Relationships Between Urinary Metals and Diabetes Traits Among Mexican Americans in Starr County, Texas, USA - Margaret C. Weiss; Yu-Hsuan Shih; Molly Scannell Bryan; Brian P. Jackson; David Aguilar; Craig L. Hanis; Maria Argos; Robert M. Sargis (Biological Trace Element Research, 2023)

Neuroimaging and immunological features of neurocognitive function related to substance use in people with HIV - David M. Murdoch; Richard Barfield; Cliburn Chan; Sheri L. Towe; Ryan P. Bell; Alicia Volkheimer; Joyce Choe; Shana A. Hall; Miles Berger; Jichun Xie; Christina S. Meade (Journal of NeuroVirology, 2023)

Correction: Identifying Factors Associated with Head Impact Kinematics and Brain Strain in High School American Football via Instrumented Mouthguards - Nicholas J. Cecchi; August G. Domel; Yuzhe Liu; Eli Rice; Rong Lu; Xianghao Zhan; Zhou Zhou; Samuel J. Raymond; Sohrab Sami; Heer Singh; India Rangel; Landon P. Watson; et al. (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2023)

From sneaker to bourgeois male: Long‐term observations on recognized tompot blenny Parablennius gattorugine individuals reveal new information on their biology - Paul Naylor; Teresa Naylor; Louise Hammond; David M. P. Jacoby (Journal of Fish Biology, 2023)
The behaviour of the tompot blenny Parablennius gattorugine was studied by underwater observation and photography on the south‐west coast of the UK over an 11 year period, with >50 individuals identified at two locations by their distinctive skin markings. Observations showed males engaging in rapid swimming behaviour when approached by a female, and younger males using alternative ‘sneaker’ tactics before becoming ‘bourgeois’ territory‐holders. The noninvasive recognition technique also facilitated detailed observations on territory retention (up to 7 years) and agonistic behaviours among both males and females.

RecruitNet : A global database of plant recruitment networks - Miguel Verdú; Jose L. Garrido; Julio M. Alcántara; Alicia Montesinos‐Navarro; Salomón Aguilar; Marcelo A. Aizen; Ali A. Al‐Namazi; Mohamed Alifriqui; David Allen; Kristina J. Anderson‐Teixeira; Cristina Armas; Jesús M. Bastida; et al. (Ecology, 2023)
Plant recruitment interactions (i.e., what recruits under what) shape the composition, diversity, and structure of plant communities. Despite the huge body of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying recruitment interactions among species, we still know little about the structure of the recruitment networks emerging in ecological communities. Modeling and analyzing the community‐level structure of plant recruitment interactions as a complex network can provide relevant information on ecological and evolutionary processes acting both at the species and ecosystem levels. We report a data set containing 143 plant recruitment networks in 23 countries across five continents, including temperate and tropical ecosystems. Each network identifies the species under which another species recruits. All networks report the number of recruits (i.e., individuals) per species. The data set includes >850,000 recruiting individuals involved in 118,411 paired interactions among 3318 vascular plant species across the globe. The cover of canopy species and open ground is also provided. Three sampling protocols were used: (1) The Recruitment Network (RN) protocol (106 networks) focuses on interactions among established plants (“canopy species”) and plants in their early stages of recruitment (“recruit species”). A series of plots was delimited within a locality, and all the individuals recruiting and their canopy species were identified; (2) The paired Canopy‐Open (pCO) protocol (26 networks) consists in locating a potential canopy plant and identifying recruiting individuals under the canopy and in a nearby open space of the same area; (3) The Georeferenced plot (GP) protocol (11 networks) consists in using information from georeferenced individual plants in large plots to infer canopy‐recruit interactions. Some networks incorporate data for both herbs and woody species, whereas others focus exclusively on woody species. The location of each study site, geographical coordinates, country, locality, responsible author, sampling dates, sampling method, and life habits of both canopy and recruit species are provided. This database will allow researchers to test ecological, biogeographical, and evolutionary hypotheses related to plant recruitment interactions. There are no copyright restrictions on the data set; please cite this data paper when using these data in publications.

Temperature synchronizes temporal variation in laying dates across European hole‐nesting passerines - Stefan J. G. Vriend; Vidar Grøtan; Marlène Gamelon; Frank Adriaensen; Markus P. Ahola; Elena Álvarez; Liam D. Bailey; Emilio Barba; Jean‐Charles Bouvier; Malcolm D. Burgess; Andrey Bushuev; Carlos Camacho; et al. (Ecology, 2023)
Identifying the environmental drivers of variation in fitness‐related traits is a central objective in ecology and evolutionary biology. Temporal fluctuations of these environmental drivers are often synchronized at large spatial scales. Yet, whether synchronous environmental conditions can generate spatial synchrony in fitness‐related trait values (i.e., correlated temporal trait fluctuations across populations) is poorly understood. Using data from long‐term monitored populations of blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus , n = 31), great tits ( Parus major , n = 35), and pied flycatchers ( Ficedula hypoleuca , n = 20) across Europe, we assessed the influence of two local climatic variables (mean temperature and mean precipitation in February–May) on spatial synchrony in three fitness‐related traits: laying date, clutch size, and fledgling number. We found a high degree of spatial synchrony in laying date but a lower degree in clutch size and fledgling number for each species. Temperature strongly influenced spatial synchrony in laying date for resident blue tits and great tits but not for migratory pied flycatchers. This is a relevant finding in the context of environmental impacts on populations because spatial synchrony in fitness‐related trait values among populations may influence fluctuations in vital rates or population abundances. If environmentally induced spatial synchrony in fitness‐related traits increases the spatial synchrony in vital rates or population abundances, this will ultimately increase the risk of extinction for populations and species. Assessing how environmental conditions influence spatiotemporal variation in trait values improves our mechanistic understanding of environmental impacts on populations.

Introducing a common taxonomy to support learning from failure in conservation - Iain Dickson; Stuart H. M. Butchart; Allison Catalano; David Gibbons; Julia P. G. Jones; Katie Lee‐Brooks; Thomasina Oldfield; David Noble; Stuart Paterson; Sugoto Roy; Julien Semelin; Paul Tinsley‐Marshall; et al. (Conservation Biology, 2023)
Although some sectors have made significant progress in learning from failure, there is currently limited consensus on how a similar transition could best be achieved in conservation and what is required to facilitate this. One of the key enabling conditions for other sectors is a widely accepted and standardized classification system for identifying and analyzing root causes of failure. We devised a comprehensive taxonomy of root causes of failure affecting conservation projects. To develop this, we solicited examples of real‐life conservation efforts that were deemed to have failed in some way, identified their underlying root causes of failure, and used these to develop a generic, 3‐tier taxonomy of the ways in which projects fail, at the top of which are 6 overarching cause categories that are further divided into midlevel cause categories and specific root causes. We tested the taxonomy by asking conservation practitioners to use it to classify the causes of failure for conservation efforts they had been involved in. No significant gaps or redundancies were identified during this testing phase. We then analyzed the frequency that particular root causes were encountered by projects within this test sample, which suggested that some root causes were more likely to be encountered than others and that a small number of root causes were more likely to be encountered by projects implementing particular types of conservation action. Our taxonomy could be used to improve identification, analysis, and subsequent learning from failed conservation efforts, address some of the barriers that currently limit the ability of conservation practitioners to learn from failure, and contribute to establishing an effective culture of learning from failure within conservation.

The drivers of anguillid eel movement in lentic water bodies: a systematic map - Michael J. Williamson; David M. P. Jacoby; Adam T. Piper (Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 2023)
Anguillid eels are near globally distributed catadromous fishes with marine spawning areas and inshore and inland growth areas in both lotic (rivers, estuaries) and lentic (lakes, ponds, lagoons) water bodies. As predators, anguillid eels play an important ecological role in both marine and freshwater systems, and several species are harvested commercially for food. However, some of the more widely distributed species have undergone severe declines in recruitment and their population status is now of significant concern. Given the multiple and lengthy migrations undertaken by anguillid eels, understanding of the drivers of movement is fundamental for species conservation and management. Yet, despite the importance of lentic systems to their ecology, most studies on anguillid eel movement have been conducted in lotic systems. Given that key influences on eel migration in lotic water bodies, such as fluctuations in flow and water temperature, may be minimised in lentic environments, the transferability of findings between lotic and lentic systems cannot be assumed. A systematic map was constructed to synthesise current knowledge on the extrinsic and intrinsic drivers of anguillid eel movement in lentic systems. The current state of knowledge of the drivers of eel movement in lentic systems is presented and compared to the relatively well-understood drivers of movement in lotic systems. We also discuss current knowledge gaps and limitations, and identify key future research requirements to inform the management and conservation of anguillid eels in understudied lentic systems. Graphical abstract

Could Wearables Protect Youth and Children on Farms? - David C Schwebel; Ragib Hasan; Bryan P. Weichelt (Journal of Agromedicine, 2023)

Quantifying elevational effect on the geometric body shape of Russian beetle Carabus exaratus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) - Hugo A. Benítez; Raisa A. Sukhodolskaya; Tamara A. Avtaeva; Scott Escobar-Suárez; Rodrigo Órdenes-Claveria; David Laroze; Raquel Hernández-P; Dmitriy N. Vavilov (Zoologischer Anzeiger, 2023)

A taphonomic analysis of PTK (Bed I, Olduvai Gorge) and its bearing on the interpretation of the dietary and eco-spatial behaviors of early humans - Elia Organista; Abel Moclán; Julia Aramendi; Lucía Cobo-Sánchez; Charles P. Egeland; David Uribelarrea; David Martín-Perea; Marina Vegara-Riquelme; Lucía Hernández-Vivanco; Agness Gidna; Audax Mabula; Enrique Baquedano; et al. (Quaternary Science Reviews, 2023)

A previously unidentified fault revealed by the February 25, 2022 (Mw 6.1) Pasaman Earthquake, West Sumatra, Indonesia - Pepen Supendi; Nicholas Rawlinson; Bambang Setiyo Prayitno; Dimas Sianipar; Andrean Simanjuntak; Sri Widiyantoro; Kadek Hendrawan Palgunadi; Andri Kurniawan; Hasbi Ash Shiddiqi; Andri Dian Nugraha; David P. Sahara; Daryono Daryono; et al. (Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 2023)

A near-complete species-level phylogeny of uropeltid snakes harnessing historical museum collections as a DNA source - Filipa L. Sampaio; Julia J. Day; L.J. Mendis Wickramasinghe; Vivek P. Cyriac; Anna Papadopoulou; Selina Brace; Albert Rajendran; Cornelia Simon-Nutbrown; Tomas Flouris; Paschalia Kapli; Dulan Ranga Vidanapathirana; Ramachandran Kotharambath; et al. (Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2023)

Incorporating non-stationarity from climate change into rainfall frequency and intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves - Katherine E. Schlef; Kenneth E. Kunkel; Casey Brown; Yonas Demissie; Dennis P. Lettenmaier; Anna Wagner; Mark S. Wigmosta; Thomas R. Karl; David R. Easterling; Kimberly J. Wang; Baptiste François; Eugene Yan (Journal of Hydrology, 2023)

Rehabilitation of eroded trails and gullies on quartzite rock outcrops with native species in a high-altitude grassland - Mirelli B. Medeiros; Juni Cordeiro; Samuel Lourenço L. Silva; Ione H. Salim; André Reis; Tomás Jansen Lacerda; Euler A. Lobo Seabra; Mateus F. Oliveira; Sarah P. Moura; Izabel N.R. Santos; Laura Bessa; Maria Thereza Fonseca; et al. (Journal of Environmental Management, 2023)

Isolating the mechanisms for asteroid surface refreshing - Francesca E. DeMeo; Michaël Marsset; David Polishook; Brian J. Burt; Richard P. Binzel; Sunao Hasegawa; Mikael Granvik; Nicholas A. Moskovitz; Alissa Earle; Schelte J. Bus; Cristina A. Thomas; Andrew S. Rivkin; et al. (Icarus, 2023)

Provenance changes for mineral matter in the latest Permian coals from western Guizhou, southwestern China, relative to tectonic and volcanic activity in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province and Paleo-Tethys region - Minglian Shen; Shifeng Dai; Victor P. Nechaev; David French; Ian T. Graham; Shande Liu; Igor Yu. Chekryzhov; Irina A. Tarasenko; Shaowei Zhang (Gondwana Research, 2023)

Evaluating the influence of seasonal stratification on mercury methylation rates in the water column and sediment in a contaminated section of a western U.S.A. reservoir - Geoffrey Millard; Chris S. Eckley; Todd P. Luxton; David Krabbenhoft; Jennifer Goetz; John McKernan; John DeWild (Environmental Pollution, 2023)

USUAL Watershed Tools: A new geospatial toolkit for hydro-geomorphic delineation - Scott R. David; Brendan P. Murphy; Jonathan A. Czuba; Muneer Ahammad; Patrick Belmont (Environmental Modelling & Software, 2023)

Detecting hydrologic distinctions among Andean lakes using clumped and triple oxygen isotopes - Sarah A. Katz; Naomi E. Levin; Donald T. Rodbell; David P. Gillikin; Phoebe G. Aron; Benjamin H. Passey; Pedro M. Tapia; Analucía R. Serrepe; Mark B. Abbott (Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2023)

Gaseous formaldehyde adsorption by eco-friendly, porous bamboo carbon microfibers obtained by steam explosion, carbonization, and plasma activation - Ganmao Su; Jinhui Xiong; Qiushi Li; Siyao Luo; Yupeng Zhang; Tuhua Zhong; David P. Harper; Zhenguan Tang; Linkun Xie; Xijuan Chai; Lianpeng Zhang; Chunhua Wu; et al. (Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023)

Morphology of male and female reproductive systems in the ground beetle Apotomus and the peculiar sperm ultrastructure of A. rufus (P. Rossi, 1790) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) - R. Antonio Gomez; David Mercati; Pietro Lupetti; Paolo P. Fanciulli; Romano Dallai (Arthropod Structure & Development, 2023)

Demonstration of Reversible Dispersion in a Darcy-Scale Push-Pull Laboratory Experiment - Roseanna M. Neupauer; Eric J. Roth; John P. Crimaldi; David C. Mays; Lauren J. Sather (Transport in Porous Media, 2023)

De novo mutations in the BMP signaling pathway in lambdoid craniosynostosis - Andrew T. Timberlake; Emre Kiziltug; Sheng Chih Jin; Carol Nelson-Williams; Erin Loring; August Allocco; Arnaud Marlier; Siddharth Banka; Helen Stuart; Maria Rita Passos-Buenos; Rafael Rosa; Silvia R. Rogatto; et al. (Human Genetics, 2023)

Vulnerable Waters are Essential to Watershed Resilience - Charles R. Lane; Irena F. Creed; Heather E. Golden; Scott G. Leibowitz; David M. Mushet; Mark C. Rains; Qiusheng Wu; Ellen D’Amico; Laurie C. Alexander; Genevieve A. Ali; Nandita B. Basu; Micah G. Bennett; et al. (Ecosystems, 2023)
Watershed resilience is the ability of a watershed to maintain its characteristic system state while concurrently resisting, adapting to, and reorganizing after hydrological (for example, drought, flooding) or biogeochemical (for example, excessive nutrient) disturbances. Vulnerable waters include non-floodplain wetlands and headwater streams, abundant watershed components representing the most distal extent of the freshwater aquatic network. Vulnerable waters are hydrologically dynamic and biogeochemically reactive aquatic systems, storing, processing, and releasing water and entrained (that is, dissolved and particulate) materials along expanding and contracting aquatic networks. The hydrological and biogeochemical functions emerging from these processes affect the magnitude, frequency, timing, duration, storage, and rate of change of material and energy fluxes among watershed components and to downstream waters, thereby maintaining watershed states and imparting watershed resilience. We present here a conceptual framework for understanding how vulnerable waters confer watershed resilience. We demonstrate how individual and cumulative vulnerable-water modifications (for example, reduced extent, altered connectivity) affect watershed-scale hydrological and biogeochemical disturbance response and recovery, which decreases watershed resilience and can trigger transitions across thresholds to alternative watershed states (for example, states conducive to increased flood frequency or nutrient concentrations). We subsequently describe how resilient watersheds require spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability in hydrological and biogeochemical interactions between terrestrial systems and down-gradient waters, which necessitates attention to the conservation and restoration of vulnerable waters and their downstream connectivity gradients. To conclude, we provide actionable principles for resilient watersheds and articulate research needs to further watershed resilience science and vulnerable-water management.

Conventional loose mineral with added red clover leaf (Trifolium pratense L.) reverses vasoconstriction associated with tall fescue toxicosis in steers - Brittany E. Davis; Tracy A. Hamilton; John T. Johns; David L. Harmon; James L. Klotz; Jennifer R. Weinert-Nelson; Jack P. Goodman; John May; Huihua Ji; F. Neal Schrick; Michael D. Flythe (Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2023)

Determinants of sun bear Helarctos malayanus habitat use in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and its predicted distribution under future forest degradation and loss - Roshan Guharajan; Jesse F. Abrams; Nicola K. Abram; Hong Ye Lim; Gopalasamy Reuben Clements; Nicolas J. Deere; Matthew J. Struebig; Benoit Goossens; Penny C. Gardner; Jedediah F. Brodie; Alys Granados; Shu Woan Teoh; et al. (Biodiversity and Conservation, 2023)

Patient–Specific Immersed Finite Element–Difference Model of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement - Jordan A. Brown; Jae H. Lee; Margaret Anne Smith; David R. Wells; Aaron Barrett; Charles Puelz; John P. Vavalle; Boyce E. Griffith (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2023)
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) first received FDA approval for high-risk surgical patients in 2011 and has been approved for low-risk surgical patients since 2019. It is now the most common type of aortic valve replacement, and its use continues to accelerate. Computer modeling and simulation (CM&S) is a tool to aid in TAVR device design, regulatory approval, and indication in patient-specific care. This study introduces a computational fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model of TAVR with Medtronic’s CoreValve Evolut R device using the immersed finite element-difference (IFED) method. We perform dynamic simulations of crimping and deployment of the Evolut R, as well as device behavior across the cardiac cycle in a patient-specific aortic root anatomy reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) image data. These IFED simulations, which incorporate biomechanics models fit to experimental tensile test data, automatically capture the contact within the device and between the self-expanding stent and native anatomy. Further, we apply realistic driving and loading conditions based on clinical measurements of human ventricular and aortic pressures and flow rates to demonstrate that our Evolut R model supports a physiological diastolic pressure load and provides informative clinical performance predictions.

Gut microbiome composition better reflects host phylogeny than diet diversity in breeding wood‐warblers - Marcella D. Baiz; Andrea Benavides C.; Eliot T. Miller; Andrew W. Wood; David P. L. Toews (Molecular Ecology, 2023)
Understanding the factors that shape microbiomes can provide insight into the importance of host–symbiont interactions and on co‐evolutionary dynamics. Unlike for mammals, previous studies have found little or no support for an influence of host evolutionary history on avian gut microbiome diversity and instead have suggested a greater influence of the environment or diet due to fast gut turnover. Because effects of different factors may be conflated by captivity and sampling design, examining natural variation using large sample sizes is important. Our goal was to overcome these limitations by sampling wild birds to compare environmental, dietary and evolutionary influences on gut microbiome structure. We performed faecal metabarcoding to characterize both the gut microbiome and diet of 15 wood‐warbler species across a 4‐year period and from two geographical localities. We find host taxonomy generally explained ~10% of the variation between individuals, which is ~6‐fold more variation of any other factor considered, including diet diversity. Further, gut microbiome similarity was more congruent with the host phylogeny than with host diet similarity and we found little association between diet diversity and microbiome diversity. Together, our results suggest evolutionary history is the strongest predictor of gut microbiome differentiation among wood‐warblers. Although the phylogenetic signal of the warbler gut microbiome is not very strong, our data suggest that a stronger influence of diet (as measured by diet diversity) does not account for this pattern. The mechanism underlying this phylogenetic signal is not clear, but we argue host traits may filter colonization and maintenance of microbes.

Geographic patterns of tree dispersal modes in Amazonia and their ecological correlates - Diego F. Correa; Pablo R. Stevenson; Maria Natalia Umaña; Luiz de Souza Coelho; Diógenes de Andrade Lima Filho; Rafael P. Salomão; Iêda Leão do Amaral; Florian Wittmann; Francisca Dionízia de Almeida Matos; Carolina V. Castilho; Oliver L. Phillips; Juan Ernesto Guevara; et al. (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2023)
Aim To investigate the geographic patterns and ecological correlates in the geographic distribution of the most common tree dispersal modes in Amazonia (endozoochory, synzoochory, anemochory and hydrochory). We examined if the proportional abundance of these dispersal modes could be explained by the availability of dispersal agents (disperser‐availability hypothesis) and/or the availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits (resource‐availability hypothesis). Time period Tree‐inventory plots established between 1934 and 2019. Major taxa studied Trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 9.55 cm. Location Amazonia, here defined as the lowland rain forests of the Amazon River basin and the Guiana Shield. Methods We assigned dispersal modes to a total of 5433 species and morphospecies within 1877 tree‐inventory plots across terra‐firme, seasonally flooded, and permanently flooded forests. We investigated geographic patterns in the proportional abundance of dispersal modes. We performed an abundance‐weighted mean pairwise distance (MPD) test and fit generalized linear models (GLMs) to explain the geographic distribution of dispersal modes. Results Anemochory was significantly, positively associated with mean annual wind speed, and hydrochory was significantly higher in flooded forests. Dispersal modes did not consistently show significant associations with the availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits. A lower dissimilarity in dispersal modes, resulting from a higher dominance of endozoochory, occurred in terra‐firme forests (excluding podzols) compared to flooded forests. Main conclusions The disperser‐availability hypothesis was well supported for abiotic dispersal modes (anemochory and hydrochory). The availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits seems an unlikely explanation for the distribution of dispersal modes in Amazonia. The association between frugivores and the proportional abundance of zoochory requires further research, as tree recruitment not only depends on dispersal vectors but also on conditions that favour or limit seedling recruitment across forest types.

High sensitivity of tropical forest birds to deforestation at lower altitudes - Simon C. Mills; Jacob B. Socolar; Felicity A. Edwards; Edicson Parra; Diego E. Martínez‐Revelo; Jose Manuel Ochoa Quintero; Torbjørn Haugaasen; Robert P. Freckleton; Jos Barlow; David P. Edwards (Ecology, 2023)
Habitat conversion is a major driver of tropical biodiversity loss, but its effects are poorly understood in montane environments. While community‐level responses to habitat loss display strong elevational dependencies, it is unclear whether these arise via elevational turnover in community composition and interspecific differences in sensitivity or elevational variation in environmental conditions and proximity to thermal thresholds. Here we assess the relative importance of inter‐ and intraspecific variation across the elevational gradient by quantifying how 243 forest‐dependent bird species vary in sensitivity to landscape‐scale forest loss across a 3000‐m elevational gradient in the Colombian Andes. We find that species that live at lower elevations are strongly affected by loss of forest in the nearby landscape, while those at higher elevations appear relatively unperturbed, an effect that is independent of phylogeny. Conversely, we find limited evidence of intraspecific elevational gradients in sensitivity, with populations displaying similar sensitivities to forest loss, regardless of where they exist in a species' elevational range. Gradients in biodiversity response to habitat loss thus appear to arise via interspecific gradients in sensitivity rather than proximity to climatically limiting conditions.

Editorial: Understanding ocean ridges, a new frontier for science and development - Philip P. E. Weaver; David S. M. Billett; Pei-Yuan Qian; Jozée Sarrazin (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)

Distinct Stocks of the Redtail Scad Decapterus kurroides Bleeker, 1855 (Perciformes: Carangidae) from the Northern Sulu and Southern Sibuyan Seas, Philippines Revealed from Otolith Morphometry and Shape Analysis - Kyle Dominic E. Barnuevo; Christian James C. Morales; Jenylle Kate S. Calizo; Emmanuel S. Delloro; Cherry Pilapil Añasco; Ricardo P. Babaran; Sanny David P. Lumayno (Fishes, 2022)
A recent study was performed to assess the morphometric variation of otoliths of the Decapterus kurroides collected in the northern Sulu and southern Sibuyan seas in delineating fish stocks. Seven of the otolith morphometric descriptors (otolith length, OL; otolith height, OH; otolith weight OW; otolith area, OA; otolith perimeter, OP; ellipticity, EL; and aspect ratio, AR) demonstrated a significant positive correlation with fish length and six (rectangularity, RE; squareness, SQ; roundness, RO; circularity, CI; compactness, CO; and form factor, FF) demonstrated a significant negative correlation. In terms of intraspecific comparisons, almost all the otolith morphometric descriptors were significantly different between the two sites (except RE and OH). Further, principal component (PC) analysis showed that direct otolith morphometric descriptors such as OL, OH, OW, OA, and OP explained 61.71% of the differences (PC1). In contrast, derived otolith descriptors such as EL, AR, and CO explained 22.00% of the variations (PC2) for a total of 83.71% explained variations with the eight otolith morphometric descriptors. Statistics reveal that D. kurroides from the Sibuyan Sea have significantly larger, heavier, and more elliptical otoliths than those from the Sulu Sea. Results suggested that the D. kurroides from Sulu and Sibuyan seas are two different phenotypic stocks. Further studies such as otolith microchemistry, genetics, other life history-based studies, and present exploitation levels should be carried out to supplement the results of this study to fully establish the D. kurroides stock structures within Philippine waters.

