Ecological Implications Research Articles

The response and ecological implications between various sulfur forms and environmental factors in acid mine drainage.

The response and ecological implications between various sulfur forms and environmental factors in acid mine drainage.

Taste adaptations in blood-feeding arthropods: mechanisms and ecological implications.

Taste adaptations in blood-feeding arthropods: mechanisms and ecological implications.

Buoyant polyethylene rope fragments might be vehicles of migration for larval mussels (Mytilus coruscus).

Buoyant polyethylene rope fragments might be vehicles of migration for larval mussels (Mytilus coruscus).

Unveiling the deep-sea microplastic Odyssey: Characteristics, distribution, and ecological implications in Pacific Ocean sediments.

Unveiling the deep-sea microplastic Odyssey: Characteristics, distribution, and ecological implications in Pacific Ocean sediments.

Impact of black phosphorus nanosheet exposure on growth, reproduction, antioxidant mechanisms, and transcriptomic responses in Daphnia magna.

Impact of black phosphorus nanosheet exposure on growth, reproduction, antioxidant mechanisms, and transcriptomic responses in Daphnia magna.

Ecological implications of the direct effects of fire on neotropical vertebrates.

Ecological implications of the direct effects of fire on neotropical vertebrates.

Phthalic acid esters as an ecological hazard to the coral reef ecosystems: A case study from the coral reef waters of the Lakshadweep Archipelago, Arabian Sea.

Phthalic acid esters as an ecological hazard to the coral reef ecosystems: A case study from the coral reef waters of the Lakshadweep Archipelago, Arabian Sea.

Decoding fungal communication networks: molecular signaling, genetic regulation, and ecological implications.

Fungal communication networks regulate essential biological processes, enabling fungi to adapt to environmental changes, coordinate development, and establish interactions within microbial communities. These networks are mediated by diverse signaling molecules, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), peptide signaling molecules, and quorum-sensing molecules, which facilitate intra- and interspecies communication. The intricate regulation of these signals occurs through specialized signal transduction pathways such as G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and two-component regulatory systems, allowing fungi to sense external cues and modulate their physiological responses. Genetic mechanisms also play a critical role in fungal communication, influencing community dynamics through regulatory genes governing hyphal fusion, pheromone signaling, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Crosstalk between these signaling pathways is further modulated by epigenetic modifications, which fine-tune gene expression in response to environmental conditions. The integration of these molecular networks shapes fungal interactions, impacting resource acquisition, symbiosis, and pathogenicity. Additionally, fungal communication has significant ecological and evolutionary implications, contributing to niche establishment, microbial competition, and host-pathogen interactions. Despite significant progress in understanding fungal communication, key knowledge gaps remain regarding the interplay between signaling molecules, genetic regulation, and environmental adaptation. Future research should focus on unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal signaling networks and their potential applications in biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine. Harnessing fungal communication could lead to novel strategies for improving crop protection, developing antifungal therapies, and optimizing industrial fermentation processes. This review synthesizes recent advancements in fungal signaling research, providing a comprehensive perspective on its complexity and evolutionary significance.

The Effect of Plant Host Density on Disease Incidence-A Meta-Analysis.

Plant spacing plays a crucial role in determining the degree of interaction between them. It changes plant physiological processes, plant architecture, microclimate in the canopy and the dispersal and growth of pests and pathogens. This study aims to quantify the relationship between planting density and disease incidence across studies. A meta-analysis was conducted to analyse the relationship between disease incidence and planting density, synthesising 44 publications consisting of 191 experiments, with in total 531 data disease incidence observations, based on > 500 000 sampling units. Four statistical models reflecting different hypotheses on how planting density affects disease incidence were developed and tested in a Bayesian framework. For viruses, disease incidence roughly decreased by a half when doubling planting density, while for fungi no relationship with planting density was observed, regardless of the feeding style or dispersal mode of the fungus, or whether the disease was monocyclic or polycyclic. The negative relationship for virus incidence and planting density and the absence of this relationship in fungi is presumably related to the dispersal mode of the pathogen: active dispersal of viruses by vectors while fungi are generally dispersed passively by water or wind. Implications for ecology and agronomy are discussed.

Shining a new light on parasitic plants: resistance to invasion.

Parasitic plants, those that directly acquire resources from other plants, are distributed across all biomes on earth. They can be restricted to a single host, or they can be generalists, but with preferences. Tristerix corymbosus (Loranthaceae) is a native generalist hemiparasite in Chile but infests many nonnative tree species and appears to suppress them more than its native hosts, indicating its potential to provide substantial ecological resistance. These patterns suggest the novel phenomenon of native hemiparasite host switching from slow-growing native hosts to fast-growing nonnatives, which may provide substantial biotic resistance to invasion, but they also have fascinating ecological, physiological, and evolutionary implications. For example, resistance to invasion contrasts with traditional views of parasitic plants as forest plagues. Instead, Tristerix may function in invaded forests as a keystone species with negative direct effects on invaders and positive indirect interactions with natives. The negative effects of Tristerix on nonnative species provide a more complete understanding of the various roles native parasitic plants can have in resistance to invasion.

