Low Diversity Research Articles

Genetic diversity and population structure of Botryosphaeria dothidea and Neofusicoccum parvum on English walnut (Juglans regia L.) in France

Botryosphaeriaceae species are the major causal agents of walnut dieback worldwide, along with Diaporthe species. Botryosphaeria dothidea and Neofusicoccum parvum are the only two Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with this recently emergent disease in France, and little is known about their diversity, structure, origin and dispersion in French walnut orchards. A total of 381 isolates of both species were genetically typed using a sequence-based microsatellite genotyping (SSR-seq) method. This analysis revealed a low genetic diversity and a high clonality of these populations, in agreement with their clonal mode of reproduction. The genetic similarity among populations, regardless of the tissue type and the presence of symptoms, supports the hypothesis that these pathogens can move between fruits and twigs and display latent pathogen lifestyles. Contrasting genetic patterns between N. parvum populations from Californian and Spanish walnut orchards and the French ones suggested no conclusive evidence for pathogen transmission from infected materials. The high genetic similarity with French vineyards populations suggested instead putative transmission between these hosts, which was also observed with B. dothidea populations. Overall, this study provides critical insight into the epidemiology of two important pathogens involved in the emerging dieback of French walnut orchards, including their distribution, potential to mate, putative origin and disease pathways.

Do Investors Value Workforce Gender Diversity?

We examine whether investors value workforce gender diversity. Consistent with the view that investors believe workforce gender diversity can be valuable in major firms, we use event studies to demonstrate that U.S. technology firms and financial firms experience more positive stock price reactions when it is revealed that they have relatively higher (versus lower) workforce gender diversity numbers. For instance, we find that Google’s revelation of relatively low workforce gender diversity numbers triggered a negative stock price reaction, whereas eBay’s revelation of relatively high workforce gender diversity numbers triggered a positive stock price reaction. These stock price reactions are both economically and statistically significant; for example, we estimate that if a technology firm had revealed gender diversity numbers that were one standard deviation higher, its market valuation would have increased by $1.11 billion. Corroborating this plausibly causal field evidence, we also find positive investor reactions to workforce gender diversity in randomized experiments using Prolific participants with investing experience; these reactions seem to be underpinned by investors’ beliefs about potential upsides of diversity for the firm (e.g., reduced legal risks; increased creativity) but not by investors’ beliefs about potential downsides of diversity for the firm (e.g., increased conflict). Our findings highlight the importance of understanding investors’ intuitions or beliefs about major organizational phenomena such as workforce gender diversity. Our results also point toward a new type of business case for diversity, driven by investors: if major firms had more workforce gender diversity, investors may “reward” them with substantially higher valuations. Funding: This research is supported by NUS (National University of Singapore) Startup Grant WBS A-0003900-00-00 to D. P. Daniels.

Beyond population size: whole-genome data reveal bottleneck legacies in the peninsular Italian wolf.

Preserving genetic diversity and adaptive potential while avoiding inbreeding depression is crucial for the long-term conservation of natural populations. Despite demographic increases, traces of past bottleneck events at the genomic level should be carefully considered for population management. From this perspective, the peninsular Italian wolf is a paradigmatic case. After being on the brink of extinction in the late 1960s, peninsular Italian wolves rebounded and recolonized most of the peninsula aided by conservation measures, including habitat and legal protection. Notwithstanding their demographic recovery, a comprehensive understanding of the genomic consequences of the historical bottleneck in Italian wolves is still lacking. To fill this gap, we sequenced whole genomes of thirteen individuals sampled in the core historical range of the species in Central Italy to conduct population genomic analyses, including a comparison with wolves from two highly-inbred wolf populations (i.e., Scandinavia and Isle Royale). We found that peninsular Italian wolves, despite their recent recovery, still exhibit relatively low genetic diversity, a small effective population size, signatures of inbreeding, and a non-negligible genetic load. Our findings indicate that the peninsular Italian wolf population is still susceptible to bottleneck legacies, which could lead to local inbreeding depression in case of population reduction or fragmentations. This study emphasizes the importance of considering key genetic parameters to design appropriate long-term conservation management plans.

Associations between gut microbiota and sarcopenia or its defining parameters in older adults: A systematic review.