A solution for autonomous, adaptive monitoring of coastal ocean ecosystems: Integrating ocean robots and operational forecasts - David A. Ford; Shenan Grossberg; Gianmario Rinaldi; Prathyush P. Menon; Matthew R. Palmer; Jozef Skákala; Tim Smyth; Charlotte A. J. Williams; Alvaro Lorenzo Lopez; Stefano Ciavatta (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
This study presents a proof-of-concept for a fully automated and adaptive observing system for coastal ocean ecosystems. Such systems present a viable future observational framework for oceanography, reducing the cost and carbon footprint of marine research. An autonomous ocean robot (an ocean glider) was deployed for 11 weeks in the western English Channel and navigated by exchanging information with operational forecasting models. It aimed to track the onset and development of the spring phytoplankton bloom in 2021. A stochastic prediction model combined the real-time glider data with forecasts from an operational numerical model, which in turn assimilated the glider observations and other environmental data, to create high-resolution probabilistic predictions of phytoplankton and its chlorophyll signature. A series of waypoints were calculated at regular time intervals, to navigate the glider to where the phytoplankton bloom was most likely to be found. The glider successfully tracked the spring bloom at unprecedented temporal resolution, and the adaptive sampling strategy was shown to be feasible in an operational context. Assimilating the real-time glider data clearly improved operational biogeochemical forecasts when validated against independent observations at a nearby time series station, with a smaller impact at a more distant neighboring station. Remaining issues to be addressed were identified, for instance relating to quality control of near-real time data, accounting for differences between remote sensing and in situ observations, and extension to larger geographic domains. Based on these, recommendations are made for the development of future smart observing systems.

Two canonically aerobic foraminifera express distinct peroxisomal and mitochondrial metabolisms - Christopher Powers; Fatma Gomaa; Elizabeth B. Billings; Daniel R. Utter; David J. Beaudoin; Virginia P. Edgcomb; Colleen M. Hansel; Scott D. Wankel; Helena L. Filipsson; Ying Zhang; Joan M. Bernhard (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
Certain benthic foraminifera thrive in marine sediments with low or undetectable oxygen. Potential survival avenues used by these supposedly aerobic protists include fermentation and anaerobic respiration, although details on their adaptive mechanisms remain elusive. To better understand the metabolic versatility of foraminifera, we studied two benthic species that thrive in oxygen-depleted marine sediments. Here we detail, via transcriptomics and metatranscriptomics, differential gene expression of Nonionella stella and Bolivina argentea , collected from Santa Barbara Basin, California, USA, in response to varied oxygenation and chemical amendments. Organelle-specific metabolic reconstructions revealed these two species utilize adaptable mitochondrial and peroxisomal metabolism. N. stella , most abundant in anoxia and characterized by lack of food vacuoles and abundance of intracellular lipid droplets, was predicted to couple the putative peroxisomal beta-oxidation and glyoxylate cycle with a versatile electron transport system and a partial TCA cycle. In contrast, B. argentea , most abundant in hypoxia and contains food vacuoles, was predicted to utilize the putative peroxisomal gluconeogenesis and a full TCA cycle but lacks the expression of key beta-oxidation and glyoxylate cycle genes. These metabolic adaptations likely confer ecological success while encountering deoxygenation and expand our understanding of metabolic modifications and interactions between mitochondria and peroxisomes in protists.

Experiments and Simulations to Study Transport and Structure of Foam in Rough Carbonate Fractures - Anuradha Radhakrishnan; Alex Gigliotti; Keith P. Johnston; David DiCarlo; Maša Prodanović (Transport in Porous Media, 2022)

Frequent disturbances and chronic pressures constrain stony coral recovery on Florida’s Coral Reef - Nicholas P. Jones; Rob R. Ruzicka; Mike A. Colella; Morgan S. Pratchett; David S. Gilliam (Coral Reefs, 2022)

Obituary — Werner W. Franke - Klaus Unsicker; Brigitte M. Jockusch; David P. Kelsell (Cell and Tissue Research, 2022)

A science-based policy for managing free-roaming cats - Christopher A. Lepczyk; David C. Duffy; David M. Bird; Michael Calver; Dmitry Cherkassky; Linda Cherkassky; Christopher R. Dickman; David Hunter; David Jessup; Travis Longcore; Scott R. Loss; Kerrie Anne T. Loyd; et al. (Biological Invasions, 2022)

Human Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells prevent acetaminophen-induced liver injury in a mouse model unlike human dermal fibroblasts - David S. Umbaugh; Rupal P. Soder; Nga T. Nguyen; Olamide Adelusi; Dakota R. Robarts; Ben Woolbright; Luqi Duan; Sunil Abhyankar; Buddhadeb Dawn; Udayan Apte; Hartmut Jaeschke; Anup Ramachandran (Archives of Toxicology, 2022)

Applying behavioral studies to the ecotoxicology of corals: A case study on Acropora millepora - Lisa K. Roepke; David Brefeld; Ulrich Soltmann; Carly J. Randall; Andrew P. Negri; Andreas Kunzmann (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
Behavioral responses are considered sensitive and effective indicators of organism stress. As the demand for standardized coral toxicity tests grows, innovative tools that allow for automatic and quantitative measurements of these behaviors may complement ecotoxicological studies. The rapid growth of competitive marine algae in aquaculture systems is a major issue for generating coral spat for reef restoration, and the application of non-toxic antifouling (AF) coatings might effectively mitigate this issue. While these coatings do not appear to be toxic to sensitive coral larvae, their potential to affect larval mobility has not been tested. In this context, we tested the effect of three recently-developed and potentially non-toxic AF coatings: (i) antiadhesive, (ii) cerium dioxide (CeO 2-x ) nanoparticle, and (iii) encapsulated biocide dichlorooctylisothiazolinone (DCOIT) on the swimming velocity and activity of Acropora millepora coral larvae for potential use in reef-restoration activities. The behavior of 32 coral larvae per AF treatment were recorded, each for 25 min, in a self-constructed dark box with two camera recording sets in parallel. The tracking analysis was performed with the software Noldus EthoVision XT. The mean larval swimming velocity on control tiles of 93.1 ± 5.6 mm min -1 (and activity of 62.8 ± 5.2%) was nearly 2-fold faster (higher) than on the antiadhesive, (CeO 2-x ) nanoparticle and DCOIT coatings, respectively. Larvae exposed to the DCOIT-coated tiles remained almost stationary. Although the underlying cause and consequence of these results require further investigation, tracking of coral larval swimming behavior was identified as a reliable and feasible method for assessing potential non-lethal responses to AF coatings. As changes in behavior could have significant consequences for larval survival and settlement, they are important endpoints to consider, and the quantification of behavioral responses may be a meaningful and sensitive tool. Therefore, we recommend the use of behavioral studies for coral larval assessments in ecotoxicology as a valuable endpoint. For methodological standardization and implementation, our study also features a detailed guide for video-processing and track analysis of A. millepora coral larvae in EthoVision.

Early‐life seasonal, weather and social effects on telomere length in a wild mammal - Sil H. J. van Lieshout; Elisa P. Badás; Julius G. Bright Ross; Amanda Bretman; Chris Newman; Christina D. Buesching; Terry Burke; David W. Macdonald; Hannah L. Dugdale (Molecular Ecology, 2022)
Early‐life environmental conditions can provide a source of individual variation in life‐history strategies and senescence patterns. Conditions experienced in early life can be quantified by measuring telomere length, which can act as a biomarker of survival probability in some species. Here, we investigate whether seasonal changes, weather conditions and group size are associated with early‐life and/or early‐adulthood telomere length in a wild population of European badgers ( Meles meles ). We found substantial intra‐annual changes in telomere length during the first 3 years of life, where within‐individual effects showed shorter telomere lengths in the winter following the first spring and a trend for longer telomere lengths in the second spring compared to the first winter. In terms of weather conditions, cubs born in warmer, wetter springs with low rainfall variability had longer early‐life (3–12 months old) telomeres. Additionally, cubs born in groups with more cubs had marginally longer early‐life telomeres, providing no evidence of resource constraint from cub competition. We also found that the positive association between early‐life telomere length and cub survival probability remained when social and weather variables were included. Finally, after sexual maturity, in early adulthood (i.e., 12–36 months) we found no significant association between same‐sex adult group size and telomere length (i.e., no effect of intrasexual competition). Overall, we show that controlling for seasonal effects, which are linked to food availability, is important in telomere length analyses, and that variation in telomere length in badgers reflects early‐life conditions and also predicts first year cub survival.

Accuracy, realism and general applicability of European forest models - Mats Mahnken; Maxime Cailleret; Alessio Collalti; Carlo Trotta; Corrado Biondo; Ettore D'Andrea; Daniela Dalmonech; Gina Marano; Annikki Mäkelä; Francesco Minunno; Mikko Peltoniemi; Volodymyr Trotsiuk; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
Forest models are instrumental for understanding and projecting the impact of climate change on forests. A considerable number of forest models have been developed in the last decades. However, few systematic and comprehensive model comparisons have been performed in Europe that combine an evaluation of modelled carbon and water fluxes and forest structure. We evaluate 13 widely used, state‐of‐the‐art, stand‐scale forest models against field measurements of forest structure and eddy‐covariance data of carbon and water fluxes over multiple decades across an environmental gradient at nine typical European forest stands. We test the models' performance in three dimensions: accuracy of local predictions (agreement of modelled and observed annual data), realism of environmental responses (agreement of modelled and observed responses of daily gross primary productivity to temperature, radiation and vapour pressure deficit) and general applicability (proportion of European tree species covered). We find that multiple models are available that excel according to our three dimensions of model performance. For the accuracy of local predictions, variables related to forest structure have lower random and systematic errors than annual carbon and water flux variables. Moreover, the multi‐model ensemble mean provided overall more realistic daily productivity responses to environmental drivers across all sites than any single individual model. The general applicability of the models is high, as almost all models are currently able to cover Europe's common tree species. We show that forest models complement each other in their response to environmental drivers and that there are several cases in which individual models outperform the model ensemble. Our framework provides a first step to capturing essential differences between forest models that go beyond the most commonly used accuracy of predictions. Overall, this study provides a point of reference for future model work aimed at predicting climate impacts and supporting climate mitigation and adaptation measures in forests.

Daily dynamics of contrasting spring algal blooms in Santa Monica Bay (central Southern California Bight) - Gerid A. Ollison; Sarah K. Hu; Julie V. Hopper; Brittany P. Stewart; Jayme Smith; Jennifer L. Beatty; Laura K. Rink; David A. Caron (Environmental Microbiology, 2022)
Protistan algae (phytoplankton) dominate coastal upwelling ecosystems where they form massive blooms that support the world's most important fisheries and constitute an important sink for atmospheric CO 2 . Bloom initiation is well understood, but the biotic and abiotic forces that shape short‐term dynamics in community composition are still poorly characterized. Here, high‐frequency (daily) changes in relative abundance dynamics of the metabolically active protistan community were followed via expressed 18S V4 rRNA genes (RNA) throughout two algal blooms during the spring of 2018 and 2019 in Santa Monica Bay (central Southern California Bight). A diatom bloom formed after wind‐driven, nutrient upwelling events in both years, but different taxa dominated each year. Whereas diatoms bloomed following elevated nutrients and declined after depletion each year, a massive dinoflagellate bloom manifested under relatively low inorganic nitrogen conditions following diatom bloom senescence in 2019 but not 2018. Network analysis revealed associations between diatoms and cercozoan putative parasitic taxa and syndinean parasites during 2019 that may have influenced the demise of the diatoms, and the transition to a dinoflagellate‐dominated bloom.

A global evaluation of the effectiveness of voluntary REDD+ projects at reducing deforestation and degradation in the moist tropics - Alejandro Guizar‐Coutiño; Julia P. G. Jones; Andrew Balmford; Rachel Carmenta; David A. Coomes (Conservation Biology, 2022)
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) projects aim to contribute to climate change mitigation by protecting and enhancing carbon stocks in tropical forests, but there have been no systematic global evaluations of their impact. We used a new data set for tropical humid forests and a standardized evaluation approach (based on pixel matching) to quantify the performance of a representative sample of 40 voluntary REDD+ projects in 9 countries certified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). In the first 5 years of implementation, deforestation within project areas was reduced by 47% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 24–68) compared with matched counterfactual pixels, and degradation rates were 58% lower (95% CI: 49–63). Reductions were small in absolute terms but greater in sites located in high‐deforestation settings and did not appear to be substantially undermined by leakage activities in forested areas within 10 km of project boundaries. At the 26th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the international community renewed its commitment to tackling tropical deforestation as a nature‐based solution to climate change. Our results indicate that incentivizing forest conservation through voluntary site‐based projects can slow tropical deforestation and highlight the particular importance of prioritizing financing for areas at greater risk of deforestation.

Impact of bacterial strain acquisition in the lung of patients with COPD: the AERIS study - Lucio Malvisi; Aparna Yarraguntla; Marie-Cécile Mortier; Karen Osman; David W. Cleary; Béatrice Sente; Thierry G. Pascal; Vincent Weynants; Stuart C. Clarke; Laura Taddei; Tom M. A. Wilkinson; Jeanne-Marie Devaster; et al. (Infectious Diseases, 2022)

Removal of redox-sensitive Rubisco Activase does not alter Rubisco regulation in soybean - Christopher M. Harvey; Amanda P. Cavanagh; Sang Yeol Kim; David A. Wright; Ron G. Edquilang; Kayla S. Shreeves; Juan Alejandro Perdomo; Martin H. Spalding; Donald R. Ort; Carl J. Bernacchi; Steven C. Huber (Photosynthesis Research, 2022)

Reconstruction of short-term storm surge-driven increases in shallow coastal lake salinity using ostracod shell chemistry - Lucy R. Roberts; Jonathan A. Holmes; David J. Horne; Melanie J. Leng; Carl D. Sayer; Rhys G. O. Timms; Katy Flowers; Simon P. M. Blockley; Andrea Kelly (Natural Hazards, 2022)

Uterine fibroid polygenic risk score (PRS) associates and predicts risk for uterine fibroid - Jacqueline A. Piekos; Jacklyn N. Hellwege; Yanfei Zhang; Eric S. Torstenson; Gail P. Jarvik; Ozan Dikilitas; Iftikhar J. Kullo; Daniel J. Schaid; David R. Crosslin; Sarah A. Pendergrass; Ming Ta Michael Lee; Dan Roden; et al. (Human Genetics, 2022)

Usher syndrome type IV: clinically and molecularly confirmed by novel ARSG variants - Hedwig M. Velde; Janine Reurink; Sebastian Held; Catherina H. Z. Li; Suzanne Yzer; Jaap Oostrik; Jack Weeda; Lonneke Haer-Wigman; Helger G. Yntema; Susanne Roosing; Laurenz Pauleikhoff; Clemens Lange; et al. (Human Genetics, 2022)
Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessively inherited disease characterized by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) with or without vestibular dysfunction. It is highly heterogeneous both clinically and genetically. Recently, variants in the arylsulfatase G ( ARSG ) gene have been reported to underlie USH type IV. This distinct type of USH is characterized by late-onset RP with predominantly pericentral and macular changes, and late onset SNHL without vestibular dysfunction. In this study, we describe the USH type IV phenotype in three unrelated subjects. We identified three novel pathogenic variants, two novel likely pathogenic variants, and one previously described pathogenic variant in ARSG . Functional experiments indicated a loss of sulfatase activity of the mutant proteins. Our findings confirm that ARSG variants cause the newly defined USH type IV and support the proposed extension of the phenotypic USH classification.

Correction to: Elevated Allochthony in Stream Food Webs as a Result of Longitudinal Cumulative Effects of Forest Management - Maitane Erdozain; Karen A. Kidd; Erik J. S. Emilson; Scott S. Capell; David P. Kreutzweiser; Michelle A. Gray (Ecosystems, 2022)

Could detection and attribution of climate change trends be spurious regression? - Donald P. Cummins; David B. Stephenson; Peter A. Stott (Climate Dynamics, 2022)
Since the 1970s, scientists have developed statistical methods intended to formalize detection of changes in global climate and to attribute such changes to relevant causal factors, natural and anthropogenic. Detection and attribution (D&A) of climate change trends is commonly performed using a variant of Hasselmann’s “optimal fingerprinting” method, which involves a linear regression of historical climate observations on corresponding output from numerical climate models. However, it has long been known in the field of time series analysis that regressions of “non-stationary” or “trending” variables are, in general, statistically inconsistent and often spurious. When non-stationarity is caused by “integrated” processes, as is likely the case for climate variables, consistency of least-squares estimators depends on “cointegration” of regressors. This study has shown, using an idealized linear-response-model framework, that if standard assumptions hold then the optimal fingerprinting estimator is consistent, and hence robust against spurious regression. In the case of global mean surface temperature (GMST), parameterizing abstract linear response models in terms of energy balance provides this result with physical interpretability. Hypothesis tests conducted using observations of historical GMST and simulation output from 13 CMIP6 general circulation models produced no evidence that standard assumptions required for consistency were violated. It is therefore concluded that, at least in the case of GMST, detection and attribution of climate change trends is very likely not spurious regression. Furthermore, detection of significant cointegration between observations and model output indicates that the least-squares estimator is “superconsistent”, with better convergence properties than might previously have been assumed. Finally, a new method has been developed for quantifying D&A uncertainty, exploiting the notion of cointegration to eliminate the need for pre-industrial control simulations.

Amplifying actions for food system transformation: insights from the Stockholm region - David P. M. Lam; Amanda Jiménez-Aceituno; Leonie Guerrero Lara; My M. Sellberg; Albert V. Norström; Michele-Lee Moore; Garry D. Peterson; Per Olsson (Sustainability Science, 2022)
Food is essential to people and is one of the main ways in which people are connected to the world’s ecosystems. However, food systems often cause ecosystem degradation and produce ill-health, which has generated increasing calls to transform food systems to be more sustainable. The Swedish food system is currently undergoing substantial change. A varied set of local actors have created alternative sustainability initiatives that enact new ways of doing, thinking, and organizing. These actors can increase the transformative impact of their initiatives through multiple actions and a variety of amplification processes. We analyzed the actions adopted by 29 food initiatives active in the Stockholm region using information available online. We conducted 11 interviews to better understand the amplification processes of speeding up (i.e., accelerating impact) , scaling up (i.e., influencing higher institutional levels), and scaling deep (i.e., changing values and mind-sets). Our results indicated that the initiatives mainly seek to stabilize and grow their impact while changing the awareness, values, and mind-sets of people concerning the food they consume ( scaling deep ). However, these approaches raise new questions about whether these actions subvert or reinforce current unsustainable and inequitable system dynamics. We suggest there are distinct steps that local and regional governments could take to support these local actors via collaborations with coordinated forms of initiatives, and fostering changes at the municipality level, but these steps require ongoing, adaptive approaches given the highly complex nature of transformative change and the risks of reinforcing current system dynamics.

Confirming the broadscale eradication success of nutria (Myocastor coypus) from the Delmarva Peninsula, USA - Dean P. Anderson; Margaret A. Pepper; Shelby Travers; Trevor A. Michaels; Kevin Sullivan; David S. L. Ramsey (Biological Invasions, 2022)
Nutria ( Myocastor coypus ) were introduced to the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, USA in the 1940s. They reached peak densities in the late 1990s, causing massive wetland loss. Beginning in 2002, a systematic plan to eradicate nutria from the 1.7M ha Delmarva Peninsula was implemented. Since that time the nutria population has been effectively reduced, and no nutria have been detected since May 2015. A lack of detection does not equate with complete absence. We address the following three questions. (1) What is the expected probability of nutria eradication from the Delmarva Peninsula as of the end of 2020? (2) If the probability of eradication is below the management target of 0.95, how much more surveillance is required? (3) How sensitive is the estimated probability of eradication to varying levels of public surveillance and modelled population growth rates? These questions were addressed by employing a stochastic spatially-explicit surveillance model that uses data in which no nutria were detected to quantify the probability of complete absence ( PoA ) over the entire Delmarva Peninsula. We applied an analytical framework that decomposes the spatial risk of survivors and data into management zones, and took advantage of low-cost public reporting of nutria sightings. Active surveillance by the eradication program included detector dog and tracker surveys, shoreline surveys, detection with ground and water platforms (with hair snares), and camera traps. Results showed that the PoA increased with time and surveillance from a beginning PoA in May 2015 of 0.01 to a mean of 0.75 at the end of 2020. This indicates that the PoA on the Delmarva was well below the target threshold of 0.95 for declaring eradication success. However, given continued surveillance without detection, a PoA of 0.95 would be achieved by June 2022. This analysis provides an objective mechanism to align the expectations of policy makers, managers and the public on when eradication of nutria from the entire Delmarva Peninsula should be declared successful.

Linking in vitro and ex vivo CB1 activity with serum concentrations and clinical features in 5F-MDMB-PICA users to better understand SCRAs and their metabolites - Liesl K. Janssens; Simon Hudson; David M. Wood; Caitlin Wolfe; Paul I. Dargan; Christophe P. Stove (Archives of Toxicology, 2022)

Bushfire smoke plume composition and toxicological assessment from the 2019–2020 Australian Black Summer - Jack B. Simmons; Clare Paton-Walsh; Asher P. Mouat; Jennifer Kaiser; Ruhi S. Humphries; Melita Keywood; David W. T. Griffith; Adhitya Sutresna; Travis Naylor; Jhonathan Ramirez-Gamboa (Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 2022)
Many of the population centres in southeast Australia were swathed in bushfire smoke during the 2019–2020 austral summer. Bushfires burning during what is now known as the Black Summer was historically large and severe, and the fire season historically long. The chemical composition in the gas and aerosol phase of aged plumes measured near Wollongong, NSW in early 2020 is reported in this work. Enhancement ratios to carbon monoxide are presented for thirteen species (acetaldehyde, acetone, acetonitrile, black carbon aerosol, benzene, methane, methacrolein + methyl vinyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, ammonium ion PM 1 fraction, nitrate ion PM 1 fraction, organic PM 1 fraction and PM 2.5 ). Observed plume composition is comparable to that measured in fresh smoke from Australian fires reported in the literature. Enhancements of biogenic volatile organic compounds such as isoprene (smoke-effected period mean 1 ppb, maximum 6 ppb) were observed along with elevated concentrations of particulate variables. Enhancement ratios reported here can be used in plume modelling of landscape-scale fires and assist in concentration estimates of infrequently measured atmospheric pollutants. The relative toxicological contribution of species present in the plumes was determined for plume exposure at the measurement site and for concentrated plumes at a population centre case study. Similar results were apparent at both locations. Contributions to the toxicological loading were dominated by respirable particles (~ 52–63% total contribution), formaldehyde (~ 30–39% total contribution) and acrolein. This is a reminder to consider the toxicological contributions in the gas phase when considering health impacts of population exposure to bushfire smoke.

Emerging harmful algal blooms caused by distinct seasonal assemblages of a toxic diatom - Alexa R. Sterling; Riley D. Kirk; Matthew J. Bertin; Tatiana A. Rynearson; David G. Borkman; Marissa C. Caponi; Jessica Carney; Katherine A. Hubbard; Meagan A. King; Lucie Maranda; Emily J. McDermith; Nina R. Santos; et al. (Limnology and Oceanography, 2022)
Diatoms in the Pseudo‐nitzschia genus produce the neurotoxin domoic acid. Domoic acid bioaccumulates in shellfish, causing illness in humans and marine animals upon ingestion. In 2017, high domoic acid levels in shellfish meat closed shellfish harvest in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island for the first and only time in history, although abundant Pseudo‐nitzschia have been observed for over 60 years . To investigate whether an environmental factor altered endemic Pseudo‐nitzschia physiology or new domoic acid‐producing strain(s) were introduced to Narragansett Bay, we conducted weekly sampling from 2017 to 2019 and compared closure samples. Plankton‐associated domoic acid was quantified by LC‐MS/MS and Pseudo‐nitzschia spp. were identified using a taxonomically improved high‐throughput rDNA sequencing approach. Comparison with environmental data revealed a detailed understanding of domoic acid dynamics and seasonal multi‐species assemblages. Plankton‐associated domoic acid was low throughout 2017–2019, but recurred in fall and early summer maxima. Fall domoic acid maxima contained known toxic species as well as a novel Pseudo‐nitzschia genotype. Summer domoic acid maxima included fewer species but also known toxin producers . Most 2017 closure samples contained the particularly concerning toxic species, P. australis , which also appeared infrequently during 2017–2019. Recurring Pseudo‐nitzschia assemblages were driven by seasonal temperature changes, and plankton‐associated domoic acid correlated with low dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Thus, the Narragansett Bay closures were likely caused by both resident assemblages that become toxic depending on nutrient status as well as the episodic introductions of toxic species from oceanographic and climatic shifts.

