Category Archives: Physiology

Physiology

Noted Science Scholar Stuart Dryer Earns 2023 Farfel Award – University of Houston

Longtime UH Biology Professor Receives UHs Highest HonorMay 4, 2023

ByMike Emery, 713-743-7197

Its not often that professors teach four different kinds of students but Stuart Dryer isnt your everyday professor. The Moores Professor at the University of Houston has shared his insights with undergraduates, graduate students, doctoral candidates and most recently, medical students.

Such versatility in classrooms and laboratories is matched by his research output and talents as a mentor. These are just some of the qualities that have earned Dryer, professor of biology and biochemistry, the 2023 Esther Farfel Award.

This award has been presented annually since 1979 and recognizes outstanding faculty members for teaching, service and research. It is the highest honor awarded to UH professors.

It feels really good to receive this award, Dryer said. The best thing about it is that I know several past recipients of the Farfel Award and have worked with them on committees and as a colleague. Its just very humbling to be in the same category as these people. It is very gratifying.

Dryer arrived at UH in 1997 after starting his academic career at Florida State University in 1988. The city of Houston, he said, was a big draw. The University, however, was the major selling point that inspired him to relocate from the Sunshine State to the Lone Star State.

He was initially approached by the late Greg Cahill, former associate professor of biology and biochemistry, about recommending someone to join a new program on biological clocks. Dryer, however, recommended himself and the rest as they say is history.

At UH, Dryer has successfully balanced teaching, research and serving as a mentor to aspiring scholars. His talents in these areas have earned him a Teaching Excellence Award and Research Award. They, also, are admired by both his peers and pupils. It also has kept Dryer energized and engaged during his 26 years at UH.

His deep involvement within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics led to a role as department chair. For nearly nine years, Dryer guided the Department of Biology and Biochemistry. During that time, he was instrumental in growing its professoriate.

It was very gratifying to recruit new faculty, Dryer said. All of the professors that were hired while I was chair received tenure.

His time in this position also was marked by the development of the Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling and by growth of research within the department.

Dryer himself remains one of his departments most productive scholars with 110 refereed papers to his credit and more than 6,000 citations with an h-index of 49. His work in neurobiology, circadian rhythms and kidney disorders has extended off campus as well through partnerships in the Texas Medical Center (TMC).

His work on the physiology of kidney disorders came later in his career. He credits partnerships at TMC (particularly with Baylor College of Medicine) for supporting such critical research. Houston and its renowned medical facilities have been an invaluable platform for him and so many other UH faculty members, he said.

One of the great resources for faculty at UH is the Texas Medical Center, he said. We should take more advantage of it.

Now, UH has its own state-of-the-art medical school, the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. Dryer was among those who helped establish this important addition to the University in 2019. He also teaches at the college, helping prepare tomorrows physicians.

Dryer also has lent his insights and experience to guiding students within his own college, as well as junior faculty. During his esteemed career, the longtime professor has seen both pupils and professors flourish professionally. Their success is validating and inspiring for Dryer.

I like to see when people Ive worked with and mentored are more successful than I am, he said. Many of my former graduate assistants have had successful careers in the pharmaceutical industry. I am proud of the fact that Ive trained many Ph.D. students to become effective researchers in non-academic environments.

Dryer adds that he also takes great satisfaction in seeing former students accepted into medical school and other professional schools.

The number of first-generation students at UH is quite impressive, he said. When you see these students go on to become doctors and dentists and pharmacists, its a special moment.

While Dryer has guided students on their career trajectories, he fully credits the institution he calls home for supporting their academic and professional growth.

What I love about UH is the extent to which it is a tool for upward social mobility for our students, our city and the state of Texas, he said. I would argue there are few institutions in the United States that can match us in this area.

The Farfel Award is certainly a milestone for Dryer. He is proud of this award and his work at UH, but the seasoned scholar takes particular delight in being present for the Universitys ascension as a research institution and destination campus for students from around the globe.

It has been incredible to witness the tremendous increase in the reputation of the University itself, he said. Seeing the sheer growth of the campus how beautiful our campus has become over the years is truly remarkable. I really credit that to President Khator, as well as the energy and enthusiasm of our campus community. UH is really a special place, and I am beyond grateful to have spent the majority of my career here.

