High-altitude diving in river otters: coping with combined hypoxic stresses

Crait, Jamie R.; Prange, Henry D.; Marshall, Noah A.; Harlow, Henry J.; Cotton, Clark J.; Ben‐David, Merav

doi:10.1242/jeb.059774

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 102 publications

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“…Hypoxic conditions at higher elevations are one candidate for the environmental cause of a selection mosaic acting on rattlesnakes and ground squirrels. Mammalian serum albumins are non-specific inhibitors of rattlesnake venom activity [47] that are reduced in abundance in some mammals at high elevations to compensate for increased haematocrit [48]. Thus, reduced expression in non-specific protein binding agents like albumin may account for the substantial reduction in the venom-inhibitory capacity of high elevation squirrel serum (the squirrel elevation main effect), with isoforms of alpha-1-antitrypsin involved in the remaining variation to which snakes have become locally adapted.…”

Section: (D) Environmental Effects On Coevolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coevolution of venom function and venom resistance in a rattlesnake predator and its squirrel prey

2016

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Measuring local adaptation can provide insights into how coevolution occurs between predators and prey. Specifically, theory predicts that local adaptation in functionally matched traits of predators and prey will not be detected when coevolution is governed by escalating arms races, whereas it will be present when coevolution occurs through an alternate mechanism of phenotype matching. Here, we analyse local adaptation in venom activity and prey resistance across 12 populations of Northern Pacific rattlesnakes and California ground squirrels, an interaction that has often been described as an arms race. Assays of venom function and squirrel resistance show substantial geographical variation (influenced by site elevation) in both venom metalloproteinase activity and resistance factor effectiveness. We demonstrate local adaptation in the effectiveness of rattlesnake venom to overcoming present squirrel resistance, suggesting that phenotype matching plays a role in the coevolution of these molecular traits. Further, the predator was the locally adapted antagonist in this interaction, arguing that rattlesnakes are evolutionarily ahead of their squirrel prey. Phenotype matching needs to be considered as an important mechanism influencing coevolution between venomous animals and resistant prey.

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Section: (D) Environmental Effects On Coevolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coevolution of venom function and venom resistance in a rattlesnake predator and its squirrel prey

2016

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“…Management and husbandry practices can also influence certain blood variables such as milking frequency altering plasma free fatty acid (FFA) and β‐hydroxybutyrate concentrations . Adaptation to high altitude caused higher PCV, HGB concentration, and RBC count in poultry, horses, or in wild animals such as Sloth bears and otters …”

Section: Biologic Preanalytic Factors Of Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The preanalytic phase in veterinary clinical pathology

Braun

Bourgès‐Abella

Geffré

et al. 2014

Veterinary Clinical Pathol

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This article presents the general causes of preanalytic variability with a few examples showing specialists and practitioners that special and improved care should be given to this too often neglected phase. The preanalytic phase of clinical pathology includes all the steps from specimen collection to analysis. It is the phase where most laboratory errors occur in human, and probably also in veterinary clinical pathology. Numerous causes may affect the validity of the results, including technical factors, such as the choice of anticoagulant, the blood vessel sampled, and the duration and conditions of specimen handling. While the latter factors can be defined, influence of biologic and physiologic factors such as feeding and fasting, stress, and biologic and endocrine rhythms can often not be controlled. Nevertheless, as many factors as possible should at least be documented. The importance of the preanalytic phase is often not given the necessary attention, although the validity of the results and consequent clinical decision making and medical management of animal patients would likely be improved if the quality of specimens submitted to the laboratory was optimized.

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“…Each year, we visited latrines every 3-5 days during the field season. In 2005, we conducted a shorter field season during the last week of May and first two weeks of June (Crait et al, 2012). We also monitored latrine site activity over one-week periods in June 2009 and 2010, but these surveys were too brief for inclusion in the demographic analyses.…”

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Samples were stored in paper envelopes and frozen. In 2005, we collected blood samples from five (four males, one female) live-trapped otters (Crait et al, 2012).…”

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, Yellowstone Lake otters may be further constrained in their ability to capture deep-water prey due to lower oxygen availability at high elevation (Crait et al, 2012). Studies in other lakes with lake trout likewise reported an absence of these fish in otter scats (Sheldon and Toll, 1964;Reid et al, 1994b).…”

Section: Effects Of Cutthroat Trout Decline On Otter Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

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Indirect effects of bioinvasions in Yellowstone Lake: The response of river otters to declines in native cutthroat trout

Crait

Regehr

Ben‐David

2015

Biological Conservation

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Nonnative species threaten ecosystems throughout the world -including protected reserves. In Yellowstone National Park, river otters Lontra canadensis depend on native cutthroat trout as prey. However, nonnative lake trout and whirling disease have significantly reduced the abundance of these native fish in the park's largest body of water, Yellowstone Lake. We studied the demographic and behavioral responses of otters to declining cutthroat trout on Yellowstone Lake and its tributaries. From 2002-2008, we monitored otter activity at latrine (scentmarking) sites, collected scat for prey identification, and used individual genotypes from scat and hair samples to evaluate survival and abundance with capture-recapture methods. Otter activity at latrines decreased with declines in cutthroat trout, and the prevalence of these fish in otter scat declined from 73% to 53%. Cutthroat trout numbers were the best predictor of temporal variation in apparent survival, and mean annual survival for otters was low (0.72). The density of otters in our study area (1 otter per 13.4 km of shoreline) was also low, and evidence of a recent genetic bottleneck suggests that otter abundance might have declined prior to our study. River otters in and around Yellowstone Lake appear to be responding to reductions in cutthroat trout via changes in distribution, diet, and possibly survival and abundance. Our results provide a baseline estimate for monitoring the broader outcome of management efforts to conserve native cutthroat trout and emphasize the indirect ecosystem consequences of invasive species.

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High-altitude diving in river otters: coping with combined hypoxic stresses

Cited by 13 publications

References 102 publications

Coevolution of venom function and venom resistance in a rattlesnake predator and its squirrel prey

Coevolution of venom function and venom resistance in a rattlesnake predator and its squirrel prey

The preanalytic phase in veterinary clinical pathology

Indirect effects of bioinvasions in Yellowstone Lake: The response of river otters to declines in native cutthroat trout

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