Specific Environmental Stresses Research Articles

Investigation of Potential Effects of Ibuprofen on the Storage Cells and Anhydrobiosis Capacity of the Tardigrade Paramacrobiotus experimentalis

The surge in pharmaceutical consumption, particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, has raised concerns about their presence in aquatic ecosystems. This study investigated the potential ecological impact of ibuprofen, focusing on the ultrastructure of storage cells in the tardigrade Paramacrobiotus experimentalis, renowned for its resilience to environmental stressors. Individuals were exposed to three ibuprofen concentrations (0.1 μg/L, 16.8 μg/L, and 1 mg/L) over 7 and 28 days. Storage cells were examined using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy. This study also explored ibuprofen’s impact on the process of anhydrobiosis. In the short-term experiment, no ultrastructural changes in tardigrade storage cells were observed across ibuprofen concentrations. However, in the long-term incubation, autophagic structures in storage cell cytoplasm were identified, indicating potential adaptive responses. Individual mitochondria exhibited degeneration, and the rough endoplasmic reticulum displayed slight swelling. No evidence of increased oxidative stress or nuclear DNA fragmentation was observed in any research group. This study elucidates the complex responses of tardigrade storage cells to ibuprofen exposure. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding pharmaceutical impacts on aquatic organisms, highlighting the resilience of tardigrades to specific environmental stressors.

Stress Factors as Possible Regulators of Pluripotent Stem Cell Survival and Differentiation.

In recent years, extensive research efforts have been directed toward pluripotent stem cells, primarily due to their remarkable capacity for pluripotency. This unique attribute empowers these cells to undergo self-renewal and differentiate into various cell types originating from the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm germ layers. The delicate balance and precise regulation of self-renewal and differentiation are essential for the survival and functionality of these cells. Notably, exposure to specific environmental stressors can activate numerous transcription factors, initiating a diverse array of stress response pathways. These pathways play pivotal roles in regulating gene expression and protein synthesis, ultimately aiming to preserve cell survival and maintain cellular functions. Reactive oxygen species, heat shock, hypoxia, osmotic stress, DNA damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mechanical stress are among the examples of such stressors. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the impact of environmental stressors on the growth of embryonic cells. Furthermore, we provide a summary of the distinct stress response pathways triggered when pluripotent stem cells are exposed to different environmental stressors. Additionally, we highlight recent discoveries regarding the role of such stressors in the generation, differentiation, and self-renewal of induced pluripotent stem cells.

Environmental Gradients and Vegetation Types Alter the Effects of Leaf Traits on the Dominance of Woody Angiosperm Species

Leaf traits can reflect plant photosynthetic capacity, resource utilization strategy and adaptability to the environment. However, whether species’ leaf traits are tightly related to the functioning of their community and how that relationship varies with environmental gradients remain largely unexplored. We measured 6 leaf traits, including petiole fineness (PF), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), leaf length–width ratio (LLWR), leaf nitrogen content (LN) and leaf phosphorus content (LP), of 733 populations (415 species) of 19 woody angiosperm communities in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau across multiple climatic zones or vegetation types. Through meta-analysis and relative importance analysis, the relationship between leaf traits of species and their community dominance and its change with environments were analyzed. The results showed that species dominance was correlated positively with their LA and LP, suggesting that species with high light interception and resource utilization capacity can easily become dominant species in woody angiosperm communities. Along the altitudinal gradient, the effect of PF and SLA on species dominance increased and changed significantly in their pattern, from positive or nonsignificant in temperate forests to negative in alpine and subalpine shrubs, suggesting that increasing petiole mechanical support and lamina protection cost is a dominant leaf growth strategy in stressful high-altitude environments. Our findings demonstrate that the demand for efficient light acquisition and/or utilization and species adaptability or tolerance to specific environmental stress are key mechanisms by which leaf traits govern community composition and functioning.

SakA Regulates Morphological Development, Ochratoxin A Biosynthesis and Pathogenicity of Aspergillus westerdijkiae and the Response to Different Environmental Stresses.

