No Brasil, assim como em outros países tropicais, a criação de bovinos é feita de maneira extensiva e, portanto é suscetível às intempéries climáticas. Esse tipo de criação pode levar ao estresse térmico, mesmo em animais zebuínos. Sob condições de estresse térmico é possível a ocorrência de degeneração testicular, e por isso, há a procura por animais tolerantes ao calor. Desta maneira, este trabalho objetivou a avaliação da tolerância ao calor de touros da raça Brahman utilizando o teste de tolerância ao calor, e também a análise da qualidade seminal relacionada à disponibilidade de sombra nos pastos. Para tal, foram utilizados 10 touros da raça Brahman com idades entre 24 e 30 meses. Duas semanas antes do início das análises, três amostras de sêmen foram colhidas de cada animal para o nivelamento biológico do sêmen, e então os touros foram separados em dois grupos: 5 touros foram alocados em pasto com disponibilidade de sombra enquanto 5 touros foram alocados em pasto sem qualquer tipo de sombra. O teste de tolerância ao calor foi realizado em três dias consecutivos típicos de verão, e as colheitas de sêmen foram realizadas em 14 dias durante 2 meses, totalizando 4 colheitas. Anteriormente a todas as colheitas foram avaliadas a consistência testicular e o perímetro escrotal. As características seminais avaliadas foram volume, aspecto, turbilhonamento, motilidade, vigor e concentração e morfologia espermáticas. Os dados obtidos foram analisados com o pacote estatístico Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute Inc., 2004). Não houve diferenças estatísticas entre os dois grupos de animais. O resultado do teste de tolerância ao calor mostrou que os animais testados são tolerantes ao calor e apresentam boa capacidade termolítica. / In Brazil, similarly to others tropical countries, bovines are bred under environmental conditions of extensive system. This breed system type may lead to heat stress even on zebu animals. Under heat stress conditions, testicular degeneration can occur and, therefore, there is a search for animals that are heat tolerant. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the heat tolerance of Brahman bulls using the heat tolerance test and to verify the occurrence of any possible effect of shadow availability on pasture on semen quality. Ten Brahman bulls aging between 24 and 30 months were used in this work. For biological semen evaluation, three semen samples were collected from each animal two weeks before beginning. The bulls were then separated into two groups: 5 animals were allocated on pasture with shadow availability and 5 bulls were allocated on pasture without any kind of shadow. The heat tolerance test were performed in three consecutive typical summer days and the semen samples were collected each 14 days during 2 months, in a total of 4 semen samples per animal. Testicular consistence and scrotal circumference were measured just before every semen collection. The semen\'s characteristics evaluated were volume, aspect, mass movement, motility, straight movement, sperm concentration and morphological exam. Data obtained from experimental proceedings were analyzed by Statistical Analysis System program (SAS Institute Inc., 2004). No difference was observed (P>0.05) in any of the characteristics analyzed when Brahman bulls were maintained on pastures with or without shadow availability. The performance of tested animals on the heat tolerance test shows that these animals are heat tolerant and present good thermolitic ability.