High Conservation Research Articles

Description of the mitochondrial genomes of Sichuan Tetrastes sewerzowi (Galliformes: Tetraonidae) and phylogenetic relationship.

The Chinese Grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi), a rare endemic bird in China, belongs to the Galliformes order and Tetraonidae family. Despite extensive research, subspecies classification remains inadequate, especially in Pingwu, Sichuan. This study sequenced the mitochondrial genome of T. sewerzowi in Wanglang Nature Reserve, Sichuan, analyzed its structural features, and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships within Tetraonidae. The results indicate that the high conservation in mitochondrial genome structure and sequence between the T. sewerzowi from Wanglang, Sichuan and Lianhuashan, Gansu indicates that they may belong to the same subspecies. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in the length of the mitochondrial control region between T. sewerzowi and Tetrastes bonasia. Based on the phylogenetic tree constructed using a comprehensive mitochondrial dataset, we propose the reclassification of the Hazel Grouse genus into two independent genera: Tetrastes and Bonasa. This study is the first to sequence the mitochondrial genome of T. sewerzowi from Sichuan and compare it with populations from Gansu, providing important insights into the distribution pattern of T. sewerzowi subspecies and facilitating the formulation of effective conservation strategies.

Molecular characterization, spatio-temporal expression patterns of crtc2 gene and its immune roles in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

cAMP response element binding (CREB) protein 2 (CRTC2) is a transcriptional coactivator of CREB and plays an important role in the immune system. Thus far, the physiological roles of Crtc2 in teleost are still poorly understood. In this study, the crtc2 gene was identified and characterized from yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco; therefore, the gene is termed as pfcrtc2), and its evolutionary and molecular characteristics as well as potential immunity-related roles were investigated. Our results showed that the open reading frame of pfcrtc2 was 2,346 bp in length, encoding a protein with 781 amino acids. Gene structure analysis revealed its existence of 14 exons and 13 introns. A phylogenetic analysis proved that the tree of crtc2 was clustered into five groups, exhibiting a similar evolutionary topology with species evolution. Multiple protein sequence alignment demonstrated high conservation of the crtc2 in various vertebrates with similar structure. Syntenic and gene structural comparisons further established that crtc2 was highly conserved, implying its similar roles in diverse vertebrates. Tissue distribution pattern detected by quantitative real-time PCR showed that the pfcrtc2 gene was almost expressed in all detected tissues except for eyes, with the highest expression levels in the gonad, indicating that Crtc2 may play important roles in various tissues. In addition, pfcrtc2 was transcribed at all developmental stages in yellow catfish, showing the highest expression levels at 12 h after fertilization. Finally, the transcriptional profiles of crtc2 were significantly increased in yellow catfishes injected with Aeromonas hydrophila or Poly I:C, which shared a consistent change pattern with four immune-related genes including IL-17A, IL-10, MAPKp38, and NF-κBp65, suggesting pfCrtc2 may play critical roles in preventing both exogenous bacteria and virus invasion. Anyway, our findings lay a solid foundation for further studies on the functions of pfcrtc2, and provide novel genetic loci for developing new strategies to control disease outbreak in teleost.

A probabilistic evaluation method on temperature and time-dependent stress intensity limit St in creep assessment of components at elevated temperatures

Abstract Creep is an important damage mode of components at elevated temperatures, and the temperature and time-dependent stress intensity limit St is an essential indicator in creep assessment of components. In general, the safety factors are directly applied to three criteria in stress intensity limit St in ASME code, but a quantitative evaluation on the failure probability covered in this indicator is rarely reported. Based on this, a probabilistic evaluation method on stress intensity limit St is proposed by correlating each criterion with mean creep rupture life data. The failure probability of three criteria in stress intensity limit St of 316 and 304 stainless steels is calculated, and the effect of safety factors on failure probability results is discussed. A probabilistic evaluation on stress intensity limit St is conducted. Results indicate that the stress intensity limit St presents a low failure probability or high conservativeness, and the minimum stress to creep rupture is the governing role in stress intensity limit St for cases involved. The failure probability of stress intensity limit St of 316 stainless steel is much lower than that of 304 stainless steel, attributed to the differences of creep deformation features and data scatter of the two stainless steels.

Self-association and multimer formation in AtLEA4-5, a desiccation-induced intrinsically disordered protein from plants.