Ochratoxin A (OTA), as a common mycotoxin, has seriously harmful effects on agricultural products, livestock and humans. There are reports on the regulation of SakA in the MAPK pathway, which regulates the production of mycotoxins. However, the role of SakA in the regulation of Aspergillus westerdijkiae and OTA production is not clear. In this study, a SakA deletion mutant (ΔAwSakA) was constructed. The effects of different concentrations of D-sorbitol, NaCl, Congo red and H2O2 on the mycelia growth, conidia production and biosynthesis of OTA were investigated in A. westerdijkiae WT and ΔAwSakA. The results showed that 100 g/L NaCl and 3.6 M D-sorbitol significantly inhibited mycelium growth and that a concentration of 0.1% Congo red was sufficient to inhibit the mycelium growth. A reduction in mycelium development was observed in ΔAwSakA, especially in high concentrations of osmotic stress. A lack of AwSakA dramatically reduced OTA production by downregulating the expression of the biosynthetic genes otaA, otaY, otaB and otaD. However, otaC and the transcription factor otaR1 were slightly upregulated by 80 g/L NaCl and 2.4 M D-sorbitol, whereas they were downregulated by 0.1% Congo red and 2 mM H2O2. Furthermore, ΔAwSakA showed degenerative infection ability toward pears and grapes. These results suggest that AwSakA is involved in the regulation of fungal growth, OTA biosynthesis and the pathogenicity of A. westerdijkiae and could be influenced by specific environmental stresses.

Disparity in pseudohyphal morphogenic switching response to the quorum sensing molecule 2-phenylethanol in commercial brewing strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae can undergo filamentous growth in response to specific environmental stressors, particularly nitrogen-limitation, whereby cells undergo pseudohyphal differentiation, a process where cells transition from a singular ellipsoidal appearance to multicellular filamentous chains from the incomplete scission of the mother-daughter cells. Previously, it was demonstrated that filamentous growth in S. cerevisiae is co-regulated by multiple signaling networks, including the glucose-sensing RAS/cAMP-PKA and SNF pathways, the nutrient-sensing TOR pathway, the filamentous growth MAPK pathway, and the Rim101 pathway, and can be induced by quorum-sensing aromatic alcohols, such as 2-phenylethanol. However, the prevalent research on the yeast-pseudohyphal transition and its induction by aromatic alcohols in S. cerevisiae has been primarily limited to the strain Σ1278b. Due to the prospective influence of quorum sensing on commercial fermentation, the native variation of yeast-to-filamentous phenotypic transition and its induction by 2-phenylethanol in commercial brewing strains was investigated. Image analysis software was exploited to enumerate the magnitude of whole colony filamentation in 16 commercial strains cultured on nitrogen-limiting SLAD medium; some supplemented with exogenous 2-phenylethanol. The results demonstrate that phenotypic switching is a generalized, highly varied response occurring only in select brewing strains. Nevertheless, strains exhibiting switching behavior altered their filamentation response to exogenous concentrations of 2-phenylethanol.

Analysis of PV Module Power Loss and Cell Crack Effects Due to Accelerated Aging Tests and Field Exposure

This study compared module power loss for 36 modules that endured various accelerated aging test sequences before installation outdoors on a 10-kWp array in Birmingham, AL, USA for 1.72 to 2.72 years. Twelve modules endured standard IEC 61215 aging tests and 24 endured Qualification Plus (Qual Plus). Modules in each group were further split into two test sequences with different exposures. Electrical parameter variations were analyzed as a function of aging test and field exposure history. Fill factor loss was determined to be the cause of observed decreases in power output during accelerated aging tests, while decreases in both open circuit voltage and fill factor dominated the power loss during subsequent on-sun testing. Quantified cell crack features were extracted via computer vision tools from electroluminescence images and correlated with power loss. Results illustrate that standard aging tests led to negligible cracks, while Qual Plus test sequences yielded more severe cracks. While correlating results from qualification tests with in-field performance degradation parameters remains a challenge, this study provides new insights on specific environmental stressors and crack features that may play a role in power loss. Insights on accelerated aging protocols are discussed.

