Early Evolution Research Articles

LITHOLOGY UNITS WANAJAYA AREA AND SURROUNDING, BUAHDUA SUBDISTRICT, SUMEDANG DISTRICT, WEST JAVA PROVINCE

The research site is located in Wanajaya Village, Buahdua Subdistrict, Gunung Kidul Regency, West Java Province. Accessibility to the research location using a motorbike. The purpose of this study is to determine the geological conditions of the study area in terms of lithological units and stratigraphic order. The lithological unit of the study area is divided into 4 lithological units, namely the Mudstone Unit, the Andesite Intrusion Unit, the Volcanic Breccia Unit and the Andesite Lava Unit, namely the naming of rock units based on observable physical characteristics, including rock type, uniformity of lithological symptoms and stratigraphic position. The geological history of the first research site in the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene time was deposited by the mudstone unit. In the late Pliocene to Pleistocene volcanism activity occurred due to the displacement of the volcanic centre from the south to the centre of Java (Martodjojo, 1984) which caused the formation of the wanajaya fold and continued with the formation of the wanajaya ascending fault. As a result of the weak fault zone, the andesite intrusion unit appeared, which was the beginning of the activity of the old volcano. In Pleistocene time, namely deposition of Volcanic Breccia Unit and continued by the deposition of andesite lava unit due to volcanism activity of Tampomas volcano issued pyroclastic material.

Phosphorus transitions driven by cyclone biparjoy linked middle east North Africa (MENA) and Indian Thar Desert dust storm pathways in Asia’s largest grassland

Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient for terrestrial ecosystems like grassland and plays a critical role in influencing primary productivity and hence ecosystem dynamics. The deposition of airborne dust, particularly from arid and semiarid regions, has been recognised as a significant source of phosphorus input in distant ecosystems. The study area, the Banni grassland, is a semiarid ecosystem with a unique geological history that has experienced degradation for various natural and anthropogenic reasons. It is located in the arid tract of western India. Soil samples were collected from 10 × 10 km grid locations in the grassland before, 48 h after, and 20 days after a cyclonic storm, Biparjoy, which hit the region in June 2023. Statistical analyses (Shapiro‒Wilk normality and Kruskal–Wallis H test) were performed on the data to assess the differences in phosphorus concentrations in terms of PAC (Phosphorus Activation Coefficient) among the phases. To examine the long-range transport of dust-borne phosphorus and its subsequent deposition in the target grassland, we employed an interdisciplinary approach that integrated satellite imagery and ground-based measurements. Spatial and temporal variations in dust emissions were assessed using satellite remote sensing data, while ground truthing was performed for phosphorus content analysis using standard protocols. The aerosol data from MERRA-2 for the past 40 years were used to examine the relationships between aerosol concentrations and wind direction and speed. Our findings revealed that the Middle East, North Africa, and Thar Desert significantly contributed to phosphorus deposition in the target grassland during specific seasons. The SW cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, which followed the same track of aerosol loading (MENA), made landfall in this zone (June 16, 2023) and affected the P depositional patterns. The pre-cyclone, post-cyclone and 20 DAC (days after cyclone) had AP values of 15.15, 22.54 and 24.06, respectively. However, the TP values were 45.81 ± SE = 1.73, 60.95 ± SE = 1.39 and 61.98 ± SE = 1.40, respectively. The highest TP values were in phase 3 (20 DAC phase) (61.89 ± SE = 1.40). Similarly, the transformation of locked forms of P to bioavailable forms was coincidental with higher PSM (Phosphate Solubilising Microorganisms) in soil samples. Dust storms and other atmospheric circulation patterns were found to play pivotal roles in facilitating the long-range transport of phosphorus-laden dust particles from these source regions to the target grassland. Ultimately, our research contributes to the broader understanding of global nutrient cycling and land‒air interactions, enabling informed decision-making for the conservation and sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems.