Ecophysiological and genomic analyses of a representative isolate of highly abundant Bacillus cereus strains in contaminated subsurface sediments - Jennifer L. Goff; Elizabeth G. Szink; Michael P. Thorgersen; Andrew D. Putt; Yupeng Fan; Lauren M. Lui; Torben N. Nielsen; Kristopher A. Hunt; Jonathan P. Michael; Yajiao Wang; Daliang Ning; Ying Fu; et al. (Environmental Microbiology, 2022)
Bacillus cereus strain CPT56D‐587‐MTF (CPTF) was isolated from the highly contaminated Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) subsurface. This site is contaminated with high levels of nitric acid and multiple heavy metals. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes (V4 region) in sediment from this area revealed an amplicon sequence variant (ASV) with 100% identity to the CPTF 16S rRNA sequence. Notably, this CPTF‐matching ASV had the highest relative abundance in this community survey, with a median relative abundance of 3.77% and comprised 20%–40% of reads in some samples. Pangenomic analysis revealed that strain CPTF has expanded genomic content compared to other B. cereus species—largely due to plasmid acquisition and expansion of transposable elements. This suggests that these features are important for rapid adaptation to native environmental stressors. We connected genotype to phenotype in the context of the unique geochemistry of the site. These analyses revealed that certain genes (e.g. nitrate reductase, heavy metal efflux pumps) that allow this strain to successfully occupy the geochemically heterogenous microniches of its native site are characteristic of the B. cereus species while others such as acid tolerance are mobile genetic element associated and are generally unique to strain CPTF.

Evidence of a selective and bi‐directional relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal and bacterial communities co‐inhabiting plant roots - Olga A. Lastovetsky; Tancredi Caruso; Fiona P. Brennan; David P. Wall; Sean McMahon; Evelyn Doyle (Environmental Microbiology, 2022)
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide plants with vital mineral nutrients and co‐exist inside the roots alongside a complex community of bacterial endophytes. These co‐existing AMF and bacterial root communities have been studied individually and are known to be influenced in structure by different environmental parameters. However, the extent to which they are affected by environmental parameters and by each other is completely unknown. The current study addressed this knowledge gap by characterising AMF and bacterial communities inside plant roots from a natural and an agricultural ecosystem. Using multivariate modelling, the relative contribution of environmental parameters in structuring the two communities was quantified at different spatial scales. Using this model, it was possible to then remove the contribution of environmental parameters and show that the co‐existing AMF and bacterial communities were significantly correlated with each other, explaining up to 36% of each other's variance. Notably, this was not due to the presence of know AMF endobacteria, as removal of endobacterial reads maintained the significance of correlation. These findings provide the first empirical evidence of a selective and bi‐directional relationship between AMF and bacteria co‐inhibiting plant roots and indicate that a significant fraction of this covariation is due to biological and ecological interactions between them.

Oceanic giants dance to atmospheric rhythms: Ephemeral wind‐driven resource tracking by blue whales - John P. Ryan; Kelly J. Benoit‐Bird; William K. Oestreich; Paul Leary; Kevin B. Smith; Chad M. Waluk; David E. Cade; James A. Fahlbusch; Brandon L. Southall; John E. Joseph; Tetyana Margolina; John Calambokidis; et al. (Ecology Letters, 2022)
Trophic transfer of energy through marine food webs is strongly influenced by prey aggregation and its exploitation by predators. Rapid aggregation of some marine fish and crustacean forage species during wind‐driven coastal upwelling has recently been discovered, motivating the hypothesis that predators of these forage species track the upwelling circulation in which prey aggregation occurs. We examine this hypothesis in the central California Current Ecosystem using integrative observations of upwelling dynamics, forage species' aggregation, and blue whale movement. Directional origins of blue whale calls repeatedly tracked upwelling plume circulation when wind‐driven upwelling intensified and aggregation of forage species was heightened. Our findings illustrate a resource tracking strategy by which blue whales may maximize energy gain amid ephemeral foraging opportunities. These findings have implications for the ecology and conservation of diverse predators that are sustained by forage populations whose behaviour is responsive to episodic environmental dynamics.

Experimental and observational evidence of negative conspecific density dependence in temperate ectomycorrhizal trees - Fiona V. Jevon; Dayna De La Cruz; Joseph A. LaManna; Ashley K. Lang; David A. Orwig; Sydne Record; Paige V. Kouba; Matthew P. Ayres; Jaclyn Hatala Matthes (Ecology, 2022)
Conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) promotes tree species diversity by reducing recruitment near conspecific adults due to biotic feedbacks from herbivores, pathogens, or competitors. While this process is well‐described in tropical forests, tests of temperate tree species range from strong positive to strong negative density dependence. To explain this, several studies have suggested that tree species traits may help predict the strength and direction of density dependence: for example, ectomycorrhizal‐associated tree species typically exhibit either positive or weaker negative conspecific density dependence. More generally, the strength of density dependence may be predictably related to other species‐specific ecological attributes such as shade tolerance, or the relative local abundance of a species. To test the strength of density dependence and whether it affects seedling community diversity in a temperate forest, we tracked the survival of seedlings of three ectomycorrhizal‐associated species experimentally planted beneath conspecific and heterospecific adults on the Prospect Hill tract of the Harvard Forest, in Massachusetts, USA. Experimental seedling survival was always lower under conspecific adults, which increased seedling community diversity in one of six treatments. We compared these results to evidence of CNDD from observed sapling survival patterns of 28 species over approximately 8 years in an adjacent 35‐ha forest plot. We tested whether species‐specific estimates of CNDD were associated with mycorrhizal association, shade tolerance, and local abundance. We found evidence of significant, negative conspecific density dependence (CNDD) in 23 of 28 species, and positive conspecific density dependence in two species. Contrary to our expectations, ectomycorrhizal‐associated species generally exhibited stronger (e.g., more negative) CNDD than arbuscular mycorrhizal‐associated species. CNDD was also stronger in more shade‐tolerant species but was not associated with local abundance. Conspecific adult trees often have a negative influence on seedling survival in temperate forests, particularly for tree species with certain traits. Here we found strong experimental and observational evidence that ectomycorrhizal‐associating species consistently exhibit CNDD. Moreover, similarities in the relative strength of density dependence from experiments and observations of sapling mortality suggest a mechanistic link between negative effects of conspecific adults on seedling and sapling survival and local tree species distributions.

PCV3-associated reproductive failure in pig herds in Brazil - Franciéli Adriane Molossi; Bianca Santana de Cecco; Bruno Albuquerque de Almeida; Luan Cleber Henker; Mariana Soares da Silva; Ana Cristina Sbaraini Mósena; Cláudio Wageck Canal; Luciano Brandalise; Gustavo Manoel Rigueira Simão; Fabio Vanucci; Saulo P. Pavarini; David Driemeier (Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2022)

Range Extension of Parascolopsis baranesi Russell & Golani, 1993 to the Gulf of Mannar, East coast of India - Mahesh Chand Sonwal; S. David Kingston; L. Ranjith; P. Jawahar (Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences, 2022)

The policy and ecology of forest-based climate mitigation: challenges, needs, and opportunities - Courtney L. Giebink; Grant M. Domke; Rosie A. Fisher; Kelly A. Heilman; David J. P. Moore; R. Justin DeRose; Margaret E. K. Evans (Plant and Soil, 2022)

Effect of purified vermicast extract with plant growth regulators on indirect regeneration of Naregamia alata Wight & Arn from leaf explants and genetic fidelity analysis of regenerants - H. David Raja; P. Srinivasan; R. Tamilvanan (Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 2022)

Correction to: Sensitivity and Specificity for Skin Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care Providers: a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis of Educational Interventions and Diagnostic Algorithms - Nadeen Gonna; Tiffaney Tran; Roland L. Bassett; David P. Farris; Kelly C. Nelson (Journal of Cancer Education, 2022)

Sensitivity and Specificity for Skin Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care Providers: a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis of Educational Interventions and Diagnostic Algorithms - Nadeen Gonna; Tiffaney Tran; Roland L. Bassett; David P. Farris; Kelly C. Nelson (Journal of Cancer Education, 2022)

Impact of environmental factors on heat-associated mortalities in an urban desert region - Rachel A. Braun; David M. Hondula; Matthew P. Fraser (International Journal of Biometeorology, 2022)
The troubling trend of rising heat-associated mortalities in an urban desert region (Maricopa County, AZ, USA) has motivated us to explore the extent to which environmental factors may contribute to increased heat-health risks. Summertime data from 2010 to 2019 were used to construct a suite of models for daily heat-associated mortalities. The best-performing full model included the following predictors, ordered from strongest to weakest influence: daily average air temperature, average of previous 5 days daily average air temperature, year, day of year, average of previous 5 days daily average dew point temperature, average of previous 5 days daily average PM 2.5 , and daily average PM 10 . This full model exhibited a 5.39% reduction in mean absolute error in daily heat-associated mortalities as compared to the best-performing model that included only air temperature as an environmental predictor. The extent to which issued and modeled excessive heat warnings (from both the temperature only and full models) corresponded with heat-associated mortalities was also examined. Model hindcasts for 2020 and 2021 showed that the models were able to capture the high number of heat-associated mortalities in 2020, but greatly undercounted the highest yet observed number of heat-associated mortalities in 2021. Results from this study lend insights into environmental factors corresponding to an increased number of heat-associated mortalities and can be used for informing strategies towards reducing heat-health risks. However, as the best-performing model was unable to fully capture the observed number of heat-associated mortalities, continued scrutiny of both environmental and non-environmental factors affecting these observations is needed.

Methods to control harmful algal blooms: a review - Barathan Balaji-Prasath; Ying Wang; Yu Ping Su; David P. Hamilton; Hong Lin; Luwei Zheng; Yong Zhang (Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2022)

Metastasis suppressor NME1 in exosomes or liposomes conveys motility and migration inhibition in breast cancer model systems - Imran Khan; Brunilde Gril; Ayuko Hoshino; Howard H. Yang; Maxwell P. Lee; Simone Difilippantonio; David C. Lyden; Patricia S. Steeg (Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, 2022)

The movement ecology of fishes - Steven J. Cooke; Jordanna N. Bergman; William M. Twardek; Morgan L. Piczak; Grace A. Casselberry; Keegan Lutek; Lotte S. Dahlmo; Kim Birnie‐Gauvin; Lucas P. Griffin; Jacob W. Brownscombe; Graham D. Raby; Emily M. Standen; et al. (Journal of Fish Biology, 2022)
Movement of fishes in the aquatic realm is fundamental to their ecology and survival. Movement can be driven by a variety of biological, physiological and environmental factors occurring across all spatial and temporal scales. The intrinsic capacity of movement to impact fish individually ( e.g. , foraging) with potential knock‐on effects throughout the ecosystem ( e.g. , food web dynamics) has garnered considerable interest in the field of movement ecology. The advancement of technology in recent decades, in combination with ever‐growing threats to freshwater and marine systems, has further spurred empirical research and theoretical considerations. Given the rapid expansion within the field of movement ecology and its significant role in informing management and conservation efforts, a contemporary and multidisciplinary review about the various components influencing movement is outstanding. Using an established conceptual framework for movement ecology as a guide ( i.e. , Nathan et al. , 2008: 19052), we synthesized the environmental and individual factors that affect the movement of fishes. Specifically, internal ( e.g. , energy acquisition, endocrinology, and homeostasis) and external (biotic and abiotic) environmental elements are discussed, as well as the different processes that influence individual‐level (or population) decisions, such as navigation cues, motion capacity, propagation characteristics and group behaviours. In addition to environmental drivers and individual movement factors, we also explored how associated strategies help survival by optimizing physiological and other biological states. Next, we identified how movement ecology is increasingly being incorporated into management and conservation by highlighting the inherent benefits that spatio‐temporal fish behaviour imbues into policy, regulatory, and remediation planning. Finally, we considered the future of movement ecology by evaluating ongoing technological innovations and both the challenges and opportunities that these advancements create for scientists and managers. As aquatic ecosystems continue to face alarming climate (and other human‐driven) issues that impact animal movements, the comprehensive and multidisciplinary assessment of movement ecology will be instrumental in developing plans to guide research and promote sustainability measures for aquatic resources.

An integrated approach to assessing abiotic and biotic threats to post‐fire plant species recovery: Lessons from the 2019–2020 Australian fire season - Rachael V. Gallagher; Stuart P. Allen; Berin D. E. Mackenzie; David A. Keith; Rachael H. Nolan; Libby Rumpff; Carl R. Gosper; Geoffrey Pegg; Stephen van Leeuwen; Mark K. J. Ooi; Colin J. Yates; Cory Merow; et al. (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2022)
Aim Existing abiotic and biotic threats to plant species (e.g., disease, drought, invasive species) affect their capacity to recover post‐fire. We use a new, globally applicable framework to assess the vulnerability of 26,062 Australian plant species to a suite of active threats after the 2019–2020 fires. Location Australia. Time period 2019–2020. Major species studied Plants. Methods Spatial data for existing threats and information on species‐level susceptibility were combined with estimates of the extent of range burnt in southern Australia (> 22°S) to assign species against 10 criteria into vulnerability categories ( high , medium , low , none , data deficient ). We explore in detail results for three threats (drought, disease, feral animals), highlighting where impacts from multiple threats ranked high vulnerability may compound to reduce post‐fire recovery. Results Analysis of the full suite of 10 vulnerability criteria, which encompass a broad range of threats, revealed large numbers of species vulnerable to poor post‐fire recovery from one or more different hazards ( high vulnerability: 1,243 species; medium vulnerability: 2,450 species). Collectively, 457 plant species that burnt extensively (> 50%) across their range are highly vulnerable to poor recovery due to exposure to pre‐fire drought conditions (235 species), disease (186 species), or feral animals (97 species). Of these 457 species, 61 are vulnerable to more than one of these three threats, highlighting how a suite of interacting hazards can impact plant recovery after fire. Main conclusions While fire can renew plant populations by stimulating recruitment and resetting competitive interactions, the presence of existing threats in post‐fire landscapes jeopardizes recovery. The simultaneous impact of multiple threats that impact recovery can create a suite of hazards that contribute to declines and, potentially, extinction. Our method for rapid post‐fire vulnerability assessment can be applied to large numbers of plant species or other biota in fire affected regions globally.

Fire‐related threats and transformational change in Australian ecosystems - David A. Keith; Stuart P. Allen; Rachael V. Gallagher; Berin D. E. Mackenzie; Tony D. Auld; Sarah Barrett; Anne Buchan; Valerie English; Carl Gosper; Dave Kelly; Allen McIllwee; Rachel T. Melrose; et al. (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2022)
Aim Megafire events generate immediate concern for wildlife and human well‐being, but their broader ecological impacts likely extend beyond individual species and single fire events. In the first mechanistic study of fire effects focussed on ecosystems, we aimed to assess the sensitivity and exposure of ecosystems to multiple fire‐related threats, placing impacts in the context of changing fire regimes and their interactions with other threats. Location Southern and eastern Australia. Time period 2019–2020. Major species studied Australian ecosystems. Methods We defined 15 fire‐related threats to ecosystems based on mechanisms associated with: (a) direct effects of fire regime components; (b) interactions between fire and physical environmental processes; (c) effects of fire on biological interactions; and (d) interactions between fire and human activity. We estimated the sensitivity and exposure of a sample of 92 ecosystem types to each threat type based on published relationships and spatial analysis of the 2019–2020 fires. Results Twenty‐nine ecosystem types assessed had more than half of their distribution exposed to one or more threat types, and only three of those were listed as nationally threatened. Three fire‐related threat types posed the most severe threats to large numbers of ecosystem types: high frequency fire; pre‐fire drought; and post‐fire invasive predator activity. The ecosystem types most affected ranged from rain forests to peatlands, and included some, such as sclerophyllous eucalypt forests and heathlands, that are traditionally regarded as fire‐prone and fire‐adapted. Main conclusions Most impacts of the 2019–2020 fires on ecosystems became apparent only when they were placed in the context of the whole fire regime and its interactions with other threatening processes, and were not direct consequences of the megafire event itself. Our mechanistic approach enables ecosystem‐specific management responses for the most threatened ecosystem types to be targeted at underlying causes of degradation and decline.

The conservation impacts of ecological disturbance: Time‐bound estimates of population loss and recovery for fauna affected by the 2019–2020 Australian megafires - Sarah Legge; Libby Rumpff; John C. Z. Woinarski; Nick S. Whiterod; Michelle Ward; Darren G. Southwell; Ben C. Scheele; Dale G. Nimmo; Mark Lintermans; Hayley M. Geyle; Stephen T. Garnett; Brittany Hayward‐Brown; et al. (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2022)
Aim After environmental disasters, species with large population losses may need urgent protection to prevent extinction and support recovery. Following the 2019–2020 Australian megafires, we estimated population losses and recovery in fire‐affected fauna, to inform conservation status assessments and management. Location Temperate and subtropical Australia. Time period 2019–2030 and beyond. Major taxa Australian terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates; one invertebrate group. Methods From > 1,050 fire‐affected taxa, we selected 173 whose distributions substantially overlapped the fire extent. We estimated the proportion of each taxon’s distribution affected by fires, using fire severity and aquatic impact mapping, and new distribution mapping. Using expert elicitation informed by evidence of responses to previous wildfires, we estimated local population responses to fires of varying severity. We combined the spatial and elicitation data to estimate overall population loss and recovery trajectories, and thus indicate potential eligibility for listing as threatened, or uplisting, under Australian legislation. Results We estimate that the 2019–2020 Australian megafires caused, or contributed to, population declines that make 70–82 taxa eligible for listing as threatened; and another 21–27 taxa eligible for uplisting. If so‐listed, this represents a 22–26% increase in Australian statutory lists of threatened terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates and spiny crayfish, and uplisting for 8–10% of threatened taxa. Such changes would cause an abrupt worsening of underlying trajectories in vertebrates, as measured by Red List Indices. We predict that 54–88% of 173 assessed taxa will not recover to pre‐fire population size within 10 years/three generations. Main conclusions We suggest the 2019–2020 Australian megafires have worsened the conservation prospects for many species. Of the 91 taxa recommended for listing/uplisting consideration, 84 are now under formal review through national processes. Improving predictions about taxon vulnerability with empirical data on population responses, reducing the likelihood of future catastrophic events and mitigating their impacts on biodiversity, are critical.

Body mass and cell size shape the tolerance of fishes to low oxygen in a temperature‐dependent manner - Wilco C. E. P. Verberk; Jeroen F. Sandker; Iris L. E. van de Pol; Mauricio A. Urbina; Rod W. Wilson; David J. McKenzie; Félix P. Leiva (Global Change Biology, 2022)
Aerobic metabolism generates 15–20 times more energy (ATP) than anaerobic metabolism, which is crucial in maintaining energy budgets in animals, fueling metabolism, activity, growth and reproduction. For ectothermic water‐breathers such as fishes, low dissolved oxygen may limit oxygen uptake and hence aerobic metabolism. Here, we assess, within a phylogenetic context, how abiotic and biotic drivers explain the variation in hypoxia tolerance observed in fishes. To do so, we assembled a database of hypoxia tolerance, measured as critical oxygen tensions ( P crit ) for 195 fish species. Overall, we found that hypoxia tolerance has a clear phylogenetic signal and is further modulated by temperature, body mass, cell size, salinity and metabolic rate. Marine fishes were more susceptible to hypoxia than freshwater fishes. This pattern is consistent with greater fluctuations in oxygen and temperature in freshwater habitats. Fishes with higher oxygen requirements (e.g. a high metabolic rate relative to body mass) also were more susceptible to hypoxia. We also found evidence that hypoxia and warming can act synergistically, as hypoxia tolerance was generally lower in warmer waters. However, we found significant interactions between temperature and the body and cell size of a fish. Constraints in oxygen uptake related to cellular surface area to volume ratios and effects of viscosity on the thickness of the boundary layers enveloping the gills could explain these thermal dependencies. The lower hypoxia tolerance in warmer waters was particularly pronounced for fishes with larger bodies and larger cell sizes. Previous studies have found a wide diversity in the direction and strength of relationships between P crit and body mass. By including interactions with temperature, our study may help resolve these divergent findings, explaining the size dependency of hypoxia tolerance in fish.

SNAPSHOT USA 2020: A second coordinated national camera trap survey of the United States during the COVID ‐19 pandemic - Roland Kays; Michael V. Cove; Jose Diaz; Kimberly Todd; Claire Bresnan; Matt Snider; Thomas E. Lee; Jonathan G. Jasper; Brianna Douglas; Anthony P. Crupi; Katherine C. B. Weiss; Helen Rowe; et al. (Ecology, 2022)
Managing wildlife populations in the face of global change requires regular data on the abundance and distribution of wild animals, but acquiring these over appropriate spatial scales in a sustainable way has proven challenging. Here we present the data from Snapshot USA 2020, a second annual national mammal survey of the USA. This project involved 152 scientists setting camera traps in a standardized protocol at 1485 locations across 103 arrays in 43 states for a total of 52,710 trap‐nights of survey effort. Most (58) of these arrays were also sampled during the same months (September and October) in 2019, providing a direct comparison of animal populations in 2 years that includes data from both during and before the COVID‐19 pandemic. All data were managed by the eMammal system, with all species identifications checked by at least two reviewers. In total, we recorded 117,415 detections of 78 species of wild mammals, 9236 detections of at least 43 species of birds, 15,851 detections of six domestic animals and 23,825 detections of humans or their vehicles. Spatial differences across arrays explained more variation in the relative abundance than temporal variation across years for all 38 species modeled, although there are examples of significant site‐level differences among years for many species. Temporal results show how species allocate their time and can be used to study species interactions, including between humans and wildlife. These data provide a snapshot of the mammal community of the USA for 2020 and will be useful for exploring the drivers of spatial and temporal changes in relative abundance and distribution, and the impacts of species interactions on daily activity patterns. There are no copyright restrictions, and please cite this paper when using these data, or a subset of these data, for publication.

Genome of elegance coral Catalaphyllia jardinei (Euphylliidae) - Yifei Yu; Wenyan Nong; Wai Lok So; Yichun Xie; Ho Yin Yip; Jasmine Haimovitz; Thomas Swale; David M. Baker; William G. Bendena; Ting Fung Chan; Apple P. Y. Chui; Kwok Fai Lau; et al. (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
Coral reefs are under stress throughout the world. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying coral biology and their genomic evolution, here we sequenced the genome and transcriptomes of elegance coral Catalaphyllia jardinei (Euphylliidae). This monotypic genus stony coral is widespread but rare, being found across the Indo-West Pacific, from the northern Indian Ocean, Australia, Philippines, to the South China Sea. Due to its popularity among aquarium hobbyists, it is an overexploited species collected in large quantities from the wild for aquarium trade. The assembled genome is ~ 651.3 Mb in total length and of high physical contiguity with a scaffold N50 size of 28.9 Mb. The gene copy numbers of abiotic stress regulator (heat shock protein family genes) and neuropeptides (GLWamide, GRFamide, PRGamide and HIRamide) are similar to other sequenced anthozoans, and we have also identified the first set of sesquiterpenoid biosynthetic pathway genes in coral. Sequencing of small RNAs allows us to identify 35 microRNAs in C. jardinei and update the number of conserved microRNAs in cnidarians. This study established a foundation for further investigation into the roles of sesquiterpenoids and microRNAs in development of coral and understand their responses to climate change. Due to the easiness to culture C. jardinei in reef tanks and the established resources in this study, we propose this species be adopted as a new laboratory model in environmental and ecological experiments aiming to understand coral biology and responses to environmental stressors.

Elevated [CO2] mitigates the impacts of heat stress in eucalyptus seedlings - Samuel S. Pinto; Auxiliadora O. Martins; Luiz F. P. Fontes; Franciele S. Oliveira; Iale C. Almeida; Iagor B. Detoni; Leonardo A. Oliveira; Willian B. Silva; David B. Medeiros; Edgar A. T. Picoli; Aristides Ribeiro; Alisdair R. Fernie; et al. (Theoretical and Experimental Plant Physiology, 2022)

Marine Geology and Sand Resources of the Southern North Carolina Inner Shelf - Ian Conery; John P. Walsh; David Mallinson; David R. Corbett (Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, 2022)

Climate change affects us in the tropics: local perspectives on ecosystem services and well-being sensitivity in Southeast Brazil - Patricia F. Pinho; Moara T. Canova; Peter M. Toledo; Adrian Gonzalez; David M. Lapola; Jean P. Ometto; Mark Stafford Smith (Regional Environmental Change, 2022)

Acute tryptophan depletion alters affective touch perception - Paula D. Trotter; Sharon A. Smith; David J. Moore; Noreen O’Sullivan; Martyn M. McFarquhar; Francis P. McGlone; Susannah C. Walker (Psychopharmacology, 2022)
Rationale Affiliative tactile interactions help regulate physiological arousal and confer resilience to acute and chronic stress. C-tactile afferents (CTs) are a population of unmyelinated, low threshold mechanosensitive cutaneous nerve fibres which respond optimally to a low force stimulus, moving at between 1 and 10 cm/s. As CT firing frequencies correlate positively with subjective ratings of touch pleasantness, they are hypothesised to form the first stage of encoding affiliative tactile interactions. Serotonin is a key modulator of social responses with known effects on bonding. Objectives The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of acutely lowering central serotonin levels on perceptions of CT-targeted affective touch. Methods In a double blind, placebo-controlled design, the effect of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on 25 female participants’ ratings of directly and vicariously experienced touch was investigated. Psychophysical techniques were used to deliver dynamic tactile stimuli; some velocities were targeted to optimally activate CTs (1–10 cm/s), whereas other, faster and slower strokes fell outside the CT optimal range. Discriminative tactile function, cold pain threshold and tolerance were also measured. Results ATD significantly increased pleasantness ratings of both directly and vicariously experienced affective touch, increasing discrimination of the specific hedonic value of CT targeted velocities. While ATD had no effect on either tactile or cold pain thresholds, there was a trend for reduced tolerance to cold pain. Conclusions These findings are consistent with previous reports that depletion of central serotonin levels modulates neural and behavioural responsiveness to appetitive sensory signals.

