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The results of the effect of five different incubation temperatures on the development of clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) larvae are presented. This ornamental species is widely marketed worldwide and is reared in captivity at CIAD to meet the demand in the domestic market. The experimental work was carried out over 30 days post-hatching to observe the temperature's effect on the development of the larvae's vertebral column and caudal complex. The eggs were incubated at 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34°C. The percentage of hatching, survival, growth, and the presence of skeletal malformations were evaluated. Hatching and survival percentages did not show significant differences between treatments. Regarding growth, there were significant differences between treatments, with organisms showing slower growth at 26°C and larger sizes at 34°C. The highest percentage of malformations occurred in larvae cultured at 34°C, with lordosis being the most frequently observed deformity among the treatments. Therefore, it can be concluded that the optimal temperature range for cultivating and harvesting quality A. ocellaris organisms is between 28 and 30°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews more than 40 journal articles that describe the traits of phytoplankton functional groups (FGs) and their responses to biotic and abiotic factors in freshwater environments. Scholars have used different approaches with varying assumptions, making it necessary to subject the available information to a modest review. The paper sheds light on the potential responses of phytoplankton assemblages to biotic factors such as allelopathy, vertical migration, prey-predator interactions, macrophytes dominance, zooplankton grazing, and abiotic factors such as nutrient deficiency, turbulence and mixing processes, light, and temperature. It also highlights the status of studies on phytoplankton FGs in Ethiopian water bodies. While FGs have relevant applications in ecosystem assessment and monitoring, the difficulties faced are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lianas are a crucial component of karst seasonal rainforests, yet research on them has predominantly focused on non-karst regions. Consequently, their abundance and species richness remain relatively understudied within karst ecosystems. We aimed to document the abundance and species richness of lianas and investigate their relationships with abiotic and biotic factors, based on data from a fully mapped 15 ha plot in a karst seasonal rainforest of Nonggang (SW China). Structural equation models (SEMs) were employed to estimate the path coefficients and variation of dependent variables, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting the abundance and species richness of liana. Within the 15 ha plot, a total of 23,819 lianas were identified, encompassing 113 species from 34 families. These lianas constituted 24.16% of the total woody plant density and 33.44% of the species present, but only 4.32% of the total woody plant basal area. Lianas are primarily influenced by abiotic factors, especially elevation and phosphorus (P), with less impact from biotic factors. Our findings reveal that lianas, despite constituting a relatively small percentage of the total woody plant basal area, significantly contribute to the density and diversity of the forest. Notably, abiotic factors such as elevation and phosphorus availability predominantly shape the distribution and richness of lianas, highlighting the importance of these environmental variables. The findings offer valuable insights for future liana studies and the preservation of karst forests' biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Medicinal plants are vital in synthesizing crucial substrates, fortifying stress resilience, and serving clinical and industrial domains. The optimization of pharmacological potential necessitates a nuanced understanding of the factors governing the synthesis of secondary metabolites sourced from plants. Cultivation success hinges upon many factors dictating the production of these vital compounds. Biotic factors, encompassing pathogens and herbivores, alongside abiotic factors such as light exposure, altitude, temperature variations, irrigation patterns, soil fertility, drought susceptibility, and salinity levels, collectively orchestrate medicinal plants' growth, development, and metabolic pathways. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate interplay of factors influencing the formation of secondary metabolites, exploring the roles of endophytes, pathogens, light availability, temperature fluctuations, drought stress, pollution impacts, and plant growth regulators. Grasping the dynamics of these factors is imperative for devising strategic interventions to enhance secondary metabolite production, thereby ensuring the sustainable and efficient cultivation of medicinal plants.