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a utilização dos minerais orgânicos - Cu, Fe, Mn, Se e Zn - na dieta de frangos de corte visando avaliar o desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e o efeito no poder poluente dos resíduos da avicultura. Foram realizados dois experimentos nas estações do inverno e verão, empregando seis dietas experimentais: T1 - Tratamento controle - suplementação de minerais inorgânicos; T2 - Suplementação de minerais orgânicos; T3 - Redução de 1/3 de T2; T4 - Redução 2/3 de T2; T5 - Aumento de 1/3 de T2 e T6 - Aumento de 2/3 de T2. Para os ensaios de desempenho, 1.080 animais foram alojados em 36 boxes com 30 aves cada, sobre cama de maravalha. Na análise de excreção, utilizou-se 144 animais para coleta total das excretas nos períodos de 19 a 22 e 33 a 36 dias de idade. As características de desempenho avaliadas foram peso corporal, ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, viabilidade criatória, índice de eficiência produtiva, além de características de carcaça e análises dos microminerais nas excretas e na cama de frango. Para avaliação do efeito da estação do ano, análises ambientais (temperatura e umidade relativa) e fisiológicas (temperaturas retal e superficial - imagem termográfica) foram mensuradas. Além disso, foi realizado estudo da viabilidade econômica do uso dos minerais. Os dados foram avaliados por meio da análise de variância, utilizando o PROC GLM do SAS. A comparação entre tratamentos foi realizada por regressão e a comparação entre as fontes de minerais (orgânico e inorgânico) feita por contraste. Nos estudos do inverno e verão, não houve diferença entre as fontes e níveis de suplementação para desempenho no período total de criação e no rendimento de carcaça. No inverno, entretanto, os resultados de excreção com a fonte orgânica foram superiores. Além disso, os minerais orgânicos apresentaram custo mais elevado e rentabilidade inferior. Ao se comparar as estações do ano, verifica-se um efeito negativo do verão no desempenho, nas variáveis fisiológicas e na análise econômica. Em relação às fontes e níveis de microminerais empregados, os resultados indicam que a suplementação deve estar de acordo com as condições ambientais da criação, proporcionando, assim, melhor efeito produtivo, ambiental e econômico para a atividade avícola. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of organic minerals - Cu, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn - in the diet of broiler chickens on performance, carcass yield and the effect on polluting power of poultry waste. Two experiments were conducted in the winter and summer seasons, employing six experimental treatments: T1 - Control - Inorganic Minerals Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, and Zn according to Rostagno et al. (2011), T2 - Organic Minerals, T3 - Reduction of 1/3 from T2, T4 - Reduction of 2/3 from T2, T5 - Increase of 1/3 from T2, and T6 - Increase of 2/3 from T2. 1.080 animals were housed in 36 boxes with 30 birds each, on a litter of wood shavings. In the analysis of excretion, 144 animals was used for total collection of excrement in the periods from 19 to 22 and 33 A 36 days of age. The performance characteristics evaluated were body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, productive efficiency index, and carcass characteristics and analysis of trace minerals in the manure and poultry litter. To evaluate the effect of season, environmental analysis (temperature and humidity) and physiological (rectal and surface temperatures - Thermographic image) were measured. In addition, in this study was conducted economic feasibility of the use of minerals. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance using PROC GLM of SAS. The comparison among treatments was performed by regression and between the sources of minerals (organic and inorganic) was used contrast. In winter and summer studies, there was no difference between the sources and performance for supplementation levels and carcass yield in the total period. In winter, however, the excretion results with organic source were higher. In addition, the organic minerals showed higher cost and lower profitability. When comparing the seasons, there is a negative effect on the performance of the summer on physiological parameters and economic analysis. Regarding the sources and levels of trace minerals employees, the results indicate that supplementation should be in accordance with the environmental conditions of creation, thus providing better productive, environmental and economic effect for the poultry activity.

