Taxonomic Families Research Articles

Endemic Yucatan Peninsula Plants with Pesticidal Potential: Herbarium-Based Literature Review

Agricultural pests present a significant challenge to humanity, often managed through synthetic chemicals that, when misused, can cause irreversible harm to both the environment and human health. This study focuses on endemic plants from the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, particularly from the state of Campeche, to identify their historical uses and propose an updated list of species with pesticide potential in the region. We systematically reviewed specimens from the Center for Sustainable Development and Wildlife Management (CEDESU) herbarium and local databases. Of the 3084 specimens collected, 2524 (81.84%) were from Campeche. The collection encompasses 106 botanical families, 459 genera, and 747 species. The study identified 201 plant species from 48 taxonomic families that are endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula Biotic Province (YPBP), of which 123 species are exclusive to the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula (MYP), representing 61.19% of the endemic species. Campeche contains 134 species (66.66%), distributed across 96 genera and 43 families. Notably, 46.26% of the species (62 species) belong to the Mexican region, with 8 species (12.90%) exclusive to Campeche. The research revealed that 27.90% of the families and 19.79% of the genera present in the state have been the subject of previous scientific studies regarding their use as pesticides. The most extensively studied families were Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae. However, there is a notable lack of research on endemic plants from the Yucatán Peninsula, underscoring the need for increased attention to these species. The identified genera and families contain chemical compounds with activity against significant pests, demonstrating substantial potential for the development of natural pesticides.

ETNOBOTÁNICA DE ÁRBOLES ÚTILES EN SISTEMAS AGROFORESTALES DE LA SIERRA DE ZONGOLICA, VERACRUZ, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background:</strong> traditional ecological knowledge generated by different human groups is manifested in the various forms of appropriation of nature, particularly by intervening in the growth processes of plant species to take advantage of them and maintain them in the long term. The sierra of Zongolica is one of the most important indigenous areas in Mexico, where the use of forest resources is part of their livelihoods. There is evidence that in this region trees are used as raw material for furniture, construction, food, charcoal and firewood. <strong>Objective:</strong> to learn about the diversity, main uses and importance of multipurpose trees within agroforestry systems in the Sierra de Zongolica, Veracruz. <strong>Methodology:</strong> 74 semi-structured interviews and direct observations were conducted on the land of the interviewees and analyzed using a mixed approach, through a social network analysis to determine the main uses of the trees. <strong>Results:</strong> A total of 79 species of useful trees were recorded, belonging to 41 taxonomic families, of which the Fabaceae family was the most abundant with 4 species recorded. Sixty-two genera were found, of which the most abundant was the <em>Quercus </em>genus. Ninety-five percent of the informants were men around 50 years of age, demonstrating that they are the ones in charge of the productive activities and that they are the ones with the knowledge about the use and management of the trees. The household is made up of an average of 4 people, which makes it difficult to work in the fields due to the scarcity of family labor, which could jeopardize productive activities because people outside the family must be employed to use and manage the trees. <strong>Implications:</strong> since wood energy, construction, medicinal and food uses are of vital importance in this work, sustainable management practices should be implemented, such as selective harvesting, replanting and local tree management, so that firewood collection and trade benefit both rural areas and the environment. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> about 79 useful tree species were identified in Zongolica's agroforestry systems, demonstrating the diversity of natural resources in the region. These species are fundamental to the local economy and environmental conservation, providing firewood, food, medicines and construction materials for local communities. It is crucial to value and protect these forest resources to ensure their continuity and contribute to the sustainability of agroforestry systems in Zongolica.</p>

α-Solanine and α-Tomatine Affect the Retrocerebral Complexes of Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas atratus Beetles.

