Evolution Of Environment Research Articles

Solvent constraints for biopolymer folding and evolution in extraterrestrial environments

Solvent constraints for biopolymer folding and evolution in extraterrestrial environments

Highly Efficient Acidic Electrosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide at Industrial-Level Current Densities Promoted by Alkali Metal Cations.

Acidic H2O2 synthesis through electrocatalytic 2e- oxygen reduction presents a sustainable alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone oxidation technology. Nevertheless, acidic H2O2 electrosynthesis suffers from low H2O2 Faradaic efficiencies primarily due to the competing reactions of 4e- oxygen reduction to H2O and hydrogen evolution in environments with high H+ concentrations. Here, we demonstrate the significant effect of alkali metal cations, acting as competing ions with H+, in promoting acidic H2O2 electrosynthesis at industrial-level currents, resulting in an effective current densities of 50‒421 mA cm‒2 with 84‒100% Faradaic efficiency and a production rate of 856‒7842 μmol cm-2 h-1 that far exceeds the performance observed in pure acidic electrolytes or low-current electrolysis. Finite-element simulations indicate that high interfacial pH near the electrode surface formed at high currents is crucial for activating the promotional effect of K+. In situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal the central role of alkali metal cations in stabilizing the key *OOH intermediate to suppress 4e- oxygen reduction through interacting with coordinated H2O.

Mixed waste contamination selects for a mobile genetic element population enriched in multiple heavy metal resistance genes

Abstract Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) like plasmids, viruses, and transposable elements can provide fitness benefits to their hosts for survival in the presence of environmental stressors. Heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) are frequently observed on MGEs, suggesting that MGEs may be an important driver of adaptive evolution in environments contaminated with heavy metals. Here, we report the meta-mobilome of the heavy metal-contaminated regions of the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) subsurface. This meta-mobilome was compared to one derived from samples collected from unimpacted regions of the ORR subsurface. We assembled 1615 unique circularized DNA elements that we propose to be MGEs. The circular elements from the highly contaminated subsurface were enriched in HMRG clusters relative to those from the nearby unimpacted regions. Additionally, we found that these HMRGs were associated with Gamma and Betaproteobacteria hosts in the contaminated subsurface and potentially facilitate the persistence and dominance of these taxa in this region. Finally, the HMRGs were associated with conjugative elements, suggesting their potential for future lateral transfer. We demonstrate how our understanding of MGE ecology, evolution, and function can be enhanced through the genomic context provided by completed MGE assemblies.

Neural network kinetics for exploring diffusion multiplicity and chemical ordering in compositionally complex materials

Diffusion involving atom transport from one location to another governs many important processes and behaviors such as precipitation and phase nucleation. The inherent chemical complexity in compositionally complex materials poses challenges for modeling atomic diffusion and the resulting formation of chemically ordered structures. Here, we introduce a neural network kinetics (NNK) scheme that predicts and simulates diffusion-induced chemical and structural evolution in complex concentrated chemical environments. The framework is grounded on efficient on-lattice structure and chemistry representation combined with artificial neural networks, enabling precise prediction of all path-dependent migration barriers and individual atom jumps. To demonstrate the method, we study the temperature-dependent local chemical ordering in a refractory NbMoTa alloy and reveal a critical temperature at which the B2 order reaches a maximum. The atomic jump randomness map exhibits the highest diffusion heterogeneity (multiplicity) in the vicinity of this characteristic temperature, which is closely related to chemical ordering and B2 structure formation. The scalable NNK framework provides a promising new avenue to exploring diffusion-related properties in the vast compositional space within which extraordinary properties are hidden.

Graphite sheet-supported bimetallic RhNi thin film alloys for enhanced and durable hydrogen evolution in acidic environments

