Seasonal timing in a warming world:Plasticity of seasonal timing of growth and reproduction

In seasonal environments the timing of various biological processes is crucial for growth, survival and reproductive success of an individual. Nowadays, rapid large-scale climate change is altering species’ seasonal timing (phenology) in many eco¬systems. In this thesis Lucia Salis focuses on the study of seasonal timing in the food chain of the oak-winter moth-great tit. As temperature increased over the last decades, both phenologies of the host plant, the oak, and the herbivorous insect, the winter moth, have advanced. However, timing of egg-hatching in the winter moth has advanced more than the oak bud burst leading to the phenological mismatch and increased selection for later egg-hatching. In turn, as a result of the earlier phenology of the insects, a phenological mismatch has occurred between the great tit offspring’s food demand and the peak in caterpillars’ biomass, leading to enhanced selection for earlier egg-laying on the birds. The work presented in this thesis show that winter moth have adapted to warmer temperatures via microevolutionary shift in timing of egg-hatching. Next, the influence of temperature and photoperiod on the phenology of the entire life-cycle in the winter moth and the timing of reproduction in the great tit is investigated. Finally, this research deepens our understanding of the mechanisms underlying seasonal timing and ultimately forecast the rate of adaptation to changing conditions

Seasonal timing in a warming world:Plasticity of seasonal timing of growth and reproduction

In seasonal environments the timing of various biological processes is crucial for growth, survival and reproductive success of an individual. Nowadays, rapid large-scale climate change is altering species’ seasonal timing (phenology) in many eco¬systems. In this thesis Lucia Salis focuses on the study of seasonal timing in the food chain of the oak-winter moth-great tit. As temperature increased over the last decades, both phenologies of the host plant, the oak, and the herbivorous insect, the winter moth, have advanced. However, timing of egg-hatching in the winter moth has advanced more than the oak bud burst leading to the phenological mismatch and increased selection for later egg-hatching. In turn, as a result of the earlier phenology of the insects, a phenological mismatch has occurred between the great tit offspring’s food demand and the peak in caterpillars’ biomass, leading to enhanced selection for earlier egg-laying on the birds. The work presented in this thesis show that winter moth have adapted to warmer temperatures via microevolutionary shift in timing of egg-hatching. Next, the influence of temperature and photoperiod on the phenology of the entire life-cycle in the winter moth and the timing of reproduction in the great tit is investigated. Finally, this research deepens our understanding of the mechanisms underlying seasonal timing and ultimately forecast the rate of adaptation to changing conditions

Seasonal timing in a warming world:Plasticity of seasonal timing of growth and reproduction

In seasonal environments the timing of various biological processes is crucial for growth, survival and reproductive success of an individual. Nowadays, rapid large-scale climate change is altering species’ seasonal timing (phenology) in many eco¬systems. In this thesis Lucia Salis focuses on the study of seasonal timing in the food chain of the oak-winter moth-great tit. As temperature increased over the last decades, both phenologies of the host plant, the oak, and the herbivorous insect, the winter moth, have advanced. However, timing of egg-hatching in the winter moth has advanced more than the oak bud burst leading to the phenological mismatch and increased selection for later egg-hatching. In turn, as a result of the earlier phenology of the insects, a phenological mismatch has occurred between the great tit offspring’s food demand and the peak in caterpillars’ biomass, leading to enhanced selection for earlier egg-laying on the birds. The work presented in this thesis show that winter moth have adapted to warmer temperatures via microevolutionary shift in timing of egg-hatching. Next, the influence of temperature and photoperiod on the phenology of the entire life-cycle in the winter moth and the timing of reproduction in the great tit is investigated. Finally, this research deepens our understanding of the mechanisms underlying seasonal timing and ultimately forecast the rate of adaptation to changing conditions

