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1.
J Pediatr ; 273: 114156, 2024 Jun 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38897381

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and global quality of life (QOL) in children and adolescents with Fontan physiology and identify key predictors influencing these outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of 73 children and adolescents enrolled in the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry aged 6-17 years, at least 12 months post-Fontan operation. Assessments included the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) for HRQOL and a developmentally-tailored visual analogue scale (0-10) for global QOL, along with validated sociodemographic, clinical, psychological, relational, and parental measures. Clinical data were provided by the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry. RESULTS: Participants (mean age: 11.5 ± 2.6 years, 62% male) reported lower overall HRQOL (P < .001), and lower scores across all HRQOL domains (all P < .0001), compared with normative data. Median global QOL score was 7.0 (IQR 5.8-8.0), with most participants (79%) rating their global QOL ≥6. Anxiety and depressive symptoms requiring clinical assessment were reported by 21% and 26% of participants, respectively. Age, sex, and perceived seriousness of congenital heart disease explained 15% of the variation in HRQOL scores, while depressive symptoms and treatment-related anxiety explained an additional 37% (final model: 52% of variance explained). For global QOL, sociodemographic and clinical factors explained 13% of the variance in scores, while depressive symptoms explained a further 25% (final model: 38% of variance explained). Parental factors were not associated with child QOL outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with Fontan physiology experience lower HRQOL than community-based norms, despite reporting fair overall QOL. Psychological factors predominantly influenced QOL outcomes, indicating strategies to bolster psychological health could improve QOL in this population.

2.
Australas J Ageing ; 43(2): 314-322, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38258915

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a facilitated advance care planning (ACP) intervention implemented in outpatient clinics, as perceived by health-care professionals (HCPs). METHODS: Data from seven focus groups (n = 27) and nine semi-structured interviews with HCPs recruited as part of a pragmatic, randomised controlled trial (RCT) were analysed using qualitative descriptive methodology. Components of the intervention included HCP education and training, tools to assist HCPs with patient selection, hardcopy information, and ACP documentation, and specialised nurse-facilitators to support HCPs to complete ACP conversations and documentation with patients and caregivers. RESULTS: Health-care professionals working in tertiary outpatient clinics perceived the facilitated ACP intervention as feasible and acceptable. Health-care professionals reported a high level of satisfaction with key elements of the intervention, including the specialised education and training, screening and assessment procedures and ongoing support from the nurse-facilitators. Health-care professionals reported this training and support increased their confidence and ACP knowledge, leading to more frequent ACP discussions with patients and their families. Health-care professionals noted their ability to conduct ACP screening and assessment in clinic was impeded by large clinical caseloads and patient-related factors (e.g., dementia diagnoses, and emotional distress). Additional barriers to ACP implementation identified by HCPs included poor collaboration, constrained time and clinical space, undefined roles and standardised recording procedures for HCPs. CONCLUSIONS: Facilitated ACP intervention in outpatient clinics is perceived by HCPs as feasible and acceptable. Addressing barriers and tailoring implementation strategies may improve the delivery of ACP as part of tertiary outpatient care.


Subject(s)
Advance Care Planning , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Attitude of Health Personnel , Feasibility Studies , Qualitative Research , Humans , Ambulatory Care Facilities/organization & administration , Male , Female , Health Personnel/psychology , Focus Groups , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Middle Aged , Interviews as Topic , Adult
3.
J Appl Gerontol ; 43(4): 339-348, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37949095

ABSTRACT

Guidelines recommend advance care planning (ACP) for people with advanced illness; however, evidence supporting ACP as a component of outpatient care is lacking. We sought to establish the feasibility and acceptability of a facilitated ACP intervention for people attending tertiary outpatient clinics. Data from 20 semi-structured interviews with patient (M = 79.3 ± 7.7, 60% male) and caregiver (M = 68.1 ± 11.0, 60% female) participants recruited as part of a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial (RCT) were analyzed using qualitative descriptive methodology. Patients were randomized to intervention (e.g., facilitated support) or control (e.g., standard care). Intervention patients expressed high satisfaction, reporting the facilitated ACP session was clear, straightforward, and suited to their needs. Intervention caregivers did not report any significant concerns with the facilitated ACP process. Control participants reported greater difficulty completing ACP compared to intervention participants. Embedding facilitated ACP into tertiary outpatient care appears feasible and acceptable for people with advanced illnesses.


