DOI: 10.5061/dryad.n5tb2rc0h
title: Heatwave resilience of juvenile white sturgeon is associated with epigenetic and transcriptional alterations

description: Heatwaves are increasing in frequency and severity, posing a significant
 threat to organisms globally. In aquatic environments, heatwaves are often
 associated with low environmental oxygen, which is a deadly combination
 for fish. However, surprisingly little is known about the capacity of
 fishes to withstand these interacting stressors. This issue is
 particularly critical for species of extreme conservation concern such as
 sturgeon. We assessed the tolerance of juvenile white sturgeon from an
 endangered population to heatwave exposure and investigated how this
 exposure affects tolerance to additional acute stressors. We measured
 whole-animal thermal and hypoxic performance and underlying epigenetic and
 transcriptional mechanisms. Sturgeon exposed to a simulated heatwave had
 increased thermal tolerance and exhibited complete compensation for the
 effects of acute hypoxia. These changes were associated with an increase
 in mRNA levels involved in thermal and hypoxic stress (hsp90a, hsp90b,
 hsp70 and hif1a) following these stressors. Global DNA methylation was
 sensitive to heatwave exposure and rapidly responded to acute thermal and
 hypoxia stress over the course of an hour. These data demonstrate that
 juvenile white sturgeon exhibit substantial resilience to heatwaves,
 associated with improved cross-tolerance to additional acute stressors and
 involving rapid responses in both epigenetic and transcriptional
 mechanisms.
description: # Heatwave resilience of juvenile white sturgeon is associated with
 epigenetic and transcriptional alterations Data associated with the
 article - Heatwave resilience of juvenile white sturgeon is associated
 with epigenetic and transcriptional alterations at Scientific Reports:
 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42652-7. Data files description 1.
 CTMax data This file contains data on maximum thermal tolerance of white
 sturgeon prior to and after the heatwave at both 70% and 100% air
 saturation 2. Hypoxia data This file contains data on the hypoxia
 tolerance (oxygen% at the time of LOE) of white sturgeon prior to and
 after the heatwave at 13C, 17C, and 20C. 3. mRNA data This file contains
 mRNA levels in two tissues (gill and heart) for four genes, HSP90a,
 HSP90b, HSP70, and HIF1a in control samples (Day 0, Day 10, and Day 20)
 and post-acute stressor (CTMax or Hypoxia trials). Data are expressed as
 deltadeltaCT and normalized to reference genes and the control group (Day
 0, non-stressed fish). 4. Global DNA methylation This file contains data
 on the DNA methylation % in two tissues (gill and heart) in control
 samples (Day 0, Day 10, and Day 20) and post-acute stressor (CTMax or
 Hypoxia trials). Description of the variables present in the data files: *
 Sample order/number: the order the fish were sampled during a trial or run
 in an assay * Treatment: the respective acclimation treatment (Day 0, Day
 10, or Day 20) * Fish ID: the unique fish number identifier * DO(%) during
 trial: the dissolved oxygen % saturation during the CTMax trial (70 or
 100%) * CTMax (C): the temperature at which the fish LOE * Temperature
 during trial (C): the temperature during hypoxia trials (13, 17, or 20C) *
 DO% at LOE: the dissolved oxygen % at the time the fish LOE * Tissue: the
 tissue used, gill or heart * Control or trial: whether the sample was a
 control (baseline) sample or a post-trial sample (CTMax or hypoxia) *
 -HSP90a, HSP90b, HSP70, HIF1a: these are the genes measured in the study *
 -DNA methylation %: this refers to the % methylation of a given tissue for
 control samples or post-trial samples