Presently, the European Commission is moving forward with a plan to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and increase the percentage of organic farming by 2030; this plan demands increased availability of biopesticides for organic farming. Glycoalkaloids are a class of molecules found in certain plants, including tomatoes and potatoes, which contain sugar and an alkaloid group. These compounds are known to have insecticidal properties, as they can act as natural defenses against insect pests. This study examined how a biological substance, glycoalkaloids, affects mortality and the retrocerebral complex of two beetle species, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas atratus. More specifically, we focused on two glycoalkaloids, α-solanine and α-tomatine. Although these two insects belong to the same taxonomic family, they were not equally susceptible to these substances. In the mortality test, we observed that the T. molitor beetle seemed more susceptible, whereas the changes in the retrocerebral complex were more significant in the case of Z. atratus. In general, the effects vary between substances and insects, and changes in the retrocerebral complex may impair the reproduction of insects.

Lambs Grazing With Adult Ewes Prefer Forbs With High-Nutrient Content in Native Grasslands Dominated by Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis.

Grazing livestock in grasslands face the challenge of obtaining sufficient nutrition due to uneven distribution of plant species and fluctuating vegetation productivity and nutrient levels. In northern China, Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis are the dominant perennial species in native grasslands, but they provide limited nutrition compared to forbs with higher crude protein (CP) content. While dietary ingredients can affect the nutritional intake of grazing livestock, the influence of different grazing strategies on dietary selection remains unclear. In this study, three sheep grazing strategies (lambs alone, mixed lambs and ewes, and ewes alone) were used to explore dietary selection. We investigated the influence of vegetation characteristic (above-ground biomass production, height, and species diversity) and foraging behavior (feed intake, organic matter digestibility, and daily grazing time) on the mechanisms of dietary selection (taxonomic family richness and composition). Forage consumption across the grazing strategies revealed that species from Poaceae, Rosaceae, and Cyperaceae families were frequently consumed. Both ewes and lambs in the mixed-grazing strategy preferentially consumed forbs with diverse species composition (Jacob's D > 0), which contained higher CP than those available in the overall vegetation (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary richness was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by vegetation species diversity except for animals in the lambs alone strategy. Compared to lambs in mixed-grazing, lambs alone had both greater daily grazing time and consumption of grass with lower digestibility (p < 0.05). Our study is the first to demonstrate that lambs can develop a similar dietary selection and behavioral pattern when grazing with adult ewes in temperate grasslands. Our study indicates that the conservation of species diversity in native grasslands is critically beneficial to livestock nutrition.

Genome sequencing projects reveal new insights into the mammalian Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone II system.

The type II gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH-II) was first discovered in chicken (Gallus gallus) brain and then shown to be present in many vertebrates. Indeed, its structure is conserved unchanged throughout vertebrate evolution from teleost fish through to mammals suggesting a crucial function. Yet the functional significance has been largely unexplored. Studies in comparative endocrinology show that the GnRH-II system is differentially functional in mammalian species. Intact GnRH-II neuropeptide and receptor genes (GnRH2 and GnRH receptor 2 GnRHR2) occur in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus), musk shrews (Suncus murinus) and pigs (Sus scrofa). However, one or other or both of these genes are inactivated in other species, where mutations or remnants affecting GnRH2 neuropeptide and/or type II GnRHR exons are retained in conserved genomic loci. New data from DNA sequencing projects facilitate extensive analysis of species-specific variation in these genes. Here, we describe GnRH2 and GnRHR2 genes spanning a collection of 21 taxonomic orders, encompassing around 140 species from Primates, Scandentia, Eulipotyphla, Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Perissodactyls, Pholidota, Chiroptera, Afrotheria, Xenarthra and Marsupialia. Intact coding exons for both GnRH2 and GnRHR2 occur in monkeys, tree shrews, shrews, moles, hedgehogs, several rodents (degu, kangaroo-rat, pocket mouse), pig, pecarry and warthog, camels and alpaca, bears, Weddell seal, hyena, elephant, aardvark and marsupials. Inactivating mutations affecting GnRH2 and GnRHR2, some located at conserved sites within exons, occur in species of primates, most rodents, lagomorphs, bovidae, cetaceans, felidae, canidae and other carnivora, pangolins, most bats, armadillo, brushtail and echidna. A functional GnRH-II system appears retained within several taxonomic families of mammals, but intact retention does not extend to whole taxonomic orders. Defining how endogenous GnRH-II neuropeptide operates in different mammals may afford functional insight into its actions in the brain, especially as, unlike the type I GnRH system, it is expressed in the mid brain and not the hypothalamus.

