Survival Of Species Research Articles

Are sub-alpine species' seedling emergence and establishment in the alpine limited by climate or biotic interactions?

One of the ways in which plants are responding to climate change is by shifting their ranges to higher elevations. Early life-history stages are major bottlenecks for species' range shifts, and variation in seedling emergence and establishment success can therefore be important determinants of species' ability to establish at higher elevations. Previous studies have found that warming per se tends to not only increase seedling establishment in alpine climates but it also increases plant productivity, which could limit establishment success through increased competition for light. Here we disentangle the relative importance of several climate-related abiotic and biotic factors on sub-alpine species' seedling emergence and survival in the alpine. Specifically, we test how temperature, precipitation and competition from neighbouring vegetation impacts establishment, and also whether species' functional traits, or strategies impact their ability to colonise alpine locations. We found that our six sub-alpine study species were all able to recruit from seed in alpine locations under the extant alpine climate, but their emergence was limited by competition from neighbouring vegetation. This indicates that biotic interactions can hinder the range shifts expected as a result of climate warming. Species with a resource conservative strategy had higher emergence in the extant alpine climate than species with a resource acquisitive strategy, and they were largely unaffected by changes in temperature. The resource acquisitive species, in contrast, had faster emergence under warming, especially when they were released from competition from neighbouring vegetation. Our results indicate that competition from the established vegetation is limiting the spread of lowland species into the alpine, and as the climate continues to warm, species with resource acquisitive traits might gain an advantage.

Calculating Aging: Analysis of Survival Curves in the Norm and Pathology, Fluctuations in Mortality Dynamics, Characteristics of Lifespan Distribution, and Indicators of Lifespan Variation.

The article describes the history of studies of survival data carried out at the Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology under the leadership of Academician V. P. Skulachev from 1970s until present, with special emphasis on the last decade. The use of accelerated failure time (AFT) model and analysis of coefficient of variation of lifespan (CVLS) in addition to the Gompertz methods of analysis, allows to assess survival curves for the presence of temporal scaling (i.e., manifestation of accelerated aging), without changing the shape of survival curve with the same coefficient of variation. A modification of the AFT model that uses temporal scaling as the null hypothesis made it possible to distinguish between the quantitative and qualitative differences in the dynamics of aging. It was also shown that it is possible to compare the data on the survival of species characterized by the survival curves of the original shape (i.e., "flat" curves without a pronounced increase in the probability of death with age typical of slowly aging species), when considering the distribution of lifespan as a statistical random variable and comparing parameters of such distribution. Thus, it was demonstrated that the higher impact of mortality caused by external factors (background mortality) in addition to the age-dependent mortality, the higher the disorder of mortality values and the greater its difference from the calculated value characteristic of developed countries (15-20%). For comparison, CVLS for the Paraguayan Ache Indians is 100% (57% if we exclude prepuberty individuals as suggested by Jones et al.). According to Skulachev, the next step is considering mortality fluctuations as a measure for the disorder of survival data. Visual evaluation of survival curves can already provide important data for subsequent analysis. Thus, Sokolov and Severin [1] found that mutations have different effects on the shape of survival curves. Type I survival curves generally retains their standard convex rectangular shape, while type II curves demonstrate a sharp increase in the mortality which makes them similar to a concave exponential curve with a stably high mortality rate. It is noteworthy that despite these differences, mutations in groups I and II are of a similar nature. They are associated (i) with "DNA metabolism" (DNA repair, transcription, and replication); (ii) protection against oxidative stress, associated with the activity of the transcription factor Nrf2, and (iii) regulation of proliferation, and (or these categories may overlap). However, these different mutations appear to produce the same result at the organismal level, namely, accelerated aging according to the Gompertz's law. This might be explained by the fact that all these mutations, each in its own unique way, either reduce the lifespan of cells or accelerate their transition to the senescent state, which supports the concept of Skulachev on the existence of multiple pathways of aging (chronic phenoptosis).