Assessment of Cavitation Intensity in Accelerating Syringes of Spring-Driven Autoinjectors - Javad Eshraghi; Jean-Christophe Veilleux; Galen Shi; David Collins; Arezoo M. Ardekani; Pavlos P. Vlachos (Pharmaceutical Research, 2022)

The Identification of Blood Biomarkers of Chronic Neuropathic Pain by Comparative Transcriptomics - Barira Islam; John Stephenson; Bethan Young; Maurizio Manca; David A. Buckley; Helen Radford; Panagiotis Zis; Mark I. Johnson; David P. Finn; Patrick C. McHugh (NeuroMolecular Medicine, 2022)
In this study, we recruited 50 chronic pain (neuropathic and nociceptive) and 43 pain-free controls to identify specific blood biomarkers of chronic neuropathic pain (CNP). Affymetrix microarray was carried out on a subset of samples selected 10 CNP and 10 pain-free control participants. The most significant genes were cross-validated using the entire dataset by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In comparative analysis of controls and CNP patients, WLS ( P = 4.80 × 10 –7 ), CHPT1 ( P = 7.74 × 10 –7 ) and CASP5 ( P = 2.30 × 10 –5 ) were highly significant, whilst FGFBP2 ( P = 0.00162), STAT1 ( P = 0.00223), FCRL6 ( P = 0.00335), MYC ( P = 0.00335), XCL2 ( P = 0.0144) and GZMA ( P = 0.0168) were significant in all CNP patients. A three-arm comparative analysis was also carried out with control as the reference group and CNP samples differentiated into two groups of high and low S-LANSS score using a cut-off of 12. STAT1 , XCL2 and GZMA were not significant but KIR3DL2 ( P = 0.00838), SH2D1B ( P = 0.00295) and CXCR31 ( P = 0.0136) were significant in CNP high S-LANSS group (S-LANSS score > 12), along with WLS (P = 8.40 × 10 –5 ), CHPT1 ( P = 7.89 × 10 –4 ) , CASP5 ( P = 0.00393) , FGFBP2 ( P = 8.70 × 10 –4 ) and FCRL6 ( P = 0.00199), suggesting involvement of immune pathways in CNP mechanisms. None of the genes was significant in CNP samples with low (< 12) S-LANSS score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) analysis showed that combination of MYC , STAT1 , TLR4 , CASP5 and WLS gene expression could be potentially used as a biomarker signature of CNP (AUROC − 0.852, (0.773, 0.931 95% CI)).

Elevated Allochthony in Stream Food Webs as a Result of Longitudinal Cumulative Effects of Forest Management - Maitane Erdozain; Karen A. Kidd; Erik J. S. Emilson; Scott S. Capell; David P. Kreutzweiser; Michelle A. Gray (Ecosystems, 2022)
The river continuum concept (RCC) predicts a downstream shift in the reliance of aquatic consumers from terrestrial to aquatic carbon sources, but this concept has rarely been assessed with longitudinal studies. Similarly, there are no studies addressing how forestry related disturbances to the structure of headwater food webs manifest (accumulate/dissipate) downstream and/or whether forest management alters natural longitudinal trends predicted by the RCC. Using stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen, we investigated how: 1) autochthony in macroinvertebrates and fish change from small streams to larger downstream sites within a basin with minimal forest management (New Brunswick, Canada); 2) longitudinal trends in autochthony and food web length compare among three basins with different forest management intensity [intensive (harvest and replanting), extensive (harvest only), minimal] to detect potential cumulative/dissipative effects; and 3) forest management intensity and other catchment variables are influencing food web dynamics. We showed that, as predicted, the reliance of some macroinvertebrate taxa (especially collector feeders) on algae increased from small streams to downstream waters in the minimally managed basin, but that autochthony in the smallest shaded stream was higher than expected based on the RCC (as high as 90% for some taxa). However, this longitudinal increase in autochthony was not observed within the extensively managed basin and was weaker within the intensively managed one, suggesting that forest management can alter food web dynamics along the river continuum. The dampening of downstream autochthony indicates that the increased allochthony observed in small streams in response to forest harvesting cumulates downstream through the river continuum.

An inter-laboratory comparison of an NLRP3 inflammasome activation assay and dendritic cell maturation assay using a nanostructured lipid carrier and a polymeric nanomedicine, as exemplars - Rob J. Vandebriel; Christopher A. W. David; Jolanda P. Vermeulen; Neill J. Liptrott (Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2022)
Nanoparticles including nanomedicines are known to be recognised by and interact with the immune system. As these interactions may result in adverse effects, for safety evaluation, the presence of such interactions needs to be investigated. Nanomedicines in particular should not unintendedly interact with the immune system, since patient’s exposure is not minimised as in the case of ‘environmental’ nanoparticles, and repeated exposure may be required. NLRP3 inflammasome activation and dendritic cell (DC) maturation are two types of immune mechanisms known to be affected by nanoparticles including nanomedicines. NLRP3 inflammasome activation results in production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, as well as a specific type of cell death, pyroptosis. Moreover, chronic NLRP3 inflammasome activation has been related to several chronic diseases. Upon maturation, DC activate primary T cells; interference with this process may result in inappropriate activation and skewing of the adaptive immune response. Here, we evaluated the effect of two nanomedicines, representing nanostructured lipid carriers and polymers, on these two assays. Moreover, with a view to possible future standardisation and regulatory application, these assays were subject to an inter-laboratory comparison study using common SOPs. One laboratory performed three independent NLRP3 inflammasome activation experiments, while the other performed a single experiment. Two laboratories each performed three independent DC maturation experiments. While the nanostructured lipid carrier only showed marginal effects, the polymers showed major cytotoxicity. No evidence for inflammasome activation or DC maturation was demonstrated. Intra- and inter-laboratory comparison showed clearly reproducible results. Graphical abstract

An outbreak of visna-maedi in a flock of sheep in Southern Brazil - Bianca S. Cecco; Luan C. Henker; Marina P. Lorenzett; Franciéli A. Molossi; Claiton I. Schwertz; Letícia F. Baumbach; Matheus N. Weber; Cláudio W. Canal; David Driemeier; Saulo P. Pavarini; Ingeborg M. Langohr; Mariano Carossino; et al. (Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 2022)

One bat’s waste is another man’s treasure: a DNA metabarcoding approach for the assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Ireland using bat faeces - Thomas G. Curran; Samuel S. Browett; David O’Neill; Aidan O’Hanlon; Catherine O’Reilly; Andrew P. Harrington; Allan D. McDevitt; Denise B. O’Meara (Biodiversity and Conservation, 2022)

Length of growing season is modulated by Northern Hemisphere jet stream variability - Amy R. Hudson; William K. Smith; David J. P. Moore; Valerie Trouet (International Journal of Climatology, 2022)
Atmospheric circulations create regions of similar climate at the land surface across the Northern Hemisphere's mid‐latitudes, while climate controls on plant phenology phases (phenophases) can vary. Here, we quantify and classify the seasonal impacts of the Northern Hemisphere jet stream (NHJ) on vegetation phenophases using novel NHJ indices, designed to characterize latitudinal jet stream position, and satellite‐based vegetation phenology products of length, start, and end of season (LOS, SOS, EOS). We composited years of northern and southern NHJ anomalies in April–May and October–November from LOS, SOS, and EOS and classified ecosystem response based on: latitudinal location relative to the climatological mean (CM) latitude of the NHJ; climate; and land cover type. For nearly a third of the NH, LOS was modulated by NHJ position. The magnitude and direction of NHJ influence on LOS was dependent on the season of NHJ position anomaly. In spring, a northern NHJ, which typically corresponded with warmer temperatures, led to earlier SOS and longer LOS, especially in cold systems north of the NHJ's CM. Surprisingly, in fall, a northern NHJ led to shorter LOS and earlier EOS for most systems, which may be due to the interaction of temperature and water availability in this season when water is critical for sustained growth. Southern NHJ corresponded with similar but opposite effects on phenophases. Crop land cover was mixed in LOS response to NHJ, reflecting the added impact of land‐use and management. The NHJ can synchronize phenology across apparently disparate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Rather than simply lengthening or shortening seasons as the NHJ moves northward or southward, the influence of the NHJ on phenology at a given location depends on whether the NHJ is limiting resources—which vary relative to the climatological mean. We find that complex patterns in phenology emerge from a relatively simple contingency.

Tallo: A global tree allometry and crown architecture database - Tommaso Jucker; Fabian Jörg Fischer; Jérôme Chave; David A. Coomes; John Caspersen; Arshad Ali; Grace Jopaul Loubota Panzou; Ted R. Feldpausch; Daniel Falster; Vladimir A. Usoltsev; Stephen Adu‐Bredu; Luciana F. Alves; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
Data capturing multiple axes of tree size and shape, such as a tree's stem diameter, height and crown size, underpin a wide range of ecological research—from developing and testing theory on forest structure and dynamics, to estimating forest carbon stocks and their uncertainties, and integrating remote sensing imagery into forest monitoring programmes. However, these data can be surprisingly hard to come by, particularly for certain regions of the world and for specific taxonomic groups, posing a real barrier to progress in these fields. To overcome this challenge, we developed the Tallo database, a collection of 498,838 georeferenced and taxonomically standardized records of individual trees for which stem diameter, height and/or crown radius have been measured. These data were collected at 61,856 globally distributed sites, spanning all major forested and non‐forested biomes. The majority of trees in the database are identified to species (88%), and collectively Tallo includes data for 5163 species distributed across 1453 genera and 187 plant families. The database is publicly archived under a CC‐BY 4.0 licence and can be access from: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6637599 . To demonstrate its value, here we present three case studies that highlight how the Tallo database can be used to address a range of theoretical and applied questions in ecology—from testing the predictions of metabolic scaling theory, to exploring the limits of tree allometric plasticity along environmental gradients and modelling global variation in maximum attainable tree height. In doing so, we provide a key resource for field ecologists, remote sensing researchers and the modelling community working together to better understand the role that trees play in regulating the terrestrial carbon cycle.

Methanogenic archaea in subsurface coal seams are biogeographically distinct: an analysis of metagenomically‐derived mcrA sequences - Bronwyn C. Campbell; Paul Greenfield; Se Gong; Elliott P. Barnhart; David J. Midgley; Ian T. Paulsen; Simon C. George (Environmental Microbiology, 2022)
Summary The production of methane as an end‐product of organic matter degradation in the absence of other terminal electron acceptors is common, and has often been studied in environments such as animal guts, soils and wetlands due to its potency as a greenhouse gas. To date, however, the study of the biogeographic distribution of methanogens across coal seam environments has been minimal. Here, we show that coal seams are host to a diverse range of methanogens, which are distinctive to each geological basin. Based on comparisons to close relatives from other methanogenic environments, the dominant methanogenic pathway in these basins is hydrogenotrophic, with acetoclastic being a second major pathway in the Surat Basin. Finally, mcrA and 16S rRNA gene primer biases were predominantly seen to affect the detection of Methanocellales, Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales taxa in this study. Subsurface coal methanogenic community distributions and pathways presented here provide insights into important metabolites and bacterial partners for in situ coal biodegradation.

AMAZONIA CAMTRAP: A data set of mammal, bird, and reptile species recorded with camera traps in the Amazon forest - Ana Carolina Antunes; Anelise Montanarin; Diogo Maia Gräbin; Erison Carlos dos Santos Monteiro; Fernando Ferreira de Pinho; Guilherme Costa Alvarenga; Jorge Ahumada; Robert B. Wallace; Emiliano Esterci Ramalho; Adrian Paul Ashton Barnett; Alex Bager; Alexandre Martins Costa Lopes; et al. (Ecology, 2022)
The Amazon forest has the highest biodiversity on Earth. However, information on Amazonian vertebrate diversity is still deficient and scattered across the published, peer‐reviewed, and gray literature and in unpublished raw data. Camera traps are an effective non‐invasive method of surveying vertebrates, applicable to different scales of time and space. In this study, we organized and standardized camera trap records from different Amazon regions to compile the most extensive data set of inventories of mammal, bird, and reptile species ever assembled for the area. The complete data set comprises 154,123 records of 317 species (185 birds, 119 mammals, and 13 reptiles) gathered from surveys from the Amazonian portion of eight countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). The most frequently recorded species per taxa were: mammals: Cuniculus paca (11,907 records); birds: Pauxi tuberosa (3713 records); and reptiles: Tupinambis teguixin (716 records). The information detailed in this data paper opens up opportunities for new ecological studies at different spatial and temporal scales, allowing for a more accurate evaluation of the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, and other human‐mediated defaunation processes in one of the most important and threatened tropical environments in the world. The data set is not copyright restricted; please cite this data paper when using its data in publications and we also request that researchers and educators inform us of how they are using these data.

Net community production in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea from glider and buoy measurements - Michael P. Hemming; Jan Kaiser; Jacqueline Boutin; Liliane Merlivat; Karen J. Heywood; Dorothee C. E. Bakker; Gareth A. Lee; Marcos Cobas García; David Antoine; Kiminori Shitashima (Ocean Science, 2022)
The Mediterranean Sea comprises just 0.8 % of the global oceanic surface, yet considering its size, it is regarded as a disproportionately large sink for anthropogenic carbon due to its physical and biogeochemical characteristics. An underwater glider mission was carried out in March–April 2016 close to the BOUSSOLE and DyFAMed time series moorings in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The glider deployment served as a test of a prototype ion-sensitive field-effect transistor pH sensor. Dissolved oxygen (O2) concentrations and optical backscatter were also observed by the glider and increased between 19 March and 1 April, along with pH. These changes indicated the start of a phytoplankton spring bloom, following a period of intense mixing. Concurrent measurements of CO2 fugacity and O2 concentrations at the BOUSSOLE mooring buoy showed fluctuations, in qualitative agreement with the pattern of glider measurements. Mean net community production rates (N) were estimated from glider and buoy measurements of dissolved O2 and inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations, based on their mass budgets. Glider and buoy DIC concentrations were derived from a salinity-based total alkalinity parameterisation, glider pH and buoy CO2 fugacity. The spatial coverage of glider data allowed the calculation of advective O2 and DIC fluxes. Mean N estimates for the euphotic zone between 10 March and 3 April were (-17±36) for glider O2, (44±94) for glider DIC, (17±37) for buoy O2 and (49±86) mmolm-2d-1 for buoy DIC, all indicating net metabolic balance over these 25 d. However, these 25 d were actually split into a period of net DIC increase and O2 decrease between 10 and 19 March and a period of net DIC decrease and O2 increase between 19 March and 3 April. The latter period is interpreted as the onset of the spring bloom. The regression coefficients between O2 and DIC-based N estimates were 0.25 ± 0.08 for the glider data and 0.54 ± 0.06 for the buoy, significantly lower than the canonical metabolic quotient of 1.45±0.15. This study shows the added value of co-locating a profiling glider with moored time series buoys, but also demonstrates the difficulty in estimating N, and the limitations in achievable precision.

Foliar Nutrients Reflect Variation in Floristic Quality and Hydrology of Calcareous Fens - Arthur C. Ryzak; David Bart; Eric G. Booth; Steven P. Loheide (Wetlands, 2022)

Editorial Expression of Concern: Anticataleptic activity of nicotine in rats: involvement of the lateral entorhinal cortex - Ilya D. Ionov; Irina I. Pushinskaya; Nicholas P. Gorev; David D. Frenkel; Nicholas N. Severtsev (Psychopharmacology, 2022)

Social integration of translocated wildlife: a case study of rehabilitated and released elephant calves in northern Kenya - Shifra Z. Goldenberg; Stephen M. Chege; Nelson Mwangi; Ian Craig; David Daballen; Iain Douglas-Hamilton; Nadine Lamberski; Moses Lenaipa; Reuben Lendira; Colman Lesowapir; Lekilia P. Lokooria; Mathew Mutinda; et al. (Mammalian Biology, 2022)
Conservation translocations have the potential to strengthen populations of threatened and endangered species, but facilitating integration of translocated individuals with resident populations remains a substantial challenge. Developing functional social relationships like cooperative partnerships or establishing clear dominance hierarchies may be critical to integration of released individuals. Developing such relationships has not received much attention in translocation research, especially for long-lived, socially complex animals for which establishment and navigation of social environments is often a lengthy process that requires sustained monitoring to understand. Here, we present a case study of the social associations of African savannah elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) calves that have been rehabilitated and released into a fenced wildlife sanctuary in northern Kenya with a resident population of elephants. We use focal follows of interactions pre-release and GPS tracking post-release to quantify social associations of calves with each other and with resident elephants at the release site. We demonstrate how this approach supports translocation monitoring by capturing temporal trends in social patterns within and between release cohorts and among released elephants and wild elephants already resident at the site during a transitional soft release period. Our results show that initial post-release social behavior of rehabilitated calves is related to histories of interaction with familiar individuals and cohort membership and that released calves increased their associations with residents over time. This information provides new behavioral insights for guiding elephant release projects, like the strength of relationships within and among release cohorts, the time to integration with the resident population, and the occurrence and increased incidence of societal fission–fusion. Further, this study provides an example of the utility of animal behavior research to achieve and assess progress towards conservation objectives, and to develop monitoring tools for conservation managers.

The relative role of intrinsic and extrinsic drivers in regulating population change and survival of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) - David G. Marneweck; Dave J. Druce; Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt; Elizabeth le Roux; Michael J. Somers (Mammalian Biology, 2022)

Hydrogeology of an urban weathered basement aquifer in Kampala, Uganda - Philip M. Nyenje; Denis Ocoromac; Stephen Tumwesige; Matt J. Ascott; James P. R. Sorensen; Andrew J. Newell; David M. J. Macdonald; Daren C. Gooddy; Callist Tindimugaya; Robinah N. Kulabako; Dan J. Lapworth; Jan Willem Foppen (Hydrogeology Journal, 2022)
Weathered basement aquifers are vital sources of drinking water in Africa. In order to better understand their role in the urban water balance, in a weathered basement aquifer in Kampala, Uganda, this study installed a transect of monitoring piezometers, carried out spring flow and high-frequency groundwater level monitoring, slug tests and hydrochemical analyses, including stable isotopes and groundwater residence time indicators. Findings showed a typical weathered basement aquifer with a 20–50-m thickness. Groundwater recharge was 3–50 mm/year, occurring during sustained rainfall. Recharge to a deep groundwater system within the saprock was slow and prolonged, while recharge to the springs on the valley slopes was quick and episodic, responding rapidly to precipitation. Springs discharged shallow groundwater, mixed with wastewater infiltrating from onsite sanitation practices and contributions from the deeper aquifer and were characterised by low flow rates (< 0.001 m 3 /s), low pH (<5), high nitrate values (61–190 mg/L as NO 3 ), and residence times of <30 years. The deeper groundwater system occurred in the saprolite/saprock, had low transmissivity (< 1 × 10 −5 m 2 /s), lower nitrate values (<20 mg/L as NO 3 ), pH 6–6.5 and longer residence times (40–60 years). Confined groundwater conditions in the valleys were created by the presence of clay-rich alluvium and gave rise to artesian conditions where groundwater had lower nitrate concentrations. The findings provide new insights into weathered basement aquifers in the urban tropics and show that small-scale abstractions are more sustainable in the deeper groundwater system in the valleys, where confined conditions are present.

Glucose metabolism patterns: A potential index to characterize brain ageing and predict high conversion risk into cognitive impairment - Jiehui Jiang; Can Sheng; Guanqun Chen; Chunhua Liu; Shichen Jin; Lanlan Li; Xueyan Jiang; Ying Han; Michael W. Weiner; Paul Aisen; Ronald Petersen; Clifford R. Jack; et al. (GeroScience, 2022)

Glycolytic and Oxidative Phosphorylation Defects Precede the Development of Senescence in Primary Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells - Siva S. V. P. Sakamuri; Venkata N. Sure; Lahari Kolli; Ning Liu; Wesley R. Evans; Jared A. Sperling; David W. Busija; Xiaoying Wang; Sarah H. Lindsey; Walter L. Murfee; Ricardo Mostany; Prasad V. G. Katakam (GeroScience, 2022)

Integrative epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal metabolic switching by intermittent fasting in brain - Gavin Yong-Quan Ng; Dominic Paul Lee Kok Sheng; Han-Gyu Bae; Sung Wook Kang; David Yang-Wei Fann; Jinsu Park; Joonki Kim; Asfa Alli-Shaik; Jeongmi Lee; Eunae Kim; Sunyoung Park; Jeung-Whan Han; et al. (GeroScience, 2022)

Targeting Sagebrush (Artemisia Spp.) Restoration Following Wildfire with Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus) Nest Selection and Survival Models - Cali L. Roth; Shawn T. O’Neil; Peter S. Coates; Mark A. Ricca; David A. Pyke; Cameron L. Aldridge; Julie A. Heinrichs; Shawn P. Espinosa; David J. Delehanty (Environmental Management, 2022)
Unprecedented conservation efforts for sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.) ecosystems across the western United States have been catalyzed by risks from escalated wildfire activity that reduces habitat for sagebrush-obligate species such as Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ). However, post-fire restoration is challenged by spatial variation in ecosystem processes influencing resilience to disturbance and resistance to non-native invasive species, and spatial and temporal lags between slower sagebrush recovery processes and faster demographic responses of sage-grouse to loss of important habitat. Decision-support frameworks that account for these factors can help users strategically apply restoration efforts by predicting short and long-term ecological benefits of actions. Here, we developed a framework that strategically targets burned areas for restoration actions (e.g., seeding or planting sagebrush) that have the greatest potential to positively benefit sage-grouse populations through time. Specifically, we estimated sagebrush recovery following wildfire and risk of non-native annual grass invasion under four scenarios: passive recovery, grazing exclusion, active restoration with seeding, and active restoration with seedling transplants. We then applied spatial predictions of integrated nest site selection and survival models before wildfire, immediately following wildfire, and at 30 and 50 years post-wildfire based on each restoration scenario and measured changes in habitat. Application of this framework coupled with strategic planting designs aimed at developing patches of nesting habitat may help increase operational resilience for fire-impacted sagebrush ecosystems.

Influence of the products of biomass combustion processes on air quality and cancer risk assessment in rural environmental (Spain) - David Galán-Madruga; Regina M. Ubeda; June M. Terroba; Saúl G. dos Santos; Jesús P. García-Cambero (Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2022)

Evaluating expert‐based habitat suitability information of terrestrial mammals with GPS‐ tracking data - Maarten J. E. Broekman; Jelle P. Hilbers; Mark A. J. Huijbregts; Thomas Mueller; Abdullahi H. Ali; Henrik Andrén; Jeanne Altmann; Malin Aronsson; Nina Attias; Hattie L. A. Bartlam‐Brooks; Floris M. van Beest; Jerrold L. Belant; et al. (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2022)
Aim Macroecological studies that require habitat suitability data for many species often derive this information from expert opinion. However, expert‐based information is inherently subjective and thus prone to errors. The increasing availability of GPS tracking data offers opportunities to evaluate and supplement expert‐based information with detailed empirical evidence. Here, we compared expert‐based habitat suitability information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with habitat suitability information derived from GPS‐tracking data of 1,498 individuals from 49 mammal species. Location Worldwide. Time period 1998–2021. Major taxa studied Forty‐nine terrestrial mammal species. Methods Using GPS data, we estimated two measures of habitat suitability for each individual animal: proportional habitat use (proportion of GPS locations within a habitat type), and selection ratio (habitat use relative to its availability). For each individual we then evaluated whether the GPS‐based habitat suitability measures were in agreement with the IUCN data. To that end, we calculated the probability that the ranking of empirical habitat suitability measures was in agreement with IUCN's classification into suitable, marginal and unsuitable habitat types. Results IUCN habitat suitability data were in accordance with the GPS data (> 95% probability of agreement) for 33 out of 49 species based on proportional habitat use estimates and for 25 out of 49 species based on selection ratios. In addition, 37 and 34 species had a > 50% probability of agreement based on proportional habitat use and selection ratios, respectively. Main conclusions We show how GPS‐tracking data can be used to evaluate IUCN habitat suitability data. Our findings indicate that for the majority of species included in this study, it is appropriate to use IUCN habitat suitability data in macroecological studies. Furthermore, we show that GPS‐tracking data can be used to identify and prioritize species and habitat types for re‐evaluation of IUCN habitat suitability data.

Effects of density, species interactions, and environmental stochasticity on the dynamics of British bird communities - Lisa Sandal; Vidar Grøtan; Bernt‐Erik Sæther; Robert P. Freckleton; David G. Noble; Otso Ovaskainen (Ecology, 2022)
Our knowledge of the factors affecting species abundances is mainly based on time‐series analyses of a few well‐studied species at single or few localities, but we know little about whether results from such analyses can be extrapolated to the community level. We apply a joint species distribution model to long‐term time‐series data on British bird communities to examine the relative contribution of intra‐ and interspecific density dependence at different spatial scales, as well as the influence of environmental stochasticity, to spatiotemporal interspecific variation in abundance. Intraspecific density dependence has the major structuring effect on these bird communities. In addition, environmental fluctuations affect spatiotemporal differences in abundance. In contrast, species interactions had a minor impact on variation in abundance. Thus, important drivers of single‐species dynamics are also strongly affecting dynamics of communities in time and space.