Retrofitting to Last – Selecting Optimal Wildlife Protection Products

Many power pylons in raptor habitat pose high electrocution risk to raptors, which can be mitigated with insulation products. Retrofitting may require a service outage and can be expensive; labor costs are often far greater than materials. Because concrete, steel and, wood pylons often last for 50 years or more, utilities that select high quality raptor mitigation products receive much greater yield on their investment. To maximize mitigation success, utility engineers should consider specific environmental stresses that may affect product longevity and effectiveness in their service area. IEEE 1656–2010 – IEEE Guide (DOI: 10.1109/IEEESTD.2011.5722090)40 for Testing the Electrical, Mechanical, and Durability Performance of Wildlife Protective Devices on Overhead Power Distribution Systems Rated up to 38 kV recommends a sequence of test procedures designed to ensure that products will not compromise system performance and that products will be effective and durable despite long-term exposure to UV, high winds, and/or salt fog. A growing number of vendors have performed IEEE 1656 testing, which facilitates direct comparison between competing products; however, test reports must be carefully reviewed because not all vendors have strictly followed IEEE guidance. Field implementation is a key determinant of project success, therefore linemen should have an opportunity to test candidate products in real-world situations and assess whether they are easy to install within utility safety and work practices and are compatible with the system. The goal of wildlife mitigation product selection is to identify an optimal suite of products that will: a) minimize the possibility of an animal electrocution or related outage; b) provide a long service life; and c) be readily adopted by field staff.

Evolution of cross-tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster as a result of increased resistance to cold stress

Cold stress is a critical environmental challenge that affects an organism's fitness-related traits. In Drosophila, increased resistance to specific environmental stress may lead to increased resistance to other kinds of stress. In the present study, we aimed to understand whether increased cold stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster can facilitate their ability to tolerate other environmental stresses. For the current study, we used successfully selected replicate populations of D. melanogaster against cold shock and their control population. These selected populations have evolved several reproductive traits, including increased egg viability, mating frequency, male mating ability, ability to sire progenies, and faster recovery for mating latency under cold shock conditions. In the present work, we investigated egg viability and mating frequency with and without heat and cold shock conditions in the selected and their control populations. We also examined resistance to cold shock, heat shock, desiccation, starvation, and survival post-challenge with Staphylococcus succinus subsp. succinus PK-1 in the selected and their control populations. After cold-shock treatment, we found a 1.25 times increase in egg viability and a 1.57 times increase in mating frequency in the selected populations compared to control populations. Moreover, more males (0.87 times) and females (1.66 times) of the selected populations survived under cold shock conditions relative to their controls. After being subjected to heat shock, the selected population’s egg viability and mating frequency increased by 0.30 times and 0.57 times, respectively, compared to control populations. Additionally, more selected males (0.31 times) and females (0.98 times) survived under heat shock conditions compared to the control populations. Desiccation resistance slightly increased in the females of the selected populations relative to their control, but we observed no change in the case of males. Starvation resistance decreased in males and females of the selected populations compared to their controls. Our findings suggest that the increased resistance to cold shock correlates with increased tolerance to heat stress, but this evolved resistance comes at a cost, with decreased tolerance to starvation.

Assessment of the biofilm-forming ability on solid surfaces of periprosthetic infection-associated pathogens

Biofilm formation is one of the leading causes of complications after surgery in clinical settings. In this study, we profiled the biofilm-forming ability of various periprosthetic infection-associated pathogens on medically relevant surfaces, polystyrene (PS) and titanium (Ti). We also explored how a specific environmental stressor, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), affected biofilm formation. First, Congo red tests revealed that all microorganisms formed biofilms within 72 h. Then, the amounts of biofilm formation on PS at 24, 48 and 72 h and also on a Ti plate for 72 h were determined. Some microbes preferred one surface over the other, whereas other microbes formed consistent levels of biofilm regardless of the surface material. Staphylococcus lugdunenensis was the most potent, while Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus were the weakest. Bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbon (BATH) tests indicated that the biofilm-forming abilities were not directly correlated with cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH). Finally, an external signal, EGCG, was applied to challenge the biofilm formation of each microorganism. EGCG regulated each microorganism’s ability differently, though the change was consistent across surfaces for most pathogens. This study can help a better understanding of a broad spectrum of periprosthetic infection-associated pathogens by relative comparison of their biofilm-forming abilities.

