Tolerant Species Research Articles

Investigation, Determination, and Analysis of Dominant Vegetation in Mining Areas

During the mining process, a large amount of untreated and unusable land, namely mining wastelands, is generated. Ecological remediation in mining areas aims to rehabilitate polluted mining wasteland, thus enabling the reuse of land resources. Phytoremediation technology can effectively restore pollution in mining areas, with the prerequisite of identifying suitable tolerant or dominant plant species, which are typically found in the vicinity of mining sites with a long history of exploitation. This study conducted field surveys and collected samples, followed by laboratory analyses to explore the dominant plant species in the vanadium-titanium mining area of Zhujiabaobao, Panzhihua. Field surveys revealed a low coverage of wild vegetation due to the fragile ecological environment, primarily consisting of low, medium, and high-coverage vegetation types. Based on a comprehensive analysis of 13 dominant plant species in terms of their quantity, quality, morphological characteristics, and potential value, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rumex hastatus, and Dodonaea viscosa were identified as the three most suitable species for ecological remediation in this mining area.

Regional Variability of Chestnut (Castanea sativa) Tolerance Toward Blight Disease

Since its introduction into Europe in the first half of the 20th century, Cryphonectria parasitica has been gradually spreading across the natural range of the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), infecting the trees and causing lethal bark cankers. Serendipitously, a hyperparasitic Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1), which attenuates C. parasitica virulence in combination with more tolerant European chestnut species, was able to ward off the worst effect of the disease. In North America, unfortunately, the native Castanea dentata is now functionally extinct since it occurs only as root sprouts in eastern deciduous forests where it was once dominant. In our work, we investigated changes in C. parasitica populations over time and the regional variability in chestnut populations’ tolerance toward the blight disease. While vegetative compatibility (vc) type diversity and prevalence of hypovirulence remained similar as in previous studies, in the Buje population, unlike in previous studies, we were unable to find any hypovirulent fungal strains. The most common vegetative compatibility types (vc types) were EU-1, EU-2 and EU-12. However, several rare EU-types were found, including one previously unreported: EU-46. By inoculating several C. parasitica strains on tree stems from several chestnut populations, we observed that the induced lesion size was affected by the type of inoculum (CHV1-free or CHV1-infected), genotype-related individual chestnut stem and chestnut stem population of origin-related variability. The largest lesions were induced by CHV1-free fungal isolate DOB-G: 20.13 cm2 (95% C.I. 18.10–22.15) and the smallest by CHV1-infected L14/EP713: 2.49 cm2 (95% C.I. 1.59–3.39). Surprisingly, the size of the lesions induced by other CHV1-infected strains fell somewhere in between these extremes. The size of induced lesions was dependent on the population of origin as well and ranged from 11.60 cm2 (95% C.I. 9.87–13.33) for stems from the Moslavačka gora population to 17.75 cm2 (95% C.I. 15.63–19.87) for stems from Ozalj.

Accumulation of road salt in a calcareous fen: Kampoosa Bog, western Massachusetts.

Road salt poses a threat to the quality of soils and water resources. Wetlands located in salt contaminated areas are at risk of experiencing lower plant and animal species diversity. Therefore, it is critical to understand how modifications to salt application rates and hydrological events impact wetland water quality. Here, we use chloride mass flux, discharge, groundwater chloride concentration, meteorological, and salt application data from 2012-2020 to estimate chloride accumulation and outflux rates in the Kampoosa Bog subwatersheds, located in Stockbridge and Lee, Massachusetts, and bordered by major highways (Interstate-90 and U.S. Route 7). We also investigate the correlation between wetland size and chloride retention rate. During the 2018-2019 period, mean annual chloride application rates in the major watershed increased from 363000 kg/year (2012-2017) to 479000 kg/year. This led to a net chloride accumulation (KB100 subwatershed: 339000 kg; KB150 subwatershed: 188000 kg) and increased groundwater chloride concentrations in the fen. Chloride outflux from these subwatersheds was primarily driven by discharge. We found that the relationship between wetland percent cover and chloride retention is complex. Although the percent wetland cover is greater in the KB100 main wetland region compared to the KB150 subwatershed, high precipitation in 2018 resulted in similar chloride retention efficiencies (~26%). During the drier year (2019), chloride retention was higher in the wetland region due to its gentle slopes which promote water accumulation and consequently higher evaporation rates which lowers discharge and chloride outfluxes. The chloride steady-state concentration analysis also suggests that there is potential for chloride accumulation to continue because the watershed has not yet reached steady-state chloride concentrations. Without major modifications to salting practices, chloride concentrations will continue increasing and potentially promote the re-growth of invasives (Phragmites) and continued growth of salt tolerant species (Typha angustifolia/xglauca) that diminish plant diversity.