Noble metal-based materials are excellent catalysts for hydrogen production from water electrolysis, but their high cost and limited availability hinder widespread use. However, precious metals can be effectively utilized in catalysts by forming alloys with low-cost 3d transition metals, thereby reducing the need for precious metals, while enhancing the performance. In this study, aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition was employed to deposit bimetallic rhodium-nickel (RhNi) alloy thin films on a graphite sheet for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysis in a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. Thin-film morphological patterns were significantly changed as the deposition time varied from 45 to 135 min. The RhNi alloy fabricated for 90 min outperformed its counterparts, displaying lower overpotential of 40 and 197 mV at 10 and 1000 mA cm−2, small Tafel kinetics (54 mV dec−1), high conductivity (0.57 Ω) and large electrochemical surface area (3312 cm2), and extended stability (48 h) compared to pure Rh metal and other reported catalysts. The superior HER performance arises from the synergistic effects between Rh and Ni metals, coupled with a uniform layer of spherical particles that enhance conductive properties and reaction rates by providing maximized active sites on graphite surface. This work provides valuable guidelines for efficiently preparing highly active and durable thin-film electrocatalyst within short time span and applying directly in fuel cell for hydrogen production.

Environmental Studies Based on Lake Sediment Records in China: A Review

Lake sediment records are of great importance for understanding the evolution of watershed environments. Various studies have been carried out to determine the depositional ages of lake sediments and to examine their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. The aim is to construct the historical vegetation, environment, and climate patterns in Chinese lake watersheds. In this review, we obtained relevant studies on lake sediment records by searching the key word ‘age-depth’ from the following databases: Web of Science and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, the largest Chinese academic database). We analyzed the literature based on its type (published in a Chinese/English journal or as a Master’s/PhD thesis), period of publication, journal (if published in a journal), key authors, study area, dating scale, and main aims. The results suggest that the lakes in the plateau regions are the most popular research topic, typically covering 100–200 years (short-term) and 500–30,000 years (long-term). The literature focuses on a wide range of topics, from past environmental evolution in watersheds to lake ecology, and it provides a solid foundation for a better understanding of the regional climate change and the preservation of lake environments and ecosystems. In the future, the resulting data obtained from environmental reconstructions with lake sediments will need to be integrated with emerging information processing technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence and meta-analysis) to disentangle the complex interplay between the Earth’s surface processes and global climate change; furthermore, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration will deepen our comprehension of the man-land relationship and promote the sustainable management of lake ecosystems in the context of global climate change.

Regulating the Digital Environment to Protect Users from Harmful Commodity Marketing

Although the creators of the world wide web never intended it to be regulated by state intervention, the rapid evolution of the online environment has necessitated regulation of certain aspects of the digital ecosystem. Harmful commodity marketing (e.g., alcohol, vaping and unhealthy food and beverage product marketing) on social media and in digital spaces has been linked to adverse health outcomes and there have been calls for its regulation. In this commentary we explain why this is important and consider how such regulation could be achieved.

Evolution of black shale sedimentary environment and its impact on organic matter content and mineral composition: a case study from Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in Southern and Eastern Sichuan Basin

Evolution of black shale sedimentary environment and its impact on organic matter content and mineral composition: a case study from Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in Southern and Eastern Sichuan Basin

Spectroscopy and Photochemistry of [Al, N, C, O, H]: Connectivity to Aluminium-Bearing Species in the Universe.

Aluminium is one of the most abundant metals in the universe and impacts the evolution of various astrophysical environments. Currently detected Al-bearing molecules represent only a small fraction of the aluminium budget, suggesting that aluminium may reside in other species. AlO and AlOH molecules are abundant in the oxygen-rich supergiant stars such as VY Canis Majoris, a stellar molecular factory with 60+ molecules including the prebiotic NC-bearing species. Additional Al-bearing molecules with N, C, O, and H may form in O-rich environments with radiation-accelerated chemistry. Here, we present spectroscopic identification of novel aluminium-bearing molecules composed of [Al, N, C, O, H] and [Al, N, C, O] from the reactions of Al atoms and HNCO in solid argon matrix, which are potential Al-bearing molecules in space. Photoinduced transformations among six [Al, N, C, O, H] isomers and three [Al, N, C, O] isomers, along with their dissociation reactions forming the known interstellar species, have been disclosed. These results provide new insight into the chemical network of astronomically detected Al-bearing species in space.

