Dataset Information

Small increases in ambient temperature reduce offspring body mass in an equatorial mammal.

ABSTRACT: Human-induced climate change is leading to temperature rises, along with increases in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. Many animals respond to high temperatures through behavioural thermoregulation, for example by resting in the shade, but this may impose opportunity costs by reducing foraging time (therefore energy supply), and so may be most effective when food is abundant. However, the heat dissipation limit (HDL) theory proposes that even when energy supply is plentiful, high temperatures can still have negative effects. This is because dissipating excess heat becomes harder, which limits processes that generate heat such as lactation. We tested predictions from HDL on a wild, equatorial population of banded mongooses (Mungos mungo). In support of the HDL theory, higher ambient temperatures led to lighter pups, and increasing food availability made little difference to pup weight under hotter conditions. This suggests that direct physiological constraints rather than opportunity costs of behavioural thermoregulation explain the negative impact of high temperatures on pup growth. Our results indicate that climate change may be particularly important for equatorial species, which often experience high temperatures year-round so cannot time reproduction to coincide with cooler conditions.

SUBMITTER: Khera M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10715294 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Small increases in ambient temperature reduce offspring body mass in an equatorial mammal.

Khera Monil M Arbuckle Kevin K Mwanguhya Francis F Kyabulima Solomon S Mwesige Kenneth K Businge Robert R Blount Jonathan D JD Cant Michael A MA Nichols Hazel J HJ

Biology letters 20231122 11

Human-induced climate change is leading to temperature rises, along with increases in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. Many animals respond to high temperatures through behavioural thermoregulation, for example by resting in the shade, but this may impose opportunity costs by reducing foraging time (therefore energy supply), and so may be most effective when food is abundant. However, the heat dissipation limit (HDL) theory proposes that even when energy supply is plentiful, high temper ...[more]

PMID: 37990567

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Project description:Hunting is one of the main driving forces behind large mammal density distribution in many regions of the world. In tropical Africa, urban demand for bushmeat has been shown to dominate over subsistence hunting and its impact often overrides spatial-ecological species characteristics. To effectively protect remaining mammal populations the main factors that influence their distribution need to be integrated into conservation area prioritisation and management plans. This information has been lacking for Río Muni, Equatorial Guinea, as prior studies have been outdated or have not systematically covered the continental region of the country. In this study we evaluated: 1) the relative importance of local vs. commercial hunting; 2) wildlife density of protected vs. non-protected areas; and 3) the importance of ecological factors vs. human influence in driving mammal density distribution in Río Muni. We adopted a systematic countrywide line transect approach with particular focus on apes and elephants, but also including other mammal species. For analysis of field data we used generalised linear models with a set of predictor variables representing ecological conditions, anthropogenic pressure and protected areas. We estimate that there are currently 884 (437-1,789) elephants and 11,097 (8,719-13,592) chimpanzees and gorillas remaining in Río Muni. The results indicate strong hunting pressures on both local and commercial levels, with roads demonstrating a negative impact on elephants and overall mammal body mass. Protected areas played no role in determining any of the mammal species distributions and significant human hunting signs were found inside these protected areas, illustrating the lack of environmental law enforcement throughout the country. Río Muni is currently under-represented in conservation efforts in Western Equatorial Africa, and we recommend a focus on cross-boundary conservation, in particular in the Monte Alén-Monts de Cristal and Río Campo Ma'an conservation landscapes, where the highest densities and diversity of large mammals remain.

Project description:ImportanceMaternal nutrition is essential in fetal development; thus, disordered eating may influence this process and contribute to the development of offspring psychiatric disorders.ObjectiveTo investigate the association of maternal eating disorders and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) with offspring psychiatric diagnoses.Design, setting, and participantsThis population-based cohort study used Finnish national registers to assess all live births from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2014, with follow-up until December 31, 2021. The data analyses were conducted from September 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024.ExposuresMaternal eating disorder and prepregnancy BMI.Main outcomes and measuresPrimary outcomes were 9 neurodevelopmental and psychiatric offspring diagnoses. Cox proportional hazards modeling adjusted for potential risk factors in the development of the outcome disorders was applied in 2 models. Secondary analyses were stratified for adverse birth outcomes (prematurity, small size for gestational age, and low Apgar score) or comorbid offspring eating disorders. Categories of BMI (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) included underweight (BMI <18.5), normal weight (18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9), obesity (30.0-34.9), and severe obesity (≥35.0).ResultsThe mean (SD) age of 392 098 included mothers was 30.15 (5.38) years, 42 590 mothers (10.86%) were born outside of Finland, 6273 mothers (1.60%) had a history of an eating disorder, 23 114 mothers (5.89%) had prepregnancy underweight, and 208 335 (53.13%) mothers had overweight or obesity. Among 649 956 included offspring, 332 359 (51.14%) were male, and 106 777 (16.43%) had received a neurodevelopmental or psychiatric diagnosis. Maternal eating disorders, prepregnancy underweight, and overweight or obesity were associated with most of the studied mental diagnoses in offspring, even after adjusting for potential covariates. The largest effect sizes were observed for maternal eating disorders not otherwise specified in association with offspring sleep disorders (hazard ratio [HR], 3.34 [95% CI, 2.39-4.67]) and social functioning and tic disorders (HR, 2.79 [95% CI, 2.21-3.52]), while for maternal severe prepregnancy obesity, offspring intellectual disabilities (HR, 2.04 [95% CI, 1.83-2.28]) had the largest effect size. Adverse birth outcomes further increased the risk of offspring having other feeding disturbances of childhood and infancy (eg, HR, 4.53 [95% CI, 2.97-6.89] for maternal eating disorders) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder (eg, HR, 2.27 [95% CI, 1.74-2.96] for maternal anorexia nervosa).Conclusions and relevanceIn this population-based cohort study including 392 098 mothers and 649 956 offspring, offspring from mothers with an eating disorder history or prepregnancy BMI outside normal weight were at higher risk of psychiatric disorders. The results differed somewhat between the 2 exposures with regard to which offspring diagnoses had associations, and effect sizes were typically larger for maternal eating disorders vs BMI. These findings suggest a need to consider these 2 exposures clinically to help prevent offspring mental illness.

Dataset Information

Small increases in ambient temperature reduce offspring body mass in an equatorial mammal.

Publications

Small increases in ambient temperature reduce offspring body mass in an equatorial mammal.

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