Modeling Plant Transcription Factor Networks Using ConSReg.

Plants have developed complex regulatory programs to respond to various environmental stress such as heat, drought, and cold. Systematic understanding of these biological processes depends on robust construction of regulatory networks which encodes interactions between transcription factors and target genes. In this chapter, we present a computational tool ConSReg, which predicts regulatory interactions using ATAC-seq, DAP-seq, and expression data. By using expression data generated under a specific environmental stress, ConSReg can reconstruct an interpretable, weighted, and stress response-specific regulatory network.

Raman Metabolomics of Candida auris Clades: Profiling and Barcode Identification.

This study targets on-site/real-time taxonomic identification and metabolic profiling of seven different Candida auris clades/subclades by means of Raman spectroscopy and imaging. Representative Raman spectra from different Candida auris samples were systematically deconvoluted by means of a customized machine-learning algorithm linked to a Raman database in order to decode structural differences at the molecular scale. Raman analyses of metabolites revealed clear differences in cell walls and membrane structure among clades/subclades. Such differences are key in maintaining the integrity and physical strength of the cell walls in the dynamic response to external stress and drugs. It was found that Candida cells use the glucan structure of the extracellular matrix, the degree of α-chitin crystallinity, and the concentration of hydrogen bonds between its antiparallel chains to tailor cell walls’ flexibility. Besides being an effective ploy in survivorship by providing stiff shields in the α–1,3–glucan polymorph, the α–1,3–glycosidic linkages are also water-insoluble, thus forming a rigid and hydrophobic scaffold surrounded by a matrix of pliable and hydrated β–glucans. Raman analysis revealed a variety of strategies by different clades to balance stiffness, hydrophobicity, and impermeability in their cell walls. The selected strategies lead to differences in resistance toward specific environmental stresses of cationic/osmotic, oxidative, and nitrosative origins. A statistical validation based on principal component analysis was found only partially capable of distinguishing among Raman spectra of clades and subclades. Raman barcoding based on an algorithm converting spectrally deconvoluted Raman sub-bands into barcodes allowed for circumventing any speciation deficiency. Empowered by barcoding bioinformatics, Raman analyses, which are fast and require no sample preparation, allow on-site speciation and real-time selection of appropriate treatments.

The MCC Network: an international collaboration for global health research

Background and aim: Addressing global environmental threats requires research studies based on large epidemiological assessments covering multiple regions. Multi-centre studies offer an excellent framework for this purpose but present various methodological and logistical issues. This overview contribution illustrates the experience of the Multi-Country Multi-City (MCC) Collaborative Research Network, an international collaboration working on a global research program on the associations between environment, climate, and health. Methods: The MCC Network has established an international collaboration based on mutual contribution and data sharing. This partnership has led to the collection of one of the largest databases for environmental health studies, with daily time series of health outcomes and environmental indices from 1,044 locations within 50 countries in the period 1969-2020. A research protocol formalizes a flexible mode of collaboration that offers scientific independence in addressing a variety of research topics, while ensuring collective participation and control on the use of data. The research is supported by intense methodological developments that have provided state-of-the-art study design and statistical techniques. Results: The MCC Network has contributed key evidence on environmental health risks, with peer-reviewed publications in leading environmental, epidemiological and medical journals. The research scope of the collaboration spans from studies of the health risks of known risk factors such as air pollution and non-optimal temperature, to analyses of more specific environmental stressors such as wildfires and extreme weather events, to projections of health impacts under climate change scenarios. Conclusions: The research of the MCC Network has already provided an exceptional contribution to our understanding of environment-health associations and the impacts of climate change. The collaborative framework can be replicated to address other research questions in this area and beyond. Keywords: time series; pollution; temperature; climate change.

