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A phenomics approach reveals interspecific differences in integrated developmental responses to chronic elevated
Jamie C S McCoy1, John I Spicer1, Simon D Rundle1
1Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|June 26, 2023
Summary
Energy proxy traits (EPTs) reveal varying thermal sensitivities in freshwater snail embryos. This phenomics approach quantifies species-specific responses to temperature, aiding in understanding early life stage environmental sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Phenomics
- Developmental Biology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Phenomics offers a method for quantifying complex developmental responses to environmental factors like elevated temperatures.
- Energy proxy traits (EPTs) analyze pixel value fluctuations in videos to measure phenotypes across temporal frequencies.
- The utility of EPTs for assessing interspecies environmental sensitivity remains largely untested.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relative thermal sensitivities of embryos from three freshwater snail species using EPTs.
- To investigate species-specific developmental responses to temperature changes.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of EPTs in comparing high-dimensional spectral phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Video recording of Lymnaea stagnalis, Radix balthica, and Physella acuta embryos hourly throughout development at 20°C and 25°C.
- Calculation of EPTs from video data to analyze energy spectra during development and specific physiological windows.
- Comparison of thermal sensitivities based on changes in energy spectra.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in thermal sensitivities were identified among the three snail species.
- Radix balthica embryos exhibited heightened sensitivity in gross embryonic physiology and behavior.
- Developmental-window-specific thermal responses and temperature-induced shifts in physiological event timing were observed.
Conclusions:
- EPTs provide a powerful tool for assessing continuous, high-dimensional spectral phenotypes in developing organisms.
- This phenomics approach enables effective comparison of species-specific thermal sensitivities.
- Integrative and scalable phenotyping using EPTs is crucial for understanding the vulnerability of early life stages to environmental change.
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