Growth form variations of Amaranthus hybridus L. biotypes with EPSPS mutations

AbstractSeveral Amaranthus hybridus L. biotypes present single and triple amino acid substitutions in EPSPS (5‐enolypyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase). In resistant and tolerant species to glyphosate, differential susceptibility and alterations in the EPSPS sequence could cause modifications in their morphological–structural characteristics, an issue that is unknown for biotypes of A. hybridus. The aim of the work was to determine the susceptibility to glyphosate, the presence of mutations in EPSPS and the growth form in four biotypes of this weed from north‐central Argentina. To carry out this, a dose–response assay was conducted, to determine the presence of mutations in the EPSPS, DNA was extracted, amplified and sequenced, and finally, to evaluate the morphological–structural variations, the growth form was analysed. Our findings revealed that Ah03, Ah07 and Ah36 biotypes had resistance factors of 22 to 118. The EPSPS sequence remains unaltered in the Ah39 biotype, leading it to be considered a susceptible biotype. Biotypes Ah03 and Ah36 had heterozygous changes in the DNA sequence resulting in amino acid substitutions at positions 102, 103 and 106 being considered resistant biotypes, whereas in Ah07 some individuals showed unaltered DNA sequences and others exhibited heterozygous changes. The growth form was quantitatively different between biotypes, standing the most susceptible biotype that produced more seeds and required less thermal time for the appearance of the terminal inflorescence. The present investigation provides new evidence that resistant biotypes with the triple DNA mutation exhibit variations in the growth form compared to susceptible biotypes of this weed.

Climatic sensitivity and the growth prospects of Silver fir and European larch in the Carpathians in the light of observed climate changes

One consequence of climate change is the rapid extinction of spruce monocultures in the Carpathians. Therefore, the need has arisen to replace spruce with other highly productive species that ensure the stability and biodiversity of mountain forests, such as the Abies alba and Larix decidua. These co-occurring conifers show different successional and phenological characteristics: L. decidua is a light-demanding species that dominates in the early successional stages, while A. alba is a shade-tolerant tree. This study attempts to identify climatic factors that determine the tree-ring width of fir and larch in order to assess the growth prospects of these species in the context of the ongoing climate change. As a measure of the vitality of trees, tree-ring widths of 42 sub-populations of fir and 36 of larch from the area of the Western Carpathians were used. Regional growth patterns for each species were used to estimate the relationship between temperature/precipitation and radial growth. Linear correlation analyses and nonlinear Random Forest models were used. Fir growth was significantly positively influenced by the high temperature of January–March and July and the high precipitation of February and July of the year of tree-ring formation. Larch growth was positively affected by the high temperature of May and the low precipitation of April and September of the year of tracheid formation. Unlike larch, fir growth increased if May and June of the preceding year were warm. The dominant climatic factor influencing fir growth was February temperature, whereas for larch growth, it was the May temperature of the year of tree-ring formation. Most of the recently observed changes in climatic factors that are important for the growth of both species are favorable. Thus, increasing their share in the Carpathian forests seems fully justified, as this will contribute to the stability, productivity, and biodiversity of the region’s forests.

Air pollution tolerance and metal accumulation potential of some plant species growing in educational institutions of Amritsar, India.