Improved pokeweed genome assembly and early gene expression changes in response to jasmonic acid

BackgroundJasmonic acid (JA) is a phytohormone involved in regulating responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Although the JA pathway is well characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, less is known about many non-model plants. Phytolacca americana (pokeweed) is native to eastern North Americana and is resilient to environmental stress. The goal of this study was to produce a publicly available pokeweed genome assembly and annotations and use this resource to determine how early response to JA changes gene expression, with particular focus on genes involved in defense.ResultsWe assembled the pokeweed genome de novo from approximately 30 Gb of PacBio Hifi long reads and achieved an NG50 of ~ 13.2 Mb and a minimum 93.9% complete BUSCO score for gene annotations. With this reference, we investigated the early changes in pokeweed gene expression following JA treatment. Approximately 5,100 genes were differentially expressed during the 0–6 h time course with almost equal number of genes with increased and decreased transcript levels. Cluster and gene ontology analyses indicated the downregulation of genes associated with photosynthesis and upregulation of genes involved in hormone signaling and defense. We identified orthologues of key transcription factors and constructed the first JA gene response network integrated with our transcriptomic data from orthologues of Arabidopsis genes. We discovered that pokeweed did not use leaf senescence as a means of reallocating resources during stress; rather, most secondary metabolite synthesis genes were constitutively expressed, suggesting that pokeweed directs its resources for survival over the long term. In addition, pokeweed synthesizes several RNA N-glycosylases hypothesized to function in defense, each with unique expression profiles in response to JA.ConclusionsOur investigation of the early response of pokeweed to JA illustrates patterns of gene expression involved in defence and stress tolerance. Pokeweed provides insight into the defense mechanisms of plants beyond those observed in research models and crops, and further study may yield novel approaches to improving the resilience of plants to environmental changes. Our assembled pokeweed genome is the first within the taxonomic family Phytolaccaceae to be publicly available for continued research.

Foraging for the future: traditional culinary uses of wild plants in the Western Himalayas–Kashmir Valley (India)

BackgroundIn the intricate tapestry of food security, wild food species stand as pillars, nourishing millions in low-income communities, and reflecting the resilience and adaptability of human societies. Their significance extends beyond mere sustenance, intertwining with cultural traditions and local knowledge systems, underscoring the importance of preserving biodiversity and traditional practices for sustainable livelihoods.MethodsThe present study, conducted between February 2022 and August 2023 along the Line of Control in India’s Kashmir Valley, employed a rigorous data collection encompassing semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and specific field observations facilitated through a snowball sampling technique.Results and discussionThe comprehensive inventory includes 108 edible plant and fungal species from 48 taxonomic families, with Rosaceae (N = 11) standing out. Young and soft leaves (N = 60) are an important component of various culinary preparations, with vegetables (N = 65) being the main use, followed by fruits (N = 19). This use is seasonal, with collection peaks in March–April and June–August (N = 12). The study also highlights the importance of use value (UV), with Portulaca oleracea standing out as the plant taxon (UV = 0.61), while Asyneuma thomsoni has the lowest use value (UV = 0.15). Many species such as Senecio chrysanthemoides, Asperugo procumbens, Asyneuma thomsoni, and Potentilla nepalensis were classified as new for gastronomic use. Furthermore, the study underlines the great cultural importance of mushrooms such as Morchella esculenta and Geopora arenicola in influencing social hierarchies within the community. However, the transmission of traditional knowledge across generations is declining in the region. At the same time, the conservation of endangered plant species on the IUCN Red List, such as Trillium govanianum, Taxus wallichiana, Saussurea costus, and Podophyllum hexandrum, requires immediate attention.ConclusionConservation measures should be prioritized, and proactive remedial action is needed. Further research into the nutritional value of these edible species could pave the way for their commercial cultivation, which would mean potential economic growth for local communities, make an important contribution to food security in the area under study, and contribute to scientific progress.

