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In this paper, we investigate a specialist predator-prey model within a closed patchy network of streams. Specifically, we focus on the dynamics and asymptotic profiles of positive steady states. Our findings reveal that specialist predators can successfully invade when the mortality rate remains sufficiently low. Additionally, we explore the effects of diffusion and advection on these steady states and the overall species concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-characterized edible and medicinal bamboo mushroom is Phallus indusiatus, a Chinese bamboo mushroom with long white indusium (skirt). To date, scientists have found more than five species of bamboo mushrooms in Thailand, containing bamboo mushrooms with long white, short white, and several colored skirts. Still, most of them are unidentified species and lack metabolic profile data. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the species of the long white-skirt Chinese bamboo mushroom-like (CH-isolate) and short white-skirt (TH-isolate) bamboo mushrooms isolated from a local farm in northern Thailand. External morphology and molecular identification were used to identify the species. Nutritional and metabolic studies were conducted to determine the nutrients and metabolites from both isolates. Our morphological and evolutionary phylogenetic analyses suggested that CH- and TH-isolates were different species. Interestingly, the CH-isolate, which has a similar morphology to P. indusiatus, clearly demonstrated the difference in species. In addition, the nutritional and metabolomic analysis revealed that CH- and TH-isolate contain different nutritional constituents and metabolic profiles. Our study reports the two new species of bamboo mushrooms that were suspected to be found in Thailand and their metabolic profiles that could be beneficially used in further studies. However, definitive confirmation of the novel species will be made in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the species composition, length–weight relationship (LWR), condition factor, and morphometric and meristic characteristics of eleven freshwater fish species in Kota Panjang Reservoir, Indonesia. Fresh specimens were collected from September 2023 to February 2024. Results show that among the sampled species, two belong to Order Anabantiformes, three to Order Siluriformes, and six to Order Cypriniformes. The Order Siluriformes has the lowest species composition, with Hemibagrus wyckii at 3.09%, while the Order Cypriniformes has the highest, with Barbonymus schwanefeldii at 15.25%. The LWR coefficient b ranges from 1.693 to 3.151. Of the species studied, only Hemisilurus heterorhynchus (b = 2.174), Clarias teijsmanni (b = 2.046), Anabas testudineus (b = 2.375), Labiobarbus festivus (b = 2.305), and Rasbora argyrotaenia (b = 1.693) fall outside the expected range of 2.5 < b less than < 3.5. One species exhibits a positive allometric growth (+), seven show a negative allometric growth (−), and three display an isometric growth (I). Fulton's condition factor (Kc) averages between 0.73 ± 0.15 and 4.96 ± 0.63, indicating morphological variation. The allometric condition factor (Ka) ranges from 0.87 ± 0.18 to 26.25 ± 4.05, reflecting differences in resource availability and competition. Relative condition factor (Kn) values range from 1.00 ± 0.09 to 2.51 ± 0.55, indicating good growth. Morphometric analysis shows that Rasbora argyrotaenia has the smallest average total length, head length, and body depth, while Hemibagrus wyckii has the largest. The results provide new data on the LWR, condition factor, and morphometric characteristics of eleven selected freshwater fish species in Kota Panjang Reservoir, Indonesia, and offer up‐to‐date information on the remaining species in the study area. These findings could have a significant impact on species stock assessments and help identify priority species for domestication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Multispecies planting is an important approach to deliver ecosystem functions in afforestation projects. However, the importance of species richness vs specific species composition in this context remains unresolved. To estimate species or functional group richness and compositional change between two communities, we calculated nestedness, where one community contains a subset of the species of another, and turnover, where two communities differ in species composition but not in species richness. We evaluated the effects of species/functional group nestedness and turnover on stand productivity using 315 mixed plots from a pool of 40 tree species in a large forest biodiversity experiment in subtropical China. We found that the greater the differences in species or functional group nestedness and turnover, the greater the differences in stand productivity between plots. Additionally, the strong effects of both nestedness and turnover on stand productivity developed over the 11‐yr observation period. Our results indicate that selection of specific tree species is as important as planting a large number of species to support the productivity function of forests. Furthermore, the selection of specific tree species should be based on functionality, because beneficial effects of functional group composition were stronger than those of species composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torpor encompasses diverse adaptations to extreme environmental stressors such as hibernation, aestivation, brumation, and daily torpor. Here we introduce StrokeofGenus, an analytic pipeline that identifies distinct transcriptomic states and shared gene expression patterns across studies, tissues, and species. We use StrokeofGenus to study multiple and diverse forms of torpor from publicly-available RNA-seq datasets that span eight species and two classes. We identify three transcriptionally distinct states during the cycle of heterothermia: euthermia, torpor, and interbout arousal. We also identify torpor-specific gene expression patterns that are shared both across tissues and between species with over three hundred million years of evolutionary divergence. We further demonstrate the general sharing of gene expression patterns in multiple forms of torpor, implying a common evolutionary origin for this process. Although here we apply StrokeofGenus to analysis of torpor, it can be used to interrogate any other complex physiological processes defined by transient transcriptomic states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ant genus Temnothorax is one of the most diverse in the Palearctic region, comprising several species with different life histories and uncertain taxonomic backgrounds. Socially parasitic Temnothorax ant species were typically described decades ago, primarily based on traditional morphological traits. In some aspects, these species have come back into the spotlight in recent years, necessitating a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the species of the genus. In this paper, we present a quantitative morphology-based taxonomic revision of the Temnothorax corsicus species group (formerly called Myrmoxenus genus) based on the analysis of 20 continuous morphometric traits collected from 394 worker and 19 traits from 473 gyne individuals belonging to 240 samples. Based on morphometric analyses, we propose junior synonymy for Temnothorax tamarae (Arnol'di, 1968) under T. ravouxi (André, 1896), and T. microcellatus (Soudek, 1925) is revived and is considered a senior synonym of T. menozzii (Finzi, 1924). Detailed descriptions, measurements, distribution, and host usage of all ten species are given. Dichotomous keys to workers, known gynes, and photographs of all species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a novel approach to supplement traditional surveys and provide increased spatial and temporal information on species detection, and it can be especially beneficial for detecting at risk or threatened species with minimal impact on the target species. The transport of eDNA in lotic environments is an important component in providing more informed descriptions of where and when a species is present, but eDNA transport phenomena are not well understood. In this study, we used species-specific assays to detect eDNA from two federally endangered mussels in two geographically distinct rivers. Using the eDNA concentrations measured from field samples, we developed a one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic transport model to predict the downstream fate and transport of eDNA. We detected eDNA from both federally endangered mussels across several seasons and flow rates and up to 3.5 km downstream from the source populations, but the detection rates and eDNA concentrations were highly variable across and within rivers and study reaches. Our 1D transport models successfully integrated the variability of the eDNA field samples into the model predictions and overall model results were generally within ±1 standard error of the eDNA field concentration values. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate the importance of optimizing the spatial locations from where eDNA is collected downstream from a source population, and it highlights the need to improve understanding on the shedding mechanisms and magnitude of eDNA from source populations and biogeomorphic processes that influence eDNA transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Polycarpaea from Vietnam, Polycarpaea vanphongensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh, Polycarpaea chungana V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh, Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh are described and illustrated based on evidence of molecular sequence data from two markers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and rps16) and combined morphological characteristics. Polycarpaea vanphongensis is closely related to Polycarpaea gaudichaudi Gagnep., Polycarpaea arenaria (Lour.) Gagnep., Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh but differs by its stem glabrous, leaf ovate to elliptic, glabrous, ovary oblong ovoid, base obtuse, apex attenuate, capsule oblong void, 3.8 mm long. Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh differs from the three species mentioned above by its stem being densely villous, leaf spathulate, ciliate, ovary ovoid, base acute, apex obtuse, capsule ovoid, 1.2 mm long. Polycarpaea chungana V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh is most similar to Polycarpaea lignosa Gagnep., but differs in having leaf oblong or linear, sparse ciliate, sepal and petal apex deeply concaved or slightly bifid, ovary ovoid, ovoid, 0.8–1.0 mm long. Furthermore, the achievements of analysis using molecular data on the systematic positions of 7 other species are results that have not been in previous molecular analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The resurgence of two bed bug species, the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758) and tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus Fabricius, 1803), in the same geographical regions has been frequently reported recently. Consequently, the rapid identification of these species is crucial for implementing targeted capture traps and tailored pyrethroid resistance diagnosis, due to differences in genetic and physiological traits. Methods: To develop molecular diagnostic methods, distinct protocols were established for multiplex PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using species-specific primers based on species-specific segments of internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences. These methods were optimized for rapid and accurate identification of the two bed bug species. Results: Both multiplex PCR and LAMP protocols were effective in simultaneously identifying the two bed bug species, even when utilizing DNA released from dead specimens. Notably, the straightforward procedure and minimal time commitment of LAMP suggest its potential for rapid and accurate diagnosis of bed bugs in the field. The diagnostic accuracy of these methods was validated through a blind test. Conclusions: The multiplex PCR and LAMP protocols lay the foundation for rapid and accurate field identification of bed bug species, enabling the use of appropriate traps and the detection of species-specific pyrethroid resistance mutations. This approach ensures effective management tailored to the unique characteristics of each bed bug species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing biodiversity‐inclusive spatial plans at a national level is the focus of Target 1 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). There are 2 general approaches to identifying areas of value for biodiversity plans: criteria‐based, such as the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) process, and systematic conservation planning (SCP) approaches, which apply complementarity to efficiently achieve specific quantitative targets. We examined the benefits of both approaches and considered how the KBA approach can best complement SCP. We reviewed 200 papers articles that applied SCP to real‐world data with the Marxan conservation design software. Our review showed that targets for biodiversity elements are poorly selected in many SCP publications, with more than 75% of the studies applying uniform percentage target amounts to planning elements. Uniform targets favor more widespread species and ecosystems that are likely to be more common and less important for conservation. The strengths and complementarities of KBA and SCP approaches were reviewed and we identified the elements from both approaches that should be considered for spatial planning to achieve Target 1 in the KMGBF. In particular, the global approach of KBAs (i.e., identifying sites of global significance for species or ecosystems) better complements SCP, which often has a national or subnational focus. The KMGBF will fail if conservation of globally significant sites is not targeted and these sites are not incorporated in national spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are a cornerstone of 21st‐century area‐based conservation targets. In tropical KBAs, biodiversity is potentially at high risk from climate change, because most species reside within or beneath the canopy, where small increases in temperature can lead to novel climate regimes. We quantify novelty in temperature regimes by modeling hourly temperatures below the forest canopy across tropical KBAs between 1990 and 2019. We find that up to 66% of KBAs with tropical forests have recently transitioned to novel temperature regimes. Nevertheless, 34% of KBAs are providing refuge from novelty, 58% of which are not protected. By conducting the first pan‐tropical analyses of changes in below‐canopy temperature conditions in KBAs, we identify KBAs that are acting as climate refugia and should be considered for expansion of the conservation network in response to the post‐2020 Global Biodiversity Framework target to conserve 30% of land area by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife rehabilitation is a common part of animal-protection work. In Finland wildlife care is usually based on volunteer work and no licensing or training is required. Wildlife casualties are also treated professionally in some contexts such as zoos. The species of wildlife casualties may influence treatment decisions. Our anonymous online survey examined wildlife caregiving practices in Finland (n = 78), focusing on the care provided to various animal species and the outcomes of rehabilitation efforts. The survey was sent to both veterinarians and volunteers caring for wildlife, and it was part of a larger survey. Questions were mainly closed, and opinion-related questions were applied on a Likert scale (1-7; where 1 meant strongly disagree and 7 meant strongly agree). Most respondents primarily cared for mammals and birds. Reptiles, amphibians, and fish received less attention. Injuries and overwinter survival, especially in the case of hedgehogs, were the primary reasons for wildlife admissions. The training background of the rehabilitators varied and was related to the animal species being treated. Those caring mainly for hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were the least likely to have animal-related training or long-term experience in wildlife care. We show a notably high rehabilitation rate of approximately 80% of commonly treated species, significantly surpassing figures from other countries, which raises concerns that animals are admitted or released on too light grounds, leading to animal welfare problems. It is also noteworthy that only one-fifth of respondents said they kept records of animal admissions. Less than 40% of respondents emphasized the need for further education on any specific issue, which may indicate overestimation of personal skills. In conclusion, our study raises concerns regarding the ethics and potential harm associated with wildlife rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many non-human species, learning retention decreases temporarily following training. This has led to the suggestion that these lapses reflect a fundamental component of memory formation. If so, transient memory lapses should also be prevalent in humans, and should occur for all types of learning. In line with these predictions, we report two cases of transient memory lapses in humans that occur 1–3 h after training on a perceptual-discrimination task. The results indicate that the occurrence of transient memory lapses extends to perceptual learning, a form of skill learning, and suggest that transient memory lapses may be a common but overlooked facet of memory formation in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator has a widespread global distribution with a stable population and is considered a winter vagrant in South Asia. Since 2016, this species has been recorded six times from many states in India, prompting us to analyse the specimens of the species deposited in the Zoological Survey of India's National Zoological Collections. From historical collection records and present sighting trends, it can be assumed that the species might be regularly visiting wetlands in India but in scarce numbers, thereby either escaping from the attention of birders or misidentifying the individuals as common merganser in the Himalayan terai. The implication of the present study is an update to the checklist of birds in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeast Asia includes several global biodiversity hotspots and bats account for nearly one-third of mammal species currently known in the region. While acoustic methods have become widespread in bat research, basic information is often lacking on the echolocation calls produced by Asian bat species. Since such information can aid a wide variety of research and conservation initiatives, descriptions of the calls emitted by Asian bats are fundamental. The aim of our study was to provide a standardized analysis and description of the Vietnamese bat echolocation calls. We analyzed call recordings of 87 species arranged in eight families. This constitutes 74% of the echolocating bats presently known in Vietnam and includes the first call descriptions for five taxa. Our use of an open-source software and the deposition of recordings in the ChiroVox repository will facilitate comparative studies in Asia and the information we provide represents one of the most comprehensive bioacoustic databases for Asian bats to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a rapidly changing world, where species conservation needs vary by local habitat, concentrated conservation efforts at small spatial scales can be critical. Bats provide an array of value to the ecosystems they inhabit; many bat species are also of conservation concern. San Diego County, California, contains 22 of the 41 bat species that occur in the United States, 16 of which are on conservation watchlists. Thus, management of bat communities in San Diego County is a pressing need. Because bats exploit vast areas of the landscape and historical sampling strategies have shifted over time, a standardized way of prioritizing areas of the landscape for management would provide an integral asset to bat conservation. We leveraged long-term bat community survey data from sampling areas across San Diego County to prioritize areas with the most management need. We calculated two types of scores: species scores and threat scores. Species scores incorporated richness and conservation status, and threat scores included landscape level threats that bats could encounter. We found that urbanization, the presence of artificial lights, and areas sampled on unconserved land were all significantly associated with decreases in species richness. Further, using species and threat scores, each sampling area was placed into one of four conservation categories, in order from greatest to least conservation need, ranging from highest priority (high species score, high threat score) to lowest (low species score, low threat score). Additionally, we focused on sampling areas in which Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) and/or pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) occurred. These two species are of exceptional conservation concern in San Diego County and across the western United States. We identified urbanization, the presence of artificial lights, and areas sampled on unconserved land as threats that were all significantly associated with the absence of Townsend's big-eared bat, but not pallid bat. The strategy, methodology, and solutions proposed in our study should assist bat conservation and management efforts wherever bats occur, and can be extended to other species that require conservation attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research aims to analyze the presence and distribution of resistance genes in the avium and fruticosa subgenomes of Prunus cerasus through computational methods and bioinformatics tools. Results: Analysis of genome and transcriptome sequencing data revealed a total of 19,570 transcripts with at least one resistance gene domain in Prunus cerasus subgenome avium and 19,142 in Prunus cerasus subgenome fruticosa. Key findings include the identification of 804 "complete" resistance gene transcripts in Prunus cerasus subgenome avium and 817 in Prunus cerasus subgenome fruticosa, with distinct distributions of resistance gene classes observed between the subgenomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of resistance genes, and unique resistance proteins were identified in each subgenome. Functional annotation comparisons with Arabidopsis thaliana highlighted shared and unique resistance genes, emphasizing the complexity of disease resistance in cherry species. Additionally, a higher diversity of RLKs and RLPs was observed, with 504 transcripts identified and 18 showing similarity to known reference genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original methodology for describing the pangenome of a prokaryotic species is based on modeling genomes as unordered sets of genes. More recent findings have underlined the importance of considering the ordering of genes along the genetic material as well, when making comparisons among genomes. To further investigate the benefits of gene order when describing genomes of a given species, we applied two distance metrics on a dataset of 84 genomes of Staphylococcus epidermidis. The first metric, GeLev, depends on the order of genes and is a derivative of the Levenshtein distance. The second, the Jaccard distance, depends on gene sets only. The application of these distances reveals information about the global structure of the genomes, and allows clustering of the genomes into classes. The main biological result is that, while genomes within the same class are structurally similar, genomes of different classes have an additional characteristic. Between genomes in different classes we can discover instances where a large segment of the first genome appears in reverse order in the second. This feature suggests that genome rearrangements in S. epidermidis happen on a large scale, while micro-rearrangements of single or a small number of genes are rare. Thus, this paper describes a straight-forward method to classify genomes into structural classes with the same order of genes and makes it possible to visualize reversed segments in pairs of genomes. The method can be readily applied to other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutualistic ecological networks can suddenly transition to undesirable states due to small changes in environmental conditions. Recovering from such a collapse can be difficult as restoring the original environmental conditions may be infeasible. Additionally, such networks can also exhibit a phenomenon known as hysteresis, whereby the system could exhibit multiple states under the same environmental conditions, implying that ecological networks may not recover. Here, we attempted to revive collapsed mutualistic networks to a high-functioning state from a single species, using concepts from signal propagation theory and an eco-evolutionary model based on network structures of 115 