Spatial Coexistence Research Articles

It's about (taking up) space: Discreteness of individuals and the strength of spatial coexistence mechanisms.

One strand of modern coexistence theory (MCT) partitions invader growth rates (IGR) to quantify how different mechanisms contribute to species coexistence, highlighting fluctuation-dependent mechanisms. A general conclusion from the classical analytic MCT theory is that coexistence mechanisms relying on temporal variation (such as the temporal storage effect) are generally less effective at promoting coexistence than mechanisms relying on spatial or spatiotemporal variation (primarily growth-density covariance). However, the analytic theory assumes continuous population density, and IGRs are calculated for infinitesimally rare invaders that have infinite time to find their preferred habitat and regrow, without ever experiencing intraspecific competition. Here we ask if the disparity between spatial and temporal mechanisms persists when individuals are, instead, discrete and occupy finite amounts of space. We present a simulation-based approach to quantifying IGRs in this situation, building on our previous approach for spatially non-varying habitats. As expected, we found that spatial mechanisms are weakened; unexpectedly, the contribution to IGR from growth-density covariance could even become negative, opposing coexistence. We also found shifts in which demographic parameters had the largest effect on the strength of spatial coexistence mechanisms. Our substantive conclusions are statements about one model, across parameter ranges that we subjectively considered realistic. Using the methods developed here, effects of individual discreteness should be explored theoretically across a broader range of conditions, and in models parameterized from empirical data on real communities.

The practice and innovation of compatible marine utilization models in China

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is essential for optimizing marine resources allocation and resolving conflicts in sea use, but it is challenged by the complex and multi-functional nature of maritime resources. This study utilizes participatory methods, inductive reasoning, and overlay analysis to explore both theoretical and practical aspects of compatible marine utilization models. The paper begins by clarifying the logic of compatible sea use through marine functional zoning and identifying its core characteristics: quantity, spatial conflict, and impacts on natural attributes. Building on China’s national territorial spatial planning reforms and practical experiences, the paper introduces three major categories of compatible marine use models: development sequencing compatibility, spatial coexistence compatibility, and functional synergy compatibility. A compatibility discrimination matrix is developed to assess these models across different marine functional areas. Combined with the compatibility discrimination results, taking the marine and coastal spatial planning of Yantai City in China as a case study, the paper analyzes the compatibility demands and planning strategies within various marine functional areas. Finally, it evaluates the risks associated with each compatibility model and proposes targeted control strategies tailored to the specific features of each model and characteristics of sea use activities. The research findings highlight the positive role of compatible sea use models in promoting marine economic development, enhancing spatial efficiency, and mitigating sea use conflicts. However, these models also present varying potential risks, necessitating differentiated control strategies aligned with legal frameworks and specific sea use activities. The study offers valuable insights for MSP and contributes to the efficient utilization of marine resources and the advancement of marine spatial governance.

Potential for spatial coexistence of a transboundary migratory species and wind energy development

Global expansion in wind energy development is a notable achievement of the international community’s effort to reduce carbon emissions during energy production. However, the increasing number of wind turbines have unintended consequences for migratory birds and bats. Wind turbine curtailment and other mitigation strategies can reduce fatalities, but improved spatial and temporal data are needed to identify the most effective way for wind energy development and volant migratory species to coexist. Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana) account for a large proportion of known bat fatalities at wind facilities in the southwestern US. We examined the geographic concordance between existing wind energy generation facilities, areas of high wind potential amenable for future deployment of wind facilities, and seasonally suitable habitat for these bats. We used ecological niche modeling to determine species distribution during each of 4 seasons. We used a multi-criteria GIS-based approach to produce a wind turbine siting suitability map. We identified seasonal locations with highest and lowest potential for the species’ probability of occurrence, providing a potential explanation for the higher observed fatalities during fall migration. Thirty percent of 33,606 wind turbines within the southwestern US occurred in highly suitable areas for Mexican free-tailed bats, primarily in west Texas. There is also broad spatial overlap between areas of high wind potential and areas of suitable habitat for Mexican free-tailed bats. Because of this high degree of overlap, our results indicate that post-construction strategies, such as curtailing the timing of operations and deterrents, would be more effective for bat conservation than strategic siting of new wind energy installations.

A versatile functional interaction between electrically silent KV subunits and KV7 potassium channels

Voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels govern K+ ion flux across cell membranes in response to changes in membrane potential. They are formed by the assembly of four subunits, typically from the same family. Electrically silent KV channels (KVS), however, are unable to conduct currents on their own. It has been assumed that these KVS must obligatorily assemble with subunits from the KV2 family into heterotetrameric channels, thereby giving rise to currents distinct from those of homomeric KV2 channels. Herein, we show that KVS subunits indeed also modulate the activity, biophysical properties and surface expression of recombinant KV7 isoforms in a subunit-specific manner. Employing co-immunoprecipitation, and proximity labelling, we unveil the spatial coexistence of KVS and KV7 within a single protein complex. Electrophysiological experiments further indicate functional interaction and probably heterotetramer formation. Finally, single-cell transcriptomic analyses identify native cell types in which this KVS and KV7 interaction may occur. Our findings demonstrate that KV cross-family interaction is much more versatile than previously thought—possibly serving nature to shape potassium conductance to the needs of individual cell types.

Abstract 6171: Evolution of the spatial myeloid-lymphoid engagement in glioblastoma under temozolomide treatment

Abstract The current standard of care for glioblastoma (GBM), encompassing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, fails to extend patient survival beyond ~12-15 months. Even advanced immunotherapies, such as checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor-armored T-cell therapies, are ineffective in GBM due to tissue-specific niche-dependent escape strategies employed by glioma cells. Immune effectiveness, a finely regulated spatial and context-dependent process, underpins such a dismal state of the present therapeutic options. Herein, we applied CO-Detection by indEXing (CODEX), a state-of-the-art multiplex imaging platform, to elucidate the immune cell networks of the tumor microenvironment. By harnessing computational tools on multiplexed regions of interest across whole-slide images, we characterize the immune repertoire of GBMs by studying intratumor heterogeneity across space-histological territories- and time, matching pre- and post-treatment tissue sections of GBMs from seven patients under treatment (Stupp protocol). We aimed to assess changes in the interactions between the two main compartments of the immune system, myeloid and lymphoid, pre- and post-treatment using spatial statistics. We designed a computational workflow for the georeferencing, classification, and phenotyping individual cells of CODEX images across 105 regions of interest, representative of a mosaic of histologically defined cellular tumor (CT) or infiltrating tumor. We defined six major immune phenotypes and evaluated their spatial association with Cd45-Nestin+Olig2+ glioma cells. We modeled the GBM ecosystem and the cells’ spatial coexistence as spatial point processes that allowed the projection of coexistence networks. After stringent quality control, we detected and phenotyped 2.3M cells. Despite interpatient heterogeneity, some patients maintained an even immune composition, while others showed an enrichment in microglia, particularly in CT. Spatial network analyses revealed an increased coexistence between myeloid and lymphoid cells after treatments despite T cells being canonically considered moderately abundant. Quantitatively, the immune meta-network displayed higher edge density and lower modularity post-treatment compared with pre-treatment, reflecting increased lymphoid-myeloid engagement. In summary, we detected an increased spatial myeloid-lymphoid engagement in GBM undergoing chemo-radiation treatments. Spatiotemporal rearrangement of tumor-immune interactions indicates mechanisms implicated in disease recurrence and resistance to standard treatment, opening the frontiers for developing new targeted immunotherapies. Citation Format: Simon P. Castillo, Afrooz Jahedi, Pravesh Gupta, Jason T. Huse, Kasthuri Kannan, Yinyin Yuan, Krishna P. Bhat. Evolution of the spatial myeloid-lymphoid engagement in glioblastoma under temozolomide treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6171.

Investigation of the Impact of Temporal Dose Delivery Patterns of Ion Irradiation with the Local Effect Model.

We present an extension of the Local Effect Model (LEM) to include time-dose relationships for predicting effects of protracted and split-dose ion irradiation at arbitrary LET. With this kinetic extension, the spatial and temporal induction and processing of DNA double strand breaks (DSB) in cellular nuclei can be simulated for a wide range of ion radiation qualities, doses and dose rates. The key concept of the extension is based on the joint spatial and temporal coexistence of initial DSB, leading to the formation of clustered DNA damage on the µm scale (as defined e.g., by the size scale of Mbp chromatin loops), which is considered to have an increased cellular lethality as compared to isolated, single DSB. By simulating the time dependent induction and repair of DSB and scoring of isolated and clustered DSB upon irradiation, the impact of dose rate and split dose on the cell survival probability can be computed. In a first part of this work, we systematically analyze the predicted impact of protraction in dependence of factors like dose, LET, ion species and radiosensitivity as characterized by the photon LQ-parameters. We establish links to common concepts that describe dose rate effects for low LET radiation. We also compare the model predictions to experimental data and find agreement with the general trends observed in the experiments. The relevant concepts of our approach are compared to other models suitable for predicting time effects. We investigate an apparent analogy between spatial and temporal concentration of radiation delivery, both leading to increased effectiveness, and discuss similarities and differences between the general dependencies of these clustering effects on their impacting factors. Finally, we conclude that the findings give additional support for the general concept of the LEM, i.e. the characterization of high LET radiation effects based on the distinction of just two classes of DSB (isolated DSB and clustered DSB).

Dynamic shifts in predator diel activity patterns across landscapes and threat levels

Understanding the constraints that dominant predators impose on subordinate species is important for predicting ecosystem dynamics and anticipating outcomes of predator management. Subordinate predators may avoid dominant predators in time or space, making it difficult to quantify antipredator behaviours unless joint spatiotemporal analyses are used. Here, we test whether an invasive dominant predator (red fox Vulpes vulpes) alters the spatiotemporal activity of an invasive subordinate predator (feral cat Felis catus). We collated records of both species from 3667 camera‐traps deployed experimentally across two regions of south‐eastern Australia with simplified predator guilds. Foxes were poison‐baited in some landscapes within each region. We used generalised additive models to quantify changes in predator spatiotemporal activity across geographic space, vegetation types, human footprints and (artificially manipulated) gradients of dominant predator activity. Foxes and cats had similar diel activity patterns when averaged across all sites, but there was important differentiation at a finer scale: cats did not reduce their spatial activity but shifted diel patterns when localised fox activity was high. Cats were crepuscular on average. However, across dry vegetation types of both regions (where foxes were nocturnal), cats shifted to diurnal behaviour with increasing fox activity. In contrast, fox activity was relatively consistent throughout the daily cycle in the wet forest; here cats avoided dawn when fox activity was high. Changes in cat diel activity patterns may facilitate spatial coexistence between these two invasive predators, potentially shifting feral cat impacts onto different native prey. While it is well‐appreciated that predator activity varies spatially and fluctuates throughout the daily cycle,our study demonstrates that diel activity patterns also vary across space, likely mediated by both landscape‐context and fear. Dominant predator avoidance in time also appears to be spatially dynamic – a key nuance overlooked when simply comparing the average activity overlap between two species.

Modeling effects of habitat structure on intraguild predation frequency and spatial coexistence between jaguars and ocelots

Abstract Species within the same ecological guild exhibit niche attributes that vary in association with their diet, spatial occupancy, and temporal activity to reduce competition. In the case of the tropical felid community, many species exhibit substantial overlap in these niche dimensions. Consequently, jaguars (Panthera onca) will sometimes kill the smaller ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) competitor in a phenomenon called intraguild predation (IGP), which is a major structuring force in tropical forests. We developed a spatially explicit agent-based model to understand IGP with the expectation that ocelots employ spatial avoidance strategies using available forest canopy as the more arboreal species. We parameterized model agents with realistic behaviors to replicate the real-world environment. Jaguar and ocelot agents were allowed to move, hunt, and reproduce with varying numbers, heights, and canopy thickness of trees as we recorded IGP events and ocelot canopy occupancy. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to demonstrate how the number and height of trees significantly affected IGP occurrence. In accordance with our hypothesis, we found that the main contributor mediating coexistence between the two species was spatial avoidance of jaguars by ocelots by using available canopy refuges. Our modeling approach has broad application to different environments with similar intraguild interactions to predict the importance of forest structure and can inform policy directed toward forest management and habitat conservation.

The extremely small body size of Williamson’s mouse deer (Tragulus williamsoni) allows coexistence with sympatric larger ungulates through temporal avoidance

Research on the coexistence of congeneric species is essential for understanding community assemblages. Smaller competitors are expected to avoid larger ones, either spatially or temporally, to reduce interspecific competition. According to the spatial scaling law, the greater the difference in body size, the weaker the competitive interactions of the competitors. However, this is not confirmed in the guild of tropical forest ungulates. In this study, we assessed the competitive interactions of Williamson’s mouse deer (Tragulus williamsoni), an endangered species and one of the smallest ungulates in the world, with sympatric larger ungulates. We hypothesized that: 1) because of its extremely small body size, competition with the larger ungulates would be relatively weak, allowing spatial co-existence but still requiring temporal avoidance, and 2) the strength of avoidance would increases with decreasing differences in body size. We set up 238 camera traps from January 2017 to January 2021 to survey Williamson’s mouse deer and the sympatric larger ungulate species, that is, northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Chinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii), and sambar (Rusa unicolor), in the protected areas of Mengla County, southwestern China. We then performed spatio-temporal analyses, including occupancy models, daily activity patterns, and a time interval analysis. Spatially, there was no significant avoidance. Temporally, Williamson’s mouse deer had different daily activity patterns and direct temporal avoidance of all larger ungulate species. The lack of spatial avoidance and strong temporal avoidance supported our first hypothesis, but the stronger avoidance of much larger species ran counter to our second hypothesis. Our results revealed the coexistence mechanism between Williamson’s mouse deer and sympatric larger ungulates and suggested that the difference in body size is limited in explaining the competitive interactions of tropical forest ungulates due to the effects of multiple ecological processes. This deepens our understanding of the relationship between species trait differences and community assembly in tropical forest ecosystems.

Spatial and temporal coexistence of medium-sized felines and their potential preys in Sierra Madre del Sur of Guerrero, México

Two species of similar size and trophic niche could not coexist in the same space and time unless the resources are diverse, abundant, and can be shared. In the Sierra Madre del Sur, Guerrero, Mexico, three felines of similar size coexist, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, and Leopardus wiedii. The objective of this research was to identify the spatiotemporal patterns that allow the coexistence of three felines and their potential preys, as well as to evaluate how the presence of humans and livestock influence their use of space and time. We hypothesized that the three felines coexist due to a differential use of time and space. Therefore, low or moderate overlap is expected, as well as a positive relationship with prey richness but negative regarding the presence of humans and livestock. Between 2009 and 2019, information was obtained on how the three feline species and their potential prey use time and space in eight landscapes with wide environmental variation using camera trapping. With a total sampling effort of 27,014 days/trap in 1,170 km2, 362 independent records of felids and 2,287 of 12 potential preys were obtained. Overlap in daily activity patterns (Δ) was estimated, and spatial co-occurrence was calculated using epsilon (Ɛ) values. Our results show that jaguarundi displayed a diurnal activity pattern and had an overlap of Δ = 0.22 with ocelot and Δ = 0.26 with margay; ocelot and margay were nocturnal with an activity overlap of Δ = 0.87. The spatial co-occurrence between the three felid species was positive: Ɛ = 2.61 between ocelot and margay, Ɛ = 3.22 between ocelot and jaguarundi; and Ɛ = 6 between jaguarundi and margay. The temporal overlap and spatial co-occurrence among felines showed a similar use of resources, and their distribution coincide with the one of some of their potential preys, may be related to predation strategies. Temporal overlap and spatial co-occurrence alone do not limit the coexistence of species; but the environmental differences of the landscapes do influence the variation and temporal dynamics of the felines studied in the Sierra Madre del Sur de Guerrero.

Co-circulation of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Genotype 3 and Moose-HEV-Like Strains in Free-Ranging-Spotted Deer (Axis axis) in Uruguay.

Hepatitis E caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered an emerging foodborne zoonosis in industrialized, non-endemic countries. Domestic pigs and wild boars are considered the main reservoir of HEV. However, HEV can also infect an ever-expanding host range of animals, but they exact role in transmitting the virus to other species or humans is mostly unknown. In this work, we investigated the spread of HEV in free-living and captive spotted deer (Axis axis) from Uruguay in a 2-year period (2020-2022) and examined the role of this invasive species as a new potential reservoir of the virus. In addition, with the aim to gain new insights into viral ecology in the context of One Health, by using camera trapping, we identified and quantified temporal and spatial coexistence of spotted deer, wild boars, and cattle. In free-living animals, we detected an anti-HEV seropositivity of 11.1% (6/54). HEV infection and viral excretion in feces were assessed by RT-PCR. Thirteen of 19 samples (68.4%) had HEV RNA. Six samples were amplified using a broadly reactive RT-PCR and sequenced. No captive animal showed evidence of HEV infection. Additionally, HEV RNA was detected in a freshwater pond shared by these species. Phylogenetic and p-distance analysis revealed that zoonotic HEV genotype 3 strains circulate together with unclassified variants related to moose HEV whose potential risk of transmission to humans and other domestic and wild animals is unknown. The data presented here suggest that spotted deer (A. axis) may be a novel host for zoonotic HEV strains.

Thermal Preference May Facilitate Spatial Coexistence of Two Invasive Fish Species in Lake Bosten, China

As aquaculture food production is expected to increase, introduced aquaculture species play an important role in meeting the rising demand for aquatic food products and contributing to great societal benefits. Species introduction forces sympatric species to coexist within the same ecosystem by niche segregation. Japanese smelt Hypomesus nipponensis and sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus are ecologically similar species and were introduced to Lake Bosten, the largest inland lake in Northwest China, accounting for more than 60% of the total production. We predicted that the coexistence of the two invasive species is mediated by habitat segregation. We analyzed spatiotemporal patterns of Japanese smelt and sharpbelly abundance in Lake Bosten to determine the patterns of spatial segregation between the two dominant fish species. Our results showed that, in Lake Bosten, sharpbelly are typically littoral dwellers when the surface temperature increases in spring and summer, while Japanese smelt often prefer pelagic waters, especially during summer and autumn when the surface temperature rises. Japanese smelt showed an affinity for deeper waters, using median depths 1.7 m deeper than those of sharpbelly, irrespective of the sampling season. Water temperature was the main underlying driver of such spatial segregation and coexistence of these two closely related species in Lake Bosten. Spawning, food resources, and fishing were also important possible factors affecting spatial segregation between the two species. Our results provide new information on niche partitioning patterns as strategies for the coexistence of the two dominant non-native fish in Lake Bosten, supporting the idea that ecologically similar species can avoid resource competition through spatial habitat segregation.

Habitat Modification Alters Food Web Interactions with Focus on Biological Control of Aphids in Apple Orchards

To date, direct interactions between pests and natural enemies are often considered in biocontrol programs. Recently there has been an increase of evidence for the importance of third-party mediated indirect interactions in determining the population dynamics of insects. Predicting the strength of such interactions remains a central challenge in biocontrol assessments. Here, two field experiments were performed in two years to investigate to which extent Dysaphis plantaginea Passerini, Aphis pomi De Geer, and Myzus cerasi Fabricius might indirectly interact through shared natural enemies and ants. We first studied the population dynamics of target insects in isolated orchards of apples and cherries. Secondly, we investigated how the spatial coexistence of aphid-infested cherries can indirectly affect the population dynamics of apple aphids via natural enemies and ants. In the first experiment, nine parasitoid species were recorded on apple and cherry aphids, among them were three species in common. Six predatory families were found on cherry and apple aphids, while only one ant species, Lasius niger L., was found associating with these aphids. In the second experiment, temporal variation in the natural enemy-mediated apparent competition between M. cerasi and apple aphids was found. The cherry aphid is likely to be an important source of natural enemies that attack apple aphids early in the season. Significantly reduced numbers of ants associating with apple aphids in the intercropping habitat were found. Our results emphasize the importance of considering indirect interactions in the designing of pest management strategies.

Spatial distributions, environmental drivers and co-existence patterns of key cold-water corals in the deep sea of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

Habitat-forming cold-water corals (CWCs) represent a key component of deep-sea benthic communities and a priority target for conservation. Although research efforts have been mounting to try and identify the drivers of CWC distributions, progress has been limited by the scarcity of ecological data. The present work employs habitat suitability models (HSMs) to estimate spatial distributions, environmental drivers and co-existence patterns of 14 habitat-forming CWCs in the Azores, an area considered a hotspot of coral diversity in the Atlantic. The modelled CWCs showed a strong bathymetric zonation, which seems to be determined by the vertical stratification of water masses in the region. In particular, the modelled CWCs can be clustered in four groups named after the isopycnal (vertical) layers in which Atlantic water masses are organized: species restricted to upper water masses, species extending down from upper water masses, species restricted to intermediate water masses and species extending up from deep water masses. Horizontal patterns further indicate that the Azores Current and different production regimes north and south of the archipelago likely influence the distribution of CWCs in sub-surface waters. Such results have important implications for the regional management of deep-sea benthic communities and, in particular, for the design of representative networks of protected areas. The combined habitat of all modelled species covered only 11%. Given that they all possess the characteristics of benthic foundation organisms and represent indicator taxa of vulnerable marine ecosystems all the modelled species should be viewed as important targets for conservation. The lace coral Errina dabneyi deserves particular attention since this species appears to be endemic to the Azores and has a very limited estimated distribution.

Local scale crop compositional heterogeneity suppresses the abundance of a major lepidopteran pest of cruciferous vegetables

Previous studies have recommended preserving semi-natural habitats as a strategy to promote natural enemies and reduce the abundance of agricultural pests. Such non-crop habitats, however, may increase pest abundance, causing spillover from non-crop to crop fields. A potentially more economical and attractive solution for farmers might arise if crop fields were themselves designed to aid in pest control. As part of such a strategy, we examined whether increasing crop compositional heterogeneity (i.e. the number of crop types and their evenness) and crop configurational heterogeneity (i.e. field margin length) could reduce the abundance of Pieris canidia, a major agricultural pest butterfly in several Asian countries. Adult females of P. canidia lay their eggs on cruciferous vegetables (Brassicaceae), and the emerging larvae consume the leaf tissue, causing crop damage. We surveyed adult P. canidia across 52 farmlands in south China when their abundance was at a peak in spring (April to May). Our results showed that the percentage of cruciferous crops (cabbage, oilseed rape, and pak choi) at the 100 m radius local scale was strongly positively associated with P. canidia abundance. However, crop compositional heterogeneity, also at the local scale, significantly reduced the abundance of P. canidia. Field margin type, categorized by the spatial coexistence of the most dominant cover types (sugarcane, corn, vegetables, including crucifers, and weedy vegetation), was also an important explanatory variable, with weedy patches, usually consisting of fallow cropfields adjacent to the field margins, having the highest pest abundance. These results suggest that to control pest attack by P. canidia on cruciferous vegetables, increasing crop compositional heterogeneity could be a more effective strategy than increasing configurational heterogeneity or the amount of non-crop habitat. However, research measuring crop damage by larval butterflies is necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Habitat seasonal competition and coexistence of typical wetland species in the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf Natural Heritage Site

