived for thousands of years with small population sizes and very low genetic diversity, so we definitely need more research on this topic!’

1. Hawkesford MJ, Araus JL, Park R, et al. Prospects of doubling global wheat yields. Food Energy Secur 2013; 2: 34–48.

2. Barratt LJ, He Z, Fellgett A, et al. Co‐expression network analysis of diverse wheat landraces reveals markers of early thermotolerance and a candidate master regulator of thermotolerance genes.

Plant J 2023; 115: 614–626.

3. B arratt LJ, Reynolds IJ, Ortega SF, et al.

Transcriptomic and co-expression network analyses on diverse wheat landraces identifies candidate master regulators of the response to early drought.

Front Plant Sci 2023; 14: 1212559.

4. E COSPHERE website www.uantwerpen.be/ en/research-groups/ ecosphere 5. S heldon EL, Eastwood JR, Teunissen N, et al.

Telomere dynamics in the first year of life, but not later in life, predict lifespan in a wild bird. Mol Ecol 2022; 31: 6008–6017.

6. Eastwood JR, Hall ML, Teunissen N, et al. Earlylife telomere length predicts lifespan and lifetime reproductive success in a wild bird. Mol Ecol 2019; 28: 1127–1137.

7. von Seth J, Dussex N, Díez del Molino D, et al.

Genomic insights into the conservation status of the world’s last remaining Sumatran rhinoceros populations. Nat Commun 2021; 12: 2393.

David uses state-of-the-art palaeogenomic methods to crack the code of modern extinction risks using preserved organism specimens. ‘This typically includes sampling using Dremel beads to extract powder from the bone of a specimen and using chemical protocols to extract the DNA from that powder,’ says David. ‘We then build genomic libraries, attaching genetic barcodes to each DNA sequence so the sequencer can recognise and sequence them.’ After sequencing the DNA, they then use computational methods to assess the levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding and gene-damaging mutations in each sample. From this, they can make conclusions on when, how and how much FEATURES

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NEW PLANT SCIENCE FOR BETTER HUMAN HEALTH

BY CAROLINE WOOD

Plants have played a fundamental role in our approaches to treating and preventing diseases since ancient times. Although the world of modern medicine now seems a million miles away from the earliest herbal remedies, new research advances are enabling us to use plants in ever-more innovative ways to promote human health. Caroline Wood checks out recent examples from the SEB’s journals.

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PLANTS AS VACCINE FACTORIES As a result of a tremendous, ongoing research efforts, we now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening infections, saving between 3.5 and 5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles. In many cases, however, the efficacy and affordability of vaccines needs to be improved if we are to reduce the global burden of these further.

For instance, more than 800,000 people die every year due to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, despite a vaccine being available. One of the key reasons is that between 5 and 15% of adults do not respond effectively to standard vaccines based on the HBV small envelope protein due to older age, obesity, smoking and other chronic illnesses.

‘In 2016, the World Health Organization issued a call to eliminate viral hepatitis as a global public health problem. But this will require us to be able to produce more immunogenic and costeffective hepatitis antigens,’ says Norica Nichita, Deputy Director of the Institute of Biochemistry, Romania. To help address this, Norica and her group have designed novel ‘chimeric’ antigens that combine the small and large HBV envelope proteins and show enhanced immunogenicity in

mice.1 However, upscaling production of these novel antigens using mammalian cells would have been prohibitively expensive. Owing to a partnership with the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy (NIBIO) and the ‘Cantacuzino’ National Institute of Medico-Military Research and Development in Romania, a plant-based production system could be tested instead (the SmartVac/EEA project).2,3 ‘Plants have unique properties that make them ideal for safe and cost-effective production of antigens at a large scale,’ says Jihong Liu Clarke (NIBIO), whose group has been researching plantmade vaccines for human and animal health for nearly two decades.4 ‘For instance, large amounts of biomass can be produced at very low cost and, unlike other antigen production systems, such as mammalian cells or bacteria, plants do not contain human or animal pathogens or bacterial toxins that could contaminate the final product.’

Jihong’s group chose tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) for their expression system because of its high potential for genetic transformation, and because it lacks the stringent regulatory requirements associated with food crops.

‘Furthermore, we have developed a well-established in-house production platform which includes a vacuum infiltration-based transient expression system,’ says Jihong. ‘This enables us to restrict the accumulation of the HBV antigens to the leaves, while sparing the reproductive tissues.’

But plants are not perfect as protein factories.

In particular, plant-specific enzymes may add sugars such as xylose and fucose to glycoproteins, causing them to become potential human allergens.

Furthermore, the SmartVac project consortium partners have demonstrated that the addition of these sugars to the HBV antigen can moderate the host immune response, diverting it from relevant targets.

To overcome this, Jihong’s group used a CRISPR/ CAS9 gene-edited tobacco line (FX-KO),5 provided

by Julia Jansing (RWTH Aachen University), which lacks the enzymes β-1,2-xylosyltransferase and α-1,3-fucosyltransferase. ‘These gene-edited tobacco plants contain a partially “humanised” N-glycosylation pathway, genetically modified to enable processing of the oligosaccharides attached to secretory proteins in a “human-like” fashion,’ says Jihong.

The HBV antigens produced by this line not only lacked xylose and fucose sugar residues, they also prompted a significantly greater immune response in vaccinated mice when compared to the same antigen produced in wild-type plants. Moreover, these antigens triggered antibodies with superior virus-neutralising capacity against both wild-type HBV and a clinically relevant mutant virus that does not respond to the current HBV vaccine.6 ‘We were somewhat surprised that an apparently minor change of the carbohydrates attached to the proteins was able to improve their immunogenicity to such a significant extent’ says Norica. ‘This underpins the importance of N-glycans as mediators of the antigen interaction with receptors on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, the first step towards activating the immune response.’

A VERSATILE SYSTEM

PLANTS HAVE UNIQUE PROPERTIES THAT MAKE THEM IDEAL FOR SAFE AND COST-EFFICIENT PRODUCTION OF ANTIGENS AT A LARGE SCALE

Since then, this glyco-engineering strategy has been successfully applied by other laboratories to produce human monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.7 ‘Using FX-KO tobacco, we expressed a novel monoclonal antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 virus with human-like glycans that demonstrates strong neutralising activity,’ says Qiang Chen (Arizona State University). Unlike most other SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, Qiang’s novel antibody binds to an atypical target site on the viral spike protein, far away from the binding site for the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

‘This unique binding site gave us the additional surprising result that this antibody is resistant to most of the SARS-CoV-2 escape mutants, meaning it neutralises a broad spectrum of variants of concern,’ Qiang adds. ‘We are now developing this work to engineer an antibody with unique and homogenous glycosylation to provide an additional mechanism of fighting SARS-CoV-2 infection on top of neutralisation.

Our preliminary data indicate that this antibody is much more effective than mammalian-cellmade counterparts in killing SARS-CoV-2 via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.’

Meanwhile, Norica and her colleagues are currently investigating a vaccine candidate derived from another major human pathogen, the hepatitis C virus, for which no vaccine is yet available.

‘This is a highly glycosylated protein and therefore an excellent model to verify our glyco-engineering approach for improving the immunogenic properties of plant-expressed vaccine candidates. We also aim to test these novel vaccines in improved animal models, such as mice with a “humanised” immune response, i.e. immunodeficient mice transplanted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from humans,’ says Norica.

Above Transformed Nicotiana benthamiana leaf biomass expressing viral antigens in the process of purification.

Photo credit: Dr. Catalin Lazar/ Mihaela-Olivia Dobrica, Institute of Biochemistry Bucharest.v Left Nicotiana benthamiana plants prepared for genetic transformation.

Photo credit: Dr. Jihong Liu-Clarke, NIBIO, Ås, Norway.

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a topical, easy-to-use delivery system that could be applied anywhere. Enzyme-expressing lettuces were engineered to produce green fluorescent protein (GFP) so that protein stability could be monitored over time. The lettuces were freeze-dried, ground to powder and incorporated into chewing gum pellets using a compression process. Based on quantifying GFP levels, there was no detectable protein loss in the gum tablets even after being stored for 3 years at room temperature.

BUSTING BIOFILMS FOR BETTER ORAL HEALTH Besides immunological agents, plants could also provide ideal factories to produce beneficial enzymes—including those that support oral health.

‘Tooth decay is a major public health problem that affects 2 billion people worldwide, including 514 million children,’8 says Henry Daniell, from the School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA. ‘This problem disproportionately affects impoverished populations, because current approaches for oral health are unaffordable to them. The world urgently needs a low-cost and accessible preventive solution, and we have shown that plants can provide the answer.’

Tooth decay occurs when microbes accumulate on the surface of the tooth and form a sticky plaque.

This converts free sugars contained in foods and drinks into acids that attack the tooth over time.

Preventing tooth decay therefore requires this plaque to be removed before this damage can happen.

Inspired by the idea of plants as factories for therapeutic proteins, Henry proposed a solution based on chewing gum tablets supplemented with antibiofilm enzymes. ‘This solution would not only be low cost but also facilitate easy, topical delivery within the home,’ he says. ‘But first we had to address the challenge of eradicating the highly structurally and functionally complex biofilm.’

Microbiological studies have revealed that dental plaque is a virulent, mixed-kingdom system comprising a diverse mixture of bacteria, yeast cells and fungi enmeshed in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). ‘Given this complexity, we thought it highly unlikely that a single therapeutic agent would be effective,’ explains Henry. ‘Because glucans and lipids are major EPS components, we hypothesised that a synergistic enzymatic combination targeting these could lead to effective biofilm disruption.’

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To investigate this, Henry and his colleagues independently expressed lipase (which breaks down lipids), dextranase and mutanase (which breaks down glucans) in the chloroplasts of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), using a gene gun delivery method.9 The crude plant extracts containing enzymes were then tested on a plaque biofilm model made of saliva-coated hydroxyapatite discs inoculated with the bacterium Streptococcus mutans and the fungus Candida albicans. After one day, the biofilm models were assessed using high-resolution confocal microscopy.

This revealed that both lipase and the combination of dextranase and mutanase effectively degraded the EPS, decreased the bacterial volume and reduced the total biofilm volume. Lipase additionally caused a remarkable reduction in the fungal load by eliminating hyphal formation.

But the combination of all three enzymes was far more powerful still, indicating synergistic activities.

‘The combination of glucanohydrolases and lipase displayed enhanced antimicrobial activity against both species in the biofilms, whereas no significant killing was observed with either glucanohydrolase or lipase alone,’ says Henry. ‘Potentially, dextranase and mutanase can locally expose the embedded fungal and bacterial cells within the treated biofilm, which could provide access for lipase to the cell surfaces, causing microbial death.’

‘This method eliminates the prohibitively expensive technologies currently used to produce purified proteins for drugs, including fermentation, purification and cold chain transportation,’ he adds. ‘And yet, the combination of plant-derived enzymes was as effective, if not more so, at biofilm disruption than purified commercial enzymes.’

