Natural Settings Research Articles

Fruiting traits and seedling regeneration of the relict mangrove plant Nypa fruticans Wurmb in China

Abstract Nypa fruticans Wurmb is both a relic plant and a true mangrove. In China, wild populations are distributed only on Hainan Island and face significant challenges in regeneration from seedlings. This study explored the underlying causes of recruitment limitation by examining seed morphological traits from three distinct populations (Haikou, Wenchang and Wanning) and analysing seed germination and seedling growth characteristics under varying conditions. The key findings are as follows: fruiting and seed-setting rates for N. fruticans were notably low, standing at only 21 and 40%, respectively. The Wanning population exhibited significantly higher rates compared to the other two populations. Under natural conditions, the germination and seedling emergence rates were also modest, at 36.58 and 22.99%, respectively. The germination and emergence rates of the Wanning population were significantly greater than those of the Haikou and Wenchang populations. Meanwhile, seeds from a single population did not differ in germination rates among three in situ N. fruticans habitats, but seedling emergence rates differed significantly. Optimal conditions for seed germination involved a light intensity of 60%, a salinity of 5‰ and a flooding time of 8 h/day. In natural settings, these three environmental factors fall short of the ideal conditions. The study underscores that light, salinity and flooding are primary factors contributing to the limitations in N. fruticans seedling recruitment. In addition to advocating increased investment in scientific research and technology to address seed source issues, we recommend heightened efforts in habitat restoration, in situ conservation and the optimization of relocation and field return strategies to bolster N. fruticans populations.

When to use a metaphor: metaphors in dialogical explanations with addressees of different expertise

The present study aims to understand how metaphors are used in explanations. According to many current theories, metaphors have a conceptual function for the understanding of abstract objects. From this theoretical assumption, we derived the hypothesis that the lower the expertise of the addressee of an explanation, the more metaphors should be used. We tested this hypothesis on a relatively natural data set of 24 published videos with close to 100,000 words overall in which experts explain abstract, mostly scientific concepts to persons of different expertise, varying from minimal (children) to profound (expert). Contrary to our expectations, the frequency of metaphors did not decrease with expertise, but actually increased. This increase could be statistically substantiated with higher differences in expertise. The study contributes to a better understanding of the use of metaphors in actual explanatory processes and how metaphor use depends on contextual factors. It thus supports the expansion of the conceptual and linguistic perspective on metaphors to include the aspect of how metaphors are used by speakers.

The “Reading the Mind in Films” Task: A Pilot Study on Complex Emotion and Mental State Recognition for the Italian Adaptation in Adults with and Without Autism Spectrum Conditions

Background/Objectives: The present pilot study tested and reports the Italian adaptation of the Reading the Mind in Film test (RMF), an ecological test for assessing, in Italian adults with and without Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), complex emotion and mental state recognition in natural settings and everyday situations. Method: A sample of young adults with Autism Spectrum Condition (with ASC; n = 22), attending a filmmaking course at a post-diploma school (Scuola Futuro Lavoro) took part in the study and was compared with a control group of neurotypical university students (without ASC; n = 22). All participants underwent individual testing and completed the Italian version of the Autism Questionnaire before performing the Italian version of both the RMF task and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). The latter, widely used to evaluate the ability to detect what someone else is thinking or feeling from the eye region. Results: The findings of the control group were in line with the original study, demonstrating the validity and reliability of the translation and the dubbing procedure of the RMF test. However, no main significant differences in performance were found between the two groups. Conclusions: Such results suggest that taking a course in film and video making may have helped the autistic students learn how to recognize mental states.

Integrated Cultural-Educational Branding: An Innovative Strategies for Building a Sustainable Image in Islamic Primary School

