Understanding the mechanisms underlying species diversification remains a central question in evolutionary biology, with ongoing debates about the relative roles of natural selection, genetic drift, and geographic isolation in shaping biodiversity. Nierembergia linariifolia exhibits intraspecific variation recognized as taxonomic varieties. These varieties are distinguished by vegetative and floral traits and are distributed across lowland and highland areas of different ecoregions in South America. In this study, we integrate ecological niche and genetic analyses to investigate diversification drivers across N. linariifolia populations. Specifically, we assessed whether differentiation among varieties is related to current climatic conditions and explored the potential influence of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations on their diversification. Current distribution models reveal a strong association between varietal differentiation, ecoregions, and altitudinal gradients, which is also reflected in species’ bioclimatic envelope and climatic niche. Molecular dating indicates that the detected genetic divergences most likely occurred during the Early Pleistocene, preceding the diversification of the taxonomic varieties and suggesting that varietal divergence is more recent. Ecological niche models projected onto Pleistocene climatic scenarios show distinct responses to climate change among varieties, likely influencing their current diversification patterns. Overall, our findings support a relatively recent diversification process, consistent with ecological divergence probably driven by Pleistocene climatic fluctuations through a combination of allopatric, parapatric, and ecological processes.

The resin of Pinus densiflora (pine resin) serves as a natural reservoir rich in abietane-type diterpenoids, a structurally diverse class of secondary metabolites with notable pharmacological potential. To enhance the structural and biological diversity of diterpenoid-derived compounds, an extract diversification and transformation strategy was employed. Through this approach, a distinct series of unnatural abietane-phloroglucinol meroterpenoids (4a-4g) was generated via a three-component oxa-Diels-Alder reaction using a diterpenoid-enriched fraction as the substrate. The structures of the resulting compounds (4a-4g) were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Bioactivity screening revealed that compounds 4a and 4c reduced nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, the newly generated abietane-phloroglucinol meroterpenoids exhibited anti-inflammatory activity compared with the original extract and the individual abietane diterpenoids. These findings highlight the effectiveness of extract diversification as a powerful strategy for unlocking enhanced bioactive potential from natural resources.

Glomerulonephritis (GN) comprises a heterogeneous group of immune-mediated kidney disorders with substantial biological and clinical diversity. Current treatment still relies largely on broad immunosuppression, underscoring the need for mechanism-informed target discovery across GN phenotypes. We performed a program-guided integrative multi-omics study by combining cis-expression quantitative trait loci and cis-protein quantitative trait loci with GN genome-wide association datasets from UK Biobank, the GWAS Catalog, and FinnGen. Candidate genes were organized into four predefined mechanistic programs: cytokine/TNF signaling, cell-cycle/senescence-repair balance, complement/innate immune activation, and regulated cell-death/redox stress. Six GN-related outcomes were analyzed. Bayesian colocalization, cross-dataset meta-analysis, mouse knockout annotation, drug-repurposing assessment, network pharmacology, and rule-based evidence scoring were used to refine target prioritization. Integrative screening identified 42 transcriptomic and 12 proteomic putative targets, with the strongest enrichment in non-proliferative glomerulonephritis and primary membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Bayesian colocalization supported PPP2R1B in non-proliferative glomerulonephritis, SOD1 in IgA nephropathy, and CDK4 in primary membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Among 42 transcriptomic gene-outcome pairs taken forward, 11 were supported by cross-dataset meta-analysis. Proteomic meta-analysis supported several cross-dataset signals, including protective associations of ANXA5, GSR, and TNFRSF1B with glomerulonephritis. Across outcomes, complement/innate immunity and cytokine/TNF signaling formed the dominant shared backbone. After separating MHC-region signals for cautious interpretation, 31 non-MHC targets were retained for primary prioritization, with PPP2R1B, CDK4, and SOD1 comprising the top tier. This mechanism-centered integrative multi-omics study delineates shared and phenotype-enriched biological programs across the GN spectrum and identifies a prioritized set of candidate targets for future validation and therapeutic development.

