University of Konstanz

• We exploit quasi-random differences in regional media access in West Germany. • There is credible evidence for a positive effect of TV on the well-being of adults. • Rich survey data from various sources reveal the behavioral responses to TV access. • Negative correlations between TV and well-being are likely driven by self-selection. • We discuss a variety of relevant implications from the perspective of public policy. While watching television is one of the most time-consuming human activities, its potential negative effects on well-being are discussed in the literature as a prime example of irrational behavior. We are the first to comprehensively address this possible paradox by exploiting a novel setting in the research on the effects of television for society: a natural experiment in the late 1980s where people in a few geographically restricted areas of West Germany received commercial TV via terrestrial frequencies. Rich panel data combined with precisely calculated frequency signals allow us to determine how regional availability of commercial TV affects time-use, before investigating the implications for individual well-being over time. Contrary to previous research, we find no evidence of negative health impacts when TV consumption increases. For life satisfaction, we even find a positive effect, which is robust across various sensitivity analyses and subgroups of TV viewers. By also considering evidence from expenditure data and from our own separately conducted surveys, we discuss the external validity of our findings as well as possible mechanisms and conclude that correlational evidence on the well-being effects of TV viewing could be driven by negative self-selection.

The tumor suppressor p53 orchestrates critical cellular responses to stress, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence, and apoptosis. While extensive research has elucidated many aspects of p53 function, the isoform-specific mechanisms governing cell fate decisions remain incompletely understood. Here, we leverage the simplified p53 gene architecture in Drosophila to systematically dissect the apoptotic and tumorigenic potential of individual p53 isoforms, uncovering fundamental differences in their function. Our findings indicate that whereas p53-A and p53-E pro-apoptotic activity strictly depends on the proliferative state of the cell, the full-length p53-B isoform -structurally analogous to vertebrate p53- induces apoptosis independently of cell cycle status. Furthermore, p53-B triggers apoptosis via transcription-independent mechanisms involving direct activation of the initiator caspase Dronc. We also show that all isoforms promote tumorigenesis by inducing the JNK pathway and the formation of senescent cells through distinct mechanisms in cells that are unable to complete the apoptosis program. Importantly, some of these findings are largely recapitulated by human versions of p53 when ectopically expressed in Drosophila cells. Together our data, reveal that p53 isoforms govern apoptosis and senescence-associated tumorigenesis through distinct molecular mechanisms, providing new insights into the complexity of p53-mediated cell fate determination.

In times of species decline and biodiversity loss, large-scale, multi-species surveys are essential for effective conservation planning. Camera traps have become indispensable for wildlife monitoring, providing detailed insights into species abundance

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases mediate the activation and transfer of amino acids to their cognate tRNA, which constitutes one of the initial events in protein biosynthesis. Even though different mechanisms of action have been proposed for the catalysis of these enzymes, their entire catalytic cycle remains elusive. Here, we used electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in vitro and in cells in combination with molecular dynamics simulations to study the role of amino acid interactions in the catalytic cycle of pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetases (PylRS), a widely used tool for genetic code expansion. Experiments using the paramagnetic non-canonical amino acid SLK-1 revealed the presence and occupation of secondary amino acid binding sites in PylRS located at the intermonomer interface, distant from the catalytic binding site. Based on our results, we propose a model that assumes an alternating mode of action of the two PylRS monomers for the catalytic cycle of PylRS.

The impacts of current and projected global change on fragile high-altitude mountain ecosystems highlight the need to understand how these systems responded to both past climatic variability and human activities in order to better interpret ongoing changes. Throughout the Holocene, a number of disturbances have produced significant impacts on ecosystem functionality. A paramount example is pastoralism in mountain environments, that may have induced modifications and long-term ecological changes. In the Pyrenees, the first and earliest evidence of unequivocal human landscape management has been identified through sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA), revealing an anthropogenic landscape opening linked to the early presence of domestic animals at the lower subalpine belt (Tramacastilla, 1682 m a.s.l.) ca. 6 ka BP. In this research we present a new record of landscape evolution and human activity presence at the upper subalpine boundary of the Pyrenees by analyzing sedaDNA at Basa de la Mora lake (BSM, 1913 m a.s.l; central Pyrenees).We recovered a new lacustrine sequence from BSM to reconstruct Holocene plants and animal communities using sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA), together with additional proxies to infer fire activity and temperature variability. These results are compared with the Tramacastilla lacustrine record and its sedaDNA reconstruction in order to identify differences in human land-use practices across subalpine ecosystems at different elevations during the last 9 ka BP.Our result proves two contrasting cases of landscape management and plant community responses to disturbance in high-altitude environments during the same chronological period: Tramacastilla primarily shaped by human management, where diversity patterns dramatically change with human activity, and Basa de la Mora, mainly responding to natural disturbances such as fire and temperature variability.

