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Day B, Mancini M, Bateman IJ, Binner A, Cho F, de Gol A, Ferguson-Gow H, Fezzi C, Lee C, Liuzzo L, Lovett A, Owen N, Pearson RG, Smith G. Natural capital approaches for the optimal design of policies for nature recovery. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220327. [PMID: 38643789 PMCID: PMC11033054 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
By embedding a spatially explicit ecosystem services modelling tool within a policy simulator we examine the insights that natural capital analysis can bring to the design of policies for nature recovery. Our study is illustrated through a case example of policies incentivising the establishment of new natural habitat in England. We find that a policy mirroring the current practice of offering payments per hectare of habitat creation fails to break even, delivering less value in improved flows of ecosystem services than public money spent and only 26% of that which is theoretically achievable. Using optimization methods, we discover that progressively more efficient outcomes are delivered by policies that optimally price activities (34%), quantities of environmental change (55%) and ecosystem service value flows (81%). Further, we show that additionally attaining targets for unmonetized ecosystem services (in our case, biodiversity) demands trade-offs in delivery of monetized services. For some policy instruments it is not even possible to achieve the targets. Finally, we establish that extending policy instruments to offer payments for unmonetized services delivers target-achieving and value-maximizing policy designs. Our findings reveal that policy design is of first-order importance in determining the efficiency and efficacy of programmes pursuing nature recovery. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bringing nature into decision-making'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Day
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
| | - Mattia Mancini
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
| | - Ian J. Bateman
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
| | - Amy Binner
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
| | - Frankie Cho
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Anthony de Gol
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Henry Ferguson-Gow
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Carlo Fezzi
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Trento, via Inama 5, I-38122 Trento, Italy
| | - Christopher Lee
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
| | - Lorena Liuzzo
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
| | - Andrew Lovett
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Nathan Owen
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
| | - Richard G. Pearson
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Greg Smith
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, Department of Economics, University of Exeter Business School, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK
- CSIRO, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Hobart, Tas 7004, Australia
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2
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Jones CM, Hughes GL, Coleman S, Fellows R, Quilliam RS. A perspective on the impacts of microplastics on mosquito biology and their vectorial capacity. Med Vet Entomol 2024; 38:138-147. [PMID: 38469658 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (plastic particles <5 mm) permeate aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and constitute a hazard to animal life. Although much research has been conducted on the effects of microplastics on marine and benthic organisms, less consideration has been given to insects, especially those adapted to urban environments. Here, we provide a perspective on the potential consequences of exposure to microplastics within typical larval habitat on mosquito biology. Mosquitoes represent an ideal organism in which to explore the biological effects of microplastics on terrestrial insects, not least because of their importance as an infectious disease vector. Drawing on evidence from other organisms and knowledge of the mosquito life cycle, we summarise some of the more plausible impacts of microplastics including physiological, ecotoxicological and immunological responses. We conclude that although there remains little experimental evidence demonstrating any adverse effect on mosquito biology or pathogen transmission, significant knowledge gaps remain, and there is now a need to quantify the effects that microplastic pollution could have on such an important disease vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Jones
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Grant L Hughes
- Departments of Vector Biology and Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sylvester Coleman
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rosie Fellows
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Richard S Quilliam
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
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3
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Merchant HN, Thirkell JE, Portugal SJ. No evidence for a signal in mammalian basal metabolic rate associated with a fossorial lifestyle. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11297. [PMID: 38760353 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61595-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A vast array of challenging environments are inhabited by mammals, such as living in confined spaces where oxygen levels are likely to be low. Species can exhibit adaptations in basal metabolic rate (BMR) to exploit such unique niches. In this study we use 801 species to determine the relationship between BMR and burrow use in mammals. We included pre-existing data for mammalian BMR and 16 life history traits. Overall, mammalian BMR is dictated primarily by environmental ambient temperature. There were no significant differences in BMR of terrestrial, semi-fossorial and fossorial mammals, suggesting that species occupying a subterranean niche do not exhibit baseline metabolic costs on account of their burrowing lifestyle. Fossorial mammals likely show instantaneous metabolic responses to low oxygen in tunnels, rather than exhibit adaptive long-term responses in their BMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana N Merchant
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK.
| | - Jack E Thirkell
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Steven J Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ, Oxford, United Kingdom
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4
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Read DJ, Haggar J, Magkourilou E, Durant E, Johnson D, Leake JR, Field KJ. Photosynthate transfer from an autotrophic orchid to conspecific heterotrophic protocorms through a common mycorrhizal network. New Phytol 2024. [PMID: 38757767 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The minute 'dust seeds' of some terrestrial orchids preferentially germinate and develop as mycoheterotrophic protocorms near conspecific adult plants. Here we test the hypothesis that mycorrhizal mycelial connections provide a direct pathway for transfer of recent photosynthate from conspecific green orchids to achlorophyllous protocorms. Mycelial networks of Ceratobasidium cornigerum connecting green Dactylorhiza fuchsii plants with developing achlorophyllous protocorms of the same species were established on oatmeal or water agar before the shoots of green plants were exposed to 14CO2. After incubation for 48 h, the pattern of distribution of fixed carbon was visualised in intact entire autotrophic/protocorm systems using digital autoradiography and quantified in protocorms by liquid scintillation counting. Both methods of analysis revealed accumulation of 14C above background levels in protocorms, confirming that autotrophic plants supply carbon to juveniles via common mycorrhizal networks. Despite some accumulation of plant-fixed carbon in the fungal mycelium grown on oatmeal agar, a greater amount of carbon was transferred to protocorms growing on water agar, indicating that the polarity of transfer may be influenced by sink strength. We suggest this transfer pathway may contribute significantly to the pattern and processes determining localised orchid establishment in nature, and that 'parental nurture' via common mycelial networks may be involved in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Read
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN, UK
| | | | - Emily Magkourilou
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Emily Durant
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN, UK
| | - David Johnson
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Jonathan R Leake
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Katie J Field
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN, UK
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5
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Briolat ES, Hancock GRA, Troscianko J. Adapting genetic algorithms for artificial evolution of visual patterns under selection from wild predators. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295106. [PMID: 38753609 PMCID: PMC11098352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Camouflage is a widespread and well-studied anti-predator strategy, yet identifying which patterns provide optimal protection in any given scenario remains challenging. Besides the virtually limitless combinations of colours and patterns available to prey, selection for camouflage strategies will depend on complex interactions between prey appearance, background properties and predator traits, across repeated encounters between co-evolving predators and prey. Experiments in artificial evolution, pairing psychophysics detection tasks with genetic algorithms, offer a promising way to tackle this complexity, but sophisticated genetic algorithms have so far been restricted to screen-based experiments. Here, we present methods to test the evolution of colour patterns on physical prey items, under selection from wild predators in the field. Our techniques expand on a recently-developed open-access pattern generation and genetic algorithm framework, modified to operate alongside artificial predation experiments. In this system, predators freely interact with prey, and the order of attack determines the survival and reproduction of prey patterns into future generations. We demonstrate the feasibility of these methods with a case study, in which free-flying birds feed on artificial prey deployed in semi-natural conditions, against backgrounds differing in three-dimensional complexity. Wild predators reliably participated in this experiment, foraging for 11 to 16 generations of artificial prey and encountering a total of 1,296 evolved prey items. Changes in prey pattern across generations indicated improvements in several metrics of similarity to the background, and greater edge disruption, although effect sizes were relatively small. Computer-based replicates of these trials, with human volunteers, highlighted the importance of starting population parameters for subsequent evolution, a key consideration when applying these methods. Ultimately, these methods provide pathways for integrating complex genetic algorithms into more naturalistic predation trials. Customisable open-access tools should facilitate application of these tools to investigate a wide range of visual pattern types in more ecologically-relevant contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle S. Briolat
- Faculty of Environment, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - George R. A. Hancock
- Faculty of Environment, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jolyon Troscianko
- Faculty of Environment, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
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6
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Elves-Powell J, Lee H, Axmacher JC, Durant SM. Turning the tide on big cat trade: Expert opinion on trends and conservation lessons from the Republic of Korea. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299783. [PMID: 38748670 PMCID: PMC11095708 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Unsustainable trade in big cats affects all species in the genus, Panthera, and is one of the foremost threats to their conservation. To provide further insight into the impact of policy interventions intended to address this issue, we examine the case study of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), which in the early 1990s was one of the world's largest importers of tiger (Panthera tigris) bone and a major manufacturer of tiger-derived medicinal products. In 1993, South Korea became a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and introduced a ban on commercial trade in CITES Appendix I-listed big cats a year later. We used an expert-based questionnaire survey and an exploration of the CITES trade database to investigate what has since happened to big cat trade in South Korea. Expert opinion suggested that big cat trade has likely substantially reduced since the early 1990s, as a result of the trade ban and broad socioeconomic changes. However, illegal trade has not been eradicated entirely and we were able to confirm that products reportedly derived from big cats were still publicly available for sale on a range of Korean online marketplaces, sometimes openly. The items most commonly reported by respondents from post-1994 trade and supported by expert-led evidence were tiger and leopard (Panthera pardus) skins and tiger bone wine. Although South Korea may provide a useful case study of a historically significant consumer country for tiger which has made strong progress in addressing unsustainable levels of big cat trade within a short period of time, there remains a need to address recalcitrant small-scale, illegal trade. We also recommend further investigation regarding reports of South Korean nationals being involved in illegal trade in tiger-derived products in Southeast Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Elves-Powell
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Tiger and Leopard Conservation Fund in Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hang Lee
- Tiger and Leopard Conservation Fund in Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jan C. Axmacher
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Keldnaholt, Iceland
| | - Sarah M. Durant