TURNING PLANT EXTRACTS INTO CHEWING GUM PELLETS The team then tested the feasibility of adding these plant-derived enzymes into chewing gum to enable

To investigate how the chewing gum would perform in real life, the team then tested the tablets using a universal mechanical testing machine to simulate human chewing. The tablets were placed in 10 mL of artificial saliva within a loading chamber, which was repeatedly compressed. Over 10 minutes, GFP concentration steadily increased in the artificial saliva, indicating a sustained release throughout the ‘chewing’ process.

As a follow up, the Daniell laboratory developed chewing gum with an enzyme (ACE2) produced in lettuce to trap coronavirus in the oral cavity to prevent self-infection and transmission. After being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the product is currently being evaluated in human clinical trials in COVID-19 patients.10,11 ‘Altogether, this study provides a singular conceptual approach to address a major technical and societal challenge—an affordable and effective way to treat dental biofilms and improve oral hygiene at home, helping to combat the societal issue of inequity to access dental care services,’ Henry concludes.

BOOSTING BIOFORTIFICATION Malnutrition affects billions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of death, particularly for those living on cereal-based diets that have low levels of essential micronutrients, such as zinc and iron. Finding ways to increase the bioavailability of these in food crops is therefore a key public health priority.

Take zinc, for instance. ‘It is estimated that nearly half of the world’s population suffers from zinc deficiency, which can hinder physical development, impair the immune system and brain function, and even cause death,’ says Jian Feng Ma, of the Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University.

‘Zinc deficiency is particularly prevalent among the 3.5 billion people whose diet is predominantly based on rice. Although calorie-dense, rice is a poor source of zinc not only because zinc levels are low in the grain but also because rice contains high amounts of phytic acid, which inhibits zinc uptake. Therefore, boosting zinc density and decreasing phytic acid accumulation in rice grains

‘Zinc is accumulated in the nodes at a very high concentration in rice. Therefore, using zinc deposited in the nodes presents a new approach for boosting its accumulation in the grain without a yield loss penalty,’ Jing Feng adds. ‘To be able to do this, more transporters need to be characterised and key genes need to be identified and pyramided using transgenic or backcross strategies. Although each essential micronutrient uses different transporters, similar approaches may be applied to other elements.’

METABOLIC ENGINEERING

could achieve a significant public health impact.’

But this can’t simply be solved by overexpressing zinc transporter genes, as Jian Feng explains. ‘Plants have developed strict regulation mechanisms for zinc homeostasis, because excess zinc causes toxicity through binding to inappropriate intracellular ligands and competing with other metal ions for enzyme active sites or transporters. Unfortunately, there is a mismatch in rice grains between the optimal level of zinc that the plants require to grow and the optimal level that humans need to consume.’

With Sheng Huang and Naoki Yamaji at Okayama University, Jian Feng has evaluated whether an alternative approach could be to manipulate the zinc transport system to enhance accumulation and bioavailability in rice grains.12 ‘Even this would be challenging, because the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of zinc transporters in rice are still poorly understood,’ says Jian Feng.

‘For instance, some studies have found that overexpressing an individual zinc transporter can even result in reduced accumulation in the grain.’

‘However, one promising approach may be to knock out node-specific zinc-related transporters, such as vacuolar mugineic acid transporter (OsVMT).

This has been demonstrated to result in a significant increase in zinc in the polished rice grains, without causing a yield penalty.’13 Potentially, this could be combined with approaches that reduce levels of phytic acid, which binds to zinc and inhibits its uptake in the gut. ‘It has been reported that phytic acid accounts for about 65–80% of the total phosphorus in rice grains,’ says Jing Feng. ‘In one study, decreasing the distribution of phosphorus to the grains by knocking out a gene coding for a plasma membrane-localised inorganic phosphorus transporter (SULTR-like phosphorus distribution transporter (OsSPDT)) resulted in a 20–30% decrease in phytic acid.14 Even though the level of zinc in the grains only increased slightly, this would be much more bioavailable for human consumption.’

Another approach to boost biofortification in crops could be ‘metabolic engineering’: targeting and tweaking the rate-limiting steps in biosynthesis and catabolism. The production of the essential amino acid lysine, for instance, is catalysed by key enzymes (aspartate kinase (AK) and dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS)) that are both extremely sensitive to feedback inhibition by lysine itself.

However, as demonstrated by a recent study published in Plant Biotechnology Journal,15 this limitation can be overcome with only small modifications. Here, the cDNAs encoding AK and DHDPS in rice were cloned and point mutations introduced to cause single amino acid substitutions.

When transformed into rice, levels of free lysine in the mature seeds were elevated up to 6-fold (for modified AK) and 21-fold (for modified DHDPS) compared with wild-type rice.

Taking this further, the researchers developed transgenic plants simultaneously expressing modified AK2 and DHDPS1, and RNA interference molecules to silence the LKR/SDH gene which promotes lysine catabolism. In these plants, levels of free lysine were up to 58-fold increased over wild-type rice. Furthermore, the transgenic lines exhibited normal plant growth, development and seed appearance.

References: 1. P antazica A-M, Dobrica M-O, Lazar C, et al. Efficient cellular and humoral immune response and production of virusneutralizing antibodies by the hepatitis B virus S/preS116-42 antigen. Front Immunol 2022; 13: 941243.

2. E A Grants (2014–2021) – Next Generation Viral Hepatitis B and C Vaccine Development in Plants and Algae Using Advanced Biotechnological Tools. www.smartvac.ro/ 3. N IBIO. SmartVac – Next Generation Viral Hepatitis B and C Vaccine Development in Plants and Algae Using Advanced Biotechnological Tools. www.nibio.no/en/projects/ smartvac-next-generation-viral-hepatitis-b-and-c-vaccinedevelopment-in-plants-and-algae-using-advancedbiotechnological-tools 4. S u H, van Eerde A, Rimstad E, et al. Plant-made vaccines against viral diseases in humans and farm animals. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14: 1170815.

5. J ansing J, Sack M, Augustine SM, et al. CRISPR/Cas9mediated knockout of six glycosyltransferase genes in Nicotiana benthamiana for the production of recombinant proteins lacking β-1,2-xylose and core α-1,3-fucose. Plant Biotechnol J 2019; 17: 350–361.

6. P antazica A-M, van Eerde A, Dobrica M-O, et al. The “humanized” N-glycosylation pathway in CRISPR/Cas9edited Nicotiana benthamiana significantly enhances the immunogenicity of a S/preS1 hepatitis B virus antigen and the virus-neutralizing antibody response in vaccinated mice.

Plant Biotechnol J 2023; 21: 1176–1190.

7. Jugler C, Sun H, Nguyen K, et al. A novel plant-made monoclonal antibody enhances the synergetic potency of an antibody cocktail against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

Plant Biotechnol J 2023; 21: 549–559.

8. World Health Organization. Oral Health. WHO Newsroom. 14 March 2023. www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ oral-health 9. Singh R, Ren Z, Shi Y, et al. Affordable oral health care: dental biofilm disruption using chloroplast made enzymes with chewing gum delivery. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19: 2113–2125.

10. D aniell H, Nair SK, Esmaeili N, et al. Debulking SARS-CoV-2 in saliva using angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in chewing gum to decrease oral virus transmission and infection. Mol Ther 2022; 30: 1966–1978.

11. D aniell H, Nair SK, Guan H, et al. Debulking different corona (SARS-CoV-2 delta, omicron, OC43) and influenza (H1N1, H3N2) virus strains by plant viral trap proteins in chewing gums to decrease infection and transmission. Biomaterials 2022; 288: 121671.

12. H uang S, Yamaji N, Ma JF. Zinc transport in rice: how to balance optimal plant requirements and human nutrition. J Exp Bot 2022; 73: 1800–1808.

13. C he J, Yokosho K, Yamaji N, et al. A vacuolar phytosiderophore transporter alters iron and zinc accumulation in polished rice grains. Plant Physiol 2019; 181: 276–288.

14. Y amaji N, Yakemoto Y, Myiaji T, et al. Reducing phosphorus accumulation in rice grains with an impaired transporter in the node. Nature 2017; 541: 92–95.

15. Y ang Q-Q, Yu W-H, Wu H-Y, et al. Lysine biofortification in rice by modulating feedback inhibition of aspartate kinase and dihydrodipicolinate synthase. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19: 490–501.

Above Red fluorescent protein expression in lettuce, 7 days post agro-infiltration, demonstrating the efficiency of plant-expression systems.

Photo credit: Dr Hang Su, NIBIO 2022.

Opposite Page Top Applying plant-made protein therapeutics to improve oral health. Engineered lettuce producing anti-plaque enzymes are grown in a contained environment where the leaves are harvested, dehydrated in lyophilizer, and ground into plant powder. This powder is then incorporated into chewing gums for topical drug delivery.

Photo credit: Dr Rahul Singh.

Opposite Page Bottom Effect of plant-manufactured lipase on the fungus fungi (Candida albicans), a component of dental plaque.

Photo credit: Dr Rahul Singh.

FEATURES

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JOURNALS - CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY.. 28

JOURNALS - THE PLANT JOURNAL........ 29 JOURNALS - JXB..................... 30 IN CONVERSATION WITH FELIX MARK..... 32

IN CONVERSATION WITH ERIKA ELIASON.. 34 SPOTLIGHT ON ANA KIJANOVIC.......... 36 SPOTLIGHT ON TSU-WEI CHEN........... 38

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ALL ABOUT THAT BASS (PERFORMANCE) IN FRESHWATER PROTECTED AREA Conservation Physiology By Kim Birnie-Gauvin Department of Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Silkeborg 8600, Denmark Zolderdo AJ, Abrams AEI, Lawrence MJ, Reid CH, Suski CD, Gilmour KM, Cooke SJ. Freshwater protected areas can preserve high-performance phenotypes in populations of a popular sportfish.

Conservation Physiology 2023; 11(1): coad004. https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coad004

ecreational fishing is a popular sport and leisure activity, estimated to represent approximately 12% of the global fish harvest. Given this, it is perhaps no surprise that concern for fisheries-induced evolution—a phenomenon resulting in intense selection pressure on specific phenotypes—has risen. In the case of recreational fishing, the choice of fishing gear or strategy can select for fish of a specific size, behaviour or sex.

Continuing to remove these specific individuals from the population results in fisheries-induced evolution by leaving behind a population without these phenotypes. Studying this phenomenon in the wild has, however, proven challenging.

You have probably heard of marine protected areas, but did you know that freshwater protected areas also exist? These no-fishing areas provide the perfect location in which to investigate questions related to fisheries-induced evolution in the wild, a task undertaken by Zolderdo et al. to evaluate how metabolism, stress responsiveness and angling vulnerability in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) differs between populations within freshwater protected areas and those outside.

One of the measures they examined was that of aerobic scope. This measure refers to the difference between standard metabolic rate, the cost of ‘just surviving’, and maximum metabolic rate, the maximum oxygen consumption.

R

It gives us an estimate of how much available scope a fish has to perform activities beyond just surviving (i.e. beyond extracting oxygen from the water and pumping blood to vital organs), like migrating, foraging and mating.

