Abiotic Research Articles

Host-parasite relationships are often shaped by coevolutionary arms races. While abiotic influences on these dynamics are well documented, a combined analysis of abiotic and biotic factors is essential for understanding coevolution, particularly under climate change. In this study, we analysed the interactions of the obligate social parasite Temnothorax americanus, a dulotic ant, and its primary host, the ant Temnothorax longispinosus, focusing on behavioural and cuticular hydrocarbon (CHCs) traits that govern parasite invasion and host defence. We studied the link between these traits and local climate as well as parasite prevalence. Our results revealed that behavioural interactions were more strongly associated with climate than parasite prevalence. Hosts from warmer, drier regions exhibited reduced aggression during parasite encounters, opting to pick up the brood and flee, while parasites from these regions exhibited greater aggression and activity. CHCs mediating enemy recognition in these ants were linked to local climate and parasite prevalence in both species. As all colonies were maintained under standardised conditions for a year, we attribute the observed phenotypic traits to evolutionary adaptation rather than phenotypic plasticity. Our findings suggest that both abiotic and biotic factors play critical roles in shaping co-evolving traits, sometimes leading to unexpected patterns that would potentially be overlooked when considering only a single factor. These insights provide a framework for understanding how climate influences coevolution of interacting species.

In contrast to conventional bottom-up self-organization in an abiotic environment, it remains a formidable challenge to construct mechanically interlocked and biologically active supramolecules in cells and organisms. Notably, the in-situ formation of polyrotaxane-type nanoarchitectures has not been reported, and their biological implication is unexplored. Here, it is report the first selective biosynthesis of polyrotaxane assemblies in living cells for combined tumor therapy. Four-armed porphyrins appended with lysine and glutamine residues are enzymatically coupled via overexpressed transpeptidase in malignant cells. The robust host-guest complexation between permethylated β-cyclodextrin and porphyrin not only drives the morphological conversion from disordered polymers to 2D polyrotaxanes, but also improves the structural integrity and photophysical performance of porphyrin scaffolds. The chemical modification of the cyclodextrin skeleton further enables the biofunctional diversification of intracellularly formed polyrotaxanes, as demonstrated by the covalent incorporation of a targeting motif and photoactivable prodrug for specific cytoskeletal disruption. The obtained polyrotaxane assemblies exhibit efficient singlet oxygen generation up to 221% and prolonged tumor retention over 120h, resulting in elevated photocytotoxicity and effective suppression of cell dissemination under light irradiation. The findings establish a unique in-cellulo assembling evolution for attaining topologically complex supramolecules and demonstrate an in-situ nanoformulation of biomedical agents in disease theranostics.

Animal colouration has been viewed as an adaptation shaped by both abiotic and biotic factors, balancing sexual attractiveness against predation risk. In studying predator-prey dynamics, using 3D models as prey surrogates is common, but material constraints can affect outcomes in both natural and seminatural settings. Here, we utilized 3D-printed models representing three colour morphs of sand lizards ( Lacerta agilis ) to investigate interactions with captive-bred pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus ) utilizing forced exploration experiments in an outdoor arena fitted with a grass carpet. The models adequately represented the lizard colouration across a reflectance spectral range of 330–800 nm. Our findings indicate that the pheasants generally exhibited a minimal response to static models, with significant differences observed only in younger birds (7–12 weeks old), demonstrating a higher alert response than adults. No effects were found relating to the colour morph or sex of the lizard models. These results suggest that immobile 3D-printed prey models may be insufficient to trigger natural predator responses in this predator-prey system, highlighting potential limitations of static models in eliciting predator reaction.