empirical plant–pollinator networks. We found that restoring the environmental conditions rarely aided in recovery of collapsed networks, but a positive relationship between recovering pollinator density and network nestedness emerged, which was qualitatively supported by empirical plant–pollinator restoration data. In contrast, network resurrection from a collapsed state in undesirable environmental conditions where restoration has minimal impacts could be readily achieved by perturbing a single species or a few species that controls the response of the dynamical networks. Additionally, nestedness in networks and a moderate amount of trait variation could aid in the revival of networks even in undesirable environmental conditions. Our work suggests that focus should be applied to a few species whose dynamics could be steered to resurrect entire networks from a collapsed state and that network architecture could play a crucial role in reviving collapsed plant–pollinator networks. How can we revive a collapsed mutualistic ecological network? This study uses concepts from signal propagation theory and an eco-evolutionary model based on network structures of 115 empirical plant-pollinator networks to reveal that effort should be focused on one or a few key species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I propose a defence against the problem of evil. This defence does not involve either free will or soul-making, but, rather, is intended as a replacement for the traditional theodicies. The defence will have two components: firstly, a proposal for why a good God would not intervene to eliminate the evil (natural or moral) in the world; and second, a proposal for why a good God would need to allow evil to exist in the world in the first place. I identify four desiderata for defences against the problem of evil and I argue that this new defence achieves all of these at least as well as traditional defences involving free will and/or soul-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex body-trace fossils of Vendian soft-bodied biota have been found for the first time in the Central Urals during the study of the Vilukha and Sinii Kamen members of the Chernyi Kamen Formation of the Upper Vendian Sylvitsa Group (Kos'va River area, Perm Krai of Russia). These sedimentary sequences were exposed along the valley of the Shirokovskii Reservoir. Among the fossils, the chuariomorpha-like species Beltanelliformis konovalovi, previously described from the Konovalovka Member of the Chernyi Kamen Formation, was identified. However, the morphological analysis of the new fossil material revealed a number of principal differences from representatives of the genus Beltanelliformis Menner, 1974. It was shown that the taxon B. konovalovi, most likely, does not belong to this genus and probably needs further revision, and, in turn, the fossil locality at the Shirokovskii Reservoir allows us to establish a new area with fossils of the Precambrian mobile organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing evidence that host–parasitoid interactions can have a pronounced impact on the microbiome of host insects, but it is unclear to what extent this is caused by the host and/or parasitoid. Here, we compared the internal and external microbiome of caterpillars of Pieris brassicae and Pieris rapae parasitized by Cotesia glomerata or Cotesia rubecula with nonparasitized caterpillars. Additionally, we investigated the internal and external microbiome of the parasitoid larvae. Both internal and external bacterial densities were significantly higher for P. brassicae than P. rapae , while no differences were found between parasitized and nonparasitized caterpillars. In contrast, parasitism significantly affected the composition of the internal and external microbiome of the caterpillars and the parasitoid larvae, but the effects were dependent on the host and parasitoid species. Irrespective of host species, a Wolbachia species was exclusively found inside caterpillars parasitized by C. glomerata , as well as in the corresponding developing parasitoid larvae. Similarly, a Nosema species was abundantly present inside parasitized caterpillars and the parasitoid larvae, but this was independent of the host and the parasitoid species. We conclude that parasitism has pronounced effects on host microbiomes, but the effects depend on both the host and parasitoid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria have been suggested as being partially responsible for avian nest odours and, thus, volatiles from their metabolism could influence the intensity of selection pressures due to parasites detecting olfactory cues of their hosts. Here, we tested this hypothesis by exploring intraspecific and interspecific variability in microbial environments, volatile profiles and intensity of ectoparasitism by Carnus hemapterus in the nests of 10 avian species. As expected, we found that (i) alpha and beta diversity of microbial and volatile profiles were associated with each other. Moreover, (ii) alpha diversity of bacteria and volatiles of the nest environment, as well as some particular bacteria and volatiles, was associated with the intensity of parasitism at early and late stages of the nestling period. Finally, (iii) alpha diversity of the nest microbiota, as well as some particular bacteria and volatiles, was correlated with fledging success. When considering them together, the results support the expected links between the microbial environment and nest odours in different bird species, and between the microbial environment and both ectoparasitism intensity and fledging success. Relative abundances of particular volatiles and bacteria predicted ectoparasitism and/or fledging success. Future research should prioritise experimental approaches directed to determine the role of bacteria and volatiles in the outcomes of host–ectoparasite interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nepetoideae, a subfamily of Lamiaceae (mint family), is rich in aromatic plants, many of which are sought after for their use as flavors and fragrances or for their medicinal properties. Here, we present genome assemblies for two species in Nepetiodeae: Drepanocaruym sewerzowii and Marmoritis complanata. Both assemblies were generated using Oxford Nanopore Q20 + reads with contigs anchored to nine pseudomolecules that resulted in 335 Mb and 305 Mb assemblies, respectively, and BUSCO scores above 95% for both the assembly and annotation. We furthermore provide a species tree for the Lamiaceae using only genome-derived gene models, complementing existing transcriptome and marker-based phylogenies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic effective size (⁠ Ne ⁠) is arguably one of the most important characteristics of a population as it impacts the rate of loss of genetic diversity. Methods that estimate Ne are important in population and conservation genetic studies as they quantify the risk of a population being inbred or lacking genetic diversity. Yet there are very few methods that can estimate the Ne from data from a single population and without extensive information about the genetics of the population, such as a linkage map, or a reference genome of the species of interest. We present ONeSAMP 3.0 ⁠ , an algorithm for estimating Ne from single nucleotide polymorphism data collected from a single population sample using approximate Bayesian computation and local linear regression. We demonstrate the utility of this approach using simulated Wright–Fisher populations, and empirical data from five endangered Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) populations to evaluate the performance of ONeSAMP 3.0 compared to a commonly used Ne estimator. Our results show that ONeSAMP 3.0 is broadly applicable to natural populations and is flexible enough that future versions could easily include summary statistics appropriate for a suite of biological and sampling conditions. ONeSAMP 3.0 is publicly available under the GNU General Public License at https://github.com/AaronHong1024/ONeSAMP_3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A range of interventions have been established to manage international wildlife trade and protect traded species; however, there is little consensus as to whether, when, and how they are effective. Here, through a comprehensive, systematic review of >8000 articles, we appraise the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions on conservation, biological, and/or socio‐economic outcomes. Our systematic review examined four intervention types: "laws and regulations", "detection and enforcement", "efforts to reduce threats to species", and "support local livelihoods". We find that while laws and regulations were most well‐studied, with some reported positive outcomes, over half of articles reported unintended consequences including shifting exploitation and trade routes, increased illegal trade, and socio‐economic trade‐offs. Detection and enforcement efforts appeared effective in protecting target species but limited for high‐value species especially when combined with low reproductive rates. Efforts to reduce threats to species (particularly through area protection) had positive biological impacts, but some socio‐economic trade‐offs were reported. Evidence on community‐based approaches was limited but our review indicated positive synergies occurring between conservation and socio‐economic outcomes. Overall, socio‐economic outcomes were underrepresented, limiting understanding of potentially important socio‐ecological feedbacks. This review furthers understanding of relevant conditions, risks and enabling factors around effectiveness of wildlife trade interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multigene phylogeny of the Inocybe alienospora group is presented based on analyses of ITS, 28S, and rpb2 nucleotide data. Four major subclades and three additional independent lineages were identified in the I. alienospora group. Two species with superficial similarities with the I. alienospora group, viz, I. multicoronata and I. elata, however, were not nested within the I. alienospora group. Inocybe sect. Leptocybe is proposed to accommodate the I. alienospora group in a more formal classification system. As such, sect. Leptocybe now includes 12 documented species and seven new species described in this work. The seven new species include I. aprica sp. nov., I. casuarinoides sp. nov. I. haikouensis sp. nov., three species associated with Casuarina from tropical China; also I. heteromorpha, a species associated with fagaceous trees from tropical China; and I. aurescens sp. nov., I. juji sp. nov., and I. peppa sp. nov., three species associated with fagaceous trees from subtropical China. In addition, new geographical data for I. carpinicola and I. acutata are reported. The East Asian species I. acutata and the neotropical species I. lasseri were confirmed as members of sect. Leptocybe. A key to the 19 species in sect. Leptocybe is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by different Fusarium species, is the most devastating disease of small cereal grains, including barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) This study aimed to investigate the influence of N fertilization rates (0 kg N ha-1 - N0, 50 kg N ha-1 - N50, and 100 kg N ha-1 - N100) on Fusarium and mycotoxin (deoxynivalenol - DON and zearalenone - ZEA) contamination and some agronomic traits (plant height - PH, spike length - SL and thousand kernel weight - TKW) in two barley cultivars, NS 565 and Etincel, harvested in 2019 and 2020. Climatic conditions during two successive seasons were favourable for Fusarium infection, providing a high incidence of FHB-causing species, of which F. graminearum species complex (FGSC) strains were the most frequent (on average > 34% per treatment). The N rates and barley cultivars had nonsignificant effects on the incidence of FGSC strains. However, N rates significantly influenced mycotoxin levels in 2019, with the highest DON at N100 (5209.67 μg kg-1 ) and ZEA levels at N50 (47.11 μg kg-1). In 2020, there were nonsignificant differences between N rates for DON levels, while ZEA was not detected. In both years, the sixrow barley ‘Etincel’ had significantly higher DON and ZEA levels than the two-row barley ‘NS 565’. Agronomic traits, PH and SL, were affected by barley cultivars, and TKW was affected by N rates and barley cultivars. The highest TKW was at N100, followed by N50 and N0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover: Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). Endemic only to the coastal plain of North and South Carolina (United States), Venus flytraps are collected illegally from the wild for sale in the horticultural trade. Through an expert elicitation process, Margulies (e14320) et al. examined how much of a threat wild collecting is to the species.. [Extracted from the article]

Thai species of the pill millipede genus Hyleoglomeris Verhoeff, 1910 are reviewed, and an annotated catalogue is provided. Six new species from Thailand are described and illustrated based on morphological characteristics and molecular analyses: H. dracosphaera sp. n., H. nigromaculata sp. n., H. suwannakhuhensis sp. n., H. bomba sp. n., H. tongkerdae sp. n., and H. krasoon sp. n. They are morphologically similar, yet all can be separated based on their characteristic colour patterns, telopod structures and geographic distributions. Genetic differences in the DNA barcode region confirm their full species statuses, with interspecific COI p-distances ranging from 9.01% to 16.51% dissimilarity. We also propose the following new synonym: H. hongkhraiensis Likhitrakarn, Golovatch & Panha, 2015 = H. cavicola Likhitrakarn, Golovatch & Panha, 2015 syn. n. This is based on the low genetic divergence observed between these two taxa (2.34% COI p-distance). A new distribution map of and a key to all Hyleoglomeris species presently known to occur in Thailand are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spike shape and morphometric characteristics are among the key characteristics of cultivated cereals, being associated with their productivity. These traits are often used for the plant taxonomy and authenticity of hexaploid wheat species. Manual measurement of spike characteristics is tedious and not precise. Recently, the authors of this study developed a method for wheat spike morphometry utilizing 2D image analysis. Here, this method is applied to study variations in spike size and shape for 190 plants of seven hexaploid (2n = 6x = 42) species and one artificial amphidiploid of wheat. Five manually estimated spike traits and 26 traits obtained from digital image analysis were analyzed. Image-based traits describe the characteristics of the base, center and apex of the spike and common parameters (circularity, roundness, perimeter, etc.). Estimates of similar traits by manual measurement and image analysis were shown to be highly correlated, suggesting the practical importance of digital spike phenotyping. The utility of spike traits for classification into types (spelt, normal and compact) and species or amphidiploid is shown. It is also demonstrated that the estimates obtained made it possible to identify the spike characteristics differing significantly between species or between accessions within the same species. The present work suggests the usefulness of wheat spike shape analysis using an approach based on characteristics obtained by digital image analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the differences in Chinese dragon's blood (CDB), specifically Dracaena cochinchinensis and Dracaena cambodiana, from different geographical origins. Methods: Metabolomic analysis of CDB was performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A reliable ultrahighperformance liquid chromatography method with a photodiode array detector (UHPLC-PDA) was developed and applied for the quantitative analysis of 12 phenolic compounds in 51 batches of samples. Results: A total of 1394 metabolites were detected, of which 467 were identified as differentially accumulated metabolites. Multivariate analysis revealed that both origin and species had an effect on the composition of CDB, with greater variation between species. 