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‘Antisocial’ damselfish are scaring off cleaner fish customers – and this could contribute to coral reef breakdown

Cam ac uk zoology department feed - Thu, 23/02/2023 - 09:00

The meal of choice for the Caribbean cleaner fish, the sharknose goby, is a platter of parasites, dead tissue, scales and mucus picked off the bodies of other fishes. By removing these morsels, gobies are offering their ‘cleaning services’ to other marine life – a famous example of a mutually beneficial relationship between species.

But new research from the University of Cambridge and Cardiff University shows that when gobies inadvertently set up shop within the territories of aggressive damselfish, damselfish scare off the gobies’ ‘choosy client customers’.

The study, published today in Behavioral Ecology, is an example of a largely unexplored phenomenon: a mutually beneficial relationship in nature being disrupted by a third party. 

Sharknose gobies work solo or band together and set up a ‘cleaning station’: a fixed location in a particular nook of coral reef, where other marine life burdened by parasites go to take advantage of the gobies’ dietary needs.

“Gobies wait at cleaning stations for customers to visit, similar to shops. And with customers, come the parasites,” said Dr Katie Dunkley, a behavioural ecologist at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology. “In return for providing a cleaning service the gobies receive a payment of food.”

Customers are varied and include parrotfish, surgeonfish and butterflyfish. These choosy client fish shop around, visiting different cleaning stations open for business. If interested, they will adopt a stationary pose that makes a clean more likely – typically a head or tail-stand position with all fins flared.

During a clean – which could last from a few seconds to several minutes – gobies make physical contact with the customer, removing parasites and other dead body tissue. This is known as ‘tactile stimulation’ and, as well as getting rid of parasites, it may act as a massage reducing the customer’s stress, says Dunkley. Previous research has established the importance of cleaners – their removal led to fewer numbers and less variety of fish species on reefs.

“Cleaning stations act as a marketplace, and if customers stop showing up, over time a cleaning station is going to go out of business,” said Dunkley.

Five researchers spent over 34 hours observing cleaning stations on a shallow fringing reef in Tobago over a period of six weeks. Equipped with snorkels and waterproof paper they recorded underwater interactions for 10-minute periods from 8am-5:15pm each day.

They found that client fish were less likely to go to cleaning stations that were more often patrolled by damselfish, who scared ‘intruders’ away. 

“I thought that damselfish might play a role as they visit cleaning stations too – although don’t often get cleaned – but to see just how influential they were was startling.

“Damselfish act like farmers as they weed out algae they don’t want, to encourage their preferred algae to grow. Damselfish are protective over their algal territories, and these antisocial fish spend a lot of time patrolling their territories, scaring away intruders through biting, attacking, chasing or threatening displays.”

Damselfish’s territories cover up to 70% of some reefs. On a healthy coral reef, a balance is maintained between algae and coral. But as reefs deteriorate and overfishing intensifies, algae thrive. As reefs deteriorate damselfish may become more common and/or aggressive – leading to fewer species receiving the goby cleaning treatment needed to keep them healthy, says Dunkley. This could ultimately contribute to the breakdown of delicate ecosystems supported by reefs.

“In future we’d like to tease out the motives of damselfish. Are they driven by wanting to protect their algae farms or monopolise cleaning stations?” said Dunkley, a Charles Darwin and Galapagos Islands Fund Junior Research Fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge.

“Just as humans are connected through family, friends and colleagues, all fish are connected to each other. It’s important that we don’t just look at relationships in isolated bubbles. We need to step back and see how all fish are connected so that we can protect ecosystems like coral reefs.”

The study was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council GW4+ studentship and Christ’s College University of Cambridge Galapagos Islands Fund (both awarded to first author, Katie Dunkley). Last author, James Herbert-Read, was supported by the Whitten Lectureship in Marine Biology, and a Swedish Research Council Grant (2018–04076).

Dunkley et al, The presence of territorial damselfish predicts choosy client species richness at cleaning stations, Behavioral Ecology, DOI: doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arac122

Damselfish have been discovered to disrupt ‘cleaning services’ vital to the health of reefs. And climate change may mean this is only likely to get worse.