Insights from the protein sequence and structure analysis of PgHsc70 and OsHsp70 genes.

Heat shock proteins are induced in a wide range of abiotic and biotic stresses. They are well known for cellular chaperone activities and play an important role in protecting plants through regulation of homeostasis and survival. A comprehensive characterization and comparative analysis of the Hsp70 family members within the closely related plant species helps in better interpretation of these proteins' contribution to cell function and response to specific environmental stresses. Therefore, it is of interest to glean insights from the protein sequence analysis of PgHsc 70 and OsHsp70 genes. Thus, we document data from the sequence and structure analysis of PgHsc 70 and OsHsp 70 gene a.

Laser Capture Microdissection in the Spatial Analysis of Epigenetic Modifications in Skin: A Comprehensive Review

Each cell in the body contains an intricate regulation for the expression of its relevant DNA. While every cell in a multicellular organism contains identical DNA, each tissue-specific cell expresses a different set of active genes. This organizational property exists in a paradigm that is largely controlled by forces external to the DNA sequence via epigenetic regulation. DNA methylation and chromatin modifications represent some of the classical epigenetic modifications that control gene expression. Complex tissues like skin consist of heterogeneous cell types that are spatially distributed and mixed. Furthermore, each individual skin cell has a unique response to physiological and pathological cues. As such, it is difficult to classify skin tissue as homogenous across all cell types and across different environmental exposures. Therefore, it would be prudent to isolate targeted tissue elements prior to any molecular analysis to avoid a possibility of confounding the sample with unwanted cell types. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is a powerful technique used to isolate a targeted cell group with extreme microscopic precision. LCM presents itself as a solution to tackling the problem of tissue heterogeneity in molecular analysis. This review will cover an overview of LCM technology, the principals surrounding its application, and benefits of its application to the newly defined field of epigenomics, in particular of cutaneous pathology. This presents a comprehensive review about LCM and its use in the spatial analysis of skin epigenetics. Within the realm of skin pathology, this ability to isolate tissues under specific environmental stresses, such as oxidative stress, allows a far more focused investigation.

Abstract PO-073: Using spatial analysis to identify environmental stressors that affected women with gynecological cancer in Puerto Rico during and after Hurricane María

Abstract Socially vulnerable communities, such as women, cancer patients, and minorities, are at a high risk of poor health outcomes after a disaster. This ongoing study analyzes specific environmental stressors that affected women with gynecological (gyn) cancer during and after Hurricane María (HM) in Puerto Rico (PR) in September 2017. To do this, we recruited and interviewed 271 women aged ≥ 21 years diagnosed with gyn cancer between Sept 2016 and Sept 2018, from which only 195 met all the selection criteria. Some sections in the interview were divided into two different time periods: 3 months before and 3 months after HM. To carry-out a geospatial analysis, physical addresses 3 months before and after HM were geocoded using ArcGIS World Geocoding Service, in ArcMap 10.8.1. The software provided “automatically matched addresses” and “matched addresses with tied candidates”. The addresses identified as “matched addresses with tied candidates” were verified during the rematch process while also confirmed with Google Earth. Environmental hazards information and risk exposure were based on existing Earth Observation Data and Geodatabases from multiple agencies: flood from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HM's eye track from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), social vulnerability index from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and landslides from United States Geological Survey (USGS). 100 (51.3%) women were diagnosed with gyn cancer before HM, and 95 (48.7%) were diagnosed with gyn cancer after HM. Hazards such as floods and landslides were some of the primary environmental stressors experienced by the participants during and after HM. Geocoding process provided 247 (91%) automatically matched addresses and 24 (9%) tied addresses. Spatial analysis suggests that 12.3% of the participants were living in areas with the highest indices of social vulnerability. Some differences were identified for flood exposure. Geospatial analysis using FEMA-Flood Maps, suggests 18.5% of women were living in flood prone areas. Interview results suggested 54.4% gyn cancer patients suffered floods. Consistent with the characteristic of the storm, most of the participants (62.6%) were inside HM's eye track. 12.8% of the participants were living in areas that suffered landslides. Gyn cancer patients in this study suffered severe environmental stressors as a result of HM. Diminishing environmental health issues to cancer patients is key to support their access to care and quality of life. Oncology care approaches should be included on emergency plans for disasters, to guarantee access to care and health equity of cancer patients. Our preliminary findings and results are suggesting that FEMA-Flood Maps were underestimating flood risk in PR. Providing the most accurate geospatial information is essential for Risk Management. This information is crucial since it will allow citizens and communities to be better prepared and to take adaptation measures before the event. NCI Grants (R25CA240120 & R21CA239457-02) Citation Format: Camila V. Elías, Pablo A Méndez, Liz M. Martínez, Ana P. Ortiz. Using spatial analysis to identify environmental stressors that affected women with gynecological cancer in Puerto Rico during and after Hurricane María [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-073.