O objetivou-se com este trabalho foi avaliar a influência de óleos funcionais e monensina na dieta de vacas no verão sobre o consumo de matéria seca, parâmetros produtivos, sanguíneos, fisiológicos e hormonais, fermentação ruminal e a digestibilidade aparente total dos nutrientes. O projeto foi conduzido no Centro de Análise e Pesquisa Tecnológica do Agronegócio (APTA), no setor de Bovinos de Leite, Instituto de Zootecnia, Nova Odessa, SP. Foram utilizadas oito vacas da raça Holandesa primíparas, lactantes (68 ± 3,46 dias de lactação e 511,56 ± 65,38 pesos vivos), distribuídas em dois quadrados latinos contemporâneos, em arranjo fatorial 2x2, ou seja, dieta sem inclusão de aditivo, dieta com inclusão de óleo funcional (OF, 0,5 g/kg MS), dieta com inclusão de monensina (MO, 30 mg/kg MS) e dieta com inclusão de óleo funcional e monensina, nas mesmas quantidades já descritas. As vacas foram mantidas a temperatura média de 25,31°C ± 0,26; umidade relativa do ar de 71,24% ± 1,03 e índice de temperatura e umidade de 73,85 ± 0,14. No presente experimento não observou interação entre os tratamentos, porém os animais com OF apresentaram maior CMS e a inclusão de MO diminuiu esse parâmetro. Se tratando dos parâmetros fermentativos, a inclusão de MO aumentou a concentração de propionato e isovalérico, consecutivamente sua proporção e diminuiu a relação acético: propiônico, OF não alterou a fermentação ruminal. Os parâmetros bioquímicos apresentaram interação na quantidade de ácidos graxos não esterificados (NEFA), sendo que, a não inclusão de aditivos foi maior sua concentração do que a inclusão de ambos os aditivos. Quando se tratando da digestibilidade dos nutrientes, não houve diferença significativa para nenhuma das frações. Para aos parâmetros produtivos, a produção de leite, produção de leite corrigida para 3,5% de gordura e quantidade de gordura ocorreu interação entre os tratamentos, onde a dieta com OF na ausência de monensina aumentou esses parâmetros e quando incluído MO diminuiu. Já dieta com somente MO funcional diminuiu, os mesmos parâmetros, e a presença dos dois aditivos aumentou. A quantidade de lactose, proteína e o teor de proteína foram maiores para o tratamento incluído OF. A inclusão de MO diminuiu os teores de gordura e sólidos totais, porém esse tratamento apresentou maior eficiência produtiva. Nos parâmetros fisiológicos a quantidade de tiroxina (T4), e frequência respiratória (FR) também foi maior quando incluído OF comparado sem inclusão de aditivos. Já os demais parâmetros fisiológicos e hormonais (temperatura retal e do pelame e triiodotironina, T3) não foram afetados. O óleo funcional demonstrou eficácia em melhorar a produção de leite e consumo em animais submetidos a estresse calórico crônico sem alterar a fermentação ruminal e digestibilidade, porém aumentou a FR e o T4. Entretanto, a monensina foi capaz de alterar a fermentação sem alterar o consumo e os parâmetros fisiológicos e hormonais, também sendo mais eficiente produtivamente. / The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of functional oils and monensin in the diet of cows submitted in the summer on dry matter intake, and how this influence affected their blood as well as their productive, physiological and hormonal parameters, ruminal fermentation and apparent digestibility of feed. The project was conducted in the Milk Cattle Sector at the Agribusiness Technological Research and Analysis Center (APTA), Institute of Animal Science, Nova Odessa, SP. Eight primiparous, lactating Holstein cows (68 ± 3.46 days of lactation and 511.56 ± 65.38 live weights) were used and distributed in two contemporary Latin squares, in a 2x2 factorial arrangement. They received four diets one without the inclusion of additives, one with functional oil (OF, 0.5 g / kg DM), one with monensin (MO, 30 mg / kg DM), and one with both functional oil and monensin with the same quantities as described. The cows were submitted to a mean temperature of 25.31°C ± 0.26 with a relative humidity of 71.24% ± 1.03 and a temperature and humidity index of 73.85 ± 0.14. In the present experiment, there was no interaction between the treatments, but the animals with + OF presented higher CMS and + MO decrease this parameter. When treating the fermentation parameters with MO, there was an increase in the amount of propionate and isovaleric, however, a decrease in the acetic: propionic ratio occurred. At the same time, only the proportion of propionate increased when treated with MO while isovaleric and acetic proportions remained the same, and the inclusion of OF did not alter the ruminal fermentation. The biochemical parameters showed interaction in the amount of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and the without additives the concentration of NEFA was higher than with the inclusion of both additives. When it came to nutrient digestibility, there was no significant difference for any of the fractions. Regarding the productive parameters concerning milk production, this adjusted to 3.5% fat and the amount of fat experienced interaction between treatments of OF and MO; the diet with OF in the absence of monensin saw an increase in these productive parameters and when MO was included, a decrease occurred. The diet with only functional MO saw a decrease in the productive parameters, while this increased in the presence of both additives. The amount of lactose, protein, and protein content were higher in the treatments including OF. The inclusion of MO decreased the total fat and solid contents, but this treatment presented a higher productive efficiency. In the physiologic parameters the thyroxin (T4). The respiratory rate (RR) was also higher when including OF in comparison without additives, while the other physiological and hormonal parameters (rectal temperature, skin and triiodothyronine, T3) were not affected. Functional oil showed efficacy in improving milk production and consumption in animals submitted to chronic caloric stress without altering rumen fermentation and digestibility, but increased RF and T4. However, monensin was able to alter the fermentation without altering the consumption and the physiological and hormonal parameters, also being more efficient productively.