"We need to step back and see how all fish are connected so that we can protect ecosystems like coral reefs."Dr Katie Dunkley


The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified.  All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

Yes
Categories: Latest News

‘Antisocial’ damselfish are scaring off cleaner fish customers – and this could contribute to coral reef breakdown

Research News - Thu, 23/02/2023 - 09:00

The meal of choice for the Caribbean cleaner fish, the sharknose goby, is a platter of parasites, dead tissue, scales and mucus picked off the bodies of other fishes. By removing these morsels, gobies are offering their ‘cleaning services’ to other marine life – a famous example of a mutually beneficial relationship between species.

But new research from the University of Cambridge and Cardiff University shows that when gobies inadvertently set up shop within the territories of aggressive damselfish, damselfish scare off the gobies’ ‘choosy client customers’.

The study, published today in Behavioral Ecology, is an example of a largely unexplored phenomenon: a mutually beneficial relationship in nature being disrupted by a third party. 

Sharknose gobies work solo or band together and set up a ‘cleaning station’: a fixed location in a particular nook of coral reef, where other marine life burdened by parasites go to take advantage of the gobies’ dietary needs.

“Gobies wait at cleaning stations for customers to visit, similar to shops. And with customers, come the parasites,” said Dr Katie Dunkley, a behavioural ecologist at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology. “In return for providing a cleaning service the gobies receive a payment of food.”

Customers are varied and include parrotfish, surgeonfish and butterflyfish. These choosy client fish shop around, visiting different cleaning stations open for business. If interested, they will adopt a stationary pose that makes a clean more likely – typically a head or tail-stand position with all fins flared.

During a clean – which could last from a few seconds to several minutes – gobies make physical contact with the customer, removing parasites and other dead body tissue. This is known as ‘tactile stimulation’ and, as well as getting rid of parasites, it may act as a massage reducing the customer’s stress, says Dunkley. Previous research has established the importance of cleaners – their removal led to fewer numbers and less variety of fish species on reefs.

“Cleaning stations act as a marketplace, and if customers stop showing up, over time a cleaning station is going to go out of business,” said Dunkley.

Five researchers spent over 34 hours observing cleaning stations on a shallow fringing reef in Tobago over a period of six weeks. Equipped with snorkels and waterproof paper they recorded underwater interactions for 10-minute periods from 8am-5:15pm each day.

They found that client fish were less likely to go to cleaning stations that were more often patrolled by damselfish, who scared ‘intruders’ away. 

“I thought that damselfish might play a role as they visit cleaning stations too – although don’t often get cleaned – but to see just how influential they were was startling.

“Damselfish act like farmers as they weed out algae they don’t want, to encourage their preferred algae to grow. Damselfish are protective over their algal territories, and these antisocial fish spend a lot of time patrolling their territories, scaring away intruders through biting, attacking, chasing or threatening displays.”

Damselfish’s territories cover up to 70% of some reefs. On a healthy coral reef, a balance is maintained between algae and coral. But as reefs deteriorate and overfishing intensifies, algae thrive. As reefs deteriorate damselfish may become more common and/or aggressive – leading to fewer species receiving the goby cleaning treatment needed to keep them healthy, says Dunkley. This could ultimately contribute to the breakdown of delicate ecosystems supported by reefs.

“In future we’d like to tease out the motives of damselfish. Are they driven by wanting to protect their algae farms or monopolise cleaning stations?” said Dunkley, a Charles Darwin and Galapagos Islands Fund Junior Research Fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge.

“Just as humans are connected through family, friends and colleagues, all fish are connected to each other. It’s important that we don’t just look at relationships in isolated bubbles. We need to step back and see how all fish are connected so that we can protect ecosystems like coral reefs.”

The study was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council GW4+ studentship and Christ’s College University of Cambridge Galapagos Islands Fund (both awarded to first author, Katie Dunkley). Last author, James Herbert-Read, was supported by the Whitten Lectureship in Marine Biology, and a Swedish Research Council Grant (2018–04076).

Dunkley et al, The presence of territorial damselfish predicts choosy client species richness at cleaning stations, Behavioral Ecology, DOI: doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arac122

Damselfish have been discovered to disrupt ‘cleaning services’ vital to the health of reefs. And climate change may mean this is only likely to get worse.