Subject(s)
Advance Care Planning , Caregivers , Male , Female , Humans , Feasibility Studies , Qualitative Research , Ambulatory Care Facilities
4.
Animals (Basel) ; 13(4)2023 Feb 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36830510

ABSTRACT

Island biogeography theories predict that characteristics such as island size, age, and isolation interplay in host-parasite dynamics. In this study, we analyzed haemogregarines of the Aegean wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii, to investigate how island characteristics relate to parasite prevalence and intensity. A previous assessment of 19 Greek island populations suggested that isolation time and host population density were key predictors of haemogregarines. Here, by combining microscopy and genetic techniques, we extend this previous study to four additional islands: Syros, Folegandros, Santorini and Nea Kameni. We also recorded the prevalence of ticks and mites, definitive hosts for these parasites. The genetically identified haemogregarines are part of a clade with parasites from other lizard species, including some considered as Karyolysus, but others assigned to Hepatozoon. The prevalence of these parasites differed significantly between islands, while their intensity did not. The presence of ticks was associated with endoparasite prevalence, and males were more frequently infected by haemogregarines than females. Combining our data with that of the previous study, we found no significant impact of the island age and area on parasite prevalence. We also confirmed the presence of the unrelated parasite genus Schellackia through microscopy and DNA sequencing, which is the first record of this genus in this host species. Our results further highlight the complexity of host-parasite systems.

5.
BMJ Open ; 12(9): e065726, 2022 09 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36127092

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Advances in the care of patients with single-ventricle congenital heart disease have led to a new generation of individuals living with a Fontan circulation. For people with Fontan physiology, physical, psychological and neurodevelopmental challenges are common. The objective of this study is to describe and develop a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to quality of life (QOL) among children, adolescents and adults living with a Fontan circulation across Australia and New Zealand, their parents and siblings. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This article presents the protocol for the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry (ANZFR) QOL Study, a cross-sectional, population-based study designed to examine QOL among people of all ages with a Fontan circulation, their parents and siblings. Study eligibility criteria includes (1) individuals with a Fontan circulation aged ≥6 years, at least 12 months post-Fontan procedure and enrolled in the ANZFR; (2) parents of individuals enrolled in the ANZFR; and (3) siblings aged ≥6 years of an individual enrolled in the ANZFR. A novel, online research platform is used to distribute personalised assessments tailored to participant age and developmental stage. A suite of validated psychometric self-report and parent-proxy report instruments capture potential correlates and predictors of QOL, including symptoms of psychological distress, personality attributes, coping and cognitive appraisals, family functioning, healthcare experiences and costs, access to emotional support and socioeconomic factors. Clinical characteristics are captured via self-report and parent-proxy report, as well as the ANZFR. Descriptive analyses and multilevel models will be used to examine QOL across groups and to investigate potential explanatory variables. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Approval has been obtained from all relevant Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs), including the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network and the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne HRECs. Study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international meetings and seminars.


Subject(s)
Fontan Procedure , Adolescent , Adult , Australia , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , New Zealand , Parents , Quality of Life , Registries , Siblings
6.
Bioorg Chem ; 128: 106074, 2022 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35987188

ABSTRACT

The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxyamides (IAPs) are a unique class of compounds endowed with impressive nanomolar in vitro potency against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as exemplified by clinical candidate Telacebec (Q203). These compounds target mycobacterial respiration through inhibition of the QcrB subunit of cytochrome bc1:aa3 super complex resulting in bacteriostatic efficacy in vivo. Our labs have had a long-standing interest in the design and development of IAPs. However, some of these compounds suffer from short in vivo half-lives, requiring multiple daily dosing or the addition of a cytochrome P450 inhibitor for murine efficacy evaluations. Deuteration has been shown to decrease metabolism as the C-D bond is stronger than the CH bond. Herein we describe our efforts on design and synthesis of potent deuterated IAPs and the effect that deuteration has upon metabolism through microsomal stability studies.