The Natural Heritage Site of the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China plays a prominent role in the conservation of global biodiversity. However, with the increase in the number of species inhabiting here, the problem of competition in the habitat space of species within the heritage site has gradually emerged, which has become an important bottleneck restricting the sustainable development of the heritage site. Therefore, this study selected the typical wetland wildlife in this area, red crowned crane (Grus japonensis) and Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis), as the study objects. This study used their continuous GPS tracking data to reveal the seasonal laws of habitat selection and suitability of two typical wetland species, and analyze their spatial competition and coexistence relationship. The study results showed that the distribution of home range of the crane and the deer in spring and summer was significantly larger than that in autumn and winter. The area of the sub and most suitable area of the deer in spring was larger than that of the crane. In autumn and winter, the area of the sub and most suitable areas for the deer was small, while the area of the most suitable area for the crane was more than 50 hm2. Except in spring, the two species kept a certain distance from each other in other seasons, and their habitat selection was stable. The optimal threshold range of the crane for D_ree variable was 0–202 m in spring and 0–1200 m in summer and autumn. The deer was affected by vegetation factors in the four seasons. The threshold range of D_ree variable in spring, autumn and winter was 0–80 m, the suitable vegetation height of the deer was 2.31–2.92 m. Finally, this study proposed a refined management pattern of habitat with multiple species coexist.

Impacts of forest management on stand and landscape-level microclimate heterogeneity of European beech forests

ContextForest microclimate influences biodiversity and plays a crucial role in regulating forest ecosystem functions. It is modified by forest management as a result of changes in forest structure due to tree harvesting and thinning.ObjectivesHere, we investigate the impacts of even-aged and uneven-aged forest management on stand- and landscape-level heterogeneity of forest microclimates, in comparison with unmanaged, old-growth European beech forest.MethodsWe combined stand structural and topographical indices derived from airborne laser scanning with climate observations from 23 meteorological stations at permanent forest plots within the Hainich region, Germany. Based on a multiple linear regression model, we spatially interpolated the diurnal temperature range (DTR) as an indicator of forest microclimate across a 4338 ha section of the forest with 50 m spatial resolution. Microclimate heterogeneity was measured as α-, β-, and γ-diversity of thermal niches (i.e. DTR classes).ResultsEven-aged forests showed a higher γ-diversity of microclimates than uneven-aged and unmanaged forests. This was mainly due to a higher β-diversity resulting from the spatial coexistence of different forest developmental stages within the landscape. The greater structural complexity at the stand-level in uneven-aged stands did not increase α-diversity of microclimates. Predicted DTR was significantly lower and spatially more homogenous in unmanaged forest compared to both types of managed forest.ConclusionIf forest management aims at creating a wide range of habitats with different microclimates within a landscape, spatially co-existing types of differently managed and unmanaged forests should be considered, instead of focusing on a specific type of management, or setting aside forest reserves only.

The spatial coexistence of TIGIT/CD155 defines poorer survival and resistance to adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Targeting emerging T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT)/CD155 axis shows promise for restoring anti-tumor immunity, but its immune phenotypes and prognostic significance in a large cohort of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are limited. Methods: Three seven-color multispectral panels were rationally designed to investigate the protein expression, immune-microenvironmental feature, prognostic value, and the response to adjuvant chemotherapy of TIGIT/CD155 in 272 PDAC specimens using multiplex immunohistochemistry. Results: We revealed low immunogenicity and high heterogeneity of the PDAC immune microenvironment featured by abundant CD3+ T cells and CD68+ macrophages and low infiltration of activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. TIGIT and CD155 were highly expressed in PDAC tissues compared to paracancerous tissues. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes expressing TIGIT were correlated with high densities of CD45RO+ T cells; TIGTI+CD8+ T cells were associated with high infiltration of CD3+CD45RO+FOXP3+. CD155+CK+ were significantly related to high densities of CD3+ and CD3+CD8+CD45RO+ T cells. High positive rates for TIGIT in TCs, CD8+ T cells, and CD155 in macrophages were correlated with poor progression-free and disease-specific survival, respectively, and their clinical significance was correlated with PD-L1 status. Notably, spatial co-existence of TIGIT+CK+ or TIGIT+CD8+ and CD155+CD68+ indicated poor survival and resistance to adjuvant chemotherapy response in patients with PDAC. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that targeting TIGIT/CD155 immunosuppressive axis may guide patient stratification and improve the clinical outcome of PDAC.