The emergence of educational institutions shows the concern of society and government. The presence of new educational institutions with their respective advantages and uniqueness will add to the image and characteristics possessed by these educational institutions. In addition, there is very tight competition between educational institutions with each other. Educational institutions should have the right strategy. This study aims to analyze the role of cultural integration in branding strategies specific to Islamic primary education at the Islamic Association of Banjarsari Islamic Community Madrasah, Ciamis and findings that demonstrate how culturally relevant branding has positively impacted stakeholder engagement, student enrollment, and community trust. This study uses a qualitative approach to explorative analysis in natural settings. Data collection techniques by way of observation, interviews, and documentation. Informants included 1 head of Madrasah, 6 educators and educational staff, and 3 guardians of students. Data analysis techniques by means of transcripts, coding, grouping, comparing, and contrasting. Test the validity (verification) of the data is done by using triangulation of sources and techniques. The results of the study show: first, the strategy used to introduce the institution to the public is the existence of attributes on the brand, then the brand provides benefits to all stakeholders, the brand has values, culture, and reflects personality, and the brand gives an impression to service users. Second, the public's attraction to MI PUI Kaum is due to the strength of the brand (brand strength), trying to make the brand the first choice (brand favorability), and creating uniqueness in educational institutions that are not owned by equivalent institutions (brand uniqueness). Third, the implication in efforts to build a brand image at MI PUI Kaum is an increase in the number of students every year, there are contributions to development funds obtained from government agencies, the community, and alumni, increasing public trust in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Persatuan Umat Islam Kaum Banjarsari.

The Endowment Effect in a Field Study with Risk-Reducing Instruments

The endowment effect is a phenomenon whereby ownership increases the perceived value of goods, thereby reducing the willingness to trade. This paper presents the results of a field experiment, designed to assess the robustness of this effect when decisions concern unique, non-tangible instruments of a very high utility. Participating students were unaware of being involved in the experiment, as we monitored their decisions concerning the examination bonuses in a natural academic setting. In contrast to the majority of prior studies that focus on commodities of a known and certain value, this research examines the effect in the context of risky and ambiguous instruments, which are more difficult to evaluate. Our results strongly support the endowment effect hypothesis, proving that the effect is robust, and likely to also be observed in markets concerning high-utility, risky instruments, such as financial ones. Additionally, we find a weak level of support for the gender effect, with female respondents demonstrating a lack of bias when endowed with ambiguous instruments. The study also analyzes the efficiency of these instruments in terms of their utility in risk reduction, and the effort incentives created.

Co-culture of postnatal mouse spinal cord and skeletal muscle explants as an experimental model of neuromuscular interactions.

The intercommunication between nerves and muscles plays an important role in the functioning of our body, and its failure leads to severe neuromuscular disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nerve-muscle interactions and mediating their mutual influence is an integral part of strategies aimed at curing neuromuscular diseases. Here, we propose a novel ex vivo experimental model for the spinal cord (SC) and skeletal muscle interactions which for the first time utilizes only fully formed (but not yet quite functional) postnatal tissues. The model represents an organotypic co-culture comprising a longitudinal slice of the mouse postnatal SC and an extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle explant placed in the "damage zone" of transversally dissected longitudinal slice of the SC. Using this model, we have shown that SC tissue stimulates muscle contractions and reduces the area occupied by acetylcholine receptors on muscle surface. In turn, EDL muscles stimulate the growth of SC-derived neurites. Thus, our organotypic model allows one to assess the mutual influence of neurons and muscles in a nearly natural setting which maintains the architecture and cellular composition of intact tissues. Therefore, this model may provide an effective platform for studying molecular and cellular mechanisms linked to defective neuromuscular interactions in associated pathologies.

Antennal sensory array in the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, and two carpenter ants, Camponotus mus and Camponotus aethiops

Ants play a crucial role in both natural settings, impacting ecosystem functions, and in human-altered environments, where they can potentially cause harm. The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is recognized globally as an important invasive species, known for its ability to colonize diverse habitats and causing significant ecological and economic damage. In contrast, species of the Camponotus genus, while sharing similar food habits, typically have more restricted ranges and are also highly adapted to human-modified environments. This study serves as a foundational investigation into the antennal morphology of L. humile and two Camponotus species—one native and one from the invasive range of L. humile. We employed a systematic sampling method to analyse the distribution and relative abundance of chaetic, basiconic, and trichoidea sensilla along the last antennomere. Our results indicate that Camponotus and L. humile have similar proportions of the sensilla analysed, with chaetic and basiconic sensilla increasing towards the tip, while trichoidea sensilla tended to decrease. Notably, both native species of Argentina, L. humile and Camponotus mus, exhibited significantly higher abundances of chaetic and trichoidea curvata sensilla compared to C. aethiops from France. This study establishes a framework for future research aimed at exploring the chemosensory responses associated with these sensilla, paving the way for deeper insights into how these ants interact with their environment.