Subject(s)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Tuberculosis , Animals , Antitubercular Agents/chemistry , Humans , Mice , Pyridines/metabolism , Pyridines/pharmacology , Tuberculosis/microbiology
7.
Psychol Health ; : 1-27, 2022 May 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35635028

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize and critically evaluate evidence on the effectiveness of integrated psychological care models for children with complex chronic illness within pediatric hospital settings and provide recommendations for successful implementation. DESIGN: Six electronic databases (Medline, Cochrane, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL) were systematically searched for English language studies including families of children aged 0-17 years with complex chronic illness. Eligible studies reported on psychology or neuropsychology screening, assessment, intervention, or services provided within a pediatric hospital setting. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were identified for review; nine assessed a psychological service, five examined psychosocial screening, and one examined a neuropsychology service. Three studies demonstrated the effectiveness of integrated psychological services in improving child or parent physical, psychological, or behavioral health outcomes. Uptake of psychosocial screening was high (84-96%), but only 25-37% of children or families identified as 'at-risk' engaged with on-site psychology services. Integrated psychological services offering consultations at the same time and location as the child's medical visit reported the highest rates of uptake (77-100%). CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence supports co-location of child medical and psychological services. A more consistent and comprehensive approach to the assessment of patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes and implementation effectiveness is recommended.

8.
Health Psychol Rev ; 16(3): 378-411, 2022 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33955329

ABSTRACT

Diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) can present challenges to the developing parent-child relationship due to periods of infant hospitalization and intensive medical care, parent-infant separations, child neurodevelopmental delay and feeding problems, and significant parent and child distress and trauma. Yet, the ways in which CHD may affect the parent-child relationship are not well-understood. We systematically reviewed the evidence on parental bonding, parent-child interaction, and child attachment following CHD diagnosis, according to a pre-registered protocol (CRD42019135687). Six electronic databases were searched for English-language studies comparing a cardiac sample (i.e., expectant parents or parents and their child aged 0-5 years with CHD) with a healthy comparison group on relational outcomes. Of 22 unique studies, most used parent-report measures (73%) and yielded mixed results for parental bonding and parent-child interaction quality. Observational results also varied, although most studies (4 of 6) found difficulties in parent-child interaction on one or more affective or behavioural domains (e.g., lower maternal sensitivity, lower infant responsiveness). Research on parental-fetal bonding, father-child relationships, and child attachment behaviour was lacking. Stronger evidence is needed to determine the nature, prevalence, and predictors of relational disruptions following CHD diagnosis, and to inform targeted screening, prevention, and early intervention programs for at-risk dyads.


Subject(s)
Heart Defects, Congenital , Object Attachment , Child, Preschool , Female , Heart Defects, Congenital/diagnosis , Humans , Infant , Parent-Child Relations , Parents/psychology , Pregnancy
9.
PDA J Pharm Sci Technol ; 76(1): 34-51, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34131011

ABSTRACT

An important prerequisite for aseptic production of pharmaceuticals is the appropriate reduction of microbiological contamination. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly applied as decontamination agent for such processes in barrier systems. The development and validation of the barrier decontamination cycles is usually performed with the use of biological indicators (Geobacillus stearothermophilus). However, these indicators inherit certain drawbacks. A new type of indicators became available lately, based on the use of enzyme as a substance decomposed by hydrogen peroxide. There is no broad experience on the practical application of these enzyme indicators yet. Therefore, we investigated the practical use of enzyme indicators in comparison with biological indicators. To broaden the understanding on how these indicators might be used in practice, we provided an evaluation of indicator response variability and the correlation of enzyme indicator results to biological indicator results. In this study, we found the variability of the quantitative enzyme indicator reading to be < 30%, which is much smaller than the variability for spore enumeration of biological indicators (-50% to +300%). Further, we introduced a universal normalization approach to enable convenient comparison and evaluation of different enzyme indicator results. Finally, we discussed a new approach to establish a quantitative correlation between enzyme indicators and biological indicators with the use of threshold values to extrapolate theoretical biological indicator group results. We take the findings of this study as a basis for a suggestion on the practical application of enzyme indicators. We expect that the discussed possibilities of correlating enzyme indicator results to biological indicator results will allow the combined practical use of both indicator types. This would enable the continued application of proven approaches in new ways. Beyond this, the fast reading of enzyme indicators with the gain of significant quantitative information might result in faster and safer qualification and validation of pharmaceutical production equipment in the future.


