Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity

Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and amphibians. We test hypotheses of how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, and pace of life history contribute to demographic aging. Controlling for phylogeny and body size, ectotherms display a higher diversity of aging rates compared with endotherms and include phylogenetically widespread evidence of negligible aging. Protective phenotypes and life-history strategies further explain macroevolutionary patterns of aging. Analyzing ectothermic tetrapods in a comparative context enhances our understanding of the evolution of aging.Animal science

Assessing the phenology and reproductive output of loggerhead turtles in relation to climatic variables at Patara Beach, Türkiye

Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), being ectothermic organisms, could be especially susceptible to climate change effects, and may exhibit climate-related variation in their reproductive behaviours such as phenology, annual nest numbers, clutch size, hatching success, incubation period and sex ratio. This study investigated the reproductive phenology and outputs of loggerhead turtles and their relationships with climatic variables over a 5-year period (2019-2023) at Patara Beach, T ; uuml;rkiye. We found significant fluctuations in atmospheric temperature, sea surface temperature and relative humidity, and that female turtle emergences on Patara Beach could temporarily adjust their phenology in response to these minor environmental changes. We highlight the importance of understanding the impacts of phenological shifts on the ability to satisfy the conditions over the nesting season that determine reproductive output. Our statistical analyses also showed that increasing sea water temperatures and atmospheric temperatures, as well as decreasing precipitation and relative humidity, had direct and/or indirect effects on the nesting phenology and reproductive output of loggerhead turtles. The findings from this study indicate that atmospheric temperature significantly affected incubation period, hatching success rate, the number of dead embryos and the number of empty eggshells. Additionally, relative humidity had a significant impact on the incubation period and the number of empty eggshells. In this context, rising temperatures led to drier nest conditions, decreased incubation periods and increased nest temperatures, resulting in higher proportions of female offspring. In conclusion, there are still gaps in our understanding of the effects of climate change on the reproductive biology of loggerhead turtles, and more studies are needed at both the Mediterranean and global scales to better understand these effects.This study was a part of the first author's PhD thesis, and she was granted by the TUEBITAK Scientist Support Programs Directorate (BIDEB) within the scope of the 2211- National PhD Scholarship Programs. Permission for fieldwork and for handling and sampling of the turtles was granted by the Animal Ethics Committee of Pamukkale University and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. This research was supported by the Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Unit-BAP (Project No: 2023FEBE012). We also wish to thank the General Directorate of the Protection of Natural Assets, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, for financial support.TUEBITAK Scientist Support Programs Directorate (BIDEB) [2211]; Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Unit-BAP [2023FEBE012]; General Directorate of the Protection of Natural Assets, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Chang

Turkey

Loggerhead turtle nests at risk from tidal inundation and predation were either relocated, screened against predation, or fenced in areas of heavy human activity on Fethiye, Dalyan, and Dalaman beaches during the nesting seasons of 2000-2002. Relocation, screening, and fencing clearly increased the hatching success rate and provided effective protection of sea turtle nests against inundation and predation. The emergence pattern and sex ratios of hatchlings, incubation periods, and distances of nests front the water line were analyzed. Incubation temperatures leading to a high female-biased sex ratio were found on Dalyan Beach. Sand and nest temperatures of the relocated nests at the hatchery site influenced the sex ratios, as seen front histological sexing of dead hatchlings from both in situ and relocated nests

glutamate on neonatal rats

Background/aim: The objective of this study was to investigate and analyze the behavioral and neurochemical effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) injections at various and subsequent dosages on male Wistar rats during the neonatal period.Materials and methods: In order to determine the behavioral and neurochemical effects of MSG, the experiment was implemented on neonatal male Wistar rats and the test was repeated for various MSG dosages. After completing the experiment, additionally, levels of dopamine, GABA, catecholamine (dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline) and glutamate in the brain cells of the decapitated rats were also measured using the ELISA method.Results: Considering the results of the behavioral test, when we compared the test values of the control group with the values of the MSG-injected groups we noted that there were significant differences in the statistical figures obtained. Additionally, we found that the statistical figures of some neurochemical parameters were also significantly different when we compared the values of the MSG group with the control values.Conclusion: MSG injection has a clear effect on the neurochemical parameters, learning memory, and locomotor activities of rats

Beysehir frog Pelophylax caralitanus

In many amphibians, skeletochronology is a reliable tool for assessing individual mean longevity, growth rates and age at sexual maturity. We used this approach to determine the age structure of 162 individuals from two Pelophylax caralitanus populations. All individuals exhibited Lines of Arrested Growth (LAGs) in the bone cross-sections and the average age varied between 4.5 and 5.4 years in both Isikli and Burdur populations. Although intraspecific age structure and sex-specific age structure did not differ significantly between populations, we found that the Isikli population had a lower body size in the same age class, had lower growths rates and lower values of survival rates and adult life expectancy than the Burdur population.C1 [Arisoy, Aysen Gunay; Baskale, Eyup] Pamukkale Univ, Fac Arts & Sci, Dept Biol, Denizli, Turkey