Ecological weed management and square planting influenced the weed management, and crop productivity in direct-seeded rice

Herbicide use may pose a risk of environmental pollution or evolution of resistant weeds. As a result, an experiment was carried out to assess the influence of different non-chemical weed management tactics (one hoeing (HH) at 12 DAS followed by (fb) one hand weeding at 30 DAS, one HH at 12 DAS fb Sesbania co-culture and its mulching, one HH at 12 DAS fb rice straw mulching @ 4t ha−1, one HH at 12 DAS fb rice straw mulching @ 6 t ha−1) on weed control, crop growth and yield, and economic returns in direct-seeded rice (DSR). Experiment was conducted during kharif season in a split-plot design and replicated thrice. Zero-till seed drill-sown crop (PN) had the lowest weed density at 25 days after sowing (DAS), while square planting geometry (PS) had the lowest weed density at 60 DAS. PS also resulted in a lower weed management index (WMI), agronomic management index (AMI), and integrated weed management index (IWMI), as well as higher growth attributes, grain yield (4.19 t ha–1), and net return (620.98 US$ ha–1). The cultivar Arize 6444 significantly reduced weed density and recorded higher growth attributes, yield, and economic return. In the case of weed management treatments, one HH at 12 DAS fbSesbania co-culture and its mulching had the lowest weed density, Shannon-weinner index and eveness at 25 DAS. However, one hoeing at 12 DAS fb one hand weeding at 30 DAS (HH + WH) achieved the highest grain yield (4.85 t ha–1) and net returns (851.03 US$ ha–1) as well as the lowest weed density at 60 DAS. PS × HH + WH treatment combination had the lowest weed persistent index (WPI), WMI, AMI, and IWMI, and the highest growth attributes, production efficiency, and economic return.

Single-Pd-Site Catalyst Induced by Different Dimensional Nitrogen of N-Doping Carbon for Efficient Hydroaminocarbonylation of Alkynes.

The unsaturated amides are traditionally synthesized by acylation of carboxylic acids or hydration of nitrile compounds but are rarely investigated by hydroaminocarbonylation of alkynes using heterogeneous single-metal-site catalysts (HSMSCs). Herein, single-Pd-site catalysts supported on N-doping carbon (NC) with different nitrogen dimensions inherited from corresponding metal-organic-framework precursors are successfully synthesized. 2D NC-supported single-Pd-site (Pd1/NC-2D) exhibited the best performance with near 100% selectivity and 76% yield of acrylamide for acetylene hydroaminocarbonylation with better stability, superior to those of Pd1/NC-3D, single-metal-site/nanoparticle coexisting catalyst, and nanoparticle catalyst. The coordination environment and molecular evolution of the single-Pd-site during the process of acetylene hydroaminocarbonylation on Pd1/NC-2D are detailly illuminated by various characterizations and density functional theoretical calculations (DFT). DFT also showed the energy barrier of rate-determining step on Pd1/NC-2D is lower than that of Pd1/NC-3D. Furthermore, Pd1/NC-2D catalyst illustrated the general applicability of the hydroaminocarbonylation for various alkynes.

Investigation of 200 anthropogenic activities in a representative alpine peatland in the Altay Mountains, northwestern China.

Peatlands records can be used to reconstruct and understand the history of environmental evolution, as well as a more accurate reflection of human activities. The black carbon (BC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ideal natural archives of anthropogenic activities. To identify the information of anthropogenic activities recorded by peatlands in the middle and high latitudes of the alpine mountains in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. this study analyzed the concentrations of BC, δ13C ratios of BC, PAHs, and molecular diagnostic ratios of PHAs (including Benzo(a) anthracene (BaA), Chrysene (Chr), fluoranthene (Flt), anthracene (Ant), phenanthrene (Phe), Benzo(a) pyrene (BaP), and pyrene (Pyr) in a 30-cm peat profile from the Altay Mountain, northwestern China. Our results revealed concentrations of BC from 11.71 to 67.5mg·g-1, and PAHs from 168.09 to 263.53ng·g-1. The δ13CBC value ranged from - 31.37 to - 26.27‰, with an average of - 29.54‰, indicating that the BC mainly comes from biomass combustion. The ratios of BaA/(BaA + Chr), Flt/(Flt + Pyr), and Ant/(Ant + Phe) exceeded 0.35, 0.5, and 0.1, respectively, revealing that the PAHs pollutants mainly originated from the combustion of biomass and fossil fuel burning. Furthermore, based on these findings and our knowledge of social development in Altay, industrial transport and tourism have influenced the emission, transport, and deposition of BC and PAH in peatlands in the Altay mountains since the 1980s. After 1980, pollutant concentrations decreased with the implementation of environmental policies. The results not only reveal the influence of anthropogenic activities on the sedimentary characteristics of peatlands in the Altay Mountains, but also provide an important theoretical basis for the conservation of fragile mountain peatlands.