Poor air quality in urban areas increases the exposure of individuals to air pollutants. Hence, it becomes mandatory to grow such plant species that have more potential to tolerate air pollution and can aid in its mitigation. Air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) are two indices that help in scientific evaluation of plant species before recommending them for plantation. In this study, six plant species from three educational institutions of Amritsar city were screened for their tolerance and performance against air pollution as well as for their capability to act as accumulators of nine metals viz., aluminium (Al), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). On the basis of APTI, Cassia fistula (C. fistula) was categorized as a tolerant species while Alstonia scholaris (A. scholaris), Cascabela thevetia (C. thevetia), Monoon longifolium (M. longifolium), Pongamia pinnata (P. pinnata) and Syzygium cumini (S. cumini) were categorized as intermediately tolerant plant species. API results suggested that A. scholaris, C. fistula, M. longifolium, P. pinnata and S. cumini should be planted for air pollution mitigation. Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) results showed that soil samples were moderately contaminated with three (Pb, Cu and Zn) metals. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF), for all metals among six plant species, was found to be less than one implying that these plants were absorbers of metals. Metal Accumulation Index (MAI) indicated that C. thevetia, C. fistula and P. pinnata exhibited relatively higher potential for metal accumulation.

Drought tolerance and recovery capacity of two ornamental shrubs: Combining physiological and biochemical analyses with online leaf water status monitoring for the application in urban settings

When plants are transferred from nursery to urban environments, they often face drought stress due to inadequate maintenance, such as insufficient irrigation. Using drought tolerant species may help mitigate the adverse impact of drought stress in urban settings. Additionally, utilizing novel technologies for water status monitoring may help optimize irrigation schedules to prevent transplanting failures. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of two ornamental shrubs, Photinia x fraseri and Viburnum tinus, subjected to water stress of increasing severity and rewatering. Water relations, gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence and biochemical analyses were conducted alongside real-time monitoring of water status using leaf-water-meter sensors (LWM).The progression of water stress had a notable negative impact on leaf gas exchanges and water relations in both species. Notably, P. fraseri avoided photoinhibition by reducing chlorophyll content and actual efficiency of PSII. Adjustments in leaf phenolic compounds played a significant role in enhancing drought tolerance of both species due to their antioxidant and photoprotective properties.Upon rewatering, both species exhibited complete recovery in their physiological functions, underscoring their remarkable tolerance and resilience to drought stress. Additionally, LWM sensors efficiently tracked the dehydration levels, exhibiting a rising trend during the water stress progression and a subsequent decline after rewatering for both species. These findings confirm the reliability of LWM sensors in monitoring physiological status of plants in outdoor contexts, making them a suitable tool for use in urban settings.

Effects of Pirimiphos-Methyl on Non-Target Invertebrates.

The effects of pirimiphos-methyl have previously been assessed on blood-sucking insect species, pollinating insects, and target crop pest species. The sensitivity of non-target zoophagous and saprophage species to this insecticide remains largely unstudied. In laboratory conditions, we assessed the susceptibility of 43 species of invertebrates to pirimiphos-methyl. The most tolerant species to this insecticide were Pyrrhocoris apterus (LC50 measured over 60 mg/m2), Cylindroiulus truncorum, Pterostichus niger, Harpalus rufipes, Lithobius forficatus, and Carabus hortensis (LC50 ranged from 25 to 50 mg/m2). Average tolerance to pirimiphos-methyl was displayed by Ophonus rufibarbis, Teuchestes fossor, Silpha carinata, Badister sodalis, Rugilus rufipes, Phosphuga atrata, Porcellio laevis, Pterostichus oblongopunctatus, Aphodius foetens, Lasius fuliginosus, Oxypselaphus obscurus, Platydracus fulvipes, Myrmica ruginodis, Xantholinus tricolor, and Megaphyllum sp. (LC50 for those species ranged from 12 to 24 mg/m2). Higher sensitivity to this insecticide was seen for Amara nitida, Leistus ferrugineus, Harpalus xanthopus winkleri, Philonthus nitidus, Pterostichus melanarius, Harpalus latus, Limodromus assimilis, Philonthus decorus, Tachinus signatus, Ponera coarctata, Carabus convexus, Philonthus coprophilus, Philonthus laevicollis, Platydracus latebricola, Labia minor, and Carabus granulatus (LC50 for those species ranged from 6 to 12 mg/m2). The greatest sensitivity to pirimiphos-methyl was observed in Hister fenestus, Drusilla canaliculata, Bisnius fimetarius, Oxytelus sculptus, Lasius niger, and Lasius flavus (LC50 ranged from 0.4 to 6 mg/m2). We found a relationship between the parameters of bodies of invertebrates (the average body length and dry body mass) and sensitivity to pirimiphos-methyl. With an increase in body sizes of invertebrates, the tolerance to the insecticide increased (per each mm of body length, LC50 increased by 0.82 mg/m2 on average). We identified no relationship between the trophic specialization and sensitivity to the insecticide.