American crocodile nesting in sediment-nourished habitats on Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, USA

Abstract The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is the most widely distributed New World crocodile. However, the species has experienced severe declines due to overexploitation. In South Florida, loss of nesting habitat, with coastal degradation from sea level rise and urban development has prompted American crocodiles to nest in novel habitats. Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge (CLNWR) serves as an important nesting site for the South Florida population of American crocodiles and more recently nesting habitat has been supplemented to manage coastal erosion. The goal of this study was to investigate the internal nest biology of American crocodile nests laid in sediment nourished sand mounds on CLNWR. We monitored internal nest temperature and volumetric water content of five live and two control sand nests in 2021 (N = 73 eggs) and 2022 (N = 84 eggs). The metabolic heat generated by incubating eggs in internal nest temperatures ranged from 0.8°C to 2.0°C warmer and more stable than ambient temperatures and reflecting a seasonal pattern. Average clutch size was 31.4 ± 7.09 eggs and incubation period ranged from 78 to 114 days until hatching. These data provide the first insight into thermal regimes of nests laid in novel/supplemented nesting habitat as is the case for a significant proportion of nests in the South Florida population of American crocodiles. Here we provide an opportunity to evaluate the importance of creating artificial nesting habitat for American crocodiles where habitat degradation from climate change threatens species survival.

The benefits of woody plant stem photosynthesis extend to hydraulic function and drought survival in Parkinsonia florida.

As climate change exacerbates drought stress in many parts of the world, understanding plant physiological mechanisms for drought survival is critical to predicting ecosystem responses. Stem net photosynthesis, which is common in arid environments, may be a drought survival trait, but whether the additional carbon fixed by stems contributes to plant hydraulic function and drought survival in arid land plants is untested. We conducted a stem light-exclusion experiment on saplings of a widespread North American desert tree species, Parkinsonia florida L., and after shading acclimation, we then subjected half of the plants to a drought treatment to test the interaction between light exclusion and water limitation on growth, leaf and stem photosynthetic gas exchange, xylem embolism assessed with micro-computed tomography and gravimetric techniques, and survival. Growth, stem photosynthetic gas exchange, hydraulic function and survival all showed expected reductions in response to light exclusion. However, stem photosynthesis mitigated the drought-induced reductions in gas exchange, xylem embolism (percent loss of conductivity, PLC) and mortality. The highest mortality was in the combined light exclusion and drought treatment, and was related to stem PLC and native sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity. This research highlights the integration of carbon economy and water transport. Our results show that additional carbon income by photosynthetic stems has an important role in the growth and survival of a widespread desert tree species during drought. This shift in function under conditions of increasing stress underscores the importance of considering stem photosynthesis for predicting drought-induced mortality not only for the additional supply of carbon, but also for its extended benefits for hydraulic function.

Using fire, planting, and topsoil translocation for restoration in South African Fynbos: assessing the success and cost‐effectiveness of various restoration treatments

The successful restoration of endangered habitat types at a low cost is of vital importance. We tested how successful and cost‐effective six combinations of restoration treatments were in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Treatments were applied to an area that was primarily covered invasive alien grasses. Treatments that tested combinations of burning, direct sowing of seed, and planting of seedlings, aimed to test the synergistic effect of three treatment factors. Topsoil translocation aimed to determine if this, combined with planting, can restore native shrub cover and whether the addition of mulch and seed can improve overall success. The mechanical removal of invasive grasses, sowing and planting, were tested in the absence of fire. Both topsoil translocation treatments and the treatment that had been burned, sown and planted (“Burn‐sow‐plant”) led to plant species richness resembling near‐pristine plots and approximately 30% higher than the burn‐only treatment (“Burn”). Native shrub cover was the highest for treatments which included planting. Survival for planted species was 36–41% higher for Burn‐sow‐plant. The contribution of sowing was low, with 9–16% of species sowed being present across treatments. We show that topsoil translocation can be successful if combined with planting. Burn‐sow‐plant was most successful at a reasonable cost, despite planting being expensive, whereas Burn and Burn‐sow were less successful, but cheaper. The treatment in which grass was removed before sowing and planting was the least successful and most expensive. We conclude that the most successful treatments are not necessarily the most expensive.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of how social memory is studied

Social recognition is crucial for survival in social species, and necessary for group living, selective reproduction, pair bonding, and dominance hierarchies. Mice and rats are the most commonly used animal models in social memory research, however current paradigms do not account for the complex social dynamics they exhibit in the wild. To assess the range of social memories being studied, we conducted a systematic analysis of neuroscience articles testing the social memory of mice and rats published within the past two decades and analyzed their methods. Our results show that despite these rodent’s rich social memory capabilities, the majority of social recognition papers explore short-term memories and short-term familiarity levels with minimal exposure between subject and familiar stimuli—a narrow type of social memory. We have identified several key areas currently understudied or underrepresented: kin relationships, mates, social ranks, sex variabilities, and the effects of aging. Additionally, reporting on social stimulus variables such as housing history, strain, and age, is limited, which may impede reproducibility. Overall, our data highlight large gaps in the diversity of social memories studied and the effects social variables have on social memory mechanisms.