The Once and Future Gas: Methane's Multifunctional Roles in Earth's Evolution and Potential as a Biosignature

Methane (CH4) is a simple molecule that, due to its radiative forcing, wields an outsized impact on planetary heat balance. Methane is formed by diverse abiotic pathways across a range of pressures and temperatures. Biological methanogenesis for anaerobic respiration uses a terminal nickel-containing enzyme and is limited to the archaeal domain of life. Methane can also be produced in aerobic microbes during bacterial methylphosphonate and methylamine degradation and via nonenzymatic reactions during oxidative stress. Abiotic CH4 is produced via thermogenic reactions and during serpentinization reactions in the presence of metal catalysts. Reconstructions of methane cycling over geologic time are largely inferential. Throughout Earth's history, methane has probably been the second most important climate-forcing greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. Biological methanogenesis has likely dominated CH4 flux to Earth's atmosphere for the past ∼3.5 billion years, during which time CH4 is thought to have generally declined as atmospheric oxygen has risen. Here we review the evolution of the CH4 cycle over Earth's history, showcasing the multifunctional roles CH4 has played in Earth's climate, prebiotic chemistry, and microbial metabolisms. We also discuss the future of Earth's atmospheric CH4, the cycling of CH4 on other planetary bodies in the Solar System (with special emphasis on Titan), and the potential of CH4 as a biosignature on Earth-like extrasolar planets. ▪ Before life arose on Earth, abundant atmospheric CH4 in Earth's early atmosphere was likely key for establishment of habitable conditions and production of organic molecules for prebiotic chemistry. ▪ Biological methanogenesis for anaerobic respiration is only known to exist in some groups of anaerobic archaea, but CH4 can also be produced via enzymatic and nonenzymatic biological pathways that are not directly coupled to energy conservation. The relative importance of each of these pathways to the global CH4 cycle is a topic of active research, but archaeal methanogenesis dominates all other biological pathways for CH4 generation. ▪ As atmospheric O2 rose over Earth history, models suggest that atmospheric CH4 declined; in the distant deoxygenated future, atmospheric CH4 is predicted to rise again. ▪ Future missions to Titan will aid in understanding the complex organic chemistry on the only other planetary body in our Solar System with an active methane cycle.

Study of interfacial bonding properties and shrinkage deformation of cement-alkali activated gradient-structured composite in complex environments with temperature-humidity changes

The early shrinkage-deformation and mechanical property evolution of gradient-structured composites in extreme environments are still insufficient. The paper prepared ordinary Portland cement-alkali-activated slag (OPC-AAS) and ordinary Portland cement-alkali-activated metakaolin (OPC-AAMK) gradient-structured composite by stacking cement and alkali-activated materials together. The effects of temperature difference cycling and wetdry cycling extremes on the early shrinkage strain and splitting strength of OPC-AAS and OPC-AAMK composites, as well as the structure of the bond interface and the micromorphology of the hydration products, were comparatively analyzed. The results demonstrated that the temperature difference cycling affected the early deformation and bond strength of the gradient-structured composite interfaces more significantly than the dry-wet cycling. The maximum expansion strains of OPC-AAS and OPC-AAMK were 1,130.88 μm and 1,399.25 μm, respectively, under the effect of temperature difference cycling; the splitting strengths of OPC-AAS and OPC-AAMK after three cycles of temperature difference cycling were reduced by 26.37% and 31.32%, respectively, compared with that after three cycles of wet-dry cycling. In addition, the OPC-AAS composites showed better interfacial bonding properties after extreme environmental cycling compared to the OPC-AAMK composites. The early splitting strengths under the two extreme environmental effects increased and then decreased, and the maximum splitting strengths of OPCAAS were 2.66 MPa and 3.65 MPa under the temperature difference cycling and dry-wet cycling, respectively, which were 5.14% and 35.69% higher than those of OPC-AAMK, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization analysis showed that the temperature difference cycling resulted in more severe product decomposition of the AAMK cementitious material, and obvious cracks and holes appeared at the bonding interface of OPC-AAMK. This study provides some references for the optimal design of the early shrinkage-deformation properties and mechanical properties of gradient-structured composites under extreme environments as well as the assessment of service life.