Largemouth bass from within the freshwater protected areas showed significantly higher aerobic scope and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) rates compared to individuals from main-lake areas.

Specifically, the aerobic scope capacity of bass in protected areas was 13% higher, and CPUE rates were 1.5 to 2.5 times higher, suggesting that fish had higher aerobic performance and were less vulnerable to angling. The lower aerobic scope in main-lake areas might suggest that fishing exploitation is reducing metabolic performance, supporting the idea that recreational fishing may be altering the metabolic phenotype of wild fishes.

Reduced aerobic scope is problematic because it could mean that the fish have reduced scope for performing essential activities like reproducing or guarding nests (bass exhibit parental care). It could also mean that the individuals outside of the protected areas have less scope for responding to environmental change. This, in turn, could have some serious fitness consequences.

Despite these somewhat concerning findings, Zolderdo et al. also demonstrated that unexploited freshwater protected areas can be used as benchmarks to study how recreational fishing could be having an impact on the evolutionary dynamics of wild fish, opening an interesting avenue for future research elsewhere. Perhaps these findings will also inspire some anglers to minimise gear and tactic selectivity.

NOT JUST THE BAD GUYS: AMYLOIDS FACILITATE GERMINATION AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE

The Plant Journal By Gwendolyn Kirschner

Sinha N, Zahra T, Gahane AY, Rout B, Bhattacharya A, Basu S, Chakrabati A, Thakur AK. Protein reservoirs of seeds are amyloid composites employed differentially for germination and seedling emergence. The Plant Journal 2023; 116(2): 329–346. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.16429

Amyloids are protein aggregates with a highly ordered structure and unique chemical and physical properties. The name ‘amyloid’, which means starchlike, was given because iodine stains the deposits blue, as for starch granules. Amyloids are infamous for their ability to cause incurable diseases called amyloidoses in humans and animals, in which misfolded proteins build up in tissues and disrupt normal functions.

Seed proteins in plants are stored in protein bodies similar to the amyloid-containing protein bodies of other organisms, and they have a high glutamine content— do they have amyloid characteristics?

O

ne of the bottlenecks prevalent for decades in detecting amyloids in plants had been the presence of high β-glucan content, which binds to the gold standard Congo red dye used for detecting proteinaceous amyloids in animals. Although in silico and in vitro studies on amyloid formation by plant proteins have been reported, comprehensive and specific in situ and in vivo characterisation and their functional significance remain elusive.

Sinha et al. therefore set out to characterise the amyloid nature of seed storage protein bodies (SSPBs) in different cereals and legumes. They used multiple amyloid-specific probes and biophysical characterisations to solve the long-standing problem of endogenous amyloid detection and their function in the plant kingdom.

First, they used probes that detect amyloid structures in wheat, barley, chickpea and mungbean seed sections. They detected signals from the probes mostly in the SSPBs of the protein matrix in aleurone cells in wheat and barley, and in the SSPBs of cotyledons in mungbean and chickpea (Figure 1A, B). The presence of Congo red-stained amyloids interspersed among amyloid-like and native protein structures indicates the composite nature of seed storage proteins (Figure 1C). Predicted aggregation-prone regions in globulins and albumins, the prevalent storage proteins of cereals and dicots, were found mostly in β-barrel motifs, suggesting that the barrels could be stacked to form amyloid or amyloid-like structures.

The authors isolated SSPBs as well as the albumin and globulin fractions from SSPBs, then analysed them by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to differentiate between the secondary structures of the proteins and their aggregates.

Albumin fractions showed predominant helical structures, while the globulin fractions showed a predominant β-sheet structure. The SSPBs showed structural features characteristic of globulin, but also exhibited intersheet interactions, reflecting amyloid structures. This suggests that isolated seed storage proteins in their soluble form show native states and do not show any amyloid-specific signatures, and only attain an amyloid composite state in the SSPBs. Seed storage proteins are known to participate in germination by undergoing degradation to form amino acids or peptides, thus providing nutrition to the growing embryo. But which role do the amyloid composites play during germination? To investigate this, the authors germinated seeds and analysed the amyloids and amyloid-like structures over time.

In wheat, they detected amyloids and amyloid-like structures til 48 h after imbibition and in mungbean up to 72 h after imbibition, suggesting that wheat

has a shorter time course for degradation. Treating seeds and protoplasts from wheat aleurone and mungbean cotyledons with gibberellic acid (GA), abscisic acid (ABA) and protease inhibitor suggested that GA increased protease synthesis or activation during germination, leading to degradation of globulin amyloid composites, which could be countered by ABA-induced protease inhibition (Figure 1D). Amyloid degradation could then provide the peptides and amino acids necessary for biochemical reactions and de novo enzyme synthesis during germination. Further, the in vitro sustained degradation assay showed that the SSPBs underwent slower release as compared to the soluble isolated proteins. Together, the functional assays confirmed a sustained degradation role of the amyloid composites, regulated by plant hormones and proteases.

Figure 1: Amyloid and amyloid-like structures in mungbean seeds. A) The protein-specific dye acid fuchsin stains the seed storage protein bodies (SSPBs) (black dashed box) of cotyledon cells in mungbean. B) Thioflavin-T stains the SSPBs (white box) in mungbean seed sections. C) Congo red staining shows amyloid-specific green-tored birefringence in mungbean seed sections; box shows magnification. D) Proposed model of amyloid degradation during germination in response to gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Figure modified from Sinha et al., 2023.

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PLANTS GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS Journal of Experimental Botany By Mareike Jezek Da Silva Alencar CL, Nogueira A, Vicente RE, Cotta Coutinho ÍA. Plant species with larger extrafloral nectaries produce better quality nectar when needed and interact with the best ant partners.

Journal of Experimental Botany 2023; 74: 4613–4627. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erad160

A

The way to an ant’s heart is through its stomach, and latest research by da Silva Alencar et al. (2023) presented in the Journal of Experimental Botany shows how some plant species make use of the insect’s big appetite and exquisite taste.

nts are renowned for their productivity and efficiency. Their untiring work efforts are motivated by solidarity and for the greater good of the ant community. Colonies can comprise many thousand individuals that commit their lives to the wellbeing of the collective. Key success factors for the survival of the society are strategic cooperation, sophisticated communication and division of labour. Worker ants specialise in specific tasks such as nest maintenance, care for offspring or procurement of food. A day in the life of a foraging ant is exclusively devoted to finding food and transporting it back to the colony. Zealous and determined to fulfil its duty, the little insect runs vast distances and hauls heavy loads many times its own bodyweight. Plant nectar rich in sugars is the ideal energy source to fuel this active lifestyle, and some plant species have evolved specialised secretory glands, called extrafloral nectaries, where the small ant can quench not only its own thirst but also that of its colony because it stores the sugary water in two stomachs—one for its own metabolism and one for its nest mates. Back at the colony, the worker will engage in trophallaxis with its mates, the social mouth-to-mouth exchange of nourishing fluids. Plants welcome their little visitors because ants get extremely hangry when interrupted during their sweet feast and attack uninvited herbivorous visitors that feed on plant

Illustration from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 1790 (v3, plate 107) of the plant known then as Cassia chamaecrista

Figure 1: The extrafloral nectaries of Chamaecrista species studied by da Silva Alencar et al. (2023) differ in size and morphology with C. duckeana (A, B) having the largest secretory area and nectar volume, while the nectaries of C. calycioides (C, D) and C. diphylla (E) are smaller.

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tissue. Da Silva Alencar et al. (2023) studied the intimate ant–plant relationship in Chamaecrista species that grow in the tropical forests of northern Brazil. Just like their better-known relative partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), they grow extrafloral nectaries, and the team compared three species whose nectaries differ in size and morphology (figure 1). It was found that production of nectar and its sugar concentration increased after herbivory-simulating leaf damage and this effect was most potent in plants with large nectaries.

These plants were consequently visited more frequently by ant workers and became the preferred food source for dominant ant species, making the plants better protected against predators.

The inducible nature of this indirect plant defence is a mechanism to minimise the costs under nonstress conditions while maximising the benefits in times of stress. However, this strategy is less advantageous for plants with small nectaries, whose nectar productivity changed little under simulated herbivory. The work by da Silva Alencar et al. (2023) helps to elucidate the variation in defensive traits found between closely related plant species and the role ants play in their evolution. ‘Better provide the food than be the food’ is the name of the game for some species and they rely more heavily on a little help from their creepy-crawly friends in exchange for a sweet reward.

HOTEL PRAGUE SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY PRESENTS: SEB PRAGUE 2024 SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY PRESENTS: SEBIOLOGY .ORG 2–5 JULY 2024 #SEBCONFERENCE SEB PRAGUE 2024 SEB PRAGUE 2024 CLARION CONGRESS 2–52–5 JULY 2024 JULY 2024 HOTEL PRAGUE CLARION CONGRESS CLARION CONGRESS HOTEL PRAGUE SEBIOLOGY .ORG HOTEL PRAGUE #SEBCONFERENCE SEBIOLOGY .ORG SEBIOLOGY .ORG #SEBCONFERENCE #SEBCONFERENCE SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY PRESENTS:

SSERGNOC NOIRALC EUGARP LETOH GRO.YGOLOIBES ECNEREFNOCBES#

PRAGUE 2024 4202 EUGARP PRAGUE 2024 PRAGUE PRAGUE2024 2024

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS • ENGAGE WITH OVER 800 SCIENTISTS WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY COMMUNITY STHGILHGIH ECNEREFNOC • PARALLEL SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS COVERING ANIMAL, CELL YTINUMPLANT MOC YGAND OLOI B LATBIOLOGY NEMIREPXE EHT NIHTIW STSITNEICS 008 REVO HTIW EGAGNE • • OPPORTUNITIES TO NETWORK WITH COLLEAGUES AND BUILD YGOLOIEXTRAORDINARY B LLEC DNA TNALCONNECTIONS P ,LAMINA GNIREVOC SNOISSES CIFITNEICS LELLARAP • • EDUCATION SESSIONS SNOITCENNOC YRANIDROARTXE DLIUB DNA SEUGAELLOC HTIW KROWTEN OT SEITINUTROPPO • • CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS SNOISSES NOITACUDE • • FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND GRANTS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS SREHCR AESER GNUOY ROF SPOHSKROW TNEMPOLEVED REERAC • • DISCOUNTED FEES FOR SEB • ENGAGE WITH OVERREGISTRATION 800 SCIENTISTS WITHIN EXPERIMENTAL STHE REMEMBERS HC RAESER REERABIOLOGY C YLRAE DCOMMUNITY NA STNEDUTS OT ELBALIAVA STNARG DNA TROPPUS LAICNANIF • • PARALLEL SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS COVERING ANIMAL, PLANT AND CELL BIOLOGY CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS SREBMEM BES ROF SEEF NOITARTSIGER DETNUOCSID • • OPPORTUNITIES TOOVER NETWORK WITH COLLEAGUES EXTRAORDINARY CONNECTIONS ENGAGE WITHWITH OVER 800 SCIENTISTS WITHIN THEAND EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY COMMUNITY • ENGAGE 800 SCIENTISTS WITHIN THEBUILD EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY COMMUNITY • EDUCATION SESSIONS PARALLEL SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS COVERING ANIMAL, PLANT AND CELL BIOLOGY • PARALLEL SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS COVERING ANIMAL, PLANT AND CELL BIOLOGY

ALEX EVANS, IN CONVERSATION WITH...