Assessing predation pressure of Vespa velutina on local fauna through DNA metabarcoding

AbstractThe invasive yellow‐legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax Buysson, 1905) is a social hymenopteran native to Asia and an invasive species in Europe. This species poses a significant threat to local ecosystems and economies across Europe due to its predation on a wide range of insects, mainly honeybees. Despite its presence on the European continent for nearly 20 years, there is limited information about its trophic spectrum. This study aims to unravel the qualitative prey spectrum of V. velutina within the local entomofauna using DNA metabarcoding tools. Meconium samples were collected from yellow‐legged hornet nests removed in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) and DNA barcodes were amplified and sequenced using an arthropod‐specific mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) primer set. Results showed that a fraction of the detected diet is unique to each nest and revealed a preference for Apidae, Calliphoridae, Vespidae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae insect prey. The study also identified the potential impacts of V. velutina on local insect populations with diverse functional roles, highlighting the ecological implications of this invasive species. The implementation of advanced molecular techniques allowed us to assess the dietary diversity of V. velutina and its potential role in shaping local entomofaunal communities. This research enhances our understanding of predator–prey interactions in invaded ecosystems and underscores the importance of DNA metabarcoding tools for studying the foraging behavior of invasive species.

Bamboo for global sustainability: A systematic review of its environmental and ecological implications, climate action, and biodiversity contributions

Bamboo has garnered significant attention over the past two decades as a sustainable resource with a wide array of environmental benefits and emerged as a crucial resource in addressing global sustainability challenges. This systematic review synthesizes bibliometric data from the Web of Science (WOS) spanning 2004 to 2024, to explore the role of bamboo in global sustainability, focusing on its environmental advantages, biodiversity contributions, carbon sequestration potential, and the ecosystem services—provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural, it provides. Despite growing interest in bamboo's ecological benefits, substantial research gaps exist regarding its long-term effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, as well as the full extent of its role in mitigating climate impacts. This review aims to address these gaps by providing a comprehensive analysis of published research and offering new insights into bamboo's multifaceted contributions to a number of environmental benefits and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). The novelty of this review lies in its integration of bibliometric analysis and qualitative synthesis, ensuring a thorough understanding of trends, key research areas, and potential future directions. The methodology includes data extraction from WOS, followed by trend analysis, citation mapping, and thematic synthesis. Key findings reveal that bamboo plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity preservation, and soil conservation, while also enhancing water quality and mitigating land degradation. This indicates bamboo’s transformative potential in addressing climate change, promoting biodiversity, and supporting sustainable livelihoods. Furthermore, the study identifies critical gaps in research and policy integration, stressing the need for coordinated global efforts to fully realize bamboo’s benefits including its adaptability across different ecosystems, as well as its potential in combating global challenges such as climate change and deforestation. This comprehensive review offers implications for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners seeking sustainable solutions in land management, climate action, and biodiversity conservation. The findings underscore bamboo’s unique potential as an eco-friendly, low-cost, and scalable solution for fostering global sustainability. The benefits of this study extend to promoting bamboo’s integration into conservation practices and green infrastructure projects globally.

Impact of Heavy Metal and Resistance Genes on Antimicrobial Resistance: Ecological and Public Health Implications

Heavy metals (HMs) are widespread pollutants that can exert selection pressure on microbial populations due to their toxicity and persistence, leading to the evolution of heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs). These genes are part of the resistome, and their spread often occurs via mobile genetic elements that allow co-selection with antibiotic and biocide resistance genes. Such processes have an impact on microbial biodiversity, biogeochemical cycling and public health in agriculture, industry and urban areas. The selection pressure exerted by HM promotes the spread of multidrug-resistant strains and thus increases ecological and health risks. This review discusses the interaction between HMRGs and genetic determinants such as virulence genes that influence biofilm formation, cellular homeostasis and oxidative stress. It also discusses the dual role of HMRGs in promoting ecological functions such as bioremediation while potentially limiting them by reducing microbial diversity. Understanding such interactions contributes significantly to targeting different systems to overcome the challenges associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Mechanisms of Soil Microbial Community Adaptation in Cold-Region Wetlands Under Retrogressive Succession.

