The Role of Temperature in Shaping the Nervous System Phenotype in the Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)
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Le résumé fourni par la source
INTRODUCTION: Over the last century, sea surface temperatures have increased by more than 0.5°C, with predictions suggesting an increase of 1-4°C by 2100. Oceanic warming poses significant challenges to marine species, particularly those with physiological and developmental processes that are tightly linked to environmental conditions. In cartilaginous fishes, including sharks, the brain grows continually throughout life, supported by the capacity for lifelong neurogenesis. This feature suggests that the nervous system - both peripheral (sensory) and central (brain) - of sharks may be highly plastic and able to adapt dynamically to a changing environment. METHODS: We investigated the effects of elevated rearing temperature on brain development in the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum), a species known for its tolerance of environmental fluctuations in intertidal habitats. Eggs (n = 12) were sourced from a breeding stock at the New England Aquarium and reared in either ambient (27°C) or elevated (31°C, 4°C above ambient) seawater temperatures until 2 months post-hatch. Using histological analyses, we compared the relative volume of the nose (olfactory rosette), total brain, and major brain regions between treatment groups. RESULTS: Despite this species' natural exposure to temperature variability, generalized linear models revealed that elevated temperature significantly altered the volume of the olfactory sensory epithelium, olfactory bulbs, and medulla oblongata after accounting for overall brain size. Analyses of proportional brain region volumes also showed that elevated temperature was associated with reduced olfactory bulb size and increased subpallial volume relative to total brain size. These differences may suggest potential changes in cognitive capacity related to olfactory processing as well as sensory and/or motor functions at elevated temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: While short-term studies, such as this one, cannot capture long-term adaptive potential, understanding the impacts of elevated temperature on brain phenotypes provides critical insights into how elasmobranchs may cope with changing ocean conditions. Such knowledge will be vital for predicting the resilience of these ecologically important species to future environmental stressors.
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Le contrôle bibliographique ouvert
DOI retrouvé dans Crossref DOI retrouvé ; titre concordant.
- Titre Crossref
- The Role of Temperature in Shaping the Nervous System Phenotype in the Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)
- Date Crossref
- 13/01/2026
- Éditeur
- S. Karger AG
- Type
- journal-article
Ce recoupement confirme des métadonnées liées au DOI. Il ne confirme ni la méthode ni les conclusions de l’étude, et il ne compte pas comme une seconde source scientifique indépendante.
Où se fait cette recherche
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University of North Carolina Wilmington Department of Biology and Marine Biology pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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University of Massachusetts Boston School for the Environment pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies pays non établi dans la noticeStructure de recherche
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James Cook University ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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North Carolina Aquarium pays non établi dans la noticeInstitution
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University of Delaware Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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New England Aquarium pays non établi dans la noticeInstitution
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Cabot (United States) pays non établi dans la noticeEntreprise
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Marine Science Research Center pays non établi dans la noticeStructure de recherche
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College of Science and Engineering Marine Biology and Aquaculture pays non établi dans la noticeUniversité ou école supérieure
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Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life pays non établi dans la noticeInstitution
Department of Biology and Marine Biology — University of North Carolina Wilmington, School for the Environment — University of Massachusetts Boston et ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, avec 8 autres affiliations.
Une affiliation ne permet pas de déduire la nationalité d’un auteur.