Multi-Omic Approaches to Identify Genetic Factors in Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a highly heritable disease and a major public health burden worldwide. MetS diagnosis criteria are met by the simultaneous presence of any three of the following: high triglycerides, low HDL/high LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, hypertension, and central obesity. These diseases act synergistically in people suffering from MetS and dramatically increase risk of morbidity and mortality due to stroke and cardiovascular disease, as well as certain cancers. Each of these component features is itself a complex disease, as is MetS. As a genetically complex disease, genetic risk factors for MetS are numerous, but not very powerful individually, often requiring specific environmental stressors for the disease to manifest. When taken together, all sequence variants that contribute to MetS disease risk explain only a fraction of the heritable variance, suggesting additional, novel loci have yet to be discovered. In this article, we will give a brief overview on the genetic concepts needed to interpret genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and quantitative trait locus (QTL) data, summarize the state of the field of MetS physiological genomics, and to introduce tools and resources that can be used by the physiologist to integrate genomics into their own research on MetS and any of its component features. There is a wealth of phenotypic and molecular data in animal models and humans that can be leveraged as outlined in this article. Integrating these multi-omic QTL data for complex diseases such as MetS provides a means to unravel the pathways and mechanisms leading to complex disease and promise for novel treatments. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:1-40, 2022.

Effect of Environmental Stressors on the Distribution and Abundance of Macroinvertebrates in Upper Awash River at Chilimo Forest, West Shewa, Ethiopia

Ethiopia is experiencing deterioration in river quality resulting in adverse effects on human health and hydrobionts. This study aimed to analyse the effects of specific environmental stressors on the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates in the Upper Awash River. The study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2018. Macroinvertebrates were collected from five sites using standard handheld nets. Physicochemical parameters including electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorous, nitrate-nitrogen, pH, dissolved oxygen and water temperature that can affect the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates were assessed. A total of 14,465 individuals belonging to 33 families of insects and 5 families of the noninsect group were identified. Among all recorded taxa, Diptera was the most abundant and diversified order. Macroinvertebrates among the five sites showed variation in species evenness, richness, and Shannon Diversity Index. Values obtained from biotic indices and environmental parameters indicated the presence of organic pollution at different levels. The impacted downstream site paper mill waste (Walgata) had the relatively highest H-FBI index followed by Osole (more agricultural activities) indicating that Walgata and Osole were poorer in benthic faunal diversity than other sites. In addition, as habitat and water quality degradation increased, the number and percentage of Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) decreased. The selected metrics will be also useful for the monitoring and assessment of the riverine systems and to access the impact of different stressors. As perturbation increased, species diversity, ETHbios index, Average Score Per Taxon, and family richness decreased, while the percentage of Chironomidae, Diptera, Dominant Taxa, and Hilsenhoff Family-Level Biotic Index increased indicating that tolerant species become abundant in degraded river bodies. Environmental protection agencies of governmental and nongovernmental organizations should make awareness for the local people so that they reduce activities that affect the river. Paper factory should also monitor its effluent from directly discharging into the Upper Awash River.