During seed maturation, plants may experience severe desiccation, leading to the accumulation of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. These intrinsically disordered proteins also accumulate in plant tissues under water deficit. Functional roles of LEA proteins have been proposed based on in vitro studies, where monomers are considered as the functional units. However, the potential formation of homo-oligomers has been little explored. In this work, we investigated the potential self-association of Arabidopsis thaliana group 4 LEA proteins (AtLEA4) using in vitro and in vivo approaches. LEA4 proteins represent a compelling case of study due to their high conservation throughout the plant kingdom. This protein family is characterized by a conserved N-terminal region, with a high alpha-helix propensity and invitro protective activity, as compared to the highly disordered and low-conserved C-terminal region. Our findings revealed that full-length AtLEA4 proteins oligomerize and that both terminal regions are sufficient for self-association in vitro. However, the ability of both amino and carboxy regions of AtLEA4-5 to self-associate invivo is significantly lower than that of the entire protein. Using high-resolution and quantitative fluorescence microscopy, we were able to disclose the unreported ability of LEA proteins to form high-order oligomers in planta. Additionally, we found that high-order complexes require the simultaneous engagement of both terminal regions, indicating that the entire protein is needed to attain such structural organization. This research provides valuable insights into the self-association of LEA proteins in plants and emphasizes the role of protein oligomer formation.

Dorsal fin height is not an effective tool to distinguish hatchery and wild steelhead in the field

AbstractObjectiveTo maximize harvest of hatchery steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss and Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. while reducing impacts to wild conspecifics, fishery managers rely on the ability of anglers to distinguish between the two. Fin erosion, including dorsal fin erosion, is a common result of hatchery rearing of juvenile salmonids. Since the 1980s, managers in the Pacific Northwest have utilized adult steelhead dorsal fin height as a regulatory control rule, requiring anglers to release steelhead with dorsal fins over a height threshold. This approach assumes that all or most hatchery fish have shorter dorsal fins than their wild counterparts. This study was designed to test this assumption.MethodsWe compared steelhead origin (hatchery or wild) determined using scale analysis and adipose fin clipping (hatchery n = 127, wild n = 71) with origin estimated using dorsal fin height.ResultOverall, a static dorsal fin height threshold (2.25 in, 5.72 cm) correctly identified 90% of hatchery‐origin steelhead but misidentified nearly half (44%) of wild fish as hatchery. Dorsal fin height of known hatchery fish correlated with fish length, indicating a weakness of using a static dorsal height threshold as a management tool. The accuracy of distinguishing wild fish improved, but only marginally (56–76%), using a classification model where dorsal fin height of known origin fish from this study was a continuous predictor of origin. In comparison, adipose fin status correctly identified 97% of unmarked fish as wild.ConclusionThe low accuracy of the classification model and static dorsal fin height thresholds at distinguishing hatchery and wild steelhead due to a strong correlation between dorsal fin height and fork length and the high fork length variability of hatchery origin fish. Given the low cost and accuracy of adipose fin clipping and the potentially high conservation risk associated with misidentification, we recommend discontinuing the use of dorsal fin height as a harvest control rule for steelhead.

Comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes of 14 Asteraceae species.

The Asteraceae family, the largest and one of the most diverse families of angiosperms, presents significant challenges in taxonomic classification and systematic research due to its vast species diversity and morphological complexity. A comprehensive understanding of the chloroplast genomes within this family is essential for refining taxonomic classifications and advancing phylogenetic studies. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genomes of 14 Asteraceae species and conducted a thorough bioinformatic analysis of their characteristics. The chloroplast genomes, ranging from 150,907bp to 152,858bp, exhibit a typical quadripartite structure: a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,044bp to 84,625bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,223bp to 18,673bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) (24,806bp to 25,201bp). These genomes encode 87 to 89 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 36 to 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes, with high conservation in size, structure, gene content, and order. Comparative analysis with other Asteraceae species' chloroplast genomes revealed notable similarities and structural variations, particularly in the IR regions. Nucleotide polymorphism analysis identified four genes-trnY-GUA, trnE-UUC, ycf1, and rrn23-with higher Pi values, suggesting potential hotspots for evolutionary studies. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) approaches provided new insights, proposing the reclassification of Himalaiella auriculata and Jacobaea raphanifolia as independent genera, distinct from Saussurea and Senecio. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the chloroplast genome structures and phylogenetic relationships of 14 Asteraceae species, offering critical data for future molecular identification, evolutionary biology, and population genetics research. The findings hold significant implications for the ongoing refinement of Asteraceae taxonomic classifications and enhance our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics within this complex family.

