Understudied Species Research Articles

Protein-Protein Interaction Networks Derived from Classical and Machine Learning-Based Natural Language Processing Tools.

The study of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) provides insight into various biological mechanisms, including the binding of antibodies to antigens, enzymes to inhibitors or promoters, and receptors to ligands. Recent studies of PPIs have led to significant biological breakthroughs. For example, the study of PPIs involved in the human:SARS-CoV-2 viral infection mechanism aided in the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Though several databases exist for the manual curation of PPI networks, text mining methods have been routinely demonstrated as useful alternatives for newly studied or understudied species, where databases are incomplete. Here, the relationship extraction performance of several open-source classical text processing, machine learning (ML)-based natural language processing (NLP), and large language model (LLM)-based NLP tools was compared. Overall, our results indicated that networks derived from classical methods tend to have high true positive rates at the expense of having overconnected networks, ML-based NLP methods have lower true positive rates but networks with the closest structures to the target network, and LLM-based NLP methods tend to exist between the two other approaches, with variable performances. The selection of a specific NLP approach should be tied to the needs of a study and text availability, as models varied in performance due to the amount of text provided.

Exploring the Medicinal Potential of Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae): A Comprehensive Review of Phytochemicals, Pharmacological Properties, and Drug Development Prospects

Hyptis suaveolens is a widely well-known species of the Lamiaceae family. This plant is regarded as noxious exotic invasive weeds. It has medicinal and insecticidal properties and is used in traditional medicine to treat various illnesses. This review examines the potential utility of the understudied plant species H. suaveolens for future drug development and design, the existence of medicinally significant secondary metabolites, and their potential pharmacological and pharmacognostic importance . Search engines such as Science Direct, Google Scholar, Springer Link, PubMed, and Scopus were used to find data and information to write this paper. Alkaloids, essential oils, terpenoids, sterols, tannins, saponins, and flavonoids are only a few of the phytochemicals abundant in H. suaveolens that have therapeutic value . These bioactive compounds possess diaphoretic, analgesic, gastroprotective, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antiulcer properties. Among the polyphenolic substances found in high concentration in H. suaveolens are methyl rosamarinate, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, prodelphinidins, syringic acid, profisetinidins, protocatechuic acid, gentisic acid, caffeic acid, rosamarinic acid, and proanthocyanidins. In H. suaveolens, some terpenoid bioactive compounds such as ursolic acid, methyl suaveolate, suaveolic acid, beta-sitosterol, and suaveolol are available in different parts of the plant. Some essential compounds, such as Linoleic acid, Palmitic acid, and Oleic acid, are found in the seed oils of H. suaveolens. Pentacyclic triterpenoid and ursolic acid from H. suaveolens have been reported to have effective antiviral response s. The plant extract is used to prepare silver and copper nanoparticles for different biological activities. Due to these characteristics, the plant may be able to treat resistant and recently discovered bacterial and viral infections instead of conventional medications.

The carrot cyst nematode Heterodera carotae: a major plant-parasitic nematode requiring more investigation

Summary The present study reviews the knowledge to date on the carrot cyst nematode Heterodera carotae, which has become the primary threat to the carrot sector following the withdrawal of the last chemical soil fumigants in Europe. A keyword co-occurrence network was used to structure this review into five research areas: i) biology and epidemiology of H. carotae; ii) molecular identification and phylogeny; iii) population genetics and genomics; iv) control methods and strategies; and v) root exudates and hatching stimulation. Our findings indicate that H. carotae is an under-studied plant-parasitic nematode species, with several identified alternative control methods that require further investigation.

CrANKing up the infection: ankyrin domains in Rickettsiales and their role in host manipulation.

Intracellular bacteria use secreted effector proteins to modify host biology and facilitate infection. For many of these microbes, a particular eukaryotic domain-the ankyrin repeat (ANK)-plays a central role in specifying the host proteins and pathways targeted by the microbe. While we understand much of how some ANKs function in model organisms like Legionella and Coxiella, the understudied Rickettsiales species harbor many proteins with ANKs, some of which play critical roles during infection. This minireview is meant to organize and summarize the research progress made in understanding some of these Rickettsiales ANKs as well as document some of the techniques that have driven much of this progress.