Subject(s)
Decontamination , Hydrogen Peroxide , Decontamination/methods , Drug Contamination , Environmental Biomarkers , Geobacillus stearothermophilus
10.
New Phytol ; 228(1): 95-105, 2020 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32395835

ABSTRACT

Plant flammability varies across species, but the evolutionary basis for this variation is not well understood. Phylogenetic analysis of interspecific variation in flammability can provide insights into the evolution of plant flammability. We measured four components of flammability (ignitability, sustainability, combustibility and consumability) to assess the shoot-level flammability of 21 species of Dracophyllum (Ericaceae). Using a macroevolutionary approach, we explored phylogenetic patterns of variation in shoot-level flammability. Shoot-level flammability varied widely in Dracophyllum. Species in the subgenus Oreothamnus had higher flammability and smaller leaves than those in the subgenus Dracophyllum. Shoot flammability (ignitability, combustibility and consumability) and leaf length showed phylogenetic conservatism across genus Dracophyllum, but exhibited lability among some closely related species, such as D. menziesii and D. fiordense. Shoot flammability of Dracophyllum species was negatively correlated with leaf length and shoot moisture content, but had no relationship with the geographic distribution of Dracophyllum species. Shoot-level flammability varied widely in the genus Dracophyllum, but showed phylogenetic conservatism. The higher flammability of the subgenus Oreothamnus may be an incidental or emergent property as a result of the evolution of flammability-related traits, such as smaller leaves, which were selected for other functions and incidentally changed flammability.


Subject(s)
Ericaceae , Fires , Phylogeny , Plant Leaves , Plants
11.
J Am Heart Assoc ; 9(6): e014172, 2020 03 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32172648

ABSTRACT

Background People with a Fontan circulation experience a range of physical, psychosocial and neurodevelopmental challenges alongside, or caused by, their cardiac condition, with significant consequences for health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We meta-analyzed HRQOL outcomes reported by people with a Fontan circulation or their proxies and evaluated predictors of poorer HRQOL. Methods and Results Six electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed, English-language articles published before March 2019. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated using fixed and random-effects models. Fifty articles reporting on 29 unique studies capturing HRQOL outcomes for 2793 people with a Fontan circulation and 1437 parent-proxies were analyzed. HRQOL was lower in individuals with a Fontan circulation compared with healthy referents or normative samples (SMD, -0.92; 95% CI, -1.36 to -0.48; P<0.001). Lower scores were reported across all HRQOL domains, with the largest differences found for physical (SMD, -0.90; 95% CI, -1.13 to -0.67; P<0.001) and school/work functioning (SMD, -0.71; 95% CI, -0.90 to -0.52; P<0.001). Meta-regression analyses found no significant predictors of self-reported physical functioning, but older age at Fontan operation was associated with poorer emotional functioning (ß=-0.124; P=0.004), and diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart was associated with poorer social functioning (ß=-0.007; P=0.048). Sensitivity analyses showed use of the PedsQL Core Module was associated with lower HRQOL scores compared with the Short-Form Health Survey-36. Conclusions HRQOL outcomes for people with a Fontan circulation are lower than the general population. Optimal care acknowledges the lifelong impact of the Fontan circulation on HRQOL and offers targeted strategies to improve outcomes for this growing population.