FELIX MARK

‘The SEB is like a family community and after a while, I was ready to give something back,’ says Felix Mark, Chair of the SEB’s Animal Section and ecophysiologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven, Germany, who is working towards a deeper integrated understanding of how polar marine organisms have adapted to a life in cold water.

Below Felix Mark Photo credit: GEOMAR Kiel

How did you first become interested in marine biology?

I started to study biology at the University of Munster, which is in the middle of Germany and nowhere near the ocean, but after the first 2 years, I started looking into studying marine biology. Unlike the UK, where there are lots of marine institutes and beautiful coastline, we have a much smaller amount. During this time, I visited the Alfred Wegener Institute and they said that when I had finished my studies, that I could possibly do my final year thesis there. After looking around other universities, I got to know Nick Owens, who gave a fantastic talk at the University of Rostock. After chatting with Nick, he invited me to the UK to do some real marine biology studies. So, then I spent a year in Newcastle studying marine biology with Nick before returning to Munster to finish my studies, and then I did complete my final year thesis at the Alfred Wegner Institute. I had remained in contact with them and they invited me on an expedition to the White Sea at a Russian field station—that really got me hooked! I loved the internationalism they had at the Alfred Wegner Institute, it was very different to the universities I had been to.

You’re especially interested in researching polar marine science, why is that?

I became fascinated in polar marine science after hearing a couple of talks by Nick Owen during my time at the Newcastle University. He had just returned from a trip to Antarctica with the British Antarctic Survey and gave a talk that amazed all the students, and that sparked a little flame that made me want to pursue this direction. And I’ve never regretted it, I still find it fascinating to go to remote places and I’ve just returned from diving in Svalbard, Norway, in the Artic Ocean. There is still a lot of adventure, even in a grown-up scientist’s world.

Are there other places that you’ve enjoyed adventuring?

It all started with the expedition to that research field station in the White Sea. It was very, very basic—we slept in wooden huts and every Thursday we had a break from research to work for the

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station, and at the end of the day, people would light a fire to heat up the sauna, and that was the only day of the week that we had warm water.

We had to bring everything with us, from basic electricity and food to all the lab equipment and consumables. That was quite a big revelation for me! I also sometimes do cruises with a small research vessel called the RV Heincke to catch fish from Svalbard and bring them back to the Institute for research. For ecophysiology, we often need controlled lab conditions, which can be difficult in the field. So, when possible, we bring organisms back to our institution.

I’d love to hear how you catch and transport all these live fish almost 10,000 miles back to your labs in Germany!

First of all, we have to catch them. If you use a large trawler, you may kill or injure a lot of fish that won’t survive the journey, so we have a few methods that we learned from the Norwegians.

We bring up the fish in a specific box that keeps the fish immersed in water, even when the box is pulled up on deck, and this has a huge effect on keeping them healthy. We’ve invested quite a lot of money and intellect into developing an aquarium container that can be cooled and hold a large number of separate aquarium tanks and that we can transport by ship. We first did this on the RV Polarstern and we were able to bring about 400 fish back to Bremerhaven, which takes around 6 weeks. As long as they are kept cold and their water is recirculated, then it works quite well—unless you hit a storm. You wouldn’t believe it, but fish get horribly seasick. Normally, if there’s a lot of turbulence near the surface, fish swim deeper away from the movement, but they can’t do this in the aquarium tanks and so they have to deal with it.

What have been some of your proudest moments as a researcher?

I was very proud of my first paper; it was a good one and I think it’s still a good one. Additionally, I went to my first SEB Conference in 2001 when I had just finished my Master’s thesis, and I was immediately hooked on the SEB community. The

SEB has helped me throughout my career, so I’m quite proud to be a part of the community. One of the great moments after more than a decade of suffering was finally getting a permanent position, which is something that many biologists crave because there are so few positions available.

There have also been a few studies with groups overseas that I have been invited to join and I have been honoured to take part in. For myself as a scientist, I think that the generation of new knowledge comes from combining different worlds, working groups and minds.

More recently, you became the SEB Animal Chair—what has that been like?

I’m still going through the learning curve. I’ve been with the SEB for quite a while and I’ve been to many meetings and know many of the biologists personally. If it hadn’t been for the SEB, my career would have been very different and I may not have still been in science—getting to know everyone has been wonderful, and I want to give back to the community and encourage younger students to get to know people too. I’ve also been trying to highlight what the Animal Section actually does, and that everyone is free to come and join and share their ideas. During the COVID-19 pandemic and through all of the resulting changes, we’ve lost a bit of tradition. It’s important to remind ourselves why so many people have chosen the SEB as their society, and the meetings are a big part of this, so it’s our responsibility to make sure that people leave happy. The meeting in Edinburgh was great and many people have said they were

I ALSO SOMETIMES DO CRUISES WITH A SMALL RESEARCH VESSEL CALLED THE RV HEINCKE TO CATCH FISH FROM SVALBARD AND BRING THEM BACK TO THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH

happy with how it was run—but there’s always more we can improve on.

How do you become section chair?

I feel that it’s important to have previously been a convener of one of the Special Interest groups so you know how they work, because you pick up lots of parts of this role through that experience.

Joining my first SEB Council meeting as the new Section Chair was an eye-opener for me, because I got to see what the SEB represents beyond what most members see. This concerns all the little background bits and pieces that explain why things are done in certain ways. It’s a very direct way of influencing the path of the Society, so if that’s something that you would find interesting, then please contact the SEB or the relevant convener directly. And if you’re not already a member of a Special Interest group, have a look and see which would be the best fit for you—it helps you to reflect on your career and you can speak with others about how to progress.

THE SEB HAS HELPED ME THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, SO I’M QUITE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY

Outside of research and the SEB, how do you like to spend your time?

I have a 6-year-old daughter and she’s been a life-changer–once I used to have hobbies and now I have her! I love cycling, water sports and diving, and I’ve just got my scientific diving license. I play the guitar, and actually enjoy building guitars as a hobby. I’ve also got a Land Rover that needs a lot of TLC, and I find working on it to be relaxing after a day at work with a lot of intellectual input—it’s nice to come home and just fix a wheel bearing.

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CAROLINE WODD, IN CONVERSATION WITH...

ERIKA ELIASON

As the SEB celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, our science writer Alex Evans had the pleasure of talking with someone that first became involved with the SEB almost 70 years ago, biologist and former council member, Michael Sleigh.

Below Erika Eliason Photo credit: Yhanu Sivapalan

How would you introduce yourself and your work?

I am an ecological physiologist based at the University of California, Santa Barbara, researching the impact of climate change on aquatic animals (particularly fish). My current focus is intraspecies variability: how individuals within a species vary in their environmental tolerance, and the physiological traits that underpin these differences. A really exciting question within this is how dietary choices affect thermal tolerance.

How do you investigate this?

I always try to use as broad an approach as possible, with a combination of both lab- and field-based techniques. This can include telemetry, data loggers, respirometry, in vivo surgical techniques, swim tunnels, blood gas measurements, microscopy, biochemistry and genetic analyses. My aim is to assemble as complete a physiological picture as possible—from the cellular and genome level, right up to the whole animal and population level.

In this way, we can drill down into the fine detail of the mechanistic basis of tolerance, then scale back up to understand the ecological impacts so that we can inform management and conservation decisions.

What have you found out so far?

It is already clear that diet has a significant impact on fish performance in all kinds of ways, but these effects are trait specific.1 So, for instance, diet appears to have a strong impact on heart rate, but doesn’t seem to affect sprint performance to the same extent. Animals actually often have a large element of choice in what they eat in their natural environment, so diet could be a mechanism to increase physiological flexibility.2 During hot conditions, for instance, fish may be able to choose foods that will improve their thermal performance.

You have said that collaboration is a cornerstone of your work—why is this?

Fish don’t have borders! Take sockeye salmon for instance: their migration routes take them all over the Pacific, so it is essential that different countries can collaborate and openly communicate on how to best manage this resource. Consequently, I work

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with a wide variety of different organisations, from academic and research institutions to government departments, First Nations communities and recreational fisheries. Making those connections ultimately enables us to do more impactful research.

It is very rewarding when your research is used to inform policies, such as for fisheries management.

Do you have a favourite example of impactful collaboration?

As an undergraduate, I worked on a project led by the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific in Fiji, which engaged local villages to investigate the impact of marine protected areas on marine resources. The whole experimental design was driven by the communities and they went out and counted the invertebrates themselves. They saw with their own eyes that the protected areas not only contained much higher densities of marine life, but also caused a ‘spillover effect’, acting as a seed for the surrounding open-fishing areas. This experience massively impacted the start of my career and taught me how people are empowered when the information is in their hands.

When did you realise that you wanted to be a researcher?

I actually had ambitions to be a sports scientist and originally applied to do kinesiology for my undergraduate degree at Simon Fraser University, Canada. But I enjoyed the biology classes so much that I switched within a month to biological sciences!

Even so, I didn’t have any plans to become a researcher until I did a research placement in my third year by chance, working on bark beetle outbreaks in British Columbia. It was a lightbulb moment: I loved the challenge of research, how it gave you the chance to be creative and work together to solve problems, and the fact that every day in the lab is different.

Since then, I’ve just kept doing more and more research and somehow I have ended up as a Professor!

fairs and I noticed that the affluent schools always did amazing projects, often working directly with university professors. But less affluent schools didn’t have the same resources and could only lead much simpler projects. So, during my graduate degree at UBC, I started a mentorship programme with Let’s Talk Science that paired school students from these less affluent schools with university students, who would help them develop their projects. The programme is still going now, and it has been really wonderful to see it develop over the years.

How did you settle on studying fish?

My Masters’ project was investigating digestion in rainbow trout with Tony Farrell, at the University of British Columbia (UBC). That was when I realised I loved working on fish and mechanistic physiology.

But I was working on a hatchery species, and the ecological realism was missing. So, I was very fortunate when a PhD position opened up in the same lab working on sockeye salmon. It was exactly what I wanted: applying basic fundamental physiology to answer a key question, what impact will climate change have on the thermal tolerance of this species. A major finding, published in the journal Science, was that salmon populations really differ in their thermal tolerance, and that the heart is a key mediator of this.3 Since then I have studied thermal tolerance in all kinds of species, including chinook salmon, red band trout, steelhead trout, opaleye, arrow gobies, California killifish, invasive lionfish and coral reef hawkfish. I have dabbled a bit in lobsters and mussels, but I always come back to fish— they are such a great species to work on.

You are involved in loads of outreach work: what motivates you?