"We need to step back and see how all fish are connected so that we can protect ecosystems like coral reefs."Dr Katie Dunkley


The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified.  All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

Yes

Tue 21 Feb 13:00: The evolution of reproductive isolation: insights from swordtail fish

The evolution of reproductive isolation: insights from swordtail fish

Abstract: Hybridization, or the exchange of genes between different species, is much more common than previously recognized. In the past decade, the genome sequencing revolution has allowed us to peer into the evolutionary histories of myriad species. This has led to the realization that many if not most plant and animal species have hybridized with their close relatives. Even the genome of our own species has been shaped by past hybridization. My research program seeks to illuminate the genetic and evolutionary consequences of hybridization. We study the mechanisms through which negative genetic interactions are eliminated after hybridization and the situations under which hybridization is beneficial, using swordtail fish as a model system.

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Wed 08 Mar 13:00: To regenerate or not to regenerate? Recovering shape and function in damaged jellyfish

Evolution and Development Seminar Series - Mon, 20/02/2023 - 12:09
To regenerate or not to regenerate? Recovering shape and function in damaged jellyfish

How randomly injured animals can appropriately re-establish positional information and control the deployment of repair programs are key questions of regenerative biology. The small hydrozoan medusae Clytia hemisphaerica, which are frequently damaged in the plankton, display powerful regenerative capacities, being able to regain a circular shape in less than 12 hours and a new functional mouth in 4 days. This efficient recovery depends on an interplay between mechanical forces, cell migration and proliferation, which we are just starting to unravel. In particular, we showed that the umbrella remodeling causes the radial muscle fibers in the subumbrellar layer to converge into ‘hubs’, associated to activation of Wnt signaling, and which function as positional landmarks. The different observed configurations of these muscle fibers correlate with a specific pattern of Wnt signaling activation, and – most remarkably – with the fate of the wound, notably whether a mouth regenerative program will be activated. In a second phase, mouth morphogenesis is fueled by both local cell proliferation and long-range cell recruitment and is further modulated by its connections with the gastrovascular canal system. Clytia medusae offer a novel experimental paradigm for addressing patterning formation and morphogenesis in tractable adult bodies, dissecting the interplay between chemical and mechanical cues in pattern formation. Finally, the diversity of repair strategies observed across cnidarians species provides a key opportunity to start unraveling the evolution of regenerative capacities.

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The Sea is the Limit: Foraging Ecology of Breeding Antarctic Procellariiformes

Research output from Zoology (trial) - Sat, 11/02/2023 - 10:02
The Sea is the Limit: Foraging Ecology of Breeding Antarctic Procellariiformes Bentley, Lily In the dynamic marine environment, highly mobile predators are expected to select profitable foraging areas, especially when provisioning young in addition to meeting their own energy needs. Knowing how and where animals choose to forage is not only important to advance ecological theory, but also to assess and mitigate the impact of anthropogenic threats. In this thesis I examine the breeding-season foraging behaviour of several of the Procellariiformes, a wide-ranging, long-lived group of seabirds, many of which have experienced steep population declines since the mid-20th century. Advances in biologging technologies over the last four decades have made it possible not only to accurately track individual movements, but also to identify important behaviours at sea. In my first data chapter (Chapter 2), I combine data from multiple tag types to describe diving behaviour in three albatross species, and discuss the implications for both foraging ecology and bycatch susceptibility. Moving from foraging capability of the individual to foraging preferences at the level of genus, in Chapter 3 I analyse the divergent niches of a summer- and a winter- breeding species of Procellaria petrel. Here I compare the habitat preferences of Grey Petrels and White-chinned Petrels breeding at Gough Island and South Georgia, respectively. Using high-resolution remote sensing environmental data, I identify divergent foraging preferences in dynamic habitats. Finally, in Chapter 4, I compare habitat preferences and accessibility between the two species of Phoebetria albatrosses across six colonies. While most studies of habitat preference consider only a single species or site, here I investigate whether closely- related species inhabit the same ecological niche at sympatric and allopatric colonies throughout their range. I show that Light-mantled Albatrosses have a consistent foraging niche, whereas Sooty Albatrosses select different habitats in sympatry and allopatry. I then discuss the impact of interspecific competition on plasticity in habitat preferences in general. Overall, my thesis examines diverse aspects of seabird foraging ecology from the individual to community level, discusses habitat preferences (and their potential flexibility) in relation to species' evolutionary history and as drivers of community structure, and considers the implications for conservation planning.