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Noted Science Scholar Stuart Dryer Earns 2023 Farfel Award - University of Houston

Physiology

Roles of the gut microbiome in weight management – Nature.com

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Roles of the gut microbiome in weight management - Nature.com

Physiology

Announcing Virtual Press Conference for the American Physiology Summit – Newswise

Newswise Rockville, Md. (April 5, 2023)Reporters are invited to join a virtual press conference featuring high-impact research to be presented at the American Physiology Summit. The press conference will be held online 1:302:15 p.m. EDT (10:3011:15 a.m. PDT) on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 (register to attend).

The event offers a preview of findings being shared at the 2023 American Physiology Summit, the flagship meeting of the American Physiological Society, to be held April 2023, 2023, in Long Beach, California. Advanced registration is recommended for reporters who would like to join the virtual press conference, access embargoed press materials online or attend the Summit in person.

The press conference will feature presentations and a moderated Q&A with authors of three new studies:

Trying to Lower Blood Pressure? Evening Exercise Might Be Best

Leandro Brito, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Oregon Health & Science University, will share new findings on why older people who exercise in the evening show greater improvements in blood pressure than those who exercise in the morning.

Staying Safe When Its Hot: Study Identifies Temperature-humidity Combinations that Stress the Heart

Rachel Cottle, a doctoral candidate at Pennsylvania State University, will present research on the temperature-humidity combinations that lead to cardiovascular strain. The findings can help inform safety guidelines and policies that protect people when temperatures rise.

Fat Isnt Necessarily Bad! Full-fat Yogurt Helps Lower Glucose Levels in People with Prediabetes

Contrary to the messages that the public often receives about dietary fat, weight gain and chronic disease, Victoria Taormina, a doctoral candidate at the University of Vermont, will share recent findings suggesting that full-fat dairy products may be beneficial to blood glucose and fat metabolism.

For more on the science behind the biggest issues impacting life and health today, explore the American Physiology Summit schedule at a glance, full program and game-changer sessions.

To register for a press pass, pleasevisit our Summit Newsroomand submit apress registration form.

Follow #APS2023 onFacebook,Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiology Summit (APS2023) is an innovative event for scientific exchange and networking. Thousands of researchers, educators and students will come together to share the most recent advances and breakthroughs impacting the research community and the world around us. APS 2023 is the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society, whose mission is to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health.

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Announcing Virtual Press Conference for the American Physiology Summit - Newswise

Physiology

14 Ohio Indoor Track and Field Members Named Academic All-MAC … – Ohio University Athletics

Story Links CLEVELAND, Ohio-- Fourteen members of the Ohio indoor track and field team have been named to the 2022-23 Women's Indoor Track and Field Academic All-MAC Team, the Mid-American Conference announced.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport.First-year students and any transfer in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.

The following individuals represented Ohio on the 2022-23 Academic All-MAC Team:1. Alyssa Christian, Sr., Psychology/English, 3.9702. Emily McKenzie, Jr., Communication Sciences and Disorders, 3.9043. Madelyn Bartolone, 5th, Studio Art/Art Therapy, 3.8814. Avril Moyer, So., Chemistry/BioChem, 3.8805. Stephanie Pierce, 5th, Physical Therapy, 3.8536. Michaela Frey, So., Communication Studies, 3.7477. Autumn Mohan, 5th, Health and Physical Education, 3.7158. Kenna Loveless, Jr., Exercise Physiology, 3.7149. Kelsi Harris, So., Psychology, 3.68010. Sarah Liederbach, So., Chemical Engineering, 3.59811. Millie Ryan, So., Middle Childhood Language Arts/Math, 3.56512. Carina Weaver, Sr., Exercise Physiology, 3.56313. Bailey Roberts, R-Jr., Exercise Physiology/Pre-Physical Therapy, 3.51214. Theresa Hagey, So., Nursing, 3.325

#OUohyeah

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14 Ohio Indoor Track and Field Members Named Academic All-MAC ... - Ohio University Athletics

Physiology

Imagine a World Where You Control If and When You Go Through … – Oprah Mag

Elena Nechaeva//Getty Images

Imagine a world in which women get to control whenor even ifthey go through menopause. This is the vision CEO Daisy Robinton, PhD, set forth when she cofounded Oviva Therapeutics, a company dedicated to answering the many unanswered questions in female physiology through innovative biomedical research and the development of therapeutics that will delay the decline of the ovaries.

Get a preview of Oprah Dailys interview with Robinton and watch the full video below.

Ovarian health is a fundamental pillar of our overall health and well-being. It really sustains us, and unfortunately, the ovaries age at an accelerated rate relative to the rest of the body.