A pivotal nutritional potential of understory vascular plants in Patagonian forests

Native forests can support wild and domestic herbivores, but their nutritional potential of understory vascular plants is rarely explored. We analysed the composition of understory plant species and their biochemical components to reveal the nutritional potential of forest types (deciduous, evergreen, mixed) and their associated open-lands (e.g. grasslands in forestlands) in Northern Patagonia. We proposed an approach combining our data (e.g. plant composition, occurrence frequency) with bibliographic research (e.g. Scopus database) to develop our findings. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistical analyses and multivariate analyses. This study presents the nutritional values for the 20 pivotal species under examination. The results highlight the significant impact of taxonomic families on nutritional profiles, where the species that presented the most relevant occurrence frequency: the herbs T. officinale (60.4 % of total occurrence frequency-TOF) and T. repens (47.9 % TOF), the graminoid H. lanatus (58 % TOF), and the fern B. penna marina (44.4 % TOF). Multivariate analyses showed that the first two PCA axes explained 76.1 % (p = 0.001) and 10.5 % (p = 1.000) of forest type variation, with ñire forests and open-lands having the highest palatable plant coverage. Biochemical PCA axes explained 52.1 % (p = 0.024) and 22.5 % (p = 0.874) of the variation, distinguishing species by protein content and structural components. The deciduous forests exhibited the highest coverage of palatable plants, while target plants with low palatability and high coverage were predominantly found in evergreen forest types. The confirmed presence of pivotal species across forest types and open-lands underscores its nutritional potential, characterised by highly digestible dry matter, crude protein, highly digestible non-nitrogenous nutrients, and relative feed value. Considering their widespread distribution and nutritional factors, the native and non-native plants merit attention due to their pivotal nutritional potential.

A Promising Nature Gift Acalypha hispida: A Review

Acalypha hispida is classified within the taxonomic family Euphorbiaceae. It is a tropical shrub and an annual plant that is colloquially referred to as the chenille plant or Red hot cat tail. The species under consideration is indigenous to the southern Pacific region, specifically the Malay Archipelago and many islands within the East Indies. The plant is frequently used as a decorative element in outdoor and indoor settings. Historically, the leaves have been recognized for their laxative and diuretic properties and employed in the therapeutic management of leprosy and gonorrhea. Various plant components are additionally employed in treating infectious diarrhea respiratory ailments and as an expectorant for asthma. A. hispida has been documented to possess many pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, antifungal, trypanocidal, and cytotoxic effects. The analysis of A. hispida provides a comprehensive overview of its pharmacological properties, chemical composition, biological effects, and toxicological investigation. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the research conducted on the plant, aiming to provide current and relevant information for future investigations.

An evaluation of fish and invertebrate mercury concentrations in the Caribbean Region

Mercury is a ubiquitous pollutant of global concern but the threat of exposure is not homogenously distributed at local, regional, or global scales. The primary route of human exposure to mercury is through consumption of aquatic foods, which are culturally and economically important in the wider Caribbean Region, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). We compiled more than 1600 samples of 108 unique species of fish and aquatic invertebrates collected between 2005 and 2023 from eleven countries or territories in the wider Caribbean Region. There was wide variability in total mercury concentrations with 55% of samples below the 0.23 µg/g wet weight (ww) guideline from the U.S. FDA/EPA (2022) for 2 or 3 weekly servings and 26% exceeding the 0.46 µg/g ww guideline consistent with adverse effects on human health from continual consumption, particularly for sensitive populations. Significant relationships were found between total mercury concentrations and taxonomic family, sampling country, fish length, and trophic level. The data analyzed here support the need for further sampling with concrete geospatial data to better understand patterns and mechanisms in mercury concentrations and allow for more informed decision making on the consumption of fish and invertebrates from the wider Caribbean Region as well as supporting efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of national, regional, and international mercury policies.

Machine learning with taxonomic family delimitation aids in the classification of ephemeral beaked whale events in passive acoustic monitoring.

Passive acoustic monitoring is an essential tool for studying beaked whale populations. This approach can monitor elusive and pelagic species, but the volume of data it generates has overwhelmed researchers' ability to quantify species occurrence for effective conservation and management efforts. Automation of data processing is crucial, and machine learning algorithms can rapidly identify species using their sounds. Beaked whale acoustic events, often infrequent and ephemeral, can be missed when co-occurring with signals of more abundant, and acoustically active species that dominate acoustic recordings. Prior efforts on large-scale classification of beaked whale signals with deep neural networks (DNNs) have approached the class as one of many classes, including other odontocete species and anthropogenic signals. That approach tends to miss ephemeral events in favor of more common and dominant classes. Here, we describe a DNN method for improved classification of beaked whale species using an extensive dataset from the western North Atlantic. We demonstrate that by training a DNN to focus on the taxonomic family of beaked whales, ephemeral events were correctly and efficiently identified to species, even with few echolocation clicks. By retrieving ephemeral events, this method can support improved estimation of beaked whale occurrence in regions of high odontocete acoustic activity.

Preliminary studies on the effect of excretory secretory (ES) Ascaris lumbricoides antigens on colorectal cell line viability.

Helminth parasites are a group of complex metazoans from various taxonomic families. Excretory secretory (ES) by-products, secreted by living parasites from the surface, appeared to modulate the host immunological response towards helminth infection. This study aims to investigate the effect of ES antigen from helminth parasite on colorectal cell viability. Worm were cultured in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS x1) at 37°C for 24 hours after being rinsed in sterile PBS. Using a mortar and pestle, the worm was crushed vigorously using PBS. The obtained excretory secretory (ES) antigens were extracted and filtered using a 0.22 µM filter and stored at -20°C for further assay. For LCMS, 100 µl of the extract was analysed using Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 Rapid Resolution HT. The extraction of ES antigen (10 µg/ml and 20 µg/ml) was used for cell viability studies using CRC cell line HCT 116. Cell viability and MTT assay were conducted as per the protocol mentioned in the MTT kit. The liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LCMS) data indicated that the ES antigen contained metabolic compounds, namely fatty acid, amino alcohol, indoles, sterols, glycosides, and sphingoids. For the Ascaris lumbricoides LCMS analyses, around 405 metabolic peaks were detected. Out of which, 58 were detected via the database were identified, while several compounds detected have anticancer properties. The MTT assay indicated that after 24 hours and 48 hours of exposure, all treated cells showed a decrease in cell viability compared to the control group. The preliminary studies demonstrated that the ES antigen from Ascaris lumbricoides has some ability to decrease the cell viability of the HCT116 CRC cell line. Further studies are needed to examine the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis effect of the ES antigen towards the CRC cell line.

The diverse liver viromes of Australian geckos and skinks are dominated by hepaciviruses and picornaviruses and reflect host taxonomy and habitat