Selection for heat tolerance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) using reaction norms

Selection for heat tolerance is a key strategy for aquaculture to cope with the effects of climate change. Different alternatives exist to select aquatic species for heat tolerance. Here, we investigated the feasibility of applying reaction norms in summer growth of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) naturally exposed to diverse heat loads as a strategy to genetically improve heat tolerance. For this, summer growth of 40,044 fish from 2685 families and 21 cohorts, distributed across 14 years and 2 sites in Tasmania, was analysed under different reaction norm models (RNM), using a function of the average daily seawater temperature during the summer period (ranging from 12.8 to 19.7 °C) as the environment descriptor (heat load). RNM results unravelled substantial genotype by environment interaction for summer growth, specially between intermediate and high heat loads. Quadratic and spline linear-linear RNM outperformed linear RNM, showing a non-linear behaviour of the additive genetic effect on summer growth across different heat load gradients. The predictive ability of breeding values from RNM revealed opportunities to select for heat tolerance either for the highest heat load or for sensitivity to thermal variation (slope of RNM). Genomic-based breeding values presented better statistical properties than pedigree-based breeding values, highlighting the importance of using genomic information for a better predictive ability of heat tolerance. Genome-wide association analysis reinforced the polygenic nature of heat tolerance, indicating genomic selection as a more effective strategy to improve heat tolerance in Atlantic salmon, compared to strategies targeting specific genomic regions/genes.

The community structure of recent ostracods in the Burullus lagoon, Egypt

This work concentrates on the recent ostracod community from the bottom sediments of Burullus lagoon (BuL), Egypt. It aims to identify the impacts of the environmental factors such salinity, substrate and pH on the ostracod community. Only four ostracod species are identified, Cyprideis torosa, Leptocythere castanea, Loxoconcha elliptica and Cypridopsis vidua. The results reflect the abundance of a sole tolerant species, C. torosa (79.59–100 %, with an average of 94.18 %), in all sites. Actually, this conclusion reflects the dominance of unfavorable conditions for increasing the biodiversity in the lagoon. Moreover, the associated benthic foraminiferal assemblage suffers from the rarity of species and the abundance of one tolerant species, Ammonia tepida. Therfore, there is an urgent need to understand the environmental conditions in the BuL. The measured low salinities are suitable for the survival of only brackish ostracod species. Moreover, the distribution and structure of the ostracod assemblage are mainly controlled by the type of bottom sediments. Actually, as the content of sand increases, particularly at sites near the connection to the sea, low numbers of individuals are recorded, whereas the number of living species increases in muddy substrate. Furthermore, the sites with sandy substrate display thick-walled carapaces, while the others with muddy substrate possess thin-walled carapaces. Also, the occurrence of Cypridopsis vidua is restricted only to the muddy substrate. In terms of the hydraulic conditions, the highest abundance of living species is recorded in the southern part, where the quiet conditions prevail. The lagoon water is alkaline, so pH has no observed effects on the ostracod community. Accordingly, salinity, sediment types and hydraulic conditions play the major role in controlling the abundabce, diversity and distribution of ostracods in the study area. Geographically, the identified ostracod species are broadly distributed in the brackish lagoons of the Mediterranean region.