As a woman approaches menopause, the number of eggs she has, a.k.a. her ovarian reserve, declines. And once this hits the low threshold, that is a trigger for menopause. When the ovaries stop functioning, women have increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, immune dysfunction, neurocognitive decline, problems with sleep, problems with sex.

So in supporting the function of the ovaries for a longer period of time, were hoping that were ultimately supporting the health of women for a longer period of time. In other words, if you can slow that decline, you could potentially forestall menopause or choose not to have it altogether.

Theres not a lot of resources for women to understand their own health, but also theres a lack of research in this space, a lack of understanding of female physiology thats been historic in biomedical research and clinical development. I was really shocked to discover how underrepresented female physiology was in not only biomedical research but also clinical development. It wasnt until 2016 that female animals were required to be included in NIH-funded studies, and it wasnt until the early nineties that female people were mandated to be included in clinical trials.

I think a big piece of it is being a woman of reproductive age, interested in having children and being curious about my own health, and then realizing through that discovery that there was a lot I didnt knowthat nobody knew because of the historic underrepresentation of female subjects in clinical studies.

I asked myself, what would we know about human biology if we had dedicated the same amount of attention to study female physiology as we have to male physiology? And how has this impacted us more broadly as a society?

Any content published by Oprah Daily is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be regarded as a substitute for professional guidance from your healthcare provider.

In a refreshingly candid conversation with Oprah Daily Insiders, Oprah, Maria Shriver, Drew Barrymore, and doctors Sharon Malone, Heather Hirsch, and Judith Joseph, we set the record straight on all things menopause. Become an Oprah Daily Insider now to get access to this conversation and the full The Life You Want Class library.

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Imagine a World Where You Control If and When You Go Through ... - Oprah Mag

Physiology

HeartFlow, Leader in Revolutionizing Precision Heart Care, Closes … – BioSpace

Financing will further drive commercial scale for HeartFlows AI-enabled portfolio of precision heart care products

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HeartFlow, Inc., the leader in revolutionizing precision heart care, today announced the close of a $215 million Series F funding round by its parent company HeartFlow Holding, Inc., led by Bain Capital Life Sciences with participation from new investor Janus Henderson Investors, and existing investors including Baillie Gifford, Capricorn Investment Group, Hayfin Capital Management, HealthCor, Martis Capital, USVP and Wellington Management. This new funding will enable HeartFlow to meet the growing demand for its commercial products, support a robust body of growing clinical evidence and advance its comprehensive product portfolio to help physicians to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD) and guide their treatment decisions.

The financing follows a period of remarkable growth for HeartFlow. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and FFRCT have already been recognized by the recent ACC/AHA Chest Pain Guidelines, and HeartFlows FFRCT technology is covered by 100% of Medicare and over 98% of commercial payers. With the recent FDA clearance of new products, the company is the first and only company to provide non-invasive coronary artery anatomy (RoadMap analysis), physiology (HeartFlow FFRCT) and plaque information (Plaque analysis) based on CCTA. These products enable physicians to gain more understanding of a patients CAD and are the most comprehensive approach to predict risk of a heart attack.1

HeartFlow has built a strong intellectual property portfolio, brought to market the only combined anatomy, physiology and plaque analysis to help diagnose and treat heart disease, and is now in over 725 hospital systems worldwide with over 180,000 patients served to date, said John Farquhar, Chief Executive Officer of HeartFlow. "The oversubscription of our Series F funding round, particularly in the current market backdrop, is a strong validation of our technology, our team and the opportunity in front of us. We appreciate the support of our investors, both existing and new, who share HeartFlow's vision to build a new standard of care for people at risk of heart disease.

HeartFlow is a leader in precision heart care and its AI-enabled products promise to help physicians more effectively diagnose and treat heart disease, which continues to be the leading cause of death in the U.S., said Nicholas Downing, M.D., a Managing Director at Bain Capital Life Sciences. We look forward to supporting the companys commitment to improving cardiovascular care for patients as it heads into this exciting next chapter of growth.

The HeartFlow product pipeline is expected to continue to propel the companys position as a precision diagnostics leader. HeartFlows additional product launches will enable the company to further support physicians in their commitment to improve cardiovascular patient outcomes.

J.P. Morgan acted as sole placement agent to HeartFlow.