Wed 15 Feb 13:00: The origins of land plant complexity: interpreting development in the Devonian

Evolution and Development Seminar Series - Thu, 09/02/2023 - 12:14
The origins of land plant complexity: interpreting development in the Devonian

During the Devonian period c. 420-360 million year ago land plants exploded in complexity, from tiny leafless axes to giant trees, forming the first forests. The diversification of plants in the Devonian therefore transformed the face of the Earth into the green planet we see today. However, the developmental innovations that enabled this diversification and the origin of key plant organs such as leaves and roots remains poorly understood. Comparative investigation of genes and development in living species offers crucial insights into these ancient events. However, 400 million years of subsequent evolution and rife convergence means that fossils still hold the most important lines of evidence for how roots and leaves evolved. In this talk I will outline how taking a combined approach studying fossil plants alongside developmental and genetic networks in living species provides the best approach to understand these key events. Finally, I will describe the importance of fossils with exceptional preservation for giving us a unique glimpse into development in the past.

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Tue 21 Feb 13:00: The evolution of reproductive isolation: insights from swordtail fish

The evolution of reproductive isolation: insights from swordtail fish

Abstract: Hybridization, or the exchange of genes between different species, is much more common than previously recognized. In the past decade, the genome sequencing revolution has allowed us to peer into the evolutionary histories of myriad species. This has led to the realization that many if not most plant and animal species have hybridized with their close relatives. Even the genome of our own species has been shaped by past hybridization. My research program seeks to illuminate the genetic and evolutionary consequences of hybridization. We study the mechanisms through which negative genetic interactions are eliminated after hybridization and the situations under which hybridization is beneficial, using swordtail fish as a model system.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Tue 21 Feb 13:00: The evolution of reproductive isolation: insights from swordtail fish

The evolution of reproductive isolation: insights from swordtail fish

Abstract: Hybridization, or the exchange of genes between different species, is much more common than previously recognized. In the past decade, the genome sequencing revolution has allowed us to peer into the evolutionary histories of myriad species. This has led to the realization that many if not most plant and animal species have hybridized with their close relatives. Even the genome of our own species has been shaped by past hybridization. My research program seeks to illuminate the genetic and evolutionary consequences of hybridization. We study the mechanisms through which negative genetic interactions are eliminated after hybridization and the situations under which hybridization is beneficial, using swordtail fish as a model system.

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IT Manager

Current Vacancies - Fri, 03/02/2023 - 00:00

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Department of Zoology which is a thriving, friendly and dynamic community of staff and students. We are looking for a proactive IT professional with depth and breadth of technical expertise to manage and improve IT services within the Department.

This post will be responsible for the specification and delivery of IT services to the Department, and will provide guidance, leadership and support on a range of IT issues. The postholder will increase the level of support to all staff and students and will be active in identifying and solving IT problems across the Department. They will be expected to work closely with the Clinical School Computing Service (CSCS) who currently provide IT services to Zoology. The IT Manager will also work at a strategic level to define and establish IT strategy and to ensure that IT services remain capable and robust and in step with the department's evolving needs.

Applicants should have a degree in a technical or scientific subject, or substantial relevant experience, with a strong computing or IT management background. Experience of maintaining and managing complex IT systems is essential, and experience in a higher education or research environment is desirable. Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong and productive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders will be critical to success.

Reporting to the Department Administrator, the post holder will represent the Department on University level IT groups, committees and projects, and provide strategic IT advice to the senior managers of the Department. This post will work closely with the Head of Information Technology and Digital Transformation at the School of Biological Sciences and with the service managers of CSCS and the University Information Service (UIS), promoting Departmental priorities.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to understand and document policy, processes and procedures within an IT context, together with excellent interpersonal, listening, written and oral communication skills. You will need to be able to work well under pressure and to meet tight deadlines with attention to detail. You will also need to be able to understand, negotiate and manage business expectations.

The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, conscientious, and a team player. As this is a senior managerial role within the department, you will need to be flexible in your approach to the needs of the Department. It is expected that this role will be based in the Department in order to be able to provide in-person support. Some evening and weekend work may be required on an occasional basis.