Abstract Background The microbiota in fish external mucus is mainly known for having a role in homeostasis and protection against pathogens, but recent evidence suggests it is also involved in the host-specificity of some ectoparasites. In this study, we investigated the influence of seasonality and environmental factors on both fish external microbiota and monogenean gill ectoparasites abundance and diversity and assessed the level of covariations between monogenean and bacterial communities across seasons. To do so, we assessed skin and gill microbiota of two sparid species, Oblada melanura and Diplodus annularis, over a year and collected their specific monogenean ectoparasites belonging to the Lamellodiscus genus. Results Our results revealed that diversity and structure of skin and gill mucus microbiota were strongly affected by seasonality, mainly by the variations of temperature, with specific fish-associated bacterial taxa for each season. The diversity and abundance of parasites were also influenced by seasonality, with the abundance of some Lamellodiscus species significantly correlated to temperature. Numerous positive and negative correlations between the abundance of given bacterial genera and Lamellodiscus species were observed throughout the year, suggesting their differential interaction across seasons. Conclusions The present study is one of the first to demonstrate the influence of seasonality and related abiotic factors on fish external microbiota over a year. We further identified potential interactions between gill microbiota and parasite occurrence in wild fish populations, improving current knowledge and understanding of the establishment of host-specificity.

Broad-leaved deciduous forests in the transitional region from temperate to subtropical climate in China exhibit a diverse assemblage of species. The effects of potential biotic and abiotic factors on forest species diversity are currently of great interest. Here, we quantified the diversity of woody plant species across vertical strata in a fully recorded 25-ha permanent forest dynamics plot (500 × 500 m) in the Mts. Qinling of China using 4 indices: Pielou evenness index ( J SW ), Shannon entropy (H ), species richness (S ), and species abundance. Analysis of multivariate linear regression was employed to compare the influences of potential biological, topography, and soil variables on the alpha diversity for each of the 625 sub-plot (20 × 20 m) in the canopy layer, substory layer, and understory layer. The results displayed that the indices of the alpha diversity significantly varied among different forest vertical strata and they were mostly and significantly related to the DBH structure variable, soil available phosphorus (P), and altitude. Despite vertical strata of the studied forest, biological, topographic, and soil factors jointly showed reasonably strong explanatory power for species diversity. More than 12% of the variations of the alpha diversity in canopy layer and 16% in substory layer as well as 8% in understory layer could be collectively explained by biological, topographic, and soil factors. Our findings can contribute to the understanding of how environmental and biological factors interact to affect species diversity and thus are of great implication for the preservation of forest species diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physiological and metabolic response of insects to varied temperature has getting enormous attention in recent times. Insects are poikilothermic organisms; their growth, development, reproduction and survival depend on temperature. The citrus butterflies, Papilio demoleus L. and Papilio polytes L. are two important butterfly pests on citrus crops. The larval stage of pest inflicts economic damage by defoliating large quantity of foliage. The hypothesis that the development of these citrus butterfly species mainly depends upon surrounding temperature was studied under controlled laboratory condition at constant temperature of 23, 28 and 32°C on leaves of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle). The results revealed an incubation period of 3.39, 3.06 and 2.82 days respectively, at 23, 28 and 32°C for P. demoleus whereas the incubation period was 3.83, 3.61 and 3.08 days respectively at 23, 28 and 32°C for P. polytes. The larval duration ranged from 11.18 to 16.49 and 13.15 to 14.88 days, respectively for P. demoleus and P. polytes at different temperature regimes. The pupal duration of 8.83 to 17.53 and 8.40 to 13.36 days were observed for P. demoleus and P. polytes respectively. The P. demoleus and P. polytes took 27.83 to 44.67 and 31.78 to 41.47 days respectively, for completion of their entire life cycle. Overall, development of two citrus butterfly species was significantly affected by temperature and temperature was found to be a key factor that influenced the development of these two citrus butterflies on acid