Digging into Detectability: Uncovering How Temperature Influences Detection Probability of the Fossorial Temblor Legless Lizard

Abstract Knowledge of species distributions is critical for conservation, but surveying for rare, understudied species presents many challenges. A two-phase occupancy study can increase knowledge gained from early occupancy studies of a species by quickly using data from the first survey period to revise the study design for a second period. The Temblor legless lizard Anniella alexanderae is a recently described fossorial species found in the southwestern San Joaquin Valley, California, and its status is currently under review by state and federal wildlife agencies. As a fossorial species that is rarely surface active, Temblor legless lizards might be unavailable for detection at certain times of year or under inhospitable conditions (e.g., hot, dry weather), indicating the importance of accounting for false-negative surveys when determining its distribution. We used a multiscale occupancy model to disentangle detection probability, availability for detection, and occupancy for Temblor legless lizards. Focusing our effort from mid-February to mid-April when temperatures are mild and soil moisture is expected to be higher near the surface, we surveyed a total of 89 sites in 2022 (n = 60) and 2023 (n = 68) and detected Temblor legless lizards at 12 sites, including 5 new localities. Detection probability was positively related to temperature during our late winter-early spring survey period, and availability for detection was consistently high with minimal fluctuation within each year. Nevertheless, repeated surveys with nondetection can increase confidence that this fossorial lizard does not occur at a site. Temblor legless lizards were more likely to occur at sites near ephemeral streams and in areas without high clay soil content, but more investigation could help to discern drivers of occurrence. Our study provides valuable information for optimizing surveys for Temblor legless lizards and suggests promising directions for future research on this species’ ecology.

Review of venipuncture and intravenous catheterization techniques in pigs.

The number of companion pigs in the US is increasing, as is the frequency with which they present to primary companion care practices. However, pigs are often an understudied species in veterinary curricula, and many students graduate from veterinary school with minimal porcine handling experience. Coupled with the poor peripheral vascular access associated with pigs, this presents a challenge for many new graduates and other primary care veterinarians seeking to improve their knowledge of porcine handling, anatomy, and medical care. Furthermore, much of the available veterinary literature regarding porcine venous access is dated, limited to technical notes, or inaccessible to many primary care veterinarians. This review aims to supplement this lack of knowledge by discussing techniques in restraint, sedation, venipuncture, and catheterization of companion pigs as a reference for veterinarians and researchers alike.

Leveraging social media and community science data for environmental niche models: A case study with native Australian bees

Museum occurrence records are popular sources of information for creating Environmental Niche Models (ENMs), which allow the mapping of the potential niche ranges of species. Occurrence data is often downloaded en masse from established databases. However, the use of non-traditional data sources, such as occurrence records from community/citizen science outreach and social media, is increasing in use and abundance. Data from non-traditional data sources are potentially valuable records of information, particularly for species where museum occurrence records may be comparatively scarce. In the current study, we aimed to determine the impact of adding occurrence data from non-traditional databases to ENMs that were originally created using traditional databases with a group of comparatively understudied species, native Australian bees. We used the Maxent algorithm to model the potential environmental niches of eight species. We created three models for each species: 1) one consisting of only location data from museum specimen collection records from the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) (a traditional database), 2) one combining ALA and geo-tagged social media (Flickr) data, and 3) a model combining ALA and geo-tagged community science data from iNaturalist. This resulted in 24 different models. By comparing the models produced from each of the augmented data sets with the traditional species data set (ALA vs. ALA & Flickr; ALA vs. ALA & iNaturalist) we showed that there were significant differences, not only in predicted ranges, but also in the weighting of environmental variables used by the models to predict the environmental niche. Differences were more greatly influenced by the geographic location of the extra occurrences rather than the number of additional occurrence points. We demonstrate the potential value and risks of including social media and community science geo-tagged image data in supplementing knowledge of species distributions, particularly for relatively under-sampled species such as native bees.

QTL Mapping of Melampsora Leaf Rust Resistance and Yield Component Traits in the SalixF1 Hybrid Common Parent Population