Altered gut microbiota (GM) potentially contribute to development or worsening of sarcopenia through a gut-muscle axis. This systematic review aims to compare GM between persons with sarcopenia or low sarcopenia-defining parameters (muscle mass, strength, and physical performance) to those with preserved muscle status, as well as to clarify possible associations between sarcopenia (-defining parameters) and relative abundance (RA) of GM-taxa or GM-(α- or β) diversity indices, in order to clarify whether there is robust evidence of the existence of a GM signature for sarcopenia. This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA-reporting guideline and pre-registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021259597). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane library were searched until 20 July 2023. Included studies reported on GM and sarcopenia or its defining parameters. Observational studies were included with populations of mean age ≥50years. Thirty-two studies totalling 10781 persons (58.56% ♀) were included. Thirteen studies defined sarcopenia as a construct. Nineteen studies reported at least one sarcopenia-defining parameter (muscle mass, strength or physical performance). Studies found different GM-taxa at multiple levels to be significantly associated with sarcopenia (n=4/6), muscle mass (n=13/14), strength (n=7/9), and physical performance (n=3/3); however, directions of associations were heterogeneous and also conflicting for specific GM-taxa. Regarding β-diversity, studies found GM of persons with sarcopenia, low muscle mass, or low strength to cluster differently compared with persons with preserved muscle status. α-diversity was low in persons with sarcopenia or low muscle mass as compared with those with preserved muscle status, indicating low richness and diversity. In line with this, α-diversity was significantly and positively associated with muscle mass (n=3/4) and muscle strength (n=2/3). All reported results were significant (P<0.05). Persons with sarcopenia and low muscle parameters have less rich and diverse GM and can be separated from persons with preserved muscle mass and function based on GM-composition. Sarcopenia and low muscle parameters are also associated with different GM-taxa at multiple levels, but results were heterogeneous and no causal conclusions could be made due to the cross-sectional design of the studies. This emphasizes the need for uniformly designed cross-sectional and longitudinal trials with appropriate GM confounder control in large samples of persons with sarcopenia and clearly defined core outcome sets in order to further explore changes in GM-taxa and to determine a sarcopenia-specific GM-signature.

Altered blood microbiome in patients with HCV-related Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis

BackgroundAltered bacterial translocation is associated with changes in hepatic function and the progression from compensated to decompensated cirrhosis. Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score is an essential indicator of liver severity. Thus, we aimed to study differences in the blood microbiome together with metabolome profile between HCV-infected patients with CTP class B (CTP-B, significant functional compromise) and patients with CTP class A (CTP-A, well-compensated cirrhosis). MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis (n = 88) stratified by CTP-B and CTP-A. Bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing was sequenced by MiSeq Illumina technology and non-targeted metabolomics was performed by GC-MS and LC-MS ESI+ and ESI- to complement the analysis. ResultsPatients with CTP-B had lower levels of richness (Chao1), and alpha diversity (Shannon and Simpson indexes) at phylum level than patients with CTP-A. Likewise, we observed significant differences in beta diversity between groups at phylum, class, and order levels, showing lower diversity in patients with CTP-B. Higher relative abundance of Proteobacteria (p = 0.012), Alphaproteobacteria (p = 0.005), Sphingomonadales (p = 0.012) and Sphingomonadaceae (p = 0.016) were significantly associated with CTP-B. The phylum Proteobacteria was positively correlated with ethanolamine and oleic acid (p = 0.005 and p = 0.004, respectively) and negatively with p-cresol (p = 0.006). In addition, the order Sphingomonadales and the family Sphingomonadaceae was also negatively correlated with p-cresol (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001). ConclusionsBlood microbial diversity was significantly decreased in patients with CTP-B, who presented an enrichment of Proteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Sphingomonadales and Sphingomonadaceae compared to patients with CTP-A.