lime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Korean pine trees expressed significant crown displacement. Nearest neighbor competition had the largest effect on the crown displacement compared to the slope direction and mean direction of wind. The crown displacement of individual trees exhibits an adaptive response driven by neighbors, but it can also be the result of wind force and slope effects. In our research, we focused on the crown displacement of planted Korean pine trees in northeast China. A total of 51 trees aged 8–56 years were destructively harvested to measure branch attributes. The gravity centers of the upper, lower and entire crown were calculated. The Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm, generalized mixed effects model, and circular statistics were used to determine the response of crown displacement to biotic and abiotic factors. The results showed that the dominant tree had the largest absolute crown displacement, and the suppressed tree expressed the largest relative crown displacement. The lower crown showed more apparent crown displacement than the upper crown. The Korean pine was displaced in a northeastern direction. Nearest neighbor competition had the largest effect on the crown displacement compared to the slope direction. Slope direction had a slightly larger effect than the mean direction of wind. The crown displacement for the lower crown was more affected by the interaction of the wind, slope and neighbor competition than the upper crown. No relationship between crown displacement and stem eccentricity for the planted Korean pine was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The microbiota in fish external mucus is mainly known for having a role in homeostasis and protection against pathogens, but recent evidence suggests it is also involved in the host-specificity of some ectoparasites. In this study, we investigated the influence of seasonality and environmental factors on both fish external microbiota and monogenean gill ectoparasites abundance and diversity and assessed the level of covariations between monogenean and bacterial communities across seasons. To do so, we assessed skin and gill microbiota of two sparid species, Oblada melanura and Diplodus annularis, over a year and collected their specific monogenean ectoparasites belonging to the Lamellodiscus genus. Results: Our results revealed that diversity and structure of skin and gill mucus microbiota were strongly affected by seasonality, mainly by the variations of temperature, with specific fish-associated bacterial taxa for each season. The diversity and abundance of parasites were also influenced by seasonality, with the abundance of some Lamellodiscus species significantly correlated to temperature. Numerous positive and negative correlations between the abundance of given bacterial genera and Lamellodiscus species were observed throughout the year, suggesting their differential interaction across seasons. Conclusions: The present study is one of the first to demonstrate the influence of seasonality and related abiotic factors on fish external microbiota over a year. We further identified potential interactions between gill microbiota and parasite occurrence in wild fish populations, improving current knowledge and understanding of the establishment of host-specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lianas are a crucial component of karst seasonal rainforests, yet research on them has predominantly focused on non-karst regions. Consequently, their abundance and species richness remain relatively understudied within karst ecosystems. We aimed to document the abundance and species richness of lianas and investigate their relationships with abiotic and biotic factors, based on data from a fully mapped 15 ha plot in a karst seasonal rainforest of Nonggang (SW China). Structural equation models (SEMs) were employed to estimate the path coefficients and variation of dependent variables, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting the abundance and species richness of liana. Within the 15 ha plot, a total of 23,819 lianas were identified, encompassing 113 species from 34 families. These lianas constituted 24.16% of the total woody plant density and 33.44% of the species present, but only 4.32% of the total woody plant basal area. Lianas are primarily influenced by abiotic factors, especially elevation and phosphorus (P), with less impact from biotic factors. Our findings reveal that lianas, despite constituting a relatively small percentage of the total woody plant basal area, significantly contribute to the density and diversity of the forest. Notably, abiotic factors such as elevation and phosphorus availability predominantly shape the distribution and richness of lianas, highlighting the importance of these environmental variables. The findings offer valuable insights for future liana studies and the preservation of karst forests’ biodiversity.