Abstract Lizards have diverse ecologies and evolutionary histories, and represent a promising group to explore how hosts shape virome structure and virus evolution. Yet, little is known about the viromes of these animals. In Australia, squamates (lizards and snakes) comprise the most diverse order of vertebrates, and Australia hosts the highest diversity of lizards globally, with the greatest breadth of habitat use. We used meta-transcriptomic sequencing to determine the virome of nine co-distributed, tropical lizard species from three taxonomic families in Australia and analyzed these data to identify host traits associated with viral abundance and diversity. We show that lizards carry a large diversity of viruses, identifying more than thirty novel, highly divergent vertebrate-associated viruses. These viruses were from nine viral families, including several that contain well known pathogens, such as the Flaviviridae, Picornaviridae, Bornaviridae, Iridoviridae, and Rhabdoviridae. Members of the Flaviviridae were particularly abundant across species sampled here, largely belonging to the genus Hepacivirus: fourteen novel hepaciviruses were identified, broadening the known diversity of this group and better defining its evolution by uncovering new reptilian clades. The evolutionary histories of the viruses studied here frequently aligned with the biogeographic and phylogenetic histories of the hosts, indicating that exogenous viruses may help infer host evolutionary history if sampling is strategic and sampling density high enough. Notably, analysis of alpha and beta diversity revealed that virome composition and richness in the animals sampled here was shaped by host taxonomy and habitat. In sum, we identified a diverse range of reptile viruses that broadly contributes to our understanding of virus-host ecology and evolution.

Interspecific selection in a diverse mycorrhizal symbiosis.

Coevolution describes evolutionary change in which two or more interacting species reciprocally drive each other's evolution, potentially resulting in trait diversification and ecological speciation. Much progress has been made in analysis of its dynamics and consequences, but relatively little is understood about how coevolution works in multispecies interactions, i.e., those with diverse suites of species on one or both sides of an interaction. Interactions among plant hosts and their mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) may provide an ecologically unique arena to examine the nature of selection in multispecies interactions. Using native genotypes of Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), we performed a common garden experiment at a field site that contains native stands to investigate selection from ECM fungi on pine traits. We planted seedlings from all five native populations, as well as inter-population crosses to represent intermediate phenotypes/genotypes, and measured seedling traits and ECM fungal traits to evaluate the potential for evolution in the symbiosis. We then combined field estimates of selection gradients with estimates of heritability and genetic variance-covariance matrices for multiple traits of the mutualism to determine which fungal traits drive plant fitness variation. We found evidence that certain fungal operational taxonomic units, families and species-level morphological traits by which ECM fungi acquire and transport nutrients exert selection on plant traits related to growth and allocation patterns. This work represents the first field-based, community-level study measuring multispecific coevolutionary selection in nutritional symbioses.

Mammal Mia: A review on how ecological and human dimension research on urban wild mammals can benefit future biophilic cities

Future cities have the potential to be biodiverse areas in which humans and wildlife can coexist. However, the success of creating or maintaining wildlife-inclusive future cities can be challenged by management actions that are solely based on ecological research, while overlooking research on human perspectives. Despite the growth of literature on human-wildlife interactions, which complements the breadth of urban ecology research, the overlap between these two research areas is still uncommon. In this study, we reviewed the literature of wild mammals in urban areas to identify patterns and gaps in the literature. We found 848 published journal articles, of which 480 articles focused on wildlife ecology, 269 articles focused on human dimensions and 99 articles had interdisciplinary combinations of both. Ecology-centered publications tended to be about habitat, rather than behavior, diet, health, reproduction and inter-species-relations, and literature on human dimensions was more evenly divided into management, perception, conflict and coexistence. Most ecology studies reported on specific taxonomic families, mainly canids and murids, but in human-dimension studies, “wildlife” was considered more as a general community of species. The most studied interdisciplinary combination of research themes was wildlife habitat and human-wildlife conflicts (n = 22), while only nine studies incorporated perception with ecological research. Even though studies on human dimensions of wildlife in cities are increasing, interdisciplinary research is lacking, which limits the knowledge on how to manage and shape urban areas to achieve coexistence of humans and wild mammals. For future cities to successfully become biophilic and support human-wildlife coexistence, we outlined five key elements for a research agenda: 1) Investigate urban mammal research through an interdisciplinary lens; 2) Explore ecological dynamics beyond habitat selection; 3) Conduct research for coexistence; 4) Disentangle what is “urban wildlife”; 5) Study a diverse array of urban wild mammals.