Retrogressive succession alters soil conditions and microbial community dynamics in cold-region wetlands, yet its ecological implications remain understudied. This study explored the structure and function of soil microbial communities across three successional stages: swamp (SP), swamped meadow (SM), and meadow (MW). High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 2852 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with 1682 shared among all stages (58.85%). Alpha diversity indices, including Shannon, Chao, ACE, and Sobs, were significantly higher in MW, with the Shannon index increasing by approximately 32% compared to SP, indicating enhanced richness and evenness. In contrast, Simpson and Coverage indices were highest in SP. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteriota were dominant phyla, showing distinct distributions across stages. Beta diversity analysis (PCoA and NMDS) revealed clear separation of microbial communities. Soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, soil water content (SWC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and bulk density (BD) significantly influenced microbial composition and distribution. Functional prediction using FAPROTAX and BugBase indicated a shift from anaerobic metabolism, nitrogen fixation, and cellulolysis in the SP to aerobic chemoheterotrophy and stress tolerance in MW. These results demonstrate that microbial communities adapt to changing soil environments during retrogressive succession, highlighting their role in ecosystem function and resilience in cold-region wetlands.

Exploring the Gobi Wall: Archaeology of a Large-Scale Medieval Frontier System in the Mongolian Desert

The Gobi Wall is a 321 km-long structure made of earth, stone, and wood, located in the Gobi highland desert of Mongolia. It is the least understood section of the medieval wall system that extends from China into Mongolia. This study aims to determine its builders, purpose, and chronology. Additionally, we seek to better understand the ecological implications of constructing such an extensive system of walls, trenches, garrisons, and fortresses in the remote and harsh environment of the Gobi Desert. Our field expedition combined remote sensing, pedestrian surveys, and targeted excavations at key sites. The results indicate that the garrison walls and main long wall were primarily constructed using rammed earth, with wood and stone reinforcements. Excavations of garrisons uncovered evidence of long-term occupation, including artifacts spanning from 2nd c. BCE to 19th c. CE. According to our findings, the main construction and usage phase of the wall and its associated structures occurred throughout the Xi Xia dynasty (1038–1227 CE), a period characterized by advanced frontier defense systems and significant geopolitical shifts. This study challenges the perception of such structures as being purely defensive, revealing the Gobi Wall’s multifunctional role as an imperial tool for demarcating boundaries, managing populations and resources, and consolidating territorial control. Furthermore, our spatial and ecological analysis demonstrates that the distribution of local resources, such as water and wood, was critical in determining the route of the wall and the placement of associated garrisons and forts. Other geographic factors, including the location of mountain passes and the spread of sand dunes, were strategically utilized to enhance the effectiveness of the wall system. The results of this study reshape our understanding of medieval Inner Asian imperial infrastructure and its lasting impact on geopolitical landscapes. By integrating historical and archeological evidence with geographical analysis of the locations of garrisons and fortifications, we underscore the Xi Xia kingdom’s strategic emphasis on regulating trade, securing transportation routes, and monitoring frontier movement.

Shell colouration is associated with sex, boldness, and innate immunity in wild adult eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina)

Abstract Animal colouration often plays a role in intraspecific communication. The badges of lizards and ornaments of birds are frequent examples of honest signals regarding physiological condition and behaviour. Turtles share evolved characteristics with both non-avian and avian reptiles and many express colour markings on the shell and head, yet the significance of colouration in turtles remains unclear. We assessed aspects of shell colouration (carapace spot hue, saturation, and brightness and percent melanism of the carapace and plastron) in adult eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) from a wetland population and explored their association with age, sex, boldness, haemolysis capabilities, plasma triglycerides, plasma corticosterone, and body condition. We found evidence of varying bold temperaments based on high among- and low within- individual variation across several behaviours during and after handling. Findings further suggested that separate aspects of shell colouration were associated with sex, boldness temperament, and innate immunity. Specifically, males exhibited redder carapace spots than females, bolder turtles exhibited brighter carapace spots and less melanic (more spotted) plastrons, and turtles with higher in vitro haemolysis scores tended to have more saturated carapace spots. These associations suggest potential roles for shell colouration to signal aspects of behaviour and immune function, however, we discuss limitations arising from our methods such as the use of a single blood sample for physiological metrics. Further studies on these associations are needed to determine their stability, underlying mechanisms, and ecological implications.

Insights into the Imidaclothiz Biodegradation by the White-Rot Fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 under Ligninolytic Conditions.

Imidaclothiz (IMZ), an innovative neonicotinoid insecticide, has attracted significant interest due to its environmental persistence and consequent ecological implications. In this research, the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 was used to degrade IMZ, unveiling a novel fungal degradation mechanism. The results demonstrated that IMZ was efficiently degraded by P. sordida YK-624. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that IMZ-induced stress triggered a cascade of enzymatic and cellular defense responses that are instrumental in facilitating its biodegradation. Through inhibitor experiments and enzyme activity profiling, cytochrome P450 and manganese peroxidase (MnP) were identified to play crucial roles in IMZ biodegradation. Additionally, three metabolites were isolated and identified by NMR, and two innovative degradation pathways involving hydroxylation and nitro reduction were proposed. Toxicity assessment suggested the reduced environmental risk of IMZ after its degradation by P. sordida YK-624. These findings provided insights into the IMZ degradation mechanism and highlighted the potential of white-rot fungi in neonicotinoid bioremediation.