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Hooper PM, Bass D, Feil EJ, Vincent WF, Lovejoy C, Owen CJ, Tsola SL, Jungblut AD. Arctic cyanobacterial mat community diversity decreases with latitude across the Canadian Arctic. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae067. [PMID: 38653723 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacterial mats are commonly reported as hotspots of microbial diversity across polar environments. These thick, multilayered microbial communities provide a refuge from extreme environmental conditions, with many species able to grow and coexist despite the low allochthonous nutrient inputs. The visibly dominant phototrophic biomass is dependent on internal nutrient recycling by heterotrophic organisms within the mats; however, the specific contribution of heterotrophic protists remains little explored. In this study, mat community diversity was examined along a latitudinal gradient (55-83°N), spanning subarctic taiga, tundra, polar desert, and the High Arctic ice shelves. The prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities were targeted, respectively, by V4 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and V9 18S rRNA gene amplicon high-throughput sequencing. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic richness decreased, in tandem with decreasing temperatures and shorter seasons of light availability, from the subarctic to the High Arctic. Taxonomy-based annotation of the protist community revealed diverse phototrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic genera in all mat communities, with fewer parasitic taxa in High Arctic communities. Co-occurrence network analysis identified greater heterogeneity in eukaryotic than prokaryotic community structure among cyanobacterial mats across the Canadian Arctic. Our findings highlight the sensitivity of microbial eukaryotes to environmental gradients across northern high latitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Hooper
- Science Department, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - David Bass
- Science Department, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, Weymouth, DT4 8UB, United Kingdom
- Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Edward J Feil
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Warwick F Vincent
- Département de Biologie, Takuvik International Research Laboratory and Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre d'études nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Connie Lovejoy
- Département de Biologie, Takuvik International Research Laboratory and Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre d'études nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Québec Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Christopher J Owen
- UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Stephania L Tsola
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Anne D Jungblut
- Science Department, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
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8
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Wong MY, Wurzburger N, Hall JS, Wright SJ, Tang W, Hedin LO, Saltonstall K, van Breugel M, Batterman SA. Trees adjust nutrient acquisition strategies across tropical forest secondary succession. New Phytol 2024. [PMID: 38742309 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Nutrient limitation may constrain the ability of recovering and mature tropical forests to serve as a carbon sink. However, it is unclear to what extent trees can utilize nutrient acquisition strategies - especially root phosphatase enzymes and mycorrhizal symbioses - to overcome low nutrient availability across secondary succession. Using a large-scale, full factorial nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization experiment of 76 plots along a secondary successional gradient in lowland wet tropical forests of Panama, we tested the extent to which root phosphatase enzyme activity and mycorrhizal colonization are flexible, and if investment shifts over succession, reflective of changing nutrient limitation. We also conducted a meta-analysis to test how tropical trees adjust these strategies in response to nutrient additions and across succession. We find that tropical trees are dynamic, adjusting investment in strategies - particularly root phosphatase - in response to changing nutrient conditions through succession. These changes reflect a shift from strong nitrogen to weak phosphorus limitation over succession. Our meta-analysis findings were consistent with our field study; we found more predictable responses of root phosphatase than mycorrhizal colonization to nutrient availability. Our findings suggest that nutrient acquisition strategies respond to nutrient availability and demand in tropical forests, likely critical for alleviating nutrient limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Y Wong
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Nina Wurzburger
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jefferson S Hall
- ForestGEO, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancón, 0843-03092, Panama, Panama
| | - S Joseph Wright
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama
| | - Wenguang Tang
- School of Geography and Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2, UK
| | - Lars O Hedin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Kristin Saltonstall
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama
| | - Michiel van Breugel
- ForestGEO, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancón, 0843-03092, Panama, Panama
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
- Yale-NUS College, Singapore, 138527, Singapore
| | - Sarah A Batterman
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama
- School of Geography and Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2, UK
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9
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Reddygunta KR, Šiller L, Ivaturi A. Screen-Printed Stretchable Supercapacitors Based on Tin Sulfide-Decorated Face-Mask-Derived Activated Carbon Electrodes with High Areal Energy Density. ACS Appl Energy Mater 2024; 7:3558-3576. [PMID: 38756867 PMCID: PMC11094728 DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.3c02902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
In this work, tin sulfide nanosheets decorated on face-mask-derived activated carbon have been explored as electrode material for electrochemical supercapacitors. A hydrothermal route was employed to grow tin sulfide on the surface and inside of high-surface-area face-mask-derived activated carbon, activated at 850 °C, to produce a hierarchical interconnected porous composite (ACFM-850/TS) structure. The presence of tin sulfide in the porous carbon framework exposed the surface active sites for rapid adsorption/desorption of electrolyte ions and ensured high utilization of the porous carbon surface. Furthermore, the porous ACFM-850 framework prevented the stacking/agglomeration of tin sulfide sheets, thereby enhancing the charge-transport kinetics in the composite electrodes. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of tin sulfide and ACFM-850, the resulting ACFM-850/TS composite exhibited an attractive specific capacitance of 423 F g-1 at a 0.5 A g-1 current density and superior rate capability (71.3% at a 30 A g-1 current density) in a 1.0 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. In addition, we fabricated a planar symmetric interdigitated supercapacitor on a stretchable Spandex fabric using an ACFM-850/TS composite electrode and carboxymethyl cellulose/NaClO4 as a solid-state gel electrolyte employing a scalable screen-printing process. The as-prepared stretchable supercapacitors displayed an ultrahigh energy density of 9.2 μWh cm-2 at a power density of 0.13 mW cm-2. In addition, they exhibited an excellent cyclic stability of 64% even after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles and 42% after 1000 continuous stretch (at 25% stretching)/release cycles. Such screen-printed interdigitated planar supercapacitors with activated carbon composite electrodes and a solid-state gel electrolyte act as promising low-cost energy-storage devices for wearable and flexible integrated electronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran
Kumar Reddy Reddygunta
- Smart
Materials Research and Device Technology (SMaRDT) Group, Department
of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University
of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, Glasgow G1 1XL, U.K.
| | - Lidija Šiller
- School
of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1
7RU, U.K.
| | - Aruna Ivaturi
- Smart
Materials Research and Device Technology (SMaRDT) Group, Department
of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University
of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, Glasgow G1 1XL, U.K.
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10
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Martin CA, Sheppard EC, Ali HAA, Illera JC, Suh A, Spurgin LG, Richardson DS. Genomic landscapes of divergence among island bird populations: Evidence of parallel adaptation but at different loci? Mol Ecol 2024:e17365. [PMID: 38733214 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
When populations colonise new environments, they may be exposed to novel selection pressures but also suffer from extensive genetic drift due to founder effects, small population sizes and limited interpopulation gene flow. Genomic approaches enable us to study how these factors drive divergence, and disentangle neutral effects from differentiation at specific loci due to selection. Here, we investigate patterns of genetic diversity and divergence using whole-genome resequencing (>22× coverage) in Berthelot's pipit (Anthus berthelotii), a passerine endemic to the islands of three north Atlantic archipelagos. Strong environmental gradients, including in pathogen pressure, across populations in the species range, make it an excellent system in which to explore traits important in adaptation and/or incipient speciation. First, we quantify how genomic divergence accumulates across the speciation continuum, that is, among Berthelot's pipit populations, between sub species across archipelagos, and between Berthelot's pipit and its mainland ancestor, the tawny pipit (Anthus campestris). Across these colonisation timeframes (2.1 million-ca. 8000 years ago), we identify highly differentiated loci within genomic islands of divergence and conclude that the observed distributions align with expectations for non-neutral divergence. Characteristic signatures of selection are identified in loci associated with craniofacial/bone and eye development, metabolism and immune response between population comparisons. Interestingly, we find limited evidence for repeated divergence of the same loci across the colonisation range but do identify different loci putatively associated with the same biological traits in different populations, likely due to parallel adaptation. Incipient speciation across these island populations, in which founder effects and selective pressures are strong, may therefore be repeatedly associated with morphology, metabolism and immune defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A Martin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norfolk, UK
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Biology Department, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Hisham A A Ali
- Department of Biology, Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Juan Carlos Illera
- Biodiversity Research Institute (CSIC-Oviedo University-Principality of Asturias), University of Oviedo, Mieres, Asturias, Spain
| | - Alexander Suh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norfolk, UK
- Department of Organismal Biology - Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC), Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lewis G Spurgin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norfolk, UK
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Kukkola A, Schneidewind U, Haverson L, Kelleher L, Drummond JD, Sambrook Smith G, Lynch I, Krause S. Snapshot Sampling May Not Be Enough to Obtain Robust Estimates for Riverine Microplastic Loads. ACS ES T Water 2024; 4:2309-2319. [PMID: 38752202 PMCID: PMC11091885 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been described as key contributors of microplastics (MPs) to aquatic systems, yet temporal fluctuations in MP concentrations and loads downstream are underexplored. This study investigated how different sampling frequencies (hourly, weekly, and monthly) affect MP estimates in a stream linked to a single WWTP. Utilizing fluorescence microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, considerable hourly variations in MP concentrations were discovered, while the polymer composition remained consistent. This temporal variability in MP loads was influenced by MP concentration, discharge rates, or a mix of both. These results show a high uncertainty, as relying on sparse snapshot samples combined with annual discharge data led to significant uncertainties in MP load estimates (over- and/or underestimation of emissions by 3.8 billion MPs annually at this site). Our findings stress the necessity of higher-frequency sampling for better comprehending the hydrodynamic factors influencing MP transport. This improved understanding enables a more accurate quantification of MP dynamics, crucial for downstream impact assessments. Therefore, preliminary reconnaissance campaigns are essential for designing extended, representative site-monitoring programs and ensuring more precise trend predictions on a larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kukkola
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Uwe Schneidewind
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Lee Haverson
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Liam Kelleher
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
- Institute
of Global Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SA, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer D. Drummond
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Gregory Sambrook Smith
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
| | - Iseult Lynch
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
- Institute
of Global Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SA, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Krause
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
- LEHNA
- Laboratoire d’ecologie des hydrosystemes naturels et anthropises, University of Lyon, Darwin C & Forel, 3-6 Rue Raphaël Dubois, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
- Institute
of Global Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SA, United Kingdom
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12
