Testing the beneficial acclimation hypothesis: temperature effects on mating success in a butterfly

Traditionally, it has been assumed that all acclimation changes to the phenotype enhance the performance of an individual organism in the environment in which those changes were induced (beneficial acclimation hypothesis [BAH]), a theory that has been repeatedly challenged in recent years. We here use a full-factorial design with 2 developmental and 2 acclimation temperatures to test their effects on reproductive performance in the tropical butterfly, Bicyclus anynana. Competition experiments among virgin males from different thermal groups revealed that, at 20 �C, both groups acclimated to 20 �C achieved more than twice as many matings as those acclimated to 27 �C, whereas at 27 �C, only one group (acclimated to 27 �C) outperformed all others. Chill-coma recovery times were also longer for butterflies that developed at higher temperatures, indicating that butterflies responded physiologically to the temperatures at which they were reared. Our results support the BAH at least in part, and do not support any alternative hypotheses. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.

Co-creating science communication and research with young people about their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

<p>Poster presented at the Citizen Science 4 Health Conference 2023 based on the 'Giving Young People a Voice' project, run by Aarhus University and partners in Denmark.</p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>During the COVID-19 lockdown, many young individuals faced significant mental health challenges as their daily lives underwent radical changes. They were confined to their homes and deprived of regular social activities. In the project "Giving Young People a Voice," we took the initiative to engage young individuals in two-way science communication regarding their mental health, as well as co-creation of coping strategies to empower them. Furthermore, we engaged five of the young people as co-researchers and workshop facilitators. Through three iterative and participatory workshops we actively involved more than 150 (16-20 y/o) young individuals in a co-creative process. The initial workshop focused on the challenges and benefits the young people experienced during the COVID-19 lockdown. In the following workshop, a group of young individuals undertook the task of analyzing these reflections. In the third workshop, a separate group of young participants effectively translated the synthesized reflections into actionable recommendations or advice. Finally, the collaboration was documented by a mixed method approach containing both interviews, observations, and a questionnaire. Results demonstrated value creation for all participants and provided valuable insights for enhancing two-way science communication and co-creation. We propose that involving young co-researchers can be an effective approach to engaging other young people in research through peer-to-peer communication and fostering meaningful participation for all.</p&gt