Biology subjects

Morton, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Morton, B..

11 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Beliefs about a widely popularised human-wildlife conflict are largely unreflective of local experiences and ecological data in wild red foxes, Vulpes vulpes

Human-driven environmental changes, such as urbanisation, are increasing human-wildlife interactions, creating potential for conflict. Public beliefs and experiences with local wildlife are central to the success of place-based conservation initiatives, such as urban rewilding, because they impact public attitudes and tolerance of those species within neighbourhoods. Few studies, however, have examined whether peoples beliefs align with their real-life observations of wildlife within their local area and, more importantly, whether (or how) their beliefs might impact public attitudes independently of local experiences with those animals. The current study addressed this gap by assessing whether public beliefs about a conspicuous human-wildlife conflict - bin-raiding behaviour - aligned with residents own local experiences with a familiar and widespread urban carnivore, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The study also examined whether beliefs about bin-raiding predicted attitudes towards foxes even when people lacked firsthand observations of such behaviour within their area. Beliefs and attitudes towards foxes were evaluated using a nationwide questionnaire administered to 1,275 participants in the United Kingdom. Ecological surveys were also conducted in the city of Hull, UK, to compare public attitudes and beliefs (N= 248 households) with objective data on outdoor bin disturbances (N=4,239 bins) from the same area. Nationally, most respondents (59.3%) believed that foxes raid bins despite significantly fewer of these people (21.7%) having witnessed it firsthand within their neighbourhood. In Hull, <1% of bins showed evidence of disturbance even though significantly more residents (16.9%) believed foxes raided bins than the number of residents who had actually seen it happen. Among national and local Hull residents with no local experience observing bin-raiding foxes, these beliefs were nevertheless associated with more negative attitudes towards them. Together, these findings highlight the importance of taking into account other factors beyond local experiences (e.g., socio-cultural norms) when interpreting local reports of human-wildlife conflict, especially for place-based conservation.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2025

Time in the city: Exploration and problem-solving behaviours reveal long-term urban adaptation in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Urbanisation is one of the most important forms of human-driven landscape change, altering wildlife populations in unprecedented ways. In terms of behaviour, for example, urbanisation is hypothesised to increase the likelihood of observing urban populations touching, exploring, and solving novel food-related tasks compared to rural areas. However, little is known about the impact of spatiotemporal patterns of urbanisation, particularly historical patterns of change, on these behaviours. We tested this in the worlds most urbanised carnivore, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), by introducing novel food-related tasks (puzzle feeders) to 284 sites throughout Great Britain. We compared tactile and problem-solving behaviours in rural populations, recently colonised urban populations, and long-established urban populations (>40 years). Foxes from 27.4% of locations touched the tasks, foxes from 12.4% of locations solved them. Urban foxes were more likely to touch tasks compared to rural populations. Exploration time, exploratory diversity, and latency to touch tasks did not significantly differ across urban and rural locations. Urbanisation rate from 1994 to 2020 (26 years) did not significantly predict the likelihood of foxes touching or solving tasks across locations. Older urban populations - particularly from London - spent more time exploring tasks and displayed greater exploratory diversity and higher problem-solving success, despite more recent urban populations being equally likely to touch them. Collectively, our findings suggest that certain population characteristics, such as the likelihood of touching/engaging with novelty, potentially emerge early in urbanisation while other characteristics, such as greater exploratory and innovative behaviours, may emerge after long-term urban exposure across many decades. HighlightsO_LIHistorical impacts of urbanisation on wild animal behaviour are unclear. C_LIO_LIWe tested this with wild red foxes responses to novel food objects. C_LIO_LIUrban foxes were more likely to touch and exploit objects, especially from London. C_LIO_LIOlder urban foxes displayed more exploratory and innovative behaviours. C_LIO_LILength of urban exposure may help predict behavioural responses to novelty. C_LI

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2025

Spatial distribution of human-wildlife interactions predicts coexistence with a global urban carnivore, the red fox