The biggest threat to fish species worldwide is humans, whether through habitat destruction, climate change or over-exploitation. So, I do a lot of grassroot outreach, such as talks in pubs to community groups and at schools to help people better understand the threats that fish populations are under. It’s not about trying to turn everyone into a scientist, but the more people who care and are informed, the more pressure we can put on policymakers.

I FIND RESEARCH MOST FUN WHEN YOU WORK WITH OTHERS—YOU DO MUCH BETTER SCIENCE WHEN YOU PUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME ROOM, AND CHALLENGE THEM TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

When did you first become involved with the SEB? My first interaction with the SEB was attending the 2006 Annual Conference in Canterbury as a Masters student. It was wonderful to present my work to scientists whose research I had been reading for so many years. Now every SEB meeting feels like a homecoming, a giant reunion. A real highlight was being chosen as the President’s Medallist for the Animal Section in 2021. It was such a shock because I had always loved watching the President’s Medallist talks over the years, and found the winners to be such talented and inspiring scientists. Now as the current convenor for the Animal Ecophysiology Group, it is a huge honour to help select the Animal President’s Medallist each year.

What would you be in another life?

Although I love what I do, the sheer number of things to juggle can be a challenge at times. I am currently affiliated with three universities: Kwantlen Polytechnic University, UC Santa Barbara and UBC. I also have two kids! So when I feel pulled in different directions, I sometimes fantasise about completely getting away from it all and becoming a goat farmer, and just living one day at a time…

Left Erika Eliason exploring tidepools with grade one students from a local elementary school Photo credit: Terra Dressler Below Erika Eliason dissecting abalone for a collaborator Photo credit: Lizzy Wilbanks

References: 1. Hardison EA Kraskura K, Van Wert J, et al.

Diet mediates thermal performance traits: implications for marine ectotherms. J Exp Biol 2021; 224: jeb242846.

2. Hardison EA, Schwieterman GD, Eliason EJ. Diet changes thermal acclimation capacity, but not acclimation rate, in a marine ectotherm (Girella nigricans) during warming. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290: 20222505.

3. E liason EJ, Clark TD, Hague MJ, et al.

Differences in thermal tolerance among sockeye salmon populations.

Science 2011; 332: 109–112.

I also do a lot with young people, particularly those from disadvantaged communities. For instance, I used to be a judge for school science SPOTLIGHT

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ANA KIJANOVIĆ

BY ALEX EVANS

People are drawn into experimental biology by a broad range of factors.

Curiosity, imagination, inspiration, innovation— all have the power to attract bright, young minds. For Ana Kijanović, a Research Assistant at the Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’ in Belgrade, Serbia, it turns out that visiting her family as a young girl played a big role in developing her passion for researching the natural world.

Above Shane Austin at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados Photo credit: Shane Austin 36

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A

s a child, my dream was originally to become a doctor and make a difference in people’s lives,’ Ana says.

‘However, spending every school holiday with my family at the mountain where my grandparents lived opened my eyes to a different path.’ It was while on these family trips that Ana found herself steered towards making a difference in an entirely new, and much wilder, direction.

‘The unspoiled beauty of that mountain with its breath-taking forests, wildlife, plants and mushrooms, sparked a new perspective within me,’ she explains. ‘There, I encountered organisms that I couldn’t find in Belgrade, including frogs, snakes, salamanders and other fascinating species.’

Now that Ana has started on her research career journey, she has become especially interested in how some of the planet’s most vulnerable, yet surprisingly adaptable, animal species are coping with the challenges of surviving in a rapidly changing world. ‘My primary focus is exploring how amphibians adapt to climate changes and the consequent effects on their life-history and morphological traits,’ she explains. The remarkable diversity of amphibians and their adaptability in response to various environments is something that has fascinated Ana since she started her PhD studies. ‘How they can modify their traits in response to environmental cues is truly extraordinary,’ she says. ‘As I research the amphibians’ ability to cope with environmental changes, I gain a greater appreciation for the intricate relationship between genetics and the environment that shapes these organisms.’

The ability to adapt to new external conditions is an essential tool for any potentially vulnerable species, which is something that Ana is keen to fully explore with experimental methods. ‘In my view, experiments that shed light on how amphibians respond to changing environments offer valuable insights,’ she says. ‘Amphibians are the most endangered class of vertebrates, and a significant factor contributing to this is their biphasic life cycle, heavily reliant on water.’ For example, the thin skin of amphibians, which is used for gas exchange, is highly susceptible to various types of disease, pollution and the effects of climate change, and many amphibians may face extinction without the support of swift conservation efforts. ‘Within an

ecosystem, all organisms are interconnected to varying degrees,’ she adds. ‘When we study how amphibians adapt to climate change, we can to some degree indirectly apply that knowledge to other organisms.’

One of the benefits of studying animals such as Ana’s frogs is the opportunity to work with these species in their natural habitats, but for Ana and her team, the windows for conducting fieldwork are greatly influenced by the weather. ‘The period of the year when I conduct experiments with my mentor and our group members is the most interesting and the most challenging aspect of our work,’ she says. ‘We search for clutches of eggs in ponds and ditches, so in dry years without rain, searching for these eggs becomes a real challenge.’ When Ana is able to collect these eggs, they are then raised in their lab under carefully controlled conditions.

Ana’s PhD research has involved manipulating the laboratory pond water levels periodically to replicate natural pond cycling and investigating the effects of this real-world scenario on yellow-bellied toad life-histories and morphologies.

From Ana’s PhD research, we have learned some surprising new information about how certain amphibians are handling (or not handling) the impacts of climate change. While some amphibians that occupy temporary ponds for reproduction possess the ability to undergo rapid metamorphosis when the ponds start to dry out, others are seemingly unable to perform in this way—despite the negative consequences on multiple life-history traits.

‘Our primary finding was that our species, the yellow-bellied toad, couldn’t accelerate development in response to pond drying conditions,’ she says. ‘This outcome contrasted with findings from experiments involving the majority of species that also inhabit temporary ponds.’ What causes this divergence from the expected remains unknown, but Ana is optimistic that her research may inspire other researchers to investigate this phenomenon across other amphibian species that are also reliant on water ponds for reproduction.

‘This understanding could be crucial for those species’ survival and their conservation,’ she adds.

As an early-career researcher, Ana has many career highlights ahead of her, but she already has

plenty of positive memories to reflect on.

‘One of the most cherished moments in my career was the day that I published the first article derived from my thesis—I was filled with excitement and pride, not only for myself but also for my whole group,’ she says. ‘My mentor, Nataša Tomašević Kolarov, and I know just how much work was invested in it, and even though I will publish more articles in the future, that initial article will always hold a special place in my heart.’

While Ana has been to other scientific conferences during her career, the 2023 Annual Conference in Edinburgh was Ana’s first time at a SEB conference, and it’s safe to say that it left a positive impression on her. ‘The SEB Annual Conference was an amazing experience for me,’ she says. ‘I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people and expand my knowledge—plus, I discovered the availability of student grants from SEB, and I believe these grants provide fantastic opportunities for PhD students!’

As a self-confessed frog fanatic, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that there is one specific variety of animal that appeals to Ana, should she ever get the opportunity to study them. ‘I’ve always been fascinated by poison frogs, and my dream is to visit a tropical rainforest and experience its beauty and diversity of living organisms,’ she reveals.

‘Even though we don’t have poison frogs in Serbia, I find it very interesting that yellow-bellied toads and fire-bellied toads secrete a chemical substance in their skin called bombesin, which is toxic to predators but could also hold medicinal potential!’

Above Baby yellow-bellied toads Photo credit: Aleksandar Urošević Below Baby yellow-bellied toad Photo credit: Aleksandar Urošević

When she’s outside of the lab, Ana enjoys continuing her exploration of the natural world through travelling and long walks, but she also feels that her strong passion for biology is something that can be shared with other people, and she regularly puts time into inspiring the next generation of zoologists and ecologists. ‘I prepare primary school children for special types of biology competitions,’ she says. ‘I find working with school children really enjoyable and, in my view, it’s essential to educate them about the significance of biodiversity.’

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED

BY POISON FROGS’

References: 1. Austin S, Tavakoli M, Pfeiffer C, et al. LETM1mediated K+ and Na+ homeostasis regulates mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux.

Front Physiol 2017; 8: 839.

2. Thannesberger J, Rascovan N, Eisenmann A, et al. Viral metagenomics reveals the presence of novel Zika virus variants in Aedes mosquitoes from Barbados. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14: 343.

3. A ustin S, Millar CA, Christmas S. Case study: Perspectives on the use of LEGO® bricks in the biochemistry classroom.

Essays Biochem 2022; 66: 53–63.

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TSU-WEI CHEN CAROLINE WOOD

In a parallel universe somewhere, Tsu-Wei Chen is not a professor but instead a classical musician performing to packed-out concert halls across the world.

I

t was quite a close decision,’ he reflects now. ‘During my undergraduate degree in Horticultural Science at National Taiwan University, I was an active flutist, conductor and composer, and spent probably more than 40 hours per week with orchestra and wind ensembles. Even when I moved to Hannover to start a Master’s in Horticultural Science at Leibniz Universität, I was still considering that I would dedicate my career to music.’

What changed his mind? ‘It was a course called ‘Principles of Systems Modelling’ which taught how to model the 3D architecture of plants using Lindenmayer systems (which describe how living things can develop complex forms by repeating simple rules). I realised that I had found exactly what I love—the challenge of bringing all our knowledge about an organism together into a single system so that we can improve our understanding of it. In a way, it is not too dissimilar to composing music: you have to apply your imagination to create something from nothing.’

Besides fixing him onto a plant science career, that course laid the foundation for all Tsu-Wei’s research going forward. ‘Ever since my Master’s, my focus has been to use modelling techniques to better understand the physiological functions of horticultural and agricultural crops, and how these functions can be enhanced through plant breeding. A central question is whether we can identify cultivars and genetic resources that are less sensitive to environmental fluctuations and, therefore, can consistently deliver stable yields.’

Photo credit: Tsu-Wei Chen 38

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For his doctorate, Tsu-Wei remained at Leibniz Universität to investigate the physiological mechanisms that determine salt tolerance in cucumber and tomato. ‘It is well known that cucumber is much more sensitive to salinity stress than tomato, but it wasn’t clear why. By modelling the salinity effects on leaf expansion, ion uptake, stomatal regulation and the biochemical capacity of photosynthesis, we demonstrated that leaf expansion is less affected by salinity stress in tomato than in cucumber. This enables the tomato plants to intercept more light and maintain a higher rate of whole-plant photosynthesis, and therefore productivity, under salt stress.’1–3

Since then, Tsu-Wei’s modelling work has become ever-more ambitious. After completing his PhD, he undertook a brief postdoctural position at Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Montpellier, to develop 3D image processing techniques to simulate plant architectures and traits related to light interception. Then it was back to Leibniz Universität, this time as a Senior Scientist in Hartmut Stützel´s lab, in the Department of Systems Modelling of Vegetable Science.