A new species of Xingxiulong (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha) from the lower Jurassic Lufeng formation of Yunnan Province, China

ABSTRACT The Lufeng Formation of Lufeng City, Yunnan Province, China, is one of the most important sedimentary units for understanding the evolution of the Early Jurassic sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Here, a new species of the early-diverging sauropodomorph Xingxiulong from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation is erected on the basis of a postcranial skeleton. Xingxiulong yueorum, sp. nov. is distinguished from Xingxiulong chengi by possessing a pendant-shaped fourth trochanter with distal termination, an astragalus with almost straight dorsal margin of the posterior surface, and pedal digit V with two phalanges. A phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of genus Xingxiulong. Both the two species of Xingxiulong have four sacral vertebrae, which are typically associated with the late-diverging sauropodiforms and sauropods, suggesting a complex early evolution within the sauropodomorphs. This discovery adds to the diversity of the sauropodomorphs from the Lufeng Formation and contributes to our understanding of the intricate patterns characterising the early evolution of sauropodomorphs in Asia.

Tiny Hunters Along the Alpine Fault: Integrative Phylobiogeography Demonstrates High Geographic Structure in a Forest‐Dwelling Aotearoa Harvester Genus (Arachnida, Triaenonychidae: Algidia)

ABSTRACTAimThe archipelago of Aotearoa displays both high biodiversity and a dynamic geologic history, shaped by constantly shifting coastlines and the dramatic effects of glacial cycling on forest cover across the islands. This geographic history has important implications for the evolution of dispersal‐limited forest‐dwelling arthropods, such as Opiliones, which can help us reconstruct key past biogeographic events. In this study, we shed light on the evolutionary history of the triaenonychid genus Algidia Hogg, 1920.LocationThe archipelago of Aotearoa|New Zealand.Time PeriodLate Cretaceous to the present‐day, with particular focus on events in the Oligocene onwards.Major Taxa StudiedAlgidia, Triaenonychidae, Opiliones, Arachnida.MethodsWe utilise an integrative phylobiogeographic approach, incorporating target enrichment sequence capture of ultraconserved elements, divergence dating, species delimitation and ecological niche modeling.ResultsOur genomic data in conjunction with divergence dating find evidence of high geographic structure and the influence of multiple key geologic events in the natural history of Aotearoa, including the origination and continuation of the Alpine Fault, marine transgression during the Oligocene and cycles of glaciation and orogeny that characterised the Pliocene and Pleistocene on the islands. Our results recover 10 putative species, including four that are undescribed. Paleoclimate modelling reflects geographic changes to Aotearoa's coastline which potentially underpin the modern distributions of Algidia, including land bridges in place of the current marine straits Raukawa Moana|Cook Strait and Te Ara‐a‐Kiwa|Foveaux Strait.Main ConclusionsThe phylogeny of Algidia indicates consistent northwards expansion, with the earliest diverging clade, A. homerica, located in Rakiura and southern Te Waipounamu, and subsequently diverging clades moving steadily northwards in their geographic distributions. Diversification of Algidia predates the Oligocene Marine Transgression, lending support to the now well‐established hypothesis that Aotearoa was not fully submerged during the Oligocene. The Alpine Fault seems to be an important feature explaining cladogenesis and diverging populations, including for species found across Raukawa Moana. However, other phenomena, including glaciation, orogeny or continental shifting, are also important explanatory factors in species distributions across Aotearoa.