Despite growing recognition that spatial factors such as urbanisation and geographic region shape human-wildlife interactions, few studies have examined - on a large geographic scale - how spatial factors reflect the subjective human dimensions to those interactions, including public attitudes and self-reported encounters with wildlife. Understanding how spatial factors shape these dimensions may have implications for urban rewilding because they can reflect local tolerance of animals and may potentially predict human-wildlife interactions. We examined how urbanisation type and geographic region are related to peoples attitudes, reported encounters (public feeding and bin-raiding), and reported use of control measures towards the worlds most urbanised terrestrial carnivore, the red fox, Vulpes vulpes. Online survey data were obtained from 1,275 participants in the United Kingdom. Reports of fox bin-raiding were associated with increased reports of wildlife feeding, more negative attitudes towards foxes, and greater reported use of professional and do-it-yourself control measures. However, the role of spatial factors varied among these relationships. Specifically, urbanisation and geographic region significantly predicted reports of fox binraiding, with urban residents - particularly from London - more likely to report such behaviour. Urbanisation predicted reports of wildlife feeding and use of professional pest control of foxes within their area. Geographic region predicted reports of do-it-yourself control measures. Neither urbanisation nor geographic region significantly predicted public attitudes towards foxes. Together, these findings highlight the complex interactions between spatial context and the subjective human dimensions of wildlife interactions, underscoring the importance of nuanced, context-specific strategies to support human-wildlife coexistence and urban rewilding initiatives. HighlightsO_LIUrban rewilding success depends on public tolerance of local wildlife. C_LIO_LIWe studied spatial factors and subjective human dimensions of fox interactions. C_LIO_LIReports of bin-raiding, wildlife feeding, fox-related attitudes, and pest control covaried. C_LIO_LIThe role of urbanisation and geography varied in predicting these reports. C_LIO_LISuch spatial complexity should be considered in designing urban rewilding strategies. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Wild raccoons are more innovative but not bolder than another ecological generalist, the Virginia opossum, on a pull-string task

Humans are altering natural environments at unprecedented rates. Ecological generalism is one of the strongest predictors of survival in light of these changes which, in animals, may be shaped by bold and innovative behaviours. Species with greater habitat generalism are proposed to behave more boldly (e.g., touching and ingesting novel food). Species with greater dietary generalism are proposed to behave more innovatively (e.g., novel problem-solving to access food). Support for both hypotheses exists but remains largely restricted to broad comparisons between generalists and specialists. Further comparative data are needed to understand the extent to which these behavioural patterns might shape more nuanced ecological variation between species, such as species with finer-scale niche differences. We compared bold and innovative behaviour in two wild sympatric generalists, the Northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) and Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), using a pull-string task with strings and wires attached to vertical cups containing high-value food. Although both species are broadly classified as generalists, raccoons show relatively greater habitat and dietary flexibility than opossums. Because they live sympatrically, it offers a unique opportunity to test - at the same time and locations - whether these finer-scale niche differences are reflective of differences in their bold and innovative behaviour. We predicted that raccoons would display bolder behaviour (in terms of touching our novel task) and more innovative behaviour (in terms of solving it). We found that both species were equally likely to acknowledge and touch the task, but raccoons were more likely to display innovation to access the food. Raccoons propensity for using innovation to solve novel foraging challenges may contribute to their greater ecological flexibility compared to opossums. More broadly, our findings may help explain differences in how each species adapts to environmental changes. HighlightsO_LIBold and innovative behaviour may help some species adapt to environmental changes C_LIO_LIWe administered a novel pull-string task to wild raccoons and opossums C_LIO_LIRaccoons displayed more innovative, not bolder, behaviour than opossums C_LIO_LIBoth species are generalists, but raccoons are more flexible than opossums C_LIO_LIDifferences in innovation may shape their finer-scale niche differences C_LI

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2025

Experiencing the wild: Red fox encounters are related to stronger nature connectedness, not anxiety, in people

Global declines in biodiversity and human health are linked to declining human-nature connectedness, i.e., peoples subjective sense of their relationship with nature. Frequent, positive wildlife experiences can strengthen nature connectedness, improving public health and pro-environmental behaviours to protect biodiversity. Red foxes are the most widespread terrestrial carnivore on the planet. Urbanisation is associated with bolder fox behaviour and reduced public tolerance of foxes due to human-fox conflict. It remains unclear how interactions with foxes might influence (positively or negatively) nature connectedness and health in people, such as general anxiety. We surveyed 230 people using an online questionnaire. Nature connectedness was lower in urban areas and positively related to the perceived frequency and quality of fox encounters. Frequent, positive experiences were related to better attitudes and tolerance towards foxes, but unrelated to general anxiety. Management of human-fox coexistence should consider the potential role of foxes in shaping peoples broader nature connectedness.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2023

Spatially resolved single-cell atlas of the lung in fatal Covid19 in an African population reveals a distinct cellular signature and an interferon gamma dominated response