Increasing the tocopherol content in plant-derived foods not only improves their nutritional quality but may also enhance plant resilience against abiotic stress factors. Tyrosine catabolism is the origin of homogentisic acid, which constitutes the core aromatic ring in the structure of tocopherols. Two olive tyrosine aminotransferase genes, OeTAT1 and OeTAT2, have been cloned, and the corresponding recombinant proteins have been functionally validated. Both proteins showed significant differences in substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency. OeTAT1 protein exhibited a marked substrate preference for tyrosine (Km 0.57 mM and Vmax of 47.61 U mg−1), forming 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvic acid, which is the direct precursor of homogentisic acid. On the contrary, OeTAT2, with significantly lower catalytic activity, displayed broad substrate specificity and was less efficient with tyrosine (Km 6.80 mM and Vmax 5.72 U mg−1). The expression analysis of OeTAT1 and OeTAT2 during the development and ripening of fruits in seven olive cultivars, as well as in olive trees grown under water stress, suggests different roles for both genes. The data suggest that OeTAT1 seems to play a key role in tocopherol biosynthesis during olive fruit development, while OeTAT2 may be more closely associated with other metabolic pathways unrelated to tocopherol biosynthesis. Furthermore, both genes were found to be upregulated under water stress conditions in olive.

Low-temperature stress is a prevalent abiotic factor that severely restricts plant growth and development. NAC transcription factors play a critical role in plant adaptation to various abiotic stresses. In this study, we demonstrate that SlNAC90 regulates the expression of SlLOXC in tomato through direct binding, promoting the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid (JA) and positively modulating the plant's tolerance to low-temperature stress. Overexpression of SlLOXC significantly enhances JA accumulation under low-temperature stress and reduces the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas its knockout results in an opposing phenotype. Further investigations reveal that SlNAC90 interacts with SlNAC102 at the protein level, and the binding between the two enhances SlNAC90's regulatory effect on SlLOXC. In addition, SlMYC2, a key transcription factor in the JA signalling pathway, can directly bind to both SlNAC90 and SlNAC102, promoting their expression. This study uncovers the central role of the SlMYC2-SlNAC90-SlNAC102-SlLOXC module in regulating JA biosynthesis and clarifies the molecular mechanism by which this module participates in the response of tomato to low-temperature stress by modulating JA accumulation.

The observation on the diversity and abundance of mosquito species was conducted at 33 and 34 no. wards of Dhaka South City Corporation during March 2022 to February 2023. About 2297 mosquito larval samples of five species under three genera were recorded. Among five mosquito species Culex quinquefasciatus showed a high abundance (45%) and Aedes albopictus showed the lowest abundance (6%). Among the eight study spots, Aga Sadek Lane showed the highest abundance (15.06%) and Siddiq Bazar showed the lowest (8.23%). The Shannon diversity index H' was the highest (1.292) for Abdul Hadi Lane and the lowest (0.929) for Nazira Bazar, the Simpson index for diversity was the maximum (0.993) for the Siddiq Bazar and the minimum (0.978), for the Aga Sadek Lane, species evenness was the highest (0.049) at Aga Sadek Lane and the minimum was (0.039) at Siddiq Bazar, the highest community dominance was for Nazira Bazar (82.8%) and the lowest for Abdul Hadi Lane (64.2%). The representation of species richness was done using rarefaction curves. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to find out the relationship with the abiotic factors of habitat water. This study also revealed the relationship between mosquito vectors and diseases especially the impact of the abundance of dengue vectors (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) on occurrence of dengue cases and deaths. Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus populations were in peak at the months of October and September, respectively. Cases and dies were the highest in the month of December when the whole procedure from larvae to the end of incubation period completes. Bangladesh J. Zool. 53(2): 185-199, 2025

As our understanding of abiotic factors continues to grow, along with insights into the biological traits of organisms, so too does the sophistication of studies exploring global diversification and spatio-temporal distribution patterns. The global distribution of coastal Cafius rove beetles, combined with the endemic distribution patterns observed in its subclades, suggests repeated colonization of new regions via ocean surface currents, followed by local diversification and speciation. We reached these conclusions by reconstructing the Cafius phylogeny and a time-calibrated Cafius phylogeny, then conducting a spatio-temporal biogeographic analysis. Our study is based on sequences from 10 genetic loci, including six nuclear and four mitochondrial genes (6891 bp). Our findings support the monophyly of Cafius, with an estimated origin in the early Miocene (17.91 Ma) along the coasts of Europe and Australia. From this origin, transoceanic dispersal events led to the colonization of the coasts. These patterns suggest that ancestral Cafius lineages initially migrated to continental coastlines, with subsequent vicariance and in situ speciation. The directionality of these colonization events closely aligns with global ocean surface current patterns and the geological and climatic history of the regions involved. Biological adaptations likely facilitated their survival and subsequent diversification in coastal habitats worldwide.