Owing to its unique combination of extreme physical severity and exceptional biological diversity, the intertidal zone of rocky shores has long served as a model system for development of ecological theories and experimental tests of their predictions. This narrow interface between marine and terrestrial environments is a natural microcosm that presents organisms with rapid, extensive and often unpredictable variation in hydrodynamic forces, temperature, pH, oxygen availability and salinity. As ecologists struggle to predict the physical environment's effects on future community structure and function, it is essential to understand the physiological interactions among these factors and their role in ecology. Thus, the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of wave-swept rocky coasts provides an opportunity to exploit shoreline microcosms as a bellwether of climate change. Here, we review aspects of the intertidal environment that distinguish it from other microcosms and explore the nature of three smaller, embedded microcosms-tidepools, splashpools and the internal microcosms of individual organisms. Each of these systems comes with a distinct suite of physiological challenges and experimental potential. The variety of environmental interactions embodied by these microcosms positions rocky shores to continue serving as a model system for investigating environmental physiology, community ecology and the interplay between the two. This article is part of the theme issue 'Life in natural microcosms'.

Plants and pathogens engage in complex biochemical communication, mediated by proteins, specialized metabolites, phytohormones and phytohormone-mimicking compounds. These interactions drive a dynamic 'co-evolutionary arms race', as plants and microbes compete to gain an advantage, ultimately transforming the infection site into a distinct micro-ecosystem. Microbe-induced galls are abnormal plant organogenesis induced by specific pathogens, creating a niche where the pathogen manipulates the host plant machinery to ensure its own survival. Such galls adversely affect agricultural and horticultural productivity by stunting plant growth and causing deformities. However, the rapid cell proliferation in tumourigenesis, along with the mechanisms driving robust shoot and root re-differentiation, present exciting opportunities for innovative biotechnological applications. Therefore, elucidation of these mechanisms is crucial for advancing basic research with significant potential for agricultural applications. This review focuses on galls induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Rhodococcus fascians-two phytopathogens that utilize phytohormones as tumour-inducing molecules-to highlight the mechanisms underlying plant-pathogen interactions within this specialized microenvironment. It also explores the evolutionary adaptations and strategies of these pathogens. Gaining insight into these biological processes is key to understanding the mechanisms driving biological diversity and evolution, with implications extending beyond plant pathology into the broader field of molecular plant physiology. This article is part of the theme issue 'Life in natural microcosms'.

In October 2024, Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity agreed to a new multilateral mechanism to fund biodiversity conservation through the sharing of benefits from open biodiversity data. Biological databases hosting genetic and other biological data, known as digital sequence information (DSI), are central to the implementation of the mechanism. This paper assesses the new international agreement and its implications for DSI databases. We walk through the database provisions in COP16 Decision 16/2, which include notifying users and submitters about the mechanism, improving metadata on geographical location of sample collection, and consistency with open access, as well as consideration of the FAIR, CARE, and TRUST principles. Drawing on surveys, interviews, and a workshop with biological database managers, we identify practical and scalable measures including updating terms of use, revising submission procedures, and strengthening user communication. We also propose approaches to capture and report non-monetary benefits such as capacity building, publications, interoperability, and training. These actions illustrate how DSI databases can remain open, sustainable, and globally connected while supporting benefit-sharing from the use of DSI on genetic resources.

CLOSER TO SHORE, HIGHER MERCURY? INTERANNUAL VARIATION IN EXPOSURE AND FORAGING ECOLOGY IN COMMON MURRES.

Geometric morphometric analysis of facial sexual dimorphism in a contemporary sample: An application to sex prediction of ancient human remains.