Foi objetivo do presente estudo avaliar o efeito do estresse térmico sobre a seleção da dieta e digestibilidade dos nutrientes em bovinos através de um ensaio delineado inteiramente ao acaso, utilizando-se doze vacas secas, não gestantes e portadoras de cânulas ruminais. O ensaio foi conduzido no período de 20 dias e contou com dois tratamentos: conforto (galpão aberto, 21°C) e estresse (câmara climática, 38°C). Os alimentos oferecidos, separadamente e à vontade, foram cana-de-açúcar e uréia (14% PB) e concentrado a base de milho e farelo de soja (14% PB). A capacidade de seleção dos animais foi identificada através da comparação da dieta selecionada nos dois diferentes ambientes, dos parâmetros da fermentação ruminal e digestibilidade total obtida pelo marcador externo óxido de cromo. Os animais em estresse térmico reduziram em 22% o consumo de matéria seca (kgMS/dia) comparados aos mantidos em temperatura de conforto. A relação concentrado:volumoso escolhida não diferiu entre os tratamentos. Isto sugere que os animais reduziram a ingestão total de matéria seca sem alterar a concentração de energia e fibra das suas dietas, na tentativa de manter estável o ambiente ruminal. Quanto aos parâmetros ruminais, não houve diferença sobre a concentração total dos ácidos graxos voláteis, porcentagens molares dos ácidos acético, propiônico e butírico, relação acético/propiônico e pH ruminal. Foi observado aumento de 47% na concentração de N-amoniacal nos animais estressados. Esses achados sugerem que os animais, através da seleção de dietas, objetivam a manutenção de seu ambiente ótimo, corrigindo desbalanços e minimizando seu desconforto. Em contrapartida, houve redução na digestibilidade (49% para a matéria seca, 55% para a proteína bruta, 26% para extrativo não nitrogenado, 31% para extrato etéreo, 44% para o amido e 52% para energia bruta) nos animais em estresse térmico, reduzindo assim a disponibilidade dos nutrientes da dieta pelos bovinos. / The effect of heat stress on diet selection of ruminants was studied in a completely randomized design with 12 fistulated dry cows. The trial was conducted in 20 days with two treatments: thermal comfort (open barn, 21°C) and heat stress (climatic chamber, 38°C). Feeds were offered separately and ad libitum and composed by sugar cane + urea (14% CP) and concentrate, based on corn + soybean meal (14% CP). The ability of bovine to select their diets was identified comparing the composition of diet selected, ruminal fermentation parameters and total tract digestibility (chromic oxide as external marker) in different environments. A decrease of 22% in total dry matter intake was observed for animals in heat stress compared to the ones in comfort environment. Concentrate:roughage radio chosen was similar for both treatments. These data suggest that animals decreased dry matter intake without changing energy and fiber concentration in their diets, attempting maintain a stable ruminal environment. There was not difference on total volatile fatty acids production in the rumen, molar percentage of acetate, propionate and butirate, acetate/propionate ratio and ruminal pH. Ammoniacal-N concentration in the rumen was 47% higher for stressed than for comfort animals. This indicates that animals do make wise choices in order to maintain an ideal ruminal environment. However, there was a decrease in digestibility (49% for dry matter, 55% for crude protein, 26% for nitrogen-free extractive, 31% for ether extract, 44% for starch and 52% for gross energy) for animals in stress, reducing the availability of nutrients for bovine.

