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Environmental Physiology and Health in Animals: Mechanisms, Adaptations and Welfare
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Environmental Physiology and Health in Animals: Mechanisms, Adaptations and Welfare

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Physiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 5032

Editors

Dr. Dan Shen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: air pollutants; respirotary injury; animal house environment; animal health; toxics
Prof. Dr. Chunmei Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Smart Livestock and Environmental Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210014, China
Interests: poultry; swine; animal environmental physiology and nutrition; animal environment and health; PM2.5 and respiratory health; feed toxicology; animal welfare; animal hygiene; livestock environmental monitoring and control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Animals continuously face a wide array of environmental stressors, including temperature extremes, hypoxia, altered photoperiods, pollutants, and anthropogenic disturbances. These challenges demand intricate physiological responses and adaptive strategies to maintain homeostasis, health, and overall welfare. Understanding how animals perceive, respond to, and cope with these environmental pressures is vital for both basic biological knowledge and practical applications in animal husbandry, wildlife conservation, and veterinary care.

This Special Issue, “Environmental Physiology and Health in Animals: Mechanisms, Adaptations and Welfare”, aims to bring together cutting-edge research on how animals physiologically and behaviorally adapt to changing or stressful environments. We welcome studies that elucidate the underlying mechanisms of environmental responses at the molecular, cellular, systemic, and behavioral levels and how these responses influence animal health, productivity, and welfare outcomes.

Dr. Dan Shen
Prof. Dr. Chunmei Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal physiology
  • animal–environment interaction
  • molecular adaptation
  • adaptation mechanisms
  • animal welfare