Decadal changes in the Sea of Marmara indicate degraded ecosystem conditions and unsustainable fisheries

Globally, all marine ecosystems are under pressure by anthropogenic stressors. However, semi-enclosed seas are at a greater risk of degradation due to their limited connectivity to open seas. This leads to a greater accumulation of pollutants and abrupt regime shifts triggered by unsustainable exploitation of living resources, as ecosystems exhibit low degrees of redundancy and more frequent large-scale episodic events such as harmful algal blooms. The Sea of Marmara is a semi-enclosed marine region that has been subjected to various anthropogenic stressors since the 1990s. Recently, local and governmental authorities have employed basin-wide ecosystem management plans to control and manage point and nonpoint (diffuse) sources of pollutants. However, the management of fisheries in relation to the dynamics of the Sea of Marmara food web has attracted less attention from policymakers, even though fisheries exploitation is one of the most significant anthropogenic pressures. In this study, we capitalized on a previous static ecosystem model of the Sea of Marmara by revising and extending it to simulate the changes between 1990 and 2020. We delineated the temporal dynamics and regime shifts in the food web in terms of ecosystem structure and function by using ecological indicators and developed quantitative management advice for its fisheries. The results showed that the ecosystem has experienced three regimes since 1990, with regime shifts occurring with the onset of the 2000s and the mid 2010s. The first regime exhibited high diversity and material cycling, the second regime was characterized by low diversity and increased impact of fisheries, and the third regime culminated in a fished-down food web state. The analysis of fishery dynamics showed that the majority of harvested species were overexploited. We suggest that the implementation of quotas for exploited species should be considered an immediate solution to the unsustainable exploitation of fish stocks and can help restore ecosystem conditions.

Microbiome signature of different stages of hypoxia event in Wonmun Bay

We investigated how microbial communities associated with different hypoxic stages respond to environmental changes across three water depths in Wonmun Bay, South Korea. Analysis of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and nutrient concentrations revealed prominent seasonal shifts and strong stratification during summer hypoxia. Metabarcoding of prokaryotic 16 S rRNA genes and phototrophic eukaryotic chloroplasts along with quantitative PCR (qPCR) revealed variations in the abundance and composition of these communities. Chloroplast 16 S sequences in May were dominated by land plants (93% of Embryophyta), contrasting with the diverse phytoplankton taxa detected in other months. The water communities in May also had higher total microbial abundance than other months but significantly lower alpha diversity. These results suggest a major influence of freshwater discharge on water communities, pre-conditioning for hypoxia events by promoting organic matter decomposition coupled with DO consumption in bottom water. Subsequently, distinct microbial communities were observed across depths during hypoxia in June and July, while less variability was detected among different depths in September and later months when hypoxia events disappeared. Principal Coordinate analysis (PCoA) demonstrated the distinct patterns of microbial communities in May, June, and July from other months. Both sulfur-oxidizing and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were prevalent in June while the increase of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was observed in mid and bottom water in July. This data suggests the intricate interaction between sulfur and nitrogen-cycling microbes during the hypoxia events in Wonmun Bay. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the microbial community responses to the varying environmental conditions at different stages of hypoxia events in eutrophic coastal ecosystems.

Regulation of photosynthetic carbon fate by plant diversity and nutrients in abandoned farmland on the Loess Plateau

Understanding the distribution and transfer of photosynthetic carbon (PC) in ecosystems is important to determine the fate of soil carbon (C). However, the allocation on plants of newly fixed PC during secondary succession is unknown. Using in-situ 13CO2 pulse labeling we report characteristics of PC turnover and driving factors that drive it in plants and soils at different successional stages on the Loess Plateau, China. Within 30 d of labeling, 13C abundance significantly decreased in plant leaves and stems, and significantly increased in roots, especially on farmland abandoned for 30a (from 114.67 mg·m−2 to 225.08 mg·m−2). The abundance of 13C in soils significantly increases over time, with 13C abundances in bulk soil 8a after abandonment being 8.17 % higher than those after 30a and 9.34 % after 15a. The contribution of newly fixed PC to soil organic carbon (SOC) was also significantly higher in soil 8a after abandonment than after 15a and 30a. Plant diversity and nutrients are the main factors to drive PC fixation and transfer. Because farmland abandoned for 8a has low plant diversity, high species evenness, and high plant nutrient contents, its plant-soil system fixes more PC. Plant diversity is a key predictor of PC fixation, and plant nutrients have an important influence on the transfer of PC. These results provide improve our understanding of vegetation restoration and terrestrial carbon sequestration in abandoned farmlands.

Reproductive Tract Microbial Transitions from Late Gestation to Early Postpartum Using 16S rRNA Metagenetic Profiling in First-Pregnancy Heifers.