‘It was a very ambitious project, where we tested a broadly held, popular perception: that intense breeding for wheat cultivars which produce high yields under optimal cropping conditions had depleted genetic variants required for adaptation to suboptimal environments,’ he says. ‘We investigated a panel of 191 elite winter wheat cultivars released during the past 50 years in Western Europe, which were planted across over 45,000 plots, in experiments spanning multiple locations, years and treatments. Overall, we measured over 300,000 trait values over 3 years.’

‘Counterintuitively, our results showed conclusively that there was no significant difference in genetic diversity between modern wheat cultivars and those from 50 years ago.4 In fact, we found the opposite to be true: the positive effects of genetic gain in modern cultivars for sustainability-related traits such as disease resistance were even more apparent under reduced input scenarios than under optimal agrochemical applications. For instance, in agricultural systems that did not use fungicides, disease-resistant genes within modern cultivars gave a distinct advantage. This suggests that combining beneficial, genome-wide haplotypes could help breeders to more efficiently exploit available genetic variation, optimising future yield potential in more sustainable production systems.’

When Leibniz Universität announced their decision to close the Institute of Horticultural Production Systems, Tsu-Wei was forced to move on. Despite only having 4 years’ experience post-PhD, in 2020 he secured a faculty position at Humboldt University of Berlin, as Professor for Intensive Plant Food Systems.

‘When I saw the position advertised in December 2019, only four years after I obtained my PhD, I thought it would be too early for me. I had some publications, but not many, and only two grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Plus, my teaching experience was limited (between two and four hours a week). But I decided to go for it, and got lucky.’

Bringing his ambition and large-scale modelling approaches with him, Tsu-Wei took up a new challenge: upscaling the environmental effects on leaf photosynthesis to canopy level to understand the three-way interaction between phenology, yield formation and environmental fluctuations.

‘Put simply, I am applying a high-throughput phenotyping approach to quantify competitiveness in individual plants, and how this is affected by the interaction between physiology and the environment. Working with winter wheat and maize, our aim is to simultaneously measure ten traits related to above- and below-ground competitiveness to gain a holistic view of how environmental conditions affect resource allocation.’

‘Historically, competitiveness has been somewhat overlooked by breeders, except for plant height and flowering time, but when plants behave “selfishly”, this can have a huge impact on yields.

For instance, when a plant becomes shaded by its neighbour, it naturally invests more in the stem so that it can grow taller and “outcompete”.

But this leaves less resource for producing the grain. If we can identify the traits (in addition to plant height) that we can target to make plants cooperate more with their neighbours, this could enable us to plant crops at higher densities.’

‘The preliminary results of this work are already exciting. For instance, it is clear that plant vigour and competitiveness are different traits. Also, root competitiveness and shoot competitiveness appear to be independent, and to dynamically depend on phenology.’

It sounds an ambitious undertaking, yet even this experiment seems tiny compared with what Tsu-Wei would do if he had unlimited time and resources. ‘I would phenotype all kinds of vegetables to uncover diversity that can benefit agricultural systems. This would include conducting experiments to discover the diversity and constraints in photosynthetic acclimation, morphological acclimation and root acclimation in response to light, temperature, nutrients and water. But such a project would require a phenomenal amount of work using hundreds of different genotypes, and having to tailor each morpho-physiological measurement to the species in question. For example, measuring the leaf area of kale is very different from measuring the leaf area of spinach or cabbage.’

I WAS FASCINATED

BY THE BEAUTY AND DIVERSITY OF PLANTS WHEN I WAS A CHILD, AND USED TO ROAM THE MOUNTAINS NEAR MY HOME IN TAIWAN, EXPLORING THE COMMUNITIES OF ALPINE PLANTS.

With such a demanding schedule of research, teaching responsibilities and writing grant applications (‘I always have three to seven grant ideas in my mind at the same time’), does he ever question if he made the right choice all those years ago?

‘I still play the piano and flute regularly, and am part of various orchestras. It helps me to focus my concentration but in a way that makes me relaxed, so it complements my research well.

Nevertheless, I am content that I have found what I was meant to do in modelling 3D plant architectures. The coordination of plant structure and function, and how we can use this to develop more resilient crops, is such a rich, untapped area of study that I am confident it will keep me occupied throughout my entire career.’

Above Tsu-Wei Chen in a growth chamber experiment at Leibniz Universität Hannover to study the effect of fluctuating light on yield formation in winter wheat Photo credit: Ilona Napp

References: 1. Chen T-W. Architectural and Non-Architectural Effects of Salinity on Canopy Structure, Light Interception and Dry Mass Production on Greenhouse Cucumber and Tomato. PhD Thesis.

Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, 2015.

2. Chen T-W, Stützel H, Kahlen K. High light aggravates functional limitations of cucumber canopy photosynthesis under salinity.

Ann Bot 2018; 121: 797–807.

3. Chen T-W, Nguyen TMN, Kahlen K, et al. High temperature and vapor pressure deficit aggravate architectural effects but ameliorate non-architectural effects of salinity on dry mass production of tomato. Front Plant Sci 2015; 6: 887.

4. Voss-Fels KP, Stahl A, Wittkop B, et al. Breeding improves wheat productivity under contrasting agrochemical input levels. Nat Plants 2019; 5: 706–714.

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OUTREACH EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

A WORLDWIDE #SEBPARTY! ............. 42 THE JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY “CALL FOR PAPERS”.................. 45

ADVANCES IN ANIMAL WELFARE BY SEB MEMBERS BY BRITTNEY G. BOROWIEC..... 46

TRAVEL GRANTS AND SPONSORSHIP RESEARCH PROJECT ON BIODIVERSITY

BY ETHAN MITCHELL-INNES (TRAVEL GRANTS TO GO)............... 48

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A WORLDWIDE #SEBPARTY! Based on the awardees’ grant reports

BY ANA COLOMBO To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the SEB, we sponsored ten successful applicants with the SEB Birthday Grant.

They organised events at their institutions, receiving up to £500 for scientific meetings, networking, lectures and student-focused activities. It was an international affair, with celebrations in eight countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, DenmarkIsrael, Italy, Nigeria and the UK Untited Kingdom

Belguim

Denmark

Canada

Italy

AUSTRALIA: CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA In Australia, Daniel Gomez Isaza and Essie Rodgers organised a networking and seminar series to celebrate experimental biology. Students, researchers and academics were brought together from various institutions to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange. Six speakers covered topics that aligned with the SEB’s goals of addressing real-world challenges ranging from biodiversity conservation to Australian marsupials to the unique reproductive physiology of the turtle frog. The event concluded with a reception for attendees to connect and celebrate, where they even enjoyed a special SEB birthday cake.

Nigeria Israel Australia

Above The six speakers of the Celebrating the Past, Present and Future of Experimental Biology in Western Australia event: Daniel Gomez Isaza (Murdoch University), Isobel Sewell (University of Western Australia), Jake Daviot (Murdoch University), Essie Rodgers (Murdoch University), Christine Cooper (Curtin University), Nicki Mitchell (University of Western Australia). Plus a lovely birthday cake in the networking reception.

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BELGIUM: ON LIFE IN ACADEMIA On Life in Academia, organised by Simon Baeckens, attracted 97 attendees, many of whom were students from across six Belgian universities.

The event provided a contemporary view on life in academia, emphasising the importance of collaboration, work–life balance, science communication and the successes and failures of research. Keynote speaker Richard Shine, an evolutionary biologist at Macquarie University, was invited to reflect on his lifelong career, advocating for flexibility, embracing opportunities and the role of luck. He also talked about his passion for evolution and ecology and the importance of science communication. Later, his spouse Terri provided her perspectives on the impact of academia on family life. A question-and-answer session was led by Hans Van Dyck before the celebratory networking reception.

Above The opening slide of the Richard Shine talk ‘A Life in Science, as Seen in the Rear-View Mirror of an Increasingly Slow-Moving Vehicle’ during the ‘On Life in Academia’ event.

BELGIUM: LECTURES IN EXPERIMENTAL VERTEBRATE PALAEONTOLOGY MASTER’S COURSE

talks by Hazel Richards on ‘Australian Megafauna’, Alexandra Houssaye on ‘Microanatomical and Histological Specialisations’, Liz Martin-Silverstone on ‘Biomechanics of Pterosaurs’ and Narimane Chatar on ‘Sabre-toothed Carnivorans’.

The conference fostered interdisciplinary collaborations and meaningful discussions among attendees who are hoping to advance comparative physiology and lead to future breakthroughs.

CANADA: BIOLOGY/ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE UNDERGRADUATE THESIS COLLOQUIUM At Algoma University in Ontario, Canada, Christine Madliger and Jennifer Foote aimed to introduce undergraduate students to experimental biology research and provide them with an opportunity to discuss their final thesis projects with an external scientist. Brent Sinclair from Western University gave a keynote talk during the Biology/Environmental Science Undergraduate Thesis Colloquium.

He presented ‘Exploring the Mechanisms Underlying Insect Freeze Tolerance in Gryllus veletis’ to a diverse audience of undergraduates, staff and members of the local community. He not only answered questions about his work, but also engaged with the students after their presentations, enhancing their learning experience.

Above Christine Madliger (left) welcomes Brent Sinclair (right; Western University, Ontario, Canada) as the keynote speaker at the Algoma University’s Biology/Environmental Science Undergraduate Thesis Colloquium.

Above Attendees of the International Conference to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Aarhus University’s Danish Zoophysiology Group.

ENGLAND: POSTER AND NETWORKING SESSION FOR THE UK CEREALS RESEARCH COMMUNITY Philippa Borrill and Paola Tosi organised a poster and networking session at the Monogram Network Annual Meeting, connecting cereal crop researchers.

Forty early-career researchers presented their posters, sparking discussions on topics including in-field phenotyping, disease resistance and improving the nutritional value of crops. Combining this SEB celebration with a major conference united students, postdocs and early-career researchers across institutions and built bridges between academia and industry.

ENGLAND: CELEBRATING PLANT SCIENCE— AN EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHER EVENT

DENMARK: Jamie MacLaren organised 5 weeks of lectures on experimental vertebrate palaeontology for a Master’s course at the University of Antwerp, aiming to inspire future researchers and keep them up to date on recent research. In February, Gabriel Ferreira and Peter Falkingham discussed ‘Turtle Evolution’ and ‘(Vertebrate) Palaeoichnology’, respectively. March was bird-focused, featuring Oliver Demuth on ‘Evolution of Avian Flight’ and Matthew Shawkey on ‘Colour in the Fossil Record’.

The students also learnt about musculoskeletal 3D modelling with John Nyakatura and tail mobility in Sauropodomorpha with Verónica Díez Díaz.

Later lectures focused on biomechanics, including

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF AARHUS UNIVERSITY’S DANISH ZOOPHYSIOLOGY GROUP Aarhus University’s Danish Zoophysiology Group celebrated its 50th anniversary by hosting an international conference. The event gathered 75 participants from 36 universities, spanning PhD students to emeritus professors. Christian Damsgaard and Tobias Wang used the SEB Birthday Grant to lower registration fees for five early-career researchers.