Subject(s)
Fontan Procedure , Heart Defects, Congenital/surgery , Mental Health , Quality of Life , Adolescent , Adolescent Behavior , Adolescent Development , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child Behavior , Child Development , Child, Preschool , Educational Status , Emotions , Fontan Procedure/adverse effects , Functional Status , Health Status , Heart Defects, Congenital/diagnosis , Heart Defects, Congenital/physiopathology , Heart Defects, Congenital/psychology , Humans , Social Interaction , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
12.
PLoS One ; 15(1): e0227224, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31905374

ABSTRACT

The imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-5-carboxamides (ITAs) are a promising class of anti-tuberculosis agents shown to have potent activity in vitro and to target QcrB, a key component of the mycobacterial cytochrome bcc-aa3 super complex critical for the electron transport chain. Herein we report the intracellular macrophage potency of nine diverse ITA analogs with MIC values ranging from 0.0625-2.5 µM and mono-drug resistant potency ranging from 0.0017 to 7 µM. The in vitro ADME properties (protein binding, CaCo-2, human microsomal stability and CYP450 inhibition) were determined for an outstanding compound of the series, ND-11543. ND-11543 was tolerable at >500 mg/kg in mice and at a dose of 200 mg/kg displayed good drug exposure in mice with an AUC(0-24h) >11,700 ng·hr/mL and a >24 hr half-life. Consistent with the phenotype observed with other QcrB inhibitors, compound ND-11543 showed efficacy in a chronic murine TB infection model when dosed at 200 mg/kg for 4 weeks. The efficacy was not dependent upon exposure, as pre-treatment with a known CYP450-inhibitor did not substantially improve efficacy. The ITAs are an interesting scaffold for the development of new anti-TB drugs especially in combination therapy based on their favorable properties and novel mechanism of action.


Subject(s)
Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Imidazoles/therapeutic use , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects , Thiazoles/therapeutic use , Tuberculosis/drug therapy , Animals , Antitubercular Agents/chemistry , Antitubercular Agents/pharmacology , Caco-2 Cells , Chlorocebus aethiops , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Humans , Imidazoles/chemistry , Imidazoles/pharmacology , Mice , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/growth & development , RAW 264.7 Cells , Thiazoles/chemistry , Thiazoles/pharmacology , Vero Cells
13.
Foodborne Pathog Dis ; 17(1): 15-22, 2020 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31503506

ABSTRACT

Produce is recognized as a source of Salmonella-related foodborne outbreaks in the United States. Identifying produce as a source of foodborne outbreaks is challenging given short product shelf lives and durations of many produce-associated outbreaks. Investigators consider produce a plausible source when illnesses occur over a short time period and disproportionately affect middle-aged or female individuals. We reviewed characteristics of past Salmonella produce outbreaks and their consistency with principles used by epidemiologists when generating hypotheses about an outbreak source. We queried the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System for multistate, produce-associated Salmonella outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2009 to 2015. All produce-associated outbreaks were classified as fruit outbreaks or vegetable outbreaks using an established classification scheme. We then compared fruit and vegetable outbreaks by characteristics of size, gender, age, age groups, geographic spread, duration, and velocity measures using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Epidemic curves were created to display visual representations of outbreak duration and velocity. We identified 14 fruit outbreaks and 24 vegetable outbreaks. The median number of illnesses for all produce-associated outbreaks was 30 and a high median percentage of illnesses were in females (61.9%). Median age was 34 years, with a median of 53.2% of illnesses affecting the 18-59 age group. For all outbreaks, median duration was 77 d and median time to the 50th percentile of illnesses was 32.5 d. Fruit and vegetable outbreaks differed only in the age groups affected. We used outbreak data to verify common indicators of produce-associated Salmonella outbreaks. Outbreaks affected females and middle-aged individuals more commonly, while fruit and vegetable outbreaks impacted different age groups. Although median outbreak duration was less than 12 weeks for both fruit and vegetable outbreaks, there was considerable variation, decreasing its utility as an indicator of produce as a source of the outbreak.


Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Food Microbiology , Fruit , Salmonella Food Poisoning/epidemiology , Vegetables , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Disease Outbreaks/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Population Surveillance , United States/epidemiology , Young Adult
14.
Heart Lung Circ ; 29(1): 5-39, 2020 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31735685

ABSTRACT

The Fontan circulation describes the circulatory state resulting from an operation in congenital heart disease where systemic venous return is directed to the lungs without an intervening active pumping chamber. As survival increases, so too does recognition of the potential health challenges. This document aims to allow clinicians, people with a Fontan circulation, and their families to benefit from consensus agreement about management of the person with a Fontan circulation. The document was crafted with input from a multidisciplinary group of health care providers as well as individuals with a Fontan circulation and families. It is hoped that the shared common vision of long-term wellbeing will continue to drive improvements in care and quality of life in this patient population and eventually translate into improved survival. KEYPOINTS.


Subject(s)
Heart Defects, Congenital/mortality , Heart Defects, Congenital/therapy , Registries , Australia/epidemiology , Humans , New Zealand/epidemiology , Societies, Medical
16.
PeerJ ; 4: e2658, 2016.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27867762

ABSTRACT

Evidence suggests that animal patterns (motifs) function in camouflage. Irregular mottled patterns can facilitate concealment when stationary in cluttered habitats, whereas regular patterns typically prevent capture during movement in open habitats. Bird plumage patterns have predominantly converged on just four types-mottled (irregular), scales, bars and spots (regular)-and habitat could be driving convergent evolution in avian patterning. Based on sensory ecology, we therefore predict that irregular patterns would be associated with visually noisy closed habitats and that regular patterns would be associated with open habitats. Regular patterns have also been shown to function in communication for sexually competing males to stand-out and attract females, so we predict that male breeding plumage patterns evolved in both open and closed habitats. Here, taking phylogenetic relatedness into account, we investigate ecological selection for bird plumage patterns across the class Aves. We surveyed plumage patterns in 80% of all avian species worldwide. Of these, 2,756 bird species have regular and irregular plumage patterns as well as habitat information. In this subset, we tested whether adult breeding/non-breeding plumages in each sex, and juvenile plumages, were associated with the habitat types found within the species' geographical distributions. We found no evidence for an association between habitat and plumage patterns across the world's birds and little phylogenetic signal. We also found that species with regular and irregular plumage patterns were distributed randomly across the world's eco-regions without being affected by habitat type. These results indicate that at the global spatial and taxonomic scale, habitat does not predict convergent evolution in bird plumage patterns, contrary to the camouflage hypothesis.

17.
Sci Rep ; 6: 19815, 2016 Jan 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26804463

ABSTRACT

Camouflage can often be enhanced by genetic adaptation to different local environments. However, it is less clear how individual behaviour improves camouflage effectiveness. We investigated whether individual Aegean wall lizards (Podarcis erhardii) inhabiting different islands rest on backgrounds that improve camouflage against avian predators. In free-ranging lizards, we found that dorsal regions were better matched against chosen backgrounds than against other backgrounds on the same island. This suggests that P. erhardii make background choices that heighten individual-specific concealment. In achromatic camouflage, this effect was more evident in females and was less distinct in an island population with lower predation risk. This suggests that behavioural enhancement of camouflage may be more important in females than in sexually competing males and related to predation risk. However, in an arena experiment, lizards did not choose the background that improved camouflage, most likely due to the artificial conditions. Overall, our results provide evidence that behavioural preferences for substrates can enhance individual camouflage of lizards in natural microhabitats, and that such adaptations may be sexually dimorphic and dependent on local environments. This research emphasizes the importance of considering links between ecology, behaviour, and appearance in studies of intraspecific colour variation and local adaptation.


Subject(s)
Birds/physiology , Choice Behavior/physiology , Lizards/physiology , Predatory Behavior/physiology , Animals , Ecosystem , Female , Islands , Male
18.
Ecol Evol ; 5(18): 4115-31, 2015 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26442582