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Wieczorkowski JD, Lehmann CER, Archibald S, Banda S, Goyder DJ, Kaluwe M, Kapinga K, Larridon I, Mashau AC, Phiri E, Syampungani S. Fire facilitates ground layer plant diversity in a Miombo ecosystem. Ann Bot 2024; 133:743-756. [PMID: 38468311 PMCID: PMC11082521 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcae035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Little is known about the response of ground layer plant communities to fire in Miombo ecosystems, which is a global blind spot of ecological understanding. We aimed: (1) to assess the impact of three experimentally imposed fire treatments on ground layer species composition and compare it with patterns observed for trees; and (2) to analyse the effect of fire treatments on species richness to assess how responses differ among plant functional groups. METHODS At a 60-year-long fire experiment in Zambia, we quantified the richness and diversity of ground layer plants in terms of taxa and functional groups across three experimental fire treatments of late dry-season fire, early dry-season fire and fire exclusion. Data were collected in five repeat surveys from the onset of the wet season to the early dry season. KEY RESULTS Of the 140 ground layer species recorded across the three treatments, fire-maintained treatments contributed most of the richness and diversity, with the least number of unique species found in the no-fire treatment. The early-fire treatment was more similar in composition to the no-fire treatment than to the late-fire treatment. C4 grass and geoxyle richness were highest in the late-fire treatment, and there were no shared sedge species between the late-fire and other treatments. At a plot level, the average richness in the late-fire treatment was twice that of the fire exclusion treatment. CONCLUSIONS Heterogeneity in fire seasonality and intensity supports diversity of a unique flora by providing a diversity of local environments. African ecosystems face rapid expansion of land- and fire-management schemes for carbon offsetting and sequestration. We demonstrate that analyses of the impacts of such schemes predicated on the tree flora alone are highly likely to underestimate impacts on biodiversity. A research priority must be a new understanding of the Miombo ground layer flora integrated into policy and land management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub D Wieczorkowski
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
- Tropical Diversity, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, UK
| | - Caroline E R Lehmann
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
- Tropical Diversity, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, UK
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Sally Archibald
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Sarah Banda
- Herbarium, Division of Forest Research, Forestry Department, PO Box 22099, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - David J Goyder
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Mokwani Kaluwe
- Herbarium, Division of Forest Research, Forestry Department, PO Box 22099, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Kondwani Kapinga
- Dag Hammarskjöld Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies – Environment, Sustainable Development and Peace, Copperbelt University, PO Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
| | | | - Aluoneswi C Mashau
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
- Foundational Research and Services, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Private Bag X101, Pretoria 0184, South Africa
| | - Elina Phiri
- Herbarium, Division of Forest Research, Forestry Department, PO Box 22099, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Stephen Syampungani
- Oliver R Tambo Africa Research Chair Initiative for Environment and Development, Copperbelt University, PO Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
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13
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Leite DJ, Schönauer A, Blakeley G, Harper A, Garcia-Castro H, Baudouin-Gonzalez L, Wang R, Sarkis N, Nikola AG, Koka VSP, Kenny NJ, Turetzek N, Pechmann M, Solana J, McGregor AP. An atlas of spider development at single-cell resolution provides new insights into arthropod embryogenesis. EvoDevo 2024; 15:5. [PMID: 38730509 PMCID: PMC11083766 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-024-00224-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Spiders are a diverse order of chelicerates that diverged from other arthropods over 500 million years ago. Research on spider embryogenesis, particularly studies using the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum, has made important contributions to understanding the evolution of animal development, including axis formation, segmentation, and patterning. However, we lack knowledge about the cells that build spider embryos, their gene expression profiles and fate. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses have been revolutionary in describing these complex landscapes of cellular genetics in a range of animals. Therefore, we carried out single-cell RNA sequencing of P. tepidariorum embryos at stages 7, 8 and 9, which encompass the establishment and patterning of the body plan, and initial differentiation of many tissues and organs. We identified 20 cell clusters, from 18.5 k cells, which were marked by many developmental toolkit genes, as well as a plethora of genes not previously investigated. We found differences in the cell cycle transcriptional signatures, suggestive of different proliferation dynamics, which related to distinctions between endodermal and some mesodermal clusters, compared with ectodermal clusters. We identified many Hox genes as markers of cell clusters, and Hox gene ohnologs were often present in different clusters. This provided additional evidence of sub- and/or neo-functionalisation of these important developmental genes after the whole genome duplication in an arachnopulmonate ancestor (spiders, scorpions, and related orders). We also examined the spatial expression of marker genes for each cluster to generate a comprehensive cell atlas of these embryonic stages. This revealed new insights into the cellular basis and genetic regulation of head patterning, hematopoiesis, limb development, gut development, and posterior segmentation. This atlas will serve as a platform for future analysis of spider cell specification and fate, and studying the evolution of these processes among animals at cellular resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Leite
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Anna Schönauer
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Grace Blakeley
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Amber Harper
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Helena Garcia-Castro
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | | | - Ruixun Wang
- Institute for Zoology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47B, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Naïra Sarkis
- Institute for Zoology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47B, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Günther Nikola
- Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biocenter, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Venkata Sai Poojitha Koka
- Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biocenter, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Nathan J Kenny
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
- Department of Biochemistry Te Tari Matū Koiora, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Natascha Turetzek
- Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biocenter, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matthias Pechmann
- Institute for Zoology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47B, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jordi Solana
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
| | - Alistair P McGregor
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
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14
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Jones LB, Burns CJ. REACHing for divergence?-UK chemical regulation post-Brexit. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024. [PMID: 38712803 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
On 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom formally exited the European Union (EU; Brexit) and ceased to be subject to EU chemical regulation requirements. Before Brexit, UK chemical policy was regulated largely by the EU. With its large internal market, sophisticated regulatory capability, and stringent regulatory framework, the EU has become the world's leading regulatory state, regularly influencing global industrial decisions and practices. At the time of writing, there has been limited academic analysis of the implications of Brexit for UK chemical regulation. More than two years post-Brexit, we have the opportunity to assess UK chemical regulation and revisit early expectations about regulatory divergence. This article takes the EU's Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as a case study to analyze patterns of post-Brexit regulatory divergence, thereby providing one of the first analyses of the implications of Brexit on UK chemical regulation. Through the analysis and review of key documents and reports (n = 99), this article assesses the extent to which UK and EU regulatory (REACH) regimes are beginning to diverge and discusses the potential implications of any divergence for the United Kingdom. We find that the UK and EU chemical regulatory regimes are now evolving independently and provide clear, empirical evidence of an emerging divergence in regulatory decisions, ambitions, and approaches. The evidence suggests that the United Kingdom is currently unable to keep pace with EU developments, lacking the capacity, expertise, and capability of its EU counterparts, raising the prospect of further divergence in the future. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-10. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lowenna B Jones
- Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Charlotte J Burns
- Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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15
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Lawrence JM, Speirs DC, Heath MR, Fujii T, Burns F, Fernandes PG. Elevated fish densities extend kilometres from oil and gas platforms. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302738. [PMID: 38709717 PMCID: PMC11073688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Thousands of offshore oil and gas platforms have been installed throughout the world's oceans and more structures are being installed as part of the transition to renewable energy. These structures increase the availability of ecological niches by providing hard substrate in midwater and complex 3D habitat on the seafloor. This can lead to 'hotspots' of biodiversity, or increased densities of flora and fauna, which potentially spill over into the local area. However, the distances over which these higher densities extend (the 'range of influence') can be highly variable. Fish aggregate at such structures, but the range of influence and any implications for wider fish populations, are unclear. We investigated the relationship between fish and platform areal densities using high resolution fisheries acoustic data. Data were collected in the waters surrounding the vessel exclusions zones around 16 oil and gas platforms in the North Sea, and throughout the wider area. We estimated densities of schooling fish using echo-integration, and densities of non-schooling fish using echo-counting. At 10 platforms, non-schooling fish densities were elevated near the platform relative to background levels in the equivalent wider area. The range of influence, defined here as the range to which fish densities were elevated above background, varied from 0.8 to 23 km. In areas of high platform density, fish schools were encountered more often, and non-schooling fish densities were higher, when controlling for other sources of environmental variation. This is the first time such long-range effects have been identified; previously, ranges of influence have been reported in the order of just 10s-100s of metres. These findings suggest that the environmental impact of these structures may extend further than previously thought, which may be relevant in the context of upcoming management decisions around the decommissioning of these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M. Lawrence
- The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas C. Speirs
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Michael R. Heath
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Toyonobu Fujii
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Onagawa, Japan
| | - Finlay Burns
- Marine Laboratory, Marine Scotland Science, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Paul G. Fernandes
- The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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16
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Smith DC, Schäfer SM, Golding N, Nunn MA, White SM, Callaghan A, Purse BV. Vegetation structure drives mosquito community composition in UK's largest managed lowland wetland. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:201. [PMID: 38711091 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06280-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The rising burden of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe extends beyond urban areas, encompassing rural and semi-urban regions near managed and natural wetlands evidenced by recent outbreaks of Usutu and West Nile viruses. While wetland management policies focus on biodiversity and ecosystem services, few studies explore the impact on mosquito vectors. METHODS Our research addresses this gap, examining juvenile mosquito and aquatic predator communities in 67 ditch sites within a South England coastal marsh subjected to different wetland management tiers. Using joint distribution models, we analyse how mosquito communities respond to abiotic and biotic factors influenced by wetland management. RESULTS Of the 12 mosquito species identified, Culiseta annulata (Usutu virus vector) and Culex pipiens (Usutu and West Nile virus vector) constitute 47% of 6825 larval mosquitoes. Abundant predators include Coleoptera (water beetles) adults, Corixidae (water boatmen) and Zygoptera (Damselfy) larvae. Models reveal that tier 3 management sites (higher winter water levels, lower agricultural intensity) associated with shade and less floating vegetation are preferred by specific mosquito species. All mosquito species except Anopheles maculipennis s.l., are negatively impacted by potential predators. Culiseta annulata shows positive associations with shaded and turbid water, contrary to preferences of Corixidae predators. CONCLUSIONS Tier 3 areas managed for biodiversity, characterised by higher seasonal water levels and reduced livestock grazing intensity, provide favourable habitats for key mosquito species that are known vectors of arboviruses, such as Usutu and West Nile. Our findings emphasise the impact of biodiversity-focused wetland management, altering mosquito breeding site vegetation to enhance vector suitability. Further exploration of these trade-offs is crucial for comprehending the broader implications of wetland management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Smith
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 2AJ, UK.
