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In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the shield-faced leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros lylei Thomas, 1914) using the Illumina platform. The mitochondrial genome of H. lylei is 16,856 bp in length, encoding 37 genes, which include 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, one replication start, and one non-coding control region (D-loop) of 417 bp in length. It has a G + C content of 42.0%, lower than the A + T content, indicating an obvious AT base preference. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that H. lylei clusters with three species of the genus Hipposideros in one branch and is relatively closely related to H. armiger and H. larvatus.

In order to explore the characteristics of the mitochondrial genome sequence of Pratt’s leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros pratti Thomas 1891) and understand their phylogenetic status in Chiroptera, this study determined the mitochondrial genome sequences of H. pratti from five regions in China using high-throughput sequencing technology, sequence assembly, and genome annotation. The results showed that these sequences contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 non-coding region, all exhibiting a significant AT bias. Based on the phylogenetic tree constructed using 13 protein-coding genes from 15 Chiroptera species, the study found that H. pratti from the five regions clustered together, and then clustered with H. lylei into a single clade. Meanwhile, H. pratti from Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong regions of China showed closer genetic relationships, while H. pratti from Yunnan and Henan regions of China exhibited closer genetic relationships. This study not only supplemented the mitochondrial genome database of H. pratti but also laid a foundation for genetic variation, molecular classification, and evolutionary studies of H. pratti.

Abstract The endangerment mechanisms of various species are a focus of studies on biodiversity and conservation biology. Hipposideros pomona is an endangered species, but the reasons behind its endangerment remain unclear. We investigated the endangerment mechanisms of H. pomona using mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, and microsatellite loci markers. The results showed that the nucleotide diversity of mitochondria DNA and heterozygosity of microsatellite markers were high (π = 0.04615, HO = 0.7115), whereas the nucleotide diversity of the nuclear genes was low (THY: π = 0.00508, SORBS2: π = 0.00677, ACOX2: π = 0.00462, COPS7A: π = 0.00679). The phylogenetic tree and median‐joining network based on mitochondrial DNA sequences clustered the species into three clades, namely North Vietnam‐Fujian, Myanmar‐West Yunnan, and Laos‐Hainan clades. However, joint analysis of nuclear genes did not exhibit clustering. Analysis of molecular variance revealed a strong population genetic structure; IMa2 analysis did not reveal significant gene flow between all groups (p > .05), and isolation‐by‐distance analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances (p

IntroductionNitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) have a pivotal impact on the nitrogen cycle within agroforestry systems. The organic management of the Panax notoginseng (sanqi)-Pinus armandii agroforestry (SPA) system resulted in nitrogen deficiency because of the lack of application of chemical fertilizers. Therefore, assessing the variability in NFB due to the cultivation of sanqi in the SPA system becomes crucial.MethodsThe seasonal dynamics in the abundance, diversity, and community structure of NFB in the soil of monocropping pine (MP) and SPA systems were assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and high-throughput sequencing technology.Results and discussionSanqi cultivation triggered a decrease in the abundance of NFB but increased α diversity. Additionally, significant differences in the community structure of NFB were noted between the MP and SPA systems. Moreover, the abundance of Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum increased in the soil after sanqi was cultivated. Furthermore, the cultivation of sanqi broadened the ecological niche breadth of NFB and increased the stochasticity in its community structure assembly (i.e., dispersal limitation). Additionally, the SPA system increased the network complexity but not the stability of NFB. The structural equation model (SEM) revealed that pH directly impacted the network complexity and stability of NFB in the SPA system. Sanqi cultivation positively influences the community characteristics of NFB in the soil in the SPA system. Our study provides new insights into nitrogen cycling and utilization in the SPA system.