About HeartFlow

HeartFlow is the global leader in revolutionizing precision heart care, uniquely combining human ingenuity with advanced AI technology. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, our technology has been published in more than 500 peer-reviewed publications that showcase the value of anatomy, physiology and plaque. We began our journey to improve CAD diagnosis with FFRCT and have now expanded our product portfolio to include anatomic stenosis and plaque information. To date, clinicians have used our technology for over 180,000 patients to aid in the diagnosis of heart disease. For more information, visit http://www.heartflow.com and connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contacts For Media

Linly KuHeartFlowmedia@heartflow.com

1 Emerald I - Lee, et al. JACC Imaging 2019.

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HeartFlow, Leader in Revolutionizing Precision Heart Care, Closes ... - BioSpace

Physiology

Board grants faculty appointments, promotions – The Source … – Washington University in St. Louis

At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting March 3, numerous faculty members were appointed with tenure, promoted with tenure or granted tenure. Their new roles will take effect July 1 unless otherwise indicated.

Sheldon A. Evans as professor of law at the School of Law; and

Benjamin Levin as professor of law at the School of Law.

Polina Lishko as professor of cell biology and physiology at the School of Medicine (effective March 3);

Hua Pan as associate professor of medicine at the School of Medicine (effective March 3);

Rene A. Shellhaas, MD, as professor of neurology at the School of Medicine (effective March 3); and

Aggie Toppins as associate professor of art at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts (effective March 3).

Ana M. Babus to associate professor of economics in Arts & Sciences;

Jonathan C. Barnes to associate professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences;

Taylor Carlson to associate professor of political science in Arts & Sciences;

Joanna Dee Das to associate professor of dance in Arts & Sciences;

Bhupal Dev to associate professor of physics in Arts & Sciences;

Steven Frankel to associate professor of mathematics in Arts & Sciences;

Meghan Kirkwood to associate professor of art at the Sam Fox School;

Sebla B. Kutluay to associate professor of molecular microbiology at the School of Medicine (tenure effective March 3);

Calvin Lai to associate professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences;

SangMok Lee to associate professor of economics in Arts & Sciences;

Diana J. Montao to associate professor of history in Arts & Sciences;

Luis A. Salas to associate professor of classics in Arts & Sciences;

Yanli Song to associate professor of mathematics in Arts & Sciences;

Joshua A. Van Dyke-Blodgett to associate professor of biology in Arts & Sciences;

Kristin J. Van Engen to associate professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences;

Constance Vale to associate professor of architecture at the Sam Fox School; and

Kun Wang to associate professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences.

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Board grants faculty appointments, promotions - The Source ... - Washington University in St. Louis

Physiology

The Productization of Translational Science, Upcoming Webinar … – PR Web

Each step should be evaluated considering the technical aspects and looking for failure modes and ways to improve performance.

TORONTO (PRWEB) April 06, 2023

The most rewarding projects are where one is challenged to establish a paradigm shift and can change the standard of care. These special projects require a deeper level of understanding of the disease state and the science behind the technical solutions. A comprehensive process helps to solve the most difficult challenges and by extension the simple ones too. In this webinar, the featured speakers will talk about the productization of translational science breaking down tasks and developing solutions that will change the standard of care.

When talking about simplifying challenges, it is a good idea to start with a task analysis. This can be high level or aspirational if the project is early-stage and concept configurations have not been established. If the solution space is well defined the task analysis (or functional flow) may have a lot of detail. Each step should be evaluated through the lens of the stakeholders to identify user challenges and opportunities to enhance the experience. In addition, each step should be evaluated considering the technical aspects and looking for failure modes and ways to improve performance.

At Veranex, translational science activities are woven into this process to establish a thorough understanding of the physiology associated with the therapy (what is changing) and conversely the science behind the mechanism of action of the technology (how its changing it). A couple of examples of physiologic needs: 1) establish the correlation of bilirubin levels and skin color across infant ethnicities. 2) establish the mechanical forces applied to a cell to create openings in the cell wall. Examples of technology needs could be 1) identify methods to measure changes in bilirubin levels or 2) how to isolate cells and impart prescribed shear forces.

These activities and processes ensure product solutions that will be successful. Join this webinar to learn how to bring about the productization of translational science, with insights into developing impactful solutions.

Join Joe Gordon, SVP Science and Technology, Veranex, for the live webinar on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 3pm BST (4pm CEST/EU-Central).

For more information, or to register for this event, visit The Productization of Translational Science.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.comFor information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/

Contact:Vera KovacevicTel: +1 (416) 977-6555 x371Email: vkovacevic@xtalks.com

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Physiology

Suicide rate increases during the week of a full moon – Earth.com

A new study from the Indiana University School of Medicine has found that deaths by suicide significantly increase during the week of a full moon. The research, which was published in the journal Discover Mental Health, analyzed data from the Marion County coroners office in Indiana about suicides that took place from 2012-2016.