Crafting a jogging-friendly city: Harnessing big data to evaluate the runnability of urban streets

Jogging, historically marginalized in the realms of urban and transportation strategy since it is not about commuting, is garnering appreciation for its health-related merits. The growing public focus on health underscores the urgent need for planning and infrastructure to support outdoor physical activities, yet current evaluations of urban environments' friendliness toward such activities are insufficient. This investigation unveils a runnability evaluation framework predicated on accessible geospatial big data. Initial steps involved delineating potential metrics from the built environment, pedestrian perceptions, and the natural setting, as informed by literature. This was followed by constructing a backward stepwise regression analysis, utilizing jogging frequency as the response variable against the identified metrics as predictors. The ensuing model retained certain variables, which were then deemed valid metrics, and their regression coefficients were appropriated as weights to compute a runnability index for individual street segments. This framework was applied in Guangzhou, affirming the model's objectivity and validity. The introduced framework furnishes researchers and urban planners with an objective and reproducible tool for the evaluation of runnability and possesses the versatility for an extension to assess walkability and bikeability. This study encourages the attention and support of jogging activities.

Biologging in a free-ranging mammal reveals apparent energetic trade-offs among physiological and behavioural components of the acute-phase response.

The acute-phase response (APR) is an adaptive emergency life-history stage, wherein vertebrates exhibit fever and anorexia to survive an infection. However, induced immune responses are energetically costly, and sick animals may reduce physical activity to compensate. Tests of this predicted energetic trade-off in free-ranging animals are rare due to difficulties in measuring individual physiology and behaviour under immune challenge in natural settings. However, recent advances in biologging technology now make such studies possible. We surgically implanted heart rate/temperature loggers in free-ranging adult male Arctic ground squirrels, fitted the squirrels with collar-mounted accelerometers and light/temperature loggers, and injected animals with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate an immune challenge. LPS-injected squirrels exhibited approximately 1°C overnight fevers accompanied by slightly elevated (10 bpm) heart rates; LPS-injected squirrels also spent 19% less of their time aboveground the following day and reduced overall movement by 40% compared with saline-injected controls. Thus, we found support for an energetic trade-off between functional immune responses (fever and anorexia) and lethargic sickness behaviour within the APR of a free-ranging mammal. Moreover, our results suggest animal-borne devices can play an important role in future studies of vertebrate immunity and disease dynamics.

Effects of Simulation on Nursing students' Knowledge and Learning Related to Measles Vaccine and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Mixed Method Study.

Vaccine hesitancy is a persistent, global public health concern that community health nurses are well-positioned to manage. Simulations involving standardized patients are effective experiential learning on managing vaccine hesitancy for other allied health disciplines. A pretest-posttest design, with a mixed-methods, one-group, quasi-experimental approach, was used to examine the effectiveness of a simulation on nursing students' knowledge of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine hesitancy, as well as their attitudes toward the intervention. The study was completed with 61 participants. After participation in the simulation, pretest/posttest data showed a mean increase in participants' knowledge of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. There was a significant improvement in the test scores from 62.62 ± 14.82 to 69.50 ± 15.75; z = -3, 897 (1-17 days) (p = 0.001). A postintervention questionnaire revealed participants most appreciated the direct interaction with a live person, the opportunity to observe classmates' performance and share feedback, multistage structure, and safety. Drawbacks included stress from being observed by peers, time constraints, and the necessity of sharing the nursing role with a partner during the scenario. Another drawback is the simulation's inability to effectively prepare participants for hesitancy in clinical settings as they needed to assess natural clinical settings. Simulations incorporating vaccine hesitancy education and standardized patients can effectively prepare nursing students for situations related to vaccine hesitancy in community clinical settings.