Chasing the Rainbow: Decoupled phenotypic and genotypic evolution in New Guinea’s rainbow skinks (Squamata: Scincidae)

With the advent of molecular data, the discovery of cryptic species has become commonplace. New Guinea, a region of high vertebrate biodiversity and complex geological history, has been found to contain immense numbers of cryptic skink species. We present the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of Carlia Gray, 1845, and its sister genus Lygisaurus de Vis, 1884, across mainland New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. We find rainbow skinks exhibit significant genetic divergence with minimal morphological variation and our data suggest the existence of many undescribed species. Due to the morphologically cryptic nature of rainbow skinks, we demonstrate the efficacy of the COI gene as a “barcode” for difficult species determinations. Divergence time and biogeographic analyses support four separate dispersal events from Australia to New Guinea for rainbow skinks from ~10–5 mya, with most groups arriving first in the East Papua Composite Terrane (EPCT) and dispersing from there to other terranes and islands. Exceptions to this pattern were observed in Lygisaurus, which dispersed first to the West Papuan portion of the Craton ~8.4mya, and the island clade of the Carlia fusca group, which dispersed to the Vogelkop peninsula ~4.7mya and from there to many islands.

3D Nonequilibrium Ionization and Spectroscopic Modeling of Coronal Mass Ejections. I. Comparison with Hinode/EIS Observations

Abstract High-resolution EUV spectroscopy provides an informative diagnostic tool for the early evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) since it can directly measure many physical properties of CME plasma close to the Sun that cannot be determined from white-light coronagraphs or narrowband imagers. The Hinode/EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) captured a series of high-resolution EUV spectra of the 2008 April 9 event, also known as the “Cartwheel CME,” during its initial acceleration period. CMEs are inherently dynamic events, driving the plasma from ionization equilibrium, which makes the nonequilibrium ionization (NEI) effects important when analyzing spectral observations. In this work, we performed simulations of the Cartwheel CME using the Alfvén Wave Solar atmosphere Model (AWSoM) to provide insight into the plasma structure and dynamics during the early evolution of this CME. For the first time, we combined self-consistent nonequilibrium charge state calculations in the EUV spectral line synthesis for a CME simulation to account for the plasma departures from ionization equilibrium everywhere in the CME. In this first paper of the series, we compare the simulation results to the EIS observations of this event to assess the quality of the AWSoM predictions. We find that the CME is out of equilibrium, indicating that NEI effects should be considered in the EUV spectral synthesis. Overall, the model reproduces the thermodynamic evolution of the CME in the low solar corona well, as compared to the EIS observations.

Reviews

Mineral Systems, Earth Evolution, and Global Metallogeny, by David Ian Groves and M. Santosh, 2023

Hypothesis for Molecular Evolution in the Pre-Cellular Stage of the Origin of Life.

Life was originated from inorganic world and had experienced a long period of evolution in about 3.8 billion years. The time for emergence of the pioneer creations on Earth is debatable nowadays, and how the scenario for the prebiotic molecular interactions is still mysterious. Before the spreading of cellular organisms, chemical evolution was perhaps prevailing for millions of years, in which inorganic biosynthesis was ultimately replaced by biochemical reactions. Understanding the major molecular players and their interactions toward cellular life is fundamental for current medical science and extraterrestrial life exploration. In this review, we propose a road map for the primordial molecular evolution in early Earth, which probably occurred adjacent to hydrothermal vents with a strong gradient of organic molecules, temperature, and metal contents. Natural selection of the macromolecules with strong secondary structures and catalytic centers is associated with decreasing of overall entropy of the biopolymers. Our review may shed lights into the important selection of gene-coding RNA with secondary structures from large amounts of random biopolymers and formation of ancient ribosomes with biological machines supporting the basic life processes. Integration of the free environmental ribosomes by the early cellular life as symbiotic molecular machines is probably the earliest symbiosis on Earth.

Comparative phylogeography of four lizard taxa within an oceanic island.