Study lead author Dr. Alexander Niculescu explained the rationale behind the research: We wanted to analyze the hypothesis that suicides are increased during the period around full moons and determine if high-risk patients should be followed more closely during those times.

The researchers found that people over the age of 55 showed an even higher increase in suicides during the week of a full moon. In addition, the experts looked at the time of day and month when suicides occurred and found that 3 to 4 p.m. and the month of September were peak times.

From a clinical perspective and a public health perspective, we found some important take-home messages in this study, said Dr. Niculescu. High-risk patients should possibly be followed more closely the week of the full moon, during late afternoons and perhaps the month of September.

The team of researchers also previously developed blood biomarker tests for other mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as for pain. In this study, they were able to use blood samples previously taken by the coroner from some of the people who died by suicide to determine which biomarkers were present.

We tested a list of top blood biomarkers for suicidality that we identified in previous studies, said Dr. Niculescu. The biomarkers for suicidality that are predictive of death by suicide during full moon, peak hour of day and peak month of the year compared to outside of those periods appear to be genes that regulate the bodys own internal clock, so called circadian clock. Using the biomarkers, we also found people with alcohol-use disorder or depression may be at higher risk during these time periods.

According to Dr. Niculescu, the surge in suicides during the full moon phase could be attributed to the heightened luminosity. The bodys circadian rhythm, which regulates our sleep-wake cycle over 24 hours, is significantly influenced by the surrounding light. Moonlight could be disrupting peoples natural rhythms during the period when it should be dimmer.

The effect of ambient light and body clocks in suicide needs to be studied more closely, along with how people sleep and their exposure to light, Niculescu said. Changes in light can affect vulnerable people, in conjunction with other risk factors.

Dr. Niculescu mentioned that there are two additional peak periods for suicides. The first peak occurs from 3 to 4 p.m. and may be connected to the accumulation of stressors throughout the day, as well as a reduction in daylight which leads to lower expression of circadian clock genes and cortisol. The second peak happens in September, which coincides with the end of summer vacations and the onset of seasonal affective disorder symptoms as the amount of daylight decreases during this time of year.

Our work shows the full moon, fall season and late afternoon are temporal windows of increased risk for suicide, particularly in individuals who suffer from depression or alcohol use disorders.

In the future, Dr. Niculescu hopes to study if exposure to screens at night contributes to increased suicidality in people, especially younger people. Some people have a full moon in their hand every night. Its an area we absolutely need to study further.

While the idea that a full moon can cause strange behavior has been around for centuries, there is little scientific evidence to support the claim. However, this study provides some evidence that there may be a correlation between the full moon and an increased risk of suicide, particularly among older adults.

Its important to note that correlation does not necessarily equal causation, and the study has limitations, such as being limited to data from one county in Indiana. Further research will be needed to determine if these findings can be replicated in other locations and populations.

Nonetheless, the findings provide important insights into the patterns of suicide, and could help inform suicide prevention efforts. As Niculescu noted, These findings underscore the importance of more research into the factors contributing to suicide risk, and suggest that paying closer attention to the timing of suicides could help save lives.

Full moons and human behavior

There is ongoing debate and controversy regarding the extent to which the full moon can impact human behavior. While some studies have suggested that the full moon may have a subtle influence on human physiology and behavior, other studies have failed to find any significant effects.

One of the most commonly discussed effects of the full moon is its potential to influence sleep patterns. Some researchers have found that people tend to sleep less deeply and experience more interrupted sleep around the time of the full moon.

This may be due to the moons gravitational pull, which can affect the tides and may also affect the fluids in our bodies. However, other studies have failed to replicate these findings, so the evidence for this effect is mixed at best.

Another potential impact of the full moon on human behavior is its association with changes in mood and mental health. Some people report feeling more anxious or agitated around the time of the full moon, while others may experience a boost in energy and creativity.

However, again, the evidence for these effects is inconclusive and may be influenced by a range of other factors, such as cultural beliefs and expectations.

It is also worth noting that many of the studies on the effects of the full moon have been criticized for being poorly designed or for relying on anecdotal evidence rather than rigorous scientific methods. To fully understand the potential impact of the full moon on human behavior, more research is needed using rigorous experimental designs and objective measures of behavior and physiology.

In summary, while there is some evidence to suggest that the full moon may have a subtle influence on human behavior, the scientific evidence for this effect is far from conclusive. As with many other areas of scientific inquiry, more research is needed to fully understand the potential impact of the full moon on human physiology and behavior.