Identifying complementary conservation and restoration priority areas for plant species

The coverage of protected areas (PAs) remains far from the Kunming-Montreal target and degraded ecosystems are greatly limiting the conservation efficiency of PAs. Therefore, this paper proposes a method to identify conservation and restoration priority areas to supplement existing PAs. A case study was conducted focusing on Yunnan, southwestern China, which intersects with three world biodiversity hotspots. First, the spatial ranges for 3768 representative conservation plant species were mapped using species distribution models. Subsequently, planning units were classified into three restorability categories, namely no-need restoration, potentially restorable and non-restorable units, according to land cover changes between 2000 and 2020. Then, conservation and restoration priority areas were identified by applying a two-step systematic conservation planning process. Finally, replacement cost analysis was applied to compare the effectiveness of existing PAs and the overall 30 % priority areas. Northwestern, southwestern, and southeastern Yunnan have high biodiversity conservation values. Especially in eastern and southeastern Yunnan, large amounts of restoration priority areas were identified. Conservation and restoration priority areas account for 15.80 % and 3.69 % of Yunnan's land, respectively. Compared to existing PAs, conservation priority areas can increase the number of species covered from 2461 to 3277, and further to 3566 when including restoration priority areas. Compared to existing PAs, the mean species coverage in the overall 30 % priority areas has increased from 27.28 % to 72.69 %. Notably, 12.86 % of existing PAs were identified as restoration priority areas. This study indicates that in addition to conservation measures, implementing restoration strategies in high conservation-value areas is equally important.

Spatial patterns of vascular plant species richness in Poland: Relations among species group richness and hot spot distribution

Knowledge of spatial patterns of species richness (SR) is highly relevant for theoretical research in ecology and the development of conservation plans. In Poland, despite a long tradition of botanical surveys, vascular plant SR has not been mapped, nor have the correlations in richness among different plant species groups been explored at the entire country scale. Here, we used a recently published data set to examine spatial patterns and relationships among the joined SR of vascular plant species, including native species, archaeophytes, neophytes, and species with high conservation value (i.e., red-list species). The basic spatial unit employed was a 10 × 10 km grid from the Atlas of Distribution of Vascular Plants in Poland (ATPOL). We found that SR of native species and archaeophytes, neophytes, and red-list species were positively correlated. The main patterns of SR and the percentage of particular groups in the joined SR were based on three components: (1) gradient of overall SR, (2) invasion level, and (3) peculiarity of flora in some regions resulting from the high number and proportion of rare species that often have high conservation value (red-list species). In general, northeastern Poland was species-poor, while the Carpathian Mountain range, the uplands in southern Poland, and some parts of Wisła River valley had the highest SR concentrations. e location of SR hotspots usually did not overlap with the existing national parks system. The correlations among native SR, high conservation value species, and neophyte SR suggest that biological invasions are among the most important threats to vascular plant diversity in Poland. Finally, despite likely biases in SR assessments, we demonstrated that the presented maps seem to reflect general ecological gradients influencing vascular plant distribution in Poland.

Evidence of anthropogenic subsidisation of red foxes in a national park important for breeding wading birds

AbstractThe red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a generalist mesopredator found throughout the UK. It has been linked to national declines in native wildlife, especially ground-nesting birds such as waders. In the New Forest National Park, nest predation and poor chick survival is primarily responsible for low breeding success of Eurasian curlew (Numenius arguata), a species of high conservation concern. To reduce predation losses, foxes are lethally controlled by wildlife managers. Here, we identified the major food resources that are being exploited by foxes in the New Forest area and examined temporal and spatial patterns in the presence of specific food categories, with special reference to anthropogenic food. Stomachs from foxes culled in curlew breeding areas were collected from April 2021 - July 2022 and the contents of these stomachs were quantified. Foxes exhibited a highly varied diet with no single food category predominating. Anthropogenic food comprised 14% of the overall diet, with its presence predicted by proximity to human settlements and other infrastructure. We also estimated the total annual volume of anthropogenic food consumed by the fox population and by extension how many individual foxes this volume of food could support in isolation. According to these calculations, at present the number of foxes subsidised by anthropogenic food is approximately 64.8% (50.2–79.7%) of those removed by culling per year. Our findings highlight that better local food sanitation and education should become important parts of a more holistic management approach to reduce the burden of fox predation experienced by breeding waders.