Postmortem single-cell studies have transformed understanding of lower respiratory tract diseases (LRTD) including Covid19 but there is almost no data from African settings where HIV, malaria and other environmental exposures may affect disease pathobiology and treatment targets. We used histology and high-dimensional imaging to characterise fatal lung disease in Malawian adults with (n=9) and without (n=7) Covid19, and generated single-cell transcriptomics data from lung, blood and nasal cells. Data integration with other cohorts showed a conserved Covid19 histopathological signature, driven by contrasting immune and inflammatory mechanisms: in the Malawi cohort, by response to interferon-gamma (IFN-{gamma}) in lung-resident alveolar macrophages, in USA, European and Asian cohorts by type I/III interferon responses, particularly in blood-derived monocytes. HIV status had minimal impact on histology or immunopathology. Our study provides data resources and highlights the importance of studying the cellular mechanisms of disease in underrepresented populations, indicating shared and distinct targets for treatment.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Animal psychology research changes public attitudes, but not tolerance, towards a wild carnivore beyond non-psychological information

Studies on wild animal psychology are growing in popularity due to the important role they play in understanding how wildlife is responding to human-driven environmental changes. However, communicating psychological information to the general public could undermine specific conservation objectives by encouraging greater persecution of a species (e.g., "bold" predators). Through a national-level survey (n = 1,364 participants), we tested whether communicating information about the boldness and problem-solving abilities of a wild carnivore, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), influences peoples tolerance of them. Half of participants were given information on fox psychology (either a video or a press release about fox boldness and problem-solving), the other half were given content related to animal ecology (either a video or a press release about fox habitat use). Afterwards, all participants completed the same 24-item questionnaire evaluating their tolerance of foxes. Although the participants given information about fox psychology were more likely to report a perceived attitude change due to the content they were given, their attitudes relating to fox tolerance remained unaffected regardless of content or format. We encourage further research to understand how communicating different types of information might influence, either positively or negatively, peoples tolerance of a species as more studies on wild animal psychology are published, and the publics awareness of how animal psychology relates to human-wildlife interactions becomes more widespread. HighlightsO_LIStudies on wild animal psychology are growing in popularity C_LIO_LIThe impact of animal psychology research on public attitudes is unclear C_LIO_LIWe tested if fox psychology research influences public tolerance C_LIO_LIPeople given fox psychology information reported greater attitude change C_LIO_LIThis perceived change did not impact peoples overall tolerance of foxes C_LI

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2022

No evidence that urbanisation encourages wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to exploit unfamiliar food-related objects when first discovered

Urbanisation is the fastest form of landscape transformation on the planet, but researchers understanding of the relationships between urbanisation and animal adaptability is still in its infancy. In terms of foraging, bold and innovative behaviours are proposed to help urban animals access, utilise, and exploit novel anthropogenic food sources. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are one of the best known and widespread urban-dwelling species. However, despite frequent stories, images, and videos portraying them as "pests" due to their exploitation of food-related objects (e.g., raiding the contents of outdoor bins), it is unknown whether they are bolder and more innovative in terms of their likelihood of exploiting these resources compared to rural populations. In the current study, we gave novel food-related objects to foxes from 104 locations (one object per location) across a large urban-rural gradient. To access the food, foxes had to use behaviours necessary for exploiting many food-related objects in the real world (e.g., biting, pushing, pulling, or lifting human-made materials). Despite all foxes acknowledging the objects, foxes from 31 locations touched them, while foxes from 12 locations gained access to the food inside. A principal component analysis of urban and other landscape variables (e.g., road, greenspace, and human population density) revealed that urbanisation was significantly and positively related to the likelihood of foxes touching, but not exploiting, the objects. Thus, while urban foxes may be bolder than rural populations in terms of their willingness to physically touch novel food-related objects, our findings are inconsistent with the notion that they are more innovative and pose a general nuisance to people by exploiting these anthropogenic resources. HighlightsO_LIThe impact of urbanisation on animal adaptability remains unclear C_LIO_LIBold and innovative behaviour may help some urban species thrive C_LIO_LIWe studied wild red foxes responses to novel food-related objects C_LIO_LIUrban foxes were bolder, but not more innovative, than rural foxes C_LIO_LIUrbanisation may favour bolder, not more innovative, fox behaviour C_LI

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2021

In vitro and in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screens reveal drivers of aging in neural stem cells of the brain

