Bringing Disciplines and People Together to Characterize the Plastic and Genetic Responses of Molluscs to Environmental Change

Molluscs are remarkably diverse and are found across nearly all ecosystems, meaning that members of this ancient animal phylum provide a powerful means to study genomic-phenotype connections in a climate change framework. Recent advances in genomic sequencing technologies and genome assembly approaches finally allow the relatively cheap and tractable assembly of high-quality mollusc genome resources. After a brief review of these issues and advances, we use a case-study approach to provide some concrete examples of phenotypic plasticity and genomic adaptation in molluscs in response to environmental factors expected to be influenced by climate change. Our goal is to use molluscs as a “common currency” to demonstrate how organismal and evolutionary biologists can use natural systems to make phenotype-genotype connections in the context of changing environments. In parallel, we emphasize the critical need to collaborate and integrate findings across taxa and disciplines in order to use new data and information to advance our understanding of mollusc biology in the context of global environmental change. We end with a brief synthetic summary of the papers inspired by the 2021 SICB Symposium “Genomic Perspectives in Comparative Physiology of Molluscs: Integration across Disciplines”

Disciplining the boundaries of South Asian women's sexuality: an analysis of the representation of women in independent South Asian 'lesbian' cinema

The thesis analyses how same-sex desire is represented in independent South Asian 'lesbian' cinema. By using the medium of film, the thesis attempts to demonstrate how alternative cinema challenges the dominant cultural norms which are represented in Bollywood films. Central to this argument, is to analyse that whilst alternative cinema represents same-sex desire, it also reproduces normalised gendered and sexual ideologies. The thesis explores issues of (in)visibility and (re)presentation from within feminist debates on race and ethnicity. By using black and post colonial feminism as a conceptual framework, the thesis demonstrates how historical discourses have shaped the construction of South Asian women as passive and obedient (Brah, 1992; Parmar; 1982; Rattanski, 1994). As such, the thesis considers how pathological constructions and representations continue to be perpetuated within Bollywood cinema and how independent South Asian lesbian cinema has sought to challenge such normative ideologies. Therefore, an exploration of the black female body and the ways in which essentialised ideologies construct South Asian femininities provides some insights into the ways in which such representations still continue to inform our understandings of South Asian women in contemporary society. The thesis argues that whilst alternative cinema challenges normative ideologies, it also reproduces dominant norms and values through concepts of marriage, motherhood, religion and culture which continue to be perpetuated through nationalist discourses. Whilst the thesis demonstrates that South Asian women negotiate their identities within such complex arenas, the space afforded to them within all three films is often located outside of the 'sanctity' and 'purity' of the domestic sphere

The effects of elevated temperature and dissolved �CO2 on a marine foundation species

Understanding how climate change and other environmental stressors will affect species is a fundamental concern of modern ecology. Indeed, numerous studies have documented how climate stressors affect species distributions and population persistence. However, relatively few studies have investigated how multiple climate stressors might affect species. In this study, we investigate the impacts of how two climate change factors affect an important foundation species. Specifically, we tested how ocean acidification from dissolution of CO2 and increased sea surface temperatures affect multiple characteristics of juvenile eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). We found strong impacts of each stressor, but no interaction between the two. Simulated warming to mimic heat stressed summers reduced oyster growth, survival, and filtration rates. Additionally, we found that CO2-induced acidification reduced strength of oyster shells, which could potentially facilitate crab predation. As past studies have detected few impacts of these stressors on adult oysters, these results indicate that early life stages of calcareous marine organisms may be more susceptible to effects of ocean acidification and global warming. Overall, these data show that predicted changes in temperature and CO2 can differentially influence direct effects on individual species, which could have important implications for the nature of their trophic interactions.ECU Open Access Publishing Fun