Anthropogenic double jeopardy: Urban noise and artificial light at night interact synergistically to influence abundance

Artificial light at night (ALAN) and urban noise are increasing globally and can have a range of impacts on wildlife. While ALAN and noise often co-occur and can affect wildlife in similar ways, their impacts have generally been studied in isolation. Information about possible interactive impacts, which can be more serious, is critical to guide conservation.We studied how noise and ALAN impact a common urban waterbird (Eurasian coot Fulica atra) around the city of Melbourne in south-eastern Australia. We aimed to examine: (1) the individual and (2) interactive impacts of noise and ALAN on abundance, and (3) the relative influence of these stressors and other environmental predictors. To do so, we used data from a large-scale (1,463 surveys across an area of 9,250 km2 with significant heterogeneity in noise and ALAN conditions), long-term (2008–2018) monitoring program, overlaid with georeferenced noise and light data. We used generalized linear mixed effects models and boosted regression trees to model individual and interactive effects of ALAN and noise on abundance.Abundance was negatively correlated with noise and ALAN individually. Furthermore, the two stressors had a negative synergistic effect, ultimately resulting in the absence of coots at the highest observed ALAN and noise levels. We also estimate that the combined influence of the two stressors on abundance was larger than that of other examined environmental factors.Our findings that noise and ALAN have detrimental interactive impacts is worrying for two reasons. First, Eurasian coots are thought to be tolerant to urbanisation, so impacts may be more severe for less tolerant species. Second, noise and ALAN commonly co-occur around cities, so similar impacts are likely elsewhere. By adopting more biologically and ecologically realistic analytical frameworks, future studies can better estimate the cumulative impacts of multiple stressors to facilitate improved conservation and management.

Patterns of Conflict and Post-Conflict Affiliation in Propithecus diadema and Eulemur fulvus

AbstractGroup-living in primates provides benefits but also entails competition and aggression. To retain the positive fitness-enhancing advantages of social bonding, individuals can reconcile past aggression. Reconciliation has been extensively studied in haplorrhine primates and occurs more frequently in more tolerant species, but whether this pattern extends to strepsirrhine primates, including lemurs, remains unclear, particularly given the differences in behavioral biology between the two primate suborders. We examined the occurrence of reconciliation behavior and its relationship with dominance hierarchy characteristics in wild populations of Propithecus diadema and Eulemur fulvus. We collected behavioral data on dominance and affiliation behaviors in the Maromizaha Protected Area, Madagascar, focusing on three P. diadema groups and two E. fulvus groups over 14 months between 2015 and 2020. The dominance hierarchies differed between species, with P. diadema exhibiting steeper within-group hierarchies than E. fulvus. We found evidence of reconciliation behavior in P. diadema, as affiliation was more likely to follow conflicts than during control periods, but we did not find this effect in E. fulvus. Furthermore, reconciliation tendencies in P. diadema were higher in male–male dyads and those with disparate ranks. These findings suggest that dominance hierarchy structure may be an important factor influencing reconciliation behavior across primates, although the nuances of the relationship seem to vary between our two strepsirrhine study species and traditional haplorrhine patterns. Further research is needed to determine whether these patterns are species-, site-, or group-specific. In conclusion, these results further our understanding of the differences between strepsirrhine and haplorrhine social evolution.

Application of benthic foraminiferal indices to infer the ecological quality status in the Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil)

The Sepetiba Bay (SB, SE Brazil) is a highly anthropized and industrialized area that has experienced severe environmental degradation in recent decades. This study applies a multiproxy approach to document the response of living benthic foraminifera to environmental stress and to infer the Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) in SB. Our methodology involved a comprehensive comparison of the density and percentage of benthic foraminiferal species with physicochemical, textural, and geochemical data, specifically the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). We also statistically compared two geochemical indices, the pollution load index (PLI) and the potential ecological risk index (PERI), with two ecological indices, the Tolerant Species Index (TSI) and the Exp(H'bc).The TSI and the Exp(H'bc) indices are significantly correlated with the environmental stressors in Sepetiba Bay, namely the PTEs concentrations (As, Cd, Pb, and Zn). The most tolerant species to the enrichment of PTEs and organic matter are Ammonia tepida (Cushman, 1926), Elphidium excavatum (Terquem, 1875), Ammonia buzasi Hayward and Holzmann, 2021 and Ammonia rolshauseni (Cushman and Bermúdez, 1946). The Exp(H'bc) and TSI reveal that most stations located in the inner zone and near the margins of the bay have poor and bad EcoQS, which agrees with the distribution of the environmental stressors.Thus, the current environmental conditions of the inner area of Sepetiba Bay are of great concern. This work also shows that using the TSI and the Exp(H'bc) indices, it is possible to classify EcoQS in transitional coastal environments in the North and South Atlantic transitional waters. This work has relevant scientific and social implications due to its importance in biomonitoring and the management of the coastal regions.

