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University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Major Urinary Proteins do not allow kin recognition in male mice

Male house mice produce large quantities of proteins called ‘major urinary proteins’ or MUPs, which transport volatile pheromones to urine and stabilize their release from scent marks. Many studies have concluded that MUPs provide a unique individual signature or ‘barcode’ and thereby control individual and kin recognition. Researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna now found evidence that directly refutes this hypothesis. They discovered that the MUP genes of wild house mice show a surprising lack of variability, and rather than providing a stable barcode, individuals dynamically regulate the number of MUP excreted depending upon social context. These findings contradict the widely assumed hypothesis that MUPs control kin recognition.

The article "Diversity of major urinary proteins (MUPs) in wild house mice" by Michaela Thoß, Viktoria Enk, Hans Yu, Ingrid Miller, Kenneth C. Luzynski, Boglarka Balint, Steve Smith, Ebrahim Razzazi-Fazeli, and Dustin J. Penn was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The article "Regulation of highly homologous major urinary proteins in house mice quantified with label-free methods" by Viktoria Enk, Christian Baumann, Michaela Thoß, Kenneth C. Luzynski, Ebrahim Razzazi-Fazeli, and Dustin J. Penn appeared in the journal Molecular Biosystems.

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(Web editor, 7 December 2016)

Photo of edible dormice in nest box

The reduction of telomeres, a biological marker for aging, is stopped in older edible dormice. The telomeres are elongated instead. (Photo: J. Cornils/Vetmeduni Vienna)

Edible Dormice: The older they get, the more they rejuvenate their cells

In normal somatic cells, telomeres are shortened with every cell division. Besides, oxidative stress has a strong effect on telomere erosion. However, the rate of telomere shortening differs between species. For instance, it has been shown before that telomeres in fast-aging, short-lived wild animals erode more rapidly than in slow-aging, long-lived species.  The shortening of telomeres in cells was thought to be an important biomarker for lifespan and aging. The edible dormouse (Glis glis), a small hibernating rodent, now turns everything upside down. In contrast to humans and other animals, telomere length in the edible dormouse significantly increases in the second half of its life, as Franz Hoelzl and other researchers from the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology and the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology of the Vetmeduni Vienna found out just recently.

The article "Telomeres are elongated in older individuals in a hibernating rodent, the edible dormouse (Glis glis)" by Franz Hoelzl, Steve Smith, Jessica S. Cornils, Denise Aydinonat, Claudia Bieber, and Thomas Ruf was published in Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group).

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(Web editor, 24 November 2016)

Photo of a baby bee eater

Bee-eaters and their offspring share their nests with insects. (Photo: Herbert Hoi/Vetmeduni Vienna)

Fly larvae clean bee-eater’s nest

Bird´s nests are home not only to the bird parents and their offspring but also to other inhabitants, such as insect larvae, which take advantage of the favourable climatic conditions and abundant supply of food in the nests. So far, there has been no research into the possible benefit for birds from this living arrangement. A team of researchers around Herbert Hoi from the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology of the Vetmeduni Vienna has now shown that fly larvae in nests of European bee-eaters help clean the nest by foraging on faeces and uneaten food. This “waste removal” has a positive effect on offspring development and benefits the nest ecosystem.

The article "Housekeeping by lodgers: the importance of bird nest fauna on offspring condition“ von Jan Kristofık, Alzbeta Darolova, Christine Hoi, and Herbert Hoi was published in the Journal of Ornithology.

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(Web editor, 22 November 2016)

Photo of fishermen at Lake Tanganyika

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Fishermen at the Burundian shoreline of Lake Tanganyika (Photo Francesca Ansaloni via Wikimedia Commons)

Photo of cichlids

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Cichlids in Lake Tanganyika (Photo Stefanie Schwammberger)

Sensitive ecosystem of the African Great Lakes jeopardized by oil extraction

Despite all warnings about their negative impact on global climate change the demand for fossil fuels is rising.  Now there are plans to exploit the oil resources of the remote African Great Lakes, such as Lake Tanganyika, the second largest lake in Africa, or Lake Malawi.  The relatively remote and difficult to reach Great Lakes are surrounded by the states of Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, parts of the Democtractic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.   The regions is among the most densely populated areas of the world, home to more than 107 million people.  Governments expect much needed large income-sources from oil exploration. 

