Conservation Physiology最新文献

{"title":"Physiology and the future of animals in shifting-sand deserts: living, moving and thermoregulating in the sand.","authors":"Duncan Mitchell, Mary K Seely, Shane K Maloney","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag057","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The conservation of the animals of the shifting-sand deserts requires a thorough understanding of the physiological mechanisms that not only enable them to function in the desert, but also may buffer them against future change. The animals there contend with little water and poor food resources. The animals of shifting-sand deserts also must move on and in loose sand and cannot construct unsupported burrows. Most are invertebrates, but the deserts also are home to many vertebrate species, mainly lizards. We describe the biomechanics of their locomotion on and in the sand. Some are quiescent buriers that remain near the surface, but remarkably, small desert mammals can swim to depths of more than 500 mm. Diurnally active animals retreat into the sand beneath their feet to avoid overheating in summer and freezing in winter, but burial and emergence are not determined by selection of the best thermal or hygric environment. We address the conundrum of why so many species that are active in the sun are black. The sand provides a fortress that resists invasion, but from which the residents cannot escape. The animals are under threat from climate change and from human use and abuse of the shifting-sand deserts, even though the sand is unsuitable for concrete. We argue that efforts to combat desertification do not absolve us from a need to conserve shifting-sand deserts. In a companion review, we discuss how the physiology of breathing, the acquisition of metabolic energy and the management of body water impacts the conservation of the animals of shifting-sand deserts.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag057"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13491554/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148801663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Linking physiology to seascape: spatial patterns of energy intake in a highly mobile pelagic predator inferred from electronic tags.","authors":"Takaaki Hasegawa, Joe Scutt Phillips, Daniel W Fuller, Takaaki K Abe, Kei Okamoto, Yoshinori Aoki, Kazunori Kumon, Takeshi Eba, Takashi Kitagawa","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag059","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spatial heterogeneity in energy acquisition of marine animals shapes regional variation in demographic processes and has important implications for conservation and management. However, quantifying energy intake in large pelagic predators and evaluating its broad-scale spatial structure remain extremely challenging. Here, we examined the spatial distribution of energy intake in yellowfin tuna (<i>Thunnus albacares</i>) across the tropical Pacific Ocean by coupling archival tagging data with a geostatistical model. We first conducted a feeding experiment to establish the relationship between the heat increment of feeding and ingested energy in yellowfin tuna (<i>N</i> = 20) using archival tags. This relationship was then applied to archival tagging data from wild fish (<i>N</i> = 36) to estimate their field energy intake. We then predicted spatial variation in foraging probability and positive energy intake with a geostatistical model and explored potential environmental drivers. Our results indicated a clear difference in energy intake, with higher values observed in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) compared to the western Pacific Ocean (WPO). Thermocline depth had a significant negative effect on foraging probability ([Formula: see text] = -0.58, 95% CI: -1.08 to -0.07), indicating that feeding was more likely in regions with a shallower thermocline. Model-based predictions showed a consistent eastward increase in mean energy intake, with values in the EPO reaching ~2.2 times those in the WPO. These results suggest that strong east-west contrasts in oceanographic structure across the tropical Pacific Ocean systematically shape feeding opportunities and energy acquisition in yellowfin tuna. Our findings provide physiological insight into mechanisms driving spatial variation in key demographic processes such as growth, with important implications for conservation and management of this commercially important species in a changing ocean.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag059"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13466724/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148726035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intra- and inter-specific differences of upper thermal limits in the sand darters (Percidae: <i>Ammocrypta</i>).","authors":"B L Firth, A R Holsopple, B R Kuhajda, A L George, D A R Drake, M Power","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag055","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intra- and inter-specific differences in upper thermal limits, such as thermal tolerance, can impact conservation decision-making, yet values are typically obtained from a single population. In this study, we assessed the intra- and inter-specific variation of critical thermal maximum (CT_max) and agitation temperature (T_ag) among two eastern sand darter (<i>Ammocrypta pellucida</i>) populations (intra-specific) and five species of sand darters (genus <i>Ammocrypta</i>; inter-specific). The <i>Ammocrypta</i> genus is a monophyletic clade of ecologically similar benthic fishes demonstrating high niche conservatism. Field based CT_max trials were conducted stream-side across seasons (April-August 2019 and 2023) to encompass a range of ambient water temperatures (12-28°C). No intra-specific differences in CT_max or T_ag between eastern sand darter populations were observed, but population was important in predicting T_ag. Minimal inter-specific differences were observed within <i>Ammocrypta</i> with only eastern and naked sand darters (<i>A. pellucida</i> and <i>Ammocrypta beanii</i>) having consistent differences in CT_max, while the southern sand darter (<i>Ammocrypta meridiana</i>) had lower acclimation capacity. Overall, study results provide a better understanding of thermal tolerance differences within <i>Ammocrypta</i> and underline the need for estimates of population- and species-specific tolerances for conservation-based decisions regarding species capacities to withstand climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag055"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13455357/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biologging of body temperature in a desert ungulate reveals water use, sex-specific seasonal thermoregulation and heterothermy-associated mortality.","authors":"Paige R Prentice, Hendrik J Combrink, Christina M Aiello, Holly K Arnold, Brianna R Beechler, Anna E Jolles, Clinton W Epps","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag056","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The