Chloroplast genome sequencing and divergence analysis of 18 Pyrus species: insights into intron length polymorphisms and evolutionary processes.

Pears constitute an essential temperate crop and are primarily produced through interspecific hybridization owing to self-incompatibility that complicates their breeding history. To address this, we sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of 18 Pyrus and one Malus species using the Illumina HiSeq4000 platform. The cp genomes ranged from 159,885 bp to 160,153bp and exhibited a conserved circular DNA structure with an average GC content of 36.5%. Each cp genome contained 127 genes, including 83 protein-coding, 36 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes. Divergence analysis with mVISTA showed high conservation in the coding regions and notable variations in the non-coding regions. All species shared 17 intron-containing genes, with ycf3 and clpP each having two introns. Five intron-containing genes (ndhB, rpl2, rps12, trnA-UGC, and trnE-UUC) were located in the inverted repeat regions, while trnL-UAA was located in the large single-copy region, with conserved intron lengths across Pomoideae. We identified polymorphic intron sequences in the rpl22, petB, clpP, ndhA, and rps16 genes and designed primers for these regions. Notably, the two Pyrus ussuriensis accessions Doonggeullebae and Cheongdangrori showed intron-length polymorphisms despite being classified as the same species. Phylogenetic analysis of the cp genome sequences revealed two major clusters, indicating distinct maternal lineages and evolutionary origins. This study underscores the importance of cp gene polymorphisms in P. fauriei, P. calleryana, P. ussuriensis, and P. pyrifolia, providing valuable insights into Pyrus evolution as well as aiding in the conservation and breeding of pear germplasm.

Immune History Modifies Disease Severity to HPAI H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b Viral Challenge.

The most recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian H5 influenza (HPAI) virus in cattle is now widespread across the U.S. with spillover events happening to other mammals, including humans. Several human cases have been reported with clinical signs ranging from conjunctivitis to respiratory illness. However, most of those infected report mild to moderate symptoms, while previously reported HPAI H5Nx infections in humans have had mortality rates upwards of 50%. We recently reported that mice with pre-existing immunity to A/Puerto Rico/08/1934 H1N1 virus were protected from lethal challenge from highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 influenza virus. Here, we demonstrate that mice infected with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus strain A/California/04/2009 (Cal09) or vaccinated with a live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) were moderately-to-highly protected against a lethal A/bovine/Ohio/B24OSU-439/2024 H5N1 virus challenge. We also observed that ferrets with mixed pre-existing immunity-either from LAIV vaccination and/or from Cal09 infection-showed protection against a HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus isolated from a cat. Notably, this protection occurred independently of any detectable hemagglutination inhibition titers (HAIs) against the H5N1 virus. To explore factors that may contribute to protection, we conducted detailed T cell epitope mapping using previously published sequences from H1N1 strains. This analysis revealed a high conservation of amino acid sequences within the internal proteins of our bovine HPAI H5N1 virus strain. These data highlight the necessity to explore additional factors that contribute to protection against HPAI H5N1 viruses, such as memory T cell responses, in addition to HA-inhibition or neutralizing antibodies.

Identification, characterization, and distribution of novel amidase gene aphA in sphingomonads conferring resistance to amphenicol antibiotics.