| | - Stefanie M Schäfer
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Nick Golding
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Miles A Nunn
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Steven M White
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Amanda Callaghan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 2AJ, UK
| | - Bethan V Purse
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
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17
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van’t Hof AE, Whiteford S, Yung CJ, Yoshido A, Zrzavá M, de Jong MA, Tan KL, Zhu D, Monteiro A, Brakefield PM, Marec F, Saccheri IJ. Zygosity-based sex determination in a butterfly drives hypervariability of Masculinizer. Sci Adv 2024; 10:eadj6979. [PMID: 38701204 PMCID: PMC11067997 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj6979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Nature has devised many ways of producing males and females. Here, we report on a previously undescribed mechanism for Lepidoptera that functions without a female-specific gene. The number of alleles or allele heterozygosity in a single Z-linked gene (BaMasc) is the primary sex-determining switch in Bicyclus anynana butterflies. Embryos carrying a single BaMasc allele develop into WZ (or Z0) females, those carrying two distinct alleles develop into ZZ males, while (ZZ) homozygotes initiate female development, have mismatched dosage compensation, and die as embryos. Consequently, selection against homozygotes has favored the evolution of spectacular allelic diversity: 205 different coding sequences of BaMasc were detected in a sample of 246 females. The structural similarity of a hypervariable region (HVR) in BaMasc to the HVR in Apis mellifera csd suggests molecular convergence between deeply diverged insect lineages. Our discovery of this primary switch highlights the fascinating diversity of sex-determining mechanisms and underlying evolutionary drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjen E. van’t Hof
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Sam Whiteford
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Carl J. Yung
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Atsuo Yoshido
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Magda Zrzavá
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Maaike A. de Jong
- Netherlands eScience Center, Science Park 402, 1098 XH Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kian-Long Tan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Dantong Zhu
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Antónia Monteiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | | | - František Marec
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ilik J. Saccheri
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
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18
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Narayanan A, Roquet F, Gille ST, Gülk B, Mazloff MR, Silvano A, Naveira Garabato AC. Ekman-driven salt transport as a key mechanism for open-ocean polynya formation at Maud Rise. Sci Adv 2024; 10:eadj0777. [PMID: 38691611 PMCID: PMC11062571 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj0777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Open-ocean polynyas formed over the Maud Rise, in the Weddell Sea, during the winters of 2016-2017. Such polynyas are rare events in the Southern Ocean and are associated with deep convection, affecting regional carbon and heat budgets. Using an ocean state estimate, we found that during 2017, early sea ice melting occurred in response to enhanced vertical mixing of heat, which was accompanied by mixing of salt. The melting sea ice compensated for the vertically mixed salt, resulting in a net buoyancy gain. An additional salt input was then necessary to destabilize the upper ocean. This came from a hitherto unexplored polynya-formation mechanism: an Ekman transport of salt across a jet girdling the northern flank of the Maud Rise. Such transport was driven by intensified eastward surface stresses during 2015-2018. Our results illustrate how highly localized interactions between wind, ocean flow and topography can trigger polynya formation in the open Southern Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Narayanan
- Department of Marine Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK
| | - Fabien Roquet
- Department of Marine Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sarah T. Gille
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Birte Gülk
- Department of Marine Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Matthew R. Mazloff
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Alessandro Silvano
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK
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19
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Voller F, Ardanuy A, Taylor AFS, Johnson D. Maintenance of host specialisation gradients in ectomycorrhizal symbionts. New Phytol 2024; 242:1426-1435. [PMID: 37984824 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Many fungi that form ectomycorrhizas exhibit a degree of host specialisation, and individual trees are frequently colonised by communities of mycorrhizal fungi comprising species that fall on a gradient of specialisation along genetic, functional and taxonomic axes of variation. By contrast, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi exhibit little specialisation. Here, we propose that host tree root morphology is a key factor that gives host plants fine-scale control over colonisation and therefore opportunities for driving specialisation and speciation of ectomycorrhizal fungi. A gradient in host specialisation is likely driven by four proximate mechanistic 'filters' comprising partner availability, signalling recognition, competition for colonisation, and symbiotic function (trade, rewards and sanctions), and the spatially restricted colonisation seen in heterorhizic roots enables these mechanisms, especially symbiotic function, to be more effective in driving the evolution of specialisation. We encourage manipulation experiments that integrate molecular genetics and isotope tracers to test these mechanisms, alongside mathematical simulations of eco-evolutionary dynamics in mycorrhizal symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fay Voller
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Dover Street, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Agnès Ardanuy
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Dover Street, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, UMR DYNAFOR, Castanet-Tolosan, 31320, France
| | - Andy F S Taylor
- Ecological Sciences Group, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK
| | - David Johnson
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Dover Street, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
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20
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Keegan SP, Pedersen AB, Fenton A. The impact of within-host coinfection interactions on between-host parasite transmission dynamics varies with spatial scale. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240103. [PMID: 38628126 PMCID: PMC11021925 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Within-host interactions among coinfecting parasites can have major consequences for individual infection risk and disease severity. However, the impact of these within-host interactions on between-host parasite transmission, and the spatial scales over which they occur, remain unknown. We developed and apply a novel spatially explicit analysis to parasite infection data from a wild wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) population. We previously demonstrated a strong within-host negative interaction between two wood mouse gastrointestinal parasites, the nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus and the coccidian Eimeria hungaryensis, using drug-treatment experiments. Here, we show this negative within-host interaction can significantly alter the between-host transmission dynamics of E. hungaryensis, but only within spatially restricted neighbourhoods around each host. However, for the closely related species E. apionodes, which experiments show does not interact strongly with H. polygyrus, we did not find any effect on transmission over any spatial scale. Our results demonstrate that the effects of within-host coinfection interactions can ripple out beyond each host to alter the transmission dynamics of the parasites, but only over local scales that likely reflect the spatial dimension of transmission. Hence there may be knock-on consequences of drug treatments impacting the transmission of non-target parasites, altering infection risks even for non-treated individuals in the wider neighbourhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun P. Keegan
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Amy B. Pedersen
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Andy Fenton
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
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21
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Tulloch CL, Bargiela R, Williams GB, Chernikova TN, Cotterell BM, Wellington EMH, Christie-Oleza J, Thomas DN, Jones DL, Golyshin PN. Microbial communities colonising plastics during transition from the wastewater treatment plant to marine waters. Environ Microbiome 2024; 19:27. [PMID: 38685074 PMCID: PMC11057073 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00569-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plastics pollution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are two major environmental threats, but potential connections between plastic associated biofilms, the 'plastisphere', and dissemination of AMR genes are not well explored. RESULTS We conducted mesocosm experiments tracking microbial community changes on plastic surfaces transitioning from wastewater effluent to marine environments over 16 weeks. Commonly used plastics, polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) incubated in wastewater effluent, river water, estuarine water, and in the seawater for 16 weeks, were analysed via 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenome sequencing. Within one week, plastic-colonizing communities shifted from wastewater effluent-associated microorganisms to marine taxa, some members of which (e.g. Oleibacter-Thalassolituus and Sphingomonas spp., on PET, Alcanivoracaceae on PET and PP, or Oleiphilaceae, on all polymers), were selectively enriched from levels undetectable in the starting communities. Remarkably, microbial biofilms were also susceptible to parasitism, with Saprospiraceae feeding on biofilms at late colonisation stages (from week 6 onwards), while Bdellovibrionaceae were prominently present on HDPE from week 2 and LDPE from day 1. Relative AMR gene abundance declined over time, and plastics did not become enriched for key AMR genes after wastewater exposure. CONCLUSION Although some resistance genes occurred during the mesocosm transition on plastic substrata, those originated from the seawater organisms. Overall, plastic surfaces incubated in wastewater did not act as hotspots for AMR proliferation in simulated marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance L Tulloch
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Rafael Bargiela
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Gwion B Williams
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Tatyana N Chernikova
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Benjamin M Cotterell
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | | | - Joseph Christie-Oleza
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122, Palma, Spain
| | - David N Thomas
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Davey L Jones
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Peter N Golyshin
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK.
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22
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Khadka D, Babel MS, Tingsanchali T, Penny J, Djordjevic S, Abatan AA, Giardino A. Evaluating the impacts of climate change and land-use change on future droughts in northeast Thailand. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9746. [PMID: 38679611 PMCID: PMC11056375 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59113-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The impacts of climate change (CC) on droughts are well documented, but the effects of land-use change (LUC) are poorly understood. This study compares the projected individual and combined impacts of these stressors on future droughts (2021-2050), with respect to baseline (1981-2010) in one of the major tributaries of the Mekong River. LUC impacts on hydrological droughts are minimal compared to CC, with the latter expected to shorten the recurrence interval of a 20-year return period event to every 14 years. Both CC and LUC have significant impacts on agricultural droughts with heightened sensitivity. 'Once in a Decade' agricultural droughts will be 40% (35%) longer and 88% (87%) more severe under the CC (LUC) scenario. Under both stressors, the events occurring every 20 years will be twice as frequent. Results highlight the intensification of future droughts and the urgency for actions to mitigate/adapt to climate change and manage land use. Future policy shall holistically address agricultural water management, sustainable land use management, and crop management to cope with future droughts. We recommend developing resilient agricultural practices, enhanced water resource management strategies, and incorporating drought risk into land-use planning to mitigate the compounded impacts of CC and LUC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dibesh Khadka
- Water Engineering and Management (WEM), School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Klong Luang, P.O. Box 4, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
- Centre for Water and Climate Adaptation (CWCA), School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Klong Luang, P.O. Box 4, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Mukand S Babel
- Water Engineering and Management (WEM), School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Klong Luang, P.O. Box 4, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
- Centre for Water and Climate Adaptation (CWCA), School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Klong Luang, P.O. Box 4, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Tawatchai Tingsanchali
- Water Engineering and Management (WEM), School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Klong Luang, P.O. Box 4, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Jessica Penny
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter (UoE), Exeter, UK
| | - Slobodan Djordjevic
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter (UoE), Exeter, UK
| | - Abayomi A Abatan
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter (UoE), Exeter, UK
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23
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Rogmann EM, Jennings ES, Ross J, Miyajima N, Walter MJ, Kohn SC, Lord OT. The effect of potassium on aluminous phase stability in the lower mantle. Contrib Mineral Petrol 2024; 179:52. [PMID: 38686218 PMCID: PMC11055704 DOI: 10.1007/s00410-024-02129-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The aluminous calcium-ferrite type phase (CF) and new aluminous phase (NAL) are thought to hold the excess alumina produced by the decomposition of garnet in MORB compositions in the lower mantle. The respective stabilities of CF and NAL in the nepheline-spinel binary (NaAlSiO4-MgAl2O4) are well established. However with the addition of further components the phase relations at lower mantle conditions remain unclear. Here we investigate a range of compositions around the nepheline apex of the nepheline-kalsilite-spinel compositional join (NaAlSiO4-KAlSiO4-MgAl2O4) at 28-78 GPa and 2000 K. Our experiments indicate that even small amounts of a kalsilite (KAlSiO4) component dramatically impact phase relations. We find NAL to be stable up to at least 71 GPa in potassium-bearing compositions. This demonstrates the stabilizing effect of potassium on NAL, because NAL is not observed at pressures above 48 GPa on the nepheline-spinel binary. We also observe a broadening of the CF stability field to incorporate larger amounts of potassium with increasing pressure. For pressures below 50 GPa only minor amounts (< 0.011 ( 1 ) K K + N a + M g ) of potassium are soluble in CF, whereas at 68 GPa, we find a solubility in CF of at least 0.088 ( 3 ) K K + N a + M g . This indicates that CF and NAL are suitable hosts of the alkali content of MORB compositions at lower mantle conditions. For sedimentary compositions at lower mantle pressures, we expect K-Hollandite to be stable in addition to CF and NAL for pressures of 28-48 GPa, based on our simplified compositions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00410-024-02129-w.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleanor S. Jennings
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ UK
- Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- Present Address: School of Natural Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, WC1E 7JL UK
| | - Jennifer Ross
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ UK
| | | | - Michael J. Walter
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ UK
- Present Address: Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC USA
| | - Simon C. Kohn
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ UK
| | - Oliver T. Lord
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ UK
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24
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Bissoyi A, Gao Y, Tomás RMF, Kinney NLH, Whale TF, Guo Q, Gibson MI. Cryopreservation and Rapid Recovery of Differentiated Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Cells at Complex Transwell Interfaces Is Enabled by Chemically Induced Ice Nucleation. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2024; 16. [PMID: 38671549 PMCID: PMC11082836 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c03931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Cell-based models, such as organ-on-chips, can replace and inform in vivo (animal) studies for drug discovery, toxicology, and biomedical science, but most cannot be banked "ready to use" as they do not survive conventional cryopreservation with DMSO alone. Here, we demonstrate how macromolecular ice nucleators enable the successful cryopreservation of epithelial intestinal models supported upon the interface of transwells, allowing recovery of function in just 7 days post-thaw directly from the freezer, compared to 21 days from conventional suspension cryopreservation. Caco-2 cells and Caco-2/HT29-MTX cocultures are cryopreserved on transwell inserts, with chemically induced ice nucleation at warmer temperatures resulting in increased cell viability but crucially retaining the complex cellular adhesion on the transwell insert interfaces, which other cryoprotectants do not. Trans-epithelial electrical resistance measurements, confocal microscopy, histology, and whole-cell proteomics demonstrated the rapid recovery of differentiated cell function, including the formation of tight junctions. Lucifer yellow permeability assays confirmed that the barrier functions of the cells were intact. This work will help solve the long-standing problem of transwell tissue barrier model storage, facilitating access to advanced predictive cellular models. This is underpinned by precise control of the nucleation temperature, addressing a crucial biophysical mode of damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akalabya Bissoyi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Manchester
Institute of Biotechnology, University of
Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, U.K.
| | - Yanan Gao
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University
of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Ruben M. F. Tomás
- Cryologyx
Ltd, Venture Centre, University of Warwick
Science Park, Coventry CV4 7EZ, U.K.
| | - Nina L. H. Kinney
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Royal
Botanic Gardens Kew, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN, U.K.
| | - Thomas F. Whale
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- School
of Earth and Environment, University of
Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Qiongyu Guo
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University
of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Matthew I. Gibson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Division
of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- Manchester
Institute of Biotechnology, University of
Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, U.K.