Rapid assessment of insect pollination services to inform decision‐making - Fabrizia Ratto; Tom D. Breeze; Lorna J. Cole; Michael P. D. Garratt; David Kleijn; Bill Kunin; Denis Michez; Rory O'Connor; Jeff Ollerton; Robert J. Paxton; Guy M. Poppy; Simon G. Potts; et al. (Conservation Biology, 2022)
Pollinator declines have prompted efforts to assess how land‐use change affects insect pollinators and pollination services in agricultural landscapes. Yet many tools to measure insect pollination services require substantial landscape‐scale data and technical expertise. In expert workshops, 3 straightforward methods (desk‐based method, field survey, and empirical manipulation with exclusion experiments) for rapid insect pollination assessment at site scale were developed to provide an adaptable framework that is accessible to nonspecialist with limited resources. These methods were designed for TESSA (Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site‐Based Assessment) and allow comparative assessment of pollination services at a site of conservation interest and in its most plausible alternative state (e.g., converted to agricultural land). We applied the methods at a nature reserve in the United Kingdom to estimate the value of insect pollination services provided by the reserve. The economic value of pollination services provided by the reserve ranged from US$6163 to US$11,546/year. The conversion of the reserve to arable land would provide no insect pollination services and a net annual benefit from insect‐pollinated crop production of approximately $1542/year (US$24∙ha –1 ∙year –1 ). The methods had wide applicability and were readily adapted to different insect‐pollinated crops: rape ( Brassica napus ) and beans ( Vicia faba ) crops. All methods were rapidly employed under a low budget. The relatively less robust methods that required fewer resources yielded higher estimates of annual insect pollination benefit.

Improving sightings-derived residency estimation for whale shark aggregations: A novel metric applied to a global data set - Gonzalo Araujo; Ariana Agustines; Steffen S. Bach; Jesse E. M. Cochran; Emilio de la Parra-Galván; Rafael de la Parra-Venegas; Stella Diamant; Alistair Dove; Steve Fox; Rachel T. Graham; Sofia M. Green; Jonathan R. Green; et al. (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
The world’s largest extant fish, the whale shark Rhincodon typus , is one of the most-studied species of sharks globally. The discovery of predictable aggregation sites where these animals gather seasonally or are sighted year-round – most of which are coastal and juvenile-dominated – has allowed for a rapid expansion of research on this species. The most common method for studying whale sharks at these sites is photographic identification (photo-ID). This technique allows for long-term individual-based data to be collected which can, in turn, be used to evaluate population structure, build population models, identify long-distance movements, and assess philopatry and other population dynamics. Lagged identification rate (LIR) models have fewer underlying assumptions than more traditional capture mark recapture approaches, making them more broadly applicable to marine taxa, especially far-ranging megafauna species like whale sharks. However, the increased flexibility comes at a cost. Parameter estimations based on LIR can be difficult to interpret and may not be comparable between areas with different sampling regimes. Using a unique data-set from the Philippines with ~8 years of nearly continuous survey effort, we were able to derive a metric for converting LIR residency estimates into more intuitive days-per-year units. We applied this metric to 25 different sites allowing for the first quantitatively-meaningful comparison of sightings-derived residence among the world’s whale shark aggregations. We validated these results against the only three published acoustic residence metrics (falling within the ranges established by these earlier works in all cases). The results were then used to understand residency behaviours exhibited by the sharks at each site. The adjusted residency metric is an improvement to LIR-based population modelling, already one of the most widely used tools for describing whale shark aggregations. The standardised methods presented here can serve as a valuable tool for assessing residency patterns of whale sharks, which is crucial for tailored conservation action, and can cautiously be tested in other taxa.

Age-Related Interactions with Wind During Migration Support the Hypothesis of Developmental Learning in a Migrating Long-Lived Seabird - Kevin D. Powers; Isabeau Pratte; Robert A. Ronconi; Sarah N. P. Wong; Peter G. Ryan; Linda J. Welch; Tammy L. Silva; Kent A. Hatch; Andrew J. Westgate; David N. Wiley (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
Wind patterns shape migratory pathways and detours of many procellariiform bird species that seasonally migrate between hemispheres. These seabirds are long-lived, and the period of immaturity is presumed to be a time of development and learning the environment, specifically how to use wind to their advantage. We assess how wind encountered by individual Great Shearwaters ( Ardenna gravis ) varies along the migration journey and compare responses between presumed mature and immature birds (early and late, respectively) in southbound migration and mature birds in northbound migration. We analyze modeled Argos locations from 71 individual tracks of migratory Great Shearwaters with concurrent U (East/West) and V (North/South) wind components. Migration in seabirds is well studied, but there is limited quantitative work measuring individual birds directly interacting with wind and their associated changes in flight behavior during migration. We show that Great Shearwaters made optimal use of winds, and that different age groups made decisions that exposed them to different wind constraints. Overall, Great Shearwaters derived positive responses from wind under most conditions and did not rely on a drifting strategy, which would be suggested if wind effect (difference between ground and airspeed) was predominantly positive during migrations. Instead, they appeared to use a compensating strategy to achieve an acceptable course and speed. The difference we observed in migration phenologies suggests that by migrating later, immature birds might travel the path of least resistance and experience flight conditions that are less risky furthering their ability to withstand a variety of wind conditions encountered later in life as done by adults, which migrate earlier and are subject to more variable flight conditions. We conclude that like other procellariiforms, a longer period of sexual maturity is required to enhance flight performance and mediate energy expenditure through experiential learning and increased fitness.

Influence of Rising Water Temperature on the Temperate Seagrass Species Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in the Northeast USA - Holly K. Plaisted; Erin C. Shields; Alyssa B. Novak; Christopher P. Peck; Forest Schenck; Jillian Carr; Paul A. Duffy; N. Tay Evans; Sophia E. Fox; Stephen M. Heck; Robbie Hudson; Trevor Mattera; et al. (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
Sea surface temperature (SST) has increased worldwide since the beginning of the 20th century, a trend which is expected to continue. Changes in SST can have significant impacts on marine biota, including population-level shifts and alterations in community structure and diversity, and changes in the timing of ecosystem events. Seagrasses are a group of foundation species that grow in shallow coastal and estuarine systems, where they provide many ecosystem services. Eelgrass, Zostera marina L., is the dominant seagrass species in the Northeast United States of America (USA). Multiple factors have been cited for losses in this region, including light reduction, eutrophication, and physical disturbance. Warming has the potential to exacerbate seagrass loss. Here, we investigate regional changes in eelgrass presence and abundance in relation to local water temperature using monitoring data from eight sites in the Northeastern USA (New Hampshire to Maryland) where a consistent monitoring protocol, SeagrassNet, has been applied. We use a hurdle model consisting of a generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) with binomial and beta response distributions for modeling eelgrass presence and abundance, respectively, in relation to the local summer average water temperature. We show that summer water temperature one year prior to monitoring is a significant predictor of eelgrass presence, but not abundance, on a regional scale. Above average summer temperatures correspond to a decrease in probability of eelgrass presence (and increased probability of eelgrass absence) the following year. Cooler than average temperatures in the preceding year, down to approximately 0.5°C below the site average, are associated with the highest predicted probability of eelgrass presence. Our findings suggest vulnerability in eelgrass meadows of the Northeast USA and emphasize the value of unified approaches to seagrass monitoring, conservation and management at the seascape scale.

Mismatches in scale between highly mobile marine megafauna and marine protected areas - Melinda G. Conners; Nicholas B. Sisson; Pierre D. Agamboue; Philip W. Atkinson; Alastair M. M. Baylis; Scott R. Benson; Barbara A. Block; Steven J. Bograd; Pablo Bordino; W. D. Bowen; Paul Brickle; Ignacio M. Bruno; et al. (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
Marine protected areas (MPAs), particularly large MPAs, are increasing in number and size around the globe in part to facilitate the conservation of marine megafauna under the assumption that large-scale MPAs better align with vagile life histories; however, this alignment is not well established. Using a global tracking dataset from 36 species across five taxa, chosen to reflect the span of home range size in highly mobile marine megafauna, we show most MPAs are too small to encompass complete home ranges of most species. Based on size alone, 40% of existing MPAs could encompass the home ranges of the smallest ranged species, while only < 1% of existing MPAs could encompass those of the largest ranged species. Further, where home ranges and MPAs overlapped in real geographic space, MPAs encompassed < 5% of core areas used by all species. Despite most home ranges of mobile marine megafauna being much larger than existing MPAs, we demonstrate how benefits from MPAs are still likely to accrue by targeting seasonal aggregations and critical life history stages and through other management techniques.

Current Approaches for Predicting Human PK for Small Molecule Development Candidates: Findings from the IQ Human PK Prediction Working Group Survey - Carl Petersson; Xin Zhou; Joerg Berghausen; David Cebrian; Michael Davies; Kevin DeMent; Peter Eddershaw; Arian Emami Riedmaier; Alix F. Leblanc; Nenad Manveski; Punit Marathe; Panteleimon D. Mavroudis; et al. (The AAPS Journal, 2022)

The Colombian geochronological database (CGD) - Andres F. Rodriguez-Corcho; Yamirka Rojas-Agramonte; Johana A. Barrera-Gonzalez; Maria P. Marroquin-Gomez; Sarah Bonilla-Correa; David Izquierdo-Camacho; Sofia M. Delgado-Balaguera; David Cartwright-Buitrago; Maria D. Muñoz-Granados; William G. Carantón-Mateus; Alejandro Corrales-García; Andrés F. Laverde-Martinez; et al. (International Geology Review, 2022)

Identification of genetic loci in lettuce mediating quantitative resistance to fungal pathogens - Harry Pink; Adam Talbot; Abi Graceson; Juliane Graham; Gill Higgins; Andrew Taylor; Alison C. Jackson; Maria Truco; Richard Michelmore; Chenyi Yao; Frances Gawthrop; David Pink; et al. (Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 2022)
Key message We demonstrate genetic variation for quantitative resistance against important fungal pathogens in lettuce and its wild relatives, map loci conferring resistance and predict key molecular mechanisms using transcriptome profiling. Abstract Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) is an important leafy vegetable crop grown and consumed globally. Chemicals are routinely used to control major pathogens, including the causal agents of grey mould ( Botrytis cinerea ) and lettuce drop ( Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ) . With increasing prevalence of pathogen resistance to fungicides and environmental concerns, there is an urgent need to identify sources of genetic resistance to B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum in lettuce. We demonstrated genetic variation for quantitative resistance to B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum in a set of 97 diverse lettuce and wild relative accessions, and between the parents of lettuce mapping populations. Transcriptome profiling across multiple lettuce accessions enabled us to identify genes with expression correlated with resistance, predicting the importance of post-transcriptional gene regulation in the lettuce defence response. We identified five genetic loci influencing quantitative resistance in a F 6 mapping population derived from a Lactuca serriola (wild relative) × lettuce cross, which each explained 5–10% of the variation. Differential gene expression analysis between the parent lines, and integration of data on correlation of gene expression and resistance in the diversity set, highlighted potential causal genes underlying the quantitative trait loci.

Factors associated with changes in exercise behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic - Caroline Himbert; Cassandra A. Hathaway; Bailee Daniels; Karen Salas; Anjelica Ashworth; Biljana Gigic; Tengda Lin; Richard Viskochil; Anne C. Kirchhoff; Douglas Grossman; Jennifer Ose; Jonathan Tward; et al. (Cancer Causes & Control, 2022)

Predicting spatially heterogeneous invasive spread: Pyracantha angustifolia invading a dry Andean valley in northern Argentina - Fiona A. Plenderleith; Valentina A. Irrazabal; David F. R. P. Burslem; Justin M. J. Travis; Priscila Ana Powell (Biological Invasions, 2022)
Understanding the drivers of invasive species spread is key to designing optimal management programmes for controlling them. Population models, parameterized from demographic and dispersal data, are useful for simulating invasion when long-term observations are lacking, which is particularly important when invasions are occurring rapidly. We aimed to understand how the spread of Pyracantha angustifolia (an invasive ornamental shrub) is influenced by heterogeneity in local conditions within a dry inter-montane valley in northwestern Argentina that is currently experiencing rapid urban expansion and concomitant reduction in cattle farming. Field surveys demonstrated that individuals growing in shrublands have a higher fecundity than those in grassland and rocky habitats. Furthermore, grazing pressure of cattle and horses substantially reduces fecundity and impacts the relationship between age and fecundity. We incorporated our field-estimated habitat and age-specific fecundities into both analytical integro-difference equation models and individual-based models to predict rates of spread across each habitat type in the presence or absence of grazing pressure. Results indicate that the rate of spread would be substantially higher in shrublands (by up to 33%) and highlight that grazing pressure can, through direct consumption of seeds by livestock, substantially depress the rate of spread (by up to 53%). These results suggest that shrubland areas in the valley are most vulnerable to invasion and that grazing may help to reduce the impact of Pyracantha. This suggests that a synergism between urban expansion and reduction in domestic livestock density contributes to the spread of an invasive species in this environment.

The effect of age, sex, and resource abundance on patterns of rake markings in resident killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) - Charli Grimes; Lauren J. N. Brent; Michael N. Weiss; Daniel W. Franks; Kenneth C. Balcomb; David K. Ellifrit; Samuel Ellis; Darren P. Croft (Marine Mammal Science, 2022)
Fluctuations in aggressive behavior of group‐living species can reflect social conflict and competition for resources faced by individuals throughout their lifespan and can negatively impact survival and reproduction. In marine mammals, where social interactions are difficult to observe, tooth rake marks can be used as an indicator of received aggression. Using 38 years of photographic data, we quantified the occurrence of tooth rake marks on wild resident killer whales ( Orcinus orca ), examining the effects of age, sex, and prey abundance on rake density. Our analysis revealed sex and age effects, with males exhibiting higher rake density than females and rake density declining significantly with age. Contrary to predictions, we observed an increase in rake density across the population as the abundance of their primary food resource, Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ), increased. These results provide indirect evidence of fluctuations in received aggression from conspecifics across the lifespan of an individual, possibly reflecting changes in patterns of social conflict which may be mediated by resource abundance. Our findings highlight the need for further research to examine the fitness consequences of aggression in killer whales and to understand the proximate mechanisms by which resource abundance influences rates of aggression in the population.

Spatial and temporal variations in atmospheric gas flux from the Hudson River: the estuarine gas exchange maximum - Malcolm E. Scully; Anna P. M. Michel; David P. Nicholson; Shawnee Traylor (Limnology and Oceanography, 2022)
A unique combination of data collected from fixed instruments, spatial surveys, and a long‐term observing network in the Hudson River demonstrate the importance of spatial and temporal variations in atmospheric gas flux. The atmospheric exchanges of oxygen (O 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) exhibit variability at a range of time scales including pronounced modulation driven by spring‐neap variations in stratification and mixing. During weak neap tides, bottom waters become enriched in pCO 2 and depleted in dissolved oxygen because strong stratification limits vertical mixing and isolates sub‐pycnocline water from atmospheric exchange. Estuarine circulation also is enhanced during neap tides so that bottom waters, and their associated dissolved gases, are transported up‐estuary. Strong mixing during spring tides effectively ventilates bottom waters resulting in enhanced CO 2 evasion and O 2 invasion. The spring‐neap modulation in the estuarine portion of the Hudson River is enhanced because fortnightly variations in mixing have a strong influence on phytoplankton dynamics, allowing strong blooms to occur during weak neap tides. During blooms, periods of CO 2 invasion and O 2 evasion occur over much of the lower stratified estuary. The along‐estuary distribution of stratification, which decreases up‐estuary, favors enhanced gas exchange near the limit of salt, where vertical stratification is absent. This region, which we call the estuarine gas exchange maximum (EGM), results from the convergence in bottom transport and is analogous to the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM). Much like the ETM, the EGM is likely to be a common feature in many partially mixed and stratified estuarine systems.

CRISPR /Cas9‐induced disruption of Bodo saltans paraflagellar rod‐2 gene reveals its importance for cell survival - Fatma Gomaa; Zhu‐Hong Li; David J. Beaudoin; Heba Alzan; Peter R. Girguis; Roberto Docampo; Virginia P. Edgcomb (Environmental Microbiology, 2022)
Summary Developing transfection protocols for marine protists is an emerging field that will allow the functional characterization of protist genes and their roles in organism responses to the environment. We developed a CRISPR/Cas9 editing protocol for Bodo saltans , a free‐living kinetoplastid with tolerance to both marine and freshwater conditions and a close non‐parasitic relative of trypanosomatids. Our results show that SaCas9/single‐guide RNA ( sgRNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex‐mediated disruption of the paraflagellar rod 2 gene ( BsPFR2 ) was achieved using electroporation‐mediated transfection. The use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing can increase the efficiency of targeted homologous recombination when a repair DNA template is provided. Our sequence analysis suggests two mechanisms for repairing double‐strand breaks in B. saltans are active; homologous‐directed repair (HDR) utilizing an exogenous DNA template that carries an antibiotic resistance gene and likley non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ). However, HDR was only achieved when a single (vs. multiple) SaCas9 RNP complex was provided. Furthermore, the biallelic knockout of BsPFR2 was detrimental for the cell, highlighting its essential role for cell survival because it facilitates the movement of food particles into the cytostome. Our Cas9/sgRNA RNP complex protocol provides a new tool for assessing gene functions in B. saltans and perhaps similar protists with polycistronic transcription.

Seasonal extrema of sea surface temperature in CMIP6 models - Yanxin Wang; Karen J. Heywood; David P. Stevens; Gillian M. Damerell (Ocean Science, 2022)
CMIP6 model sea surface temperature (SST) seasonal extrema averaged over 1981–2010 are assessed against the World Ocean Atlas (WOA18) observational climatology. We propose a mask to identify and exclude regions of large differences between three commonly used climatologies (WOA18, WOCE-Argo Global Hydrographic climatology (WAGHC) and the Hadley Centre Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature data set (HadISST)). The biases in SST seasonal extrema are largely consistent with the annual mean SST biases. However, the amplitude and spatial pattern of SST bias vary seasonally in the 20 CMIP6 models assessed. Large seasonal variations in the SST bias occur in eastern boundary upwelling regions, polar regions, the North Pacific and the eastern equatorial Atlantic. These results demonstrate the importance of evaluating model performance not simply against annual mean properties. Models with greater vertical resolution in their ocean component typically demonstrate better representation of SST extrema, particularly seasonal maximum SST. No significant relationship of SST seasonal extrema with horizontal ocean model resolution is found.

Correction to: Tracking the history of grapevine cultivation in Georgia by combining geometric morphometrics and ancient DNA - Laurent Bouby; Nathan Wales; Mindia Jalabadze; Nana Rusishvili; Vincent Bonhomme; Jazmín Ramos‑Madrigal; Allowen Evin; Sarah Ivorra; Thierry Lacombe; Clémence Pagnoux; Elisabetta Boaretto; M. Thomas P. Gilbert; et al. (Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2022)

Transcript Profiles Differentiate Cold Acclimation-Induced Processes in a Summer and Winter Biotype of Camelina - Hongxia Wang; Münevver Doğramacı; James V. Anderson; David P. Horvath; Wun S. Chao (Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 2022)

Chloride facilitates Mn(III) formation during photoassembly of the Photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex - Brandon P. Russell; David J. Vinyard (Photosynthesis Research, 2022)

FDA Approaches in Monitoring Drug Quality, Forces Impacting the Drug Quality, and Recent Alternative Strategies to Assess Quality in the US Drug Supply - Philip J. Almeter; James T. Isaacs; Aaron N. Hunter; Bradley S. Henderson; Thomas Platt; Billie J. Mitchell; David Do; Alyssa B. Brainard; Joshua E. Brown; Rachael M. Stone; Bao-Han Nguyen; Matthew F. Warren; et al. (Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, 2022)

Multi-scale modelling for hydrodynamic and morphological changes of breakwater in coastal Mekong Delta in Vietnam - Tu Le Xuan; Phong Nguyen Cong; Thanh Vo Quoc; Quoc Quan Tran; David P. Wright; Duong Tran Anh (Journal of Coastal Conservation, 2022)

Persistent viral RNA shedding of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with delirium incidence and six-month mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients - Ayush Batra; Jeffrey R. Clark; Anthony K. Kang; Sareen Ali; Tulsi R. Patel; Nathan A. Shlobin; Steven C. Hoffman; Patrick H. Lim; Zachary S. Orban; Lavanya Visvabharathy; Edith L. Graham; David P. Sullivan; et al. (GeroScience, 2022)

Comprehensive analysis of epigenetic clocks reveals associations between disproportionate biological ageing and hippocampal volume - Lidija Milicic; Michael Vacher; Tenielle Porter; Vincent Doré; Samantha C. Burnham; Pierrick Bourgeat; Rosita Shishegar; James Doecke; Nicola J. Armstrong; Rick Tankard; Paul Maruff; Colin L. Masters; et al. (GeroScience, 2022)
The concept of age acceleration, the difference between biological age and chronological age, is of growing interest, particularly with respect to age-related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Whilst studies have reported associations with AD risk and related phenotypes, there remains a lack of consensus on these associations. Here we aimed to comprehensively investigate the relationship between five recognised measures of age acceleration, based on DNA methylation patterns (DNAm age), and cross-sectional and longitudinal cognition and AD-related neuroimaging phenotypes (volumetric MRI and Amyloid-β PET) in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Significant associations were observed between age acceleration using the Hannum epigenetic clock and cross-sectional hippocampal volume in AIBL and replicated in ADNI. In AIBL, several other findings were observed cross-sectionally, including a significant association between hippocampal volume and the Hannum and Phenoage epigenetic clocks. Further, significant associations were also observed between hippocampal volume and the Zhang and Phenoage epigenetic clocks within Amyloid-β positive individuals. However, these were not validated within the ADNI cohort. No associations between age acceleration and other Alzheimer’s disease-related phenotypes, including measures of cognition or brain Amyloid-β burden, were observed, and there was no association with longitudinal change in any phenotype. This study presents a link between age acceleration, as determined using DNA methylation, and hippocampal volume that was statistically significant across two highly characterised cohorts. The results presented in this study contribute to a growing literature that supports the role of epigenetic modifications in ageing and AD-related phenotypes.

Prediction of disability-free survival in healthy older people - Johannes Tobias Neumann; Le T. P. Thao; Anne M. Murray; Emily Callander; Prudence R. Carr; Mark R. Nelson; Rory Wolfe; Robyn L. Woods; Christopher M. Reid; Raj C. Shah; Anne B. Newman; Jeff D. Williamson; et al. (GeroScience, 2022)
Prolonging survival in good health is a fundamental societal goal. However, the leading determinants of disability-free survival in healthy older people have not been well established. Data from ASPREE, a bi-national placebo-controlled trial of aspirin with 4.7 years median follow-up, was analysed. At enrolment, participants were healthy and without prior cardiovascular events, dementia or persistent physical disability. Disability-free survival outcome was defined as absence of dementia, persistent disability or death. Selection of potential predictors from amongst 25 biomedical, psychosocial and lifestyle variables including recognized geriatric risk factors, utilizing a machine-learning approach. Separate models were developed for men and women. The selected predictors were evaluated in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model and validated internally by bootstrapping. We included 19,114 Australian and US participants aged ≥65 years (median 74 years, IQR 71.6–77.7). Common predictors of a worse prognosis in both sexes included higher age, lower Modified Mini-Mental State Examination score, lower gait speed, lower grip strength and abnormal (low or elevated) body mass index. Additional risk factors for men included current smoking, and abnormal eGFR. In women, diabetes and depression were additional predictors. The biased-corrected areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the final prognostic models at 5 years were 0.72 for men and 0.75 for women. Final models showed good calibration between the observed and predicted risks. We developed a prediction model in which age, cognitive function and gait speed were the strongest predictors of disability-free survival in healthy older people. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01038583)

Investigating the contribution of white matter hyperintensities and cortical thickness to empathy in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases - Miracle Ozzoude; Brenda Varriano; Derek Beaton; Joel Ramirez; Melissa F. Holmes; Christopher J. M. Scott; Fuqiang Gao; Kelly M. Sunderland; Paula McLaughlin; Jennifer Rabin; Maged Goubran; Donna Kwan; et al. (GeroScience, 2022)

Moderation of buprenorphine therapy for cocaine dependence efficacy by variation of the Prodynorphin gene - David A. Nielsen; Robrina Walker; David P. Graham; Ellen M. Nielsen; Sara C. Hamon; Maureen Hillhouse; Dikla Shmueli-Blumberg; William B. Lawson; Kathy Shores-Wilson; Beverlyn D. Settles-Reaves; John Rotrosen; Madhukar H. Trivedi; et al. (European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2022)

Trust Versus Content in Multi-functional Land Management: Assessing Soil Function Messaging in Agricultural Networks - Lilian O’Sullivan; Cees Leeuwis; Linde de Vries; David P. Wall; Talke Heidkroß; Kirsten Madena; Rogier P. O. Schulte (Environmental Management, 2022)
Growing sustainability demands on land have a high knowledge requirement across multiple scientific domains. Exploring networks can expose opportunities for targeting. Using mixed-methods combining social network analysis (SNA) and surveys, networks for key soil functions in case studies in Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands are explored. We find a diversity of contrasting networks that reflect local conditions, sustainability challenges and governance structure. Farmers were found to occupy a central role in the agri-environmental governance network. A comparison of the SNA and survey results indicate low acceptance of messages from many central actors indicating scope to better harness the network for sustainable land management. The source of the messages was important when it came to the implementation of farm management actions. Two pathways for enhanced farmer uptake of multi-functionality are proposed that have wider application are; to increase trust between farmers and actors that are agents of multi-functional messages and/or to increase the bundling or multi-functionality of messages (mandate) of actors trusted by farmers.