Restoration ecophysiology: an ecophysiological approach to improve restoration strategies and outcomes in severely disturbed landscapes

As human activities destroy and degrade the world's ecosystems at unprecedented scales, there is a growing need for evidence‐based methods for ecological restoration if we are to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. Mining represents one of the most severe anthropogenic disturbances, often necessitating intensive intervention to restore the most basic attributes of native ecosystems. Despite examples of successful mine‐site restoration, re‐establishing native vegetation in these degraded landscapes remains a significant challenge. Plant ecophysiology—the study of the interactions between plants and the environment—can provide a useful framework for evaluating and guiding mine‐site restoration. By understanding the physiological mechanisms that allow plants to establish and persist in these highly disturbed environments, practitioners may be able to improve restoration outcomes. Specifically, methods in plant ecophysiology can inform site preparation and the selection of plant material for restoration projects, aid in monitoring restoration progress by providing additional insight into plant performance, and ultimately improve our ability to predict restoration trajectories. Here, we review the challenges and benefits of integrating an ecophysiological perspective to mine‐site restoration in Western Australia, a global hotspot of biodiversity and mining operations. Using case studies and examples from the region's diverse ecosystems, we illustrate how an ecophysiological approach can guide the restoration of some of the world's most severely disturbed landscapes. With careful selection of study species and traits and consideration of the specific environmental conditions and stressors within a site, the restoration ecophysiology framework outlined here has the potential to inform restoration strategies across ecosystems.

Genome-wide identification, evolutionary estimation and functional characterization of two cotton CKI gene types

BackgroundCasein kinase I (CKI) is a kind of serine/threonine protein kinase highly conserved in plants and animals. Although molecular function of individual member of CKI family has been investigated in Arabidopsis, little is known about their evolution and functions in Gossypium.ResultsIn this study, five cotton species were applied to study CKI gene family in cotton, twenty-two species were applied to trace the origin and divergence of CKI genes. Four important insights were gained: (i) the cotton CKI genes were classified into two types based on their structural characteristics; (ii) two types of CKI genes expanded with tetraploid event in cotton; (iii) two types of CKI genes likely diverged about 1.5 billion years ago when red and green algae diverged; (iv) two types of cotton CKI genes which highly expressed in leaves showed stronger response to photoperiod (circadian clock) and light signal, and most two types of CKI genes highly expressed in anther showed identical heat inducible expression during anther development in tetraploid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).ConclusionThis study provides genome-wide insights into the evolutionary history of cotton CKI genes and lays a foundation for further investigation of the functional differentiation of two types of CKI genes in specific developmental processes and environmental stress conditions.

Effects of different types of land-use on taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in a subtropical river network.

Expansion of agricultural and urban areas and intensification of catchment land-use increasingly affect different facets of biodiversity in aquatic communities. However, understanding the responses of taxonomic and functional diversity to specific conversion from natural forest to agriculture and urban land-use remains limited, especially in subtropical streams where biomonitoring programs and using functional traits are still under development. Here, we conducted research in a subtropical stream network to examine the responses of macroinvertebrate taxonomic and functional diversity to different types of land-use in central China. Our results showed that medium body size, univoltine, gill respiration, and slow seasonal development were much higher in natural forest sites, while certain traits related to strong resilience and resistance (e.g., small body size, fast seasonal development, bi-or multivoltine, abundant occurrence in drift, sprawler) dominated in high-intensity agriculture and urbanization sites. We further found that land-use compromised water quality (e.g., increases in total phosphate, conductivity and water temperature) and habitat conditions (e.g., high proportion of sand and silt, gravel, and channel width) accounted for the changes in trait composition based on a combination of RLQ and fourth-corner analysis. Moreover, natural forest sites presented relatively high values of functional richness than other land-use, demonstrating the importance of natural forest maintenance to promote high levels of functional diversity. However, taxonomic diversity indexes showed higher sensitivity to distinguish different types of land-use compared to functional diversity measures. Even so, given that certain trait categories showed significant relationships with specific local environmental stressors, trait-based approaches can provide reliable evidence to diagnose the cause of impairment and complement the results of the taxonomic-based approaches. Our findings support the idea that taxonomic and functional approaches should be integrated in river restoration and land-use management.