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25
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Buckingham LJ, Ashby B. Coevolution of Age-Structured Tolerance and Virulence. Bull Math Biol 2024; 86:62. [PMID: 38662120 PMCID: PMC11045647 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-024-01292-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Hosts can evolve a variety of defences against parasitism, including resistance (which prevents or reduces the spread of infection) and tolerance (which protects against virulence). Some organisms have evolved different levels of tolerance at different life-stages, which is likely to be the result of coevolution with pathogens, and yet it is currently unclear how coevolution drives patterns of age-specific tolerance. Here, we use a model of tolerance-virulence coevolution to investigate how age structure influences coevolutionary dynamics. Specifically, we explore how coevolution unfolds when tolerance and virulence (disease-induced mortality) are age-specific compared to when these traits are uniform across the host lifespan. We find that coevolutionary cycling is relatively common when host tolerance is age-specific, but cycling does not occur when tolerance is the same across all ages. We also find that age-structured tolerance can lead to selection for higher virulence in shorter-lived than in longer-lived hosts, whereas non-age-structured tolerance always leads virulence to increase with host lifespan. Our findings therefore suggest that age structure can have substantial qualitative impacts on host-pathogen coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia J Buckingham
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
| | - Ben Ashby
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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26
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Valentine K, Hughes C, Boxall A. Plastic Litter Emits the Foraging Infochemical Dimethyl Sulfide after Submersion in Freshwater Rivers. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024. [PMID: 38661488 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is widespread throughout aquatic environments globally, with many organisms known to interact with and ingest plastic. In marine environments, microbial biofilms that form on plastic surfaces can produce the odorous compound dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which is a known foraging cue. This has been shown to increase the ingestion of plastic by some invertebrates and therefore act as a biological factor which influences the risks of plastic to marine ecosystems. In freshwater however, the production of DMS has been largely overlooked, despite the known sensitivity of some freshwater species to this compound. To address this gap, the present study analyzed the production of DMS by biofilms which formed on low-density polyethylene and polylactic acid films after 3 and 6 weeks of submersion in either a rural or an urban United Kingdom river. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the production of DMS by these biofilms was consistently identified. The amount of DMS produced varied significantly across river locations and materials, with surfaces in the urban river generally producing a stronger signal and plastics producing up to seven times more DMS than glass control surfaces. Analysis of biofilm weight and photosynthetic pigment content indicated differences in biofilm composition across conditions and suggested that DMS production was largely driven by nonphotosynthetic taxa. For the first time this work has documented the production of DMS by plastic litter after submersion in freshwater rivers. Further work is now needed to determine if, as seen in marine systems, this production of DMS can encourage the interaction of freshwater organisms with plastic litter and therefore operate as a biological risk factor in the impacts of plastic on freshwater environments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-12. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katey Valentine
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- BeZero Carbon, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Hughes
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair Boxall
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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27
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Leitão AB, Arunkumar R, Day JP, Hanna N, Devi A, Hayes MP, Jiggins FM. Recognition of nonself is necessary to activate Drosophila's immune response against an insect parasite. BMC Biol 2024; 22:89. [PMID: 38644510 PMCID: PMC11034056 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01886-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innate immune responses can be activated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), danger signals released by damaged tissues, or the absence of self-molecules that inhibit immunity. As PAMPs are typically conserved across broad groups of pathogens but absent from the host, it is unclear whether they allow hosts to recognize parasites that are phylogenetically similar to themselves, such as parasitoid wasps infecting insects. RESULTS Parasitoids must penetrate the cuticle of Drosophila larvae to inject their eggs. In line with previous results, we found that the danger signal of wounding triggers the differentiation of specialized immune cells called lamellocytes. However, using oil droplets to mimic infection by a parasitoid wasp egg, we found that this does not activate the melanization response. This aspect of the immune response also requires exposure to parasite molecules. The unidentified factor enhances the transcriptional response in hemocytes and induces a specific response in the fat body. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that a combination of danger signals and the recognition of nonself molecules is required to activate Drosophila's immune response against parasitic insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre B Leitão
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | | | - Jonathan P Day
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nancy Hanna
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Aarathi Devi
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Matthew P Hayes
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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28
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Young JC, Arthur R, Williams HTP. CIDER: Context-sensitive polarity measurement for short-form text. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299490. [PMID: 38635650 PMCID: PMC11025856 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Researchers commonly perform sentiment analysis on large collections of short texts like tweets, Reddit posts or newspaper headlines that are all focused on a specific topic, theme or event. Usually, general-purpose sentiment analysis methods are used. These perform well on average but miss the variation in meaning that happens across different contexts, for example, the word "active" has a very different intention and valence in the phrase "active lifestyle" versus "active volcano". This work presents a new approach, CIDER (Context Informed Dictionary and sEmantic Reasoner), which performs context-sensitive linguistic analysis, where the valence of sentiment-laden terms is inferred from the whole corpus before being used to score the individual texts. In this paper, we detail the CIDER algorithm and demonstrate that it outperforms state-of-the-art generalist unsupervised sentiment analysis techniques on a large collection of tweets about the weather. CIDER is also applicable to alternative (non-sentiment) linguistic scales. A case study on gender in the UK is presented, with the identification of highly gendered and sentiment-laden days. We have made our implementation of CIDER available as a Python package: https://pypi.org/project/ciderpolarity/.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C. Young
- Computer Science, Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Rudy Arthur
- Computer Science, Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Hywel T. P. Williams
- Computer Science, Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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29
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Williams J, Pettorelli N, Hartmann AC, Quinn RA, Plaisance L, O'Mahoney M, Meyer CP, Fabricius KE, Knowlton N, Ransome E. Decline of a distinct coral reef holobiont community under ocean acidification. Microbiome 2024; 12:75. [PMID: 38627822 PMCID: PMC11022381 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01683-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbes play vital roles across coral reefs both in the environment and inside and upon macrobes (holobionts), where they support critical functions such as nutrition and immune system modulation. These roles highlight the potential ecosystem-level importance of microbes, yet most knowledge of microbial functions on reefs is derived from a small set of holobionts such as corals and sponges. Declining seawater pH - an important global coral reef stressor - can cause ecosystem-level change on coral reefs, providing an opportunity to study the role of microbes at this scale. We use an in situ experimental approach to test the hypothesis that under such ocean acidification (OA), known shifts among macrobe trophic and functional groups may drive a general ecosystem-level response extending across macrobes and microbes, leading to reduced distinctness between the benthic holobiont community microbiome and the environmental microbiome. RESULTS We test this hypothesis using genetic and chemical data from benthic coral reef community holobionts sampled across a pH gradient from CO2 seeps in Papua New Guinea. We find support for our hypothesis; under OA, the microbiome and metabolome of the benthic holobiont community become less compositionally distinct from the sediment microbiome and metabolome, suggesting that benthic macrobe communities are colonised by environmental microbes to a higher degree under OA conditions. We also find a simplification and homogenisation of the benthic photosynthetic community, and an increased abundance of fleshy macroalgae, consistent with previously observed reef microbialisation. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate a novel structural shift in coral reefs involving macrobes and microbes: that the microbiome of the benthic holobiont community becomes less distinct from the sediment microbiome under OA. Our findings suggest that microbialisation and the disruption of macrobe trophic networks are interwoven general responses to environmental stress, pointing towards a universal, undesirable, and measurable form of ecosystem changed. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Williams
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Nathalie Pettorelli
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Aaron C Hartmann
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robert A Quinn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Laetitia Plaisance
- Laboratoire Evolution Et Diversité Biologique, CNRS/UPS, Toulouse, France
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Michael O'Mahoney
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Chris P Meyer
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | | | - Nancy Knowlton
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Emma Ransome
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK.