Análisis interacción Mar-Tierra como base de la gestión de zonas costeras: estudio comparativo entre Argentina y Uruguay.

Land and sea are inherently connected through multiple and complex social-ecological interactions that strongly influence people's livelihoods and well-being. This paper focuses on land-sea interactions (LSI). Through a methodological approach built in an interdisciplinary way and the analysis of a comparative regional case between the South coast of Mar del Plata (Argentina) and the West coast of Montevideo (Uruguay), the objectives of the paper include the identification of land and marine uses with mutual implications, recording these interactions analyzing their degree of compatibility, and analytically comparing the results in both case studies. Four stages are developed for this purpose. The result is expressed in a series of matrices and tables that allow the detection of common or specific themes for the elaboration of recommendations and key messages of the land-sea-land analysis. Both study areas presented similar land-sea uses and activities, as well as the proportion of positive and conflicting interactions. The analysis of the commonalities identified that the average conflicts are related to the spatial and temporal coexistence of coastal-marine uses and activities. The differences were manifested by activities developed in one area and not in another, by the modality and typology of development or because common interactions were not recorded temporally and spatially. The research contributed to the construction of conceptual and methodological consensus on land-sea-land interactions. These were applied respectively on land and at sea in both pilot case studies.

Constraining depositional evolution and reservoir compartmentalization in a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic lacustrine system: The Yacoraite formation, Salta Group, NW Argentina

The mixed carbonate-siliciclastic Yacoraite Formation, Salta Group in northern Argentina has been interest of recent studies searching for potential analogues for the South Atlantic pre-sal carbonates. Microbial lacustrine carbonates are important reservoir systems and their characteristics and stratigraphic packaging are a major factor impacting compartmentalization. This study provides sedimentological and facies analyses combined with petrographical, isotope geochemical and petrophysical analyses of lacustrine clastics and carbonates using an example from the Yacoraite Formation (Salta Group) in northern Argentina (Tres Cruces sub-basin).The Yacoraite Formation records the evolution of a lacustrine system responding to basin scale tectonic processes and climatic conditions and is interpreted as a microbially-related mixed carbonate clastic lacustrine system comprising 8 main Facies types, deposited in either a perennial or an ephemeral system. The most dominant architectural elements are: Sandstones with interbedded shales (F1), Shales with interbedded sandstones and siltstones (F2), Thick-bedded oolitic grainstone (F5), Thin-bedded oolitic grainstone-packstone (F6) and Stromatolite boundstone (F8). These facies types allow to differentiate two types of lacustrine environments: Perennial (Stage I) vs Ephemeral (Stage II) intercalated with episodes of continental plains deposition, arranged in three depositional sequences (Yacoraite I, II and III), each recording either transgressive or a regressive-transgressive trend.Carbonate and clastics are arranged in cycles during the Perennial l Stage suggesting that the depositional system responded in patterns attributable to reciprocal sedimentation, whereas, during the Ephemeral Stage 2, spatial coexistence of clastic and carbonate seem to be the case rather that cyclic vertical superposition.Thick-bedded oolitic grainstone and Stromatolites (F5 and F8 respectively) of the perennial lacustrine system show laterally continuous and thick beds with the best reservoir properties. Furthermore, the Sandstones with interbedded shales (F1) are characterized by intermediate values of porosity and permeability, which would not result in permeability barriers. On the other hand, Thin-bedded oolitic grainstone-packstone (F6) of the ephemeral lacustrine system are characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity due to their limited areal distribution and their complex spatial variability with Shales with interbedded sandstones and siltstones (F2).