Negative Effects of Pollen Drought Stress on Floral Volatiles, Floral Nectar, Pollinator Behavior, and Seed Production in Ocimum basilicum Plants

Ocimum basilicum is an aromatic plant belonging to the family of Lamiaceae. Many biotic and abiotic factors particularly drought stress influences its reproduction. Drought stress can harm the pollen grains of O. basilicum plants and disrupt the production of floral volatiles, reduce floral rewards for pollinators, decrease pollinator activity, and ultimately result in a decline in the seed set. These detrimental impacts highlight the importance of sufficient pollen availability for the successful reproduction and survival of plant species. The reproduction in plants is significantly impacted by drought stress, as it can directly or indirectly alter the attraction of pollinators. In this study, the effect of drought stress in O. basilicum plants was investigated by comparing drought- with no drought-stressed plants in order to examine various elements including: (1) nectar quantity and quality (2) pollen production (3) flower volatile emissions (4) pollinator visitation rates from both domesticated and wild species, and (5) the plant’s' reproductive outcomes, which contributes to the knowledge of the relationship between drought stress and pollination on O. basilicum. The planting was done in two different locations within the Saran division of Bihar state in India, first one is Chapra town and second one is Siwan town, in June 2019. The result indicated that plants with drought conditions, in contrast to drought free plants, produced a reduced quantity of pollen and had a decrease of the number of flowers and the volume of nectar produced per flower. Furthermore, drought affected plants produced nectar with a lower percentage of sucrose in relation to the total sugar content. Bees visiting rate was low compared to control plants and plants emitted more Z-3-hexenol, C4H8O, C5H10O, and Isovaleraldehyde. Moreover, this study utilized HPLC analysis to investigate the impact of drought stress on the floral nectar of O. basilicum plants. The findings revealed significant changes in nectar composition, highlighting the susceptibility of plantpollinator interactions and seed production to environmental stress factors.

Expanding and invading plant species in sagebrush steppe affect multiple aspects of small‐mammal ecology

AbstractInvasion and expansion of non‐native and native plants have altered vegetation structure in many terrestrial ecosystems. Small mammals influence multiple ecosystem processes through their roles as ecosystem engineers, predators, and prey, and changes to vegetation structure can affect habitat use, community composition, and predator‐prey interactions for this assemblage of wildlife. In the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) shrublands of the western United States, invasion by non‐native grasses and expansion of native conifer trees beyond their historical range has altered vegetation structure. These changes may potentially affect distributions and interactions of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), which are generalist omnivores, and Columbia Plateau pocket mice (Perognathus parvus), more specialized granivores. To assess the extent to which altered habitat affects small‐mammal density, survival, and home‐range size, we examined these aspects of small‐mammal ecology along a gradient of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) establishment in sagebrush shrublands in southwestern Idaho, USA. From 2017–2019, we used a spatially explicit mark‐recapture design to examine attributes of small‐mammal ecology along an invasion gradient. We did not find support for an effect of cheatgrass cover on density or survival of either species. Home‐range size of deer mice was 2.3 times smaller in heavier cheatgrass cover (60%) compared to areas with little or no cheatgrass cover. Density of deer mice was highest (5 individuals/ha) in areas with 10% juniper cover and decreased with increasing juniper cover, whereas density of pocket mice was positively influenced by shrub cover. Survival of deer mice declined as juniper stem density increased. Conversely, survival of pocket mice increased with increasing juniper stem density. We found evidence for interspecific interactions between these 2 species, in the form of a density‐dependent effect of deer mice on pocket mouse home‐range size. Home‐range size for pocket mice was 2 times smaller in areas with the highest estimated density of deer mice compared to areas with low densities of deer mice. Our data provides unique information about how small mammals in the sagebrush steppe are affected by expanding and invasive plant species and potential ways that habitat restoration efforts, in the form of conifer removal, may influence small mammals. Understanding the response of small mammals to conifer expansion or removal may shed light on the demographic and numerical responses of other wildlife associated with the sagebrush biome, including predators.