Geochemical and mineralogical features as indicators of sulfate-methane transition zones in shallow gas-bearing offshore sediments from Zhoushan

Subsurface shallow gas, primarily composed of biogenic methane (>95%), is highly-enriched in global offshore sediments. The redox conditions of methane-rich pore fluid play a crucial role in shaping the geochemical signatures associated with the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and vertical displacement of sulfate-methane transition zones (SMTZs) within deep sedimentary records. However, long-period, and continuous records of AOM and SMTZs in shallow gas-bearing offshore sediments are sparse. Here, we employed a comprehensive analyses of iron sulfide, elemental, and stable isotopies on a 63-m drilled sediment core (JC-1) from offshore Zhoushan. Four different layers U1−U4 were identified in 11.5−24 mbsf, 24−42 mbsf, 42−51 mbsf, and 51−63 mbsf, respectively, as revealed by the lithofacies and sedimentary structures. By comparing the pyrite contents, total sulfur to total organic carbon ratios, and δ34S-chromium-reducible sulfur values, the commonly seen organoclastic sulfate reduction occurred in U1 and U2, whereas significant AOM activities were found in U1 and U4. Further, the peaks of total sulfur to total organic carbon ratios, sulfur contents, and multiple positive δ34S-chromium-reducible sulfur values indicated the presence of AOM in SMTZs at 18.3, 52, and 59 mbsf. These intervals were featured by a sub-oxic or anoxic condition with strong methane seepages, evident from the scarcity of metals and the enrichment of Mo/Al and U/Al ratios. The presence of multiple SMTZs was consistent with the pore-water data of the adjacent YS4 and YS7 cores. In light of these findings, it is prudent to exercise caution when utilizing geochemical indicators, such as trace element proxies and the δ34S values of sulfide minerals, to comprehend the progression of fluctuating depositional settings in reaction to sea-level fluctuations and shallow gas reservoirs. This study provides a new perspective to better understand the evolution of unsteady depositional environments in response to sea-level changes and shallow gas reservoirs.

Natural and anthropogenic influences on sterol geochemical characteristics in lake sediments and implications for using sterols as paleoenvironmental indicators

Sterol-based geochemical proxies are used to reconstruct the historical environmental evolution of lakes and their catchment areas. However, the reliability of these proxies remains challenging because the link between environmental drivers and sterol geochemical characteristics has not been fully assessed. In this study, the abundance and composition of sterols were determined in sediment cores from nine lakes with contrasting natural conditions and anthropogenic perturbations to establish the response pattern of sterol geochemical characteristics to environmental drivers, and the controlling mechanisms behind this phenomenon were also tentatively speculated. Our results revealed that cholesterol and total C27 sterols were consistently enriched in the sediment cores from deep lakes (Fuxian, Lugu, and Erhai). In contrast, sitosterol and total C29 sterols were consistently enriched in the sediment cores from shallow (Changdang, Taibai, Chaohu, and Liangzi) and alpine lakes (Heihai and Jiren). The variable sterol distribution can be attributed to different natural processes in these lakes. In deep lakes, the productive zooplankton, owing to the long water column, contributed to high cholesterol levels; in shallow lakes, the delivery of massive terrestrial organic matter through abundant inflowing rivers caused a large sitosterol influx. In alpine lakes, the rapid input of alpine meadows due to the dense growth of these plants on lake shores and adjacent areas resulted in the dominance of sitosterol. The significant influence of natural processes on sterol geochemical characteristics stated above implies that the lake natural background should be considered when sterol proxies were used in paleoenvironmental studies. Comparison of sterol ratios in sediments deposited in the oligotrophic and eutrophic phases of each lake revealed a marked influence of anthropogenic perturbations on sterol distribution. In particular, the cholesterol/brassicasterol ratio exhibited consistent and significant variation with nutrient enrichment in shallow or alpine lakes, but not in deep lakes, revealing the possibility of using this ratio as a nutrient indicator in the former two types of lakes.