inability to properly thermoregulate can be an early sign of physiological stress and indicate poor fitness in mammals. Advances in biologging technology enable continuous monitoring of core body temperature in free-ranging animals, offering insights into thermoregulation. Arid environments are characterized by extreme daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperature and limited water availability. As such, desert animals balance energetic demands of self-maintenance and reproduction against thermoregulatory constraints. In this study, we deployed reticulum implant transmitters (biologgers) in 43 desert bighorn sheep (<i>Ovis canadensis nelsoni</i>) across six Mojave Desert mountain ranges from November 2020 to December 2021, coinciding with a severe drought. Our aim was to (i) detect and assess frequency of water consumption, (ii) characterize seasonal, population-level and sex-specific patterns in daily body temperature metrics (minimum, maximum, median and amplitude) and (iii) test whether body temperature variability predicted mortality risk. Desert bighorn typically only rely on surface water during the hotter months, but biologgers provided high-resolution, year-round evidence of water consumption, providing novel insights into water usage during a drought year. Females exhibited greater thermal flexibility than males through increased body temperature variation via lower daily minima in the spring and higher daily maxima in the summer. Males were able to lower their body temperature during the summer mating season without increasing body temperature variation. Individuals that died exhibited significantly greater body temperature variability via lower daily minima preceding death than did survivors during corresponding periods-an early indicator of increased mortality risk in desert bighorn. Continuous core temperature monitoring via biologgers thus offers a powerful tool for linking physiological state to fitness in the field of conservation physiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag056"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13446989/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148686556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Haematological and plasma biochemistry reference intervals for free-ranging Australian pelicans.","authors":"D A Sullivan, J L Porter, J Ward, D Ramp, K J Brandis","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag042","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to establish haematological and plasma biochemistry reference intervals for free-ranging adult and pre-fledged juvenile Australian pelicans (<i>Pelecanus conspicillatus</i>). These values represent the first species-specific assessments conducted to establish baseline blood values in a wild population of this species. Blood samples were collected from 58 adult pelicans and 53 pre-fledged juveniles between 2018 and 2024 across key sites in the Gippsland Lakes, Victoria, a significant Ramsar wetland for breeding pelicans. Complete blood counts and plasma biochemistry analyses were conducted to characterize reference intervals. White blood cell counts showed heterophils as the most abundant cell type in all age classes. Results revealed significant age-related differences in haematocrit values and plasma chemistry, including urea, total protein and calcium. By interpreting these data within a physiological as well as pathological framework, the study enhances understanding of normal species function and variation across life stages. This study fills a critical gap in understanding pelican physiology and provides essential reference data for wildlife veterinarians, rehabilitators and conservation biologists in the assessment and management of pelican health, facilitating more effective interventions and providing a tool for monitoring broader ecosystem health.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag042"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13432993/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148671434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validating infrared thermography for non-invasive estimation of internal body temperature in hatchling Mojave desert tortoises.","authors":"Thomas A Radzio, Talisin T Hammond, Ronald R Swaisgood, Melissa J Merrick","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag053","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quantifying thermoregulatory parameters, such as preferred and realized body temperatures, is essential for predicting ectotherm responses to climate change, and accurate estimates of internal body temperature are central to these efforts. In reptiles, cloacal temperature serves as the primary field- and laboratory-standard proxy for internal body temperature. Infrared thermography (IRT) is increasingly used to estimate internal body temperatures of small ectotherms because it minimizes disturbance to animal behaviour, thereby improving data quality. Although IRT has advantages over traditional contact methods, it relies on correlations between external and internal body temperatures, which can vary across taxa. To evaluate IRT's efficacy for estimating internal temperature of small turtles, we compared surface and cloacal temperatures of hatchling Mojave desert tortoises (<i>Gopherus agassizii</i>) under warming, elevated temperature and cooling conditions on two laboratory thermal gradients spanning moderate to extreme temperature ranges. Among five measured shell and body regions, shell temperatures correlated most strongly with cloacal temperatures. IRT produced accurate estimates during elevated temperature and cooling phases but was less accurate during warming from low initial body temperatures, particularly under steeper thermal gradients. We also evaluated IRT in two additional contexts: hatchling rearing enclosures and a behavioural experiment. Shell and cloacal temperatures aligned closely in rearing enclosures but exhibited larger discrepancies in the behavioural experiment. Our findings suggest that IRT is a promising tool for non-invasive estimation of cloacal temperature in hatchling desert tortoises (25-101 g). This tool is most useful under moderate thermal conditions when body temperatures are near thermal equilibrium but should be used with caution during periods of rapid temperature change when surface and internal temperatures may diverge. Once validated within a given study system, IRT can provide a practical alternative to traditional methods for monitoring body temperature while reducing disturbance and handling stress that may alter natural thermal behaviour.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag053"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13427760/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148654618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Faecal immunoglobulin A as a non-invasive biomarker of mucosal immunity and health in zoo and wild mammals.","authors":"Worapong Kosaruk, Patcharapa Towiboon, Sarisa Klinhom","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag054","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag054","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-invasive biomarkers of immune function are increasingly important for assessing health, welfare and disease risk in zoo and wild mammals, particularly because they support repeated monitoring while minimizing handling-related disturbance. Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), a key component of mucosal immunity, can be quantified from faecal samples and provides a practical measure of gut-associated immune activity without invasive sampling. We conducted a systematic literature review of 21 peer-reviewed studies that quantified faecal IgA across diverse mammalian taxa and ecological contexts. Across species, faecal IgA was technically measurable and biologically responsive, but its interpretation was strongly context dependent. Reported patterns reflected interactions among pathogen exposure, physiological stress, nutritional state, life-history stage and management conditions. In captive settings, faecal IgA frequently varied with individual heterogeneity and management factors and showed inconsistent alignment with endocrine stress markers. In free-ranging populations, faecal IgA more commonly tracked parasite burden, reproductive investment, seasonal variation and host-microbiome dynamics. However, most ecological and welfare-associated patterns were derived from observational designs, which limit causal inference. Additionally, methodological heterogeneity in assay validation, sample processing and preservation limited direct quantitative comparison among studies. Overall, faecal IgA does not function as a unidimensional indicator of stress or welfare, but rather as a context-sensitive marker of mucosal immune allocation. We integrate these findings into a conceptual framework linking external pressures, mucosal immune dynamics, complementary biomarkers and health-related outcomes to guide interpretation across zoo and wild settings. When embedded within longitudinal and multi-marker approaches supported by species-specific validation, faecal IgA has potential to contribute meaningfully to non-invasive health assessment in conservation physiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag054"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13411278/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148622617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Greenland sharks keep their cool under fishing pressure.","authors":"Daniel M Ripley","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag051","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag051","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag051"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402951/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148609956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Androgenic agricultural pollution suppresses immune function and alters reproductive allocation in eastern mosquitofish.","authors":"Upama Aich, Gabriel Melhado, Raiko Rafeeq, Morelia Camacho-Cervantes, Jack Manera, Bob B M Wong","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag052","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anthropogenic pollution poses a serious threat to wildlife. Particularly concerning are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) due to their ability to mimic or interfere with hormone signalling. Given the fundamental role of hormones in regulating immunity and reproduction, androgenic EDCs are predicted to impact immunocompetence and associated life-history trade-offs. Yet, despite their potency and environmental ubiquity, the effects of androgenic EDCs on immune function and reproductive allocation remain poorly understood. Here, we tested how exposure to the androgenic agricultural pollutant 17β-trenbolone affects immunity and reproductive investment in eastern mosquitofish (<i>Gambusia holbrooki</i>). Adult mosquitofish were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of trenbolone (control: 0 ng/l, low: 11 ± 2.9 ng/l, high: 101 ± 13.6 ng/l) for 45 days. Immune function was assessed using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced skin swelling, white blood cell (WBC) counts and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), while male reproductive investment was quantified by sperm production. Trenbolone exposure significantly impaired immunity, reducing PHA-induced swelling by ~25%, decreasing total WBC counts and increasing NLRs, a biomarker of inflammation and immune response. In contrast, trenbolone exposure increased sperm number, and we found an overall negative correlation between immune response and sperm production. Our findings highlight how androgenic pollutants can simultaneously compromise immunity and alter reproductive allocation, enforcing evolutionary trade-offs that could negatively affect individual fitness and population resilience in contaminated environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag052"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13397028/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148585902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial light at night suppresses the metabolic response of a coral reef fish to a virtual predator.","authors":"Izzy C Tiddy, Manuel Vidal, Suzanne C Mills, Ricardo Beldade, Shaun S Killen","doi":"10.1093/conphys/coag045","DOIUrl":"10.1093/conphys/coag045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial light at night is an increasingly widespread feature of coastal environments and is known to alter animal physiology, but its effects on predator-prey interactions are poorly understood. Here, we show that chronic exposure to artificial light fundamentally alters metabolic responses to predation risk in a coral reef fish. Using immersive virtual reality to present a standardized visual predator stimulus while simultaneously measuring oxygen uptake, we quantified responses of wild-caught Polynesian anemonefish <i>Amphiprion maohiensis</i> with known histories of ambient or artificial nighttime light exposure. Fish from ambient light environments exhibited a strong anti-predator response, characterized by a suppression of metabolic rate (MR). In contrast, fish chronically exposed to artificial light increased their MR when faced with the same predator stimulus. This study demonstrates that artificial light can modify how physiological systems respond during ecologically critical interactions, making artificial light an important consideration when managing coastal systems. As light pollution expands globally, such disruption of predator-prey dynamics may have cascading consequences for energy budgets, survival and population persistence in coastal ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":54331,"journal":{"name":"Conservation Physiology","volume":"14 1","pages":"coag045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402952/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148609996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}