Metabolism Underlies Physiological Homeostasis in \u3ci\u3eDrosophila\u3c/i\u3e

Organismal physiology emerges from metabolic pathways and subcellular structures like the mitochondria that can vary across development and among individuals. Here, we tested whether genetic variation at one level of physiology can be buffered at higher levels of biological organization during development by the inherent capacity for homeostasis in physiological systems. We found that the fundamental scaling relationship between mass and metabolic rate, as well as the oxidative capacity per mitochondria, changed significantly across development in the fruit fly Drosophila. However, mitochondrial respiration rate was maintained at similar levels across development. Furthermore, larvae clustered into two types—those that switched to aerobic, mitochondrial ATP production before the second instar, and those that relied on anaerobic, glycolytic production of ATP through the second instar. Despite genetic variation for the timing of this metabolic shift, metabolic rate in second-instar larvae was more robust to genetic variation than was the metabolic rate of other instars. We found that larvae with a mitochondrial-nuclear incompatibility that disrupts mitochondrial function had increased aerobic capacity and relied more on anaerobic ATP production throughout development relative to larvae from wild-type strains. By taking advantage of both ways of making ATP, larvae with this mitochondrial–nuclear incompatibility maintained mitochondrial respiratory capacity, but also had higher levels of whole-body reactive oxygen species and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, potentially as a physiological defense mechanism. Thus, genetic defects in core physiology can be buffered at the organismal level via physiological plasticity, and natural populations may harbor genetic variation for distinct metabolic strategies in development that generate similar organismal outcomes. Suppl data attached below (170MB

Temperature but not ocean acidification affects energy metabolism and enzyme activities in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis

1. In mosaic marine habitats, such as intertidal zones, ocean acidification (OA) is exacerbated by high variability of pH, temperature, and biological CO2 production. The nonlinear interactions among these drivers can be context-specific and their effect on organisms in these habitats remains largely unknown, warranting further investigation. 2. We were particularly interested in Mytilus edulis (the blue mussel) from intertidal zones of the Gulf of Maine (GOM), USA, for this study. GOM is a hot spot of global climate change (average sea surface temperature (SST) increasing by \u3e0.2°C/year) with \u3e60% decline in mussel population over the past 40 years. 3. Here, we utilize bioenergetic underpinnings to identify limits of stress tolerance in M. edulis from GOM exposed to warming and OA. We have measured whole organism oxygen consumption rates and metabolic biomarkers in mussels exposed to control and elevated temperatures (10 vs. 15°C, respectively) and current and moderately elevated PCO2 levels (~400 vs. 800 µatm, respectively). 4. Our study demonstrates that adult M. edulis from GOM are metabolically resilient to the moderate OA scenario but responsive to warming as seen in changes in metabolic rate, energy reserves (total lipids), metabolite profiles (glucose and osmolyte dimethyl amine), and enzyme activities (carbonic anhydrase and calcium ATPase). 5. Our results are in agreement with recent literature that OA scenarios for the next 100–300 years do not affect this species, possibly as a consequence of maintaining its in vivo acid-base balance

An Assessment of Existing, Desired Competencies and Skills of Apple Growers in Mid Altitude Areas of District Shopian in Jammu & Kashmir

The present study was conducted in mid altitude areas comprising of villages viz-Chek-Sadipora, Sadipora and Narvav of district Shopian of Jammu and Kashmir with sample size of 60 apple growers. The district Shopian was purposively selected, because of the potentiality for the development of horticulture, mainly because 90 per cent area of the district was under apple plantation. Most of the apple growers use traditional methods for their apple cultivation, so different skills and competencies, where apple growers need special trainings were studied and it has also been observed that the skills and competencies of the fruit growers regarding expert guidance planning, layout planning, weed management, pest and disease management, intercultural operations, soil testing etc. were low and as such fruit growers need trainings mostly in soil and water testing, pest and disease management, physiological disorder management among others

Assessment of Thematic Areas for Training Needs of Apple Growers in Shopian of Jammu and Kashmir Districts, India

Nature has endowed the state of Jammu and Kashmir (India) with wide range of agro- climatic conditions which permits the production of varieties of temperate fruits. The district Shopian was purposively selected, because of potentiality for the development of horticulture, mainly because 90 percent area of the district was under apple plantation. The study was conducted in different altitudes and major training need components identified for the study were crop production, plant protection, harvesting and marketing etc. It was observed that integrated disease management received highest score in all the three altitudes under study, and was the most prioritized thematic area for training needs. Soil and water testing received first priority in mid and high altitude areas while it got second level of priority in low altitude areas. The training needs for micro irrigation system in orchards were given lowest priority by the fruit growers in all the three altitudes

INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND MULTIPLE STRESSORS ON PHYSIOLOGY OF MARINE BIVALVES

The continuing increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere leads to increase in sea-surface temperature and causes ocean acidification altering seawater carbonate chemistry. Estuarine and shallow coastal areas, which are hotspots for biological productivity, are especially prone to these changes, because of low buffering capacity of brackish waters, biological CO2 production, and large fluctuations of temperature and salinity in these habitats. These additional stressors may exacerbate the acidification trend and significantly affect the physiology of marine calcifiers. Bivalves are a key group of marine calcifiers that serve as ecosystem engineers and key foundation species in estuarine and coastal environments. However, the interactive effects of elevated CO2 and other stressors, including elevated temperature and reduced salinity, are not yet fully understood in bivalves and require further investigation. This study focused on the physiological responses in two ecologically and economically important bivalve species - the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and hard shell clam (Mercenaria mercenaria). Juveniles and adults were exposed to environmentally relevant salinities at either ~32 or ~16 with different PCO2 levels (~400, 800 and 1500 µatm) and temperature (22°C and 27°C), as predicted by future global climate change scenarios, for 11-21 weeks (in juveniles) and 15 weeks (in adults). Survival, metabolism and calcification were assessed. Elevated PCO2 alone and in combination with either reduced salinity or elevated temperature led to reduced survival and growth, and altered the shell mechanical properties (microhardness and fracture resistance) in juvenile and adult bivalves. Tissue energy reserves (lipid and glycogen) were reduced in juveniles under elevated PCO2 and low salinity. Standard energy metabolism (SMR) increased under the conditions of elevated PCO2 and temperature indicating higher costs of basal maintenance. In adult bivalves, elevated temperature led to the depletion of tissue energy reserves in both species indicating energy deficiency, and resulted in higher mortality in oysters but not in clams. In adult clams and oysters, elevated PCO2 alone had a small effect on the metabolism. No persistent oxidative stress (measured by total antioxidant capacity as well as oxidative markers of proteins and lipids) was seen in the bivalves after prolonged exposure to elevated temperature and PCO2. The results of this study indicate that the interactions between common abiotic stressors (salinity and temperature) and elevated PCO2 are complex, non-linear, and species-specific. Our study shows that elevated temperature and reduced salinity are predominant stressors that affect survival, metabolism, and biomineralization response of the studied bivalves. Furthermore, these stressors modulate the responses of these bivalves to ocean acidification while elevated CO2 levels have a modest impact in the absence of these stressors

Comparative Analysis of Antioxidants in Moringa Leaves and Soursop Leaves

Antioxidants are chemical compounds that can donate one or more electrons to free radicals, so antioxidants function to neutralize free radicals. Antioxidants delay and inhibit cell damage through their properties that can neutralize free radicals. Several studies have reported that M.oleifera has antioxidant activity to various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer. Moringa oleifera or better known as Moringa is a plant that is widely used by the community to overcome various disease complaints. In addition to Moringa leaves, Soursop leaves (Annona muricata L) also have high antioxidant content in their leaves so that these plants can be divided into synthetic antioxidants and natural antioxidants. The use of synthetic antioxidants is currently decreasing due to consideration of the negative effects on health such as liver damage and can cause carcinogens so that their use is replaced by natural antioxidants. The natural antioxidants in question are compounds found in natural materials such as Moringa leaves and Soursop leaves. The type of research used in this study is experimental research by testing the comparison of antioxidant compound activity between Moringa leaves and Soursop leaves using the DPPH method. Moringa leaves had antioxidant activity of 141.34 ppm, while Soursop leaves had antioxidant activity of 82.39 ppm. There is no significant difference in antioxidant activity between Moringa leaves and Soursop leaves

Group support for transformational social work education: a study of the Black Academics Forum (BAF)

The importance of formal and informal support for professional social workers cannot be overemphasised and this is true for social work academics who view themselves as belonging to minority groups. This paper outlines the development of the Black Academics Forum (BAF) within the Division of Social Work at the University of Northampton as a strategy to transform social work education for students, its members and ultimately for users of social work services. The benefits of BAF are considered within the context of feeling ‘lost inside space’ and providing a forum to self define whilst drawing upon the values of belonging, acceptance and trust. The challenges and limitations are considered alongside aspirations for the future of the group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved