Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling Research Articles

Linking carbon storage with land use dynamics in a coastal Ramsar wetland

Coastal wetland ecosystems make an important contribution to the global carbon pool, yet their extent is declining due to aquaculture-related land use changes. We conducted an extensive investigation into the carbon stock and area coverage of macrophytes in a tropical coastal Ramsar wetland, Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh, India. A total of 72 quadrats of size 1 × 1 m2 were laid in the wetland, 19 species of macrophytes were collected and analyzed for carbon content using a CNHS analyzer. To assess changes in the wetland macrophytes, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was estimated using Landsat time series data from 1975 to 2023. The importance value index (IVI) of macrophytes scored highest for the Ipomoea aquatica (41.4) and the lowest for Ottelia alismoides (1.9). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) significantly (r = 0.1905, p = 0.0361) revealed a clear separation of macrophytes in ordination space. ANOVA indicated highly significant (p < 0.0001) variations in the carbon content of aboveground and belowground components of macrophytes. Among the different macrophytes, the highest carbon content was found in Phragmites karka (0.6 g. g−1) and the lowest was recorded in Utricularia stellaris (0.2 g. g−1). On an average, emergents in the Kolleru wetland sequester 1525 ± 181 g C m−2 yr−1, rooted floating species sequester 858 ± 101 g C m−2 yr−1, submerged macrophytes sequester 480 ± 60 g C m−2 yr−1, and free-floating macrophytes sequester 221 ± 90 g C m−2 yr−1. Land cover mapping revealed a decrease in spread of aquatic vegetation from 225.2 km2 in 1975 to 100.6 km2 in 2023. Although macrophytes are vital carbon sinks, the wetland conversion into fishponds has resulted in a loss of 55.3 % of carbon storage. Therefore, immediate restoration of macrophyte cover is vital for the proper functioning of carbon sequestration and mitigation of climate change impacts.

Faecal egg count reduction tests and nemabiome analysis reveal high frequency of multi-resistant parasites on sheep farms in north-east Germany involving multiple strongyle parasite species

Anthelmintic resistance in sheep parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes is widespread and a severe health and economic issue but prevalence of resistance and involved parasite species are unknown in Germany. Here, the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed on eight farms using fenbendazole, ivermectin and moxidectin and on four farms using only moxidectin. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on management practices to potentially identify risk factors for presence of resistance. All requirements of the recently revised WAAVP guideline for diagnosing anthelmintic resistance using the FECRT were applied. Nematode species composition in pre- and post-treatment samples was analysed with the nemabiome approach. Using the eggCounts statistic package, resistance against fenbendazole, ivermectin and moxidectin was found on 7/8, 8/8 and 8/12 farms, respectively. No formal risk factor analysis was conducted since resistance was present on most farms. Comparison with the bayescount R package results revealed substantial agreement between methods (Cohen's κ = 0.774). In contrast, interpretation of data comparing revised and original WAAVP guidelines resulted in moderate agreement (Cohen's κ = 0.444). The FECR for moxidectin was significantly higher than for ivermectin and fenbendazole. Nemabiome data identified 4 to 12 species in pre-treatment samples and treatments caused a small but significant decrease in species diversity (inverse Simpson index). Non-metric multidimensional scaling and k-means clustering were used to identify common patterns in pre- and post-treatment samples. However, post-treatment samples were scattered among the pre-treatment samples. Resistant parasite species differed between farms. In conclusion, the revised FECRT guideline allows robust detection of anthelmintic resistance. Resistance was widespread and involved multiple parasite species. Resistance against both drug classes on the same farm was common. Further studies including additional drugs (levamisole, monepantel, closantel) should combine sensitive FECRTs with nemabiome data to comprehensively characterise the anthelmintic susceptibility status of sheep nematodes in Germany.

Navigating divergent perspectives on critical habitat designation: Insights from the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) conservation in Spain

The designation of critical habitats is a conservation tool extensively used worldwide. Although the effectiveness of this tool has been proved globally, its implementation in Spain is scarce, probably due to the ambiguous character of its definition in policy and other related problems. This study provides insight into some of these aspects and how different groups of experts interpret the concept of critical habitat. We used the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) as a case study of an endangered species for which critical habitats must be designated. We interviewed 47 experts of the species, from researchers to environmental agency technicians, about the objectives that critical habitats should address, and which facilitating and constraining aspects should be considered in such designation. By grouping the answers in different categories and running ordination analyses (Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling) we found that researchers mainly focused on ecological objectives for critical habitats, compared to the rest of the respondents who also considered socioeconomic aspects as basic objectives for critical habitats. Only 36% of the experts mentioned ecological factors as constraints to such designation, while socioeconomic constraints were mentioned by all but two of the experts (96%). These results suggest differences in the conceptualization of critical habitat between scientists and managers, from pure ecological requirements of the species to the actual implications and socioeconomic constraints of its implementation, respectively. Integrating multiple stakeholders and views will reflect these differences into the operational understanding of critical habitats and will ensure that future critical habitat designations are effective management tools.

Alpine plant communities and current topographic microrefugia vary with regional climates

Topographic microrefugia on slopes are assumed to be critical for the persistence of alpine plant species and the maintenance of alpine plant community diversity in a warming climate. They create microclimates, some of which are cooler and/or wetter than others, which may buffer continuing climate change. However, the current relationship of plant communities to microtopography at individual slope scale could differ among regional climates, and if so resilience in new climates would also differ.Vegetation cover and topographic site characteristics at a fine scale were recorded in the field in three alpine regions of the Rocky Mountains, USA: Glacier National Park, MT, the Indian Peaks Area, CO, and Taos Ski Valley, NM. Elements of alpine slopes were identified and transformed into ordinal variables. Two indicators of insolation were calculated from slope angle, slope aspect, and latitude, and soil depth indicators and elevation were recorded. In each region, the contribution of these variables to the variation in the plant community composition were compared using nonmetric multidimensional scaling and random forest models.The partitioned variance explained by the topographic and topography-derived climatic variables differed among the three regions. Variables related to moisture conditions were more important in the snowiest, northern region and the central region, while those related to energy were more important in the southern region with higher radiation and temperature. Lower correlations of mesoscale variables set microrefugia in a hierarchical context.The more extreme regional topographically derived climatic variables better explain the differentiation of alpine plant communities. These variables may not play the same role in potentially novel future climates. Because topographic features mediate regional climates to niche dimensions, setting microrefugia in a multiscale framework can focus research on climate change impacts.

Wild ungulate effects on soil fungal diversity in Mediterranean mixed forests

The effect of wild ungulate density on ecosystems varies according to different factors: climate and physiography conditions, forest type, management history, and herbivore identity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of historically high densities of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on the soil fungal communities in Mediterranean ecosystems using 30 paired plots, open on the one hand and exclosure plots on the other one. Plots were established at the end of 2020 in a perimeter-fenced hunting estate of 6600 ha in Toledo, Spain. Three months after plots were established, we analysed fungal communities in 60 soil samples using Illumina 250-bp paired-end sequencing. We estimated changes in total fungal richness and in the richness of trophic groups through Linear Mixed Effects models using fenced/unfenced type and deer habitat use as fixed variables and the location of the plots and the main tree host species as random variables. Fungal composition was analysed using non-metric multidimensional scaling and permutational multivariate ANOVA; edaphic characteristics were incorporated to explain differences. Soil fungal communities were not differentially affected by excluding ungulates for three months. Areas with high deer densities had a richer saprotrophic community and where lowland environments were dominated by the main tree hosts Quercus faginea and Quercus ilex. Arbutus unedo was found in mountain areas where there was less herbivore pressure, a greater richness of ectomycorrhizal and lichenized fungi and soils positively associated to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter levels.

The use of ecological niche models improves biogeographic regionalization of the Balsas Depression, Mexico

AbstractAimBiogeographic regionalization classifies zones in terms of their biotas and contributes to understanding the ecological and historical factors that affect the distribution of species. We use Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) to complement missing information on species distribution and thus improve the accuracy of biogeographic boundaries.LocationBalsas Depression Floristic Province, Mexico.MethodsBased on parameters documented in herbarium collections and environmental variables, ENM was carried out to determine the most suitable environmental conditions for a species to thrive (i.e., the species' ecological niche). The ENM and spatial analysis were used to obtain the biogeographic regionalization of the seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) in the Balsas Depression (BD), Mexico, through spatial analysis. Using the Maxent algorithm, we constructed ecological niche models (ENMs) of 134 flowering plant species distributed preferentially in the SDTF (characteristic species), most of them endemic to the BD. Subsequently, we obtained an incidence matrix based on the information from the 134 ENMs, which was used to analyze the turnover of species in Biodiverse software. The turnover matrix was used for Non‐metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination and clustering analyses. Finally, the environmental predictors most related to species turnover were identified using the relative environmental turnover method.ResultsThe clustering analysis divided the SDTF in the BD into four floristic districts — two located in its western part and two in the eastern region. The NMDS differentiated, in the first component, two districts in the western region and one in the eastern. Seven environmental variables contributed significantly to explaining the turnover of species in these districts; the most significant were the elevation, pH, and precipitation of the coldest quarter.Main ConclusionsThe use of ENM for the regionalization of areas with high species richness allows for a more detailed classification of subregions and the distribution patterns of the species that define their limits. This provides a more solid theoretical basis for the investigation of biogeographic patterns.

Origin of the neonatal gut microbiota and probiotic intervention: a randomized controlled trial.

This study aims to evaluate the origin of the neonatal gut microbiota on the 14th day and probiotic intervention in the third trimester. Samples were obtained from a total of 30 pregnant individuals and their offspring, divided into a control group with no intervention and a probiotic group with live combined Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus tablets, analyzing by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the V4 region to evaluate the composition of them. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and SourceTracker were used to evaluate the origin of neonatal gut microbiota. We found that the microbiota in the neonatal gut at different times correlated with that in the maternal microbiota. The placenta had more influence on meconium microbiota. Maternal gut had more influence on neonatal gut microbiota on the 3rd day and 14th day. We also found that the maternal gut, vaginal, and placenta microbiota at full term in the probiotic group did not have a significantly different abundance of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, or Streptococcus. However, some other bacteria changed in the maternal gut and their neonatal gut in the probiotic group.

Navigating social-ecological changes: A mixed-method analysis of extensive livestock systems in southern Patagonian forests, Argentina.

Sustainable livestock management plays a crucial role in food production, climate change mitigation, and cultural preservation. Our study aimed to identify and analyse the diversity of social-ecological conditions that characterize extensive livestock systems in southern Patagonia. We integrated data collected from interviews and secondary sources and analysed data using hierarchical cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling to identify distinct ranching types. A qualitative analysis of key informant interviews identified key social-ecological changes for each type. The results emphasize the impact of administration, production, and biophysical factors on shaping different livestock ranching schemes. Further, we identified three significant social-ecological changes driving the dynamics of these systems, including shifts from (1) sheep to cattle ranching, (2) domestic to feral cattle ranching, and (3) landowners to tenant land managers. These findings have implications for policymakers seeking to develop strategies tailored to diverse realities, ensuring the sustainability of livestock systems in Tierra del Fuego.

Soil Moisture and Litter Coverage Drive the Altitude Gradient Pattern of Soil Arthropods in a Low-Elevation Mountain

This study sought to investigate the vertical distribution pattern of the soil faunal community in a low-altitude mountain area. On 8 July 2022, a low hill was selected as the study area, and soil arthropods were collected through traps. The leaf litter, vegetation type, and distribution quantity of each sampling site were investigated while the soil faunae were collected. In addition, the soil’s physical and chemical parameters were measured. The results of a one-way ANOVA showed that there were significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) in the soil properties, leaf litter, and plant quantities at different altitudes within the research area. A total of 1086 soil arthropods, belonging to five classes and ten orders, were collected during the study period. The dominant species of soil arthropods at different altitudes were significantly different. The dominant species in low-altitude areas were Armadillidium sp. and Aethus nigritus. However, Eupolyphaga sinensis and Philodromidae were the dominant species in high-altitude areas. The results of a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis showed that the soil faunae at different altitudes were clustered into two communities: a high-altitude community and a low-altitude community. With the increase in altitude, the species richness of the soil arthropods gradually decreased, and their abundance showed a decreasing trend. A redundancy analysis (RDA) of the soil arthropods and environmental factors showed that soil moisture (p &lt; 0.01), pH (p &lt; 0.01) and defoliation (p &lt; 0.05) had significant effects on the distribution of the soil fauna. The results of a Pearson correlation analysis indicated that different environmental factors had interactive effects on the distribution of the soil arthropods. The quantity and species richness of the soil arthropods in different sample lines were tested using a variance analysis. The results showed that there were significantly smaller quantities of soil arthropods in the sampling line closer to the trekking ladder. This indicates that human tourism, namely mountaineering activities, had a direct impact on the soil fauna. This study can provide a reference for and data support in the development of biodiversity conservation measures for forest parks in low mountain areas.

Peri-urban Mediterranean plant communities are shaped by chronic anthropogenic disturbances

Peri-urban plant communities perform key ecological functions. However, the integrity of peri-urban vegetation is threatened by the continuous expansion of built-up areas and anthropogenic activities, which result in low-intensity, but continuous and pervasive chronic anthropogenic disturbances (CADs). Despite the growing attention to the ecological role of peri-urban vegetation patches, the assessment of the relationship between CADs and typical Mediterranean plant communities at the local scale is still lacking. In this work, both the compositional and functional responses to typical CADs of five vegetation types were assessed in 48 plots, located around the city of Genoa (Italy). The main anthropogenic and environmental drivers of species composition were identified through a Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling, and selected variables were used to fit a partial Redundancy Analysis. Differences in the number of alien species in relation to total CAD intensity were assessed with a Kruskal-Wallis test. Regarding functional composition, the community weighted mean values (CWMs) of five functional traits were computed for each plot. Generalized linear models were then fitted to assess the relationship between the CWMs and CADs intensity. Our results showed that the specific composition of peri-urban plant communities of Genoa is shaped by interacting environmental and anthropogenic factors. Considering composition, CADs promote the increase of alien species’ number. Moreover, the increased intensity of CADs altered the functional composition, with increasing specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen content and seed bank longevity. Overall, the effect of typical Mediterranean CADs is more pronounced on the functional composition than on the taxonomic composition of peri-urban plant communities. This work highlights the relevance at the local scale of the typical CADs of the Mediterranean area in influencing the different vegetation types that characterise a peri-urban zone.

Validation of gavage sampling as tool for longitudinal sampling of microbiota of the mouse gastric lumen

BackgroundFecal samples are commonly used for longitudinal studies of the gut lumen microbiome to track the course of response to infection or drug treatment, but no comparable method has been evaluated for longitudinal analysis of the gastric lumen microbiome in mice. Herein, a buffer flush of the stomach with a flexible gavage needle was used to collect gastric contents at one or several time points without harming the mouse. These samples were compared to samples collected by sacrifice and dissection of the mouse stomach. Microbiota from these samples were sequenced and evaluated in two ways: the composition of samples as measured by beta diversity and the richness of samples as measured by alpha diversity. Additionally, the effect of multiple sampling every two days on these metrics were studied. DNA was extracted from each of these samples and Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed. ResultsFirst, taxonomic richness of gavage and dissection samples was compared. A greater number of taxa was detected in gavage samples than in dissection samples. Second, taxonomic richness was analyzed over time. No significant difference in taxonomic richness was observed with repeated gavage flushes. Third, a comparison was made of the taxonomic composition of samples collected by gavage versus dissection followed by a comparison of samples collected over multiple samplings. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed no clear differences between collection by gavage flushing or dissection. Using weighted Unifrac and Aitchison taxonomic distances between gavage and dissection samples were not significantly different from distances between gavage samples themselves, and no significant difference was found in the taxonomic composition of mice which were sampled repeatedly. Finally, relative abundances of specific identified taxa were compared, and eleven taxa were found to differ in frequency between collection methods. Using the more stringent Analysis of Composition of Microbiomes (ANCOM), seven was found to differ. Similarly, no significant differences were uncovered using these analyses over multiple samples by gastric flush. ConclusionIn summary, the consistency of the microbiota collected by gastric flushing recommends its use for microbiome analysis of gastric fluid similar to the use of fecal sampling to study the gut lumen microbiome.

Changes in floristic and vegetation structure in a chronosequence of abandoned gold-mining lands in a tropical Amazon forest

This study analyzes floristic and vegetation structure changes during forest succession after disturbances caused by small-scale gold mining in Madre de Dios (Peru). We compared the floristic and vegetation structure of a reference forest against three sites with different periods of abandonment after mining (5, 11 and 23-years). Three 20 × 60 m plots were defined on each site, and all tree species with a DBH >1 cm within the plots were inventoried. To evaluate species diversity and similarity, the Importance Value, effective numbers of species (0D, 1D, and 2D), and Chao-Jaccard similarity index were calculated. We used the Nonmetric multidimensional scaling for similarity ordination and the PERMANOVA test to evaluate differences in floristic composition. We recorded 129 tree species in the study areas and statistically significant differences between initial and intermediate stages were observed regarding floristic composition, basal area, height, and DBH. The transition from the initial successional stage to the reference forest produces an increase in basal area, species diversity, and floristic similarity. The 23-year-old stand had more species in common with the 11-year-old stand than the reference forest. Our results showed a high proportion of pioneer species and anemochory dispersal syndrome in the initial successional stages, but they decreased in later stages of the chronosequence. The floristic and structural attributes of forests throughout the chronosequence showed a fast recovery during secondary succession. After 23 years, the recovery of tree species density was 77 % of reference forest, while the relative recovery of species composition was much slower, on average 23 %. These results provide essential information to guide the selection of suitable species in ecological restoration projects after abandonment. Implementing forest restoration strategies based on reliable information to accelerate the process of vegetation succession is critical for recuperating areas degraded by gold mining at the Peruvian Amazon.

Impact of electrolyzed water treatment on bacterial communities in food washing processes

Electrolyzed water is expected to have a sterilizing effect on bacteria and viruses, which makes it useful for hygiene management, such as cleaning dishes or medical equipment. Electrolyzed water treatment may affect the cellular structure of microbes, leading to DNA leakage or degradation. Here, we conducted a next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of bacterial diversity in washing solution to elucidate the impact of cleaning food surfaces with electrolyzed water. Modified primers were used to evaluate the differences between the existing primers used to obtain NGS sequences and through statistical analysis. The NGS reads obtained using the modified primers tended to reveal more Enterobacteriaceae sequences, and fewer mitochondrial sequences than did those obtained with conventional primers. An UniFrac distance analysis and Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed that the results obtained with the modified primer set made the differences between samples more distinct. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the template DNA obtained from an electrolyzed water or sodium hypochlorite solution wash revealed that some of the DNA could not be amplified using PCR of the 16S rRNA genes suggesting that the DNA fragmentation had occurred due to the electrolyzed water treatment. Our results revealed that the bacterial species removed from the food surfaces varied depending on the washing treatment. Electrolyzed water treatment may be advantageous for removing Enterobacteriaceae from leafy vegetables.

Age and aging process alter the gut microbes.

Gut microbes and age are both factors that influence the development of disease. The community structure of gut microbes is affected by age. To plot time-dependent gut microbe profiles in individuals over 45 years old and explore the correlation between age and gut microbes. Fecal samples were collected from 510 healthy individuals over 45 years old. Shannon index, Simpson index, Ace index, etc. were used to analyze the diversity of gut microbes. The beta diversity analysis, including non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), was used to analyze community distribution. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and random forest (RF) algorithm were used to analyze the differences of gut microbes. Trend analysis was used to plot the abundances of characteristic gut microbes in different ages. The individuals aged 45-49 had the highest richness of gut bacteria. Fifteen characteristic gut microbes, including Siphoviridae and Bifidobacterium breve, were screened by RF algorithm. The abundance of Ligiactobacillus and Microviridae were higher in individuals older than 65 years. Moreover, the abundance of Blautia_A massiliensis, Lubbockvirus and Enterocloster clostridioformis decreased with age and the abundance of Klebsiella variicola and Prevotella increased with age. The functional genes, such as human diseases and aging, were significantly different among different aged individuals. The individuals in different ages have characteristic gut microbes. The changes in community structure of gut microbes may be related to age-induced diseases.

Dimension reduction of microbiome data linked Bifidobacterium and Prevotella to allergic rhinitis

Dimension reduction has been used to visualise the distribution of multidimensional microbiome data, but the composite variables calculated by the dimension reduction methods have not been widely used to investigate the relationship of the human gut microbiome with lifestyle and disease. In the present study, we applied several dimension reduction methods, including principal component analysis, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), and non-negative matrix factorization, to a microbiome dataset from 186 subjects with symptoms of  allergic rhinitis (AR) and 106 controls. All the dimension reduction methods supported that the distribution of microbial data points appeared to be continuous rather than discrete. Comparison of the composite variables calculated from the different dimension reduction methods showed that the characteristics of the composite variables differed depending on the distance matrices and the dimension reduction methods. The first composite variables calculated from PCoA and NMDS with the UniFrac distance were strongly associated with AR (FDR adjusted P = 2.4 × 10–4 for PCoA and P = 2.8 × 10–4 for NMDS), and also with the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Prevotella. The abundance of Bifidobacterium was also linked to intake of several nutrients, including carbohydrate, saturated fat, and alcohol via composite variables. Notably, the association between the composite variables and AR was much stronger than the association between the relative abundance of individual genera and AR. Our results highlight the usefulness of the dimension reduction methods for investigating the association of microbial composition with lifestyle and disease in clinical research.

Association between Soil Physicochemical Properties and Bacterial Community Structure in Diverse Forest Ecosystems.

Although the importance of the soil bacterial community for ecosystem functions has long been recognized, there is still a limited understanding of the associations between its community composition, structure, co-occurrence patterns, and soil physicochemical properties. The objectives of the present study were to explore the association between soil physicochemical properties and the composition, diversity, co-occurrence network topological features, and assembly mechanisms of the soil bacterial community. Four typical forest types from Liziping Nature Reserve, representing evergreen coniferous forest, deciduous coniferous forest, mixed conifer-broadleaf forest, and its secondary forest, were selected for this study. The soil bacterial community was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling was used to illustrate the clustering of different samples based on Bray-Curtis distances. The associations between soil physicochemical properties and bacterial community structure were analyzed using the Mantel test. The interactions among bacterial taxa were visualized with a co-occurrence network, and the community assembly processes were quantified using the Beta Nearest Taxon Index (Beta-NTI). The dominant bacterial phyla across all forest soils were Proteobacteria (45.17%), Acidobacteria (21.73%), Actinobacteria (8.75%), and Chloroflexi (5.06%). Chao1 estimator of richness, observed ASVs, faith-phylogenetic diversity (faith-PD) index, and community composition were distinguishing features of the examined four forest types. The first two principal components of redundancy analysis explained 41.33% of the variation in the soil bacterial community, with total soil organic carbon, soil moisture, pH, total nitrogen, carbon/nitrogen (C/N), carbon/phosphorous (C/P), and nitrogen/phosphorous (N/P) being the main soil physicochemical properties shaping soil bacterial communities. The co-occurrence network structure in the mixed forest was more complex compared to that in pure forests. The Beta-NTI indicated that the bacterial community assembly of the four examined forest types was collaboratively influenced by deterministic and stochastic ecological processes.

Seasonal diet partition among top predators of a small island, Iriomote Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

Small islands tend to lack predators because species at higher trophic levels often cannot survive. However, two exceptional top predators—the Iriomote cat Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis, and the Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela perplexus—live on the small Iriomote Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago. To understand how these predators coexist with limited resources, we focused on their seasonal diets between which conflicts are considered to occur. To compare the diets, we used DNA metabarcoding analysis of faecal samples. In the summer, we identified 16 unique prey items from Iriomote cat faecal samples and 15 unique prey items from Crested Serpent Eagle faecal samples. In the winter, we identified 37 and 14, respectively. Using a non-metric multidimensional scaling and a permutational multivariate analysis of variance, our study reveals significant differences in the diet composition at the order level between the predators during both seasons. Furthermore, although some prey items at the species-to-order level overlapped between them, the frequency of occurrence of most prey items differed in both seasons. These results suggest that this difference in diets is one of the reasons why the Iriomote cat and the Crested Serpent Eagle are able to coexist on such a small island.