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30
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Swaby EJ, Coe AL, Ansorge J, Caswell BA, Hayward SAL, Mander L, Stevens LG, McArdle A. The fossil insect assemblage associated with the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) oceanic anoxic event from Alderton Hill, Gloucestershire, UK. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299551. [PMID: 38630753 PMCID: PMC11023202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Extreme global warming and environmental changes associated with the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE, ~183 Mya) profoundly impacted marine organisms and terrestrial plants. Despite the exceptionally elevated abundances of fossil insects from strata of this age, only assemblages from Germany and Luxembourg have been studied in detail. Here, we focus on the insect assemblage found in strata recording the T-OAE at Alderton Hill, Gloucestershire, UK, where <15% of specimens have previously been described. We located all known fossil insects (n = 370) from Alderton Hill, and used these to create the first comprehensive taxonomic and taphonomic analysis of the entire assemblage. We show that a diverse palaeoentomofaunal assemblage is preserved, comprising 12 orders, 21 families, 23 genera and 21 species. Fossil disarticulation is consistent with insect decay studies. The number of orders is comparable with present-day assemblages from similar latitudes (30°-40°N), including the Azores, and suggests that the palaeoentomofauna reflects a life assemblage. At Alderton, Hemiptera, Coleoptera and Orthoptera are the commonest (56.1%) orders. The high abundance of Hemiptera (22.1%) and Orthoptera (13.4%) indicates well-vegetated islands, while floral changes related to the T-OAE may be responsible for hemipteran diversification. Predatory insects are relatively abundant (~10% of the total assemblage) and we hypothesise that the co-occurrence of fish and insects within the T-OAE represents a jubilee-like event. The marginally higher proportion of sclerotised taxa compared to present-day insect assemblages possibly indicates adaptation to environmental conditions or taphonomic bias. The coeval palaeoentomofauna from Strawberry Bank, Somerset is less diverse (9 orders, 12 families, 6 genera, 3 species) and is taphonomically biased. The Alderton Hill palaeoentomofauna is interpreted to be the best-preserved and most representative insect assemblage from Toarcian strata in the UK. This study provides an essential first step towards understanding the likely influence of the T-OAE on insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Swaby
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
| | - Angela L. Coe
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jörg Ansorge
- Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Bryony A. Caswell
- School of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Scott A. L. Hayward
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Mander
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
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31
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Rose AM, McLauchlin AR, Wilson G, McDonald TO, Blanc F. Characterisation of formulated high-density poly(ethylene) by magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance. Polym Chem 2024; 15:1511-1521. [PMID: 38633016 PMCID: PMC11019405 DOI: 10.1039/d4py00010b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
High-density poly(ethylene) (HDPE) is an important class of polymer used extensively in plastic packaging as well as numerous other applications. HDPE has a structure that consists of crystalline (monoclinic and orthorhombic) and amorphous domains. Here, we exploit a range of approaches focusing on magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) aimed at comparing the effect of the HDPE sample formulation (cutting, shaving and cryomilling), from the commercially available manufactured pellets, into these domains and their quantification. 13C cross polarisation (CP) experiments reveal that these formulated HDPEs are qualitatively different and 13C CP build-up curves and 13C direct excitation experiments enable the content of each domain to be obtained, pointing to an increase of monoclinic domain at the expense of the orthorhombic one upon increased processing. The crystallinity contents obtained compared, in some cases, favourably with those obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data. These results provide evidence that the manner of preparation of HDPE pellets modifies the concentration of the various domains and suggest that care should be taken during processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa M Rose
- Department of Chemistry, Crown Street, University of Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
| | - Andrew R McLauchlin
- Department of Chemistry, Crown Street, University of Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
- Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester M13 9PL UK
| | - George Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, Crown Street, University of Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
| | - Tom O McDonald
- Department of Chemistry, Crown Street, University of Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
- Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester M13 9PL UK
| | - Frédéric Blanc
- Department of Chemistry, Crown Street, University of Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
- Leverhulme Research Centre for Functional Materials Design, Crown Street, University of Liverpool L7 3NY UK
- Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, Peach Street, University of Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
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32
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Ridley FA, Rushton SP, Hickinbotham EJ, Suggitt AJ, McGowan PJK, Mair L. Global mismatches between threat mapping research effort and the potential of threat abatement actions to reduce extinction risk. Conserv Biol 2024:e14271. [PMID: 38623873 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Threat mapping is a necessary tool for identifying and abating direct threats to species in the ongoing extinction crisis. There are known gaps in the threat mapping literature for particular threats and geographic locations, and it remains unclear if the distribution of research effort is appropriately targeted relative to conservation need. We aimed to determine the drivers of threat mapping research effort and to quantify gaps that, if filled, could inform actions with the highest potential to reduce species' extinction risk. We used a negative binomial generalized linear model to analyze research effort as a function of threat abatement potential (quantified as the potential reduction in species extinction risk from abating threats), species richness, land area, and human pressure. The model showed that threat mapping research effort increased by 1.1 to 1.2 times per standardized unit change in threat abatement potential. However, species richness and land area were stronger predictors of research effort overall. The greatest areas of mismatch between research effort and threat abatement potential, receiving disproportionately low research effort, were related to the threats to species of agriculture, aquaculture, and biological resource use across the tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, and Madagascar. Conversely, the threat of linear infrastructure (e.g., roads and rails) across regions, the threat of biological resource use (e.g., hunting or collection) in sub-Saharan Africa, and overall threats in North America and Europe all received disproportionately high research effort. We discuss the range of methodological and sociopolitical factors that may be behind the overall trends and specific areas of mismatch we found. We urge a stronger emphasis on targeting research effort toward those threats and geographic locations where threat abatement activities could make the greatest contribution to reducing global species extinction risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca A Ridley
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Stephen P Rushton
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Emily J Hickinbotham
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andrew J Suggitt
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Philip J K McGowan
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Louise Mair
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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33
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Wright EK, Timberlake TP, Baude M, Vaughan IP, Memmott J. Quantifying the production of plant pollen at the farm scale. New Phytol 2024. [PMID: 38622779 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Plant pollen is rich in protein, sterols and lipids, providing crucial nutrition for many pollinators. However, we know very little about the quantity, quality and timing of pollen availability in real landscapes, limiting our ability to improve food supply for pollinators. We quantify the floral longevity and pollen production of a whole plant community for the first time, enabling us to calculate daily pollen availability. We combine these data with floral abundance and nectar measures from UK farmland to quantify pollen and nectar production at the landscape scale throughout the year. Pollen and nectar production were significantly correlated at the floral unit, and landscape level. The species providing the highest quantity of pollen on farmland were Salix spp. (38%), Filipendula ulmaria (14%), Rubus fruticosus (10%) and Taraxacum officinale (9%). Hedgerows were the most pollen-rich habitats, but permanent pasture provided the majority of pollen at the landscape scale, because of its large area. Pollen and nectar were closely associated in their phenology, with both peaking in late April, before declining steeply in June and remaining low throughout the year. Our data provide a starting point for including pollen in floral resource assessments and ensuring the nutritional requirements of pollinators are met in farmland landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen K Wright
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
- Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Royal Fort House, Bristol, BS8 1UH, UK
| | - Thomas P Timberlake
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Mathilde Baude
- Université d'Orléans, Château de la Source, BP 6749, Orléans Cedex 2, 45067, France
- Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement (iEES-Paris), Sorbonne Université, UPEC, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Ian P Vaughan
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Jane Memmott
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
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Bretman A, Fricke C, Baur J, Berger D, Breedveld MC, Dierick D, Canal Domenech B, Drobniak SM, Ellers J, English S, Gasparini C, Iossa G, Lagisz M, Nakagawa S, Noble DWA, Pottier P, Ramm SA, Rowe M, Schultner E, Schou M, Simões P, Stockley P, Vasudeva R, Weaving H, Price TAR, Snook RR. Systematic approaches to assessing high-temperature limits to fertility in animals. J Evol Biol 2024; 37:471-485. [PMID: 38350467 DOI: 10.1093/jeb/voae021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Critical thermal limits (CTLs) gauge the physiological impact of temperature on survival or critical biological function, aiding predictions of species range shifts and climatic resilience. Two recent Drosophila species studies, using similar approaches to determine temperatures that induce sterility (thermal fertility limits [TFLs]), reveal that TFLs are often lower than CTLs and that TFLs better predict both current species distributions and extinction probability. Moreover, many studies show fertility is more sensitive at less extreme temperatures than survival (thermal sensitivity of fertility [TSF]). These results present a more pessimistic outlook on the consequences of climate change. However, unlike CTLs, TFL data are limited to Drosophila, and variability in TSF methods poses challenges in predicting species responses to increasing temperature. To address these data and methodological gaps, we propose 3 standardized approaches for assessing thermal impacts on fertility. We focus on adult obligate sexual terrestrial invertebrates but also provide modifications for other animal groups and life-history stages. We first outline a "gold-standard" protocol for determining TFLs, focussing on the effects of short-term heat shocks and simulating more frequent extreme heat events predicted by climate models. As this approach may be difficult to apply to some organisms, we then provide a standardized TSF protocol. Finally, we provide a framework to quantify fertility loss in response to extreme heat events in nature, given the limitations in laboratory approaches. Applying these standardized approaches across many taxa, similar to CTLs, will allow robust tests of the impact of fertility loss on species responses to increasing temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Bretman
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Fricke
- Institute for Zoology, Halle-Wittenberg University, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Julian Baur
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David Berger
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Diego Dierick
- La Selva Biological Station, Organization for Tropical Studies, San Pedro Montes de Oca, Costa Rica
| | - Berta Canal Domenech
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Szymon M Drobniak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jacintha Ellers
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sinead English
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - Graziella Iossa
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Patrice Pottier
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Steven A Ramm
- UMR 6553 Ecobio - Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Melissah Rowe
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Schultner
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mads Schou
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Pedro Simões
- cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Paula Stockley
- Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution Group, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Neston, United Kingdom
| | | | - Hester Weaving
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Tom A R Price
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rhonda R Snook
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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35
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Li D, Wang L, Liao W, Sun T, Katul G, Bou-Zeid E, Maronga B. Persistent urban heat. Sci Adv 2024; 10:eadj7398. [PMID: 38598635 PMCID: PMC11006209 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj7398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Urban surface and near-surface air temperatures are known to be often higher than their rural counterparts, a phenomenon now labeled as the urban heat island effect. However, whether the elevated urban temperatures are more persistent than rural temperatures at timescales commensurate to heat waves has not been addressed despite its importance for human health. Combining numerical simulations by a global climate model with a surface energy balance theory, it is demonstrated here that urban surface and near-surface air temperatures are significantly more persistent than their rural counterparts in cities dominated by impervious materials with large thermal inertia. Further use of these materials will result in even stronger urban temperature persistence, especially for tropical cities. The present findings help pinpoint mitigation strategies that can simultaneously ameliorate the larger magnitude and stronger persistence of urban temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linying Wang
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Weilin Liao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Urbanization and Geo-simulation, School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Sun
- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gabriel Katul
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Elie Bou-Zeid
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Björn Maronga
- Institute of Meteorology and Climatology, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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36
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Pearce RH, Chadwick MA, Main B, Chan K, Sayer CD, Patmore IR. Low-Cost Approach to an Instream Water Depth Sensor Construction Using Differential Pressure Sensors and Arduino Microcontrollers. Sensors (Basel) 2024; 24:2488. [PMID: 38676104 PMCID: PMC11054300 DOI: 10.3390/s24082488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Accurate hydrological data with high spatial resolution is important for flood risk and water resource management, particularly under the context of climate change. The cost of monitoring networks, as well as the characteristics of the hydrological environment itself, can be a barrier to meeting these data requirements, however. This study covers the design and testing of a low-cost, "build-it-yourself", instream water depth sensor providing an assessment of its potential in future hydrological monitoring projects. The low-cost sensor was built using an Arduino microcontroller, a differential pressure sensor and a thermistor, a real-time clock, and an SD card module. The low-cost logger was deployed in tandem with a factory-calibrated Solinst®LevelLogger® 5 Junior for 6 months in the River Wissey, UK. We found the mean absolute error of the Arduino-based logger relative to the commercial setup to be ±0.69 cm for water depth and ±0.415 °C for water temperature. Economically, the Arduino-based logger offers an advantage, costing a total of £133.35 (USD 168.26 at time of publication) comparative to the industrial comparison's cost of £408 (USD 514.83 at time of publication). This study concludes that the low cost of the Arduino-based logger gives a strong advantage to its incorporation in hydrological data collection, if the trade-offs (i.e., time investment and accuracy) are considered acceptable and appropriate for a project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reagan H. Pearce
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (C.D.S.); (I.R.P.)
| | - Michael A. Chadwick
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy, King’s College London, Strand, London WC2B 4BG, UK; (M.A.C.); (K.C.)
| | - Bruce Main
- Lincoln University, 85084 Ellesmere Junction Road, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand;
| | - Kris Chan
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy, King’s College London, Strand, London WC2B 4BG, UK; (M.A.C.); (K.C.)
| | - Carl D. Sayer
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (C.D.S.); (I.R.P.)
| | - Ian R. Patmore
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (C.D.S.); (I.R.P.)