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Physiology

Innovative method predicts the effects of climate change on cold … – Science Daily

In the face of a warming climate that is having a profound effect on global biodiversity and will change the distribution and abundance of many animals, a Penn State-led research team has developed a statistical model that improves estimates of habitat suitability and extinction probability for cold-blooded animals as temperatures climb.

Cold-blooded animals -- a diverse group including fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects -- comprise most species on Earth. The body temperature of cold-blooded animals is strongly influenced by the temperature of their environment. Because their growth, reproductive success and survival is tightly coupled to environmental temperatures, climate change represents a significant threat to them.

Understanding the future effects of climate change on biodiversity is a global priority, according to research team leader Tyler Wagner, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey and a Penn State adjunct professor of fisheries ecology. But predicting where a species will exist and in what abundance under future temperatures is extremely challenging, he noted, because for many species this means estimating responses to temperatures that the animals have not yet experienced, and scientists have not yet observed.

To more precisely estimate the effects of climate change on cold-blooded animals, in a new study, the researchers developed a statistical method to fuse data collected in the field describing the distribution and abundance of many cold-blooded animals with laboratory-derived information about species-specific temperature performance and tolerance.

In findings published today (April 3) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Wagner and colleagues report the development of an innovative statistical modeling approach. Their newly developed model, which they call the "Physiologically Guided Abundance Model," or PGA Model, can be applied across almost all cold-blooded animals, and is believed to have great potential to help inform the formation of climate adaptation and management strategies.

"The challenge was how to combine these two sources of information and use laboratory-derived information to help inform landscape-scale predictions under future climates not experienced by animals in their current ranges," said Wagner, who is assistant unit leader of the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "The model we created accomplishes that."

The PGA model combines observations of species abundance and environmental conditions with laboratory-derived data on the physiological response of cold-blooded animals to temperature to predict species geographical distributions and abundance in response to a warming world. Without including species' physiological preferences in a model, Wagner suggests, it is difficult to realistically forecast cold-blooded animals' fate.

"When trying to predict, or extrapolate, the effects of climate change on animal distribution and abundance, scientists now often only use information that describes the relationships between abundance and distributions and temperature under current conditions," he said. "These relationships are then used to extrapolate under future temperature conditions."

However, this approach assumes that species-environment relationships are biologically meaningful under future temperatures and, importantly, fails to account for the tight link between environmental temperatures and cold-blooded animal physiology, Wagner explained.

"Although cold-blooded animals are understudied when it comes to understanding how their distributions and abundance will respond to climate change, these animals are relatively well-studied when it comes to laboratory-derived information about how changes in environmental temperatures affect physiology and performance," he said. "In fact, most cold-blooded animals share a similar functional response in relative performance with increasing temperatures, which can be generalized across a diversity of taxa."

The researchers developed their PGA model using data from three fish species that differ in their thermal preference and tolerance across more than 1,300 lakes located in the U.S. Midwest. They compared the PGA model's results to those from a traditional model that does not incorporate species' physiological responses. Fishes considered in the research were cisco (coldwater), yellow perch (coolwater) and bluegill (warmwater).

The researchers predicted species distributions and abundance at each lake under current conditions and for 1.8-, 3.6-, 5.4- and 7.2-degree (Fahrenheit) increases in mean July water temperatures. A 7.2-degree F increase corresponds to the predicted average regional increase in air temperature across the Midwest region for the 2071-2100 time period.

While the results of the traditional model did not predict that any of the fish species would be extirpated, or locally driven out, by climate change, the PGA model revealed that cold-adapted fish would be extirpated in 61% of their current habitat with rising temperature.

Gretchen Hansen, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and a coauthor on the study, suggested that models that do not include physiological preferences may lead to underestimations of the risk climate change may pose to cold-adapted species.

"We showed that temperature-driven changes in distribution, local extinction, and abundance of cold-, cool- and warm-adapted species varied substantially when physiological information was incorporated into the model," she said. "The PGA model provided more realistic predictions under future climate scenarios compared with traditional approaches and has great potential for more realistically estimating the effects of climate change on cold blooded species."

Also contributing to the research at Penn State was Christopher Custer, doctoral degree student in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management; as well as Erin Schliep, Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University; Joshua North, Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; and Holly Kundel and Jenna Ruzich, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota.

This research was funded by the U.S. Geological Survey Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and the National Science Foundation.

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Innovative method predicts the effects of climate change on cold ... - Science Daily