Structural heterogeneity strongly influences forest ecological function, yet zone-specific spectral diagnostics remain limited. This study integrated Sentinel-2 imagery (2016, 2020, 2024) with field-observed ecological attributes across Foreground Area Density (FAD)-based structural zones in the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve, Poland. The aim was to evaluate whether open Sentinel-2 vegetation indices can capture ecological variation across structurally distinct forest zones using interpretable machine-learning models. Correlation and cluster analyses of 17 vegetation indices revealed substantial multicollinearity, supporting the selection of a reduced set of spectrally distinct indices for modelling. Extra Trees (ET) and LightGBM (LGBM) produced comparable predictive performance, although ET achieved equal or lower RMSE values in most zone × year combinations and was retained for interpretation. Test-set RMSE remained below one degradation class (0.70-0.96), 2.04 moisture units, 2.35 site-type categories, and 34.4years for stand age. Permutation importance and partial dependence analyses revealed clear zone-specific spectral-ecological relationships. Rare zones exhibited stronger stress-related spectral responses and greater variability in moisture and stand-age-related patterns, whereas Core zones displayed more stable response surfaces across years. NDRE emerged as the most consistent predictor across ecological attributes, while MCARI, NDMI, and CVI provided complementary information depending on the response variable. By combining FAD-based structural stratification, cluster-driven multicollinearity reduction, and interpretable ensemble learning, this framework provides a reproducible approach for linking spectral traits to ecological gradients across fragmentation contexts and supports open-data monitoring of fragmented forest landscapes.

Population admixture is a frequent outcome of range expansion among plants, animals, and fungi, and drives rapid genome diversification and adaptation. The globalization of winemaking has introduced domesticated European Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine strains into North America, promoting admixture between distantly related lineages. However, the degree that admixture has shaped biological diversity and adaptation within S. cerevisiae remains unclear. Here, we integrate population genetics, high-throughput phenotyping, and gene-trait mapping to characterize the evolutionary impact of S. cerevisiae admixture in North American wine regions. Whole-genome surveys of wine and oak-associated S. cerevisiae strains isolated from California reveal regional diversification of wine strains, with a subset clustering within the Pacific West Coast Wine (PWCW) clade. The PWCW clade is an admixed population derived from Wine/European and North American oak strains first described in Canada. Phylogenetic analyses further suggest that admixture within the PWCW clade has been driven by recent east-west dispersal of a North American Oak lineage into California. Solid-agar phenotyping revealed key wine and oak-associated traits selected for within PWCW clade strains, including stress resistance, nitrogen utilization, and temperature tolerance, while high-throughput microvinifications showed strong association between phylogenetic placement, fermentation completeness, and metabolite production. Genome-wide association identified loci underlying adaptive phenotypes, including copy number variation and chromosomal rearrangements linked to key stress resistance traits. Collectively, these results uncover ongoing adaptation and admixing between North American S. cerevisiae strains, as driven by winemaking practices, and advance our understanding into how admixture influences genome evolution and adaptation.

This article examines the transformation of international wildlife law from a species-trade model centred on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to a broader ecological legality model in which habitat protection, forest legality, supply-chain traceability and market access increasingly shape conservation outcomes. It asks how trade-based wildlife conservation is shifting from the control of listed species towards the verification of the ecological legality of habitats and supply chains. Using Vietnam as a case study, the article analyses the interaction between CITES, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and Vietnamese laws on biodiversity, forestry, fisheries and environmental protection. It argues that Vietnam’s principal challenge is not formal participation in wildlife and biodiversity regimes, but the construction of a compliance infrastructure capable of connecting CITES permits, timber legality, protected areas, environmental impact assessment (EIA), illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing control, traceability and sanctions. The article contributes to wildlife law and policy scholarship by showing that the future of trade-based conservation lies not only in stricter prohibitions, but in legally credible systems that connect species, habitats and markets.

Protocol for measuring mitochondrial respiration in mature human adipocytes using the Seahorse XF analyzer.