Metrical properties of exponentially growing partial quotients

Abstract A fundamental challenge within the metric theory of continued fractions involves quantifying sets of real numbers especially when their partial quotients exhibit specific growth rates. For any positive function Φ, the Wang–Wu theorem (2008) comprehensively describes the Hausdorff dimension of the set E 1 ( Φ ) : = { x ∈ [ 0 , 1 ) : a n ( x ) ≥ Φ ( n ) for infinitely many n ∈ N } . \mathcal{E}_{1}(\Phi):=\{x\in[0,1):a_{n}(x)\geq\Phi(n)\ \text{for infinitely many}\ n\in\mathbb{N}\}. Various generalisations of this set exist, such as substituting one partial quotient with the product of consecutive partial quotients in the aforementioned set which has connections with the improvements to Dirichlet’s theorem, and many other sets of similar nature. Establishing the upper bound of the Hausdorff dimension of such sets is significantly easier than proving the lower bound. In this paper, we present a unified approach to get an optimal lower bound for many known setups, including results by Wang–Wu [Adv. Math. (2008)], Huang–Wu–Xu [Israel J. Math. (2020)], Tan–Zhou [Nonlinearity (2023)], and several others. We also provide a new theorem derived as an application of our main result. We do this by finding an exact Hausdorff dimension of the set S m ⁢ ( A 0 , … , A m − 1 ) ⁢ = def ⁢ { x ∈ [ 0 , 1 ) : c i ⁢ A i n ≤ a n + i ⁢ ( x ) < 2 ⁢ c i ⁢ A i n , 0 ≤ i ≤ m − 1 , for infinitely many ⁢ n ∈ N } , S_{m}(A_{0},\ldots,A_{m-1})\overset{\mathrm{def}}{=}\{x\in[0,1):c_{i}A_{i}^{n}\leq a_{n+i}(x)<2c_{i}A_{i}^{n},\,0\leq i\leq m-1,\,\text{for infinitely many}\ n\in\mathbb{N}\}, where each partial quotient grows exponentially and the base is given by a parameter A i > 1 A_{i}>1 . For proper choices of A i A_{i} , this set serves as a subset for sets under consideration, providing an optimal lower bound of Hausdorff dimension in all of them. The crux of the proof lies in introducing multiple probability measures consistently distributed over the Cantor-type subset of S m ⁢ ( A 0 , … , A m − 1 ) S_{m}(A_{0},\ldots,A_{m-1}) .

The effect of rare events on information-leading role: evidence from real estate investment trusts and overall stock markets

The information relationship between real estate investment trusts and stock markets has garnered significant interest in finance; however, the time-varying information flow between the two can vary due to different market conditions. This study scrutinizes the information-leading roles between the real estate investment trust sector and overall stock markets under various market conditions. Shannonian transfer entropy, used for identifying information-leading roles, can reveal nonlinear interactions between two markets; however, the results can be hindered by rare events, such as sporadically occurring episodes. Therefore, this study introduces Rényian transfer entropy to examine the role of rare events in the information flow between the two markets. This conjecture is confirmed using the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment setting of rare events. The results reveal notable findings. (i) Rényian transfer entropy can accurately capture the impact of rare events regardless of the sample period, including the changes in information-leading roles when volatility clustering strengthens. Furthermore, (ii) the significance of liquidity and market efficiency produces different information flows depending on market status. The findings suggest that investors can use Rényian transfer entropy to accurately identify information-leading roles between assets under various market conditions, facilitating optimal portfolio allocation. Moreover, policymakers can benchmark this approach to identify financial risk contagion paths, enabling regulators to implement timely policy actions to mitigate market risks.

Classroom Activities for Enhancing Pupils’ Competence in Spoken English in Kiswahili Medium Primary Schools in Tanzania

This study intended to explore how classroom activities are being used by teachers in order to enhance primary school pupils’ spoken competence in Kiswahili Medium Primary Schools in Tanzania. A case study design was employed to obtain diverse and depth of information in natural settings. Data was collected from Singida and Mtwara Districts as well as from Dar es Salaam City through non-participant observation and teacher interviews. Some schools were conveniently sampled and purposive sampling obtained teachers to be involved in the study. Data was analysed thematically. Findings indicated that question and answer, read aloud and discussion were the most frequently used activities across the schools. Planning and teachers’ presentation of the activities resulted in minimum interaction of learners in class. The study recommends that teachers who teach English should carefully plan and employ activities which will engage learners in meaningful interactions.

The influence of emotion on memory process

Abstract. This paper shows how emotions, from an intuitive point of view, have an essential and profound impact on the cognitive process across a variety of different environments, such as natural, social, and academic settings. Our skills in learning and memorizing are significantly adjusted and influenced by our emotional reactions to challenges arising from education, including exams, homework assignments, and strict deadlines. The present research is deeply concerned with the specific roles that anxiety, happiness, and sadness play in modulating memory processes, particularly within the context of educational technologies like adaptive learning systems and Massive Open Online Courses. These innovative technologies are currently revolutionizing traditional educational methodologies by introducing new emotional dynamics in learners that affect cognitive engagement, motivation, and memory retention differently than conventional face-to-face learning environments. These findings are essential in optimizing the thoughtful design and effective implementation of educational technologies to better support students affective needs and cognitive development.