Abstract Humic acid (HA) can substantially enhance plant growth and improve soil health. Currently, the impacts of HA concentrations variation on the development and soil quality of Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) from the forest understorey are still unclear. In this study, exogenous HA was administered to the roots of Sanqi at varying concentrations (2, 4, and 6 ml/L). Subsequently, the diversity and community structure of bacteria and fungi were assessed through high-throughput sequencing technology. The investigation further involved analyzing the interplay among the growth of sanqi, soil edaphic factors, and the microbial network stability. Our finding revealed that moderate concentrations (4 ml/L) of HA improved the fresh/dry weight of Sanqi and NO3 -−N levels. Compared with control, the moderate concentrations of HA had a notable impact on the bacterial and fungal communities compositions. However, there was no significant difference in the α and β diversity of bacteria and fungi. Moreover, the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Bradyrhizobium) and harmful bacteria (Xanthobacteraceae) increased and decreased at 4 ml/L HA, respectively, while the bacterial and fungal network stability were enhanced. Structural equation model (SEM) revealed that the fresh weight of Sanqi and bacterial and fungal communities were the factors that directly affected the microbial network stability at moderate concentrations of HA. In conclusion, 4 ml/L of HA is beneficial for promoting Sanqi growth and soil quality. Our study provides a reference for increasing the yield of Sanqi and sustainable development of the Sanqi-pine agroforestry system.

We make use of uniquely comprehensive arrest data from the Texas Department of Public Safety to compare the criminality of undocumented immigrants to legal immigrants and native-born US citizens between 2012 and 2018. We find that undocumented immigrants have substantially lower crime rates than native-born citizens and legal immigrants across a range of felony offenses. Relative to undocumented immigrants, US-born citizens are over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over 4 times more likely to be arrested for property crimes. In addition, the proportion of arrests involving undocumented immigrants in Texas was relatively stable or decreasing over this period. The differences between US-born citizens and undocumented immigrants are robust to using alternative estimates of the broader undocumented population, alternate classifications of those counted as "undocumented" at arrest and substituting misdemeanors or convictions as measures of crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) is a precious traditional Chinese medicine that is commonly cultivated using conventional management methods in agricultural systems in Yunnan, China, where it faces the challenge of continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs). However, the existence of Sanqi CCOs in Sanqi–pine agroforestry systems remains unclear. Here, we applied three types of exogenous organic acids (phthalic acid, palmitic acid, and phthalic + palmitic mixed organic acids) mainly derived from the root exudates of Sanqi to simulate the CCOs; then, we compared the effects on plant growth, soil physicochemical properties, soil microbes, and soil metabolites. We found that organic acid concentrations of >250 mg/kg reduced the fresh weight of Sanqi and the levels of total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, soil water content, total phosphorus, and pH value; these concentrations also increased the soil bacterial and fungal α-diversity. The type of organic acid, as opposed to the concentration and duration of treatment, had a vital impact on the structure of the bacterial and fungal community in Sanqi soils. Moreover, the organic acid concentrations of >250 mg/kg also decreased the complexity and stability of the bacterial and fungal network. In addition, the metabolic pathways in the soils under different organic acids included 17 differential metabolites (DMs), which were involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis. The structural equation models (SEMs) revealed that plant growth, soil edaphic factors, and soil metabolites had direct or indirect influences on soil microbial communities under different organic acid conditions. Our results suggest that any phthalic or palmitic acid concentrations at concentrations >250 mg/kg are detrimental to multiple aspects of Sanqi cultivation, confirming the presence of Sanqi CCOs in Sanqi–pine agroforestry systems.

Chimonanthus praecox is an aromatic plant that flowers in winter. The composition of the floral volatiles of C. praecox is influenced by different blooming stages, circadian rhythms and species. However, the relationship between floral volatiles and plant endophytic fungi has not received much research attention. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to compare and analyze the changes in the structure and diversity of the endophytic fungal communities in C. praecox under different circadian rhythms (7:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.) and in different blooming stages (unopened flowers and opened flowers). The endophytic fungi of C. praecox consisted of nine phyla, 34 classes, 79 orders, 181 families, 293 genera, and 397 species, and Ascomycota was the dominant phylum. Under a diurnal rhythm, the diversity (Chao1 and Shannon indices) of endophytic fungi gradually decreased in the unopened flowers, while an increasing and then decreasing trend was found for the opened flowers. In the different blooming stages, the endophytic fungal diversity was significantly higher at 7:00 a.m. in the unopened flowers compared to the opened flowers. Humidity was the key factors that significantly affected the endophytic fungal diversity and community. Moreover, 11 endophytic fungi were significantly positively or negatively correlated with seven floral volatiles. In conclusion, the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi in C. praecox were affected by the different blooming stages and circadian rhythms, and a correlation effect related to floral volatiles was found, but there are other possible reasons that were not tested. This study provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the interrelationships between endophytic fungi, floral volatiles, and environmental factors in C. praecox.