People around the world have developed distinctive sets of useful plants, known as ethnofloras, which comprise a significant portion of Earth’s biodiversity. However, little is known about the factors that determine the composition of these collections and how different groups use plants. These differences may increase with geographic distance and linguistic separation due to barriers to communication and a lack of similarity in locally-available species. Using published ethnobotanical information, we analyzed the divergence in the composition of wild-species and the ways plants are used among 22 Mexican ethnic groups that use 2,855 species. We standardized plant use into ten categories and recorded them for each plant species and ethnic group. Each ethnic group uses a very large number of species (α-diversity), but few species are shared with other groups. Consequently, species turnover (β-diversity) between ethnic groups is very high. As expected, geographic distance fostered high differentiation in species composition of ethnofloras, probably reflecting differences in wild floras. Linguistic proximity promoted ethnoflora composition similarity, suggesting that communication plays a role in shaping the set of plants that are used. Geographic proximity also promotes similarity in how plants are used, though it is unclear whether language also plays a role. This suggests that language barriers are quite permeable. Social interactions and the use of Spanish as a lingua franca may favor the convergence of uses. This study provides a novel analysis of ethnofloras. It emphasizes the value of cultural and biological diversity and their importance in shaping ethnobotanical heritage.

Tetrazole, a synthetic five-membered heterocycle composed of one carbon and four nitrogen atoms, has emerged as a privileged scaffold in modern drug discovery. Despite its absence in natural products, the tetrazole ring is widely recognized for its ability to function as a bioisostere of carboxylic acid and amides, offering improved metabolic stability, enhanced binding interactions, and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. A diverse array of tetrazole-based compounds has demonstrated potent biological activity, with several already approved for clinical use and many others under active investigation. These molecules have shown promise in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, inflammatory conditions, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Ongoing structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies continue to drive the optimization of tetrazole derivatives for improved efficacy and reduced toxicity. Beyond therapeutic applications, tetrazoles are also being explored in advanced materials, catalysis, and agrochemical development. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent progress in the synthesis, biological evaluation, and therapeutic potential of tetrazole-containing compounds, highlighting their significance in the rational design of next-generation drug candidates.

Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an important tick-borne zoonosis and an emerging public health threat across Africa. Although evidence of viral circulation is mounting, information remains fragmented, limiting a comprehensive understanding of transmission ecology, regional hotspot heterogeneity, and preparedness needs across the continent. Methods: This narrative review critically synthesized published literature on CCHFV in Africa, identified through PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar and supplemented by citation tracking and authoritative public health reports. Evidence from epidemiological, ecological, molecular, surveillance, and One Health studies was integrated to examine transmission dynamics, geographic hotspot distribution, viral diversity, risk factors, diagnostic and surveillance challenges, and preparedness strategies. Results: Available evidence shows marked geographic heterogeneity in CCHFV transmission across Africa, with hotspot regions shaped by ecological suitability, Hyalomma tick distribution, livestock-human interactions, and health system capacity. Livestock consistently show higher exposure than humans, underscoring their role as key indicators of viral circulation. Diagnostic limitations, passive surveillance, ecological variability, and serological cross-reactivity contribute to substantial under recognition of disease burden, while molecular studies reveal considerable viral diversity and ongoing evolution across African regions. Conclusions: CCHFV remains underdiagnosed and underreported in many African settings because of limited surveillance and diagnostic capacity. Strengthening integrated One Health surveillance, expanding laboratory and genomic capacity, utilizing livestock as sentinel populations, and improving cross-sectoral collaboration are critical for enhancing early detection, outbreak preparedness, and effective public health response across the continent.

Metabolic differences between plasma cell disorders reflect coordinated metabolic reprogramming within clonal plasma cells and the bone marrow microenvironment. We applied high-resolution MALDI-FT-ICR mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to archived FFPE bone-marrow biopsies from patients with MGUS-like bone marrows (defined as <10% clonal plasma cells, including MGUS and solitary bone plasmacytoma with minimal marrow involvement (SBPmm)) and multiple myeloma (MM), integrated with matched bone marrow plasma metabolomics, to map spatial and systemic metabolic alterations. Spatial clustering delineated plasma-cell-rich niches, while Hill-based diversity and β-diversity metrics quantified intra- and inter-compartment heterogeneity. MM niches exhibited elevated 3-hydroxykynurenine, rewired tryptophan-kynurenine flux, and increased nucleotide and bioactive lipid metabolism associated with proliferation. Notably, SBPmm samples displayed MM-like metabolic niches undetectable in bone marrow plasma alone, underscoring spatial heterogeneity. Cross-compartment integration revealed conserved metabolic signatures and systemic redistribution of key metabolites, consistent with ecological reorganization and niche divergence between MGUS-like and MM. These findings establish spatial metabolomics of biopsies as a framework to dissect intramedullary metabolic heterogeneity and enable metabolite-based risk stratification in plasma cell disorders.

