Response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)

Abstract The potentially devastating effects of climate change have raised awareness of the need to understand how the biology of wild animals is influenced by extreme-weather events. We investigate how a wild arctic-breeding bird, the Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus), responds to different e...

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Main Authors: Zhou Wu, Matthew M. Hindle, Valerie R. Bishop, Angus M. A. Reid, Katarzyna Miedzinska, Jonathan H. Pérez, Jesse S. Krause, John C. Wingfield, Simone L. Meddle, Jacqueline Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07370-4
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author Zhou Wu
Matthew M. Hindle
Valerie R. Bishop
Angus M. A. Reid
Katarzyna Miedzinska
Jonathan H. Pérez
Jesse S. Krause
John C. Wingfield
Simone L. Meddle
Jacqueline Smith
author_facet Zhou Wu
Matthew M. Hindle
Valerie R. Bishop
Angus M. A. Reid
Katarzyna Miedzinska
Jonathan H. Pérez
Jesse S. Krause
John C. Wingfield
Simone L. Meddle
Jacqueline Smith
author_sort Zhou Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The potentially devastating effects of climate change have raised awareness of the need to understand how the biology of wild animals is influenced by extreme-weather events. We investigate how a wild arctic-breeding bird, the Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus), responds to different environmental perturbations and its coping strategies. We explore the transcriptomic response to environmental adversity during the transition from arrival at the breeding grounds to incubation on the Arctic tundra. The effects of an extremely cold spring on arrival and a severe storm during incubation are examined through RNA-seq analysis of pertinent tissues sampled across the breeding cycle. The stress response, circadian rhythms, reproduction, and metabolism are all affected. A key gene of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, FKBP5, was significantly up-regulated in hypothalamus. The genome assembly and gene expression profiles provide comprehensive resources for future studies. Our findings on different coping strategies to chronic and acute stressors will contribute to understanding the interplay between changing environments and genomic regulation.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2399-3642
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Communications Biology
spelling doaj-art-01719eace3084c8584e022bdda87513a2025-08-20T01:59:47ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-12-017111410.1038/s42003-024-07370-4Response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)Zhou Wu0Matthew M. Hindle1Valerie R. Bishop2Angus M. A. Reid3Katarzyna Miedzinska4Jonathan H. Pérez5Jesse S. Krause6John C. Wingfield7Simone L. Meddle8Jacqueline Smith9The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush CampusThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush CampusThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush CampusThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush CampusThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush CampusDepartment of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Biology, University of Nevada RenoDepartment of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of CaliforniaThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush CampusThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush CampusAbstract The potentially devastating effects of climate change have raised awareness of the need to understand how the biology of wild animals is influenced by extreme-weather events. We investigate how a wild arctic-breeding bird, the Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus), responds to different environmental perturbations and its coping strategies. We explore the transcriptomic response to environmental adversity during the transition from arrival at the breeding grounds to incubation on the Arctic tundra. The effects of an extremely cold spring on arrival and a severe storm during incubation are examined through RNA-seq analysis of pertinent tissues sampled across the breeding cycle. The stress response, circadian rhythms, reproduction, and metabolism are all affected. A key gene of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, FKBP5, was significantly up-regulated in hypothalamus. The genome assembly and gene expression profiles provide comprehensive resources for future studies. Our findings on different coping strategies to chronic and acute stressors will contribute to understanding the interplay between changing environments and genomic regulation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07370-4
spellingShingle Zhou Wu
Matthew M. Hindle
Valerie R. Bishop
Angus M. A. Reid
Katarzyna Miedzinska
Jonathan H. Pérez
Jesse S. Krause
John C. Wingfield
Simone L. Meddle
Jacqueline Smith
Response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
Communications Biology
title Response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
title_full Response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
title_fullStr Response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
title_full_unstemmed Response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
title_short Response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
title_sort response strategies to acute and chronic environmental stress in the arctic breeding lapland longspur calcarius lapponicus
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07370-4
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