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37
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Lade R, Onel L, Blitz MA, Seakins PW, Stone D. Kinetics of the Gas-Phase Reactions of syn- and anti-CH 3CHOO Criegee Intermediate Conformers with SO 2 as a Function of Temperature and Pressure. J Phys Chem A 2024; 128:2815-2824. [PMID: 38551990 PMCID: PMC11017318 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c00199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Kinetics of reactions between SO2 and CH3CHOO Criegee intermediate conformers have been measured at temperatures between 242 and 353 K and pressures between 10 and 600 Torr using laser flash photolysis of CH3CHI2/O2/N2/SO2 gas mixtures coupled with time-resolved broadband UV absorption spectroscopy. The kinetics of syn-CH3CHOO + SO2 are pressure-dependent and exhibit a negative temperature dependence, with the observed pressure dependence reconciling apparent discrepancies between previous measurements performed at ∼298 K. Results indicate a rate coefficient of (4.80 ± 0.46) × 10-11 cm3 s-1 for the reaction of syn-CH3CHOO with SO2 at 298 K and 760 Torr. In contrast to the behavior of the syn-conformer, the kinetics of anti-CH3CHOO + SO2 display no significant dependence on temperature or pressure over the ranges investigated, with a mean rate coefficient of (1.18 ± 0.21) × 10-10 cm3 s-1 over all conditions studied in this work. Results indicate that the reaction of syn-CH3CHOO with SO2 competes with unimolecular decomposition and reaction with water vapor in areas with high SO2 concentration and low humidity, particularly at lower temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel
E. Lade
- School
of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Lavinia Onel
- School
of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Mark A. Blitz
- School
of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
- National
Centre for Atmospheric Science, University
of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Paul W. Seakins
- School
of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
| | - Daniel Stone
- School
of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
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38
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Diver P, Ward BA, Cunliffe M. Physiological and morphological plasticity in response to nitrogen availability of a yeast widely distributed in the open ocean. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae053. [PMID: 38599628 PMCID: PMC11062419 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Yeasts are prevalent in the open ocean, yet we have limited understanding of their ecophysiological adaptations, including their response to nitrogen availability, which can have a major role in determining the ecological potential of other planktonic microbes. In this study, we characterized the nitrogen uptake capabilities and growth responses of marine-occurring yeasts. Yeast isolates from the North Atlantic Ocean were screened for growth on diverse nitrogen substrates, and across a concentration gradient of three environmentally relevant nitrogen substrates: nitrate, ammonium, and urea. Three strains grew with enriched nitrate while two did not, demonstrating that nitrate utilization is present but not universal in marine yeasts, consistent with existing knowledge of nonmarine yeast strains. Naganishia diffluens MBA_F0213 modified the key functional trait of cell size in response to nitrogen concentration, suggesting yeast cell morphology changes along chemical gradients in the marine environment. Meta-analysis of the reference DNA barcode in public databases revealed that the genus Naganishia has a global ocean distribution, strengthening the environmental applicability of the culture-based observations. This study provides novel quantitative understanding of the ecophysiological and morphological responses of marine-derived yeasts to variable nitrogen availability in vitro, providing insight into the functional ecology of yeasts within pelagic open ocean environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poppy Diver
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
| | - Ben A Ward
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Cunliffe
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
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39
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Walker AEL, Robertson MP, Eggleton P, Fisher AM, Parr CL. Functional compensation in a savanna scavenger community. J Anim Ecol 2024. [PMID: 38596843 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Functional redundancy, the potential for the functional role of one species to be fulfilled by another, is a key determinant of ecosystem viability. Scavenging transfers huge amount of energy through ecosystems and is, therefore, crucial for ecosystem viability and healthy ecosystem functioning. Despite this, relatively few studies have examined functional redundancy in scavenger communities. Moreover, the results of these studies are mixed and confined to a very limited range of habitat types and taxonomic groups. This study attempts to address this knowledge gap by conducting a field experiment in an undisturbed natural environment assessing functional roles and redundancy in vertebrate and invertebrate scavenging communities in a South African savanna. We used a large-scale field experiment to suppress ants in four 1 ha plots in a South African savanna and paired each with a control plot. We distributed three types of small food bait: carbohydrate, protein and seed, across the plots and excluded vertebrates from half the baits using cages. Using this combination of ant suppression and vertebrate exclusion, allowed us explore the contribution of non-ant invertebrates, ants and vertebrates in scavenging and also to determine whether either ants or vertebrates were able to compensate for the loss of one another. In this study, we found the invertebrate community carried out a larger proportion of overall scavenging services than vertebrates. Moreover, although scavenging was reduced when either invertebrates or vertebrates were absent, the presence of invertebrates better mitigated the functional loss of vertebrates than did the presence of vertebrates against the functional loss of invertebrates. There is a commonly held assumption that the functional role of vertebrate scavengers exceeds that of invertebrate scavengers; our results suggest that this is not true for small scavenging resources. Our study highlights the importance of invertebrates for securing healthy ecosystem functioning both now and into the future. We also build upon many previous studies which show that ants can have particularly large effects on ecosystem functioning. Importantly, our study suggests that scavenging in some ecosystems may be partly resilient to changes in the scavenging community, due to the potential for functional compensation by vertebrates and ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice E L Walker
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Mark P Robertson
- Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Paul Eggleton
- Soil Biodiversity Group, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Adam M Fisher
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Catherine L Parr
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, South Africa
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van de Koot WQM, Msonda J, Olver OP, Doonan JH, Nibau C. Variation in Water-Holding Capacity in Sphagnum Species Depends on Both Plant and Colony Structure. Plants (Basel) 2024; 13:1061. [PMID: 38674470 PMCID: PMC11053561 DOI: 10.3390/plants13081061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Peatlands have become a focal point in climate mitigation strategies as these ecosystems have significant carbon sequestration capacities when healthy but release CO2 and other greenhouse gases when damaged. However, as drought episodes become more frequent and prolonged, organisms key to the functioning of some peatlands are increasingly under pressure from desiccation. The Sphagnum mosses, which tend to keep their ecosystem waterlogged and many of whom promote peat formation, are only mildly desiccation-tolerant in comparison to other mosses. The role of Sphagnum anatomy and colony structure is poorly understood in the context of desiccation resilience. Using four different Sphagnum species belonging to four different subgenera and positions along the gradient of the water table, we show that plant morphological traits and colony density are important determinants of water storage capacity. Our results show that, as previously postulated, the majority of the water is stored in an easily exchangeable form, probably extracellularly, and that plant morphological traits, specifically the type and presence of branches, are major contributors to water storage and can explain some of the interspecies variation. We also show that plant density is another important determinant for water storage capacity as higher densities hold larger quantities of water per unit of biomass for all four species, which increases resilience to desiccation. The results presented here suggest that species choice and planting density should receive more attention when considering peatland restoration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Q. M. van de Koot
- National Plant Phenomics Centre, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK; (W.Q.M.v.d.K.); (O.P.O.)
| | - James Msonda
- Department of Computer Science, Llandinam Building, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DL, UK;
| | - Olga P. Olver
- National Plant Phenomics Centre, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK; (W.Q.M.v.d.K.); (O.P.O.)
| | - John H. Doonan
- National Plant Phenomics Centre, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK; (W.Q.M.v.d.K.); (O.P.O.)
| | - Candida Nibau
- National Plant Phenomics Centre, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK; (W.Q.M.v.d.K.); (O.P.O.)
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41
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Metcalfe H, Storkey J, Hull R, Bullock JM, Whitmore A, Sharp RT, Milne AE. Trade-offs constrain the success of glyphosate-free farming. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8001. [PMID: 38580796 PMCID: PMC10997608 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58183-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide, is linked with environmental harm and there is a drive to replace it in agricultural systems. We model the impacts of discontinuing glyphosate use and replacing it with cultural control methods. We simulate winter wheat arable systems reliant on glyphosate and typical in northwest Europe. Removing glyphosate was projected to increase weed abundance, herbicide risk to the environment, and arable plant diversity and decrease food production. Weed communities with evolved resistance to non-glyphosate herbicides were not projected to be disproportionately affected by removing glyphosate, despite the lack of alternative herbicidal control options. Crop rotations with more spring cereals or grass leys for weed control increased arable plant diversity. Stale seedbed techniques such as delayed drilling and choosing ploughing instead of minimum tillage had varying effects on weed abundance, food production, and profitability. Ploughing was the most effective alternative to glyphosate for long-term weed control while maintaining production and profit. Our findings emphasize the need for careful consideration of trade-offs arising in scenarios where glyphosate is removed. Integrated Weed Management (IWM) with more use of cultural control methods offers the potential to reduce chemical use but is sensitive to seasonal variability and can incur negative environmental and economic impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Metcalfe
- Net Zero & Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
| | - J Storkey
- Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - R Hull
- Protecting Crops and the Environment, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - J M Bullock
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - A Whitmore
- Net Zero & Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - R T Sharp
- Net Zero & Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - A E Milne
- Net Zero & Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK
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42
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Sharps K, Foster J, Vieno M, Beck R, Hayes F. Ozone pollution contributes to the yield gap for beans in Uganda, East Africa, and is co-located with other agricultural stresses. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8026. [PMID: 38580752 PMCID: PMC10997645 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58144-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Air quality negatively impacts agriculture, reducing the yield of staple food crops. While measured data on African ground-level ozone levels are scarce, experimental studies demonstrate the damaging impact of ozone on crops. Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), an ozone-sensitive crop, are widely grown in Uganda. Using modelled ozone flux, agricultural surveys, and a flux-effect relationship, this study estimates yield and production losses due to ozone for Ugandan beans in 2015. Analysis at this scale allows the use of localised data, and results can be presented at a sub-regional level. Soil nutrient stress, drought, flood risk, temperature and deprivation were also mapped to investigate where stresses may coincide. Average bean yield losses due to ozone were 17% and 14% (first and second growing season respectively), equating to 184 thousand tonnes production loss. However, for some sub-regions, losses were up to 27.5% and other crop stresses also coincided in these areas. This methodology could be applied widely, allowing estimates of ozone impact for countries lacking air quality and/or experimental data. As crop productivity is below its potential in many areas of the world, changing agricultural practices to mitigate against losses due to ozone could help to reduce the crop yield gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Sharps
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
| | - J Foster
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - M Vieno
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
| | - R Beck
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
| | - F Hayes
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
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43
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Torres A, Zu Ermgassen SOSE, Navarro LM, Ferri-Yanez F, Teixeira FZ, Wittkopp C, Rosa IMD, Liu J. Mining threats in high-level biodiversity conservation policies. Conserv Biol 2024:e14261. [PMID: 38571408 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Amid a global infrastructure boom, there is increasing recognition of the ecological impacts of the extraction and consumption of construction minerals, mainly processed as concrete, including significant and expanding threats to global biodiversity. We investigated how high-level national and international biodiversity conservation policies address mining threats, with a special focus on construction minerals. We conducted a review and quantified the degree to which threats from mining these minerals are addressed in biodiversity goals and targets under the 2011-2020 and post-2020 biodiversity strategies, national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and the assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Mining appeared rarely in national targets but more frequently in national strategies. Yet, in most countries, it was superficially addressed. Coverage of aggregates mining was greater than coverage of limestone mining. We outline 8 key components, tailored for a wide range of actors, to effectively mainstream biodiversity conservation into the extractive, infrastructure, and construction sectors. Actions include improving reporting and monitoring systems, enhancing the evidence base around mining impacts on biodiversity, and modifying the behavior of financial agents and businesses. Implementing these measures could pave the way for a more sustainable approach to construction mineral use and safeguard biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Torres
- Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
- Georges Lemaître Earth and Climate Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Sophus O S E Zu Ermgassen
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Laetitia M Navarro
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Ferri-Yanez
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio "Ramón Margalef", Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Fernanda Z Teixeira
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Constanze Wittkopp
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | | | - Jianguo Liu
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Hoang KL, Salguero-Gómez R, Pike VL, King KC. The impacts of host association and perturbation on symbiont fitness. Symbiosis 2024; 92:439-451. [PMID: 38666134 PMCID: PMC11039428 DOI: 10.1007/s13199-024-00984-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Symbiosis can benefit hosts in numerous ways, but less is known about whether interactions with hosts benefit symbionts-the smaller species in the relationship. To determine the fitness impact of host association on symbionts in likely mutualisms, we conducted a meta-analysis across 91 unique host-symbiont pairings under a range of spatial and temporal contexts. Specifically, we assess the consequences to symbiont fitness when in and out of symbiosis, as well as when the symbiosis is under suboptimal or varying environments and biological conditions (e.g., host age). We find that some intracellular symbionts associated with protists tend to have greater fitness when the symbiosis is under stressful conditions. Symbionts of plants and animals did not exhibit this trend, suggesting that symbionts of multicellular hosts are more robust to perturbations. Symbiont fitness also generally increased with host age. Lastly, we show that symbionts able to proliferate in- and outside host cells exhibit greater fitness than those found exclusively inside or outside cells. The ability to grow in multiple locations may thus help symbionts thrive. We discuss these fitness patterns in light of host-driven factors, whereby hosts exert influence over symbionts to suit their own needs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13199-024-00984-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim L. Hoang
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | | | | | - Kayla C. King
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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45
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Bell O, Jones ME, Ruiz-Aravena M, Hamilton DG, Comte S, Hamer R, Hamede RK, Newton J, Bearhop S, McDonald RA. Human habitat modification, not apex scavenger decline, drives isotopic niche variation in a carnivore community. Oecologia 2024; 204:943-957. [PMID: 38619585 PMCID: PMC11062984 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-024-05544-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Top carnivores can influence the structure of ecological communities, primarily through competition and predation; however, communities are also influenced by bottom-up forces such as anthropogenic habitat disturbance. Top carnivore declines will likely alter competitive dynamics within and amongst sympatric carnivore species. Increasing intraspecific competition is generally predicted to drive niche expansion and/or individual specialisation, while interspecific competition tends to constrain niches. Using stable isotope analysis of whiskers, we studied the effects of Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii declines upon the population- and individual-level isotopic niches of Tasmanian devils and sympatric spotted-tailed quolls Dasyurus maculatus subsp. maculatus. We investigated whether time since the onset of devil decline (a proxy for severity of decline) and landscape characteristics affected the isotopic niche breadth and overlap of devil and quoll populations. We quantified individual isotopic niche breadth for a subset of Tasmanian devils and spotted-tailed quolls and assessed whether between-site population niche variation was driven by individual-level specialisation. Tasmanian devils and spotted-tailed quolls demonstrated smaller population-level isotopic niche breadths with increasing human-modified habitat, while time since the onset of devil decline had no effect on population-level niche breadth or interspecific niche overlap. Individual isotopic niche breadths of Tasmanian devils and spotted-tailed quolls were narrower in human-modified landscapes, likely driving population isotopic niche contraction, however, the degree of individuals' specialisation relative to one another remained constant. Our results suggest that across varied landscapes, mammalian carnivore niches can be more sensitive to the bottom-up forces of anthropogenic habitat disturbance than to the top-down effects of top carnivore decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Bell
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia.