The department actively encourages and promotes career training, development and progression and we offer an encouraging, supportive and inclusive working environment.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are initially available for 3 years.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

Flexible working requests will be considered

We particularly welcome applications from women and from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our University.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

If you have any queries regarding the application process please contact Anastasia Nezhentseva at (an286@cam.ac.uk)

Please quote reference PF35173 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Wed 01 Feb 13:00: Unravelling 3-dimensional growth in plants

Evolution and Development Seminar Series - Fri, 27/01/2023 - 10:51
Unravelling 3-dimensional growth in plants

The evolution of 3-dimensional (3D) growth coincided with the colonization of land by plants approximately 470 million years ago. The acquisition of apical cells that could cleave in three planes, rather than just one or two, allowed plants to develop the characteristics required to successfully survive and reproduce on land (e.g., roots, vasculature, seeds). 3D growth is an invariable and fundamental feature of all land plants, and the diverse morphologies exhibited across the globe are a result of the differential regulation of 3D growth processes. Yet, we know very little about how 3D growth is regulated at the genetic level. In many plants, 3D growth is initiated during the first few divisions of the zygote, and therefore, the genetic basis cannot be dissected because mutants do not survive. However, in mosses, which are representatives of the earliest land plants, 3D shoot growth is preceded by a 2D filamentous phase that can be maintained indefinitely. Using forward genetics, we have isolated many developmental mutants that fail to establish and/or maintain 3D growth. This has been a powerful and unbiased approach that has enabled us to identify, and functionally characterize novel regulators of the 2D to 3D growth transition. In this talk, I will describe the identification and characterization of our recently generated ‘no gametophores’ mutants.

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Small-scale octopus fisheries can provide sustainable source of vital nutrients for tropical coastal communities

Cam ac uk zoology department feed - Thu, 26/01/2023 - 15:23

Research led by Cambridge scientists, and published in Nature Food, shows that tropical small-scale octopus fisheries offer a sustainable source of food and income to communities that face food insecurity, where the prevalence of undernourishment can exceed 40% and stunting in children under five commonly exceeds 30%. 

The high micronutrient density of octopus - including vitamin B12, copper, iron and selenium - means that human populations only need to eat a small quantity to supplement a diet primarily comprising staple plant crops. The new research shows that just a small amount of production in a tropical small-scale octopus fishery can deliver the micronutrient needs to a relatively large number of people.

The fast growth and adaptability of octopuses to environmental change can also facilitate sustainable production, and catch methods in the fisheries - primarily consisting of hand techniques, small-scale lines, pots and traps - are less environmentally harmful than those of large industrial fishing.

Dr David Willer, lead author, from the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow at Murray Edwards College, said: “Worldwide, nearly half of people’s calories come from just three crops – rice, wheat, and maize - which are high energy, but relatively low in key nutrients. Just a small serving of something very, very micronutrient rich, like octopus, can fill critical nutritional gaps. And, of course, if you get better nutrition as a child you’re much more physically and mentally prepared for later life, which can lead to better jobs, better employment and better social development.

“These small fisheries also provide an income and a livelihood, often to women whose economic status is enhanced as a result. Small-scale octopus fisheries revolve around local communities and potentially that gives them a greater resilience against market pressures and other disruptions to global food supply and trade.”

Small-scale fisheries, across all sectors, currently provide more than two-thirds of the fish and seafood destined for human consumption worldwide, and employ over 90% of fishers involved in capture fisheries. 47% of the workforce employed in these fisheries are women.

Based on a global review of data from global seafood databases and published literature, and written in partnership with science-led social enterprise Blue Ventures, the research found that in many cases tropical small-scale octopus fisheries are operating using relatively low impact techniques, and when combined with local and national management approaches can provide a more sustainable source of seafood. Successful approaches include periodic fishery closures, size restrictions, and licences. The need for knowledge transfer of fishing gears is also crucial so that the message on fish sustainability and securing the food supply and economic stability is spread widely. 
 

Undernourished coastal communities in the tropics - where children’s growth can be stunted by a lack of micronutrients – can get the vitamins and minerals they need from sustainable small-scale octopus fisheries, say researchers.

Just a small serving of something very, very micronutrient rich, like octopus, can fill critical nutritional gaps.Dr David Willer, Department of ZoologyBlue Ventures


The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified.  All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

Yes
Categories: Latest News

Small-scale octopus fisheries can provide sustainable source of vital nutrients for tropical coastal communities

Research News - Thu, 26/01/2023 - 15:23

Research led by Cambridge scientists, and published in Nature Food, shows that tropical small-scale octopus fisheries offer a sustainable source of food and income to communities that face food insecurity, where the prevalence of undernourishment can exceed 40% and stunting in children under five commonly exceeds 30%. 