Master of Science / Division of Biology / Ashley E. Rhodes / To retain students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) various pedagogical techniques, such as active learning, have been incorporated in STEM courses. Despite the popularity of active learning, it has rarely been empirically tested with a comparison or control group. To compare the benefits of active learning to conventional lecture learning, the aims of this project were twofold: conduct a physiological research project investigating thermoregulation in large ruminants and evaluate the effectiveness of active learning tools for an undergraduate course that focused on core concepts in physiology. Physiological concepts from the thermoregulation study were integrated into the educational portion of the study. Holstein heifers were used as the model organism for the thermoregulation study. Initially, 8 heifers were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters and serial blood samples were collected at 3-minute intervals during exercise of increasing intensity. Blood lactate was then measured and it was determined that the lactate threshold of Holstein heifers occurs on average at a heart rate of 145bpm ± 7.7 and at an exercise speed of 6.44km/h ± 0.3. The results from the lactate threshold test were used to design two 8-week exercise trials with the objective to examine the effects of exercise on heat stress using high-intensity (short bouts of exercise above the lactate threshold), low-intensity (relatively long bouts of exercise below the lactate threshold), and sedentary control treatments. No differences were found in weekly skin temperatures or core body temperatures (p >.05). Expression of lactate dehydrogenase A in skeletal muscle cells decreased in the high-intensity treatment (p =.03). Expression of lactate dehydrogenase B in skeletal muscles decreased in the high-intensity (p =.02) and sedentary control (p =.02) treatments. Skin and core body temperatures from all treatments were correlated with THI (p < 0.001). There were no differences in body weight, body condition score, or conception rate between treatments (p > .05). Although not significant (p > .05), after low-intensity exercise training, skin temperatures increased while core body temperatures decreased. Trends from this study warrant further investigation on the effects of low-intensity exercise on thermoregulation in Holstein cattle. The second component of this project involved the incorporation of core physiological concepts from the thermoregulation project, in conjunction with those identified by the American Physiological Society, into an educational study where the utility of active learning for teaching difficult concepts within an undergraduate physiology course was investigated. Using a design-based research approach, two distinct pedagogical tools were developed: an active learning tool in the form of a case study and a conventional lecture. It was hypothesized that, compared to a conventional lecture, students receiving the active learning tool would perform significantly better on tests measuring their ability to comprehend, apply, and transfer the information to novel scenarios. Results from this project did not support the hypothesis but instead led to the question of is it the method or is it the student? Prior knowledge of students was evaluated using a physiology knowledge assessment. Students with low prior knowledge had greater learning gains from the use of a conventional lecture while students with high prior knowledge had greater learning gains from the use of a case study. Students with fewer college credit hours completed and those with lower ACT scores had larger learning gains after receiving a conventional lecture compared to the use of a case study. Students with more college credit hours completed and those with higher ACT scores had larger learning gains from the use of a case study compared to receiving the information from a conventional lecture. Furthermore, students who relied on memorization for learning new information benefitted more from a conventional lecture, while students who relied on elaboration for learning new information benefitted more from a case study. Thus, the success of active learning likely depends on specific student characteristics. A one-size-fits-all approach to teaching and learning will not suffice; we must first consider the population of students and then select the proper instructional approach.