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 6098 KB  
Article
Metagenomic–Metabolomic Integration Reveals Gut Microbiota Dynamics and Metabolic Changes in Super-Geriatric Captive Giant Pandas
by Jingheng Wang, Meiling Cheng, Feiyun Huang, Lei Chen, Wencai Xu, Jieyao Cai, Zhoulong Chen, Yanni Zhao and Xiuyue Zhang
Animals 2026, 16(4), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16040575 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 769
Abstract
Age-related changes throughout the lifespan are known to influence gut microbiota composition, microbial functional potential, and host-associated metabolic processes. Understanding these age-related variations is important for elucidating their potential physiological implications at different life stages. However, information regarding the gut microbiome and metabolomic [...] Read more.
Age-related changes throughout the lifespan are known to influence gut microbiota composition, microbial functional potential, and host-associated metabolic processes. Understanding these age-related variations is important for elucidating their potential physiological implications at different life stages. However, information regarding the gut microbiome and metabolomic characteristics of super-geriatric captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) remains limited. In this study, fecal samples were collected from adult and super-geriatric captive giant pandas and analyzed using metagenomic sequencing combined with untargeted metabolomics. The gut microbiota of super-geriatric individuals exhibited a marked decrease in Bacillota and an enrichment of Pseudomonadota compared with adult individuals. Functional profiling revealed age-associated shifts in microbial metabolic potential, with a transition from biosynthesis-dominated pathways toward pathways related to substrate degradation and energy utilization. Metabolomic analyses further revealed pronounced metabolic alterations in super-geriatric giant pandas, including elevated levels of unsaturated fatty acids and changes in bile acid–related metabolites. Alterations in gut microbiota composition, particularly the relative enrichment of Pseudomonadota-associated taxa, were associated with inflammation-related metabolic features. Collectively, these findings indicate coordinated changes in gut microbial composition and metabolic profiles during aging. Overall, this study characterizes age-associated alterations in gut microbiota structure and fecal metabolic signatures in super-geriatric captive giant pandas, providing a scientific basis for future studies on microbiota–metabolism interactions and for improving nutritional management and health monitoring strategies in aged individuals of this endangered species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Physiology and Health in Animals: Mechanisms, Adaptations and Welfare)
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23 pages, 7165 KB  
Article
The Influence of Acute Cold Stress on Intestinal Health of the Juvenile Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)
by Xiaona Ma, Qing Shi, Zhen Dong, Chen Chen, Junxian Zhu, Xiaoli Liu, Xiaoyou Hong, Chengqing Wei, Xinping Zhu, Weijia Song, Wei Li and Liqin Ji
Animals 2026, 16(2), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020256 - 14 Jan 2026
Viewed by 764
Abstract
Sharp declines in temperature pose a significant risk for mass mortality events in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). To assess the effects of acute cold stress on intestinal health, turtles were exposed to temperatures of 28 °C (control), 14 °C, [...] Read more.
Sharp declines in temperature pose a significant risk for mass mortality events in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). To assess the effects of acute cold stress on intestinal health, turtles were exposed to temperatures of 28 °C (control), 14 °C, and 7 °C for 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 days. The results showed that acute cold stress at 14 °C and 7 °C induced time-dependent alterations in intestinal morphology and histopathology. The damage was more severe at 7 °C, characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, lymphoid hyperplasia, and extensive detachment and necrosis across the villi, muscle layer, and submucosa. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed significant shifts in intestinal microbiota composition in the 7 °C group, dominated by Helicobacter and Citrobacter. Transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that respond to acute cold stress and are involved in the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway (Tlr2, Tlr4, Tlr5, Tlr7, and Tlr8), the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway (Traf6, Traf2, Casr, Rnasel, Pstpip1, Plcb2, Atg5, and Mfn2), apoptosis (Tuba1c, Ctsz, Ctsb, Kras, Hras, Pik3ca, Bcl2l11, Gadd45a, Pmaip1, Ddit3, and Fos), and the p53 signaling pathway (Serpine1, Sesn2, Ccng2, Igf1, Mdm2, Gadd45a, Pmaip1, and Cdkn1a). Metabolomic profiling highlighted differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) that cope with acute cold stress, such as organic acids (oxoglutaric acid, L-aspartic acid, fumaric acid, DL-malic acid, and citric acid) and amino acids (including L-lysine, L-homoserine, and allysine). The integrated analysis of DEGs and DEMs underscored three key pathways modulated by acute cold stress: linoleic acid metabolism, neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, and the FoxO signaling pathway. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of intestinal health in Chinese soft-shelled turtles under acute cold stress and elucidates the underlying mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Physiology and Health in Animals: Mechanisms, Adaptations and Welfare)
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16 pages, 1430 KB  
Article
Ecological Succession of Airborne Bacterial Aerosols in Poultry Houses: Insights from Taihang Chickens
by Yejin Yang, Huan Cui, Zitong Yang, Zhenyue Li, Wenhao Feng, Zhuhua Liu, Mengxi Yan, Zhibin Ren, Ran Zhu, Yuqing Yang, Mingli Liu, Xiaolong Chen, Cheng Zhang, Huage Liu and Shishan Dong
Animals 2025, 15(24), 3635; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15243635 - 17 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 748
Abstract
Bioaerosols are a major source of airborne microbial contamination in intensive poultry production systems. Their concentration and community structure can profoundly influence animal health, public health, and the overall safety of the farming environment. However, the dynamic characteristics of bacterial aerosols in enclosed [...] Read more.