Studies in recent years indicate that reproductive tract microbial communities are crucial for shaping mammals' health and reproductive outcomes. Following parturition, uterine bacterial contamination often occurs due to the open cervix, which may lead to postpartum uterine inflammatory diseases, especially in primiparous individuals. However, investigations into spatio-temporal microbial transitions in the reproductive tract of primigravid females remain limited. Our objective was to describe and compare the microbial community compositions in the vagina at late gestation and in the vagina and uterus at early postpartum in first-pregnancy heifers. Three swab samples were collected from 33 first-pregnancy Holstein Friesian heifers: one vaginal sample at gestation day 258 ± 4, and vaginal and uterine samples at postpartum day 7 ± 2. Each sample underwent 16S rRNA V4 region metagenetic analysis via Illumina MiSeq, with bioinformatics following Mothur MiSeq SOP. The reproductive tract bacterial communities were assigned to 1255 genus-level OTUs across 30 phyla. Dominant phyla, accounting for approximately 90% of the communities, included Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria. However, the results revealed distinct shifts in microbial composition between the prepartum vagina (Vag-pre), postpartum vagina (Vag-post), and postpartum uterus (Utr-post). The Vag-pre and Utr-post microbial profiles were the most distinct. The Utr-post group had lower relative abundances of Proteobacteria but higher abundances of Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Tenericutes compared to Vag-pre, while Vag-post displayed intermediate values for these phyla, suggesting a transitional profile. Additionally, the Utr-post group exhibited lower bacterial richness and diversity compared to both Vag-pre and Vag-post. The unsupervised probabilistic Dirichlet Multinomial Mixtures model identified two distinct community types: most Vag-pre samples clustered into one type and Utr-post samples into another, while Vag-post samples were distributed evenly between the two. LEfSe analysis revealed distinct microbial profiles at the genus level. Overall, specific microbial markers were associated with anatomical and temporal transitions, revealing a dynamic microbial landscape during the first pregnancy and parturition. These differences highlight the complexity of these ecosystems and open new avenues for research in reproductive biology and microbial ecology.

Unraveling microbial community variation along a salinity gradient and indicative significance to groundwater salinization in the coastal aquifer

Saltwater intrusion poses a global environmental challenge in coastal regions, profoundly influencing groundwater microbial communities and biogeochemical processes. This study aims to elucidate the origin of groundwater salinity and understand the response of microbial interactions to groundwater salination through stable isotopes and 16S rDNA gene sequencing. The findings reveal a significant increase in groundwater TDS from inland to the coastline, ranging from 0.5 g/L to 144.6 g/L. Ionic relationship and isotopic fractionation indicate that the high salinity in groundwater originates not only from paleo–seawater but also from the dissolution of halite. Salty groundwater exhibits lower species richness and diversity than fresh groundwater. TDS, SO42–, and NO2– are the pivotal factors shaping the microbial community of salty groundwater, while NO3– and H2SiO3 are dominant variables influencing fresh groundwater community. This study identifies the order Alteromonadales, family Alteromonadaceae, and genus Marinobacter as potential biomarkers of seawater or paleo–seawater sources. Phylogenetic molecular network analysis of microbial communities illustrates that groundwater salinization results in a more compact microbial network but enhances microbial interactions. Predicted functional genes indicate that sulfate reduction genes (sat, met3, aprA, aprB, dsrA, and dsrB) are more abundant in salty groundwater than in fresh groundwater, suggesting a high metabolic potential for sulfate. These results elucidate the pivotal role of groundwater salinization in microbial community evolution, shaping specific functional zones in coastal groundwater.

Cambrian (Fortunian to Jiangshanian) depositional environments of northwestern Mexico: Distribution and facies patterns along the western margin of Laurentia

The Cambrian sedimentary successions from Sonora, Mexico provides information about the sedimentary and geological evolution that occurred on the western margin of Laurentia. The sedimentary rocks from the Fortunian to Jiangshanian stages denote eustatic changes. Initially (Fortunian to Stage 3), shallow water marine clastic-carbonate deposits are found in northwest Sonora. These deposits comprise tidal flats and lagoons with storm deposits and reefs dominated by archaeocyaths. The Stage 4 to Wuliuan sedimentary succession represents the most documented Cambrian transition in Mexico, which includes deposits from the shoreline - beach conditions, lagoon and restricted inner platform with low diversity of polymerid trilobites, to an outer platform - deep shelf margin with abundant agnostids. On the other hand, the sedimentary environments during the Drumian to Guzhangian changed from an outer shelf marine environment to a shallow water marine platform. And finally, rocks from the Paibian to Jiangshanian denote an outer shelf transition to a middle to outer shelf margin.

