DataCat: The Research Data Catalogue (University of Liverpool)
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Pollution induces epigenetic effects that are stably transmitted across multiple generations
No full textIt has been hypothesised that the effects of pollutants on phenotypes can be passed to subsequent generations through epigenetic inheritance, affecting populations long after the removal of a pollutant. But there is still little evidence that pollutants can induce persistent epigenetic effects in animals. Here we show that low doses of commonly used pollutants induce genome-wide differences in cytosine methylation in the freshwater crustacean Daphnia pulex. Uniclonal populations were either continually exposed to pollutants or switched to clean water, and methylation was compared to control populations that did not experience pollutant exposure. While some direct changes to methylation were only present in the continually exposed populations, others were present in both the continually exposed and switched to clean water treatments, suggesting that these modifications had persisted for seven months (> 15 generations). We also identified modifications which were only present in the populations that had switched to clean water, indicating a long-term legacy of pollutant exposure distinct from the persistent effects. Pollutant-induced differential methylation tended to occur at sites that were highly methylated in controls. Modifications that were observed in both continually and switched treatments were highly methylated in controls and showed reduced methylation in the treatments. On the other hand, modifications found just in the switched treatment tended to have lower levels of methylation in the controls and showed increase methylation in the switched treatment. In a second experiment we confirmed that sub-lethal doses of the same pollutants generate effects on life-histories for at least three generations following the removal of the pollutant. Our results demonstrate that even low doses of pollutants can induce transgenerational epigenetic effects that are stably transmitted over many generations. Persistent effects are likely to influence phenotypic development, which could contribute to the rapid adaptation, or extinction, of populations confronted by anthropogenic stressors
No net effect of host density on tick-borne disease hazard due to opposing roles of vector amplification and pathogen dilution
No full textTo better understand vector-borne disease dynamics, knowledge of the ecological interactions between animal hosts, vectors and pathogens is needed. The effects of hosts on disease hazard depends on their role in driving vector abundance and their ability to transmit pathogens. Theoretically, a host that cannot transmit a pathogen could dilute pathogen prevalence but increase disease hazard if it increases vector population size. In the case of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and vectored by Ixodid ticks, deer may have dual opposing effects on vectors and pathogen: deer drive tick population densities but do not transmit B. burgdorferi s.l. and could thus decrease or increase disease hazard. We aimed to test for the role of deer in shaping Lyme disease hazard by using a wide range of deer densities while taking transmission host abundance into account. We predicted that deer increase nymphal tick abundance while reducing pathogen prevalence. The resulting impact of deer on disease hazard will depend on the relative strengths of these opposing effects. We conducted a cross-sectional survey across 24 woodlands in Scotland between 2017 and 2019, estimating host (deer, rodents) abundance, questing Ixodes ricinus nymph density and B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence at each site. As predicted, deer density was positively associated with nymph density and negatively with nymphal infection prevalence. Overall, these two opposite effects cancelled each other out: Lyme disease hazard did not vary with increasing deer density. This demonstrates that, across a wide range of deer and rodent densities, the role of deer in amplifying tick densities cancels their effect of reducing pathogen prevalence. We demonstrate how non-competent host density has little effect on disease hazard even though they reduce pathogen prevalence, because of their role in increasing vector populations. These results have implications for informing disease mitigation strategies, especially through host management
A tale of two plasmids: contributions of plasmid associated phenotypes to epidemiological success among Shigella
No full textDissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mediated through plasmids is a major global concern. Genomic epidemiology studies have shown varying success of different AMR plasmids during outbreaks, but the underlying reasons for these differences are unclear. Here, we investigated two Shigella plasmids (pKSR100 and pAPR100) that circulated in the same transmission network but had starkly contrasting epidemiological outcomes to identify plasmid features that may have contributed to the differences. We used plasmid comparative genomics to reveal divergence between the two plasmids in genes encoding AMR, SOS response alleviation, and conjugation. Experimental analyses revealed that these genomic differences corresponded with reduced conjugation efficiencies for the epidemiologically successful pKSR100, but more extensive AMR, reduced fitness costs, and a reduced SOS response in the presence of antimicrobials, compared with the less successful pAPR100. The discrepant phenotypes between the two plasmids are consistent with the hypothesis that plasmid associated phenotypes contribute to determining the epidemiological outcome of AMR HGT and suggest that phenotypes relevant in responding to antimicrobial pressure and fitness impact may be more important than those around conjugation in this setting. Plasmid phenotypes could thus be valuable tools in conjunction with genomic epidemiology for predicting AMR dissemination
Partner intrinsic characteristics influence foraging trip duration, but not coordination of care in wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans
No full text1. Long-lived monogamous species gain long-term fitness benefits by equalising effort during bi-parental care. For example, many seabird species coordinate care by matching foraging trip durations within pairs.
2. Age affects coordination in some seabird species; however, the impact of other intrinsic traits, including personality, on potential intraspecific variation in coordination strength is less well understood.
3. The impacts of pair members’ intrinsic traits on trip duration and coordination strength were investigated using data from saltwater immersion loggers deployed on 71 pairs of wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans. These were modelled against pair members’ age, boldness and their partner’s previous trip duration.
4. At the population level, the birds exhibited some coordination of parental care that was of equal strength during incubation and chick-brooding. However, there was low variation in coordination between pairs and coordination strength was unaffected by the birds’ boldness or age in either breeding stage. Surprisingly, during incubation, foraging trip duration was mainly driven by partner traits, as birds that were paired to older and bolder partners took shorter trips. During chick-brooding, shorter foraging trips were associated with greater boldness in focal birds and their partners, but age had no effect.
5. These results suggest that an individual’s assessment of their partner’s capacity or willingness to provide care may be a major driver of trip duration, thereby highlighting the importance of accounting for pair behaviour when studying parental care strategies
Drosophila obscura
No full textA photography collection (lateral, ventral, and dorsal images) of Drosophila obscura. Part of a collection of photographs at Drosophoto.co
Drosophila subobscura
No full textA photography collection (lateral, ventral, and dorsal images) of Drosophila subobscura. Part of a collection of photographs at Drosophoto.co
Drosophila yakuba
No full textA photography collection (lateral, ventral, and dorsal images) of Drosophila yakuba. Part of a collection of photographs at Drosophoto.co
Data consisting of: Hall effect, hot probe, SIMS and capacitance-voltage methods for paper: P-type conductivity in Sn-doped Sb2Se3
No full textHot probe data demonstrating p-type conductivity in Sb2Se3; Hall effect data showing conductivity type, carrier density and carrier mobility in Sb2Se3; Capacitance-voltage data showing carrier density in Sb2Se3; Secondary ion mass spectroscopy data showing Sn incorporation into Sb2Se3
3D models, code and supplementary data from "Body size, shape and ecology in tetrapods"
No full text3D models, code and supplementary data from "Body size, shape and ecology in tetrapods" by Alice E. Maher, Gustavo Burin, Philip G. Cox, Thomas W. Maddox, Susannah C.R. Maidment, Natalie H. Cooper, Emma R. Schachner, Karl T. Bates. Nature Communications, 2022
Drosophila mauritiana
No full textA photography collection (lateral, ventral, and dorsal images) of Drosophila mauritiana. Part of a collection of photographs at Drosophoto.co
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