Bioaerosols are a major source of airborne microbial contamination in intensive poultry production systems. Their concentration and community structure can profoundly influence animal health, public health, and the overall safety of the farming environment. However, the dynamic characteristics of bacterial aerosols in enclosed poultry houses during winter remain insufficiently studied. Using Taihang chickens as a model, this study investigated three key production stages—brooding (15 days), growing (60 days), and laying (150 days)—under winter cage-rearing conditions. A six-stage Andersen sampler was employed alongside culture-dependent enumeration and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to analyze variations in bacterial aerosol concentration, particle size distribution, and community succession patterns. The results revealed a significant increase in the concentration of culturable airborne bacteria with bird age, rising from 8.98 × 103 colony-forming unit (CFU)/m3 to 2.89 × 104 CFU/m3 (p < 0.001). The particle size distribution progressively shifted from larger, settleable particles (≥4.7 μm) toward smaller, respirable particles (<4.7 μm). Microbial sequencing indicated a continuous increase in bacterial alpha diversity across the three stages (Chao1 and Shannon indices, p < 0.05), while beta diversity exhibited stage-specific clustering, reflecting clear differences in community assembly. The composition of dominant bacterial genera transitioned from potentially pathogenic taxa such as Acinetobacter and Corynebacterium during the brooding stage to a greater abundance of beneficial genera, including Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and Ruminococcus, in later stages. This shift suggests a potential ecological link between aerosolized bacterial communities and host development, possibly related to the aerosolization of gut microbiota. Notably, several zoonotic bacterial species were detected in the poultry house air, indicating potential public health and occupational exposure risks under winter confinement conditions. This study is the first to elucidate the ecological succession patterns of airborne bacterial aerosols in Taihang chicken houses across different growth stages during winter. The findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing winter ventilation strategies, implementing stage-specific environmental controls, and reducing pathogen transmission and occupational hazards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Physiology and Health in Animals: Mechanisms, Adaptations and Welfare)
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26 pages, 3317 KB  
Article
Blood Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Immune Characteristics of Captive Forest Musk Deer (Moschus berezovskii) at High Altitude in Bianba County, Tibet
by Lei Chen, Xuxin Li, Zhoulong Chen, Jin Bai, Yanni Zhao, Maoyuan Gan, Wenjingyi Chang, Jieyao Cai and Xiuyue Zhang
Animals 2025, 15(23), 3501; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15233501 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 978
Abstract
The hypoxic, cold, and high-ultraviolet radiation environments at high altitude pose severe challenges to mammalian immune and metabolic systems. However, little is known about how captive forest musk deer adapt to high-altitude environments and their seasonal variations. This study analyzed peripheral blood transcriptomes [...] Read more.
The hypoxic, cold, and high-ultraviolet radiation environments at high altitude pose severe challenges to mammalian immune and metabolic systems. However, little is known about how captive forest musk deer adapt to high-altitude environments and their seasonal variations. This study analyzed peripheral blood transcriptomes of 33 captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) at high altitude (~3900 m) and low altitude (~1450 m) during autumn-winter and spring-summer seasons. Results revealed comprehensive immune suppression in the high-altitude group during autumn-winter (downregulation of complement system CFB/C2/C3, interferon pathway genes including FLT3, with only natural killer (NK) cell PRKCQ upregulated), coupled with energy-conserving metabolic reprogramming (altered carbohydrate metabolism, inhibited lipid synthesis, fat mobilization, suppressed protein degradation). During spring-summer, neutrophil antimicrobial responses (SLPI/NCF1/ELANE) and humoral immunity (B cell differentiation genes PAX5/RUNX1; class-switch enzyme AICDA) partially recovered while cellular immunity (IL15/B2M) remained suppressed, accompanied by enhanced anabolic metabolism and adipocyte differentiation. Notably, NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity showed selective enhancement despite comprehensive immune suppression, representing an energy-efficient innate defense strategy. This study provides the first characterization of seasonal immune dynamics in a high-altitude cervid species. These findings reveal persistent immune constraints in high-altitude populations and provide theoretical foundations for disease prevention and health management in captive forest musk deer at high altitudes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Physiology and Health in Animals: Mechanisms, Adaptations and Welfare)
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12 pages, 1427 KB  
Article
Distribution of Aerosol Bacteria in Broiler Houses at Different Growth Stages During Winter
by Xuejing Wang, Huan Cui, Zhenyue Li, Zitong Yang, Huage Liu, Jue Wang, Ning Zhang, Jiuxi Li, Xiaolong Chen, Cheng Zhang and Juxiang Liu
Animals 2025, 15(19), 2859; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192859 - 30 Sep 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 946
Abstract
Airborne bacterial aerosols are a significant yet understudied component of intensive poultry farming, particularly in cold climates. This study characterized the concentration, size distribution, and community composition of airborne bacteria in closed-cage broiler houses during winter in Hebei Province, China. Air sampling was [...] Read more.
Airborne bacterial aerosols are a significant yet understudied component of intensive poultry farming, particularly in cold climates. This study characterized the concentration, size distribution, and community composition of airborne bacteria in closed-cage broiler houses during winter in Hebei Province, China. Air sampling was conducted at three growth stages (7, 21, and 35 days) and analyzed using culture-based methods and 16S rRNA sequencing. Culturable bacterial concentrations increased significantly with broiler age, from 1.1 × 103 to 1.6 × 104 CFU/m3. The particle size distribution shifted from a predominance of large particles (≥4.7 µm) at day 7 to a dominance of small, inhalable particles (<4.7 µm) thereafter. Sequencing revealed increasing bacterial richness and diversity with age, alongside significant community structural shifts. Predominant genera included Stenotrophomonas, Lactobacillus, and Ruminococcus. Notably, potential zoonotic pathogens (Shigella and Acinetobacter) were detected in later stages. This study provides critical insights into winter bioaerosol dynamics, highlighting implications for animal welfare, occupational health, and public health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Physiology and Health in Animals: Mechanisms, Adaptations and Welfare)
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