| | - Manuel Ruiz-Aravena
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - David G Hamilton
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
- Tasmanian Land Conservancy, 183 Macquarie Street, Hobart, TAS, 7007, Australia
| | - Sebastien Comte
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, NSW, 2800, Australia
| | - Rowena Hamer
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
| | - Rodrigo K Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
| | - Jason Newton
- National Environmental Isotope Facility, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, UK
| | - Stuart Bearhop
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Robbie A McDonald
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK.
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46
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Hanski E, Joseph S, Raulo A, Wanelik KM, O'Toole Á, Knowles SCL, Little TJ. Epigenetic age estimation of wild mice using faecal samples. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17330. [PMID: 38561950 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Age is a key parameter in population ecology, with a myriad of biological processes changing with age as organisms develop in early life then later senesce. As age is often hard to accurately measure with non-lethal methods, epigenetic methods of age estimation (epigenetic clocks) have become a popular tool in animal ecology and are often developed or calibrated using captive animals of known age. However, studies typically rely on invasive blood or tissue samples, which limit their application in more sensitive or elusive species. Moreover, few studies have directly assessed how methylation patterns and epigenetic age estimates compare across environmental contexts (e.g. captive or laboratory-based vs. wild animals). Here, we built a targeted epigenetic clock from laboratory house mice (strain C57BL/6, Mus musculus) using DNA from non-invasive faecal samples, and then used it to estimate age in a population of wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus) of unknown age. This laboratory mouse-derived epigenetic clock accurately predicted adult wild mice to be older than juveniles and showed that wild mice typically increased in epigenetic age over time, but with wide variation in epigenetic ageing rate among individuals. Our results also suggested that, for a given body mass, wild mice had higher methylation across targeted CpG sites than laboratory mice (and consistently higher epigenetic age estimates as a result), even among the smallest, juvenile mice. This suggests wild and laboratory mice may display different CpG methylation levels from very early in life and indicates caution is needed when developing epigenetic clocks on laboratory animals and applying them in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveliina Hanski
- University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Aura Raulo
- University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Klara M Wanelik
- University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
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47
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Rassner SME, Cook JM, Mitchell AC, Stevens IT, Irvine-Fynn TDL, Hodson AJ, Edwards A. The distinctive weathering crust habitat of a High Arctic glacier comprises discrete microbial micro-habitats. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16617. [PMID: 38558266 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Sunlight penetrates the ice surfaces of glaciers and ice sheets, forming a water-bearing porous ice matrix known as the weathering crust. This crust is home to a significant microbial community. Despite the potential implications of microbial processes in the weathering crust for glacial melting, biogeochemical cycles, and downstream ecosystems, there have been few explorations of its microbial communities. In our study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics of a Svalbard glacier surface catchment to characterise the microbial communities within the weathering crust, their origins and destinies, and the functional potential of the weathering crust metagenome. Our findings reveal that the bacterial community in the weathering crust is distinct from those in upstream and downstream habitats. However, it comprises two separate micro-habitats, each with different taxa and functional categories. The interstitial porewater is dominated by Polaromonas, influenced by the transfer of snowmelt, and exported via meltwater channels. In contrast, the ice matrix is dominated by Hymenobacter, and its metagenome exhibits a diverse range of functional adaptations. Given that the global weathering crust area and the subsequent release of microbes from it are strongly responsive to climate projections for the rest of the century, our results underscore the pressing need to integrate the microbiome of the weathering crust with other communities and processes in glacial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph M Cook
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Andrew C Mitchell
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Ian T Stevens
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | | | - Andrew J Hodson
- Department of Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Arwyn Edwards
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Department of Arctic Biology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Norway
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48
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Abstract
Given the marked variation in abiotic and biotic conditions between day and night, many species specialise their physical activity to being diurnal or nocturnal, and it was long thought that these strategies were commonly fairly fixed and invariant. The term 'cathemeral', was coined in 1987, when Tattersall noted activity in a Madagascan primate during the hours of both daylight and darkness. Initially thought to be rare, cathemerality is now known to be a quite widespread form of time partitioning amongst arthropods, fish, birds, and mammals. Herein we provide a synthesis of present understanding of cathemeral behaviour, arguing that it should routinely be included alongside diurnal and nocturnal strategies in schemes that distinguish and categorise species across taxa according to temporal niche. This synthesis is particularly timely because (i) the study of animal activity patterns is being revolutionised by new and improved technologies; (ii) it is becoming apparent that cathemerality covers a diverse range of obligate to facultative forms, each with their own common sets of functional traits, geographic ranges and evolutionary history; (iii) daytime and nighttime activity likely plays an important but currently neglected role in temporal niche partitioning and ecosystem functioning; and (iv) cathemerality may have an important role in the ability of species to adapt to human-mediated pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T C Cox
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
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49
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Rampling EE, Zu Ermgassen SOSE, Hawkins I, Bull JW. Achieving biodiversity net gain by addressing governance gaps underpinning ecological compensation policies. Conserv Biol 2024; 38:e14198. [PMID: 37811729 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity compensation policies have emerged around the world to address the ecological harms of infrastructure expansion, but historically compliance is weak. The Westminster government is introducing a requirement that new infrastructure developments in England demonstrate they achieve a biodiversity net gain (BNG). We sought to determine the magnitude of the effects of governance gaps and regulator capacity constraints on the policy's potential biodiversity impacts. We collated BNG information from all new major developments across six early-adopter councils from 2020 to 2022. We quantified the proportion of the biodiversity outcomes promised under BNG at risk of noncompliance, explored the variation in strategies used to meet developers' biodiversity liabilities, and quantified the occurrence of simple errors in the biodiversity metric calculations. For large developments and energy infrastructure, biodiversity liabilities frequently met within the projects' development footprint. For small developments, the purchase of offsets was most common. We estimated that 27% of all biodiversity units fell into governance gaps that exposed them to a high risk of noncompliance because they were associated with better-condition habitats delivered on-site that were unlikely to be monitored or enforced. More robust governance mechanisms (e.g., practical mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement) would help ensure the delivery of this biodiversity on-site. Alternatively, more biodiversity gains could be delivered through off-site biodiversity offsetting. For the latter case, we estimated that the demand for offsets could rise by a factor of 4; this would substantially increase the financial contributions from developers for conservation activities on private land. Twenty-one percent of development applications contained a simple recurring error in their BNG calculations. One-half of these applications were approved by councils, which may indicate under-resourcing in council development assessments. Our findings demonstrate that resourcing and governance shortfalls risk undermining the policy's effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Rampling
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Sophus O S E Zu Ermgassen
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
- Nature-positive Hub, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Isobel Hawkins
- Nature-positive Hub, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Joseph W Bull
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
- Nature-positive Hub, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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50
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Chapman KE, Smith MT, Gaston KJ, Hempel de Ibarra N. Bumblebee nest departures under low light conditions at sunrise and sunset. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20230518. [PMID: 38593853 PMCID: PMC11003773 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Only a few diurnal animals, such as bumblebees, extend their activity into the time around sunrise and sunset when illumination levels are low. Low light impairs viewing conditions and increases sensory costs, but whether diurnal insects use low light as a cue to make behavioural decisions is uncertain. To investigate how they decide to initiate foraging at these times of day, we observed bumblebee nest-departure behaviours inside a flight net, under naturally changing light conditions. In brighter light bees did not attempt to return to the nest and departed with minimal delay, as expected. In low light the probability of non-departures increased, as a small number of bees attempted to return after spending time on the departure platform. Additionally, in lower illumination bees spent more time on the platform before flying away, up to 68 s. Our results suggest that bees may assess light conditions once outside the colony to inform the decision to depart. These findings give novel insights into how behavioural decisions are made at the start and the end of a foraging day in diurnal animals when the limits of their vision impose additional costs on foraging efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E. Chapman
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Michael T. Smith
- Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Kevin J. Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Natalie Hempel de Ibarra
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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