ABSTRACTThe first step in trait introgression is to identify and assess novel sources of variation. For shrub willow (Salix) breeders, there is an abundance of understudied species within a genus that readily hybridizes. Breeding targets in shrub willow center on traits contributing to biomass yield for bioenergy. These include stem biomass, insect and pathogen resistance, and leaf architecture traits. More specifically, breeding for durable resistance to willow leaf rust (Melampsora spp.) is of particular importance as the pathogen can significantly reduce biomass yields in commercial production. The Salix F1 hybrid common parent population (Salix F1 HCP) was created to characterize the variation among eight species‐hybrid families and map QTL for targeted traits. A female and male S. purpurea were used as common parents in crosses made to male S. suchowensis, S. viminalis, S. koriyanagi, and S. udensis and female S. viminalis, S. integra, S. suchowensis to produce eight families that were planted in field trials at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, NY and phenotyped. Using 16 previously described parental backcross linkage maps and two newly generated S. purpurea consensus maps, we identified 215 QTL across all eight families and in every parent. These included 15 leaf rust severity, 61 herbivory, 65 leaf architecture, and 74 yield component QTL, resulting in 50 unique overlapping regions within the population. These genetic loci serve as an important foundation for future shrub willow breeding, and each interspecific family was identified as a novel source of useful alleles for trait introgression into high yielding cultivars.

Small Regulatory RNAs of the Rsm Clan in Pseudomonas.

Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas are ubiquitous on Earth due to their great metabolic versatility and adaptation to fluctuating environments and different hosts. Some groups are important animal/human and plant pathogens, whereas others are studied for their biotechnological applications, including bioremediation, biological control of phytopathogens and plant growth promotion. Notably, their adaptability is mediated by various signal transduction systems, with the post-transcriptional Gac-Rsm cascade playing a key role. This pervasive Pseudomonas pathway controls major transitions at the population level, such as motile/sessile lifestyle, primary/secondary metabolism or replicative/infective behaviour. A hallmark of the Gac-Rsm cascade is the participation of small, regulatory, non-coding RNAs of the Rsm clan. These RNAs are synthetised in response to cell-density-dependent autoinducer signals channelled through the GacS/GacA two-component system, and they counteract, by molecular mimicry, the translational control that RNA-binding proteins of the RsmA family exert over hundreds of mRNAs. Rsm RNAs have been investigated in a few Pseudomonas model species, evidencing the presence of a variable number and families of genes depending on the taxonomic clade. However, the global picture of the distribution of these riboregulators at the genus level was unknown until now. We have undertaken a comprehensive survey and annotation of the vast array of gene sequences encoding members of the Rsm RNA clan in 245 complete genomes that cover 28 phylogenomic clades across the entire genus. The properties of the different families of rsm genes, their phylogenetic radiation, as well as the features of their promoters and adjacent regions, are discussed. The novel insights presented in our manuscript will significantly boost research on the biology of these prevalent RNAs in understudied species of the genus Pseudomonas and closely related genera.

Comparative analysis of the genomes and aflatoxin production patterns of three species within the Aspergillus section Flavi reveals an undescribed chemotype and habitat-specific genetic traits

Aflatoxins are the most dangerous mycotoxins for food safety. They are mainly produced by Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, and A. minisclerotigenes. The latter, an understudied species, was the main culprit for outbreaks of fatal aflatoxicosis in Kenya in the past. To determine specific genetic characteristics of these Aspergillus species, their genomes are comparatively analyzed. Differences reflecting the typical habitat are reported, such as an increased number of carbohydrate-active enzymes, including enzymes for lignin degradation, in the genomes of A. minisclerotigenes and A. parasiticus. Further, variations within the aflatoxin gene clusters are described, which are related to different chemotypes of aflatoxin biosynthesis. These include a substitution within the aflL gene of the A. parasiticus isolate, which leads to the translation of a stop codon, thereby switching off the production of the group 1 aflatoxins B1 and G1. In addition, we demonstrate that the inability of the A. minisclerotigenes isolates to produce group G aflatoxins is associated with a 2.2 kb deletion within the aflF and aflU genes. These findings reveal a relatively high genetic homology among the three Aspergillus species investigated. However, they also demonstrate consequential genetic differences that have an important impact on risk-assessment and food safety.

Dwarf Seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) Density, Distribution, and Habitat Use in Texas

Seagrass beds are composed of foundation species, providing essential nursery grounds, feeding areas, and refuge for various marine life. Several species of fish and invertebrates utilize seagrasses as essential habitat. The Dwarf Seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) is an understudied species in Texas, and little is known about its density, distribution, and habitat associations in this area of their range. Physicochemical water parameters, nekton community data, habitat data, and Dwarf Seahorse catch data were collected at 80 sites in Texas. The highest catch per unit effort (CPUE) of the target species was in Aransas Bay (0.038/m2). There was a positive relationship between the presence and percent cover of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) and the presence and CPUE of Dwarf Seahorses. Dwarf Seahorses were detected more often and at a higher CPUE in locations with a higher seagrass community diversity and richness. The nekton community at sites where Dwarf Seahorses were detected was also more abundant, diverse, and species rich. This is the first comprehensive study of the distribution of the Dwarf Seahorse along the Texas coast. Dwarf Seahorses were generally found in higher abundances in association with mature, stable, and diverse seagrass beds. Recommended conservation strategy to protect Dwarf Seahorses should prioritize the protection of established and mature seagrass beds. Continued directed monitoring of this species is recommended to better understand their distribution and population status.

