From cells to recapture rates: responses and recovery of a wild fish after an experimental exposure to a widely used herbicide.

Freshwater environments are biodiversity hotspots under multiple pressures, including pesticide exposure. S-metolachlor, a widely used herbicide, can induce genotoxic, cytotoxic and physiological effects in captive fish, but we have a limited understanding of the effects of exposure to S-metolachlor in free-living vertebrates. We carried out an original field experiment using integrative approaches across biological levels and temporal scales.

Economic efficiency of nature-based solutions: Theoretical framework and application to semi-natural habitat implementation.

The application of nature-based solutions to agriculture is promising because it allows the sustainable management of ecosystems and the reconciling of human well-being with the benefits of biodiversity. However, scientists lack robust economic arguments and concepts in the area of nature-based solutions that are well aligned with the expectations of the agricultural sector. This study addresses this gap by developing an interdisciplinary economic framework that integrates nature-based solutions and allows for an assessment of their efficient use.

Direct and indirect effects of pesticide exposure on the gut microbiota of a farmland raptor.

Recent studies in humans have shown that certain pesticides could affect the composition and functions of the gut microbiota, an essential modulator of vertebrate physiology, leading to potential dysbiosis. However, this relationship remains largely unknown in wild birds despite the implications of pesticides in the current decline of farmland species. The present study sought to fill this gap by providing data on the association between pesticide concentrations in blood and gut microbiota characteristics in relation to individual traits in a farmland raptor, the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus).

Predicting the drift of small cetaceans stranded along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula: Parametrization of the MOTHY drift model.

Marine mammal populations, particularly the common dolphin Delphinus delphis in the North-East Atlantic, play an essential role as indicators of ecosystem health. Effective monitoring of these populations is essential for assessing anthropogenic impacts, especially in the context of current threats such as fisheries bycatch. The MOTHY drift model, initially designed for oil spills and then adapted to carcass drift, is being used in part of the North East Atlantic (Bay of Biscay, English Chanel, and North Sea) to estimate the bycatch mortality of common dolphins.

Bursts of brain erosion: seizures and age-dependent neurological vulnerability.

Hypersynchronous and exaggerated neuronal firing, exemplified by epileptiform activity and seizures, are disruptors of brain function across acute and chronic neuropathological conditions. Here, we focus on how seizure activity, whether as a primary symptom or a secondary comorbid event within a complex pathological setting, adversely impacts neurological trajectories. We discuss experimental and clinical evidence illustrating the participation of neurodegenerative and senescence-like adaptations.

Salty surprises: Developmental and behavioral responses to environmental salinity reveal higher tolerance of inland rather than coastal Bufo spinosus tadpoles.

Salinization is predicted to intensify due to climate change, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Amphibians, particularly embryos and larvae, are highly susceptible to environmental salinity. Yet, local adaptation may cause differing vulnerabilities between coastal and inland populations.

Blood levels of metallic trace elements are influenced by sex, age and habitat in the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis).

Metallic trace elements (MTEs) constitute a major source of chemical pollution and represent a threat to aquatic ecosystems and organisms. Important variation in contamination may exist at a local scale in relation to the environment (hydrosystem, trophic ressources) and individual traits (age, sex). Heretofore, the factors influencing MTEs exposure of freshwater reptiles in temperate regions are not fully understood.

Gene expression provides mechanistic insights into a viral disease in seabirds.

Wild animals are exposed to a variety of anthropogenic stressors that may result in loss of physiological homeostasis. One main consequence of this stress exposure is the increased vulnerability to pathogens. We addressed the hypothesis that energetic unbalance and alterations of immune effectors are key proximate mechanisms underlying this vulnerability, by quantifying the gene expression of magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens chicks affected by a highly lethal viral disease, whose appearance is favoured by food limitation in this species.

Reduced transfer of metals and metalloids from pelagic Sargassum spp. accumulated in artificial floating barrier.

Since 2011, holopelagic Sargassum have been massively stranding in the coastal environments of the Caribbean Islands inducing damages to coastal ecosystems, public health and the economy. To limit the risks associated with Sargassum stranding, floating barriers with nets can be placed in front of sensitive areas, to divert Sargassum away from the coast. To evaluate the potential transfer of metallic trace element (MTE) from Sargassum to adjacent marine life, seagrasses (Halophila stipulacea, Thalassia testidinum) and urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) were sampled, both close (0 m) and far (200 m) from barriers installed during 4 years in two bays: Baie Cayol (BC) and Cap Est (CE) in Martinique (FWI).