19 phenolic compounds were selected as quality markers to distinguish D. cochinchinensis (Hdsp) from D. cambodiana (Hdca), and oppositin and spinoflavanone a were identified as quality markers to discriminate D. cochinchinensis samples from Hainan (Hdsp) and Guangxi Provinces (Gdc). Quantitative analysis indicated that four phenolic compounds, including loureirin D, 4H-1-benzopyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3- [(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-,(R)-, loureirin B, and pterostilbene, showed significant differences between Gdc and Hdsp. Additionally, five phenolic compounds, namely resveratrol, loureirin D, pinostilbene, 4H-1-benzopyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-, (R)-, and loureirin B, exhibited significant differences between Hdsp and Hdca. Conclusion: There are significant differences in the quality of CDB from different geographical origins and species, which lays the foundation for the in-depth development and utilization of different sources of CDB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of passive NOx adsorbers with cost-benefit and high NOx storage capacity remains an on-going challenge to after-treatment technologies at lower temperatures associated with cold-start NOx emissions. Herein, Cs1Mg3Al catalyst prepared by sol--gel method was cyclic tested in NOx storage under 5 vol% water. At 100 °C, the NOx storage capacity (1219 mmol g-1) was much higher than that of Pt/BaO/Al2O3 (610 mmol g-1). This provided new insights for non-noble metal catalysts in low-temperature passive NOx adsorption. The addition of Cs improved the mobility of oxygen species and thus improved the NOx storage capacity. The XRD, XPS, IR spectra and in situ DRIFTs with NH3 probe showed an interaction between CsOx and AlOx sites via oxygen species formed on Cs1Mg3Al catalyst. The improved mobility of oxygen species inferred from O2-TPD was consistent with high NOx storage capacity related to enhanced formation of nitrate and additional nitrite species by NOx oxidation. Moreover, the addition of Mg might improve the stability of Cs1Mg3Al by stabilizing surface active oxygen species in cyclic experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tsetse flies, the biological vectors of African trypanosomes, have established symbiotic associations with different bacteria. Their vector competence is suggested to be affected by bacterial endosymbionts. The current study provided the prevalence of three tsetse symbiotic bacteria and trypanosomes in Glossina species from Burkina Faso. Results: A total of 430 tsetse flies were captured using biconical traps in four different collection sites around Bobo-Dioulasso (Bama, Bana, Nasso, and Peni), and their guts were removed. Two hundred tsetse were randomly selected and their guts were screened by PCR for the presence of Sodalis glossinidius, Spiroplasma sp., Wolbachia and trypanosomes. Of the 200 tsetse, 196 (98.0%) were Glossina palpalis gambiensis and 4 (2.0%) Glossina tachinoides. The overall symbiont prevalence was 49.0%, 96.5%, and 45.0%, respectively for S. glossinidius, Spiroplasma and Wolbachia. Prevalence varied between sampling locations: S. glossinidius (54.7%, 38.5%, 31.6%, 70.8%); Spiroplasma (100%, 100%, 87.7%, 100%); and Wolbachia (43.4%, 38.5%, 38.6%, 70.8%), respectively in Bama, Bana, Nasso and Peni. Noteworthy, no G. tachnoides was infected by S. glossinidius and Wolbachia, but they were all infected by Spiroplasma sp. A total of 196 (98.0%) harbored at least one endosymbionts. Fifty-five (27.5%) carried single endosymbiont. Trypanosomes were found only in G. p. gambiensis, but not G. tachinoides. Trypanosomes were present in flies from all study locations with an overall prevalence of 29.5%. In Bama, Bana, Nasso, and Peni, the trypanosome infection rate was respectively 39.6%, 23.1%, 8.8%, and 37.5%. Remarkably, only Trypanosoma grayi was present. Of all trypanosome-infected flies, 55.9%, 98.3%, and 33.9% hosted S. glossinidius, Spiroplasma sp and Wolbachia, respectively. There was no association between Sodalis, Spiroplasma and trypanosome presence, but there was a negative association with Wolbachia presence. We reported 1.9 times likelihood of trypanosome absence when Wolbachia was present. Conclusion: This is the first survey reporting the presence of Trypanosoma grayi in tsetse from Burkina Faso. Tsetse from these localities were highly positive for symbiotic bacteria, more predominantly with Spiroplasma sp. Modifications of symbiotic interactions may pave way for disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthetrum sabina is one of the most common dragonflies found in Nepal, but its feeding behavior has not often been reported from there. An example of this species preying on Neurothemis tullia is reported from Maidi Lake, Nepal. This observation was made during a field survey of Odonata using direct observation along transects around the lake. It adds to our knowledge of the species' feeding behavior, elaborating the previous findings and providing scope for further ecological studies on Odonata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Honey Badger Mellivora capensis (Schreber, 1776) is widely distributed but in-depth of ecological understanding this species is still lacking from Asian portion of its global range. The species is listed in Scheduled-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 providing it with the highest level of protection as this is very rare. The current note presents, the first known camera-trap records of this species in Tarai East Forest Division (TEFD), Uttarakhand, India. During the survey exercise, a total 35 camera traps were randomly installed in different habitats (e.g. Natural Sal forest patch, Mixed forests, Sharda River-Canal) in Surai range of the division. As resulted, two images of Honey Badger were captured from the Sharda River bank-Canal habitat of Bagha-I beat, of Surai range. The camera trap study suggests that Honey Badger is rarely sighted in Tarai east sal forest. For protection and management of this species, further need to generate more information and in-depth understanding of their ecological and of population status in around forest habitat of the division. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are 133 species of termites so far recorded from southern India and 73 from Kerala. The present study from different habitats in northern Kerala recorded two species new to southern India and one species new to Kerala, taking the total number to 135 for southern India and 76 for Kerala. The newly reported species are Heterotermes balwanti Mathur & Chhotani, 1969, Odontotermes profeae Akhtar, 1975, and Microcerotermes annandalei Silvestri, 1923. O. profeae is a new record to the termite fauna of Western Ghats. O. profeae and M. annandalei are reported for the first time from southern India. O. profeae and M. annandalei belong to type II feeding group while H. balwanti confines to type I feeding group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present a new 850-year long coccolithophore record from core SO130-289KL in the northeastern Arabian Sea that spans the Greenland Interstadial 20–Greenland Stadial 20 transition including the timing of the ∼74 ka Youngest Toba Tuff (YTT) supereruption. During the warm interstadial, the coccolithophore assemblage is characterized by Gephyrocapsa oceanica (41%) and Florisphaera profunda (30%) while the succeeding cold stadial is distinguished by the abundance of small placolith species (Emiliania huxleyi + G. ericsonii) (52%). However, the oldest samples of the study interval seem to show a stadial-like coccolithophore assemblage. Spectral analysis revealed an interdecadal cycle imprinted in the coccolithophore record during the interstadial that was also independently reported in other terrestrial and marine proxies. Immediately after the YTT eruption, small placoliths increased by 42% from 5% right below the YTT layer to 47% ∼1 mm above the YTT layer, while G. oceanica and Helicosphaera carteri increased and F. profunda decreased within the ∼1.15 cm layer representing about 8–19 years. Subsequently, the coccolithophore assemblage returned to a composition similar to the warm interstadial period before abruptly changing to a stadial composition characterized by the abundance of small placoliths about 100–130 years after the YTT eruption. Therefore, the YTT eruption had a significant impact on the overall coccolithophore assemblage but appears to have not caused the climate transition from interstadial to stadial conditions, supporting proxy and modeling data. However, the overall mechanism driving the observed changes and cyclicities remains unknown but might be related to rapid atmospheric teleconnections of North Atlantic climate variability to the low latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) is a common occurrence. Although PADDD is expected to weaken biodiversity protection, PADDD offsets and new unrelated protected areas (PAs) could help restore representation of biodiversity