The high micronutrient density of octopus - including vitamin B12, copper, iron and selenium - means that human populations only need to eat a small quantity to supplement a diet primarily comprising staple plant crops. The new research shows that just a small amount of production in a tropical small-scale octopus fishery can deliver the micronutrient needs to a relatively large number of people.

The fast growth and adaptability of octopuses to environmental change can also facilitate sustainable production, and catch methods in the fisheries - primarily consisting of hand techniques, small-scale lines, pots and traps - are less environmentally harmful than those of large industrial fishing.

Dr David Willer, lead author, from the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow at Murray Edwards College, said: “Worldwide, nearly half of people’s calories come from just three crops – rice, wheat, and maize - which are high energy, but relatively low in key nutrients. Just a small serving of something very, very micronutrient rich, like octopus, can fill critical nutritional gaps. And, of course, if you get better nutrition as a child you’re much more physically and mentally prepared for later life, which can lead to better jobs, better employment and better social development.

“These small fisheries also provide an income and a livelihood, often to women whose economic status is enhanced as a result. Small-scale octopus fisheries revolve around local communities and potentially that gives them a greater resilience against market pressures and other disruptions to global food supply and trade.”

Small-scale fisheries, across all sectors, currently provide more than two-thirds of the fish and seafood destined for human consumption worldwide, and employ over 90% of fishers involved in capture fisheries. 47% of the workforce employed in these fisheries are women.

Based on a global review of data from global seafood databases and published literature, and written in partnership with science-led social enterprise Blue Ventures, the research found that in many cases tropical small-scale octopus fisheries are operating using relatively low impact techniques, and when combined with local and national management approaches can provide a more sustainable source of seafood. Successful approaches include periodic fishery closures, size restrictions, and licences. The need for knowledge transfer of fishing gears is also crucial so that the message on fish sustainability and securing the food supply and economic stability is spread widely. 
 

Undernourished coastal communities in the tropics - where children’s growth can be stunted by a lack of micronutrients – can get the vitamins and minerals they need from sustainable small-scale octopus fisheries, say researchers.

Just a small serving of something very, very micronutrient rich, like octopus, can fill critical nutritional gaps.Dr David Willer, Department of ZoologyBlue Ventures


The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified.  All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

Yes

Wed 15 Feb 13:00: The origins of land plant complexity: interpreting development in the Devonian

Evolution and Development Seminar Series - Wed, 25/01/2023 - 12:08
The origins of land plant complexity: interpreting development in the Devonian

During the Devonian period c. 420-360 million year ago land plants exploded in complexity, from tiny leafless axes to giant trees, forming the first forests. The diversification of plants in the Devonian therefore transformed the face of the Earth into the green planet we see today. However, the developmental innovations that enabled this diversification and the origin of key plant organs such as leaves and roots remains poorly understood. Comparative investigation of genes and development in living species offers crucial insights into these ancient events. However, 400 million years of subsequent evolution and rife convergence means that fossils still hold the most important lines of evidence for how roots and leaves evolved. In this talk I will outline how taking a combined approach studying fossil plants alongside developmental and genetic networks in living species provides the best approach to understand these key events. Finally, I will describe the importance of fossils with exceptional preservation for giving us a unique glimpse into development in the past.

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Tue 14 Mar 13:00: Freshwater salinization: From Ecology & Evolution to Real-World Solutions This talk is hybrid - email the organisers for a Zoom link

Freshwater salinization: From Ecology & Evolution to Real-World Solutions

Freshwater resources worldwide are threatened by salinization caused by human activities, particularly in regions of the world using salt to clear roads of snow and ice. Salt applications to roads have been occurring for nearly 80 years, but substantial scientific attention to this issue has only taken off during the past decade and there have been many surprising discoveries. In this seminar, Dr. Relyea will present his group’s research on the ecological impacts of freshwater salinization and the ability of freshwater species to evolve increased salt tolerance. He will also discuss the steps that are being taken to reverse this major environmental problem to protect water bodies, while improving road safety and lowering the cost of snow and ice removal for governments and private applicators.

