Sex differences in the relationship between maternal and foetal glucocorticoids in a free-ranging large mammal

Maternal phenotypes can have long-term effects on offspring phenotypes. These maternal effects may begin during gestation, when maternal glucocorticoid (GC) levels may affect foetal GC levels, thereby having an organizational effect on the offspring phenotype. Recent studies have showed that maternal effects may be different between the sexes. However, how maternal GC levels relate to foetal levels is still not completely understood. Here we related, for the first time in a free-ranging large mammal, the fallow deer (Dama dama), maternal GC levels with foetal in utero GC levels. We did this in a non-invasive way by quantifying cortisol metabolites from faecal samples collected from pregnant does during late gestation, as proxy for maternal GC level. These were then related to GC levels from hair of their neonate offspring (n = 40). We have shown that maternal GC levels were positively associated with foetal GC levels, but only in female offspring. These findings highlight sex differences, which may have evolved to optimize male growth at the cost of survival

Fallow deer approaching humans are more likely to be seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii infection has been linked to dampening hosts anti-predator behaviour particularly in laboratory conditions with rodents. Little is known about the role of T. gondii within more complex ecological contexts involving large mammals. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection in a population of free-living fallow deer (Dama dama). In addition, we assessed whether there was a link between deer seropositivity and space use where deer may be more likely to be exposed to T. gondii (e.g. closer to human infrastructure). Finally, we determined whether infection with T. gondii was linked to deer risk-taking behaviour. To achieve our goals, we estimated seropositivity and combined it with spatial distribution and behavioural data of individually recognizable deer ranging from those that avoid humans (risk avoiders) to those who beg for food (risk takers). We found T. gondii to be quite widespread in this population with a seropositivity rate of approximately 20%. We found no correlation between T. gondii seropositivity and space use in the park, therefore we were unable to determine how the deer were exposed. We did however find that seropositive deer were also more likely to take risks, opening new avenues to explore T. gondii’s dynamics in the wild

From policy to practice: progress towards data- and code-sharing in ecology and evolution

Data and code are essential for ensuring the credibility of scientific results and facilitating reproducibility, areas in which journal sharing policies play a crucial role. However, in ecology and evolution, we still do not know how widespread data- and code-sharing policies are, how accessible they are, and whether journals support data and code peer review. Here, we first assessed the clarity, strictness and timing of data- and code-sharing policies across 275 journals in ecology and evolution. Second, we assessed initial compliance to journal policies using submissions from two journals: Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Mar 2023–Feb 2024: n = 2340) and Ecology Letters (Jun 2021–Nov 2023: n = 571). Our results indicate the need for improvement: across 275 journals, 22.5% encouraged and 38.2% mandated data-sharing, while 26.6% encouraged and 26.9% mandated code-sharing. Journals that mandated data- or code-sharing typically required it for peer review (59.0% and 77.0%, respectively), which decreased when journals only encouraged sharing (40.3% and 24.7%, respectively). Our evaluation of policy compliance confirmed the important role of journals in increasing data- and code-sharing but also indicated the need for meaningful changes to enhance reproducibility. We provide seven recommendations to help improve data- and code-sharing, and policy compliance

Thesis Supplementary

The supplementary material of my thesis chapters can be found her

Sex differences in the relationship between maternal and foetal glucocorticoids in a free-ranging large mammal

This project contains the manuscript (including additional versions) and supplementary files to the publication. That includes also the data and scripts used in the analysis. We will also use this page to communicate additional updates/protocols if needed. The current version is preprinted on bioRxiv: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.04.53892

Thesis Supplementary

The supplementary material of my thesis chapters can be found her

Patching Science – amending the literature through version control

SummaryThe ideal of self-correction in science is not well served by the current culture and system surrounding amendments to published literature. Here we report on a survey (N = 132) that highlights academics’ dissatisfaction with the status quo and their support for an alternative approach. We then describe our view of how amendments could and should work by drawing on the idea of an author-led version control system. Here authors would include a link in their published manuscripts to an updatable website (e.g. a GitHub repository or similar) that could be disseminated in the event of any amendment. Such a system is already in place for computer code and, as such, requires nothing but buy-in from the scientific community - a community that is already evolving towards various open science frameworks. This would remove a number of frictions that discourage amendments thus leading to an improved scientific literature and a healthier academic climate.</jats:p