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Related Concept Videos

Global Climate Change01:50

Global Climate Change

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Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
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Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

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The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
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Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

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Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
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Long-Term Decrease in Coloration: A Consequence of Climate Change?

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    This summary is machine-generated.

    Climate change is causing blue tits

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    Area of Science:

    • Avian ecology and evolutionary biology
    • Climate change impacts on animal coloration

    Background:

    • Climate change affects fitness-related traits, including phenology, but its impact on social and sexual traits is largely unknown.
    • Ornamental coloration in birds often signals quality and is linked to fitness, making it a potential indicator of climate change effects.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate changes in blue crown and yellow breast coloration in two Mediterranean blue tit subspecies over 15 years.
    • To determine if observed color changes are due to microevolutionary shifts or plastic responses to environmental conditions, particularly temperature.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of over 5,800 observations of blue tit coloration (Cyanistes caeruleus caeruleus and Cyanistes caeruleus ogliastrae).
    • Correlation of color changes with temperature data during the molt period.
    • Quantitative genetic analyses to assess microevolutionary changes in color traits.

    Main Results:

    • Blue tit coloration has become duller and less chromatic in both sexes over the study period.
    • In Cyanistes caeruleus ogliastrae, this decrease in coloration is associated with increased temperatures during molt.
    • Quantitative genetic analyses indicated no significant microevolutionary change, suggesting the color shifts are due to phenotypic plasticity.

    Conclusions:

    • Warming temperatures associated with climate change may lead to less conspicuous ornamental colorations in blue tits.
    • This suggests climate change can impact sexual and social ornaments through plastic responses, affecting signaling functions.
    • Further research is needed to understand the proximate mechanisms driving these climate-induced changes in bird coloration.