However, for the fragile ecosystems of these unique lakes, which are habitat for thousands of endemic species, and on which a largely poor riparian human population depends for a living, oil exploration could be disastrous.  Oil spills would not just impact nature, but also destroy the livelihoods of local people.  Even without oil extraction the lake ecosystems are under pressure from human activities, such as overfishing, deforestation, and climate change.  A group of scientists, including from the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, has issued a warning that oil pollution could be the death knell for the environment both for animals and humans in the region and argues that regional governments should explore other options for regional development in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The letter "Oil extraction imperils Africa's Great Lakes" was published on 4 November 2016 in Science Magazine.

(Web editor, 10 November 2016)

A method for measuring telomeres in Sand martins

Telomeres are protective end caps on chromosomes. They are important for the stability of chromosomes, as they protect cells against the degradation of reactive oxygen species. However, with each cell division they are shortened. The rate of telomeric loss is increasingly used as a marker for biological aging and survival probability. In studies in many organisms, telomeric loss has been associated with increased metabolism, biological stress and disease.

Researchers from the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology and the Institute of Environmental Sciences at the University of Nyíregyháza in Hungary have validated a medium-throughput and reliable method for measuring the relative length of telomeres in Sand martins (Riparia riparia). They tested a population of different aged individuals from East Hungary and found a significant negative relationship between relative telomere length and age, and observed a marked decrease in telomere length in older age classes (> 4 years) but no relationship to sex or body mass. The described test method will allow scientists to carry out long-term studies on the telomeric dynamics of wild Sand martins in populations with different life-history and health characteristics.

The article "A Simple and Reliable Medium-Throughput Method to Measure Relative Telomere Length in Sand Martins Riparia riparia" by Steve Smith, Richard Wagner, Tibor Szép, Franz Hoelzl & Mónika Molnár was published in the journal BioOne.

(Web-Redaktion am 7.11.2016)

Photo of a cave painting in Altamire

Reproduction of a bison of the cave of Altamira at the Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Altamira, Santilla del Mar, Cantabria, Spain (Photo Ramessos via Wikimedia Commons)

The Symbolic Animal Evolution and Neuroethology of Aesthetics

From 15 -19 October 2016 a workshop on the interesting topic "Das symbolische Tier - Evolution und Neuroethologie der Ästhetik" was held in Erice, Sicily. 

The overall purpose of the workshop was to investigate the biological mechanisms that underlie symbol making and the perception and appreciation of beauty, from the attractive features of sexually selected traits to human figurative arts.

The workshop was organised by Leonida Fusani of the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Vetmeduni Vienna and Vittorio Gallese of Parma University & University of London.  

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Photo of a blue tit

Approaching predators cause the female blue tit to sing rather than to become quiet. (Photo: Katharina Mahr/Vetmeduni Vienna)

Female blue tits sing in the face of danger

Birdsong has long been associated with courtship or competitive behaviour. And males were often considered to be a more active singing partner than females. A team of researchers from the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology now shows that female singing behaviour is in fact much more common than had been previously assumed. The researchers have for the first time demonstrated a connection between the song of female blue tits and the presence of a predator. This singing appears to be about their own defence and not that of their nest. The animals may be indicating a heightened ability to escape by showing the predator that they have seen it and can flee at any time.
More studies will still be needed in order to better interpret the different vocalization patterns of birds.

The article "Female and male Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) sing in response to experimental predator exposition" by Katharina Mahr, Carlo Seifert and Herbert Hoi was published in the Journal of Ornithology.

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(Web editor, 24 June 2016)

Multiple paternity may offer fewer advantages than previously thought

Females can enhance the survival chances of their offspring by mating with multiple males. When it comes to immunological benefits, however, female promiscuity may not provide the young the advantages long suspected, as a research team from the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology confirmed. The researchers also provided the first evidence that females are much more susceptible to Salmonella infection than males. 

The article “Does multiple paternity influence offspring disease resistance?” by Thonhauser K.E., Raveh S., Thoß M. and Penn D.J. was published in Journal of Evolutionary Biology.

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(Web editor, 18 April 2016)

First wild bird marked with Austrian ring

The first scientific ringing of wild birds using Austrian rings took place on 5 April at at the Austrian Ornithological Centre (AOC) at Wilhelminenberg.  Bird ringing is an important tool for obtaining data on the status of wild birds and their migration.  Until now birds in Austria were marked with German rings. Now, 103 years after the first ringing of wild birds, the marking "KLIVV.AT AUSTRIA" allows international ornithologists to detect birds ringed at an Austrian ringing- and research station.