Comparative phylogeography aims to detect common patterns of differentiation among taxa attributed to the same geological or environmental barriers and, thus, find shared drivers of genomic splits and landscape features that explain patterns of occurrence and genetic diversity. Following this approach, this work focuses on four endemic lizard taxa, namely Acanthodactylus schreiberi schreiberi, Ophisops elegans schlueteri, Phoenicolacerta troodica, and Laudakia cypriaca, that co-occur in Cyprus, an isolated island of the Mediterranean. In an attempt to discern possible effects of the geological and ecological history of the region on diversity patterns along the lineages under study, samples were collected from all parts of Cyprus and phylogenetic reconstructions, species delimitation analyses, and biogeographic comparisons were conducted at both genetic and genomic levels (Sanger and ddRAD sequencing data, respectively) for all four taxa. The derived phylogenomic relationships provide evidence of a strong genetic structure within the island that agrees with the geographical origins of each population. A rare case of an island-to-mainland dispersal event is confirmed for one of the focal taxa, making it one of the few documented cases of this type. Estimated diversification times during the Miocene reflect the timing of the first arrival on the island, while further diversification seems to have been strongly affected by the Pleistocene oscillations.

Permo-Triassic to Early Jurassic evolution of the volcano-sedimentary successions of the Laguna Blanca area, western North Patagonian Region: Insights from geological mapping, volcanic stratigraphy, and U-Pb dating

Permo-Triassic to Early Jurassic evolution of the volcano-sedimentary successions of the Laguna Blanca area, western North Patagonian Region: Insights from geological mapping, volcanic stratigraphy, and U-Pb dating

Vanadium isotope fractionation during early planetary evolution: Insights from achondrite analyses

Vanadium isotope fractionation during early planetary evolution: Insights from achondrite analyses

Steppe development and mammalian adaptation in the middle Miocene, North Junggar Basin, Central Asia

The Central Asian (CA) steppe ecosystem and its fauna experienced a marked transition during the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO), though the exact process and dynamics remain elusive. We selected the Duolebulejin (DLB) section within the Junggar Basin to reconstruct vegetation and climate changes, using proxies such as particle size, mammalian fossils, and previously reported data including pollen, δ13CTOC, and magnetic susceptibility. The results reveal three distinct phases of transformation in regional vegetation and fauna from 18.8 to 13.2 Ma. During the pre-MCO (18.8–17.0 Ma), the landscape was dominated by desert scrubland, primarily inhabited by rodents. The MCO (17.0–14.5 Ma) saw a shift towards steppe vegetation, initially with herbaceous taxa followed by the establishment of C4 plants, alongside a diversity of large mammals adapted to open habitats. This suggests the emergence of savanna-like woodland steppes. In the post-MCO (14.5–13.2 Ma), the region transitioned to a dry steppe, with diminished animal populations, although a continued high proportion of species adapted to steppe environments. These findings underscore a co-evolutionary relationship between the development of steppe ecosystems and mammalian adaptations, driven by global MCO warming and subsequent cooling and with regional hydroclimatic changes acting as a modulating factor. The steppe-fauna biome emerged in the Junggar Basin during the MCO warming, a development whose mechanisms resemble those of tropical savannas in the late Miocene. These insights enhance our understanding of early steppe ecosystem evolution through past warming periods, shedding light on the pathways to modern steppe formation.

Investigation of microscale brittle fracture opening in diamond with olivine inclusion using XFEM and cohesive zone modeling

Inclusions trapped in diamonds are a fundamental source of information to probe the Earth’s interior, provided that the pressure conditions at which the diamond grew are correctly determined.This study explores the traditional assumptions in geothermobarometry for olivine-in-diamond host-inclusion systems by employing extended finite element methods (XFEM) and cohesive zone models (CZM) to quantify the contributions of brittle fractures to the relaxation of the residual stress of inclusions. Our analysis was performed assuming that the host-inclusion system does not contain fluids and that the unfractured minerals are elastically isotropic. Our models show that the damage initiation is solely dependent on the shape of the inclusion and on the fracture strength of the diamond host, while the fracture nucleation is influenced by both the size of the inclusion and the toughness of the diamond. Our findings indicate that, in dry systems, the amount of relaxation of residual stress of the inclusion due to the opening of brittle fractures is much lower than that due to the elastic interaction between the host and the inclusion. Moreover, the pressure release due to fractures is not substantially affected by the shape of the inclusion. We also show that the total relaxation of the residual pressure due to the combined effect of the elastic interaction and of the brittle deformation is lower than what is observed in natural samples, even when assuming fracture strength and toughness lower than those reported from experiments on single crystals of diamond. Such discrepancies suggest that in natural olivine-diamond systems additional mechanisms such as viscous or plastic deformation and/or the presence of preexisting defects and fluids in the host might play a relevant role in the relaxation of the residual stress. These findings underscore the need for advanced numerical tools that consider the complex interplay of the geometry of the host-inclusion system, the fracture properties, and the presence of fluids and defects in order to build more accurate models to constrain the geological history of diamonds.