Microplastic pollution in the Thumbprint emperor (Lethrinus harak) from Tanzanian coastal waters: Occurrence, abundance, characterization, and relevance as a monitoring species

In the present study we collected the Thumbprint emperor (Lethrinus harak) from seven landing sites from the coastal waters around Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar (Tanzania) to (i) quantify and characterize microplastics (MPs) in their digestive tracts and (ii) use previously assessed environmental levels in nearshore surface waters and seabed sediments to determine whether L. harak could be a relevant biomonitor for MP pollution in the region. L. harak (n=387) had an overall frequency of occurrence (FO%) of 48 % and displayed spatial variation between sites with Kunduchi (FO=66.7 %) and Mijimwena (FO=17.1 %) having the highest and lowest FO%, respectively. Fish from Mjimwema had a mean MP content of 0.17 ± 0.38 MPs individual-1 whilst fish from Kizimkazi had the highest MP abundance (1.75 ± 2.33 MPs individual-1). Fibers (overall 64.7 %, range across sites 48–86 %) and fragments (17.9 %, 5–25 %) were the most dominant MP types whilst black (46.9 %, 40–58 %) and blue (22.5%, 7–36 %) MPs were the most common colours. Fish length (ρ= -0.09, p=0.09) or weight (ρ=0.07, p=0.18) did not significantly correlate to MP abundance in fish (Spearman rank correlations). Neither MP occurrence nor abundance was linked to MP concentrations in either surface waters or seabed sediments (Spearman rank correlation), but MPs in the fish better reflected MPs in the sediment compared to surface water (two-way ANOVA on ranked data). Whilst L. harak presents as a promising candidate to monitor MP pollution along the East African coast due to its ecology, overall, it lacks reliability. Nonetheless, the present study fills important knowledge gaps both geographically on the East African Coast and with an underrepresented taxonomic family (Lethrinidae ‘Emporer fishes’).

Variation in insect community structure between natural and constructed tidal marshes

Abstract Insects perform important ecological roles that influence ecosystem functions, including primary production and nutrient cycling. Likewise, wetland ecosystems perform important functions and provide numerous services, yet they are highly vulnerable to loss. Wetland restoration and construction can provide habitat for insects and other organisms and recover ecosystem functions. While the community structure of plants and non‐insect macroinvertebrates in restored and constructed wetlands often fails to recover to comparable levels of reference wetlands, less is known about the recovery of insect communities in restored wetlands. We aimed to determine if differences in biological structure (i.e., plant biomass and soil organic matter) between one reference and two constructed Juncus roemerianus‐dominated tidal marshes extend to their respective insect communities. We classified insect communities into taxonomic families and functional feeding groups in one reference marsh and two constructed marshes in Alabama, USA. Sampling methods included replicated pan trapping, line‐transect netting, floral observations and floral clippings. We also conducted light trapping at one site per marsh. All insect taxa and functional groups were identified monthly from April to October 2021 and analysed for taxon richness, abundance and H′ diversity. Floral density and herbivory scars on J. roemerianus shoots were also measured during flowering and peak growing seasons, respectively. While insect abundance and taxon richness were similar among sites, the reference marsh generally supported a more diverse insect community than the constructed marshes, although nocturnal flying insects were less diverse. Additionally, temporal shifts in community composition, based on relative abundances of insect taxa and functional feeding groups, differed among marshes, likely reflecting differences in habitats in the surrounding landscapes of each site. By comparing structural differences (i.e., taxonomic and functional) of insect communities in reference and constructed marshes, we can further understand the community composition of an understudied group of organisms, thereby informing restoration strategies to recover habitat and support the health of tidal marshes.