The European wels catfish (Silurus glanis) is a large, physostomous apex predator of freshwater habitats. Its current range expansion both within and beyond its native distribution, is strongly influenced by global warming. This study investigates patterns of diving behaviour of a wels catfish population that has recently increased significantly in a large, deep, cold-water peri-alpine lake. Pressure and temperature loggers were implanted into 42 free-ranging wild caught wels catfish in Lake Constance. High-resolution data from 13 recaptured individuals was subsequently analysed. Two distinct vertical migration modes previously undescribed for this species were identified: fast vertical movements, which lasted for less than 5 minutes, and slower vertical movements in which the vertical movement enacted over a period exceeding 15 min. Swimming depth was shown to be strongly affected by season and water temperature. Fish occupied deeper waters in winter, and shallower depths during the warmer summer months. During summer, vertical movements occurred predominantly around dusk and night with few vertical movements during daytime, indicating nocturnal foraging behaviour. During winter however, vertical movements were more equally divided over the day. Fish making relatively fast vertical movements returned to their original depth, whereas slow vertical movements appeared to be migration between depth layers. The amplitude per period of vertical movement of both fast and slow vertical migrations was mostly restricted to a pressure change of less than 30%. This limitation is likely to be related to the physostomous nature of the species, wherein buoyancy is controlled by a swimbladder with a limited capacity for volume change under pressure. These results provide new insights into the seasonal timing and diving aptitudes of a highly significant aquatic predator. Vertical movements were mostly made in darkness in summer, and during low light conditions during winter, in agreement with wels catfish having a nocturnal lifestyle in which they forage by detecting and following the wakes of their prey. The narrow amplitude of pressure changes during the vertical movements underscores the importance of tight control over buoyancy during navigation, which may be an important factor allowing it to colonize large deep lakes.

• Objective data-driven approach to test geomagnetic navigation strategies. • High-resolution GPS data matched in time and location with satellite geomagnetic data. • First empirical evidence for the effect of night-time on geomagnetic navigation. • Effect of the angle between the two navigational cues (intensity and inclination). • Taxis navigation based on the geomagnetic field intensity showed the best model fit. Geomagnetic navigation during long-distant bird migration is widely debated and it remains unclear which properties of the geomagnetic field birds use and how information might be used. This study is the first use of high-resolution GPS tracking data with co-located and contemporaneous satellite geomagnetic data applied in a step-selection analysis to objectively model geomagnetic navigational strategies in a data-driven approach. We use a day and night-time migrant, the Eurasian Curlew ( Numenius arquata ) as a model species. Additionally, we test the effect of additional factors (day vs night, spring vs autumn) which have been suggested in the literature or tested indirectly with behavioural experiments. To our knowledge, this study is the first empirical evidence for the effect of night-time and the effect of the angle between the two navigational cues involved (intensity and inclination), on geomagnetic navigation. Our data support previous findings that taxis cue use based on the geomagnetic field intensity showed the best model fit (adj. R² ≈ 0.82 at night) suggesting this as a potential geomagnetic cue use mechanism for animals. The use of a data-driven and step-selection analysis has important implications for future studies of navigational cue use. This can be used for studying interaction effects of different navigation mechanisms, the effect of environmental factors like wind, and the comparison of navigation mechanisms between different species and geographical areas.

Territorial behaviour can facilitate the defence of resources but becomes disadvantageous when resources are mobile and move beyond territory boundaries. In such cases, animals may develop strategies to retain access to these resources within their territory. Here, we describe a novel behaviour in the territorial Mediterranean rainbow wrasse, Coris julis , which joins producer–scrounger aggregations with a goatfish species, Mullus surmuletus , that disturbs benthic prey during foraging. Wrasse remained within their territories and did not follow producers beyond these boundaries but repeatedly engaged in tactile interactions (brief physical contact using their ventral side and pelvic fins or caudal fin) with goatfish while they were present. Events involving tactile interactions were associated with longer feeding durations of goatfish and therefore, indirectly, a higher overall food uptake for wrasse. During these events, wrasse also had increased rates of food uptake, possibly due to the close proximity to the producer and the disturbed prey. In general, feeding with goatfish was beneficial for wrasse when compared to foraging alone. Although goatfish feeding durations were longer when tactile interactions occurred, their movement patterns through the environment were unaffected by the presence or tactile contact of wrasse. While a causal relationship between tactile contacts and length of feeding time could not be established, the underlying mechanism may involve a physiological effect on goatfish, such as by reducing stress or functioning as a reassuring safety cue. Our findings describe a novel example of tactile interactions in a marine system and may suggest a behavioural strategy that could increase access to food resources within territorial boundaries, ultimately mitigating a cost of territoriality. • Territorial scroungers show tactile interactions with heterospecific food-producers. • Tactile interactions were associated with longer feeding aggregations. • Scroungers did not follow mobile producers beyond their territorial boundaries. • Scrounging with producers resulted in higher food uptake than foraging alone. • Tactile contact further increased food uptake rates, likely due to close proximity.