Coinciding with the height of the spring migration, the first bird to do the honours was a Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), which now wears a small aluminium ring marked "T 000001" and the inscription "KLIVV.AT AUSTRIA“ on its leg.

More info (in German)

(Web editor, 6 April 2016)

Lecture for children about "aliens" at KinderuniVetmed

This year the Vetmeduni Vienna will again be hosting several events of the "university for children" Kinderuni.

From 21 to 22 July 2016 the broad spectrum of topics of the Vetmeduni Vienna will be explained to children (ages 7-12) in various lectures and give them the possibility to get acquainted with a university environment.  On 21 July  Bernhard Eckel of the Konrad Lorenz Institue of Ethology will be holding a lecture for children about "aliens" - i.e. introduced crayfish and fishes.

Children can sign up at the website of the Kinderbüro at University of Vienna.   

Weblink to sign up for all KinderuniVetmed events

(Web editor, 22 June 2016)

Lecture by Dominique Anne Potvin, PhD on 14 April 2016

On Thursday, 14th April 2016, 15:00, we'll present an additional talk at the Hörsaal (seminar room), Wilhelminenberg.

Our seminar speaker will be Dominique Anne Potvin, Australian National University, Research School of Biology, Australia.

City bird, country bird: The effects of urban noise on wildlife

Over the past decade, studies have observed changes in bird vocalizations – especially song - in urban habitats. Such changes tend to increase the active space of a signal in the new environment, and are therefore considered to be advantageous. While some adjustments are individually flexible, others have been identified as cultural modifications occurring over generations, indicative of cultural evolution or adaptation to a changing environment. However, the proximate mechanisms mediating this evolutionary process are, as yet, unknown. I will be presenting results from field observations as well as captive experiments to try and dig deeper into the issue of how urban noise might be affecting bird songs, including investigations into population genetics, cultural evolution, behavioural flexibility, endocrinology, song learning and even brain development.

A small brain is good for the immune system

Having a small brain may provide immune benefits, at least if you are a guppy. A new study by researchers at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology of the Vetmeduni Vienna shows that guppies with smaller brains have stronger immune responses than guppies with larger brains.  The scientists found out that large-brained fish are less resistant to disease than those with smaller brains.  Apparently the higher energy demand of a larger brain reduces the immune system´s energy budget for fighting diseases. 

The article "Selection for brain size impairs innate, but not adaptive immune responses" by Alexander Kotrschal, Niclas Kolm and Dustin Penn was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

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(Web editor, 9 March 2016)

Photo of a reconstruction of Oetzi

This is what Oetzi may have looked like, according to a reconstruction by Kennis (© South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology / Photo Ochsenreiter)

Oetzi´s stomach bacteria provide insights into early human migration into Europe

An international research team with participation from the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology (KLIVV) of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, has discovered traces of the Helicobacter pylori bacterium in the iceman´s gut.  The reconstruction of "Oetzi's" bacterial genome provides the oldest documented occurrence of H. pylori.  The team of international scientists, which included Yoshan Moodley, then with KLIVV (now with the Department of Zoology, University of Venda), was able to show that early migrants from Asia likely played a central role in the settlement of Europe. The stone age man´s bacterial genome is derived almost completely from Asian ancestors.  

The article "The 5,300-year-old Helicobacter pylori genome of the Iceman" was published in the renouned journal Science .

(Web editor, 8 January 2016)

The field station of the first Austrian Ornithological Institute in Seebarn opens

On 23 April 2015 the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna presented for the first time the newly founded Austrian Ornithological Institute. Professor Leonida Fusani heads this establishment, which is headquartered at Vienna´s Wilhelminenberg. He and his team established the new field station in Lower Austria on Seebarn am Wagram, which will be an ornithological research center and the center of the Austrian Ornithological Institute for public relations and training of volunteer helpers for the ringing of migratory birds. On November 5, the field office in Seebarn was ceremoniously opened with the presence of provincial governor Erwin Pröll, rektor Sonja Hammerschmid, ornithology head Leonida Fusani, department head Walter Arnold and mayor Alfred Riedl.

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(Web editor, 5 November 2015)

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