Building the future of rural-based wellness tourism: Infrastructure and policy considerations for rural Thailand

Rural-based wellness tourism presents a unique opportunity for sustainable economic development in Thailand, particularly in regions rich with natural and cultural resources. The significance of this study lies in its focus on addressing the gap in understanding how rural-based wellness tourism can be supported through infrastructure development and policy frameworks. While wellness tourism has been extensively studied in urban settings, there is a clear need for research that examines the unique attributes of rural wellness destinations, particularly in Thailand, where rich cultural heritage and natural landscapes provide a strong foundation for wellness tourism development. This study examines the key attributes of rural-based wellness tourism destinations, emphasizing how infrastructure development and policy frameworks can support their sustainable growth. Quantitative method using structured questionnaire is the primary research tool. Using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), six core attributes—Uniqueness, Facilities, Activities, Attractions, Natural Setting, and Wellness Therapy—were identified as critical components that shape tourist experiences and drive destination success and validates them using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The article highlights the vital role of infrastructure, such as transportation and wellness facilities, in enhancing the accessibility and appeal of rural destinations. Additionally, policy considerations are explored, focusing on environmental protection, community-based tourism, and investment incentives that encourage the sustainable development of wellness tourism in rural Thailand. A proposed model integrates these attributes with infrastructure and policy measures, offering practical recommendations for stakeholders to promote rural-based wellness tourism that fosters local economic growth while preserving natural and cultural heritage. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of how rural wellness tourism destinations can be developed to meet the evolving needs of modern travelers and support long-term sustainable tourism strategies.

High-Level Calculation for Assessing the Atmospheric Reactivity of Pentachlorophenol with Hydroxyl Radical: Mechanism and Kinetics.

This work aims to investigate the reactivity of the pentachlorophenol (PCP) compound, C6Cl5OH, with a hydroxyl (OH) radical in the gas phase. Geometry optimizations and vibrational frequency calculations were performed using DFT-M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p). Single-point energy calculations were carried out using the single-reference coupled cluster method, specifically CCSD(T), and the multiconfigurational CASPT2 level of theory to characterize the atmospheric degradation processes of PCP with OH radicals and to identify which chemical species resulting from their decomposition could remain in the gas phase. The performance of various families of basis sets was tested. The widely used augmented-correlation-consistent basis set family aug-cc-pVXZ-DK (X = D, T, and Q) was compared to the atomic natural orbital basis sets ANO-RCC-VXZP (X = D, T, and Q). The energy profile at 298 K showed that the Cl- and OH-abstractions are not energetically favorable. H-abstraction and OH-addition/Ck (k = 1-6) are characterized by the lowest Gibbs energies of activation and are strongly exothermic. The canonical transition state theory (TST) with a simple Wigner tunneling correction is used to predict the rate constants over the 220-400 K temperature range for each reaction channel. The overall rate constant at 298 K based on our calculations is about 3.25 × 10-13, 3.10 × 10-15, and 2.21 × 10-15 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at M06-2X, CASPT2/ANO-RCC-VQZP, and CASPT2/aug-cc-pVQZ-DK levels of theory, respectively. The PCP atmospheric lifetime at 298 K is predicted to be in the range from 1 to 12-16 years at 0 km in the presence of variable OH concentration (9.00 × 105 to 1.50 × 107 molecules cm-3) based on CASPT2 data.

Effects of salt crystallization on electric field-induced asphaltene desorption at brine–oil interface: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations

Water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions, typically stabilized by indigenous surface-active components, are ubiquitous in many natural and industrial settings. In petroleum engineering, these emulsions are highly undesirable owing to their adverse effects on water–oil separation, transportation, quality of the oil products, etc. The application of an external electric field has demonstrated its potential as a promising method for demulsification, especially considering its advantages of energy efficiency and environmental compatibility. The demulsification ability of an electric field arises from the desorption of surface-active species (e.g., asphaltenes in petroleum) from the water–oil interface, which reduces the rigidity of the interfacial film and facilitates the coalescence of the emulsion droplets. The natural presence of salt ions in the water phase, however, can impact electric field induced demulsification process, and this potential influence is studied in this work by molecular dynamics simulations. We report an interesting phenomenon where the presence of NaCl in the water phase can hinder the ability of an electric field to desorb asphaltenes from a brine–oil interface. In particular, NaCl ions exhibit a higher probability of crystallization in bulk brine as the electric field increases, and this crystallization releases free water to the brine–oil interface which hampers the desorption of a model asphaltene. In contrast, CaCl2 lacks the tendency to crystallize, and as the electric field strengthens a continued increase is observed in the desorption of the model asphaltene. Therefore, demulsification by electric field is potentially more effective for brine–oil systems containing CaCl2 than those containing NaCl. This work highlights the interplay between salt ions and electric field, and how it influences interfacial behaviors of surface-active molecules. The findings could benefit the design and optimization of demulsification technologies in industries such as wastewater management, petroleum processing and other chemical treatments.

Experiences and personal-social dynamics of the elderly in natural settings: case study in Lingga Village, Indonesia

Experiences and personal-social dynamics of the elderly in natural settings: case study in Lingga Village, Indonesia

Children's and Adolescents' Use of Nature During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Very Green Country.

Play, physical activity, and social interaction with other children in nature are important for healthy and social development in childhood and adolescence. The extent to which lockdown policies during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the way children engaged in outdoor activities remains unclear, especially in a country with free access to abundant nature during the pandemic. We performed a national survey of parents (n = 1002) in Norway in January 2021 to uncover changes in outdoor play for children (6-12 years, n = 396) and adolescents (13-19 years, n = 606) compared with the situation before the lockdown on 12 March 2020. Ten months after the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, 38% of the parents reported that their children played and spent time outside 'less than usual' in their neighborhood, compared with 15% who reported 'more than usual' time spent outside. Parents indicated that the children's play activities were highly organized and institutionalized, and when the activities ceased, their children had less motivation to spend time outdoors and tended to engage more in screen-based activities indoors. We conclude that while children and adolescents had many opportunities to be outdoors in natural settings during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, they did so much less than before the lockdown.

Transcriptional profiles of Microcystis reveal gene expression shifts that promote bloom persistence in in situ mesocosms

ABSTRACT Harmful algal blooms caused by cyanobacteria threaten aquatic ecosystems, the economy, and human health. Previous work has tried to identify the mechanisms that allow blooms to form, focusing on the role of nutrients. However, little is known about how introduced nutrients influence gene expression in situ . To address this knowledge gap, we used in situ mesocosms initiated with water experiencing a Microcystis bloom. We added pulses of nutrients that are commonly associated with anthropogenic sources to the mesocosms for 72 hours and collected samples for metatranscriptomics to examine how the physiological function of Microcystis and bloom status changed. The addition of nitrogen (N) as urea, but not the addition of PO 4 , resulted in conspicuous bloom persistence for at least 9 days after the final introduction of nutrients. The addition of urea initially resulted in the upregulation of photosynthesis machinery, as well as phosphate, carbon, and N transport and metabolism. Once Microcystis presumably became N-replete, upregulation of amino acid metabolism, microcystin biosynthesis, and other processes associated with biomass generation occurred. These capacities coincided with the upregulation of toxin-antitoxin systems, CRISPR- cas genes, and transposases suggesting that phage defense and genome rearrangement are critical in bloom persistence. Overall, our results show the stepwise transcriptional response of a Microcystis bloom to the introduction of nutrients, specifically urea, as it is sustained in a natural setting. The transcriptomic shifts observed herein may serve as markers of the longevity of blooms while providing insight into why Microcystis blooms over other cyanobacteria. IMPORTANCE Harmful algal blooms represent a threat to human health and ecosystems. Understanding why blooms persist may help us develop warning indicators of bloom persistence and create novel mitigation strategies. Using mesocosm experiments initiated with water with an active bloom, we measured the stepwise transcription changes of the toxin-producing cyanobacterium Microcystis in response to the addition of nutrients that are important in causing blooms. We found that nitrogen (N), but not phosphorus, promoted bloom longevity. The initial introduction of N resulted in the upregulation of genes involved in photosynthesis and N import. At later times in the bloom, upregulation of genes involved in biomass generation, phage protection, genomic rearrangement, and toxin production was observed. Our results suggest that Microcystis first fulfills nutritional requirements before investing energy in pathways associated with growth and protection against competitors, which allowed bloom persistence more than a week after the final addition of nutrients.