Amphenicol antibiotics, such as chloramphenicol (CHL), thiamphenicol (TAP), and florfenicol (Ff), are high-risk emerging pollutants. Their extensive usage in aquaculture, livestock, and poultry farming has led to an increase in bacterial antibiotic resistance and facilitated the spread of resistance genes. Yet, limited research has been conducted on the co-resistance of CHL, TAP, and Ff. Herein, a novel amidase AphA was identified from a pure cultured strain that can concurrently mediate the hydrolytic inactivation of CHL, TAP, and Ff, yielding products p-nitrophenylserinol, thiamphenicol amine (TAP-amine), and florfenicol amine (Ff-amine), respectively. The antibacterial activity of these antibiotic hydrolysates exhibited a significant reduction or complete loss in comparison to the parent compounds. Notably, AphA shared less than 26% amino acid sequence identity with previously reported enzymes and exhibited high conservation within the sphingomonad species. Through enzymatic kinetic analysis, the AphA exhibited markedly superior affinity and catalytic activity toward Ff in comparison to CHL and TAP. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis revealed the indispensability of catalytic triad residues, particularly serine 153 and histidine 277, in forming crucial hydrogen bonds essential for AphA's hydrolytic activity. Comparative genomic analysis showed that aphA genes in some species are closely adjacent to various transposable elements, indicating that there is a high potential risk of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This study established a hydrolysis resistance mechanism of amphenicol antibiotics in sphingomonads, which offers theoretical guidance and a novel marker gene for assessing the prevalent risk of amphenicol antibiotics in the environment.IMPORTANCEAmphenicol antibiotics are pervasive emerging contaminants that present a substantial threat to ecological systems. Few studies have elucidated resistance genes or mechanisms that can act on CHL, TAP, and Ff simultaneously. The results of this study fill this knowledge gap and identify a novel amidase AphA from the bacterium Sphingobium yanoikuyae B1, which mediates three typical amphenicol antibiotic inactivation, and the molecular mechanism is elucidated. The diverse types of transposable elements were identified in the flanking regions of the aphA gene, indicating the risk of horizontal transfer of this antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). These findings offer new insights into the bacterial resistance to amphenicol antibiotics. The gene reported herein can be utilized as a novel genetic diagnostic marker for monitoring the environmental fate of amphenicol antibiotics, thereby enriching risk assessment efforts within the context of antibiotic resistance.

Exploring voltage-gated sodium channel conformations and protein-protein interactions using AlphaFold2.

Voltage-gated sodium (Na V ) channels are vital regulators of electrical activity in excitable cells, playing critical roles in generating and propagating action potentials. Given their importance in physiology, Na V channels are key therapeutic targets for treating numerous conditions, yet developing subtype-selective drugs remains challenging due to the high sequence and structural conservation among Na V family members. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy have resolved nearly all human Na V channels, providing valuable insights into their structure and function. However, limitations persist in fully capturing the complex conformational states that underlie Na V channel gating and modulation. This study explores the capability of AlphaFold2 to sample multiple Na V channel conformations and assess AlphaFold Multimer's accuracy in modeling interactions between the Na V α-subunit and its protein partners, including auxiliary β-subunits and calmodulin. We enhance conformational sampling to explore Na V channel conformations using a subsampled multiple sequence alignment approach and varying the number of recycles. Our results demonstrate that AlphaFold2 models multiple Na V channel conformations, including those from experimental structures, new states not yet experimentally identified, and potential intermediate states. Furthermore, AlphaFold Multimer models Na V complexes with auxiliary β-subunits and calmodulin with high accuracy, and the presence of protein partners significantly alters the conformational landscape of the Na V α-subunit. These findings highlight the potential of deep learning-based methods to expand our understanding of Na V channel structure, gating, and modulation, with significant implications for future drug discovery efforts.

New culling technique provides localised reductions in interspecific aggression and density of Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) without recolonisation

ABSTRACT The Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) is a native Australian honeyeater that reduces avian biodiversity at sites it occupies through aggressive defence. Culling to remove miners has had limited success in some areas due to rapid recolonisation. This experiment trialled ‘doughnut culls’ as a new approach to reduce Noisy Miner aggression within a central area of colonies, by removing up to half the miners present within a 50 m radius of an identified central location in 29 different colonies on the New England Tablelands of NSW. Aggression from miners onsite within this central area was quantified before and after culling by presenting 3D printed models of three different bird species with accompanying vocal playback to resident miners at the centre of culled areas. These presentations identified a significant decline in Noisy Miner aggression onsite after doughnut culls, with this reduced rate of aggression (e.g. over 50% reduction in the maximum number of miners within a 20 m radius of models) remaining until the conclusion of the experiment at 28 days post culling, a timeframe commensurate with the duration of many passerine nesting attempts. Social hierarchy changes among remaining Noisy Miners may be the primary cause of this reduced aggression, with sufficient miners remaining onsite to prevent colony collapse and thus any recolonisation. While additional trials during peak Noisy Miner dispersal periods are warranted, this method provides an effective tool for land managers to reduce localised Noisy Miner aggression over the short to medium term when high conservation areas are identified.

Elucidating the role of MLL1 nsSNPs: Structural and functional alterations and their contribution to leukemia development.