Bioaccumulation of 137Cs: Vegetation Responses, Soil Interactions and Ecological Implications in the Northern Taiga Ecosystems.

This study presents the first comprehensive examination of 137Cs behavior in northern taiga ecosystems of the Kola Peninsula, a previously understudied region regarding radionuclide mobility. The background radioactive contamination of these ecosystems stems from global fallout and differs from more extensively studied contaminated areas. Twelve monitoring sites at varying distances from the Kola nuclear power plant were established to assess 137Cs accumulation in dominant plant species across three forest tiers. Gamma-spectrometric measurements revealed high mobility of 137Cs with specific activity ranging within 4.7-34.5 Bq/kg in trees, 8.4-164.8 Bq/kg in shrubs, and 15.0-94.5 Bq/kg in mosses. Notably, Ericaceae family plants demonstrated the highest accumulation capacity. 137Cs concentrations were significantly higher at the background site (30 km from the power plant) than in the sanitary protection zone, indicating no detectable influence from the nuclear facility. Strong correlations (up to |rs| = 0.93) between bioaccumulation indicators and soil properties were found-particularly with potassium content, exchangeable cation concentration, and organic matter content-suggesting that soil characteristics primarily determine 137Cs mobility. These findings highlight the potential risk of 137Cs movement through food chains in northern taiga ecosystems, with bioaccumulation coefficients exceeding those of central Russian landscapes and being comparable to those of Scandinavian taiga ecosystems.

Community awareness and the impact of invasive Indian house crows on lizard abundance and diversity in Dodoma, Tanzania

Invasive species such as the Indian House Crow (Corvus splendens) pose a significant ecological threat by disrupting local ecosystems and outcompeting native species. Originally from the Indian subcontinent, this crow has become invasive in Dodoma, Tanzania, where it preys on various organisms, including lizards. Lizards, which are important for pest control and as prey for higher trophic levels, are particularly affected. This study investigates community perceptions of Indian house crows and their impact on lizard populations in Dodoma. Using a combination of cross-sectional surveys and systematic sampling, we assessed local perceptions, lizard diversity and crow abundance. Our results show that approximately 85% of the community is aware of the presence and impact of Indian house crows. The study also shows that lizard diversity, as measured by Shannon's index, is higher in urban areas (1.51) with higher house crow abundance than in peri-urban areas (1.12). However, these urban areas also have significantly higher predation rates, with an average of 12% higher predation on lizards. The study highlights the ecological and socio-economic implications of house crow invasions and stresses the need for targeted management strategies to mitigate their negative impacts on local biodiversity and ecosystems.

Impact of Blastocystis carriage and colonization intensity on gut microbiota composition in a non-westernized rural population from Colombia.

The role of Blastocystis, a common intestinal parasitic protist of humans and other animals, in human health and disease remains elusive. Recent studies suggest a connection between Blastocystis colonization, healthier lifestyles, and high-diversity gut microbiota. Nevertheless, studies concerning the relationship between Blastocystis colonization, its intensity, and gut microbiota composition -involving both bacterial and eukaryotic communities- remain limited. This study examines the impact of Blastocystis carriage and colonization intensity on gut microbiota composition in a rural community in Colombia. A total of 88 human samples were collected from the rural population of Las Guacas village, located in the Cauca department in southwest Colombia. We utilized 16S and 18S rDNA sequencing to analyze both bacterial and eukaryotic microbiota, comparing Blastocystis-positive and -negative individuals, as well as groups with varying Blastocystis colonization intensity (low, medium, high), to identify distinct microbiota profiles and differentially abundant taxa linked to each condition. The analysis revealed significant differences between Blastocystis-positive and -negative individuals. In terms of bacterial composition and structure, Blastocystis-positive individuals exhibited distinct microbiota profiles, as shown by beta diversity analysis. Taxa associated with colonization included Bacteroides, Prevotella, Oscillibacter, Faecalibacterium, and Alistipes. Higher Blastocystis colonization intensity was associated with an increased abundance of taxa such as Alistipes and Lachnospira, while lower intensities correlated with beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia. Regarding eukaryotic composition, beta diversity analysis revealed distinct profiles associated with Blastocystis colonization. Differentially abundant taxa, including Entamoeba coli, were more prevalent in Blastocystis-positive individuals, while Blastocystis-negative individuals exhibited a higher abundance of opportunistic fungi, such as Candida albicans. Machine learning models, including random forest classifiers, supported these findings, identifying Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides as predictors of Blastocystis colonization. These findings suggest that Blastocystis may modulate gut microbiota, contributing to microbial balance providing new insights into the ecological implications of Blastocystis in rural populations.