Characterizing the domestic-wild bird interface through camera traps in an area at risk for avian influenza introduction in Northern Italy

Direct or indirect interactions between sympatric wildlife and poultry can lead to interspecies disease transmission. Particularly, avian influenza (AI) is a viral epidemic disease for which the poultry-wild bird interface shapes the risks of new viral introductions into poultry holdings. Given this background, the study hereby presented aimed to identify wild bird species in poultry house surroundings and characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of these visits. Eight camera traps were deployed for a year (January to December 2021) in three commercial chicken layer farms, including free-range and barn-type setups, located in a densely populated poultry area in Northern Italy at high risk for AI introduction via wild birds. Camera traps’ positions were chosen based on wildlife signs identified during preliminary visits to the establishments studied. Various methods, including time series analysis, correspondence analysis, and generalized linear models, were employed to analyze the daily wild bird visits. A total of 1,958 camera trap days yielded 5,978 videos of wild birds from 27 different species and 16 taxonomic families. The animals were predominantly engaged in foraging activities nearby poultry houses. Eurasian magpies (Pica pica), ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and Eurasian collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto) were the most frequent visitors. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), an AI reservoir species, were observed only in a farm located next to a fishing sport lake. Time series analysis indicated that wild bird visits increased during spring and winter. Farm and camera trap location also influenced visit frequencies. Overall, the results highlighted specific species that could be prioritized for future AI epidemiological surveys. However, further research is required to assess their susceptibility and infectivity to currently circulating AI viruses, essential for identifying novel bridge hosts.

Metagenomics to Identify Viral Communities Associated with Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex in Tibetan Pigs in the Tibetan Plateau, China.

Tibetan pig is a unique pig breed native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. To investigate viral communities associated with porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), 167 respiratory samples were collected from Tibetan pigs in the Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province. Following library construction and Illunima Novaseq sequencing, 18 distinct viruses belonging to 15 viral taxonomic families were identified in Tibetan pigs with PRDC. Among the 18 detected viruses, 3 viruses were associated with PRDC, including porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), Torque teno sus virus (TTSuV), and porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV). The genomic sequences of two PCV-2 strains, three TTSuV strains, and one novel Porprismacovirus strain were assembled by SOAPdenovo software (v2). Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that both PCV-2 strains belonged to PCV-2d, three TTSuVs were classified to TTSuV2a and TTSuV2b genotypes, and the Porprismacovirus strain PPMV-SCgz-2022 showed a close genetic relationship with a virus of human origin. Recombination analysis indicated that PPMV-SCgz-2022 may have originated from recombination events between Human 16,806 × 66-213 strain and Porcine 17,668 × 82-593 strain. Furthermore, the high proportion of single infection or co-infection of PCV2/TTSuV2 provides insight into PRDC infection in Tibetan pigs. This is the first report of the viral communities in PRDC-affected Tibetan pigs in this region, and the results provides reference for the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in these animals.

Standardized transect walks outperform pan traps in assessing wild bee community in a Mediterranean protected area (Asinara National Park, Italy)

The decline of pollinator insects in various parts of the world has increased the interest in studies on bee sampling. Because pollinator management and conservation policies depend on data representing their communities, knowledge of the systematic bias of sampling methods in relation to surrounding habitat is fundamental. This study examined the performance of standardized transect walks and colored pan traps considering differences in bee species richness, diversity, and composition, and the potential bias due to a different availability of floral sources throughout seasons. The study was conducted in a minor outlying island (Asinara, Italy), a natural park characterized by the prevalence of natural or semi-natural habitats and an Oceanic Pluviseasonal Mediterranean bioclimate. We found that transect and pan trap methods reflected different bee communities based on taxonomic families, genera, and species. In general, the transect method captured more varied samples than pan traps, despite the significantly lower number of individuals captured on transects. Moreover, pan traps captured more bees as floral abundance decreased, whereas transects showed greater bee abundance, richness, and diversity with increasing floral resource availability. In addition, 18 species out of the 68 observed in total were caught exclusively with pan traps, especially in July–October, when transect catches decreased due to substantial bloom reduction. Therefore, alternating the two methods according to season (i.e., transect in late winter-spring and pan trap in summer-autumn) might be the most suitable trade-off to obtain a better representation of the bee community by limiting sampling efforts and the negative impact on bee fauna.