Quantifying risks avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5 or 2 °C above pre-industrial levels - Rachel Warren; Oliver Andrews; Sally Brown; Felipe J. Colón-González; Nicole Forstenhäusler; David E. H. J. Gernaat; P. Goodwin; Ian Harris; Yi He; Chris Hope; Desmond Manful; Timothy J. Osborn; et al. (Climatic Change, 2022)
The Paris Agreement aims to constrain global warming to ‘well below 2 °C’ and to ‘pursue efforts’ to limit it to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. We quantify global and regional risk-related metrics associated with these levels of warming that capture climate change–related changes in exposure to water scarcity and heat stress, vector-borne disease, coastal and fluvial flooding and projected impacts on agriculture and the economy, allowing for uncertainties in regional climate projection. Risk-related metrics associated with 2 °C warming, depending on sector, are reduced by 10–44% globally if warming is further reduced to 1.5 °C. Comparing with a baseline in which warming of 3.66 °C occurs by 2100, constraining warming to 1.5 °C reduces these risk indicators globally by 32–85%, and constraining warming to 2 °C reduces them by 26–74%. In percentage terms, avoided risk is highest for fluvial flooding, drought, and heat stress, but in absolute terms risk reduction is greatest for drought. Although water stress decreases in some regions, it is often accompanied by additional exposure to flooding. The magnitude of the percentage of damage avoided is similar to that calculated for avoided global economic risk associated with these same climate change scenarios. We also identify West Africa, India and North America as hotspots of climate change risk in the future.

Inundation of depressional wetlands declines under a changing climate - David W. Londe; Daniel Dvorett; Craig A. Davis; Scott R. Loss; Ellen P. Robertson (Climatic Change, 2022)

The central executive network and executive function in healthy and persons with schizophrenia groups: a meta-analysis of structural and functional MRI - Malvina O. Pietrzykowski; Katrina M. Daigle; Abigail B. Waters; Lance P. Swenson; David A. Gansler (Brain Imaging and Behavior, 2022)

Components of the Female Sex Pheromone of the Newly-Described Canola Flower Midge, Contarinia brassicola - Daniel P. Bray; David R. Hall; Steven J. Harte; Dudley I. Farman; Meghan A. Vankosky; Boyd A. Mori (Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2022)
The canola flower midge, Contarinia brassicola Sinclair (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a newly-described species that induces galls on canola, Brassica napus Linnaeus and Brassica rapa Linnaeus (Brassicaceae). Identification of the sex pheromone of C. brassicola is essential to developing monitoring tools to elucidate the geographic range and hosts of this new pest, and the extent to which it threatens the $30 billion Canadian canola industry. The aim of this study was to identify and synthesize the female-produced sex pheromone of C. brassicola and demonstrate its effectiveness in attracting males to traps in the field. Two peaks were identified through GC-EAG analysis of female-produced volatiles which elicited electrophysiological responses in male antennae. These peaks were initially characterized through GC–MS and synthesis as 2,7-diacetoxynonane (major component) and 2-acetoxynonane (minor component), and the racemic compounds elicited EAG responses in male antennae. All four stereoisomers of 2,7-diacetoxynonane were synthesized and the naturally-produced compound was shown to be primarily the (2 R, 7 S )-isomer by analysis on an enantioselective GC column, with a small amount of (2 R, 7 R )-2,7-diacetoxynonane also present. The configuration of the minor component could not be determined because of the small amount present, but this was assumed to be (2 R )-2-acetoxynonane by comparison with the configuration of the other two components. In field trials, none of the four stereoisomers of 2,7-diacetoxynonane, presented individually or as a racemic mixture, was attractive to male C. brassicola . However, dispensers loaded with a 10 µg:1 µg blend of (2 R, 7 S )- and (2 R, 7 R )-2,7-diacetoxynonane caught large numbers of male C. brassicola and significantly more than other blends tested. The addition of 0.5 µg of (2 R )-2-acetoxynonane to this blend further increased the number of males caught. In future work, we will seek to identify the optimum trapping protocol for the application of the pheromone in monitoring and surveillance.

The role of dispersal, selection intensity, and extirpation risk in resilience to climate change: A trait‐based modelling approach - Jessica Mo; P. David Polly (Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2022)
Aim Factors that make species resilient to climate change can be difficult to study with empirical data because conditions cannot be experimentally controlled. We used trait‐based evolutionary ecological agent‐based modelling to understand how dispersal, selection, extirpation, and other factors contribute to resilience under three climate change scenarios to test the extent to which high dispersal rate contributes to persistence of species and the extent to which they occupy large geographic ranges on an evolutionary time‐scale involving speciation, dispersal, gene flow, and extinction. Location Hesperia (an imaginary continent with controlled environmental heterogeneity). Major taxa studied Modelled mammalian herbivore clade with 16 terminal species, each of which is a metapopulation with a variable number of local populations. Methods We used NetLogo to model trait‐based biotic responses to climate change in an environmentally heterogeneous continent in an evolving clade, the species of which are each represented by local populations that disperse and interbreed; they also are subject to selection, genetic drift, and local extirpation. We simulated mammalian herbivores, whose success depends on tooth crown height, vegetation type, precipitation and grit. Results We found that high dispersal probability usually allowed species to successfully track their ancestral habitat as the continent's geography was altered by climate change. However, tracking was insufficient to allow species’ traits to adapt to novel habitats that arose through the climate change process. High dispersal rates combined with moderate plasticity (lower extirpation risk) facilitated occupation of novel habitats, as did weak selective regimes. Main conclusions The interaction between dispersal, probability of local extirpation, and selection intensity were jointly required to understand the likelihood of species survival and how widespread they would be. Diversity and geographic occupancy were maximized when parameters facilitated evolutionary adaptation to novel habitats. High rates of dispersal were sufficient for habitat tracking but insufficient by themselves to allow occupation of newly emerged environments.

Arctic marine forest distribution models showcase potentially severe habitat losses for cryophilic species under climate change - Trevor T. Bringloe; David P. Wilkinson; Jesica Goldsmit; Amanda M. Savoie; Karen Filbee‐Dexter; Kathleen A. Macgregor; Kimberly L. Howland; Christopher W. McKindsey; Heroen Verbruggen (Global Change Biology, 2022)
The Arctic is among the fastest‐warming areas of the globe. Understanding the impact of climate change on foundational Arctic marine species is needed to provide insight on ecological resilience at high latitudes. Marine forests, the underwater seascapes formed by seaweeds, are predicted to expand their ranges further north in the Arctic in a warmer climate. Here, we investigated whether northern habitat gains will compensate for losses at the southern range edge by modelling marine forest distributions according to three distribution categories: cryophilic (species restricted to the Arctic environment), cryotolerant (species with broad environmental preferences inclusive but not limited to the Arctic environment), and cryophobic (species restricted to temperate conditions) marine forests. Using stacked MaxEnt models, we predicted the current extent of suitable habitat for contemporary and future marine forests under Representative Concentration Pathway Scenarios of increasing emissions (2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5). Our analyses indicate that cryophilic marine forests are already ubiquitous in the north, and thus cannot expand their range under climate change, resulting in an overall loss of habitat due to severe southern range contractions. The extent of marine forests within the Arctic basin, however, is predicted to remain largely stable under climate change with notable exceptions in some areas, particularly in the Canadian Archipelago. Succession may occur where cryophilic and cryotolerant species are extirpated at their southern range edge, resulting in ecosystem shifts towards temperate regimes at mid to high latitudes, though many aspects of these shifts, such as total biomass and depth range, remain to be field validated. Our results provide the first global synthesis of predicted changes to pan‐Arctic coastal marine forest ecosystems under climate change and suggest ecosystem transitions are unavoidable now for some areas.

Informing Nature‐based Climate Solutions for the United States with the best‐available science - Kimberly A. Novick; Stefan Metzger; William R. L. Anderegg; Mallory Barnes; Daniela S. Cala; Kaiyu Guan; Kyle S. Hemes; David Y. Hollinger; Jitendra Kumar; Marcy Litvak; Danica Lombardozzi; Caroline P. Normile; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
Nature‐based Climate Solutions (NbCS) are managed alterations to ecosystems designed to increase carbon sequestration or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While they have growing public and private support, the realizable benefits and unintended consequences of NbCS are not well understood. At regional scales where policy decisions are often made, NbCS benefits are estimated from soil and tree survey data that can miss important carbon sources and sinks within an ecosystem, and do not reveal the biophysical impacts of NbCS for local water and energy cycles. The only direct observations of ecosystem‐scale carbon fluxes, for example, by eddy covariance flux towers, have not yet been systematically assessed for what they can tell us about NbCS potentials, and state‐of‐the‐art remote sensing products and land‐surface models are not yet being widely used to inform NbCS policymaking or implementation. As a result, there is a critical mismatch between the point‐ and tree‐scale data most often used to assess NbCS benefits and impacts, the ecosystem and landscape scales where NbCS projects are implemented, and the regional to continental scales most relevant to policymaking. Here, we propose a research agenda to confront these gaps using data and tools that have long been used to understand the mechanisms driving ecosystem carbon and energy cycling, but have not yet been widely applied to NbCS. We outline steps for creating robust NbCS assessments at both local to regional scales that are informed by ecosystem‐scale observations, and which consider concurrent biophysical impacts, future climate feedbacks, and the need for equitable and inclusive NbCS implementation strategies. We contend that these research goals can largely be accomplished by shifting the scales at which pre‐existing tools are applied and blended together, although we also highlight some opportunities for more radical shifts in approach.

Influence of offshore oil and gas structures on seascape ecological connectivity - Dianne L. McLean; Luciana C. Ferreira; Jessica A. Benthuysen; Karen J. Miller; Marie‐Lise Schläppy; Matthew J. Ajemian; Oliver Berry; Silvana N. R. Birchenough; Todd Bond; Fabio Boschetti; Ann S. Bull; Jeremy T. Claisse; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
Offshore platforms, subsea pipelines, wells and related fixed structures supporting the oil and gas (O&G) industry are prevalent in oceans across the globe, with many approaching the end of their operational life and requiring decommissioning. Although structures can possess high ecological diversity and productivity, information on how they interact with broader ecological processes remains unclear. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the role of O&G infrastructure in maintaining, altering or enhancing ecological connectivity with natural marine habitats. There is a paucity of studies on the subject with only 33 papers specifically targeting connectivity and O&G structures, although other studies provide important related information. Evidence for O&G structures facilitating vertical and horizontal seascape connectivity exists for larvae and mobile adult invertebrates, fish and megafauna; including threatened and commercially important species. The degree to which these structures represent a beneficial or detrimental net impact remains unclear, is complex and ultimately needs more research to determine the extent to which natural connectivity networks are conserved, enhanced or disrupted. We discuss the potential impacts of different decommissioning approaches on seascape connectivity and identify, through expert elicitation, critical knowledge gaps that, if addressed, may further inform decision making for the life cycle of O&G infrastructure, with relevance for other industries (e.g. renewables). The most highly ranked critical knowledge gap was a need to understand how O&G structures modify and influence the movement patterns of mobile species and dispersal stages of sessile marine species. Understanding how different decommissioning options affect species survival and movement was also highly ranked, as was understanding the extent to which O&G structures contribute to extending species distributions by providing rest stops, foraging habitat, and stepping stones. These questions could be addressed with further dedicated studies of animal movement in relation to structures using telemetry, molecular techniques and movement models. Our review and these priority questions provide a roadmap for advancing research needed to support evidence‐based decision making for decommissioning O&G infrastructure.

Bridge to the future: Important lessons from 20 years of ecosystem observations made by the OzFlux network - Jason Beringer; Caitlin E. Moore; Jamie Cleverly; David I. Campbell; Helen Cleugh; Martin G. De Kauwe; Miko U. F. Kirschbaum; Anne Griebel; Sam Grover; Alfredo Huete; Lindsay B. Hutley; Johannes Laubach; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
In 2020, the Australian and New Zealand flux research and monitoring network, OzFlux, celebrated its 20 th anniversary by reflecting on the lessons learned through two decades of ecosystem studies on global change biology. OzFlux is a network not only for ecosystem researchers, but also for those ‘next users’ of the knowledge, information and data that such networks provide. Here, we focus on eight lessons across topics of climate change and variability, disturbance and resilience, drought and heat stress and synergies with remote sensing and modelling. In distilling the key lessons learned, we also identify where further research is needed to fill knowledge gaps and improve the utility and relevance of the outputs from OzFlux. Extreme climate variability across Australia and New Zealand (droughts and flooding rains) provides a natural laboratory for a global understanding of ecosystems in this time of accelerating climate change. As evidence of worsening global fire risk emerges, the natural ability of these ecosystems to recover from disturbances, such as fire and cyclones, provides lessons on adaptation and resilience to disturbance. Drought and heatwaves are common occurrences across large parts of the region and can tip an ecosystem's carbon budget from a net CO 2 sink to a net CO 2 source. Despite such responses to stress, ecosystems at OzFlux sites show their resilience to climate variability by rapidly pivoting back to a strong carbon sink upon the return of favourable conditions. Located in under‐represented areas, OzFlux data have the potential for reducing uncertainties in global remote sensing products, and these data provide several opportunities to develop new theories and improve our ecosystem models. The accumulated impacts of these lessons over the last 20 years highlights the value of long‐term flux observations for natural and managed systems. A future vision for OzFlux includes ongoing and newly developed synergies with ecophysiologists, ecologists, geologists, remote sensors and modellers.

Systematic review of the odorous volatile compounds that contribute to flavour profiles of aquatic animals - Ben C. Jones; Melissa M. Rocker; Russell S. J. Keast; Damien L. Callahan; Hannah J. Redmond; Richard P. Smullen; David S. Francis (Reviews in Aquaculture, 2022)
The flavour of aquatic animal products is distinct from terrestrial foods, facilitating a competitive marketing advantage. However, the flavour of aquatic animals can also be highly variable. Importantly, differences are reported in the flavour of animals from aquaculture and wild‐capture systems. These differences can erode consumer acceptance of aquaculture products and reduce financial returns to producers. Mild ‘fish‐like’, ‘marine’, ‘crustacean‐like’, ‘seafood’ and ‘sweet’ odours are desirable. However, overt ‘fish‐like’, ‘fatty’ and ‘earthy’ odours are quality deficits and cause products to become unpalatable. Odorous volatile compounds are responsible for eliciting these characteristic odours. In this literature review, the odorous volatile compounds of 96 aquatic animal samples are reported, revealing 291 different compounds. Generalist compounds that are integral to the odour of aquatic animals are presented in addition to 86 compounds that elicit key characteristic odours. The influence of these compounds on aquatic animal flavour is explored and the specific factors likely to affect their manipulation in aquaculture products are discussed. The culture environment and diet are critical factors affecting volatile profiles of aquatic animals and are the variables that can be controlled by aquaculture producers. The information presented in this review can underpin the development of innovative aquaculture strategies that prevent environmental exposure of aquatic animals to unpalatable volatile compounds and facilitate the development of aquaculture diets that optimise the volatile profile of edible tissues.

Corrigendum: Large Vessel Activity and Low-Frequency Underwater Sound Benchmarks in United States Waters - Samara M. Haver; Jeffrey D. Adams; Leila T. Hatch; Sofie M. Van Parijs; Robert P. Dziak; Joseph Haxel; Scott A. Heppell; Megan F. McKenna; David K. Mellinger; Jason Gedamke (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)

A Model-Based Approach to Bridging Plasma and Dried Blood Spot Concentration Data for Phase 3 Verubecestat Trials - Marissa F. Dockendorf; David Jaworowicz; Rebecca Humphrey; Melanie Anderson; Sheila Breidinger; Lei Ma; Theresa Taylor; Nicole Dupre; Christopher Jones; Christine Furtek; Bhavna Kantesaria; Kevin P. Bateman; et al. (The AAPS Journal, 2022)

Increasing trees and high-albedo surfaces decreases heat impacts and mortality in Los Angeles, CA - Laurence S. Kalkstein; David P. Eisenman; Edith B. de Guzman; David J. Sailor (International Journal of Biometeorology, 2022)
There is a pressing need for strategies to prevent the heat-health impacts of climate change. Cooling urban areas through adding trees and vegetation and increasing solar reflectance of roofs and pavements with higher albedo surface materials are recommended strategies for mitigating the urban heat island. We quantified how various tree cover and albedo scenarios would impact heat-related mortality, temperature, humidity, and oppressive air masses in Los Angeles, California, and quantified the number of years that climate change–induced warming could be delayed in Los Angeles if interventions were implemented. Using synoptic climatology, we used meteorological data for historical summer heat waves, classifying days into discrete air mass types. We analyzed those data against historical mortality data to determine excess heat-related mortality. We then used the Weather Research and Forecasting model to explore the effects that tree cover and albedo scenarios would have, correlating the resultant meteorological data with standardized mortality data algorithms to quantify potential reductions in mortality. We found that roughly one in four lives currently lost during heat waves could be saved. We also found that climate change–induced warming could be delayed approximately 40–70 years under business-as-usual and moderate mitigation scenarios, respectively.

Volcano infrasound: progress and future directions - Leighton M. Watson; Alexandra M. Iezzi; Liam Toney; Sean P. Maher; David Fee; Kathleen McKee; Hugo D. Ortiz; Robin S. Matoza; Julia E. Gestrich; Jordan W. Bishop; Alex J. C. Witsil; Jacob F. Anderson; et al. (Bulletin of Volcanology, 2022)
Over the past two decades (2000–2020), volcano infrasound (acoustic waves with frequencies less than 20 Hz propagating in the atmosphere) has evolved from an area of academic research to a useful monitoring tool. As a result, infrasound is routinely used by volcano observatories around the world to detect, locate, and characterize volcanic activity. It is particularly useful in confirming subaerial activity and monitoring remote eruptions, and it has shown promise in forecasting paroxysmal activity at open-vent systems. Fundamental research on volcano infrasound is providing substantial new insights on eruption dynamics and volcanic processes and will continue to do so over the next decade. The increased availability of infrasound sensors will expand observations of varied eruption styles, and the associated increase in data volume will make machine learning workflows more feasible. More sophisticated modeling will be applied to examine infrasound source and propagation effects from local to global distances, leading to improved infrasound-derived estimates of eruption properties. Future work will use infrasound to detect, locate, and characterize moving flows, such as pyroclastic density currents, lahars, rockfalls, lava flows, and avalanches. Infrasound observations will be further integrated with other data streams, such as seismic, ground- and satellite-based thermal and visual imagery, geodetic, lightning, and gas data. The volcano infrasound community should continue efforts to make data and codes accessible and to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field. In summary, the next decade of volcano infrasound research will continue to advance our understanding of complex volcano processes through increased data availability, sensor technologies, enhanced modeling capabilities, and novel data analysis methods that will improve hazard detection and mitigation.

On the Three-Dimensional Mechanical Behavior of Human Breast Tissue - Christian Goodbrake; David S. Li; Hossein Aghakhani; Alejandro Contreras; Gregory P. Reece; Mia K. Markey; Michael S. Sacks (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2022)

Cause of increased size of acipenseriform eggs infected with Polypodium hydriforme - Timothy M. Judd; Sara J. Tripp; David P. Herzog (Journal of Fish Biology, 2022)
Eggs of acipenseriform fish infected with the parasite Polypodium hydriforme become enlarged during later stages of development. This study examined if the increase in size is due to the increase in nutrients or water in the infected eggs and if the polypodium eggs affect the nutrient levels of the neighbouring eggs in the ovary. Infected and uninfected eggs were collected from parasitized Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula , hosts and unparasitized individuals. Levels of water, protein, carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids were determined for each egg. Although there were nutritional differences between eggs infected with P. hydriforme and uninfected eggs there was no indication that there was an increase in resource allocation to the infected eggs. The amount of water was much higher in infected eggs, suggesting the size increase was due to a greater influx of water. Levels of free amino acids were much higher in infected eggs and we hypothesize they could be used to increase the solute concentration to increase the influx of water, a mechanism that is also used by marine teleosts.

Global maps of soil temperature - Jonas J. Lembrechts; Johan van den Hoogen; Juha Aalto; Michael B. Ashcroft; Pieter De Frenne; Julia Kemppinen; Martin Kopecký; Miska Luoto; Ilya M. D. Maclean; Thomas W. Crowther; Joseph J. Bailey; Stef Haesen; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1‐km 2 resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1‐km 2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world's major terrestrial biomes, and coarse‐grained air temperature estimates from ERA5‐Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (−0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome‐specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near‐surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil‐related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications.

MASTREE+: Time‐series of plant reproductive effort from six continents - Andrew Hacket‐Pain; Jessie J. Foest; Ian S. Pearse; Jalene M. LaMontagne; Walter D. Koenig; Giorgio Vacchiano; Michał Bogdziewicz; Thomas Caignard; Paulina Celebias; Joep van Dormolen; Marcos Fernández‐Martínez; Jose V. Moris; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
Significant gaps remain in understanding the response of plant reproduction to environmental change. This is partly because measuring reproduction in long‐lived plants requires direct observation over many years and such datasets have rarely been made publicly available. Here we introduce MASTREE+, a data set that collates reproductive time‐series data from across the globe and makes these data freely available to the community. MASTREE+ includes 73,828 georeferenced observations of annual reproduction (e.g. seed and fruit counts) in perennial plant populations worldwide. These observations consist of 5971 population‐level time‐series from 974 species in 66 countries. The mean and median time‐series length is 12.4 and 10 years respectively, and the data set includes 1122 series that extend over at least two decades (≥20 years of observations). For a subset of well‐studied species, MASTREE+ includes extensive replication of time‐series across geographical and climatic gradients. Here we describe the open‐access data set, available as a.csv file, and we introduce an associated web‐based app for data exploration. MASTREE+ will provide the basis for improved understanding of the response of long‐lived plant reproduction to environmental change. Additionally, MASTREE+ will enable investigation of the ecology and evolution of reproductive strategies in perennial plants, and the role of plant reproduction as a driver of ecosystem dynamics.

Demographic composition, not demographic diversity, predicts biomass and turnover across temperate and tropical forests - Jessica F. Needham; Daniel J. Johnson; Kristina J. Anderson‐Teixeira; Norman Bourg; Sarayudh Bunyavejchewin; Nathalie Butt; Min Cao; Dairon Cárdenas; Chia‐Hao Chang‐Yang; Yu‐Yun Chen; George Chuyong; Handanakere S. Dattaraja; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
The growth and survival of individual trees determine the physical structure of a forest with important consequences for forest function. However, given the diversity of tree species and forest biomes, quantifying the multitude of demographic strategies within and across forests and the way that they translate into forest structure and function remains a significant challenge. Here, we quantify the demographic rates of 1961 tree species from temperate and tropical forests and evaluate how demographic diversity (DD) and demographic composition (DC) differ across forests, and how these differences in demography relate to species richness, aboveground biomass (AGB), and carbon residence time. We find wide variation in DD and DC across forest plots, patterns that are not explained by species richness or climate variables alone. There is no evidence that DD has an effect on either AGB or carbon residence time. Rather, the DC of forests, specifically the relative abundance of large statured species, predicted both biomass and carbon residence time. Our results demonstrate the distinct DCs of globally distributed forests, reflecting biogeography, recent history, and current plot conditions. Linking the DC of forests to resilience or vulnerability to climate change, will improve the precision and accuracy of predictions of future forest composition, structure, and function.

Actions to halt biodiversity loss generally benefit the climate - Yunne‐Jai Shin; Guy F. Midgley; Emma R. M. Archer; Almut Arneth; David K. A. Barnes; Lena Chan; Shizuka Hashimoto; Ove Hoegh‐Guldberg; Gregory Insarov; Paul Leadley; Lisa A. Levin; Hien T. Ngo; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
The two most urgent and interlinked environmental challenges humanity faces are climate change and biodiversity loss. We are entering a pivotal decade for both the international biodiversity and climate change agendas with the sharpening of ambitious strategies and targets by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Within their respective Conventions, the biodiversity and climate interlinked challenges have largely been addressed separately. There is evidence that conservation actions that halt, slow or reverse biodiversity loss can simultaneously slow anthropogenic mediated climate change significantly. This review highlights conservation actions which have the largest potential for mitigation of climate change. We note that conservation actions have mainly synergistic benefits and few antagonistic trade‐offs with climate change mitigation. Specifically, we identify direct co‐benefits in 14 out of the 21 action targets of the draft post‐2020 global biodiversity framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, notwithstanding the many indirect links that can also support both biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. These relationships are context and scale‐dependent; therefore, we showcase examples of local biodiversity conservation actions that can be incentivized, guided and prioritized by global objectives and targets. The close interlinkages between biodiversity, climate change mitigation, other nature's contributions to people and good quality of life are seldom as integrated as they should be in management and policy. This review aims to re‐emphasize the vital relationships between biodiversity conservation actions and climate change mitigation in a timely manner, in support to major Conferences of Parties that are about to negotiate strategic frameworks and international goals for the decades to come.