The paleoredox context of early eukaryotic evolution: insights from the Tonian Mackenzie Mountains Supergroup, Canada.

Tonian (ca. 1000-720 Ma) marine environments are hypothesised to have experienced major redox changes coinciding with the evolution and diversification of multicellular eukaryotes. In particular, the earliest Tonian stratigraphic record features the colonisation of benthic habitats by multicellular macroscopic algae, which would have been powerful ecosystem engineers that contributed to the oxygenation of the oceans and the reorganisation of biogeochemical cycles. However, the paleoredox context of this expansion of macroalgal habitats in Tonian nearshore marine environments remains uncertain due to limited well-preserved fossils and stratigraphy. As such, the interdependent relationship between early complex life and ocean redox state is unclear. An assemblage of macrofossils including the chlorophyte macroalga Archaeochaeta guncho was recently discovered in the lower Mackenzie Mountains Supergroup in Yukon (Canada), which archives marine sedimentation from ca. 950-775 Ma, permitting investigation into environmental evolution coincident with eukaryotic ecosystem evolution and expansion. Here we present multi-proxy geochemical data from the lower Mackenzie Mountains Supergroup to constrain the paleoredox environment within which these large benthic macroalgae thrived. Two transects show evidence for basin-wide anoxic (ferruginous) oceanic conditions (i.e., high FeHR/FeT, low Fepy/FeHR), with muted redox-sensitive trace metal enrichments and possible seasonal variability. However, the weathering of sulfide minerals in the studied samples may obscure geochemical signatures of euxinic conditions. These results suggest that macroalgae colonized shallow environments in an ocean that remained dominantly anoxic with limited evidence for oxygenation until ca. 850 Ma. Collectively, these geochemical results provide novel insights into the environmental conditions surrounding the evolution and expansion of benthic macroalgae and the eventual dominance of oxygenated oceanic conditions required for the later emergence of animals.

SWOL2023: Report of Space Weather Observations Throughout Latinoamerica: Filling the Southern Gaps

AbstractThe “Space Weather Observations throughout Latinoamerica: Filling the Southern gaps” Workshop took place in Ushuaia, Argentina, from 2 to 4 October 2023. This event was exclusively dedicated to Space Weather (SWx), gathering leading international academic and governmental agencies focused on the subject. The meeting addressed the field of SWx from three perspectives: driving phenomena occurring in the solar atmosphere, evolution in the interplanetary environment, and interaction with the Earth. In addition, emphasis was placed on identifying key research directions in solar and space physics that warrant development in Argentina and across the region in the forthcoming years. The workshop also focused on the current observational infrastructure that supports SWx studies, and how to improve and develop it through strategic international partnerships, stressing on the need for real‐time data. The conference fostered discussion among different partners involved in SWx studies, that is, researchers and potential space weather service providers, and the need to include in this debate potential users of space weather services.

A system dynamics-based model for the evolution of environmental group events

Based on the system dynamics theory, this paper establishes an environmental mass event evolution model and explores the evolution law of mass events caused by environmental problems. From a methodological point of view, the mixed-strategy evolutionary game principle and dynamic punishment measures are combined, and simulation analysis is carried out by Anylogic software, and the results show that there is no stable evolutionary equilibrium solution for the two sides of the game in the traditional asymmetric mixed-strategy game model, and after adjusting the game payoff matrix and incorporating the dynamic punishment strategy, stable evolutionary equilibrium solutions appear in the evolutionary game model, and the system begins to tend to be stabilized. The process and conclusions of the simulation experiment provide methodological reference and theoretical support for the analysis of the evolution of environmental mass events.

Evolution and Built-Up Age Dependency of Urban Thermal Environment

The urban heat island (UHI) represents an anthropogenic modification to the earth’s surface, and its relationship with urban development, built-up age dependency in particular, is poorly understood. We integrated global artificial impervious areas to analyze the impacts of built-up age and urban development intensity (UDI) on land surface temperatures (LSTs) in Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province of China, from 2000 to 2019. A key finding was that the built-up areas with different built-up ages were strongly associated with LST, and this relationship does not change significantly over time, suggesting temporal stability of spatial patterns of LSTs. This finding puts forward a challenge to the application of the classic concept of space-for-time in LST studies because the premise of space-for-time is that spatial and temporal variation are equivalent. This result reveals the vital importance of annual development activities on the urban thermal environment. Another highlighted result was LST sensitivity to UDI, an effective measure of the impact of urbanization on LST, which increased significantly from 0.255 °C per 10% UDI to 0.818 °C per 10% UDI. The more than doubling of LST sensitivity to UDI should be a major concern for city administration. These findings have crucial theoretical and practical significance for the regulation of LSTs and UHI.