features to the reserve network affected by PADDD. Globally, we analyzed 16 territories with terrestrial PADDD and 4 territories with marine PADDD from 2011 to 2020. Our objective was to evaluate whether PADDD offsets and new PAs could restore the PAs, key biodiversity areas (KBAs), ecoregions, and threatened amphibian, mammal, bird, and reptile species ranges where PADDD had occurred. In our studied territories, offsets of PADDD were rare (enacted in 3 [19%] terrestrial territories and one [25%] marine territory). One territory had PADDD losses that were compensated fully by PADDD offsets in terms of area coverage and ecoregions represented. All other territories failed to achieve compensation goals. In territories affected by PADDD, PADDD offsets and new PAs partially restored area representation (63%) and KBA coverage (57%). However, only 38% of ecoregion representation and 20%, 33%, 31%, and 21% of threatened amphibian, mammal, bird, and reptile representation, respectively, were restored. Overall, we found a large shortfall in PADDD offsets, even when unrelated PAs were included in the calculus. There is an urgent need to expand PADDD offsets and PAs to advance biodiversity conservation and achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework's 30×30 target. Future planning of newly enacted conservation areas needs to prioritize biodiversity conservation and consider the purpose of restoring reserve networks affected by PADDD, rather than solely focusing on areal targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Time Period Major Taxa Studied Methods Results Main Conclusions To evaluate the patterns of stream diatom beta diversity in islands versus continents across scales, to relate community similarities with spatial and environmental distances and to investigate the role of island characteristics in shaping insular diatom beta diversity.Africa, America, Europe and the Pacific.Present.Stream diatoms.We compared diatom beta diversity between islands and continents at large scales (within biogeographic regions) in two study regions (America and Europe) and at small scales (within islands/equivalent areas in continents) in three regions (Africa, America and Europe) partitioning beta diversity into turnover and nestedness components. We used a partial Mantel test and distance–decay curves to assess how diatom beta diversity on islands and continents is affected by spatial and environmental distances. Finally, using island data from all four regions, we evaluated the relationship between island beta diversity and island latitude, area, age and isolation using linear models.At large scales, mean dissimilarities were higher on islands than in continents in Europe but lower in America. At smaller scales, the differences varied mostly depending on island isolation. Beta diversity was mainly caused by species turnover. Partial Mantel test and distance–decay curves revealed that spatial and environmental distances shaped diatom beta diversity at large, but not at small scales. Moreover, diatom beta diversity on islands was affected by island latitude, age and isolation, but not by island area.Diatom beta diversity on islands versus continents and its responses to spatial and environmental factors are scale and region dependent. Incomplete colonisation, evolutionary processes and environmental filtering likely contribute to insular beta diversity, which further varies with island latitude, age and isolation. This study sheds new light on beta diversity of microorganisms on islands and suggests that beta diversity should be explicitly considered in island biogeographical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycoplasma spp. are wall-less bacteria with small genomes (usually 0.5–1.5 Mb). Many Mycoplasma (M.) species are known to colonize the respiratory tract of both humans and livestock animals, where they act as primary pathogens or opportunists. M. equirhinis was described for the first time in 1975 in horses but has been poorly studied since, despite regular reports of around 14% prevalence in equine respiratory disorders. We recently showed that M. equirhinis is not a primary pathogen but could play a role in co-infections of the respiratory tract. This study was a set up to propose the first genomic characterization to better our understanding of the M. equirhinis species. Results: Four circularized genomes, two of which were generated here, were compared in terms of synteny, gene content, and specific features associated with virulence or genome plasticity. An additional 20 scaffold-level genomes were used to analyse intra-species diversity through a pangenome phylogenetic approach. The M. equirhinis species showed consistent genomic homogeneity, pointing to potential clonality of isolates despite their varied geographical origins (UK, Japan and various places in France). Three different classes of mobile genetic elements have been detected: insertion sequences related to the IS1634 family, a putative prophage related to M. arthritidis and integrative conjugative elements related to M. arginini. The core genome harbours the typical putative virulence-associated genes of mycoplasmas mainly involved in cytoadherence and immune escape. Conclusion: M. equirhinis is a highly syntenic, homogeneous species with a limited repertoire of mobile genetic elements and putative virulence genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a successful invasive fish species. Originating from the Caspian and Black Sea, it is now distributed widely within European fresh- and brackish waters. The River Rhine was colonized in 2008 only a few years after the opening of the Rhine-Main-Danube canal and only four years after N. melanostomus was first reported in the upper Danube River. Its invasion history of the River Rhine was unclear because the species was first detected close to the Rhine river delta which would suggest a route of invasion other than via the Rhine-Main-Danube canal. To investigate the colonization history of N. melanostomus in the Rhine, we combined abundance estimates with molecular analysis. Abundance estimates found N. melanostomus to be dominant in the Lower Rhine (> 90% of all catches). Molecular analysis was done on 286 individuals from four different sites. Using the mitochondrial control region (d-loop), we found three different haplotypes in both Rhine sites. None of the potential invasive source populations in the rivers Danube and Trave exhibited all three haplotypes. The molecular data therefore supported a scenario of two different colonization directions. Our results show that the invasion history of the River Rhine is complex and warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global increase in aquaculture production has created a need to reduce its environmental impacts. Nutrients could be recycled especially at land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) by cultivating green microalgae in aquaculture effluent. However, microalgae are difficult to harvest. As a multi-trophic solution, mussels could be used in harvesting microalgae. We tested three European freshwater mussels (duck mussel Anodonta anatina, swan mussel A. cygnea, and swollen river mussel Unio tumidus) for filtering two common green microalgae (Monoraphidium griffithii and Selenastrum sp.) grown in RAS effluent. Mussels decreased microalgal concentrations in the tanks 42–83% over three consecutive trials. Algal concentrations at the end of each trial were lowest for both microalgae in tanks containing Anodonta mussels. Clearance rates were higher for Anodonta mussels than for U. tumidus. Mussels biodeposited more microalgae to tank bottoms when M. griffithii was filtered. Ammonium concentration decreased or did not change in tanks with M. griffithii, but increased in tanks containing Selenastrum sp. These results suggest that of the tested species Anodonta mussels and M. griffithii show best potential for RAS effluent bioremediation application. We conclude that a co-culture of microalgae and unionid mussels could be used for recycling nutrients in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and three bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium subtile) were used as target strains; in addition, for each microorganism, the cell-free supernatant (CFS) was produced and used as an ingredient of the growth medium. Namely CFSs from lactobacilli were used on bifidobacteria and CFSs from bifidobacteria were