Comparative study of the growth, survival and morphology of the whitefish hybrids and parent species in the first year of rearing in cage aquaculture

The purpose of the work: to estimate fish breeding indicators of three hybrid forms of whitefish in comparison with parental species when grown in cage aquaculture.Methods used: the production and cultivation of hybrids and parental species were carried out using standard technology for whitefish from November 2021 to May 2022. We have studied the survival and growth rate of fingerlings, and we also conducted a comparative assessment of the exterior of yearlings using factor and cluster analyses.Novelty: for the first time, three hybrid forms of peled and parent species (peled, muksun, broad whitefish, nelma) were grown in cages, and a comparative analysis of survival, growth and morphology of hybrids and parent species was performed.Results: all hybrid forms occupy an intermediate position in terms of growth rate, surpassing the maternal species (peled), yielding to the paternal ones. The best results in terms of weight and linear growth among hybrids were noted in pelchir. In terms of survival, oneyearlings of all hybrids show the effect of heterosis, although at the stage of larvae and early juveniles, the superiority in survival of hybrid forms over the parental pair was noted only in pelnelm. The survival rate of hybrid eggs, as well as the survival rate of pelchir and pelmuk at the early stages of cultivation, had intermediate values — lower than that of peled, but significantly higher than that of paternal species. The lowest survival rate of eggs among hybrids is shown in pelchir. The peled has the most significant morphological differences from other pure species and hybrid forms used in the experiment, all hybrid forms show more similarity with the paternal species.Practical significance: results provide a potential assessment of whitefish hybrids for the prospect of their use in commercial aquaculture.

Monitoring genome-wide diversity over contemporary time with new indicators applied to Arctic charr populations

Genetic diversity is fundamental to the adaptive potential and survival of species. Although its importance has long been recognized in science, it has a history of neglect within policy, until now. The new Global Biodiversity Framework recently adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity, states that genetic diversity must be maintained at levels assuring adaptive potential of populations, and includes metrics for systematic monitoring of genetic diversity in so called indicators. Similarly, indicators for genetic diversity are being developed at national levels. Here, we apply new indicators for Swedish national use to one of the northernmost salmonid fishes, the Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). We sequence whole genomes to monitor genetic diversity over four decades in three landlocked populations inhabiting protected alpine lakes in central Sweden. We find levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding and load to differ among lakes but remain stable over time. Effective population sizes are generally small (< 500), suggesting a limited ability to maintain adaptive variability if genetic exchange with nearby populations became eliminated. We identify genomic regions potentially shaped by selection; SNPs exhibiting population divergence exceeding expectations under drift and a putative selective sweep acting within one lake to which the competitive brown trout (Salmo trutta) was introduced during the sampling period. Identified genes appear involved in immunity and salinity tolerance. Present results suggest that genetically vulnerable populations of Arctic charr have maintained neutral and putatively adaptive genetic diversity despite small effective sizes, attesting the importance of continued protection and assurance of gene flow among populations.

Water quality assessment in relation to fish assemblage using multivariate analysis in Manasbal Lake, Kashmir

ABSTRACT Water is necessary for the survival of any living being on this planet and in today’s world, it has become a limiting resource because of anthropogenic pressures like pollution, climate change, overexploitation etc. To maintain the water bodies in a proper condition from time to time, analysis of the water quality is highly recommended. So an attempt was made to have a detailed analysis of the surface water quality of the deepest freshwater lake in India, the Manasbal Lake, and to know the impact of these parameters on the distribution of fish fauna in the lake. The different physicochemical aspects of the lake were analyzed spatially and seasonally for a period of two years. The results from the principal component analysis revealed that the main parameters affecting the water quality in Manasbal Lake include total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, total phosphorus, nitrates, pH, free carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity. The study also reported a similarity in physicochemical aspects as well as the type of fish fauna from Sites-I and Site-III. Overall the physicochemical aspects were seen to impact the distribution of different fish species in the lake as reported from the canonical correspondence and cluster analysis. pH and nitrates were found to impact the distribution of fish species like Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Schizothorax niger and S. curvifrons whereas the main parameters affecting the distribution of Pethia conchonius, Crossocheilus diplochilus and Gambusia holbrooki were dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide and water temperature. The overall water quality of the lake is good for the proper growth and survival of the fish species and also for domestic purposes. This study will be very helpful to form baseline information for future research, as very scanty information is available related to such work.

Tight coupling of cell width to nucleoid structure in Escherichia coli

Cell dimensions of rod-shaped bacteria such as Escherichia coli are connected to mass growth and chromosome replication. During their interdivision cycle (τ min), cells enlarge by elongation only, but at faster growth in richer media, they are also wider. Changes in width W upon nutritional shift-up (shortening τ) occur during the division process. The elusive signal directing the mechanism for W determination is likely related to the tightly linked duplications of the nucleoid (DNA) and the sacculus (peptidoglycan), the only two structures (macromolecules) existing in a single copy that are coupled, temporally and spatially. Six known parameters related to the nucleoid structure and replication are reasonable candidates to convey such a signal, all simple functions of the key number of replication positions n(=C/τ), the ratio between the rates of growth (τ−1) and of replication (C−1). The current analysis of available literature-recorded data discovered that, of these, nucleoid complexity NC[=(2n−1)/(n×ln2)] is by far the most likely parameter affecting cell width W. The exceedingly high correlations found between these two seemingly unrelated measures (NC and W) indicate that coupling between them is of major importance to the species’ survival. As an exciting corollary, to the best of our knowledge, a new, indirect approach to estimate DNA replication rate is revealed. Potential involvement of DNA topoisomerases in W determination is also proposed and discussed.

Kinematic performance declines as group size increases during escape responses in a schooling coral reef fish

IntroductionEscaping predation is essential for species survival, but prey must effectively match their response to the perceived threat imposed by a predator. For social animals, one mechanism to reduce risk of predation is living in larger group sizes, which dilutes each individual's risk of capture. When a predator attacks, individuals from a range of taxa (e.g., fishes, sharks, and amphibians) perform an escape response, to evade the attack.MethodsUsing the schooling coral reef damselfish Chromis viridis, we assess if there is an optimal group size that maximizes both individual escape response performance as well as group cohesion and coordination following a simulated predator attack, comparing schools composed of four, eight, and sixteen fish. The escape response was assessed through simulated predator attacks, measuring escape latency, kinematics (average turning rate, and distance covered), and group dynamics (school cohesion and coordination). The experiments were conducted with varying group sizes to analyze the impact on escape performance and group behavior.ResultsWe found that fish in various group sizes exhibited no difference in their reaction timing to a simulated predator attack (i.e., escape latency), but larger groups exhibited slower kinematics (i.e., lower average turning rate and shorter distance covered during the escape response), potentially because larger groups perceived the predator attack as less risky due to safety in numbers. Both school cohesion and coordination (as measured through alignment and nearest neighbor distance, respectively) declined in the 100 ms after the predator's attack. While there was no impact of group size on alignment, larger group sizes exhibited closer nearest neighbor distances at all times.DiscussionThe findings suggest that larger group sizes in schooling coral reef fish may lead to energy conservation by displaying less costly behavioral responses to predator threats. This potential energy saving could be attributed to a higher threshold of perceived threat required to trigger a rapid escape response in larger groups. The study emphasizes the intricate interplay between individual and collective behaviors in response to predation and sheds light on the nuanced dynamics of group living in the face of predation.

Transcriptional responses of Crassostrea hongkongensis under high and low salinity stress

Salinity, a key limiting factor, affects the distribution and survival of marine species. The Hong Kong oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis), a euryhaline species found along the coast of the South China Sea, has become a major aquaculture bivalve species. To determine the molecular mechanism by which oysters respond to coastal waters with varying salinity levels, we used RNA-seq to sequence the gill samples of oysters exposed to normal (25 ‰, S25), low (5 ‰, S5) and high (35 ‰, S35) salinity conditions for one month. The results revealed different expression transcriptome levels among oysters living under low and high salinity conditions. Using high-throughput sequencing, we identified 811 up-regulated genes and 769 down-regulated genes. As determined by KEGG pathway mapping, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in the prion diseases, histidine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and beta-alanine metabolism pathways in both the S5 vs. S25 and S35 vs. S25 group comparison. Several DEGs including heat shock 70 kDa protein 12B-like, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and tripartite motif-containing protein 2 (TRIM2), and low-density lipoprotein receptor-like, as well as KEGG pathways, including arginine and proline metabolism, apoptosis, PPAR signaling pathway, the thyroid hormone signaling pathway, were concerning response to salinity stress. Additionally, eight DEGs involved in salinity adaptation were selected for RT-qPCR validation, and the results confirmed the credibility of the transcriptome sequencing data. Overall, we designed a one-month, medium-term experiment to examine the responses of C. hongkongensis exposed to different levels of salinity stress and performed transcriptome analysis using high-throughput sequencing. Our results enhance current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of salinity stress responses in C. hongkongensis and provided insights into the osmotic biology of oysters.