Monitoring the temporal variations of plant stress using the air pollution tolerance index in the Sejzi industrial area (Isfahan, Iran).

The objective of this study was to screen air pollution-induced stress in some plant species in the Sejzi industrial region (Isfahan, Iran). An assessment of APTI and other physiological and biochemical features of significant species in the area was conducted across three seasons: spring, summer, and autumn. The physiological and biochemical factors of the following species were evaluated: Limonium persicum, Atriplex lentiformis, Nitraria schoberi, Haloxylon persicum, Tamarix hispida, Zygophyllum atriplicoides, Karelinia caspica, and Prosopis farcta. The physiological factors assessed included acidity and relative humidity content, while the biochemical factors assessed included proline, sugar, ascorbic acid, and total chlorophyll. Subsequently, a thorough evaluation was carried out on the species under investigation to ascertain their biomonitors' capabilities and APTI. The study findings indicated that the species P. farcta, N. schoberi, and K. caspica consistently had high APTI values during the spring, autumn, and summer seasons, classifying them as tolerant plant species. Conversely, the observed traits showed significant fluctuations across the seasons. The investigation's findings indicate that the species L. persicum, N. schoberi, and K. caspica exhibit higher annual averages of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid compared to other species. The examination of the annual variation in the tolerance levels of plant species to pollution ranked from highest to lowest was as follows: N. schoberi, P. farcta, K. caspica, Z. atriplicoides, H. persicum, T. hispida, L. persicum, and A. lentiformis. Moreover, based on the annual average, the primary determinants that impact the APTI in the species being studied include ascorbic acid (35%), leaf acidity (19%), total chlorophyll content (35%), and relative humidity content (69%). Furthermore, a distinct and significant correlation was found between proline and sugar levels and the annual APTI values. Additionally, the species P. farcta had the highest API compared to other species. The study revealed the high potential of some plant species against air pollution induced stress which can be used in air and dust pollution management in the region.

Tree mortality by ecological groups in the amazon region: Influence of forest structure, soil characteristics, and extreme climatic events after logging

Mortality of remaining trees tends to increase after logging, and adapting forest management to climate change is another significant challenge to ensure the sustainability of forests, timber production, and provision of ecosystem services. This study investigated mortality in remaining trees (DBH ≥ 20 cm) in different ecological groups (pioneer, light-demanding, and shade-tolerant) during different phases of forest monitoring (initial, intermediate, and final), as well as their relationship with structural, climatic, and environmental characteristics. The research was conducted in five managed areas in the Brazilian Amazon (Jari, Km114, Km67, Peteco, and Moju) with continuous monitoring over six to 33 years. We analyzed a total of 212 permanent plots containing 62 pioneer species, 250 light-demanding species, and 304 shade-tolerant species. The mortality rate for the three monitoring phases in logged forests was 1.27 %, 1.49 %, and 0.75 % year−1, respectively, while the rate in unlogged forests was 1.04 %, 1.33 %, and 0.50 % year−1. In post-logging forests, mortality was high for pioneer and light-demanding species, especially in the initial phase. For shade-tolerant species, mortality rate was influenced by soil silt and sand content, presence of phosphorus, and total carbon content. In unlogged forests, forest structure variables such as average height and total basal area, soil characteristics like phosphorus content, and climate factors such as intensity of dry months were most important for pioneer and light-demanding species. In the intermediate and final monitoring phases in logged forests, tree mortality was related to soil characteristics like sand and clay content, total carbon, and cation exchange capacity. Extreme climatic events such as severe drought, El Niño, and extreme temperatures also influenced tree mortality, along with time elapsed after logging. These findings highlight the complex interaction between soil characteristics, climate, and forest structure and tree mortality and ecology. These correlations are crucial to understand mortality processes in logged and unlogged forests, underscoring the importance of these factors for managing and conserving these ecosystems in the face of extreme climatic events and forest management practices.