The Mixed lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1) gene, located on chromosome 11q23, plays a pivotal role in histone lysine-specific methylation and is consistently associated with various types of leukemia. Non-synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (nsSNPs) have been tied to numerous diseases, including cancers, and have become valuable cancer biomarkers. There's a notable gap in studies probing the influence of SNPs on MLL1 protein structure, function, and subsequent modifications. We utilized an array of bioinformatics tools, including PredictSNP, InterPro, ConSurf, I-Mutant2.0, MUpro, Musitedeep, Project HOPE, RegulomeDB, Mutpred2, and both CScape and CScape Somatic, to meticulously analyze the consequences of nsSNPs in the MLL1 gene. Out of 2,097 nsSNPs analyzed, 62 were determined to be significantly pathogenic by the PredictSNP tool, with ten crucial MLL1 functional domains identified using InterPro. Additionally, 50 of these nsSNPs had high conservation scores, hinting at potential effects on protein structure and function, while 32 were found to undermine MLL1 protein stability. Notably, four nsSNPs were deemed oncogenic, with two identified as cancer drivers. The nsSNP, D2724G, between the MLL1 protein's FY-rich domains, could disrupt proteolytic cleavage, altering gene expression patterns and potentially promoting cancer. Our research provides a comprehensive assessment of nsSNPs' impact in the MLL1 protein structure and function and consequently on leukemia development, suggesting potential avenues for personalized treatment, early detection, improved prognosis, and a deeper understanding of hematological malignancy genesis.

Montane willow scrub restoration in Scotland: reviewing 30 years of progress to reestablish the altitudinal treeline

Many mountain woodlands across the globe have undergone anthropogenic degradation with negative implications for the ecological and socioeconomic systems dependent on them. Montane willows are arctic‐alpine species of high nature conservation concern within the altitudinal treeline. Scotland has been pioneering the restoration of montane willow scrub for three decades following widespread loss linked particularly to overgrazing by sheep and deer since the eighteenth century. In the 1990s, the total area of montane willows throughout the country was less than 10 ha, with most remaining populations highly fragmented, in rapid decline, and restricted to inaccessible cliffs. Subsequently, montane willow scrub restoration has been part of an overall 2659 ha area managed for the recovery of mountain woodlands in Scotland. By May 2023, 396,868 montane willows were planted in projects encompassing large‐scale habitat creation, relict population reinforcement by genetic rescue, fencing, and landscape‐scale management for low‐density deer populations. This review summarizes restoration methods and outcomes with case study examples to promote conservation evidence and research on plant growth and survival, planting sites, associated biodiversity, molecular ecology, genomics, and long‐term population sustainability. With the potential for montane scrub restoration to be widely expanded, improved connectivity to revive a treeline mosaic shaped by regeneration will tackle biodiversity loss and help mitigate climate change impacts on a national scale. However, caution must be applied to creating definitions of distinct habitats for restoration that are based on non‐natural or ecologically degraded systems. These experiences are particularly relevant to montane and circumpolar regions with strongly modified landscape histories.

Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of vomeronasal receptors in the female muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Vomeronasal receptors (VRs) play a crucial role in recognizing pheromones, which are essential for social chemical communication. The male muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) secretes musk, which contains pheromones as a reproductive signal, and the female can recognize it through the VNO to mediate social communication behavior. This study aimed to identify the genomic information of VRs (OzVRs) in the female muskrat and elucidate their physicochemical properties and evolutionary relationship. Six predominantly expressed OzVR genes were identified using the RACE technique, and a comprehensive analysis was conducted on their gene structure, subcellular distribution, functional predictions, and mRNA levels, revealed that all OzVRs were transmembrane proteins. Phylogenetic analysis clustered OzVR genes into two clades (V1Rs: OzV1R21, OzV1R81, OzV1R105; V2Rs: OzV2R33, OzV2R44, OzV2R60). Physiochemically, OzV1Rs were basic proteins, while OzV2Rs exhibited weakly acidic character. Among them, OzV1R81 and OzV2R44 were identified as hydrophobicitystable proteins, with the remainder categorized as hydrophobicity-unstable proteins. Promoters analysis revealed the involvement of transcription factors and complexes, including Ahr::Arnt, Runx1, Arnt, and TFAP2A, in regulating the expression of the OzVR genes. Conserved domain and motif analyses demonstrated a high conservation of the VRs superfamily in rodents, with many conserved domains linked to pheromone binding. Functional predictions confirmed that OzVRs were associated with pheromones detection. Finally, the expression patterns of OzVR genes in different tissues and seasons indicated that OzVRs have the highest level of expression in the vomeronasal organ, and OzV1Rs notably higher in the breeding season than that in the non-breeding season, however the expression levels of OzV2Rs were higher in the non-breeding season. This study provided insights into the phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, physicochemical properties, promoter binding sites, functions and gene expression patterns of OzVRs, offering a theoretical reference for further examination of VR gene functions and a foundation for understanding chemical signaling mechanisms in the muskrat.