The effect of high temperature on plant performance and survival is a topic of great interest given the ongoing rise in global heatwave frequency, duration, and intensity. The temperature at which photosystem II (PSII) is disrupted is often used as a proxy for photosynthetic heat tolerance. Our current understanding of PSII heat tolerance is predominantly shaped by 'snapshot' measurements that capture heat tolerance at a single point in time. However, growing evidence of dynamic thermal acclimation of PSII raises questions about the accuracy of current estimates of photosynthetic heat tolerance based on snapshot measurements. We believe that failing to account for acclimation may result in the underestimation of PSII heat tolerance and that the extent of acclimation can be predicted from leaf economic traits, leaf habit, plant water use strategies, photosynthetic pathway, and habitat. We also explore efforts to use spectroscopy techniques to predict acclimation, and the biotic and abiotic factors that may influence these predictions. Finally, we provide recommendations for the future incorporation of PSII heat tolerance and acclimation into models of the thermal limits of plant performance.

Influence of the strong 2015/16El Niño and extreme rainfall events on micro- and mesozooplankton in a coastal pelagic ecosystem of the western tropical Atlantic.

Understanding nonylphenol's aquatic fate: An integrated review of partitioning, natural attenuation, and contribution mechanism.

In late June 2021, multiple days of record-breaking heat caused an unprecedented amount of foliage death in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Portions of tree canopies with healthy green foliage prior to the heat changed to red or orange shortly after the event. The change in foliage color could be readily seen in satellite imagery and was corroborated as foliar death (heat scorch) by aerial surveys and extensive observations on the ground. To better understand the patterns and processes driving foliar death, we used satellite imagery to identify 293,546 ha of forest, or ~4.7% of forest area, that were damaged in western Oregon and Washington by this extreme heat event. Analysis of underlying drivers of the observed heat damage indicated greater sensitivity was related to abiotic factors such as sun exposure, aspect, and microclimate, as well as biotic factors like tree species and stand age, budburst phenology, and foliar pathogens impacting tree health. Iconic, culturally and economically significant species like western redcedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce were disproportionately sensitive to heat damage, including in old-growth stands where they are canopy dominants. These findings highlight the multifaceted challenges posed to forests by extreme heat waves, and the need to better understand their impact on forest ecosystems in a rapidly warming climate.

Effect of microbial succession on flavor perception during millet steamed bread dough fermentation: Insights from sight, taste and smell.

ABSTRACTShaped by ecological and evolutionary factors, microbial communities influence host health and resistance to environmental stressors. Ants that host diverse bacterial communities may rely on these communities for adaptation to different environmental conditions. This meta‐analysis investigates the proportion of Gram‐negative (GN) bacteria in ants' bacterial communities (gut and whole body) under contrasting environments at distinct scales: (i) arboreal vs. ground habitats and (ii) tropical vs. temperate zones. We hypothesize that ants under greater environmental variability (arboreal and in temperate zones) host higher proportions of GN bacteria, which are better suited to extreme ecological pressures. We analyzed data from 193 ant bacterial communities across 27 studies and found that ants from temperate regions and arboreal microhabitats do harbor higher proportions of GN bacteria compared to those from tropical regions or ground microhabitats. This suggests that GN bacteria may confer adaptive advantages in variable environments, potentially enhancing host resistance to stressors. Our findings underscore the role of abiotic ecological factors in shaping ant‐associated bacterial communities and highlight the need for further research on how GN bacteria contribute to insect survival in less stable environments. Future studies should explore the functional roles of GN bacteria in host resistance, particularly regarding climate change and ecosystem disruptions.