Revisiting the stratigraphic development of the postglacial, transgressive paleo-Changjiang (Yangtze River) mouth: A journey from tide-dominated estuary to delta

The transition between a tide-dominated estuary and a tide-dominated delta, which is observed in modern settings and repeatedly throughout the geologic record, is a critical process for understanding sea-level and environmental changes. This transition remains poorly documented, however, leaving a knowledge gap about the sedimentary and stratigraphic processes involved. To help bridge the gap, we reexamined the postglacial transgressive system beneath the modern Changjiang (Yangtze River) Delta, built by one of the world’s largest rivers, using new chirp data supplemented by correlation with previously documented boreholes. Our results revealed a previously undocumented tide-dominated estuary-to-delta transition around the Younger Dryas, with the pretransition evolution dominated by the retrogradation of the tide-dominated estuary, which fills most of the accommodation space in the lowstand incised valley. This transition occurred when the middle and seaward parts of the estuary reached the subaqueous modern Changjiang Delta area and underwent extensive tidal erosion. Overlying the tidal ravinement, a series of ridge-and-swale structures formed due to tidal/fluviotidal channelization on the mud-dominated heterolithic substrate, primarily consisting of delta-front sediments characterized by flat, stratified reflections (bedding) with shallowing-upward trends. Ridge orientation rotates clockwise from north to south, with intervening swales bifurcating from a common apex point, and these features are flanked by inclined and sigmoidal levee-like channel fills dominated by homogeneous mud (acoustically transparent material). We reinterpret these features as tide-dominated delta islands and distributary channels, rather than the previously interpreted erosional mud ridges in the seaward part of the estuary, as they align with patterns observed in classic tide-dominated deltas. These patterns also suggest a shift from delta-front to delta-plain environments coinciding with shoreline advance ca. 10 k.y. B.P., but this was preceded by the evolution of a backstepping delta. Our study highlights the interplay between sediment supply and sea-level fluctuations in controlling the large-scale stratigraphic and environmental evolution of tidal-dominated river mouth systems. In the transgressive, paleo-Changjiang mouth, this interplay drove the system to evolve through stages of retrogradational estuary, backstepping delta, and progradational delta, and each environment differs significantly from the pattern observed in the modern Changjiang Delta. This study provides important insights for evaluating the evolution and sequence-stratigraphic reconstruction of other tidal depositional systems.

The road less taken: Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase inactivation and delphinidin anthocyanin loss underpins a natural intraspecific flower colour variation.

Visual cues are of critical importance for the attraction of animal pollinators, however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underpinning intraspecific floral colour variation. Here, we combined comparative spectral analysis, targeted metabolite profiling, multi-tissue transcriptomics, differential gene expression, sequence analysis and functional analysis to investigate a bee-pollinated orchid species, Glossodia major with common purple- and infrequent white-flowered morphs. We found uncommon and previously unreported delphinidin-based anthocyanins responsible for the conspicuous and pollinator-perceivable colour of the purple morph and three genetic changes underpinning the loss of colour in the white morph - (1) a loss-of-function (LOF; frameshift) mutation affecting dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR1) coding sequence due to a unique 4-bp insertion, (2) specific downregulation of functional DFR1 expression and (3) the unexpected discovery of chimeric Gypsy transposable element (TE)-gene (DFR) transcripts with potential consequences to the genomic stability and post-transcriptional or epigenetic regulation of DFR. This is one of few known cases where regulatory changes and LOF mutation in an anthocyanin structural gene, rather than transcription factors, are important. Furthermore, if TEs prove to be a frequent source of mutation, the interplay between environmental stress-induced TE evolution and pollinator-mediated selection for adaptive colour variation may be an overlooked mechanism maintaining floral colour polymorphism in nature.