The Complete Chloroplast Genome of Meconopsis simplicifolia and Its Genetic Comparison to Other Meconopsis Species.

Background: Chloroplasts, due to their high conservation and lack of recombination, serve as important genetic resources for the classification and evolutionary analysis of closely related species that are difficult to distinguish based on their morphological features. Meconopsis simplicifolia (M. simplicifolia), an endangered herb within the Meconopsis genus, has demonstrated therapeutic potential in treating various diseases. However, the highly polymorphic morphology of this species poses a challenge for accurate identification. Methods: In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of M. simplicifolia was sequenced and assembled using Illumina sequencing technology. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and repetitive sequences were characterized. In addition, a comparative analysis was conducted with the chloroplast genomes of six other Meconopsis species. Results: The chloroplast genome of M. simplicifolia has a quadripartite circular structure with a total length of 152,772 bp. It consists of a large single-copy region of 83,824 bp and a small single-copy region of 17,646 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeat sequences (IRa and IRb, 25,651 bp). The genome contains 131 genes, 33 SSRs, and 27 long repetitive sequences. Comparative analysis with six other chloroplast genomes of Meconopsis revealed that M. simplicifolia is closely related to M. betonicifolia and that the rpl2 (ribosomal protein L2) gene in the IRb region has been deleted. This deletion is of significant importance for future taxonomic studies of M. simplicifolia. Conclusions: This study provides a valuable reference for the identification of M. simplicifolia and contributes to a deeper understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of the Meconopsis genus.

Evolutionary origin and functional investigation of the widely conserved plant PEBP gene STEPMOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (SMFT).

Genes of the family PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE-BINDING PROTEINS (PEBP) have been intensely studied in plants for their role in cell (re)programming and meristem differentiation. Recently, sporadic reports of the presence of a new type of PEBP in plants became available, highly similar to the YY-PEBPs of prokaryotes. A comprehensive investigation of their spread, origin, and function revealed conservation across the plant kingdom. The YY-PEBP clade in plants seems to have resulted from a single Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) episode from a prokaryotic organism to an ancestral streptophyte. YY-PEBPs are also present in other eukaryotes, such as certain fungi, diatoms, and rotifers, and these cases derive from independent HGT events. Reciprocally, the occurrence of the eukaryotic CETS/RKIP type PEBPs (CR-PEBPs) was noticed in bacteria of the genus Nocardia, showing that HGT has occurred as well from eukaryotes to prokaryotes. Based on these observations, we propose that the current model of the PEBP family in plants needs to be updated with the clade STEPMOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (SMFT). SMFT genes not only share high sequence conservation but also show specific expression in homologous plant structures that serve as propagules. Functional analysis of Arabidopsis smft mutant lines pointed to a function for this gene in regulating seed germination, both concerning primary dormancy release and in response to adverse high-temperature conditions. Overall, our study reveals an increasing complexity in the evolutionary history of the PEBP gene family, unlocking new potential in understanding the evolution and functional spectrum of these important key regulatory genes.

Conservatism in response to rising universalism? Linking individuals' conservation values, right‐wing attitudes, and nationalism to perceived prevalence of universalism among fellow citizens

AbstractIncreased openness and tolerance have marked the twenty‐first century, yet recent years witnessed a decline marked by nationalist movements and reduced support for diversity. We explore the potential link between these two societal changes by examining the association between the perception of universalism values in society and the endorsement of conservation values, right‐wing political attitudes, and nationalism in Poland. Across six correlational studies (total N = 2644), perception of the prevalence of universalism values in fellow citizens was positively linked to one's endorsement of conservation values, right‐wing political attitudes, and nationalism. These links were (a) stronger when participants believed that a considerable part of society still supported conservation values and (b) underlined by a greater perception of the threat posed by universalism values to the traditional way of living. The experimental results (N = 307) did not support causal link between these links but only the underlying role of perceiving a threat from universalism to society, particularly when participants perceived high universalism and conservation values in others. However, this effect was observed only when controlling for one's endorsement of conservation values and the perception of threat from conservation values.