Coal Petrography and Rock-Eval Pyrolysis of Coals of Barakar Formation of Kothagudem and Godavari Sub-Basins, Pranhita-Godavari Basin, India: Implication to Depositional Environment

ABSTRACT Understanding the depositional environment of coals is crucial for determining the geological history and potential resource assessment. This study employs coal petrography and Rock-Eval pyrolysis to analyse the coals of the Barakar Formation in the Kothagudem and Godavari Sub-Basins, within the Pranhita-Godavari Basin, India. By interpreting the organic composition and thermal maturity of these coals, this study aims to provide valuable insights into their depositional conditions and hydrocarbon potential. The physicochemical and reflectance (0.30% and 0.44%) investigations indicate that the coal samples are sub-bituminous and of low rank. In the Kothagudem and Godavari sub-basins, vitrinite (26.7–70.6%) is the predominant maceral, followed by liptinite (10.7–14.7%) and inertinite (5.3–30.0%). The materials have a high total organic carbon (TOC) content (43.37 to 68.43%) and the capacity to generate hydrocarbons, as indicated by the results of Rock-Eval pyrolysis and analysis. Tmax interpretations (415°C to 427°C) suggest that the samples are primarily immature for oil production. The type II and type III kerogens that make up the majority of the coals in the sub-basins are produced mostly by terrestrial plants, which are the main source of organic matter. This kerogen is typically gas-prone and has minimal potential for oil generation. However, the primary phase was wet moor with intermittent moderate to severe floods and a few alternative dry spells that resulted in oxic and anoxic moor conditions.

Emergence of high-mass stars in complex fiber networks (EMERGE)

Context. Identified as parsec-size, gas clumps at the junction of multiple filaments, hub-filament systems (HFS) play a crucial role during the formation of young clusters and high-mass stars. These HFS still appear to be detached from most galactic filaments when compared in the mass–length (M–L) phase space. Aims. We aim to characterize the early evolution of HFS as part of the filamentary description of the interstellar medium (ISM). Methods. Combining previous scaling relations with new analytic calculations, we created a toy model to explore the different physical regimes described by the M–L diagram. Despite its simplicity, our model accurately reproduces several observational properties reported for filaments and HFS, such as their expected typical aspect ratio (A), mean surface density (Σ), and gas accretion rate (ṁ). Moreover, this model naturally explains the different mass and length regimes populated by filaments and HFS, respectively. Results. Our model predicts a dichotomy between filamentary (A ≥ 3) and spheroidal (A < 3) structures connected to the relative importance of their fragmentation, accretion, and collapse timescales. Individual filaments with low accretion rates are dominated by an efficient internal fragmentation. In contrast, the formation of compact HFS at the intersection of filaments triggers a geometric phase-transition, leading to the gravitational collapse of these structures at parsec-scales in ~1–2 Myr. In addition, this process also induces higher accretion rates.

Mitochondria Express Functional Signaling Ligand-Binding Receptors that Regulate their Biological Responses - the Novel Role of Mitochondria as Stress-Response Sentinels.