Insect pest populations are greatly influenced by abiotic factors, particularly temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall. Meteorological variables play a significant role in the seasonal dynamics of pest outbreaks, affecting their development, survival, and behavior. Previous studies have highlighted the strong correlations between environmental factors and pest populations, suggesting that climate change may intensify pest pressure on crops. An experiment was conducted at Adhartal farm, Integrated Farming System unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur during Kharif season 2022-23. Peak period of whitefly, jassid, Ladybird beetle, Spider, Dragonfly and damselfly recorded on 41st SW (i.e., 2nd week of October), 40th SW (i.e., 1st week of October), 37th SW (i.e., 3rd week of September), 45th SW (i.e. 2nd week of November), 44th SW (i.e., 1st week of November) and 40th SW (i.e., 2nd week of October). YMV was recorded maximum during 47th SW (i.e., 4th week of November). Sunshine and rainfall had positive and negative impact on spider population, respectively. First incidence of dragonfly was observed on 4 DOC and was available on the crop for about 101 days i.e., upto 104 DOC and attained one peak i.e., at 84 DOC. First incidence of damselfly was observed on 4 DOC and was available on the crop for about 101 days i.e., upto 104 DOC and attained one peak i.e., at 52 DOC. First incidence of YMV infection was observed on 32 DOC and was available on the crop for about 73 days i.e., upto 104DOC and attained one peak i.e., at 104DOC. It is imperative to identify natural predators and parasites, assess the degree of predation and parasitization, analyze abiotic factors conducive to their proliferation, and pinpoint safe biopesticides and biodynamics.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS), which is an effective tool for studying the functional genomics of organisms that are poorly amenable to genomic editing. The VIGS method is grounded in the plant’s post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) machinery and utilizes recombinant viral vectors to trigger systemic suppression of endogenous plant gene expression, leading to visible phenotypic changes that enable gene function characterization. This article details the application of VIGS in model organisms (Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana benthamiana) and a wide range of crops, with a special focus on the Solanaceae family, particularly pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). This review analyzes the design and structural elements of viral vectors used for VIGS, such as Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV), Broad Bean Wilt Virus 2 (BBWV2), Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), geminiviruses (CLCrV, ACMV), and satellite virus-based systems. It also critically examines the key factors that determine silencing efficiency. These factors encompass insert design, agroinfiltration methodology, plant developmental stage, agroinoculum concentration, plant genotype, and environmental factors (temperature, humidity, photoperiod). Particular attention is given to optimization strategies, such as the use of viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs). This article concludes with the achievements in using VIGS to identify pepper genes governing fruit quality (color, biochemical composition, pungency), resistance to biotic (bacteria, oomycetes, insects) and abiotic (temperature, salt, osmotic stress) factors, as well as genes regulating plant architecture and development. The results obtained demonstrate the advantages and limitations of VIGS, alongside future perspectives for its integration with multi-omics technologies to accelerate breeding and advance functional genomics studies in pepper.

Dams give rise to man-made water reservoirs. The most important positive effects are: flood protection, electricity generation, irrigation of agricultural land, and water storage for consumption. However, numerous authors emphasise the negative environmental impacts associated with these structures. These impacts include the interruption of the ecological corridor, alterations in the abiotic and biotic components of river valley ecosystems, and erosion of banks and riverbeds downstream of the dam. Nevertheless, it is asserted that the construction of dams has also created areas of natural value around many artificial water reservoirs in Poland. This article presents compiled data on nature-protected areas that have been originated from the establishment of 58 artificial water reservoirs formed as a result of the construction of a large dam in Poland. Out of the examined water reservoirs, 79.3% were linked to some form of nature protection. Particularly, protected landscape areas were prevalent in the vicinity of artificial water reservoirs, and nature reserves were designated on six of them. Examples include reservoirs where the entire area (Mietków Dam, Turawa Dam, Jeziorsko Dam) or a significant part (Goczałkowice Dam) has been covered by Natura 2000 nature protection. Examples are also given of reservoirs where the immediate surroundings have been covered by nature protection, as the damming of water has created marshy areas conducive to the creation of breeding grounds. These findings affirm that dams contribute positively to the advancement of certain nature conservation zones.