ABSTRACT

Animal coloration is strikingly diverse in nature. Within-species color variation can arise through local adaptation for camouflage, sexual dimorphism and conspicuous sexual signals, which often have conflicting effects on survival. Here, we tested whether color variation between two island populations of Aegean wall lizards (Podarcis erhardii) is due to sexual dimorphism and differential survival of individuals varying in appearance. On both islands, we measured attack rates by wild avian predators on clay models matching the coloration of real male and female P. erhardii from each island population, modeled to avian predator vision. Avian predator attack rates differed among model treatments, although only on one island. Male-colored models, which were more conspicuous against their experimental backgrounds to avian predators, were accordingly detected and attacked more frequently by birds than less conspicuous female-colored models. This suggests that female coloration has evolved primarily under selection for camouflage, whereas sexually competing males exhibit costly conspicuous coloration. Unexpectedly, there was no difference in avian attack frequency between local and non-local model types. This may have arisen if the models did not resemble lizard coloration with sufficient precision, or if real lizards behaviorally choose backgrounds that improve camouflage. Overall, these results show that sexually dimorphic coloration can affect the risk of predator attacks, indicating that color variation within a species can be caused by interactions between natural and sexual selection. However, more work is needed to determine how these findings depend on the island environment that each population inhabits.

19.
PLoS One ; 10(9): e0135241, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26372454

ABSTRACT

Within-species colour variation is widespread among animals. Understanding how this arises can elucidate evolutionary mechanisms, such as those underlying reproductive isolation and speciation. Here, we investigated whether five island populations of Aegean wall lizards (Podarcis erhardii) have more effective camouflage against their own (local) island substrates than against other (non-local) island substrates to avian predators, and whether this was linked to island differences in substrate appearance. We also investigated whether degree of local substrate matching varied among island populations and between sexes. In most populations, both sexes were better matched against local backgrounds than against non-local backgrounds, particularly in terms of luminance (perceived lightness), which usually occurred when local and non-local backgrounds were different in appearance. This was found even between island populations that historically had a land connection and in populations that have been isolated relatively recently, suggesting that isolation in these distinct island environments has been sufficient to cause enhanced local background matching, sometimes on a rapid evolutionary time-scale. However, heightened local matching was poorer in populations inhabiting more variable and unstable environments with a prolonged history of volcanic activity. Overall, these results show that lizard coloration is tuned to provide camouflage in local environments, either due to genetic adaptation or changes during development. Yet, the occurrence and extent of selection for local matching may depend on specific conditions associated with local ecology and biogeographic history. These results emphasize how anti-predator adaptations to different environments can drive divergence within a species, which may contribute to reproductive isolation among populations and lead to ecological speciation.


Subject(s)
Biological Evolution , Biological Mimicry/physiology , Ecosystem , Lizards/physiology , Skin Pigmentation/physiology , Animals
20.
Ecol Evol ; 5(10): 1981-91, 2015 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26045950

ABSTRACT

Visual patterns are common in animals. A broad survey of the literature has revealed that different patterns have distinct functions. Irregular patterns (e.g., stipples) typically function in static camouflage, whereas regular patterns (e.g., stripes) have a dual function in both motion camouflage and communication. Moreover, irregular and regular patterns located on different body regions ("bimodal" patterning) can provide an effective compromise between camouflage and communication and/or enhanced concealment via both static and motion camouflage. Here, we compared the frequency of these three pattern types and traced their evolutionary history using Bayesian comparative modeling in aquatic waterfowl (Anseriformes: 118 spp.), which typically escape predators by flight, and terrestrial game birds (Galliformes: 170 spp.), which mainly use a "sit and hide" strategy to avoid predation. Given these life histories, we predicted that selection would favor regular patterning in Anseriformes and irregular or bimodal patterning in Galliformes and that pattern function complexity should increase over the course of evolution. Regular patterns were predominant in Anseriformes whereas regular and bimodal patterns were most frequent in Galliformes, suggesting that patterns with multiple functions are broadly favored by selection over patterns with a single function in static camouflage. We found that the first patterns to evolve were either regular or bimodal in Anseriformes and either irregular or regular in Galliformes. In both orders, irregular patterns could evolve into regular patterns but not the reverse. Our hypothesis of increasing complexity in pattern camouflage function was supported in Galliformes but not in Anseriformes. These results reveal a trajectory of pattern evolution linked to increasing function complexity in Galliformes although not in Anseriformes, suggesting that both ecology and function complexity can have a profound influence on pattern evolution.

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