This talk is hybrid - email the organisers for a Zoom link

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Tue 07 Mar 13:00: Birds on a tree: Progress and challenges of whole-genome phylogenomics This talk is hybrid - email the organisers for a Zoom link

Birds on a tree: Progress and challenges of whole-genome phylogenomics

An understanding of the evolutionary relationships among organisms underlies most of what we do in evolutionary biology. Despite considerable progress fueled by new approaches and ever larger datasets, the phylogenetic relationships of some groups are still clouded in uncertainty. A prime example are modern birds, Neoaves, whose relationships remain recalcitrant despite decades of inquiry. As part of the Bird 10,000 Genome Project (B10K), we aimed for a new take on the neoavian phylogeny using whole-genome-wide assessments based on 363 bird genomes. I will discuss which progress this has brought about, and which groups remain challenging to resolve. The sources of these persistent discordances seem to be rooted in a diversity of technical and biological sources. The whole-genome-wide phylogenetic approach points the way for the role of phylogenomics in the coming era of genomes for every living thing.

This talk is hybrid - email the organisers for a Zoom link

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Tue 28 Feb 13:00: Modern views on the diversity, functional disparity, and structure of Cambrian ecosystems This talk is hybrid - email the organisers for a Zoom link

Modern views on the diversity, functional disparity, and structure of Cambrian ecosystems

The Cambrian Explosion is one of the most significant biotic events in the history of the Earth. During this time, the complexity of interactions between animals as well as with their environments increased rapidly, in turn leading to more complex community structures. Thus, a clear picture of the structure of Cambrian animal communities is integral to understanding the origins of modern ecosystems. However, relatively few Cambrian fossil sites preserve the total animal community, including the most soft-bodied taxa. Additionally, datasets with high stratigraphic resolution, which are necessary to understand fine scale spatiotemporal gradients, are rare. As a result, fundamental aspects of Cambrian community ecology, such as trophic structure and spatial diversity gradients, remain cryptic. In this seminar, I will present recent work delving into the community ecology of Cambrian marine ecosystems through the lens of some of the best preserved fossil sites in the world. First among these is the celebrated Burgess Shale, located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. For over 100 years, this site has provided unparalleled insights into early animal evolution, but community-scale analyses have been relatively rare. My data shows that the animal communities of the Burgess Shale were highly variable in terms of total diversity, as well as the most abundant ecological modes represented. Further, even localities within the same geological formation have highly distinct fauna, with several indicator species suggesting a degree of species endemism. Broadly, this suggests that some of the earliest complex animal communities were highly variable both spatially and temporally. I then expand the scope of this study to include older Cambrian communities from China, and re-analyze this enlarged dataset through the lens of functional diversity. One of the major results of these analyses is the observation that alpha diversity and functional diversity fluctuate independently of each other, suggesting that typical metrics of biodiversity alone cannot adequately describe the structure of Cambrian communities. Moving forward, integrating more rigorously sampled datasets with time series information and functional traits is necessary to fully understand the ecological dynamics of the earliest complex ecosystems. Further, expanding the temporal scope of this work, particularly to Ediacaran community datasets, is necessary for a more complete understanding of how early animal ecosystems developed.

This talk is hybrid - email the organisers for a Zoom link

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Tue 14 Feb 13:00: The evolution of a sexually selected syndrome in Mediterranean wall lizards This talk is hybrid - email the organisers for a Zoom link

The evolution of a sexually selected syndrome in Mediterranean wall lizards

Traits can only function together if expressed together, but the evolution of such phenotypic integration remains poorly understood. In this talk, I will present our recent work on the evolutionary origin and geographic spread of a sexually selected syndrome in wall lizards. Climatic effects on the strength of sexual selection causes a mosaic of phenotypic variation across the landscape, and promotes asymmetric introgression into a distantly related lineage. The phenotypic integration of color, morphology, and behavior persists throughout a hybrid zone, pointing towards a genetic architecture with a single or few major loci. Analyses of genomic data supports this hypothesis and reveals a single candidate region with striking structural variations. I discuss how this genomic architecture can orchestrate the co-expression of color, morphology, and behavior, and what it can teach us about the evolution of complex phenotypes.

This talk is hybrid - email the organisers for a Zoom link

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