Effect of uneven tolerance to human disturbance on dominance interactions of top predators.

Anthropogenic activities may alter felid assemblage structure, facilitating the persistence of tolerant species (commonly mesopredators), excluding ecologically demanding ones (top predators) and, consequently, changing coexistence rules. We aimed to determine how human activities influence intraguild relationships among top predators and their cascading effects on mesopredators, which remain poorly understood despite evidence of top carnivore decline. We used structural equation modeling at a continental scale to investigate how habitat quality and quantity, livestock density, and other human pressures modified the intraguild relations of the 3 species that are at the top of the food chain in the Neotropics: jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis). We included presence-absence data derived from systematic studies compiled in Neocarnivores data set for these felid species at 0.0833° resolution. Human disturbance reduced the probability of jaguar occurrence by -0.35 standard deviations. Unexpectedly, the presence of sheep (Ovis aries) or goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and jaguars was positively related to the presence of pumas, whereas puma presence was negatively related to the presence of ocelots. Extent of forest cover had more of an effect on jaguar (β=0.23) and ocelot (β=0.12) occurrences than the extent of protected area, which did not have a significant effect. The lack of effect of human activities on puma presence and the positive effect of small livestock supports the notion that pumas are more adaptable to habitat disturbance than jaguars. Our findings suggest that human disturbance has the potential to reverse the hierarchical competition dominance among large felids, leading to an unbalanced community structure. This shift disadvantages jaguars and elevates the position of pumas in the assemblage hierarchy, resulting in the exclusion of ocelots, despite their relatively lower susceptibility to anthropogenic disturbance. Our results suggest that conservation efforts should extend beyond protected areas to encompass the surrounding landscape, where complexities and potential conflicts are more pronounced.

Lithium ore tailings harm the vegetative development, photosynthetic activity, and nutrition of tree species.

Lithium (Li) exploitation promotes socioeconomic advances but may result in harmful environmental impacts. Thus, species selection for recovering environments degraded by Li mining is essential. We investigated the tolerance and early growth of four tree species to Li ore tailings (LOT), Enterolobium contortisiliquum and Handroanthus impetiginosus with wide geographic distribution and Hymenaea courbaril and H. stigonocarpa with restricted geographic distribution. The plants grew in LOT and soil for 255days to evaluate photosynthesis, growth, and mineral nutrition. LOT negatively affected species growth, reducing the length of stems, roots, and biomass through structural and nutritional impoverishment. LOT favored the accumulation of Mg and decreased the absorption of K. The species presented a reduction in potential quantum efficiency and the chlorophyll index (b and total). E. contortisiliquum was the least tolerant species to LOT, and H. courbaril and H. stigonocarpa maintained their mass production in LOT, indicating greater tolerance to tailings. Furthermore, H. courbaril presented a translocation factor > 1 for Li and Mn, indicating the potential for phytoextraction of these metals. Our results offer first-time insights into the impacts of LOT on the early development of tree species with different geographic distribution ranges. This study may help in the tree species selection with a phytoremediation role, aiming at the recovery of areas affected by Li's mining activity.

