Rapid reduction of body size in populations responding to global warming suggests the involvement of temperature-dependent physiological adjustments during growth, such as mitochondrial alterations, in the efficiency of producing metabolic energy, a process that is poorly explored, especially in endotherms. Here, we examined the mitochondrial metabolism and proteomic profile of red blood cells in relation to body size and cellular energetics in nestling shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) developing at different natural temperatures. We found that nestlings of warmer nests had lighter bodies and smaller beaks at fledging. Despite there was no effect of environmental temperature on cellular metabolic rate, mitochondria had a higher inefficiency in coupling metabolism to allocable energy production, as evidenced by bioenergetic and proteomic analyses. Mitochondrial inefficiency was positively related to cellular stress represented by heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes and markers of mitochondrial stress. The observed temperature-related mitochondrial inefficiency was associated with reduced beak size and body mass and was linked to a downregulation of cellular growth factors and growth promoters determining body size. By analyzing the links between environmental temperature, mitochondrial inefficiency and body size we discuss the physiological alterations that free-living birds, and probably other endotherms, need to trigger to cope with a warming world.
Linking warmer nest temperatures to reduced body size in seabird nestlings: Possible mitochondrial bioenergetic and proteomic mechanisms
Announcing the 2024 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize shortlist and winner
Every year JEB celebrates early-career researchers through the Outstanding Paper Prize. We recognise the shortlisted ECRS that contributed to 11 remarkable studies published in 2024 and congratulate the winner, Elise Laetz, from University of Groningen. See how else JEB supports and promotes ECRs.
Inside the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change with Hans-Otto Pörtner
During the past two decades, Hans-Otto Pörtner has steered climate change policy as a co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II. He tells us about the experience in this Perspective.
Photosynthesis turns symbiotic sea anemone's tentacles toward sun
Snakelocks sea anemones point their tentacles, packed with symbiotic algae, toward the sun so their lodgers can photosynthesize, and now Vengamanaidu Modepalli & colleagues have discovered that photosynthesis by the algae guides their host's tentacles towards the sun.
History of our journals
As our publisher, The Company of Biologists, turns 100 years old, read about JEB’s history and explore the journey of each of our sister journals: Development, Journal of Cell Science, Disease Models & Mechanisms and Biology Open.
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