Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares
The population dynamics of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) are fundamental to the ecosystem dynamics of Canada’s boreal forest. During the 8- to 11-year population cycle, hare densities can fluctuate up to 40-fold. Predators in this system (lynx, coyotes, greathorned owls) affect population number...
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Online Access: | https://researchprofiles.canberra.edu.au/en/publications/d6290da1-7e92-4f31-94bd-293b69f465e5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-3053-0 https://researchsystem.canberra.edu.au/ws/files/9370270/10.1007_s00442_014_3053_0.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919441508&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
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ftcanberrauncris:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/d6290da1-7e92-4f31-94bd-293b69f465e5 2024-09-30T14:46:25+00:00 Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares Lavergne, Sophia McGowan, Patrick Krebs, Charles Boonstra, Rudy 2014-10-24 application/pdf https://researchprofiles.canberra.edu.au/en/publications/d6290da1-7e92-4f31-94bd-293b69f465e5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-3053-0 https://researchsystem.canberra.edu.au/ws/files/9370270/10.1007_s00442_014_3053_0.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919441508&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Lavergne , S , McGowan , P , Krebs , C & Boonstra , R 2014 , ' Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares ' , Oecologia , vol. 176 , no. 3 , pp. 613-624 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-3053-0 article 2014 ftcanberrauncris https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-3053-0 2024-09-18T23:41:38Z The population dynamics of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) are fundamental to the ecosystem dynamics of Canada’s boreal forest. During the 8- to 11-year population cycle, hare densities can fluctuate up to 40-fold. Predators in this system (lynx, coyotes, greathorned owls) affect population numbers not only through direct mortality but also through sublethal effects. The chronic stress hypothesis posits that high predation risk during the decline severely stresses hares, leading to greater stress responses, heightened ability to mobilize cortisol and energy, and a poorer body condition. These effects may result in, or be mediated by, differential gene expression. We used an oligonucleotide microarray designed for a closely-related species, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), to characterize differences in genome-wide hippocampal RNA transcript abundance in wild hares from the Yukon during peak and decline phases of a single cycle. A total of 106 genes were differentially regulated between phases. Array results were validated with quantitative realtime PCR, and mammalian protein sequence similarity was used to infer gene function. In comparison to hares from the peak, decline phase hares showed increased expression of genes involved in metabolic processes and hormone response, and decreased expression of immune response and blood cell formation genes. We found evidence for predation risk effects on the expression of genes whose putative functions correspond with physiological impacts known to be induced by predation risk in snowshoe hares. This study shows, for the first time, a link between changes in demography and alterations in neural RNA transcript abundance in a natural population. Article in Journal/Newspaper Lynx Yukon University of Canberra Research Portal Yukon Oecologia 176 3 613 624 |
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Open Polar |
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University of Canberra Research Portal |
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ftcanberrauncris |
language |
English |
description |
The population dynamics of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) are fundamental to the ecosystem dynamics of Canada’s boreal forest. During the 8- to 11-year population cycle, hare densities can fluctuate up to 40-fold. Predators in this system (lynx, coyotes, greathorned owls) affect population numbers not only through direct mortality but also through sublethal effects. The chronic stress hypothesis posits that high predation risk during the decline severely stresses hares, leading to greater stress responses, heightened ability to mobilize cortisol and energy, and a poorer body condition. These effects may result in, or be mediated by, differential gene expression. We used an oligonucleotide microarray designed for a closely-related species, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), to characterize differences in genome-wide hippocampal RNA transcript abundance in wild hares from the Yukon during peak and decline phases of a single cycle. A total of 106 genes were differentially regulated between phases. Array results were validated with quantitative realtime PCR, and mammalian protein sequence similarity was used to infer gene function. In comparison to hares from the peak, decline phase hares showed increased expression of genes involved in metabolic processes and hormone response, and decreased expression of immune response and blood cell formation genes. We found evidence for predation risk effects on the expression of genes whose putative functions correspond with physiological impacts known to be induced by predation risk in snowshoe hares. This study shows, for the first time, a link between changes in demography and alterations in neural RNA transcript abundance in a natural population. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lavergne, Sophia McGowan, Patrick Krebs, Charles Boonstra, Rudy |
spellingShingle |
Lavergne, Sophia McGowan, Patrick Krebs, Charles Boonstra, Rudy Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares |
author_facet |
Lavergne, Sophia McGowan, Patrick Krebs, Charles Boonstra, Rudy |
author_sort |
Lavergne, Sophia |
title |
Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares |
title_short |
Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares |
title_full |
Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares |
title_fullStr |
Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares |
title_full_unstemmed |
Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares |
title_sort |
impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://researchprofiles.canberra.edu.au/en/publications/d6290da1-7e92-4f31-94bd-293b69f465e5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-3053-0 https://researchsystem.canberra.edu.au/ws/files/9370270/10.1007_s00442_014_3053_0.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919441508&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
geographic |
Yukon |
geographic_facet |
Yukon |
genre |
Lynx Yukon |
genre_facet |
Lynx Yukon |
op_source |
Lavergne , S , McGowan , P , Krebs , C & Boonstra , R 2014 , ' Impact of high predation risk on genome-wide hippocampal gene expression in snowshoe hares ' , Oecologia , vol. 176 , no. 3 , pp. 613-624 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-3053-0 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-3053-0 |
container_title |
Oecologia |
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176 |
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3 |
container_start_page |
613 |
op_container_end_page |
624 |
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1811646427837759488 |