Identification of biotic and abiotic factors coal mine overburden on Warukin rock formation of South Kalimantan

Overburden (the dumping of mine tailings and other reject materials) from the Warukin geological formation is one of the potential acid-forming (PAF) of 33.17%. Mining can cause overburden to be exposed and affect biotic and abiotic conditions. The study aimed to analyze the biotic and abiotic factors of three different age overburdens from the Warukin Formation, South Kalimantan. Biotic factor measurements included vegetation sampling using line transect, soil insects using pitfall traps, and microbial using total plate count. Abiotic factor measurements included air temperature and humidity, light intensity, temperature, moisture, and pH of the substrate (n=3), and chemical overburden. Identification of plants and insect species using information from locals, identification books, and websites. Plant species diversity was analyzed using the Shannon-Wiener Index. Dominance species were analyzed using the Important Value Index (IVI). The relation of overburden age on biotic and abiotic factors was analyzed multivariate with Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS). The results showed that there are 102 species of plants and 11 species of soil insects. The numbers of fungi and bacteria are 10-4 CFU g-1 and 10-3 CFU g-1, respectively. Plant species diversity is classified as medium (H'= 2.34; 2.50 and 2.82). Changes in plant composition occurred as the microclimate and substrate nutrition improved. The organic matter increased over time. Humidity and light intensity influence the presence and composition of organisms, while pH values affect the adaptability of plants, insects, and microbes. Heavy metal concentrations have increased due to the physicochemical properties of the Warukin formation overburden.

Ordovician paleobiogeography of the Suborder Cheirurina (Trilobita)

The Suborder Cheirurina is a diverse trilobite clade, ranging from the latest Cambrian to the Devonian. The Ordovician paleobiogeography of the group is explored based on the distribution of genera. Major tectonostratigraphic units and Ordovician ages (Tremadocian, Floian, Dapingian, Darriwilian, Sandbian and Katian) were recorded for each genus. Cluster analysis (agglomerative hierarchical clustering) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were performed independently for each Ordovician age. The results characterize the Ordovician distribution of Cheirurina as two main general patterns. First, there was a marked decrease in endemicity through the Ordovician. Second, latitude seems to play a significant role in the distribution of Cheirurina, at both genus and family levels. Pliomerids and encrinurids occur overwhelmingly at low latitudes. The two main exceptions are Placoparia (Pliomeridae) and Dindymene (Encrinuridae), which are distributed in high latitude terranes. Within Cheiruridae, members of Eccoptochilinae are typical of high latitude Gondwana. Conversely, acanthoparyphines, cheirurines, deiphonines, heliomerines and sphaerexochines are mainly distributed in low or intermediate latitudes.

Abundance and diversity of fungal endophytes isolated from monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) grown in a Canadian research greenhouse.

Monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) is an herbaceous perennial vine of the Cucurbitaceae family cultivated commercially mainly in southern China. There is very little information available about the fungal endophytes in monk fruit. In this study, monk fruit plants were grown from seeds in a research greenhouse at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, Canada to explore the abundance and diversity of their fungal endophytes. Fungal endophytes were isolated from seeds, seedlings, mature monk fruit plants, and fruits, and cultured on potato dextrose agar and water agar media. Isolates were identified by microscopic examination and BLAST comparison of ITS sequences to published sequences in GenBank. At least 150 species of fungal endophytes representing 60 genera and 20 orders were recovered from monk fruit tissues. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was carried out to explore the similarity of fungal communities among roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds based on fungal orders. Our study showed that monk fruit plants are a rich source of fungal endophytes with the greatest abundance and diversity in leaves. This work has deepened our understanding of the intricate interactions between plants and fungi that sustain ecosystems and underpin plant health and resilience.