Abiotic stress responses in crop plants: A multi-scale approach

Population stress has compelled the whole world to think about increasing, protecting, and finding ways to develop the best plant species for assured productivity in spite of all environmental odds. In addition to climate change, fluctuations in nature and human activities pose serious environmental degradation, threatening global food security through physical stress in the environment. Significant environmental constraints on agricultural yield worldwide include salt stress, water deficiency stress, nutritional imbalances (including mineral toxicity and deficiencies), and temperature extremes. Abiotic factors, such as agronomic factors, climatic factors, and nutrient availability in the soil, influence crop yield. Plants initiate and develop various possible stress mechanisms for their survival, which can be molecular, cellular and physiological. Abiotic stress has a high impact on crop growth and productivity, either in single forms or in combined forms. For example, drought stress causes a decrease in leaf area, plant height, and crop development. Cold stress reduces plant development and crop efficiency, resulting in productivity loss. Salinity stress not only contributes to water stress in plants, but it can also adversely influence cytosolic metabolism, cell development, membrane function, and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Higher concentrations of CO2 could potentially improve global precipitation, resulting in increased rainfall, which can adversely affect crop development. Crops under excessive water stress have a lower percentage of amylose but a higher crude protein content. This in turn, affects the quality and quantity of crop production by hindering seed germination and causing growth damage due to the combined effects of higher osmotic potential and ion toxicity. In response to abiotic stress, plants evolve a variety of escape-avoidance and tolerance mechanisms, which include physiological adaptation and integrated cellular or molecular responses. Therefore, the main purpose of the current review paper is to investigate the effect of abiotic stress on morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular activities in various crops. Moreover, we concentrate on crop inter-relativity with abiotic stress to react to and adapt to for survival, which can be a basic roadmap for the selection of species or the development of new tolerant species in the future.

Deciphering macrobenthic biological traits in response to long-term eutrophication in Xiangshan Bay, China

As an emerging global issue in coastal marine ecosystems, eutrophication may lead to profound ecological consequences or disasters. Six locations in Xiangshan Bay were sampled during 2012–2022 along the eutrophication gradient from the innermost bay with the most eutrophication to the outer bay with the least eutrophication. A trait-based method was adopted to explore the ecological effects of eutrophication on macrobenthic communities. The results showed that the community composition is mostly characterized by deposit feeders and predators with small (1–3 cm) and large (> 10 cm) body sizes, classified as indifferent and tolerant species (AMBI ecological groups), deposit feeders and predators (feeding mode), and a preference for a free living lifestyle. The RLQ and fourth-corner analyses further confirmed that there was a negative correlation between the abundance of small macrobenthic organisms (< 1 cm) and nitrate concentration. Phosphorus was a crucial influencing factor for macrobenthic spatial patterns and was strongly affected by the activities of deposit feeders and the decomposition of macrobenthos. Due to mass organic deposition resulting from increased primary production, long-term eutrophication had led to an increase in the proportion of detritus feeders. In addition, the significant negative correlation between the concentration of dissolved oxygen and first-order opportunistic species represented by the polychaete Capitella capitata indicated tolerance to hypoxia. The macrobenthic community in Xiangshan Bay had been negatively affected but maintains considerable stability in functional diversity and functional redundancy under the influence of long-term eutrophication.

Temperature affects recombination rate plasticity and meiotic success between thermotolerant and cold tolerant yeast species.

Meiosis is required for the formation of gametes in all sexually reproducing species and the process is well conserved across the tree of life. However, meiosis is sensitive to a variety of external factors, which can impact chromosome pairing, recombination, and fertility. For example, the optimal temperature for successful meiosis varies between species of plants and animals. This suggests that meiosis is temperature sensitive, and that natural selection may act on variation in meiotic success as organisms adapt to different environmental conditions. To understand how temperature alters the successful completion of meiosis, we utilized two species of the budding yeast Saccharomyces with different temperature preferences: thermotolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae and cold tolerant Saccharomyces uvarum. We surveyed three metrics of meiosis: sporulation efficiency, spore viability, and recombination rate in multiple strains of each species. As per our predictions, the proportion of cells that complete meiosis and form spores is temperature sensitive, with thermotolerant S. cerevisiae having a higher temperature threshold for successful meiosis than cold tolerant S. uvarum. We confirmed previous observations that S. cerevisiae recombination rate varies between strains and across genomic regions, and add new results that S. uvarum has higher recombination rates than S. cerevisiae. We find that temperature significantly influences recombination rate plasticity in S. cerevisiae and S. uvarum, in agreement with studies in animals and plants. Overall, these results suggest that meiotic thermal sensitivity is associated with organismal thermal tolerance, and may even result in temporal reproductive isolation as populations diverge in thermal profiles.