Evidence accumulated mitochondria, as the "powerplants of the cell," express several functional receptors for external ligands that modify their function and regulate cell biology. This review sheds new light on the role of these organelles in sensing external stimuli to facilitate energy production for cellular needs. This is possible because mitochondria express some receptors on their membranes that are responsible for their autonomous responses. This is not surprising given the widely accepted hypothesis that these intracellular organelles originated from prokaryotic ancestors that fused with eukaryotic cells during early evolution. It has been reported that mitochondria express functional estrogen, androgen, glucocorticoid, 5-hydroxytryptamine, melatonin, and cannabinoid receptors. What is intriguing is recent evidence showing that mitochondria could also be directly regulated by active mediators of intracellular complement (complosome) and intrinsic mediators of purinergic signaling. Accordingly, they express receptors for intracellular complement cleavage fragments (C5a and C3a) as well as for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which, besides its crucial role in transferring energy in the cells, is also an important signaling molecule interacting with P2X7 receptor expressed not only on the cell surface but also on the mitochondria membrane. Based on this, intrinsic complosome and purinergic signaling mediators emerge as important cooperating regulators of reactive oxygen species (ROS) release from mitochondria and activators of intracellular pattern recognition receptor Nlrp3 inflammasome. This activation within the beneficial "hormetic zone response" regulates cell metabolism, proliferation, migration, and adaptation to the surrounding challenges of the microenvironment in a favorable way.

High speciation in the cryptic Pristimantis celator clade (Anura: Strabomantidae) of the Mira river basin, Ecuador-Colombia.

Over the past decade, research in the montane forests of the Mira River basin, spanning Ecuador and Colombia, has identified it as crucial for the adaptive radiation of flora and fauna, shaped by its complex geological and climatic history. This study focuses on the phylogenetic and systematic revision of a frog clade initially labeled as Pristimantis verecundus, revealing significant cryptic diversity. Through detailed analyses of type material and expanded molecular sampling, we found that the original description actually included specimens representing two additional species, which are described herein. In this work, we discovered and formally described four new species within montane forests at elevations from 1,600 to 2,300 meters. Genetic distances of 3.34% to 14% and clear morphological differences underscore the clade's hidden diversity. We propose renaming the group Pristimantis celator clade within Pristimantis myersi species group and subgenus Trachyphrynus, aligning with phylogenetic evidence and resolving taxonomic ambiguities using the oldest available name, Pristimantis celator (Lynch, 1976). This reclassification includes 14 species, seven formally described, and seven as candidates, distributed across northwestern Ecuador and southwestern Colombia, particularly in Mira and Esmeraldas River basins. The study highlights the Andean orogeny's role in species diversification within Pristimantis celator clade, with geographic barriers like Cerro Golondrinas influencing genetic isolation. Genetic divergences exceeding 3.34% indicate evolutionary isolation across these landscapes. Our findings provide insights into montane ecosystem speciation, emphasizing vicariance, niche adaptation, and altitudinal gradients in shaping biodiversity. A polytomy among three well-supported clades within Pristimantis myersi species group is noted due to incomplete genetic data, yet distinctiveness and evolutionary relationships are affirmed. Cryptic diversity within Pristimantis celator clade links to unique orogenic and climatic conditions, highlighting conservation needs. Lastly, we provide a redescription of Pristimantis verecundus and species identification key to aid future research and conservation in this biogeographically influential region.

Chemically Triggered Reactive Coacervates Show Life-Like Budding and Membrane Formation.

Phase-separated coacervates can enhance reaction kinetics and guide multilevel self-assembly, mimicking early cellular evolution. In this work, we introduce "reactive" complex coacervates that undergo chemically triggered self-immolative transformations, directing the self-assembly of the reaction products within their matrix. These self-assemblies then evolve to show life-like properties such as budding and membrane formation. We find that the coacervate composition critically influences reaction rates and product distribution and guides the hierarchical self-assembly. This work showcases "reactive" coacervates as a versatile platform to influence reaction and self-assembly pathways for controlled supramolecular synthesis and hierarchical self-organization in confined spaces.