The complex interaction of genetics, environment and management in determination of crop yields can interfere with selection progress in breeding programs. Specifically, the impact on selection for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under changing climatic conditions can be confounded by these interactions. Temperature increases for the southeastern United States are projected to range from 1-3°C by 2050 with nighttime temperatures increasing more rapidly than day temperatures. High temperatures are known to affect crop development and breeding for tolerance to heat stress is difficult to achieve in field environments. We utilized a multi-environment trial to assess variation in traits associated with NUE based on interactions of genotype x environment x management (G×E×M). All genotypes in the study responded favorably to lower than recommended nitrogen rates. Incremental application of N rates increased yield and post-anthesis N uptake significantly. Additionally, two multi-year studies investigating the effects of heat stress on soft red winter wheat varieties were conducted during the 2015-2016 growing seasons at the University of Kentucky Spindletop Research Farm in Lexington, KY. Thirty-six to 40 genotypes were chosen based on the combination of traits for vernalization and photoperiod sensitivity determined using marker analysis. Warmed environments were created through active and passive warming. Heading date, averaged across genotypes, shifted 1-5 days earlier in the actively warmed environment compared to the ambient environment across both years (p ≤0.05). Grain yield, averaged across genotypes, was significantly reduced in the actively warmed environment by 211.41 kg ha-1 (p ≤0.05) or 4.84%; however yield response to environment varied among genotypes with several genotypes displaying an increased yield in the warmed environment. Night temperature increases ranged from 0.27-0.75 °C above ambient temperature in the passively warmed environment. Grain yield, averaged across genotypes, was significantly reduced in the passively warmed environment by 224.29 kg ha-1 (p ≤0.05) or 6.44%; however, yield response to environment varied among genotypes with several genotypes displaying an increased yield in the warmed environment. Yield reductions are attributed to nitrogen utilization being reduced by 9.4% (p ≤0.001) under increased night temperatures.

This thesis examined why NCAA Division 1 American football “linemen” experience greater heat strain than “backs” during summer training camps. In study #1, exercise at a heat production of 350 W/m2 in a hot environment (Tdb:32.4±1.0ºC; Twb:26.3±0.6ºC) resulted in greater local sweating on the upper body (head, arm, shoulder and chest; all <0.05) and a greater core temperature (P=0.033) in linemen despite a ~25% lower heat production per unit mass (L:6.0±0.5 W/kg; B:8.2±0.8 W/kg). In study #2, greater convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients (P<0.05) were found in backs during live summer training camp drills, but these did not lead to a greater dry heat transfer or evaporative capacity. However, the maximum metabolic rate per unit mass was lower in linemen due to differences surface area-to-mass ratio. In conclusion, the greater heat strain previously reported in linemen likely arises, in part, from differences in sweating efficiency and body morphology.

Victims of exertional heat stroke (EHS) in whom treatment is delayed have higher rates of multi-organ failure and a greater number of fatalities. Death related to EHS is preventable, through immediate treatment via cold-water immersion (CWI). To date little is known about the influence of treatment delays on core cooling following EHS. Thus we sought to examine the effects of treatment delays on cardiovascular and thermal responses prior to, during, and following CWI treatment in individuals with exercise-induced hyperthermia. Our findings demonstrate that treatment delays resulted in a sustained level of hyperthermia and cardiovascular strain that significantly increased the time an individual is at risk to the potential lethal effects of EHS. Moreover, we report that cold water immersion treatment is powerful enough to overcome the adverse effects of treatment delays and rapidly reduce core temperatures while facilitating the re-establishment of blood pressure towards normal resting levels.