Global-Scale Environmental Niche and Habitat of Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) by Size and Sex: A Pivotal Step to Improving Stock Management - Jean-Noël Druon; Steven Campana; Frederic Vandeperre; Fábio H. V. Hazin; Heather Bowlby; Rui Coelho; Nuno Queiroz; Fabrizio Serena; Francisco Abascal; Dimitrios Damalas; Michael Musyl; Jon Lopez; et al. (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
Blue shark ( Prionace glauca ) is amongst the most abundant shark species in international trade, however this highly migratory species has little effective management and the need for spatio-temporal strategies increases, possibly involving the most vulnerable stage or sex classes. We combined 265,595 blue shark observations (capture or satellite tag) with environmental data to present the first global-scale analysis of species’ habitat preferences for five size and sex classes (small juveniles, large juvenile males and females, adult males and females). We leveraged the understanding of blue shark biotic environmental associations to develop two indicators of foraging location: productivity fronts in mesotrophic areas and mesopelagic micronekton in oligotrophic environments. Temperature (at surface and mixed layer depth plus 100 m) and sea surface height anomaly were used to exclude unsuitable abiotic environments. To capture the horizontal and vertical extent of thermal habitat for the blue shark, we defined the temperature niche relative to both sea surface temperature ( SST ) and the temperature 100 m below the mixed layer depth ( T mld+100 ). We show that the lifetime foraging niche incorporates highly diverse biotic and abiotic conditions: the blue shark tends to shift from mesotrophic and temperate surface waters during juvenile stages to more oligotrophic and warm surface waters for adults. However, low productivity limits all classes of blue shark habitat in the tropical western North Atlantic, and both low productivity and warm temperatures limit habitat in most of the equatorial Indian Ocean (except for the adult males) and tropical eastern Pacific. Large females tend to have greater habitat overlap with small juveniles than large males, more defined by temperature than productivity preferences. In particular, large juvenile females tend to extend their range into higher latitudes than large males, likely due to greater tolerance to relatively cold waters. Large juvenile and adult females also seem to avoid areas with intermediate SST (~21.7-24.0°C), resulting in separation from large males mostly in the tropical and temperate latitudes in the cold and warm seasons, respectively. The habitat requirements of sensitive size- and sex-specific stages to blue shark population dynamics are essential in management to improve conservation of this near-threatened species.

Brewer’s Spent Dry Yeast Modulates Immunity in Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) - Ioannis Konstantinidis; Joana P. Firmino; Alberto Ruiz; Bruno Iñarra; David San Martin; Alicia Estévez; Jorge M. O. Fernandes; Enric Gisbert (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
In this study, we evaluated the replacement of dietary protein sources like fishmeal (FM) and plant proteins (PP) by Brewer’s spent dry yeast (SDY) on the transcriptomic response (RNA-seq, NextSeq500 platform Illumina) in the liver, anterior-mid intestine, and head kidney in juveniles of gilthead sea bream ( Sparus aurata ). The inclusion of SDY at 30% in the experimental diet (40% crude protein, 16% crude lipid) resulted in a reduction in FM (10%) and PP (31.4%) contents. Using RNA-seq, a total of 19.4 million raw reads per library were obtained, from whose 99.8% of the sequenced data were retained. The alignment efficiency of uniquely mapped reads was 90.3, 89.5, and 89.8% for head kidney, liver, and anterior-mid intestine, respectively. In total, 218 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among all tissues, out of which, 141 were up- and 77 down-regluated. The enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed that SDY had a modulatory effect on several processes related to host’s immunity, oxygen’s carrier capacity, steroidogenesis, metabolism, and digestion. It is of special relevance the immunomodulatory effects of the tested ingredient as data from RNA-seq showed from the three target tissues analyzed. These results indicated that this ingredient in addition to being considered as a sustainable raw material for replacing conventional protein sources in aquafeeds may also be considered as a functional ingredient due to its content in β-glucans. The overall results of this study coupled with previous nutritional studies on this ingredient indicated the suitability of brewery’s by-products like SDY in aquafeeds for carnivorous species like gilthead seabream, as well as supporting a circular bioeconomy model that reuses, recovers, and recycles resources instead of producing wastes.

Restoring shallow lakes impaired by eutrophication: Approaches, outcomes, and challenges - Jonathan M. Abell; Deniz Özkundakci; David P. Hamilton; Paula Reeves (Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2022)

A Novel Plant-Produced Asialo-rhuEPO Protects Brain from Ischemic Damage Without Erythropoietic Action - Maotao He; Farooqahmed S. Kittur; Chiu-Yueh Hung; Jianhui Zhang; Li Jing; David C. Sane; P. Andy Li; Jiahua Xie (Translational Stroke Research, 2022)

Mammalian assemblages in Southern Mistbelt Forests of the northern Eastern Cape, and southern KwaZulu-Natal Provinces, South Africa, and their response to bordering land-use - Mbalenhle T. Sosibo; David A. Ehlers Smith; Yvette C. Ehlers Smith; S. Thobeka Gumede; Samukelisiwe P. Ngcobo; Colleen T. Downs (Mammalian Biology, 2022)

Ecosystem Services as a Promising Paradigm to Protect Environmental Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America: the Constitutional Court Landmark Decision to Protect Arroyo Bruno in Colombia - Luisa Gómez-Betancur; Sandra P. Vilardy Q.; David Torres R. (Environmental Management, 2022)

Evidence for near-source nonlinear propagation of volcano infrasound from Strombolian explosions at Yasur Volcano, Vanuatu - Sean P. Maher; Robin S. Matoza; Arthur Jolly; Catherine de Groot-Hedlin; Kent L. Gee; David Fee; Alexandra M. Iezzi (Bulletin of Volcanology, 2022)
Volcanic eruption source parameters may be estimated from acoustic pressure recordings dominant at infrasonic frequencies (< 20 Hz), yet uncertainties may be high due in part to poorly understood propagation dynamics. Linear acoustic propagation of volcano infrasound is commonly assumed, but nonlinear processes such as wave steepening may distort waveforms and obscure the sourcing process in recorded waveforms. Here we use a previously developed frequency-domain nonlinearity indicator to quantify spectral changes due to nonlinear propagation primarily in 80 signals from explosions at Yasur Volcano, Vanuatu. We find evidence for $$\le$$ ≤ 10 −3 dB/m spectral energy transfer in the band 3–9 Hz for signals with amplitude on the order of several hundred Pa at 200–400 m range. The clarity of the nonlinear spectral signature increases with waveform amplitude, suggesting stronger nonlinear changes for greater source pressures. We observe similar results in application to synthetics generated through finite-difference wavefield simulations of nonlinear propagation, although limitations of the model complicate direct comparison to the observations. Our results provide quantitative evidence for nonlinear propagation that confirms previous interpretations made on the basis of qualitative observations of asymmetric waveforms.

The New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum): autecology and management of a global invader - Jeremy A. Geist; Jasmine L. Mancuso; Morgan M. Morin; Kennedy P. Bommarito; Emily N. Bovee; Doug Wendell; Bryan Burroughs; Mark R. Luttenton; David L. Strayer; Scott D. Tiegs (Biological Invasions, 2022)

Dynamics and predicted distribution of an irrupting ‘sleeper’ population: fallow deer in Tasmania - Calum X. Cunningham; George L. W. Perry; David M. J. S. Bowman; David M. Forsyth; Michael M. Driessen; Matt Appleby; Barry W. Brook; Greg Hocking; Jessie C. Buettel; Ben J. French; Rowena Hamer; Sally L. Bryant; et al. (Biological Invasions, 2022)

Cattle influenza D virus in Brazil is divergent from established lineages - Mariana S. da Silva; Ana Cristina S. Mosena; Letícia Baumbach; Meriane Demoliner; Juliana S. Gularte; Saulo P. Pavarini; David Driemeier; Matheus N. Weber; Fernando R. Spilki; Cláudio W. Canal (Archives of Virology, 2022)

Genomic analysis of a parasite invasion: Colonization of the Americas by the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni - Roy N. Platt; Winka Le Clec'h; Frédéric D. Chevalier; Marina McDew‐White; Philip T. LoVerde; Rafael Ramiro de Assis; Guilherme Oliveira; Safari Kinung'hi; Amadou Garba Djirmay; Michelle L. Steinauer; Anouk Gouvras; Muriel Rabone; et al. (Molecular Ecology, 2022)
Schistosoma mansoni , a snail‐borne, blood fluke that infects humans, was introduced into the Americas from Africa during the Trans‐Atlantic slave trade. As this parasite shows strong specificity to the snail intermediate host, we expected that adaptation to South American Biomphalaria spp. snails would result in population bottlenecks and strong signatures of selection. We scored 475,081 single nucleotide variants in 143 S. mansoni from the Americas (Brazil, Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico) and Africa (Cameroon, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda), and used these data to ask: (i) Was there a population bottleneck during colonization? (ii) Can we identify signatures of selection associated with colonization? (iii) What were the source populations for colonizing parasites? We found a 2.4‐ to 2.9‐fold reduction in diversity and much slower decay in linkage disequilibrium (LD) in parasites from East to West Africa. However, we observed similar nuclear diversity and LD in West Africa and Brazil, suggesting no strong bottlenecks and limited barriers to colonization. We identified five genome regions showing selection in the Americas, compared with three in West Africa and none in East Africa, which we speculate may reflect adaptation during colonization. Finally, we infer that unsampled populations from central African regions between Benin and Angola, with contributions from Niger, are probably the major source(s) for Brazilian S. mansoni . The absence of a bottleneck suggests that this is a rare case of a serendipitous invasion, where S. mansoni parasites were pre‐adapted to the Americas and able to establish with relative ease.

Drivers of fine‐scale diurnal space use by a coral‐reef mesopredatory fish - Alastair R. Harborne; David P. Kochan; Melanie M. Esch; Robert Y. Fidler; Matthew D. Mitchell; Drew W. Butkowski; Manuel González‐Rivero (Journal of Fish Biology, 2022)
The habitat preferences of many reef fishes are well established, but the use of space within these habitats by non‐site‐attached species is poorly studied. The authors examined the space use of a functionally important mesopredator, graysby ( Cephalopholis cruentata ), on six patch reefs in the Florida Keys. A 1 m 2 ‐scale grid was constructed on each reef and 16 individual C. cruentata were tracked diurnally in situ to identify space use. At the patch reef scale, larger C. cruentata were more active and had larger observed home ranges, although home ranges were also affected by fish density and the abundances of prey and predators. The total time in each 1 m 2 grid cell was regressed against a range of fine‐scale biotic variables, including multiple variables derived from structure‐from‐motion three‐dimensional digital reconstructions of each reef. Nonetheless, time in grid cells (preferred microhabitats) was only significantly positively correlated with the height of carbonate structures, likely because the cavities they enclose are particularly suitable for predator avoidance, resting and ambushing prey. The ongoing flattening of reefs in the region caused by negative carbonate budgets is thus likely to have significant effects on the abundance and space use of C. cruentata . In addition to examining spatial patterns, we analysed C. cruentata waiting times in each grid cell before moving. These times were best approximated by a truncated power‐law (heavy‐tailed) distribution, indicating a “bursty” pattern of relatively long periods of inactivity interspersed with multiple periods of activity. Such a pattern has previously been identified in a range of temperate ambush predators, and the authors extend this move‐wait behaviour, which may optimize foraging success, to a reef fish for the first time. Understanding how C. cruentata uses space and time is critical to fully identify their functional role and better predict the implications of fishing and loss of reef structure.

Strong and lasting impacts of past global warming on baleen whales and their prey - Andrea A. Cabrera; Elena Schall; Martine Bérubé; Pia Anderwald; Lutz Bachmann; Simon Berrow; Peter B. Best; Phillip J. Clapham; Haydée A. Cunha; Luciano Dalla Rosa; Carolina Dias; Kenneth P. Findlay; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
Global warming is affecting the population dynamics and trophic interactions across a wide range of ecosystems and habitats. Translating these real‐time effects into their long‐term consequences remains a challenge. The rapid and extreme warming period that occurred after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition (7–12 thousand years ago) provides an opportunity to gain insights into the long‐term responses of natural populations to periods with global warming. The effects of this post‐LGM warming period have been assessed in many terrestrial taxa, whereas insights into the impacts of rapid global warming on marine taxa remain limited, especially for megafauna. In order to understand how large‐scale climate fluctuations during the post‐LGM affected baleen whales and their prey, we conducted an extensive, large‐scale analysis of the long‐term effects of the post‐LGM warming on abundance and inter‐ocean connectivity in eight baleen whale and seven prey (fish and invertebrates) species across the Southern and the North Atlantic Ocean; two ocean basins that differ in key oceanographic features. The analysis was based upon 7032 mitochondrial DNA sequences as well as genome‐wide DNA sequence variation in 100 individuals. The estimated temporal changes in genetic diversity during the last 30,000 years indicated that most baleen whale populations underwent post‐LGM expansions in both ocean basins. The increase in baleen whale abundance during the Holocene was associated with simultaneous changes in their prey and climate. Highly correlated, synchronized and exponential increases in abundance in both baleen whales and their prey in the Southern Ocean were indicative of a dramatic increase in ocean productivity. In contrast, the demographic fluctuations observed in baleen whales and their prey in the North Atlantic Ocean were subtle, varying across taxa and time. Perhaps most important was the observation that the ocean‐wide expansions and decreases in abundance that were initiated by the post‐LGM global warming, continued for millennia after global temperatures stabilized, reflecting persistent, long‐lasting impacts of global warming on marine fauna.

2‐Aminoethylphosphonate utilization in Pseudomonas putida BIRD ‐1 is controlled by multiple master regulators - Andrew R. J. Murphy; David J. Scanlan; Yin Chen; Gary D. Bending; John P. Hammond; Elizabeth M. H. Wellington; Ian D. E. A. Lidbury (Environmental Microbiology, 2022)
Summary Bacteria possess various regulatory mechanisms to detect and coordinate a response to elemental nutrient limitation. In pseudomonads, the two‐component system regulators CbrAB, NtrBC and PhoBR, are responsible for regulating cellular response to carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) respectively. Phosphonates are reduced organophosphorus compounds produced by a broad range of biota and typified by a direct C‐P bond. Numerous pseudomonads can use the environmentally abundant phosphonate species 2‐aminoethylphosphonate (2AEP) as a source of C, N, or P, but only PhoBR has been shown to play a role in 2AEP utilization. On the other hand, utilization of 2AEP as a C and N source is considered substrate inducible. Here, using the plant‐growth‐promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas putida BIRD‐1 we present evidence that 2AEP utilization is under dual regulation and only occurs upon depletion of C, N, or P, controlled by CbrAB, NtrBC, or PhoBR respectively. However, the presence of 2AEP was necessary for full gene expression, i.e. expression was substrate inducible. Mutation of a LysR‐type regulator, termed AepR, upstream of the 2AEP transaminase‐phosphonatase system (PhnWX), confirmed this dual regulatory mechanism. To our knowledge, this is the first study identifying coordination between global stress response and substrate‐specific regulators in phosphonate metabolism.

Cyanobacteria species dominance and diversity in three Australian drinking water reservoirs - Benny Zuse Rousso; Edoardo Bertone; Rodney A. Stewart; Sara P. Hughes; Peter Hobson; David P. Hamilton (Hydrobiologia, 2022)
The objective of this study was to identify correlations between environmental variables and cyanobacterial diversity, succession and dominance in three Australian water supply reservoirs. We assessed up to 15 years of in-lake water quality monitoring data from Lake Wivenhoe and Lake Tingalpa (Queensland), and Lake Myponga (South Australia). Lakes Wivenhoe and Tingalpa, subject to a subtropical climate, had higher cyanobacterial richness than Lake Myponga in temperate South Australia. Richness in the subtropical lakes was positively correlated ( P < 0.05) with total cyanobacteria biomass, and cyanobacteria biovolume > 0.03 mm 3 /l (Alert level 1; World Health Organization) was often composed of multiple cyanobacteria species. Peaks in total cyanobacteria biomass and diversity occurred in all three lakes from late spring to early autumn. Unicellular picocyanobacterial dominance was negatively correlated ( P < 0.05) with total nitrogen while dominance of colonial and filamentous species with larger cells (e.g. Microcystis spp., Raphidiopsis spp., Dolichospermum circinale ) was positively correlated ( P < 0.05) with total phosphorus. Among the species with larger cells, diazotrophic D. circinale often dominated when total nitrogen was at low concentrations. Our results support decision making for selecting cyanoHAB control strategies based on single- or multi-species dominance and reinforce that new monitoring technologies could support species-level assessments.

Estimating groundwater mean transit time from SF6 in stream water: field example and planning metrics for a reach mass-balance approach - Craig R. Jensen; David P. Genereux; Troy E. Gilmore; D. Kip Solomon; Aaron R. Mittelstet; C. Eric Humphrey; Markus R. MacNamara; Caner Zeyrek; Vitaly A. Zlotnik (Hydrogeology Journal, 2022)

Determining the influence of abiotic factors on spatial–temporal patterns of marine catfish (family: Ariidae) within the Apalachicola Bay System, Florida - Barry W. Walton; Charles F. Cotton; David A. Gandy; Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes (Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2022)

Rifting and recharge as triggers of the mixed basalt–rhyolite Halarauður ignimbrite eruption (Krafla, Iceland) - Shane M. Rooyakkers; John Stix; Kim Berlo; Daniele Morgavi; Maurizio Petrelli; Monika K. Rusiecka; Simon J. Barker; Bruce L. A. Charlier; David A. Neave; Francesco P. Vetere; Diego Perugini (Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 2022)

Maternal lactational investment is higher for sons in chimpanzees - Iulia Bădescu; David P. Watts; M. Anne Katzenberg; Daniel W. Sellen (Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2022)
Maternal lactational investment can affect female reproductive rates and offspring survival in mammals and can be biased towards infants of one sex. We compared estimates of lactation effort among mothers, assessed as their potential milk contribution to age-specific infant diets (mother-infant differences in fecal stable nitrogen isotopes, δ 15 N), to the timing of weaning (infant age at last nursing bout) and to maternal inter-birth interval lengths for male and female infant chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) at Ngogo, Uganda. Infant males had greater proportions of milk in their age-specific diets, indicated by higher mother-infant differences in δ 15 N (Generalized Estimating Equation, GEE: p p p Significance statement Maternal investment via lactation affects the reproductive success of female mammals and their offspring and can be biased towards infants of one sex. We investigated lactational variation among wild chimpanzees in relation to infant sex using three proxies for maternal lactational investment: fecal stable nitrogen isotopes, a physiological biomarker that may provide an estimate of lactation effort; observations of nursing, which we used to establish weaning ages; and the lengths of intervals between births of surviving infants. Chimpanzee mothers biased lactational investment toward sons on all three indicators and showed reduced fecundity due to longer inter-birth intervals for mothers of sons than for mothers of daughters. These results would be expected if greater maternal investment toward sons leads to better condition and higher reproductive success for sons later in life, thus to greater inclusive fitness for mothers.

Can artificial light promote submerged macrophyte growth in summer? - Chao Xu; Hai-Jun Wang; Yan Li; Chi Xu; Qing Yu; Miao Liu; Miao Zhang; Hong-Zhu Wang; David P. Hamilton; Erik Jeppesen (Aquatic Ecology, 2022)

Global biogeographic patterns of avian morphological diversity - Emma C. Hughes; David P. Edwards; Jen A. Bright; Elliot J.R. Capp; Christopher R. Cooney; Zoë K. Varley; Gavin H. Thomas (Ecology Letters, 2022)
Understanding the biogeographical patterns, and evolutionary and environmental drivers, underpinning morphological diversity are key for determining its origins and conservation. Using a comprehensive set of continuous morphological traits extracted from museum collections of 8353 bird species, including geometric morphometric beak shape data, we find that avian morphological diversity is unevenly distributed globally, even after controlling for species richness, with exceptionally dense packing of species in hyper‐diverse tropical hotspots. At the regional level, these areas also have high morphological variance, with species exhibiting high phenotypic diversity. Evolutionary history likely plays a key role in shaping these patterns, with evolutionarily old species contributing to niche expansion, and young species contributing to niche packing. Taken together, these results imply that the tropics are both ‘cradles’ and ‘museums’ of phenotypic diversity.

Cover Image: Volume 25 Number 3, March 2022 - Joseph A. Tobias; Catherine Sheard; Alex L. Pigot; Adam J. M. Devenish; Jingyi Yang; Ferran Sayol; Montague H. C. Neate‐Clegg; Nico Alioravainen; Thomas L. Weeks; Robert A. Barber; Patrick A. Walkden; Hannah E. A. MacGregor; et al. (Ecology Letters, 2022)

AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds - Joseph A. Tobias; Catherine Sheard; Alex L. Pigot; Adam J. M. Devenish; Jingyi Yang; Ferran Sayol; Montague H. C. Neate‐Clegg; Nico Alioravainen; Thomas L. Weeks; Robert A. Barber; Patrick A. Walkden; Hannah E. A. MacGregor; et al. (Ecology Letters, 2022)
Functional traits offer a rich quantitative framework for developing and testing theories in evolutionary biology, ecology and ecosystem science. However, the potential of functional traits to drive theoretical advances and refine models of global change can only be fully realised when species‐level information is complete. Here we present the AVONET dataset containing comprehensive functional trait data for all birds, including six ecological variables, 11 continuous morphological traits, and information on range size and location. Raw morphological measurements are presented from 90,020 individuals of 11,009 extant bird species sampled from 181 countries. These data are also summarised as species averages in three taxonomic formats, allowing integration with a global phylogeny, geographical range maps, IUCN Red List data and the eBird citizen science database. The AVONET dataset provides the most detailed picture of continuous trait variation for any major radiation of organisms, offering a global template for testing hypotheses and exploring the evolutionary origins, structure and functioning of biodiversity.

CropPol : A dynamic, open and global database on crop pollination - Alfonso Allen‐Perkins; Ainhoa Magrach; Matteo Dainese; Lucas A. Garibaldi; David Kleijn; Romina Rader; James R. Reilly; Rachael Winfree; Ola Lundin; Carley M. McGrady; Claire Brittain; David J. Biddinger; et al. (Ecology, 2022)
Seventy five percent of the world's food crops benefit from insect pollination. Hence, there has been increased interest in how global change drivers impact this critical ecosystem service. Because standardized data on crop pollination are rarely available, we are limited in our capacity to understand the variation in pollination benefits to crop yield, as well as to anticipate changes in this service, develop predictions, and inform management actions. Here, we present CropPol, a dynamic, open, and global database on crop pollination. It contains measurements recorded from 202 crop studies, covering 3,394 field observations, 2,552 yield measurements (i.e., berry mass, number of fruits, and fruit density [kg/ha], among others), and 47,752 insect records from 48 commercial crops distributed around the globe. CropPol comprises 32 of the 87 leading global crops and commodities that are pollinator dependent. Malus domestica is the most represented crop (32 studies), followed by Brassica napus (22 studies), Vaccinium corymbosum (13 studies), and Citrullus lanatus (12 studies). The most abundant pollinator guilds recorded are honey bees (34.22% counts), bumblebees (19.19%), flies other than Syrphidae and Bombyliidae (13.18%), other wild bees (13.13%), beetles (10.97%), Syrphidae (4.87%), and Bombyliidae (0.05%). Locations comprise 34 countries distributed among Europe (76 studies), North America (60), Latin America and the Caribbean (29), Asia (20), Oceania (10), and Africa (7). Sampling spans three decades and is concentrated on 2001–2005 (21 studies), 2006–2010 (40), 2011–2015 (88), and 2016–2020 (50). This is the most comprehensive open global data set on measurements of crop flower visitors, crop pollinators and pollination to date, and we encourage researchers to add more datasets to this database in the future. This data set is released for non‐commercial use only. Credits should be given to this paper (i.e., proper citation), and the products generated with this database should be shared under the same license terms (CC BY‐NC‐SA).

FLOCponics: The integration of biofloc technology with plant production - Sara M Pinho; Jéssica P de Lima; Luiz H David; Maurício G C Emerenciano; Simon Goddek; Marc C J Verdegem; Karel J Keesman; Maria Célia Portella (Reviews in Aquaculture, 2022)
FLOCponics is an alternative type of aquaponics that integrates biofloc technology (BFT) with soilless plant production. The aims of this paper are to present a detailed overview of the FLOCponics system's designs and performance, discuss their sustainability, highlight the current challenges, and give directions for future research. Data sources include papers containing the keywords bioflocs and hydroponics, aquaponics and/or plant production. In view of the small number of publications and the lack of standardization in experimental design and system setup, it was concluded that FLOCponics is still in its initial research stage. With respect to the animal and plant yields in FLOCponics, inconsistent results were found. Some investigations presented better or similar yield results in this system compared to traditional cultures, while others found the opposite. One of the key challenges of using FLOCponics is the effective control of solids. Refining the system's design was the main recommended improvement. Moreover, this paper highlights that the commercial application of FLOCponics will require extensive research that clarifies its technical and economic aspects, originating from experimental or pilot‐scale setups with characteristics similar to commercial production. This review provides and discusses information that can be useful for the effective development of FLOCponics, guiding further research to make FLOCponics commercially feasible and thus contributing to sustainable aquaculture production.