Topology and functional characterization of major outer membrane proteins of Treponema maltophilum and Treponema lecithinolyticum.

Numerous Treponema species are prevalent in the dysbiotic subgingival microbial community during periodontitis. The major outer sheath protein is a highly expressed virulence factor of the well-characterized species Treponema denticola. Msp forms an oligomeric membrane protein complex with adhesin and porin properties and contributes to host-microbial interaction. Treponema maltophilum and Treponema lecithinolyticum species are also prominent during periodontitis but are relatively understudied. Msp-like membrane surface proteins exist in T. maltophilum (MspA) and T. lecithinolyticum (MspTL), but limited information exists regarding their structural features or functionality. Protein profiling reveals numerous differences between these species, but minimal differences between strains of the same species. Using protein modeling tools, we predict MspA and MspTL monomeric forms to be large β-barrel structures composed of 20 all-next-neighbor antiparallel β strands which most likely adopt a homotrimer formation. Using cell fractionation, Triton X-114 phase partitioning, heat modifiability, and chemical and detergent release assays, we found evidence of amphiphilic integral membrane-associated oligomerization for both native MspA and MspTL in intact spirochetes. Proteinase K accessibility and immunofluorescence assays demonstrate surface exposure of MspA and MspTL. Functionally, purified recombinant MspA or MspTL monomer proteins can impair neutrophil chemotaxis. Expressions of MspA or MspTL with a PelB leader sequence in Escherichia coli also demonstrate surface exposure and can impair neutrophil chemotaxis in an in vivo air pouch model of inflammation. Collectively, our data demonstrate that MspA and MspTL membrane proteins can contribute to pathogenesis of these understudied oral spirochete species.

Guatemalan beaded lizards (Helodermatidae: Heloderma charlesbogerti) navigate and follow a scent trail in maze tasks.

Maze studies have provided substantial information about nonhuman cognition, such as insights on navigational strategies, spatial memory, and choice discriminations. This knowledge can aid in how we understand the foraging strategies of many animals, particularly understudied and endangered species, such as the Guatemalan beaded lizard (Heloderma charlesbogerti). These actively foraging lizards rely on chemoreception to locate prey, but it is unknown to what extent they engage in olfaction and vomerolfaction to hunt and navigate their environment. We investigated how Guatemalan beaded lizards moved through a physical maze. When navigating an eight-arm radial maze with all arms baited, lizards tended to turn into the immediately adjacent arm in a single direction, similar to other reptiles that have been tested in radial arm mazes. In a T-maze, the lizards had to discriminate between arms that contained scent and no-scent from a distance. They were generally unable to choose the baited (correct) arm at levels greater than chance, indicating an inability for this discrimination. With the addition of a scent trail, however, all lizards chose the baited arm at levels significantly above chance, and this increased accuracy was correlated with increased latency to make the arm choice. The lizards also demonstrated a decreased rate of tongue flicking as proximity to reward increased. Guatemalan beaded lizards can efficiently navigate a radial arm maze and can successfully use vomerolfaction with substrate-borne cues to locate prey, but they appear to have minimal olfaction abilities when sensing from a distance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Unravelling DNA methylation dynamics during developmental stages in Quercus ilex subsp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.