Abstract Introduction: The environment, which is the habitat of all living things and contains the natural resources necessary to sustain life, is an issue of vital importance for humanity. Methods: This study was conducted to examine the conceptual structures that form the concept of “environment” in the minds of 8th grade students and to reveal their cognitive understanding and perceptions. The study was conducted in a district located in eastern Türkiye. Results: Although students have a solid understanding of ecological concepts, especially those related to biotic elements, there is a clear need to deepen their awareness of the interconnectedness of environmental components, including abiotic factors and human impacts. Discussion: According to the results obtained from the study, although students have a certain level of conceptual structure, this is not considered sufficient. In addition, the fact that students associate the concept of environment with a narrow group of words suggests that their conceptual structures may be underdeveloped. Limitations: There may be some limitations in this study due to the scope of the study and the sample group. The subject of studying with a larger sample group and different techniques can be investigated. Conclusions: Using active learning strategies can deepen students’ understanding and emotional connection to the environment.

Although the effects of soil type, plant genotype, and pathogen invasion on plant rhizosphere microbiomes have been preliminarily explored, their relative contributions and interactive influences on rhizobacterial community assembly remain unclear. In this study, we used tomato as a model to evaluate the individual and combined impacts of these three factors on rhizosphere bacterial community structure and function within a unified experimental framework. Microbiome-based analyses revealed that soil type was the predominant driver, explaining 53.1% of structural and 49.6% of functional variation, followed by tomato genotype (15.6% and 36.1%, respectively) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) inoculation (2.1% and 0.9%). Notably, the interaction between soil type and tomato genotype exerted a stronger influence than any other factor combination. Total nitrogen emerged as the key abiotic factor shaping the taxonomic composition of rhizobacterial communities, whereas soil pH played a dominant role in determining their functional profiles. Distinct tomato genotypes harbored rhizobacterial communities with divergent taxonomic and functional compositions. Although pathogen inoculation triggered the recruitment of beneficial microbes by the host plants, its impact on rhizobacterial community assembly was considerably weaker compared with the effects of soil type and tomato genotype. These findings provide a framework for understanding how soil, host, and pathogen collectively shape rhizobacterial communities and offer insights for optimizing microbiome management in crop production.

ABSTRACTAquatic ecosystems have their abiotic and biotic factors constantly altered by various factors. Among them, water temperature is an abiotic factor that can significantly affect fish physiology, increasing energy demand, which can impact homeostasis and survival. Endocrine and metabolic changes and enzymatic modulation are referred to as stress responses, which can lead to oxidative stress, generating negative physiological effects when temperature limits are exceeded. Oxidative stress biomarkers used in combination can highlight the effects of a stressful condition. Here, we seek to understand how the species Astyanax lacustris, which is native to Brazil and has ecological and economic importance, as well as remarkable research potential, responds to changes in water temperature. Thus, we evaluated the effects of high (31°C ± 1°C) and low (15°C ± 1°C) thermal stress on the antioxidant defense system in the heart and kidneys of A. lacustris. Specimens were collected from artificial lakes in União da Vitória (PR) and exposed to different temperatures for periods of 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, or 96 h, with a control group mantained at 23°C ± 1°C. The results indicated that in the heart exposed to 31°C, there was modulation in the biomarkers superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH), while at 15°C only GPx activity was altered. In the kidneys of fish exposed to 31°C, there was a change in the activity of the biomarkers catalase (CAT), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), and lipid peroxidation (LPO), while at 15°C there was modulation of the glutathione reductase (GR) biomarker and changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Responses to heat stress were organ‐specific, influenced by temperature and exposure time. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated an association of glutathione‐dependent biomarkers at high temperatures in the kidneys, while responses in the heart were similar across temperatures. Overall, A. lacustris exhibited distinct antioxidant responses in different tissues under thermal stress, with kidney response being more sensitive to heat, while cardiac responses were less variable across treatments.

Arctic plants inhabit extremely cold environments and are exposed to a range of abiotic stress factors. Arctic species exhibit remarkable adaptability to multiple environmental challenges, including a short growing season, low summer temperatures, continuous 24-h daylight during the polar day, limited nitrogen availability in soils, water scarcity, and strong winds. This review examines the key features of growth, development, and reproduction in Arctic plants, as well as their physiological and genomic adaptations to extreme climatic conditions. While Arctic plants show remarkable physiological tolerance, community-level resistance varies regionally and remains an open question.