An Antarctic lichen isolate (Cladonia borealis) genome reveals potential adaptation to extreme environments

Cladonia borealis is a lichen that inhabits Antarctica’s harsh environment. We sequenced the whole genome of a C. borealis culture isolated from a specimen collected in Antarctica using long-read sequencing technology to identify specific genetic elements related to its potential environmental adaptation. The final genome assembly produced 48 scaffolds, the longest being 2.2 Mbp, a 1.6 Mbp N50 contig length, and a 36 Mbp total length. A total of 10,749 protein-coding genes were annotated, containing 33 biosynthetic gene clusters and 102 carbohydrate-active enzymes. A comparative genomics analysis was conducted on six Cladonia species, and the genome of C. borealis exhibited 45 expanded and 50 contracted gene families. We identified that C. borealis has more Copia transposable elements and expanded transporters (ABC transporters and magnesium transporters) compared to other Cladonia species. Our results suggest that these differences contribute to C. borealis’ remarkable adaptability in the Antarctic environment. This study also provides a useful resource for the genomic analysis of lichens and genetic insights into the survival of species isolated from Antarctica.

Cost‐effectiveness of management strategies in a nucleation experiment in a tropical dry forest

Cost‐effective, large‐scale strategies are needed to restore degraded ecosystems worldwide. Applied nucleation is one technique that can accelerate succession in tropical forests. However, the effectiveness of irrigation and fertilization in the context of large‐scale applied nucleation in tropical dry forests (TDFs) has not yet been tested. To this end, we established a large‐scale experiment in southwestern Colombia on abandoned pastures. We planted 11,382 seedlings of 11 native species coupled with six management treatments that varied in the amounts of fertilizer and water. We monitored survival, height, and resprouting ability seedlings over 2 years. We also estimated the cost of seedling production, planting procedures, management, and monitoring, and assessed their cost‐effectiveness using seedling survival as an indication of effectiveness. After 2 years, 73% (8,266) of seedlings planted survived, and species survival ranged from 5 to 99%. Individuals that received the lowest amount of fertilizer (25 g of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium [NPK]) with additional irrigation had the highest survival rates (&gt;76%). Final height ranged from 52 to 330 cm across species. Seedlings that received the highest amount of fertilizer (50 g of NPK) without additional irrigation had the highest mean final height (174 ± 9.0 cm). The control was cheapest ($7313/ha) and the most cost‐effective method in terms of seedling survival. Our findings suggest that the best way to establish cost‐effective, large‐scale restoration projects in TDFs is to plant native species mixtures of locally adapted species without fertilization and irrigation and to invest in long‐term monitoring.

Gender specific SNP markers in Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. for resource augmentation.

Unregulated extraction of highly traded medicinal plant species results in drastic decline of the natural resources and alters viable sex ratio of populations. Conservation and long-term survival of such species, require gender specific restoration programs to ensure reproductive success. However, it is often difficult to differentiate sex of individuals before reaching reproductive maturity. C. fenestratum is one of the medicinally important and overexploited dioecious woody liana, with a reproductive maturity of 15 years. Currently, no information is available to identify sex of C. fenestratum in seedling stage while augmenting the resources. Thus, the current study envisages to utilize transcriptomics approach for gender differentiation which is imperative for undertaking viable resource augmentation programmes. Gender specific SNPs with probable role in sexual reproduction/sex determination was located using comparative transcriptomics approach (sampling male and female individuals), alongside gene ontology and annotation. Nine sets of primers were synthesized from 7 transcripts (involved in sexual reproduction/other biological process) containing multiple SNP variants. Out of the nine primer pairs, only one SNP locus with no available information of its role in reproduction, showed consistent and accurate results (males-heterozygous and females-homozygous), in the analyzed 40 matured individuals of known sexes. Thus validated the efficiency of this SNP marker in differentiating male and female individuals. The study could identify SNPs linked to the loci with apparent role in gender differentiation. This SNP marker can be used for early sexing of seedlings for in-situ conservation and resource augmentation of C. fenestratum in Kerala, India.