used on lactobacilli. The viable count was assessed, and the data were modelled through a reparametrized Gompertz equation cast both in the positive and negative form to evaluate the parameters t-7log, which is the time after which the viable count was 7 log CFU/mL, and the t-7log*, which is the time after which the viable count was below 7 log CFU/mL; the difference between the t-7log* and t-7log defines the stability time. Statistics through a multiparametric ANOVA (analysis of variance) provided evidence for the presence of a bifidogenic and/or bioactive factor produced by bifidobacteria and active on lactobacilli, and vice versa (bioactive factor of lactobacilli with a functional effect on bifidobacteria), although further studies are required to better explain the mechanisms beyond the positive effects. In addition, the influence on the target strains can be found during the growth phase (stimulation), as well as during senescence and death phase (protective effect), with a strong strain/species dependence on both CFS production and target strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new paramunnid species, Pentaceration forkandbrewer sp. nov., is described from Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand (Otago region). The majority of specimens examined were collected during a "Ports of Otago" survey carried out by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., Christchurch. Pentaceration forkandbrewer sp. nov. can be identified by the following characters: by the lack of dorsal protuberances, the reduced mid-head spine and the flattened, and calcified pereon with serrated margins. All the pereonites end in a point and are reasonably broad. Pentaceration forkandbrewer sp. nov. is most similar to the Australian species P. serrata and the Argentinian species P. pleonarietis. The new species is described, and an adapted key to the Pentaceration species of Aotearoa New Zealand is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the endocytic and biosynthetic pathway converge, they partially share the route to the lysosome/vacuole. Similarly, the endocytic recycling and secretory pathways also partially share the route to the plasma membrane. The interaction of these transport pathways is mediated by endosomes and the trans-Golgi network (TGN), which act as sorting stations in endocytic and biosynthesis pathway, and endosomes has a bidirectional transport to and from the TGN. In mammalian cells endosomes can be largely classified as early/sorting, late, and recycling endosomes, based on their morphological features and localization of Rab family proteins, which are key factors in vesicular trafficking. However, these endosomes do not necessarily represent specific compartments that are comparable among different species. For instance, Rab5 localizes to early endosomes in mammalian cells but is widely localized to early-to-late endosomes in yeast, and to pre-vacuolar endosomes and the TGN in plant cells. The SNARE complexes are also key factors widely conserved among species and localized specifically to the endosomal membrane, but the localization of respective homologs is not necessarily consistent among species. These facts suggest that endosomes should be classified more inclusively across species. Here we reconsider the mammalian endosome system based on findings in budding yeast and other species and discuss the differences and similarities between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the third paper in the series Catalogue of fungi in China that aims to systematically and promptly publish Chinese fungal species. In this paper of the series, we focus on macrofungi from the southern border area of Xizang, a previously less concerned region. A total of 15 new species in six orders, 11 families, and 12 genera from Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota are described. Both morphological and phylogenetic analyses support the identity of these new species and their taxonomic placements. In addition, one new combination Trechispora cryptomerioides is proposed. We hope that the third paper in the series Catalogue of fungi in China will draw more attention to reporting Chinese fungal diversity in the border areas of Xizang and other special geographic regions besides the aim of this series itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new and unusual myrmecophilous behaviour displayed by the darkling beetle, Scaurus uncinus (Forster, 1771) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), accessing nests of the harvester ant, Messor barbarus (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in southeast Spain. The beetles enter the interior of the ant nests using a relatively primitive strategy based only on brute force, which we name "brute force entries". To understand the significance of this behaviour, we have studied the interactions of these two species in the field and in the laboratory during six years. Our observations confirm that specimens of S. uncinus expend a considerable eff ort to enter the ant nests, despite the ants fiercely attacking them, to the extent that the beetles lose legs and antennae through the process. We describe and discuss this behaviour, and identify hypotheses about its development and significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the development of Chempath : an open-source pathway analysis program for photochemical models. This algorithm can help understand the results of complex photochemical models by identifying the most important reaction chains (pathways) for the production and destruction of a species of interest in a reaction system. The algorithm can also quantify the contribution of the pathways to the production and destruction of a species. We demonstrate how to apply Chempath to a one-dimensional photochemical model, using an example of a reaction system for Earth's present-day atmosphere. We validate that Chempath can identify well-known chemical mechanisms for O3 production and destruction in this model, suggesting that this algorithm can be applied to understand photochemical models of less well-known atmospheres, like past and exoplanet atmospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performing joint analysis of gene expression datasets from different experiments can present challenges brought on by multiple factors—differences in equipment, protocols, climate etc. "Cross-study normalization" is a general term for transformations aimed at eliminating such effects, thus making datasets more comparable. However, joint analysis of datasets from different species is rarely done, and there are no dedicated normalization methods for such inter-species analysis. In order to test the usefulness of cross-studies normalization methods for inter-species analysis, we first applied three cross-study normalization methods, EB, DWD and XPN, to RNA sequencing datasets from different species. We then developed a new approach to evaluate the performance of cross-study normalization in eliminating experimental effects, while also maintaining the biologically significant differences between species and conditions. Our results indicate that all normalization methods performed relatively well in the cross-species setting. We found XPN to be better at reducing experimental differences, and found EB to be better at preserving biological differences. Still, according to our in-silico experiments, in all methods it is not possible to enforce the preservation of the biological differences in the normalization process. In addition to the study above, in this work we propose a new dedicated cross-studies and cross-species normalization method. Our aim is to address the shortcoming mentioned above: in the normalization process, we wish to reduce the experimental differences while preserving the biological differences. We term our method as CSN, and base it on the performance evaluation criteria mentioned above. Repeating the same experiments, the CSN method obtained a better and more balanced conservation of biological differences within the datasets compared to existing methods. To summarize, we demonstrate the usefulness of cross-study normalization methods in the inter-species settings, and suggest a dedicated cross-study cross-species normalization method that will hopefully open the way to the development of improved normalization methods for the inter-species settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]