Innovative use of depth data to estimate energy intake and expenditure in Adélie penguins.

Energy governs species' life histories and pace of living, requiring individuals to make trade-offs. However, measuring energetic parameters in the wild is challenging, often resulting in data collected from heterogeneous sources. This complicates comprehensive analysis and hampers transferability within and across case studies.

PFAS Exposure is Associated with a Lower Spermatic Quality in an Arctic Seabird.

Several studies have reported an increasing occurrence of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in Arctic wildlife tissues, raising concerns due to their resistance to degradation. While some research has explored PFAS's physiological effects on birds, their impact on reproductive functions, particularly sperm quality, remains underexplored. This study aims to assess (1) potential association between PFAS concentrations in blood and sperm quality in black-legged kittiwakes (), focusing on the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, sperm velocity, percentage of sperm motility, and morphology; and (2) examine the association of plasma levels of testosterone, corticosterone, and luteinizing hormone with both PFAS concentrations and sperm quality parameters to assess possible endocrine disrupting pathways.

Inbreeding accelerates reproductive senescence, but not survival senescence, in a precocial bird.

Inbreeding depression is predicted to increase with age, because natural selection is less efficient at purging deleterious alleles that are only expressed later in life. However, empirical results are scarce, and equivocal between studies. Here we performed controlled matings between related and unrelated individuals of domesticated Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), and monitored the performance of their offspring for all fitness components over their complete life course.

The interactive effects of salt and heat on coastal ectotherms.

Coastal ecosystems face salinization and rising temperatures. In coastal ectotherms, salinity and temperature affect metabolism, tolerance, infections, growth, behavior, and survival. Overall, the combined effects of salinity and temperature on species distribution, community structure, invasive species, and ecosystem functioning need to be fully assessed to understand impacts from these stressors.

First evidence of age-dependent decreases in non-persistent pesticide mixtures in nestlings of a farmland raptor.

Intensive use of synthetic pesticides in conventional agriculture may harm non-target organisms through sublethal effects on life-history traits. Farmland birds are exposed throughout their life cycle, but the fate of non-persistent pesticide mixtures in wild birds remains unknown. In this study, we investigated changes in pesticide contamination levels in Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) nestlings during their growth.

Prevalence and population genetic analyses of parasites in invasive Vespa velutina and native Hymenoptera.

Invasive species pose a threat to the ecological balance of the ecosystems they invade by altering local host-pathogen dynamics. To investigate these relationships and their potential consequences, we examined the prevalence and genetic diversity patterns of Trypanosomatidae, Lipotrophidae, and Nosematidae in a collection of sympatric isolates of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina and local Hymenoptera from two recently colonized areas: Europe and South Korea. Data were gathered through PCR amplification and massive parallel sequencing, and analyses were conducted using population genetics tools.

Trophic guilds and niche segregation among marine megafauna in the Bay of Biscay.

The structure and functioning of ecosystems are largely determined by the interactions between species within a biological community. Among these interactions, species exhibiting similar vertical and spatial prey preferences can be identified, thereby belonging to the same trophic guild. Our study explored some trophic characteristics of a diverse megafaunal community (cetaceans, tunas, seabirds) in the Bay of Biscay (BoB).

Comparison of pesticide contamination between captive-reared and wild grey partridges: insights into environmental exposure disparities.

Pesticide contamination is often cited as a key factor in the global decline of farmland birds. However, the majority of studies on pesticide exposure in non-target fauna are not representative of what happens in nature because they are limited to artificial conditions. The aim of this study was to define and compare, for the first time, pesticide contamination in grey partridges (Perdix perdix) from two different contexts, i.

Brooding duration does not depend on cat predation risk but is related to weather and phenology in the wandering albatross ().

Parental investment increases offspring fitness at the expense of the parent's ability to invest in other offspring. In many animal species, parents guard their offspring after birth. The parental decision over the duration of this period is expected to be triggered by the associated fitness costs and benefits for both offspring and parents.

Mercury contamination and potential health risk to French seabirds: A multi-species and multi-site study.

Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring highly toxic element which circulation in ecosystems has been intensified by human activities. Hg is widely distributed, and marine environments act as its main final sink. Seabirds are relevant bioindicators of marine pollution and chicks are particularly suitable for biomonitoring pollutants as they reflect contamination at short spatiotemporal scales.