Soil properties predict below-ground community structure, but not nematode microbiome patterns in semi-arid habitats.

Microbial and microeukaryotic communities are extremely abundant and diverse in soil habitats where they play critical roles in ecosystem functioning and services that are essential to soil health. Soil biodiversity is influenced by above-ground (vegetation) and below-ground factors (soil properties), which together create habitat-specific conditions. However, the compound effects of vegetation and soil properties on soil communities are less studied or often focused on one component of the soil biota. Here, we integrate metabarcoding (16S and 18S rRNA genes) and nematode morphology to assess the effects of habitat and soil properties shaping microbial and microeukaryotic communities as well as nematode-associated microbiomes. We show that both vegetation and soil properties (soil bulk density) were major factors structuring microbial and microeukaryotic communities in semi-arid soil habitats. Despite having lower nutrients and lower pH, denser soils displayed significantly higher alpha diversity than less dense soils across datasets. Nematode-associated microbiomes have lower microbial diversity, strongly differ from soil microbes and are more likely to respond to microscale variations among samples than to vegetation or soil bulk density. Consequently, different nematode lineages and trophic groups are likely to display similar associated microbiomes when sharing the same microhabitat. Different microbiome taxa were enriched within specific nematode lineages (e.g. Mycobacterium, Candidatus Cardinium) highlighting potentially new species-specific associations that may confer benefits to their soil nematode hosts. Our findings highlight the importance of exploring above- and below-ground effects to assess community structure in terrestrial habitats, and how fine-scale analyses are critical for understanding patterns of host-associated microbiomes.

Impact of tillage intensity and an invasive grass on plant-pollinator networks in riparian agroecosystems

Insects are a main component of a stable ecosystem and influence crop production. Pollinators, in particular, by regulating pollination between flowers, shape and secure plant communities around crop fields. They are also essential for food provisioning by sustaining the pollination of crops. Studies in recent decades have been covering the mixture of effects various factors have on pollinators. However, there is still a gap in understanding how different taxa in pollinator guilds respond to these pressures and how is network structure affected by it. Therefore, here we tried to further uncover the complex relationship between habitat suitability and pollinator biodiversity in an agro-riparian matrix. Using bipartite network analysis and geographical information systems (GIS) in four sites with different land cover configuration, we assessed faunal and floral diversity, land cover differences and network metrics. Hymenoptera were responsible for most of the visits, while also exhibiting higher levels of richness across sites. Lepidoptera on the other hand, were the order less represented. Overall, tillage intensity and Arundo donax were determinant in differences in the number of visits for both orders, with Diptera and Coleoptera being less affected. However, results regarding visitation rates reported tillage’s higher explanatory power, in comparison with A. donax. Intensive sites showed significantly higher levels of nestedness and lower specialization and diversity across taxa. The results suggest that intensive agriculture and exotic species infestation can impact pollinator taxa differently, thus influencing network structure. By scoping network metrics, we can better determine what species are more affected by agricultural expansion, assess ecosystem resilience and consequently, determine appropriate conservation measures to maintain stable plant-pollinator networks.

Exploring the Potential Influence of the Human Gut Microbiota on the Gut Resistome: A Systematic Review

Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem. The human gut microbiome is implicated in the dynamics of antibiotic resistance acquisition and transmission, with the gut microbiota thought to play a crucial role. This study aimed to determine the potential influence of the human gut bacteria microbiota on the gut resistome and the relationship between the gut microbiota and Escherichia coli resistome. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline was used to systematically review studies that characterized the gut microbiota and resistome using metagenomic analysis and/or those that reported gut E. coli resistome in healthy individuals. Changes in the diversity and abundance of the bacterial gut microbiota and the resistome across different time points and participant groups were summarized. Additionally, using E. coli resistome as a proxy for the gut resistome, the microbiota composition of the gut harboring antibiotic-resistant E. coli was examined. The findings suggest that lower bacterial microbiota diversity is likely associated with an increased abundance of the overall gut resistome. Age-related differences were observed, with younger infants exhibiting lower microbiota diversity and higher antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) abundance compared to older infants and adults. Studies that reported positive correlations between the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and ARGs were mainly driven by members within the Enterobacteriaceae family, mainly E. coli. This study also reveals that human gut microbiome studies investigating the gut resistome using metagenomic sequencing approaches in healthy individuals are uncommon.