Editorial: Sociality in the Marine Environment - David M. P. Jacoby; Culum Brown; Darren P. Croft; Janet Mann; Johann Mourier (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)

Genetic control of source–sink relationships in grain sorghum - Anuj Chiluwal; Ramasamy Perumal; Hari P. Poudel; Kebede Muleta; Troy Ostmeyer; Lauren Fedenia; Meghnath Pokharel; Scott R. Bean; David Sebela; Raju Bheemanahalli; Halilou Oumarou; Patricia Klein; et al. (Planta, 2022)

Allometric relationships of ecologically important Antarctic and Arctic zooplankton and fish species - Fokje L. Schaafsma; Carmen L. David; Doreen Kohlbach; Julia Ehrlich; Giulia Castellani; Benjamin A. Lange; Martina Vortkamp; André Meijboom; Anna Fortuna-Wünsch; Antonia Immerz; Hannelore Cantzler; Apasiri Klasmeier; et al. (Polar Biology, 2022)
Allometric relationships between body properties of animals are useful for a wide variety of purposes, such as estimation of biomass, growth, population structure, bioenergetic modelling and carbon flux studies. This study summarizes allometric relationships of zooplankton and nekton species that play major roles in polar marine food webs. Measurements were performed on 639 individuals of 15 species sampled during three expeditions in the Southern Ocean (winter and summer) and 2374 individuals of 14 species sampled during three expeditions in the Arctic Ocean (spring and summer). The information provided by this study fills current knowledge gaps on relationships between length and wet/dry mass of understudied animals, such as various gelatinous zooplankton, and of animals from understudied seasons and maturity stages, for example, for the krill Thysanoessa macrura and larval Euphausia superba caught in winter. Comparisons show that there is intra-specific variation in length–mass relationships of several species depending on season, e.g. for the amphipod Themisto libellula . To investigate the potential use of generalized regression models, comparisons between sexes, maturity stages or age classes were performed and are discussed, such as for the several krill species and T. libellula . Regression model comparisons on age classes of the fish E. antarctica were inconclusive about their general use. Other allometric measurements performed on carapaces, eyes, heads, telsons, tails and otoliths provided models that proved to be useful for estimating length or mass in, e.g. diet studies. In some cases, the suitability of these models may depend on species or developmental stages.

Maintenance of species boundaries within social aggregations of ecologically similar goby sister species - Jason D. Selwyn; Elizabeth P. Hunt; David S. Portnoy; J. Derek Hogan (Marine Biology, 2022)

Results of Engineering, Primary Care, Oncology Collaborative Regarding a Survey of Primary Care on a Re-Engineered Survivorship Care Plan - Taylor P. Stewart; Mary E. Sesto; James E. Haine; Mary F. Henningfield; Kirsten Norslien; Xiao Zhang; David L. Hahn; Amye J. Tevaarwerk (Journal of Cancer Education, 2022)

Understanding the ancillary ligand effect on luminescent cyclometalated Ir(III) complex as a reporter for 2-acetylaminofluorene DNA(AAF-dG) adduct - P. David Dayanidhi; V. G. Vaidyanathan (JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 2022)

Antifeedant properties and contact toxicities of the trichocellins A-I and B-II from a Trichoderma reesei against Plutella xylostella larvae - Pamoda B. Ratnaweera; D. P. Hasini Madhushika; J. M. Nisansala M. Jayasundara; David E. Williams; E. Dilip de Silva; Raymond J. Andersen (International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2022)

Cancer microenvironment and genomics: evolution in process - Stanley P. Leong; Isaac P. Witz; Orit Sagi-Assif; Sivan Izraely; Jonathan Sleeman; Brian Piening; Bernard A. Fox; Carlo B. Bifulco; Rachel Martini; Lisa Newman; Melissa Davis; Lauren M. Sanders; et al. (Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, 2022)

Mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis - S. David Nathanson; Michael Detmar; Timothy P. Padera; Lucy R. Yates; Danny R. Welch; Thomas C. Beadnell; Adam D. Scheid; Emma D. Wrenn; Kevin Cheung (Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, 2022)
Invasive breast cancer tends to metastasize to lymph nodes and systemic sites. The management of metastasis has evolved by focusing on controlling the growth of the disease in the breast/chest wall, and at metastatic sites, initially by surgery alone, then by a combination of surgery with radiation, and later by adding systemic treatments in the form of chemotherapy, hormone manipulation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and other treatments aimed at inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. It would be valuable for us to know how breast cancer metastasizes; such knowledge would likely encourage the development of therapies that focus on mechanisms of metastasis and might even allow us to avoid toxic therapies that are currently used for this disease. For example, if we had a drug that targeted a gene that is critical for metastasis, we might even be able to cure a vast majority of patients with breast cancer. By bringing together scientists with expertise in molecular aspects of breast cancer metastasis, and those with expertise in the mechanical aspects of metastasis, this paper probes interesting aspects of the metastasis cascade, further enlightening us in our efforts to improve the outcome from breast cancer treatments.

Societal implications of a changing Arctic Ocean - Henry P. Huntington; Andrey Zagorsky; Bjørn P. Kaltenborn; Hyoung Chul Shin; Jackie Dawson; Maija Lukin; Parnuna Egede Dahl; Peiqing Guo; David N. Thomas (Ambio, 2022)
The Arctic Ocean is undergoing rapid change: sea ice is being lost, waters are warming, coastlines are eroding, species are moving into new areas, and more. This paper explores the many ways that a changing Arctic Ocean affects societies in the Arctic and around the world. In the Arctic, Indigenous Peoples are again seeing their food security threatened and cultural continuity in danger of disruption. Resource development is increasing as is interest in tourism and possibilities for trans-Arctic maritime trade, creating new opportunities and also new stresses. Beyond the Arctic, changes in sea ice affect mid-latitude weather, and Arctic economic opportunities may re-shape commodities and transportation markets. Rising interest in the Arctic is also raising geopolitical tensions about the region. What happens next depends in large part on the choices made within and beyond the Arctic concerning global climate change and industrial policies and Arctic ecosystems and cultures.

Next‐generation phylogeography resolves post‐glacial colonization patterns in a widespread carnivore, the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), in Europe - Allan D. McDevitt; Ilaria Coscia; Samuel S. Browett; Aritz Ruiz‐González; Mark J. Statham; Iwona Ruczyńska; Liam Roberts; Joanna Stojak; Alain C. Frantz; Karin Norén; Erik O. Ågren; Jane Learmount; et al. (Molecular Ecology, 2022)
Carnivores tend to exhibit a lack of (or less pronounced) genetic structure at continental scales in both a geographic and temporal sense and this can confound the identification of post‐glacial colonization patterns in this group. In this study we used genome‐wide data (using genotyping by sequencing [GBS]) to reconstruct the phylogeographic history of a widespread carnivore, the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), by investigating broad‐scale patterns of genomic variation, differentiation and admixture amongst contemporary populations in Europe. Using 15,003 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 524 individuals allowed us to identify the importance of refugial regions for the red fox in terms of endemism (e.g., Iberia). In addition, we tested multiple post‐glacial recolonization scenarios of previously glaciated regions during the Last Glacial Maximum using an Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) approach that were unresolved from previous studies. This allowed us to identify the role of admixture from multiple source population post‐Younger Dryas in the case of Scandinavia and ancient land‐bridges in the colonization of the British Isles. A natural colonization of Ireland was deemed more likely than an ancient human‐mediated introduction as has previously been proposed and potentially points to a larger mammalian community on the island in the early post‐glacial period. Using genome‐wide data has allowed us to tease apart broad‐scale patterns of structure and diversity in a widespread carnivore in Europe that was not evident from using more limited marker sets and provides a foundation for next‐generation phylogeographic studies in other non‐model species.

Tropical tree growth sensitivity to climate is driven by species intrinsic growth rate and leaf traits - David Bauman; Claire Fortunel; Lucas A. Cernusak; Lisa P. Bentley; Sean M. McMahon; Sami W. Rifai; Jesús Aguirre‐Gutiérrez; Imma Oliveras; Matt Bradford; Susan G. W. Laurance; Guillaume Delhaye; Michael F. Hutchinson; et al. (Global Change Biology, 2022)
A better understanding of how climate affects growth in tree species is essential for improved predictions of forest dynamics under climate change. Long‐term climate averages (mean climate) drive spatial variations in species’ baseline growth rates, whereas deviations from these averages over time (anomalies) can create growth variation around the local baseline. However, the rarity of long‐term tree census data spanning climatic gradients has so far limited our understanding of their respective role, especially in tropical systems. Furthermore, tree growth sensitivity to climate is likely to vary widely among species, and the ecological strategies underlying these differences remain poorly understood. Here, we utilize an exceptional dataset of 49 years of growth data for 509 tree species across 23 tropical rainforest plots along a climatic gradient to examine how multiannual tree growth responds to both climate means and anomalies, and how species’ functional traits mediate these growth responses to climate. We show that anomalous increases in atmospheric evaporative demand and solar radiation consistently reduced tree growth. Drier forests and fast‐growing species were more sensitive to water stress anomalies. In addition, species traits related to water use and photosynthesis partly explained differences in growth sensitivity to both climate means and anomalies. Our study demonstrates that both climate means and anomalies shape tree growth in tropical forests and that species traits can provide insights into understanding these demographic responses to climate change, offering a promising way forward to forecast tropical forest dynamics under different climate trajectories.

A remote sensing‐based three‐source energy balance model to improve global estimations of evapotranspiration in semi‐arid tree‐grass ecosystems - Vicente Burchard‐Levine; Héctor Nieto; David Riaño; Wiliam P. Kustas; Mirco Migliavacca; Tarek S. El‐Madany; Jacob A. Nelson; Ana Andreu; Arnaud Carrara; Jason Beringer; Dennis Baldocchi; M. Pilar Martín (Global Change Biology, 2022)
It is well documented that energy balance and other remote sensing‐based evapotranspiration (ET) models face greater uncertainty over water‐limited tree‐grass ecosystems (TGEs), representing nearly 1/6th of the global land surface. Their dual vegetation strata, the grass‐dominated understory and tree‐dominated overstory, make for distinct structural, physiological and phenological characteristics, which challenge models compared to more homogeneous and energy‐limited ecosystems. Along with this, the contribution of grasses and trees to total transpiration ( T ), along with their different climatic drivers, is still largely unknown nor quantified in TGEs. This study proposes a thermal‐based three‐source energy balance (3SEB) model, accommodating an additional vegetation source within the well‐known two‐source energy balance (TSEB) model. The model was implemented at both tower and continental scales using eddy‐covariance (EC) TGE sites, with variable tree canopy cover and rainfall ( P ) regimes and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) images. 3SEB robustly simulated latent heat (LE) and related energy fluxes in all sites (Tower: LE RMSD ~60 W/m 2 ; MSG: LE RMSD ~90 W/m 2 ), improving over both TSEB and seasonally changing TSEB (TSEB‐2S) models. In addition, 3SEB inherently partitions water fluxes between the tree, grass and soil sources. The modelled T correlated well with EC T estimates ( r > .76), derived from a machine learning ET partitioning method. The T /ET was found positively related to both P and leaf area index, especially compared to the decomposed grass understory T /ET. However, trees and grasses had contrasting relations with respect to monthly P . These results demonstrate the importance in decomposing total ET into the different vegetation sources, as they have distinct climatic drivers, and hence, different relations to seasonal water availability. These promising results improved ET and energy flux estimations over complex TGEs, which may contribute to enhance global drought monitoring and understanding, and their responses to climate change feedbacks.

Cover Image - Alain Maasri; Sonja C. Jähnig; Mihai C. Adamescu; Rita Adrian; Claudio Baigun; Donald J. Baird; Angelica Batista‐Morales; Núria Bonada; Lee E. Brown; Qinghua Cai; Joao V. Campos‐Silva; Viola Clausnitzer; et al. (Ecology Letters, 2022)

A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research - Alain Maasri; Sonja C. Jähnig; Mihai C. Adamescu; Rita Adrian; Claudio Baigun; Donald J. Baird; Angelica Batista‐Morales; Núria Bonada; Lee E. Brown; Qinghua Cai; Joao V. Campos‐Silva; Viola Clausnitzer; et al. (Ecology Letters, 2022)
Global freshwater biodiversity is declining dramatically, and meeting the challenges of this crisis requires bold goals and the mobilisation of substantial resources. While the reasons are varied, investments in both research and conservation of freshwater biodiversity lag far behind those in the terrestrial and marine realms. Inspired by a global consultation, we identify 15 pressing priority needs, grouped into five research areas, in an effort to support informed stewardship of freshwater biodiversity. The proposed agenda aims to advance freshwater biodiversity research globally as a critical step in improving coordinated actions towards its sustainable management and conservation.

The relative importance of COVID‐19 pandemic impacts on biodiversity conservation globally - David W. Gibbons; Chris Sandbrook; William J. Sutherland; Rezvin Akter; Richard Bradbury; Steven Broad; Andy Clements; Humphrey Q. P. Crick; Joanna Elliott; Ngawang Gyeltshen; Melanie Heath; Jonathan Hughes; et al. (Conservation Biology, 2022)
The COVID‐19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on almost all aspects of human society and endeavor; the natural world and its conservation have not been spared. Through a process of expert consultation, we identified and categorized, into 19 themes and 70 subthemes, the ways in which biodiversity and its conservation have been or could be affected by the pandemic globally. Nearly 60% of the effects have been broadly negative. Subsequently, we created a compendium of all themes and subthemes, each with explanatory text, and in August 2020 a diverse group of experienced conservationists with expertise from across sectors and geographies assessed each subtheme for its likely impact on biodiversity conservation globally. The 9 subthemes ranked highest all have a negative impact. These were, in rank order, governments sidelining the environment during their economic recovery, reduced wildlife‐based tourism income, increased habitat destruction, reduced government funding, increased plastic and other solid waste pollution, weakening of nature‐friendly regulations and their enforcement, increased illegal harvest of wild animals, reduced philanthropy, and threats to survival of conservation organizations. In combination, these impacts present a worrying future of increased threats to biodiversity conservation but reduced capacity to counter them. The highest ranking positive impact, at 10, was the beneficial impact of wildlife‐trade restrictions. More optimistically, among impacts ranked 11‐20, 6 were positive and 4 were negative. We hope our assessment will draw attention to the impacts of the pandemic and, thus, improve the conservation community's ability to respond to such threats in the future.

Nitrogen Isotope Sclerochronology—Insights Into Coastal Environmental Conditions and Pinna nobilis Ecology - Melita Peharda; David P. Gillikin; Bernd R. Schöne; Anouk Verheyden; Hana Uvanović; Krešimir Markulin; Tomislav Šarić; Ivica Janeković; Ivan Župan (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
Pinna nobilis is a large bivalve endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that lives in shallow coastal areas. Due to its size and relatively fast shell growth rates, it is an interesting taxon for high-resolution study of nitrogen isotopes of carbonate bound organic matter (δ 15 N CBOM ). In this study we tested if P. nobilis shells can be used as an indicator of the nitrogen isotope baseline of the system, if it can provide high-resolution data on environmental δ 15 N variability, and if the chemical properties of the shell and biomineralization process change in response to mass mortality events spreading in the Mediterranean. Shells were opportunistically collected during 2019 and 2020 by skin diving, as a part of a project on mortality monitoring, from four shallow coastal localities in the eastern Adriatic. Shell powder for δ 15 N CBOM analysis was collected by milling sample swaths from the internal (low-resolution) and external (high resolution) shell surface. Significant differences in δ 15 N CBOM , obtained from the internal shell surface, were observed between sampling localities with different anthropogenic influences, with lowest values (∼3–4‰) recorded for shells obtained from Pag Bay, and highest (∼6–8‰) for shells sampled in Lim and Kaštela Bays. High-resolution samples from the external shell surface of Pinna nobilis showed spatial and temporal variations in δ 15 N CBOM values, with temporal resolution of 1–3 weeks. High-resolution δ 15 N CBOM data obtained from the shell Kas1 corresponded to a time interval from spring 2018 to summer 2019 and had a pronounced increase of δ 15 N CBOM values closest to the shell margin coupled with a decrease in δ 13 C shell values, indicating that this animal was experiencing stressful conditions several months prior to its death. According to our findings, δ 15 N CBOM values from P. nobilis shells can serve as an indicator of the isotopic baseline of the ecosystem potentially as a powerful tool to study bivalve physiology.

Seabird-Derived Nutrients Supply Modulates the Trophic Strategies of Mixotrophic Corals - Martin Thibault; Fanny Houlbreque; Nicolas N. Duprey; Noémie Choisnard; David P. Gillikin; Valentine Meunier; Francesca Benzoni; Andréas Ravache; Anne Lorrain (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2022)
The ability of corals to modulate their nutrition strategy in response to variable nutrient supply remains poorly understood, limiting our understanding of energy flow in coral reef ecosystems and thus our comprehension of their resilience to global changes. We used a naturally occurring nutrient gradient along the reef flat of two seabird-inhabited islets in the SW Pacific to characterize spatiotemporal fluctuations in coastal nutrient availability, and how it modulates the trophic response of the mixotrophic coral Pocillopora damicornis . The clear gradients in dissolved [NOx] and δ 15 N values of macroalgae and both P. damicornis tissues and symbionts observed along the reef flat during the dry and the rainy season revealed that seabird-derived-N is supplied year-round to the reef flat. Yet, nitrogen isotope values of macroalgae show that the seabirds’ effect on coral reefs varies with sites and seasons. Metrics derived from the SIBER framework revealed that coral nutrition seasonally favored autotrophy when exposed to higher seabird guano concentrations and at inshore stations, while heterotrophy dominated in corals less exposed to seabird-derived nutrient supply. P. Damicornis is therefore able to cope with large changes in nitrogen supply induced by seabird island communities by switching between autotrophy and heterotrophy. These results shed light on the flexibility of resource sharing within the coral-algae symbiosis and highlight the importance of seabird populations to the functioning of coral reef ecosystems.

Diatom Species that Characterize Saline Ponds (Southern Spain) with the Description of a New Navicula Species - David Fernández-Moreno; Pedro M. Sánchez-Castillo; Cristina Delgado; Salomé F. P. Almeida (Wetlands, 2022)

A new ~ 900-year varved record in Lake Walker, Québec North Shore, eastern Canada: insight on late Holocene climate mode of variability - Obinna P. Nzekwe; Francois Lapointe; Pierre Francus; Guillaume St-Onge; Patrick Lajeunesse; David Fortin; Jean-Philippe Jenny; Arnaud De Coninck; Édouard G. H. Philippe; Thibault Labarre (Journal of Paleolimnology, 2022)

Common, low-frequency, rare, and ultra-rare coding variants contribute to COVID-19 severity - Chiara Fallerini; Nicola Picchiotti; Margherita Baldassarri; Kristina Zguro; Sergio Daga; Francesca Fava; Elisa Benetti; Sara Amitrano; Mirella Bruttini; Maria Palmieri; Susanna Croci; Mirjam Lista; et al. (Human Genetics, 2022)
The combined impact of common and rare exonic variants in COVID-19 host genetics is currently insufficiently understood. Here, common and rare variants from whole-exome sequencing data of about 4000 SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals were used to define an interpretable machine-learning model for predicting COVID-19 severity. First, variants were converted into separate sets of Boolean features, depending on the absence or the presence of variants in each gene. An ensemble of LASSO logistic regression models was used to identify the most informative Boolean features with respect to the genetic bases of severity. The Boolean features selected by these logistic models were combined into an Integrated PolyGenic Score that offers a synthetic and interpretable index for describing the contribution of host genetics in COVID-19 severity, as demonstrated through testing in several independent cohorts. Selected features belong to ultra-rare, rare, low-frequency, and common variants, including those in linkage disequilibrium with known GWAS loci. Noteworthily, around one quarter of the selected genes are sex-specific. Pathway analysis of the selected genes associated with COVID-19 severity reflected the multi-organ nature of the disease. The proposed model might provide useful information for developing diagnostics and therapeutics, while also being able to guide bedside disease management.

Identifying Priorities, Targets, and Actions for the Long-term Social and Ecological Management of Invasive Non-Native Species - Pablo García-Díaz; Lía Montti; Priscila Ana Powell; Euan Phimister; José Cristóbal Pizarro; Laura Fasola; Bárbara Langdon; Aníbal Pauchard; Eduardo Raffo; Joselyn Bastías; Gabriella Damasceno; Alessandra Fidelis; et al. (Environmental Management, 2022)
Formulating effective management plans for addressing the impacts of invasive non-native species (INNS) requires the definition of clear priorities and tangible targets, and the recognition of the plurality of societal values assigned to these species. These tasks require a multi-disciplinary approach and the involvement of stakeholders. Here, we describe procedures to integrate multiple sources of information to formulate management priorities, targets, and high-level actions for the management of INNS. We follow five good-practice criteria: justified, evidence-informed, actionable, quantifiable, and flexible. We used expert knowledge methods to compile 17 lists of ecological, social, and economic impacts of lodgepole pines ( Pinus contorta ) and American mink ( Neovison vison ) in Chile and Argentina, the privet ( Ligustrum lucidum ) in Argentina, the yellow-jacket wasp ( Vespula germanica ) in Chile, and grasses ( Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa decumbens ) in Brazil. INNS plants caused a greater number of impacts than INNS animals, although more socio-economic impacts were listed for INNS animals than for plants. These impacts were ranked according to their magnitude and level of confidence on the information used for the ranking to prioritise impacts and assign them one of four high-level actions—do nothing, monitor, research, and immediate active management. We showed that it is possible to formulate management priorities, targets, and high-level actions for a variety of INNS and with variable levels of available information. This is vital in a world where the problems caused by INNS continue to increase, and there is a parallel growth in the implementation of management plans to deal with them.

Variations in Groundwater Level and Microtopography Influence Desert Plant Communities in Shallow Aquifer Areas - Ricardo Mata-González; Joshua P. Averett; Mohamed A. B. Abdallah; David W. Martin (Environmental Management, 2022)

Learning Environments and Evidence-Based Practices in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering - Kristen Billiar; Donald P. Gaver; Kenneth Barbee; Anita Singh; John D. DesJardins; Beth Pruitt; Joe Tranquillo; Glenn Gaudette; Beth Winkelstein; Lee Makowski; Jennifer R. Amos; Ann Saterbak; et al. (Biomedical Engineering Education, 2022)
This paper provides a synopsis of discussions related to the Learning Environments track of the Fourth BME Education Summit held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio in May 2019. This summit was organized by the Council of Chairs of Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, and participants included over 300 faculty members from 100+ accredited undergraduate programs. The Learning Environments track had six interactive workshops that provided facilitated discussion and provide recommendations in the areas of: (1) Authentic project/problem identification in clinical, industrial, and global settings, (2) Experiential problem/project-based learning within courses, (3) Experiential learning in co-curricular learning settings, (4) Team-based learning, (5) Teaching to reach a diverse classroom, and (6) Innovative platforms and pedagogy. A summary of the findings, best practices and recommendations from each of the workshops is provided under separate headings below, and a list of resources is provided at the end of this paper.

Evaluation of high-concentration EDTA-modified carbapenemase inactivation method (eCIM) for SPM-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Maxwell J. Lasko; Gabriel T. Cuba; Carlos R. V. Kiffer; David P. Nicolau (Archives of Microbiology, 2022)

Host‐pathogen‐environment interactions predict survival outcomes of adult sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ) released from fisheries - Amy K. Teffer; Scott G. Hinch; Kristina M. Miller; David. A. Patterson; Arthur L. Bass; Steven J. Cooke; Anthony P. Farrell; Terry D. Beacham; Jacqueline M. Chapman; Francis Juanes (Molecular Ecology, 2022)
Incorporating host‐pathogen(s)‐environment axes into management and conservation planning is critical to preserving species in a warming climate. However, the role pathogens play in host stress resilience remains largely unexplored in wild animal populations. We experimentally characterized how independent and cumulative stressors (fisheries handling, high water temperature) and natural infections affected the health and longevity of released wild adult sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ) in British Columbia, Canada. Returning adults were collected before and after entering the Fraser River, yielding marine‐ and river‐collected groups, respectively ( N = 185). Fish were exposed to a mild (seine) or severe (gill net) fishery treatment at collection, and then held in flow‐through freshwater tanks for up to four weeks at historical (14°C) or projected migration temperatures (18°C). Using weekly nonlethal gill biopsies and high‐throughput qPCR, we quantified loads of up to 46 pathogens with host stress and immune gene expression. Marine‐collected fish had less severe infections than river‐collected fish, a short migration distance (100 km, 5–7 days) that produced profound infection differences. At 14°C, river‐collected fish survived 1–2 weeks less than marine‐collected fish. All fish held at 18°C died within 4 weeks unless they experienced minimal handling. Gene expression correlated with infections in river‐collected fish, while marine‐collected fish were more stressor‐responsive. Cumulative stressors were detrimental regardless of infections or collection location, probably due to extreme physiological disturbance. Because river‐derived infections correlated with single stressor responses, river entry probably decreases stressor resilience of adult salmon by altering both physiology and pathogen burdens, which redirect host responses toward disease resistance.