A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF DISEASE PROCESSES IN MANED WOLVES (CHRYSOCYON BRACHYURUS) IN NORTH AMERICAN ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS WITH EMPHASIS ON UROLITHIASIS, INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE, AND NEOPLASIA.

The objective of this retrospective study is to summarize causes of disease and mortality in maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the North American Species Survival Plan Program (SSP) population. This information will inform and enhance animal health, husbandry, and conservation efforts. Pathology reports were requested from all zoological institutions housing maned wolves between 1930 and 2021. Data were reviewed and cause of death (COD) and reported diseases were summarized and compared by age group, organ system and disease process. One hundred and seventy-one wolves, 82 females and 89 males, met the inclusion criteria. The majority were geriatric (>11 yr; n = 96) or adult (2-11 yr; n = 67). Noninfectious diseases were the most common COD by process (n = 94; 54.9%). For COD by organ system, diseases of the digestive (n = 41) and urinary (n = 34) systems were most common. Neoplasia was the most common noninfectious COD and was the primary COD in 37 wolves (21.6% overall; 39.4% of noninfectious diseases). A total of 145 benign (n = 72) and malignant (n = 73) neoplasms were diagnosed in 44 individuals. Dysgerminoma was the most commonly reported tumor (n = 18), and was the most common neoplastic COD (n = 8). Cystinuria or urolithiasis (n = 71) and gastritis, enteritis, enterocolitis, or colitis (n = 50) (overall and grouped in each system due to presumed common underlying cause) were also common but were more often reported as comorbidities than as COD (n = 16 and n = 11, respectively). Infectious COD were reported in 17 wolves and included babesiosis (n = 4), acanthocephalans (n = 2), and one viral infection. Infections with a variety of bacteria in different organ systems were a COD in eight wolves.

Plant responses to climate change, how global warming may impact on food security: a critical review.

Global agricultural production must double by 2050 to meet the demands of an increasing world human population but this challenge is further exacerbated by climate change. Environmental stress, heat, and drought are key drivers in food security and strongly impacts on crop productivity. Moreover, global warming is threatening the survival of many species including those which we rely on for food production, forcing migration of cultivation areas with further impoverishing of the environment and of the genetic variability of crop species with fall out effects on food security. This review considers the relationship of climatic changes and their bearing on sustainability of natural and agricultural ecosystems, as well as the role of omics-technologies, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenomics and ionomics. The use of resource saving technologies such as precision agriculture and new fertilization technologies are discussed with a focus on their use in breeding plants with higher tolerance and adaptability and as mitigation tools for global warming and climate changes. Nevertheless, plants are exposed to multiple stresses. This study lays the basis for the proposition of a novel research paradigm which is referred to a holistic approach and that went beyond the exclusive concept of crop yield, but that included sustainability, socio-economic impacts of production, commercialization, and agroecosystem management.

Long-term Dynamics of Fungal Communities Inhabiting Decaying Stumps of Quercus robur.

We studied the diversity, composition, and long-term dynamics of wood-inhabiting fungi in Quercus robur stumps left after commercial tree harvesting in Lithuania. Sampling of wood was carried out at three sites and from stumps, which were 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-year-old. DNA was isolated from wood samples and fungal communities analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that stump age had a limited effect on fungal diversity. The development of fungal communities in oak stums was found to be a slow process as fungal communities remained similar for decades, while larger changes were only detected in older stumps. The most common fungi were Eupezizella sp. (18.4%), Hyphodontia pallidula (12.9%), Mycena galericulata (8.3%), and Lenzites betulinus (7.1%). Fistulina hepatica, which is a red-listed wood-decay oak fungus, was also detected at a low relative abundance in stump wood. In the shortage of suitable substrate, oak stumps may provide habitats for long-term survival of different fungal species, including red-listed and oak-related fungi.