Geographic patterns and climatic drivers of phylogenetic structure of liverworts along a long elevational gradient in the central Himalaya

AbstractFor clades originating in warm climates, the tropical niche conservatism hypothesis predicts that current biological assemblages in colder or drier climates are expected to have lower phylogenetic diversity, and species in colder or drier climates are expected to be more closely related to each other (i.e., higher phylogenetic clustering). Liverworts are one of the oldest clades of extant land plants. They originated about 500 Ma during a warm (“greenhouse”) period and experienced multiple major cycles of warm and cold periods. Here, I test the tropical niche conservatism hypothesis using liverwort assemblages distributed along an elevational gradient crossing about 5000 m of elevation in the central Himalaya. I found that, in general, phylogenetic diversity and dispersion decrease with increasing elevation and thus with decreasing temperature, which is consistent with the tropical niche conservatism hypothesis. Phylogenetic diversity decreases with elevation monotonically, but phylogenetic dispersion decreases with elevation in a triphasic (zig‐zag) pattern, which is generally consistent with the triphasic pattern found in angiosperms and polypod ferns along the same elevational gradient. Temperature‐related variables explained approximately the same amount of the variation in phylogenetic diversity and dispersion as did precipitation‐related variables, although mean annual temperature explained 9%−15% more variation than did annual precipitation. Climate extreme variables explained approximately the same amount of variation in phylogenetic diversity and dispersion as did climate seasonality variables.

Environmental role of different‐aged pine and oak stands growing on post‐agricultural and forest lands in forming the Mesostigmata mites communities

AbstractReclamation of agricultural soil and forest succession after afforestation proceeds slowly and at many levels. Therefore, the history of land use is recorded in the soil's physical, chemical and ecological parameters for many decades. This process depends on time and the form of afforestation, which primarily includes tree species. In our study, we analyzed differences in the physical and chemical characteristics of pine and oak stands on forest and post‐agricultural land at 22, 42 and 62 y/o. Our study revealed that 14 of 24 examined parameters (litter pH, soil pH, litter thickness, soil organic matter, Corg, bulk density, C/N ratio, soil moisture, soil K, Mg and Mn content, N and Ca litter content, Mg litter content) differed significantly among examined habitats (land use, stand age and tree species). We calculated the abundance, species richness and diversity of the mite communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) for each habitat type. In total, 6730 mites were classified into 72 taxa (60 species, 11 genera and one taxon as family). The highest abundance was recorded in 42 y/o. oak stands on post‐agricultural land, while the lowest is in 22 y/o. pine and oak stands on post‐agricultural land. The highest species richness and diversity were recorded in the oldest oak stand on post‐agricultural land. In contrast, the lowest diversity was recorded in the youngest oak and pine stands on post‐agricultural land. Our results demonstrate that the negative impact of the agricultural history of land use weakens over time and provides a better understanding of land use history on the relations between the soil environment and soil fauna, including mesostigmatid mite assemblages.

The Gut Microbiome in Early Childhood Obesity: Exploring the Role of Diet and Probiotics - An Observational Study in Palembang, Indonesia

Introduction: Early childhood obesity is a growing public health concern, with the gut microbiome emerging as a potential contributing factor. Diet and probiotics hold promise in modulating the gut microbiome and potentially influencing obesity risk. This study investigated the associations between dietary patterns, gut microbiome composition, and the use of probiotics in early childhood obesity in Palembang, Indonesia. Methods: An observational study was conducted in Palembang, involving 150 children aged 2-5 years, categorized into obese and non-obese groups based on WHO growth standards. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day food record, gut microbiome composition was analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples, and probiotic use was documented through questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including multivariate regression and microbiome diversity metrics, were employed to explore associations. Results: Obese children displayed significantly lower gut microbiome diversity compared to non-obese children (p &lt; 0.05). Dietary patterns rich in processed foods and sugary drinks were associated with altered gut microbiome composition, characterized by increased abundance of Firmicutes and decreased Bacteroidetes (p &lt; 0.01). Probiotic use was associated with improved gut microbiome diversity and a trend towards reduced obesity risk (p = 0.07). Conclusion: This study provides evidence linking dietary patterns, gut microbiome composition, and probiotic use to early childhood obesity in Palembang, Indonesia. Promoting healthy dietary choices and considering probiotic supplementation may offer potential strategies for obesity prevention in this population. Further research is warranted to establish causality and explore the long-term impact of interventions targeting the gut microbiome in early childhood obesity.