BackgroundDNA methylation is a critical factor influencing plant growth, adaptability, and phenotypic plasticity. While extensively studied in model and crop species, it remains relatively unexplored in holm oak and other non-domesticated forest trees. This study conducts a comprehensive in-silico mining of DNA methyltransferase and demethylase genes within the holm oak genome to enhance our understanding of this essential process in these understudied species. The expression levels of these genes in adult and seedling leaves, as well as embryos, were analysed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Global DNA methylation patterns were assessed through methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) techniques. Furthermore, specific methylated genomic sequences were identified via MSAP sequencing (MSAP-Seq).ResultA total of 13 DNA methyltransferase and three demethylase genes were revealed in the holm oak genome. Expression levels of these genes varied significantly between organs and developmental stages. MSAP analyses revealed a predominance of epigenetic over genetic variation among organs and developmental stages, with significantly higher global DNA methylation levels observed in adult leaves. Embryos exhibited frequent demethylation events, while de novo methylation was prevalent in seedling leaves. Approximately 35% of the genomic sequences identified by MSAP-Seq were methylated, predominantly affecting nuclear genes and intergenic regions, as opposed to repetitive sequences and chloroplast genes. Methylation was found to be more pronounced in the exonic regions of nuclear genes compared to their promoter and intronic regions. The methylated genes were predominantly associated with crucial biological processes such as photosynthesis, ATP synthesis-coupled electron transport, and defence response.ConclusionThis study opens a new research direction in analysing variability in holm oak by evaluating the epigenetic events and mechanisms based on DNA methylation. It sheds light on the enzymatic machinery governing DNA (de)methylation, and the changes in the expression levels of methylases and demethylases in different organs along the developmental stages. The expression level was correlated with the DNA methylation pattern observed, showing the prevalence of de novo methylation and demethylation events in seedlings and embryos, respectively. Several methylated genes involved in the regulation of transposable element silencing, lipid biosynthesis, growth and development, and response to biotic and abiotic stresses are highlighted. MSAP-seq integrated with whole genome bisulphite sequencing and advanced sequencing technologies, such as PacBio or Nanopore, will bring light on epigenetic mechanisms regulating the expression of specific genes and its correlation with the phenotypic variability and the differences in the response to environmental cues, especially those related to climate change.

Miscellaneous nomenclatural notes on Andean Chrysochlamys (Clusiaceae: Clusieae)

Chrysochlamys (Clusiaceae) is a strictly Neotropical genus that comprises between 35 and 55 species. The taxonomy of the genus is poorly-known in South American region, especially in Andean countries. During the taxonomic revision of Chrysochlamys and related genera in Colombia we observed two mainly gaps: the unclear nomenclatural history of Andean Chrysochlamys and the necessity of lectotypification of some species published by Pax, Poeppig, Planchon and Triana. To solve both issues, we provide a Chrysochlamys nomenclatural history summary and reduce nomenclatural ambiguities on a few Andean flora. For this, we carried out an exhaustive analysis of Chrysochlamys and related genera type collections and protologues. We propose a new combination, Chrysochlamys microcarpa comb. nov., originally published in Tovomita, designated six lectotypes, propose a numbering for three Triana’s type collections, and discuss a case of inadvertent lectotypification. This paper provides relevant information about problematic or understudied Chrysochlamys species, which will be useful for subsequent taxonomic studies.

Playtime for Cephalopods: Understanding the Significance of Play Behavior in Octopus bimaculoides.

Play is considered to be an essential part of development that supports learning, memory, and the development of flexible behavioral strategies. An increasing amount of non-mammalian species have been discovered to engage in play behavior, but there has been little research into play behavior in cephalopods specifically. Here we studied play behavior of wild-caught, laboratory-housed California Two-Spot Octopuses, Octopus bimaculoides. The behavior observed in these animals is consistent with established criteria of play behavior in animals. The evidence of play in O. bimaculoides provides further insight into the evolutionary development of play behavior as a whole, the characteristics of play in an under-studied species, and also has the potential to be used as a factor in determining the welfare state of octopuses to improve their management in captivity.

Unlocking Hidden Treasures: LC-MS/MS Molecular Networks for Exploring Novel Passiflora Species with Pharmaceutical Potential.

IIn this study, we report the metabolic profiling of several previously uncharacterized Passiflora species native to Brazil, employing molecular networks to delve deeper into chemical constituents. Using the GNPS platform, in silico tools, and substructure annotation techniques, we expanded the chemical annotations. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) revealed significant metabolic similarities between several species, including P. incarnata, suggesting shared pharmacological potential. Our identification of metabolic compounds facilitated comparisons between understudied species with medicinal properties. Notably, we documented 25 previously uncharacterized species, paving the way for the development of novel products aimed at improving human well-being. This research focused on several native Passiflora species from Brazil, highlighting their unexplored therapeutic potential.