Dans le contexte du changement climatique, l’augmentation de la fréquence et de l’intensité des canicules a un impact négatif sur la physiologie des plantes, du fait de la perturbation structurale des protéines et des membranes par les fortes températures. Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons développé et caractérisé un système expérimental original dans lequel des plantules d’Arabidopsis thaliana sont arrêtées dans leur développement du fait d’une carence minérale. Ces plantules présentent une grande plasticité métabolique, notamment au niveau énergétique, qui leur permet de survivre pendant des semaines en état stationnaire. Nous avons ensuite réalisé une étude intégrative des processus qui permettent à ces plantules de survivre à un stress thermique normalement létal (43°C, 2 h), grâce à l’application d’un prétraitement à une température non létale (38°C, 2 h). Le pré-traitement à 38°C permet la protection du métabolisme énergétique ainsi que la reprise de la dynamique des organites lors de la phase de récupération. Au niveau transcriptionnel, les plantules pré-acclimatées surexpriment notamment des protéines chaperones et des gènes impliqués dans la photosynthèse et la régulation de l’expression des génomes mitochondriaux et plastidiaux. Au niveau protéique, l’accumulation d’HSPs et d’autres protéines de stress favorisent la récupération des plantules, tandis qu’en l’absence d’acclimatation, le choc thermique provoque la diminution des protéines ribosomales et l’accumulation de protéines impliquées dans la dégradation des protéines. Cette étude illustre l’intérêt de l’analyse multi-échelle pour décrypter les mécanismes de réponse des plantes aux stress. / In the context of climate change, the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves will likely have a negative impact on plant physiology, due to the structural destabilization of proteins and membranes caused by high temperatures. As part of this thesis, we developed and characterized an original experimental setup in which Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings are arrested in their development because of mineral starvation. These seedlings exhibit a high metabolic plasticity, especially for energy metabolism, which allows them to survive in a steady state for weeks. Then, we performed an integrative analysis of the processes that allow these seedlings to survive an otherwise lethal heat stress (43°C, 2 h), thanks to a priming treatment at a nonlethal temperature (38°C, 2 h). Priming protects the energy metabolism and permits the recovery of organelle dynamics after stress. At the transcriptional level, primed seedlings overexpress many chaperone proteins and genes involved in photosynthesis, and in the regulation of the expression of mitochondrial and plastidial genomes. At the protein level, the accumulation of HSPs and other stress proteins favour seedling recovery, whereas in the absence of acclimation, heat shock provokes the decrease of ribosomal proteins and the accumulation of proteins implicated in protein degradation. This study highlights the relevance of multi-scale analysis to decipher mechanisms of stress response in plants.

Coral bleaching is now the main driver of reef degradation. The common notion is that most corals bleach and suffer mortality at just 1-2°C above their mean summer maximum temperatures, but some species and genotypes resist or recover better than others. Here we conducted a series of 18-hour short-term heat stress assays side-by-side with a long-term heat stress experiment to assess the ability of both approaches to resolve putative differences in coral thermotolerance and provide a measure of in situ reef temperature thresholds. Using a suite of measures (photosynthetic performance, coral whitening, chlorophyll a, host protein, algal symbiont counts, and algal type association), we assessed bleaching sensitivity/resilience of Stylophora pistillata colonies from the exposed and protected sides of a near-shore coral reef in the central Red Sea. As suggested by the differential mortality during a previous bleaching event, coral colonies from the protected site exhibited less impacted physiological performance in comparison to their exposed site counterparts, and these differences were resolved using both experimental setups. Notably, the long-term experiment provided better resolution with regard to the different measures collected, but at the price of portability, cost, and duration of the experiment. Variability in resilience to ocean warming is critical to reef persistence, yet we lack standardized diagnostics to rapidly assess bleaching severity or resilience across different corals and locations. Using a newly developed portable experimental system termed CBASS (the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System), we demonstrate that mobile, short-term heat stress assays can resolve fine-scale differences in coral thermotolerance across reef sites. Based on our results, photosynthetic efficiency measured by non-invasive PAM fluorometry provides a rapid and representative proxy of coral resilience. Our system holds the potential to be employed for large-scale determination of in situ bleaching temperature thresholds across reef sites and species. Such data can then be used to identify resistant genotypes (and reefs) for downstream experimental examination and to complement existing remote-sensing approaches.