Above Attendees and speakers of the Celebrating Plant Science: An Early-Career Researcher Event. In front from left to right, Christine Raines, Amanda Cavanagh, Tracy Lawson and Susanne von Caemmerer.

Photo credit Shellie Wall OUTREACH EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

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Amanda Cavanagh, Tracy Lawson and Pallavi Singh organised the Celebrating Plant Science event at the University of Essex. They aimed to connect early-career researchers post-pandemic, support career development and promote opportunities within the SEB. The event hosted 40 participants from nine UK institutions and one European university. It featured a keynote talk by Susanne von Caemmerer, a poster session with 18 presenters and a career discussion panel with advice from Susanne von Caemmerer, Andy Simkin, current SEB President Tracy Lawson and her predecessor Christine Raines. The event fostered discussions among researchers in different career stages, breaking barriers and expanding the reach of the SEB.

ISRAEL:

NIGERIA:

DEPARTMENT OF POSTHARVEST SCIENCES EVENT

THE MAKING OF A SCIENTIST: AN EVENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PURE AND APPLIED ZOOLOGY STUDENTS

Simon Michaeli organised an informal, integrative event at the Volcani Institute in Israel, bringing together scientists across the Department of Postharvest Sciences and promoting the benefits of joining the SEB. After explaining the role of a scientific society like the SEB, Simon invited four department members to give talks about their laboratories and research. A food and drink reception to close the event allowed attendees to interact, an opportunity that has been sadly missing in recent years.

ITALY: FROM ELEMENTS OF HISTORICAL AND STEM EXPERIMENTAL BIOSCIENCE TO MODERN INTERDISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Marina B.A. Minoli, FRSB CSciTeach, organised the online event From Elements of Historical and STEM Experimental Bioscience to Modern Interdisciplinary Environmental Education to showcase inquiry-based science education and interdisciplinary approaches in Biosciences. It received Royal Society of Biology approval for 12 continuing professional development (CPD) points and had a great turnout and engagement.

Marina discussed teaching environmental science through integrated innovative didactic, historical and experimental projects to leverage critical thinking about environmental education; Alex Costa and Elisa Dell’Aglio presented some modern experimental research and approaches in Plant Physiology in relation to changes in some environmental conditions.

One hundred graduate students and final-year undergraduate students of the Department of Pure and Applied Zoology at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria, joined The Making of a Scientist event. A. Babatunde Idowu, the department’s first professor and the current Vice Chancellor of Glorious Vision University, discussed becoming a successful experimental biologist.

The students actively participated, asking Babatunde and other department members many questions. David Audu, the event organiser, also discussed SEB membership benefits before concluding with a networking reception.

Above

A. Babatunde Idowu, the department’s first professor and the current Vice Chancellor of Glorious Vision University, discussed becoming a successful experimental biologist.

Above

A. Babatunde Idowu, the department’s first professor and the current Vice Chancellor of Glorious Vision University, discussed becoming a successful experimental biologist.

Above Attendees and speakers of The Making of a Scientist—an Event for the Department of Pure and Applied Zoology Students.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE EVENTS, PLEASE VISIT: HTTPS://WWW.SEBIOLOGY.ORG/RESOURCE/A-WORLDWIDE-SEBPARTY.HTML

SEB CENTENARY 1923-2023

CELEBRATING SUCCESS & SHAPING THE FUTURE 44

OUTREACH EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Society for Experimental Biology invites our community to contribute to the special issue of the Journal of Thermal Biology intitled “Thermoregulatory and Metabolic Adaptations in a Changing World.”

EXPLORE EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY:

GUEST EDITORS:

Delve into the evolutionary implications of thermal responses in diverse species. From cells to mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, and insects, discover how life adapts to a dynamic world.

Dr. Sylvain Giroud

Habilitation in Animal Physiology & Assistant Professor, Northern Michigan University, MI, USA

WHO SHOULD CONTRIBUTE?

Liverpool John Moore University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Biologists, physiologists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists passionate about understanding climate change adaptations, your work is welcome.

Dr. Jérémy Terrien

Natural History National Museum, Brunoy, France.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

Associate Professor, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

JANUARY 15th, 2024 nveil the mysteries of thermoregulation and metabolic U adaptations by sharing your research with the global community.

ADDITIONAL INFOMATION I n the context of ongoing and ever-increasing global change, it is of high importance to better understand the adaptive and non-adaptive adjustments of animals to environmental fluctuations. With this special issue, we aim to present the latest discoveries and findings in the field of thermoregulation and energy metabolism in relation of how species cope with environmental fluctuations. This issue will specifically cover the ecological evolutionary implications of thermal responses of species living in a seasonal world, and will aim to highlight the broad scope of thermal and metabolic adaptations of cells, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fishes and insects.

All biologists, physiologists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists aiming at understanding the adaptive responses of animals to climate change are particularly welcome to submit their work. Further, this issue can be of interest for researchers developing approaches at the level of the whole organism as well as at the cellular and molecular scales.

SOCIETY FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

Dr. Julia Nowack

Dr. Katie Marshall

The journal’s submission platform (Editorial Manager®) is now available for receiving submissions to this Special Issue. Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript and select the article type of “Adaptations to a Changing World” when submitting your manuscript online.

Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal can be found on the Journal Homepage here: Journal of Thermal Biology ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-thermalbiology?cat0=biochemistrygenetics-and-molecular-biology &cat1=physiology&cat2=com parative-physiology

ADVANCES IN ANIMAL WELFARE BY SEB MEMBERS

BY BRITTNEY G. BOROWIEC

Animal welfare experts and SEB members Lynne Sneddon, Edward Narayan and Nic Bury weigh in on a variety of topics, including recent research that excites them, hurdles to rolling out improvements to the welfare of animals, how their work influences policy and their forecasts for the future of the field.

T

here is ample evidence for pain in fishes,’ notes Lynne Sneddon, Senior Lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, and one of the world’s foremost experts on the topic. She discovered pain receptors (nociceptors) in fish in the early 2000s, and now leads an integrative research programme focused on the capacity for pain, fear and stress to drive improvements in the welfare of fishes and other aquatic animals. Her goal is ‘to use the science my laboratory does to significantly improve the lives of fishes by driving changes in humane treatment in experiments as well as other contexts’. Lynne is familiar to many SEB members for her leadership in the Society, most recently as Animal Section Chair from 2017 to 2020.

Edward Narayan, Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, studies the stress responses of domesticated animals and wildlife species to environmental change. Much of Edward’s work focuses on developing hormone monitoring methods as a noninvasive alternative to traditional blood sampling. After spending 3 years ‘taking dry-ice on a dingy to a small island, catch[ing] frogs, collect[ing] urine and stor[ing it] overnight in dry ice before heading back to mainland laboratory for analysis,’ he’s worked on everything from frogs in Fiji, sheep on farms and rescued koalas.

Nic Bury, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, combines molecular, physiological and toxicological techniques with computational methods to understand how aquatic organisms respond to the challenges of the Anthropocene.

Current research interests include developing fishbased cell lines that can be used in toxicity tests

46

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as well as using computational and genomic tools to predict how sensitive different species will be to hormone-disrupting pollutants.

RECENT SCIENTIFIC HIGHLIGHTS IN ANIMAL WELFARE Lynne’s group is embracing new tools to better understand how fish experience pain. ‘My group has developed artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring software tools for accurately gauging welfare and pain in laboratory zebrafish.’ The software is powerful enough ‘to identify effective analgesia to reduce pain during routine laboratory procedures’ and has even led to the development of ‘clear criteria to assess pain by the tank side’.

The plan is to broaden the use of the behavioural tracking and AI software to other species by using it to track recovery from surgical and invasive procedures and determine not only ‘what drug, at what dose, prevents responses to these potentially painful treatments’ but also to ‘explore whether these drugs confound data collection,’ a particularly relevant issue to experimental biologists concerned about the potential confounding factor of analgesics on their data.

Nic’s recent work also addresses a common technical issue in animal-based research. ‘Almost all in vitro toxicity studies are conducted with cells cultured under static condition. This is not the reality,’ he

notes. Like the animals that are composed of them, individual cells live in a dynamic environment due to changes in blood flow or, in the case of fish gills, the passage of water over their leading surface.

Using a 3D-printed chamber with custom inserts, Nic’s group cultured gill cells that experience water flow like they would in a living animal. ‘We found that the cells respond to fluid stress with an increase in expression of a mechanosensory channel, and that they are more sensitive to copper under flow compared to static conditions.’ Realistically housed cells are not only physiologically different from those grown following standard laboratory practice, but they also respond to challenges like metal exposure differently too.

Edward’s group is also interested in using noninvasive techniques to understand how animals respond to environmental challenges. ‘Our latest research includes stress assessment in Australia’s iconic wildlife marsupial, the koala, which I had presented at the SEB Annual Conference this year,’ he notes.

They measured glucocorticoid metabolites, which are associated with physiological stress, in faecal samples collected from wild koalas rescued from bushfires, vehicle collisions and other dangerous situations. Sick and injured koalas, especially those recovering from environmental trauma like the clearance of eucalyptus forests or bushfires, had higher glucocorticoid metabolite levels than healthy koalas. This study, along with Edward’s other work on koalas, has already had a positive conservation impact, being ‘used in Parliamentary submissions in Australia,’ and contributing to the ‘the conservation status of koalas from vulnerable to endangered’.

MISCONCEPTIONS AND BARRIERS ‘I think the biggest misconception [about pain in animals] is linked to anthropomorphism, where some believe that you must have human-like forebrain to experience pain,’ says Lynne. ‘This would mean that only humans and primates suffer from pain. I do not agree with this as there is an overwhelming amount of scientific data for mammals, birds and now fishes.’ Lynne has done a lot over the years to work against this misconception, such as outreach events and interviews, to showcase that fish are intelligent, complex and able ‘to experience poor welfare’. She points to recent examples in popular media—a passage in Ian McEwan’s book Saturday, a question from the board game Trivial Pursuit, and even a scene in Paramount Network’s Yellowstone—as evidence that society is becoming more accepting of the concept that pain is far from a uniquely human experience.

One barrier that is often pointed to as a justification for not enacting animal welfare improvements is

cost and convenience. Edward acknowledges that his ‘hormone monitoring tool kits can be expensive, and cost often becomes a major hurdle for smallto medium-sized projects such as PhD student research.’ But improving animal welfare doesn’t always have to be costly—sometimes simple and cheap solutions can be enormously beneficial to animals. As an example of this, Lynne points to her work demonstrating that zebrafish ‘prefer enrichments such as gravel and PVC plants; indeed, the fish even choose a tank area with an image of gravel underneath their tank’. Now, nearly a decade after the publication of the initial study, ‘the gravel image is being used by laboratories all over the world and industry suppliers manufacture gravel images either within the tank or for placement underneath,’ with manufacturers specifically citing her work in their materials.