Aging impairs the ability of neural stem cells to transition from quiescence to activation (proliferation) in the adult mammalian brain. Neural stem cell (NSC) functional decline results in decreased production of new neurons and defective regeneration upon injury during aging1-9, and this is exacerbated in Alzheimers disease10. Many genes are upregulated with age in NSCs3, 11-13, and the knockout of some of these boosts old NSC activation and rejuvenates aspects of old brain function14-18. But systematic functional testing of genes in old NSCs - and more generally in old cells - has not been done. This has been a major limiting factor in identifying the most promising rejuvenation interventions. Here we develop in vitro and in vivo high-throughput CRISPR-Cas9 screening platforms to systematically uncover gene knockouts that boost NSC activation in old mice. Our genome-wide screening pipeline in primary cultures of young and old NSCs identifies over 300 gene knockouts that specifically restore old NSC activation. Interestingly, the top gene knockouts are involved in glucose import, cilium organization and ribonucleoprotein structures. To determine which gene knockouts have a rejuvenating effect for the aging brain, we establish a scalable CRISPR-Cas9 screening platform in vivo in old mice. Of the 50 gene knockouts we tested in vivo, 23 boost old NSC activation and production of new neurons in old brains. Notably, the knockout of Slc2a4, which encodes for the GLUT4 glucose transporter, is a top rejuvenating intervention for old NSCs. GLUT4 protein expression increases in the stem cell niche during aging, and we show that old NSCs indeed uptake [~]2-fold more glucose than their young counterparts. Transient glucose starvation increases the ability of old NSCs to activate, which is not further improved by knockout of Slc2a4/GLUT4. Together, these results indicate that a shift in glucose uptake contributes to the decline in NSC activation with age, but that it can be reversed by genetic or external interventions. Importantly, our work provides scalable platforms to systematically identify genetic interventions that boost old NSC function, including in vivo in old brains, with important implications for regenerative and cognitive decline during aging.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Dynamic changes in innate immune and T cell function and composition at the nasal mucosa across the human lifespan

The very young and very old are at increased risk of serious infections, including pneumonia. This may relate to changes in the immune system as young children have limited immunological memory, while immunosenescence, inflammaging and a decreased pool of naive immune cells are described with advanced age. How the immune system changes with age at mucosal surfaces, from where infections frequently develop, is not very clear as access to human tissue samples is limited. Therefore, we aimed to assess the composition and activation state of the immune system at the human mucosa. Here, we profiled nasal immune cells from 207 individuals between 1 to 80 years old using flow cytometry. Neutrophil and monocyte functionality were measured using whole blood assays. Levels of thirty nasal cytokines were measured from nasal lining fluid. Nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae was assessed using classical microbiology and associated with immune responses. We found that young children have a striking paucity of granulocytes at the nasal mucosa compared to adults. In addition, T cell numbers at the nasal mucosa decreased progressively with age and were almost absent in older adults. While nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae was associated with elevated levels of inflammation it had a limited effect on nasal immune composition, including levels of monocytes and neutrophils. These results show that the immune system at the nasal mucosal surface changes drastically with age and provides explanations for the increased susceptibility to infections in young and old age.\n\nSignificance statementHow the immune system changes with age is an intensive area of research, but has been primarily studied in blood. However, blood poorly reflects the immune system at the mucosa, from where infections develop. This manuscript provides a first characterization of how the composition and function of the immune system in the upper respiratory tract changes with age, providing explanations for increased susceptibility to infection in the very young and old. Furthermore, by linking mucosal and systemic measurements with pneumococcal colonization, we observed that reduced monocyte and neutrophil responses associate with the increased burden of pneumococcal colonization in children. This study highlights the need to study the immune system also at other mucosal sites in the context of aging.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2018

Effect of Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine on Pneumococcal Carriage

The widely used nasally-administered Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) alters the dynamics of naturally occurring nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in animal models. Using a human experimental model (serotype 6B) we tested two hypotheses: 1) LAIV increased the density of S. pneumoniae in those already colonised; 2) LAIV administration promoted colonisation. Randomised, blinded administration of LAIV or nasal placebo either preceded bacterial inoculation or followed it, separated by a 3-day interval. The presence and density of S. pneumoniae was determined from nasal washes by bacterial culture and PCR. Overall acquisition for bacterial carriage were not altered by prior LAIV administration vs. controls (25/55 [45.5%] vs 24/62 [38.7%] respectively, p=0.46). Transient increase in acquisition was detected in LAIV recipients at day 2 (33/55 [60.0%] vs 25/62 [40.3%] in controls, p=0.03). Bacterial carriage densities were increased approximately 10-fold by day 9 in the LAIV recipients (2.82 vs 1.81 log10 titers, p=0.03). When immunisation followed bacterial acquisition (n=163), LAIV did not change area under the bacterial density-time curve (AUC) at day 14 by conventional microbiology (primary endpoint), but significantly reduced AUC to day 27 by PCR (p=0.03). These studies suggest that LAIV may transiently increase nasopharyngeal density of S. pneumoniae. Transmission effects should therefore be considered in the timing design of vaccine schedules.\n\nTrial registrationThe study was registered on EudraCT (2014-004634-26)\n\nFundingThe study was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Medical Research Council.

immunology↗