Metabolite profiling, in vitro antioxidant and a-glucosidase inhibitory properties of Timonius ternifolius leaves

Abstract. Vivit MB, Batuyong RG, Damian AFT, Gaoat CA, Beltran KGD, Alejo AB, Calaramo MA, Ibana FV, Batuyong MAR. 2024. Metabolite profiling, in vitro antioxidant and a-glucosidase inhibitory properties of Timonius ternifolius leaves. Biodiversitas 25: 3027-3034. The genus Timonius (Rubiaceae) possesses different pharmacological properties. One understudied endemic species under this genus from the Philippines is the Timonius ternifolius (Bartl. ex DC.) Fern.-Vill. Hence, this study investigates the physicochemical properties and phytochemical constituents of the leaf ethanolic extract (EE) and subjected to solvent partitioning to yield the following subfractions: hexane (HE), ethyl acetate (EA), and methanol (ME) extracts, which were utilized for the in vitro antioxidant, a-glucosidase and a-amylase assays. Quantitative tests of T. ternifolius leaves revealed the following physicochemical properties: herbal tea-like odor, fibrous and fluffy appearance, 50.07% moisture content, 3.10% total ash content, and a slightly acidic pH value of 5.13. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis has identified eight putative compounds namely glabrolide, aloinoside B, 2-benzyl octanal, geumonoid, (±) gomisin M1, 25-O-Acetyl-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-a-D-xylopyranoside, lucialdehyde B, and kadsuric acid. The extracts' concentrations of flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids were 1.23±0.19 mg QE/g, 20.77±0.77 mg GAE/g, and 6.07±0.53 mg/g, respectively. Antioxidant profiling among the subfractions showed EE exhibiting the highest at 59.15±2.08 µg/mL (IC50 value). Moreover, significant a-glucosidase inhibition was noted in the EE extract at 99.74%, EA at 99.71%, and ME at 99.45%. The results showed that T. ternifolius leaves are a promising lead source of pharmacologically active compounds with antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, expanding information on plant-derived alternative treatments and developing medicinal products.

Razor clam (Pinna bicolor) structural mimics as drivers of epibenthic biodiversity; a manipulative experiment

Shellfish ecosystems facilitate important ecological functions and communities, but overexploitation and mismanagement have contributed to their decline worldwide. Within recent decades, coastal management efforts have increasingly sought to understand and reinstate valuable ecological functions provided by habitat-forming bivalves including oysters, mussels and pinnids. However, many bivalve species are critically understudied, limiting restoration and ecological engineering opportunities. Pinnids, specifically, are an underappreciated bivalve group, with razor clams (Pinna bicolor) forming dense aggregations, and potentially supporting important ecological functions. This study, conducted in an urban Australian estuary, was a manipulative experiment that investigated whether artificial razor clam shells could facilitate beneficial ecological functions through the provision of structural habitat. Specifically, we investigated the influence of intertidal benthic structures, including the micro-habitat influences of surface structure associated with mortality status (open or closed shell), and the short-term response of the benthic and epifaunal communities. Within 12 weeks, the structural razor clam mimics rapidly changed the aboveground ecological community, relative to the bare habitat controls. Both open and closed artificial shells provided a settlement surface for epiphytic organisms and supported enhanced epifaunal biodiversity. Contrastingly, the artificial structures did not significantly alter sediment characteristics or infaunal macroinvertebrate composition in the surrounding benthos. These results provide important insights into the rapid ecological response to the installation of intertidal pinnid structures in dynamic estuarine ecosystems. Furthermore, we provide a case study for understanding the ecological functions of an understudied habitat-forming species, which could be used to inform future restoration and management efforts.

Reproductive Capabilities of Female Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in Southern Texas.

Free-ranging nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) are an understudied species, both on their native ranges of India, Pakistan, and Nepal and on their introduced ranges in southern Texas. Basic data related to population sizes, survival, reproduction, and recruitment are needed throughout their range to inform management and conservation decisions. We collected nilgai fetuses from 3 ranches in southern Texas, including East Foundation's El Sauz and Santa Rosa ranches, and the Norias Division of the King Ranch® from 2018-2021. We calculated the percentage of individuals that were pregnant in each of the sample years and overall. We determined monthly average, maximum, and minimum fetus length. Of 488 nilgai cows, we found 386 to be pregnant (79%) and 214 to be pregnant with twins (56%). We found nilgai cows as young as 1-year old to have fetuses and therefore to have reached sexual maturity. Sex ratios of fetuses during any sampling year did not differ. We found ample evidence supporting our hypothesis that nilgai are fecund on their introduced range of southern Texas. To prevent nilgai overpopulation and associated problems, harvest management strategies should be implemented, specifically on nilgai cows.