CHANGING HEARTS, MINDS AND POLICY As SEB members will be well-aware, scientists working with animals follow strict guidelines set out by regulators like animal care committees or governmental departments. But not all animals receive the same level of protection. ‘Personally, I think aquaculture needs better regulation and independent oversight in a similar manner to terrestrial animals and particularly when it comes to humane killing,’ says Lynne. ‘Many in the aquaculture and fisheries industry realise it is important to keep fishes in good welfare to ensure the taste of the animal is not affected but also because the public are more aware of these issues and are demanding better conditions for the animals they eat.’

Lynne has a long history of informing changes in legislation and guidelines in Europe and North America. She’s even ‘acted as expert witness in legal cases of criminal conduct towards fishes and other aquatic animals in the USA and the UK’. More recently, her work was cited as part of the reasoning lobsters, crabs, octopuses and related species were declared as sentient under UK law. While she ‘welcome[s] the findings of the report,’ she also notes that there were several gaps in it, and that she ‘would like to see more research on crustacean welfare and in species outside decapods’. Lynne has plans to help fill some of these gaps by studying pain avoidance behaviours, pain receptors physiology and the effectiveness of stunning techniques in crayfish, prawns and lobster.

In the similar vein, Nic highlights that gaining regulatory acceptance, which effectively means legitimising an experimental approach to key decisionmakers, can be a challenge, particularly in the context of toxicology. ‘Regulators tend to like results [that] they fully understand,’ like an animal growing more slowly or more animals dying in response to exposure to a chemical. It can be hard to get them to wrap their heads around something unorthodox like fish gill cells cultured on 3D-printed scaffolding.

THE FUTURE OF ANIMAL WELFARE RESEARCH Much of the thinking around animal welfare research is guided by the three Rs of replacement, reduction and refinement. Noninvasive models will never totally replace the need for animal experimentation because ‘animals’ bodies are too complex,’ as Nic puts it. However, he thinks models like his scaffolded cell culture ‘can be used [to] focus the research question to reduce the number of animals used in preliminary data, and potentially completely replace animals depending on the question being asked’. Over the next 5–10 years, Nic expects to generate ‘a multi-organ chip for fish’ that accurately reproduces the complex layers of living tissue, with an eye to ‘completely replace [living fish] in toxicology tests’.

Refinement is also a key priority for animal welfare research. Edward’s hormone monitoring methods can be applied to naturally discarded biological materials like urine, fur and even blowhole spray, eliminating the need to capture and restrain potential subjects. His vision of the future involves further optimisation of the technique to make it more field- and budget-friendly, with the ultimate goal of ‘making the technology accessible to poorly financed research institutions in developing countries’.

Lynne’s work on the effect of analgesics on fish reflects a deep interest not only in understanding the neural pathways of pain perception, but also in refining how experiments involving animals are done and, critically, getting those refinements adopted and recognised by others. ‘I believe all animals should be treated humanely and we should apply ethical principles to animals used in experiments.’

But getting policies to change isn’t easy, especially when those policies are tied to industries of considerable economic interest like aquaculture.

Lynne had to slog through ‘extreme and aggressive criticism,’ with lot of determination and perseverance to get things done.

OUTREACH EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

47

TRAVEL GRANTS TO GO

BY ETHAN MITCHELL-INNES

A

s a plant scientist, I often find myself in sprawling fields or limestone-rich meadows. However, my undergraduate research has taken me to the humble roundabout. A rather unlovable traffic control system; a blip in most people’s day-to-day lives.

And, if I am being honest, I didn’t think I would find much of interest. My project is centred on plant and microbe ecology—looking at how their size and distance from the road affect diversity.

I happen to pick one of the hottest days of the year to start field work and feel a pang of insecurity when my supervisor and two friends ask me what the plan is. After sampling about four perennial ryegrass-dominated roundabouts I’m just about ready to give up. That’s until we walk onto one of the larger sites. At first, we are greeted by the usual suspects, annual meadow grass and dandelions. But as we push past the dense willow scrub something magical happens.

In the middle of this roundabout sits a wet meadow.

Lady’s bedstraw announces our arrival, filling the air with a deep sweetness. An orchid hybrid watches from a distance, unsure of who these strange things in high visibility vests are. It lights a spark in me, ignites my mind and fuels my wonder. How can I protect this secret oasis?

I wrap myself around my science, feeling for the soft spots. Fleshy and raw, I see the potential in my data. And whilst I reduce life to cold lines of numbers, I also find hope. It is data that shows me what is true. So it’s not all bad, I guess. Nights are spent staring at a screen: ‘How did I get from the great outdoors to this?’ So much of what I do stems from a deep need to be outside. My biophilia splits into little parts. I find myself loving the statistics, the soil and the lab. It does take time, at first I find the lab rather awful. Clean white benches, fake light, sterile air. Where is the life? In my samples.

I am reminding myself it’s all in my samples.

I can’t see it but I feel it. When I pulled that sleek auger out of the ground I severed a vein. Cutting off thousands of little beasts from all they know.

The weight of fungal and bacterial life lays heavy on me. Before we can protect, we must understand.

In order to do that I have to rip what is so precious to me from its home.

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At times, science feels rather backwards. I spent a few weeks this year working on a big rewilding project. Collecting live beetle and spider samples, it felt like playing God. How much science can the land take? If only people moved with the Earth as a priority. Instead, us scientists must rip open little holes in the land, collecting our numbers. Parts of me feel a disconnect from my peers. I worry I am too romantic to be a scientist, that I will hide my work in poems and pretty figures. Deep down I recognise that I have to swallow this fear, settle it, and finally get in the lab.

I wait for the click, unsure if I want to hear it or not. Smashing my soil apart in an obnoxiously loud machine. It rattles and shakes and fills me with fear. Before I can press start it asks me if I am sure.

I’m taken back to secondary school, deciding to forgo A-levels for an education in horticulture.

Now I’m jumping two years, friends trying to talk me down from the ledge of going to a modern university. All the way up to the summer between first and second year. My classmates suggesting that I should stick with an invertebrate ecology module, I switch it for molecular genetics. But am I sure?

I’m not even sure if all this noise is worth it. What if I stumble at the last step? Fall short of ‘scientist’ and become some well-educated fool. I just keep reminding myself why I am here. I must find the heart in the lab. And I do. Working with friends in such a grayscale setting helps add moments of fun into the day. Support from peers and staff reminds me that I am where I should be. I run the homogeniser and go to fetch some pipette tips.

For me science isn’t just getting published and moving on, or lectures and late nights. I see it as a great muscle of consciousness and respect.

I study plant science because I love plants; nature is the most important thing in my life. It is there when I need it, loud when it must be but also shockingly quiet in tender moments. Last winter I was going through great hurt and change.

One evening, framed by impossibly long shadows, I found a haggard sweet chestnut. In my sadness and isolation, I did the only thing I could. Pressing both my hands against that wildly topographical trunk I could feel everything. Water being moved

with such ancient force, an internal river of primal magic. Falling of leaves and licking of roots.

Peace washed over me. Feeding me, gifting me a little energy.

Science is like any other muscle, we flex it through the endless repetition that comes with research.

With every vegetation survey I become more of myself. Weaving myself around data, making little loops and knots till I find something I was destined to see. Every time that awful loud homogeniser asks me if I’m sure I get a little bit more convinced I am. No one ever said strengthening a muscle was easy, science is only rewarding because of its challenges. The ciders after field work or the graph after fighting ggplot2 make it feel worth it all. So I will keep on this path, stewardship through understanding.

This stewardship takes me to Lisbon. I am at the Plant Environmental Physiology Group field workshop event. Spurred on by lecturers and a need to leave England. At first, I am as stiff as a rock, fearful of making myself look silly. Everyone here is so smart and it’s so overwhelming. Slowly I loosen up. I get to present my work, my roundabouts go global.

I feel pride that such awkward spots of nature get to stand on this stage. I swallow that fear, try to control my shaking and slap on a smile. By the end of the week I am on cloud nine. I feel refreshed and ready to get back to my project. Getting to be around so many scientists felt like sitting at the adult’s table.

So far my research tells me a few clear things.

That proximity to road comes with lower diversity and increased soil acidity. Humanity’s lines leave damage. Because of this, bigger roundabouts act as hot spots for plant communities, holding diverse and varied wonders. In the coming months I wait for my microbe data to come back and prepare to venture into soil chemistry. Soon enough I will have to submit my dissertation, but when I do, I will know how much I have grown. No matter the grade, this process has already been massively fulfilling. Buzzing with potential, I get back to my data, finding the stories that need to be told.

Funding opportunities ECRsworking working Funding opportunitiesavailable available for for ECRs in the field of of experimental biology relatingtoto in the field experimental biology relating Funding opportunities available for ECRs working animal physiology or biomechanics animal comparative physiology or biomechanics in thecomparative field of experimental biology relating to animal comparative physiology or biomechanics

Travelling Fellowships

Travelling Fellowships

Travelling Offering Fellowships up to £3,000 to graduate students and postdocs, Offering up to £3,000 to graduate students and postdocs,

Travelling Fellowships help early-career researchers undertake Offering up toFellowships £3,000 tohelp graduate students and undertake postdocs, Travelling early-career researchers collaborative visits to other laboratories.

With no restriction collaborative visits tohelp other laboratories.

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With restriction on accommodation and other related expenses. accommodation and other related expenses. nationality, these grants are designed to offset the cost of travel, accommodation and other related expenses.

Research Kickstart Travel Grants ResearchPartnership Partnership Kickstart Travel Grants Offering these grants aimaim to support juniorjunior facultyfaculty Offeringup uptoto£2,000, £2,000, these grants to support staff* travel another research lab for toup seven days to Research Kickstart Travel Grants staff*to toPartnership traveltoto another research labup for to seven days to initiate a new research collaboration and develop, write and initiate a new research collaboration and write andfaculty Offering upato £2,000, grants aim todevelop, support junior submit major grant these application for collaborative research.

a major grant application research. staff*submit to travel to another researchfor labcollaborative for up to seven days to ECR Visiting Fellowships initiate a new research collaboration and develop, write and ECR Visiting Fellowships Offering up to £3,000, these grants provide funding to junior submit a major grant application for collaborative research.

Offering up to these grants provide funding to junior faculty staff* to £3,000, attract an early-career researcher (e.g. graduate faculty staff* to attractresearcher) an early-career researcher (e.g. graduate or post-doctoral to undertake a defined ECRstudent Visiting Fellowships research in their lab for one to three student project or post-doctoral researcher) to months. undertake a defined

Offering up toproject £3,000, theselabgrants research in their for oneprovide to threefunding months.to junior * e.g. Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Group Leader, Principal Investigator, faculty staff* to attract an early-career researcher (e.g. graduate within five years of setting up their first lab/research group * e.g.

Assistant Professor, Group Leader, Principal Investigator, student orLecturer, post-doctoral researcher) to undertake a defined within five years of setting up their first lab/research group research project in their lab for one to three months. * e.g. Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Group Leader, Principal Investigator, within five years of setting up their first lab/research group

biologists.com/grants

biologists.com/grants

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