The gendered dimensions of small-scale fishing activities: A case study from coastal Kenya

Although women contribute substantially to the small-scale fisheries sector globally, in many countries there is a severe lack of gender-disaggregated data on fishing activities. This gender data gap hampers a comprehensive understanding of small-scale fisheries dynamics with implications for fisheries management and food security. In this study, we investigate women's and men's engagement in small-scale fishing through a case study in coastal Kenya, a region characterized by a high dependence on fisheries for local livelihoods and nutritional needs. We applied a mixed method approach, combining participant observation, photography, semi-structured interviews on gender identities (n = 11) and gendered fishing practices (n = 28), an individual survey (n = 141), and pebble games (n = 35). Our results reveal a marked gendered division of labor across the seascape, with women mostly fishing in intertidal areas and men beyond the reef. Further, we find that women's fishing practices are characterized by less fishing gear, less catch, a lower functional diversity of catches, less fishing effort, and less income than those of men. However, women's catches contribute significantly to local diets, accounting for up to 50% of the fish and seafood consumed in fisherwomen-headed households. Despite women's fishing activities appearing less productive and profitable that those of men, they are important for achieving food security in Kenyan coastal communities. Results from this study contribute to broadening our understanding of the gendered dimensions of small-scale fishing and highlight relevant information for developing gender-inclusive management strategies. We conclude by providing key recommendations for fisheries research, management, and governance.

The last episode of coral-stromatoporoid reef and faunal changes across a Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary section of South China

This study reports the final occurrence of coral-stromatoporoid biostromal reef and the faunal and facies change across the Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary (DCB) at Changtanzi section, Longmenshan area of South China. The biostrome occurred in the third member of the Changtanzi Formation and is uppermost Famennian in age, characterized by abundant and high diversity stromatoporoids and tabulate corals, which were subsequently greatly affected with the environmental fluctuations indicated by the end-Devonian carbon isotope excursion. Stromatoporoids and tabulate corals survived and thrived in the uppermost Famennian but their association was eventually terminated in the Lower Hangenberg Crisis (LHC) by extinction of Famennian stromatoporoids. Brachiopods and rugose corals are found to occur as early as in the Upper Hangenberg Crisis (UHC), represented by solitary rugose corals Hebukophyllum sp., Neozaphrentis sp. and Uralinia sp., as well as abundant brachiopods, gastropods, in general representing post-disaster fauna of low species level diversity. This study shows distinctive faunal and lithofacies changes during the Hangenberg Crisis, and examines the strong link between faunal and environmental changes. The result indicates that the environmental fluctuations in the Devonian-Carboniferous transitions caused sudden and significant impacts on marine ecosystems, leading to the disappearance of coral-stromatoporoid metazoan reefs.

Exploring the Microbial Diversity and Composition of Three Cigar Product Categories

Cigars and cigarillos are emerging as popular tobacco alternatives to cigarettes. However, these products may be equally harmful to human health than cigarettes and are associated with similar adverse health effects. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to extensively characterize the microbial diversity and investigate differences in microbial composition across 23 different products representing three different cigar product categories: filtered cigar, cigarillo, and large cigar. High throughput sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the 16 s rRNA gene revealed 2124 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). Our findings showed that the three categories of cigars differed significantly in observed richness and Shannon diversity, with filtered cigars exhibiting lower diversity compared to large cigars and cigarillos. We also found a shared and unique microbiota among different product types. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum in all product categories, followed by Actinobacteria. Among the 16 genera shared across all product types were Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea. Nine genera were exclusively shared by large cigars and cigarillos and an additional thirteen genera were exclusive to filtered cigars. Analysis of individual cigar products showed consistent microbial composition across replicates for most large cigars and cigarillos while filtered cigars showed more inter-product variability. These findings provide important insights into the microbial diversity of the different cigar product types.