While data on the diet of Vipera ammodytes are abundant, most studies are either based on a small number of observations or simply summarize the available information on the species' food spectrum, and only a few provide more detailed analyses. Its diet varies depending on regional characteristics and prey availability; however, data comparing the dietary habits of different evolutionary lineages are lacking. Detailed studies on the ontogenetic and intersexual variations of V. ammodytes feeding frequencies and feeding periods, and their effects on the seasonal fluctuations of vipers’ body condition are also very scarce. To assess poorly studied aspects of V. ammodytes feeding ecology, we investigated different populations in western Bulgaria between 2013 and 2020. There were clear ontogenetic and intersexual variations in the diet of V. ammodytes; however, their patterns differed between the distinct clades, reflecting local geographical characteristics in prey availability. There were also ontogenetic and intersexual differences in feeding frequency and feeding duration. Immature vipers fed more frequently and had a longer feeding period than adults, while adult females had higher feeding frequencies and longer feeding periods than males. These differences affected the overall seasonal fluctuations in vipers’ body condition. The intersexual variations in the feeding ecology of V. ammodytes might be due to differences in energetic demands resulting from the distinct reproductive outputs of males and females. The ontogenetic dietary variations appear to be due to the limitations imposed by the smaller size of immature vipers. At the same time, the high feeding frequencies and prolonged feeding periods of the latter might help them grow faster, thereby either reaching sexual maturity sooner or becoming less vulnerable to predators. We also discuss ophiophagy in V. ammodytes.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the application and efficiency of robotic equipment within the framework of the digital transformation of the modern food industry. The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into food production is evaluated as a strategic necessity that not only enhances productivity but also addresses global food security challenges. At the core of the research lies the “technological resilience” of robotic systems, considering the biological diversity and sensitivity of food products. Given the complexity of the integration process, the role of multi-criteria decision-making methods—specifically AHP, TOPSIS, and VIKOR methodologies—in selecting the most optimal robotic solutions for enterprises is scientifically interpreted. The analysis reveals that in the food sector, hygiene standards (e.g., IP69K rating) and food-contact material compatibility possess higher weight coefficients than technical speed or payload capacity during the selection process. The paper also emphasizes the significance of cyber-physical systems, digital twins, and predictive maintenance in optimizing production cycles and minimizing downtime. The findings suggest that the success of robotization depends on how adaptively these systems are integrated into the enterprise's overall digital ecosystem and the effective organization of human-robot collaboration. This study provides a framework for food manufacturers to navigate the technological shift toward more resilient and intelligent production environments, offering a methodological basis for future automation strategies.

Age-matched benchmark comparisons show region-dependent forest recovery on legacy industrial sites.

ABSTRACT Hydrogaster is a monotypic genus of Malvaceae (Grewioideae), represented by H. trinervis, a canopy tree endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Despite its description in 1935, the species has remained poorly documented and underrepresented in floristic surveys, with confirmed records restricted to the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Rio de Janeiro. Its distribution, ecology, and morphological variation has therefore remained fragmentary. This study aims to clarify the circumscription of H. trinervis and provide an updated taxonomic framework for the species. We conducted an integrative study combining the review of herbarium collections, field observations, and monitoring of cultivated specimens. We provide an updated morphological description of H. trinervis, accompanied by a botanical illustration based on living specimens, together with comparative notes on morphologically similar taxa. In addition, we present lectotypification and nomenclatural remarks, as well as phenological and ecological observations and a preliminary conservation assessment. Our results expand the knowledge on this species of the Atlantic Forest flora, highlighting its restricted distribution and reinforcing the importance of conservation efforts for the maintenance of its populations.