Latitudinal variation in circadian rhythmicity in <i>Nasonia vitripennis</i>

Many physiological processes of living organisms show circadian rhythms, governed by an endogenous clock. This clock has a genetic basis and is entrained by external cues, such as light and temperature. Other physiological processes exhibit seasonal rhythms, that are also responsive to light and temperature. We previously reported a natural latitudinal cline of photoperiodic diapause induction in the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis in Europe and a correlated haplotype frequency for the circadian clock gene period (per). To evaluate if this correlation is reflected in circadian behaviour, we investigated the circadian locomotor activity of seven populations from the cline. We found that the proportion of rhythmic males was higher than females in constant darkness, and that mating decreased rhythmicity of both sexes. Only for virgin females, the free running period (tau) increased weakly with latitude. Wasps from the most southern locality had an overall shorter free running rhythm and earlier onset, peak, and offset of activity during the 24 h period, than wasps from the northernmost locality. We evaluated this variation in rhythmicity as a function of period haplotype frequencies in the populations and discussed its functional significance in the context of local adaptation

A IMPORTÂNCIA DA TUTORIA COMO INSTRUMENTO PARA O APERFEIÇOAMENTO PEDAGÓGICO DOS ACADÊMICOS

O objetivo central deste artigo analisar a importncia da tutoria como instrumento para o aperfeioamento pedaggico dos acadmicos, sendo que a mesma fundamenta-se no desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de estudo e trabalho que seja apropriada exigncia da formao profissional do aluno, contribuindo para a elevao da qualidade do processo formativo no mbito da construo de valores, atitudes, hbitos positivos e a promoo do desenvolvimento de habilidades intelectuais dos alunos

The Genome of Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) Provides a Genomic Perspective on Sexual Dimorphism and Phenology

The winter moth (Operophtera brumata) belongs to one of the most species-rich families in Lepidoptera, the Geometridae (approximately 23,000 species). This family is of great economic importance as most species are herbivorous and capable of defoliating trees. Genome assembly of the winter moth allows the study of genes and gene families, such as the cytochrome P450 gene family, which is known to be vital in plant secondary metabolite detoxification and host-plant selection. It also enables exploration of the genomic basis for female brachyptery (wing reduction), a feature of sexual dimorphism in winter moth, and for seasonal timing, a trait extensively studied in this species. Here we present a reference genome for the winter moth, the first geometrid and largest sequenced Lepidopteran genome to date (638 Mb) including a set of 16,912 predicted protein-coding genes. This allowed us to assess the dynamics of evolution on a genome-wide scale using the P450 gene family. We also identified an expanded gene family potentially linked to female brachyptery, and annotated the genes involved in the circadian clock mechanism as main candidates for involvement in seasonal timing. The genome will contribute to Lepidopteran genomic resources and comparative genomics. In addition, the genome enhances our ability to understand the genetic and molecular basis of insect seasonal timing and thereby provides a reference for future evolutionary and population studies on the winter moth

A machine-learning based bio-psycho-social model for the prediction of non-obstructive and obstructive coronary artery disease

Background: Mechanisms of myocardial ischemia in obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), and the interplay between clinical, functional, biological and psycho-social features, are still far to be fully elucidated. Objectives: To develop a machine-learning (ML) model for the supervised prediction of obstructive versus non-obstructive CAD. Methods: From the EVA study, we analysed adults hospitalized for IHD undergoing conventional coronary angiography (CCA). Non-obstructive CAD was defined by a stenosis &lt; 50% in one or more vessels. Baseline clinical and psycho-socio-cultural characteristics were used for computing a Rockwood and Mitnitski frailty index, and a gender score according to GENESIS-PRAXY methodology. Serum concentration of inflammatory cytokines was measured with a multiplex flow cytometry assay. Through an XGBoost classifier combined with an explainable artificial intelligence tool (SHAP), we identified the most influential features in discriminating obstructive versus non-obstructive CAD. Results: Among the overall EVA cohort (n = 509), 311 individuals (mean age 67 ± 11&nbsp;years, 38% females; 67% obstructive CAD) with complete data were analysed. The ML-based model (83% accuracy and 87% precision) showed that while obstructive CAD was associated with higher frailty index, older age and a cytokine signature characterized by IL-1β, IL-12p70 and IL-33, non-obstructive CAD was associated with a higher gender score (i.e., social characteristics traditionally ascribed to women) and with a cytokine signature characterized by IL-18, IL-8, IL-23. Conclusions: Integrating clinical, biological, and psycho-social features, we have optimized a sex- and gender-unbiased model that discriminates obstructive and non-obstructive CAD. Further mechanistic studies will shed light on the biological plausibility of these associations. Clinical trial registration: NCT02737982