Background and Objective: Fasciolosis is a zoonotic disease, which is transmitted by Lymnaea acuminata snails of the Lymnaidae family and causes the disease in human and herbivorous mammals in all over the world. One of the suitable approaches for the control of fasciolosis is the snail control. The snail control by snail attractant pellets is a new technique because there is no any side effect on other biota/human/natural environment. Material and Methods: The influence of various abiotic factors and umbelliferone toxicity in bait against the vector snail Lymnaea acuminata was checked in different months of the years 2018-2019. Result: After 24h of molluscicide exposure, it was found that LC50 values 4.37, 4.22 and 5.66 % in SAP containing starch + umbelliferone and 4.02, 4.33, and 4.76 % in SAP containing proline + umbelliferone during May, June and July, respectively, were most effective treatments in killing the snails. While SAP containing starch + umbelliferone was 9.84% and proline + umbelliferone was 8.94% were minimum effective in January in 24h toxicity. Conclusion: This study indicates that various abiotic factors significantly changed the toxicity of umbelliferone; so, the snails can be controlled by snail attractant pellets containing umbelliferone will be applied in a particular month rather than the whole month of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological stoichiometry is an essential tool to understand carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles and nutrient limitations. Plantations are usually managed to maintain specific age structures, but the impact of such management on microbial biomass and stoichiometric ratios remains unclear. We compared the stand ages of four Larix principis-rupprechtti Mayr. Plantations that were 15 years old, (young plantation, Lar15), 24 years old, (middle aged plantation, Lar24), 40 years old, (near-mature plantation, Lar40), and 50 years old, (mature plantation, Lar50), respectively, to determine the main factors that drive differences in the C:N:P stoichiometry of microorganisms. We demonstrated that the temperature, moisture, and nutrient concentrations in surface soil increased significantly with forest age. The stoichiometric ratios of elements in soil and microorganisms reached their maxima in the Lar40 and Lar50 plantations. Additionally, forest stand ages had a great influence on the biomass of microbial communities. Moreover, soil microbial community and soil abiotic factors are closely related to soil microorganisms' C:N:P stoichiometric ratios. Specifically, changes in the microbial biomass C:N (MBC:MBN) were primarily correlated with bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria (G+), temperature, NH4+-N, and moisture in soil. Shifts in G+, actinobacteria, soil temperature, and total phosphorus were primarily associated with variation in microbial biomass C:P (MBC:MBP). Alterations in microbial biomass N:P (MBN:MBP) were correlated with bacteria, NH4+-N, water content, Gram-negative bacteria, and soil temperature. Overall, these results suggest that microbial elemental stoichiometric ratios could be affected by stand age and emphasize the importance of microbial communities and soil abiotic factors in shifting this dynamic change process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weather affects key aspects of bacterial behavior on plants but has not been extensively investigated as a tool to assess risk of crop contamination with human foodborne pathogens. A novel mechanistic model informed by weather factors and bacterial state was developed to predict population dynamics on leafy vegetables and tested against published data tracking Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EcO157) and Salmonella enterica populations on lettuce and cilantro plants. The model utilizes temperature, radiation, and dew point depression to characterize pathogen growth and decay rates. Additionally, the model incorporates the population level effect of bacterial physiological state dynamics in the phyllosphere in terms of the duration and frequency of specific weather parameters. The model accurately predicted EcO157 and S. enterica population sizes on lettuce and cilantro leaves in the laboratory under various conditions of temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, and cycles of leaf wetness and dryness. Importantly, the model successfully predicted EcO157 population dynamics on 4-week-old romaine lettuce plants under variable weather conditions in nearly all field trials. Prediction of initial EcO157 population decay rates after inoculation of 6-week-old romaine plants in the same field study was better than that of long-term survival. This suggests that future augmentation of the model should consider plant age and species morphology by including additional physical parameters. Our results highlight the potential of a comprehensive weatherbased model in predicting contamination risk in the field. Such a modeling approach would additionally be valuable for timing field sampling in quality control to ensure the microbial safety of produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae are prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms that have photosynthetic anabolic activity. This anabolic photosynthesis is related to the abiotic factor of light. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the morphological diversity level of microalgae based on their environment, especially light intensity. We collected samples based on two types of environment, namely high light community (HL-1D and HL-2D) and low light community (LL-1D and LL-2D). The Data were analyzed using Species Richness Indices (Menhinick and Margalef indices), Species Diversity (Shannon-Wiener and Simpson Indices), and Eveness Index. Based on the results of morphological identification, we found the presence of algae from the divisions Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, and Euglenophyta in both communities. The most dominant species found in the HL environment were Cyanophyta (Chroococcus sp., Microcystis sp., Nostoc sp., Oscilatoria sp.), Chlorophyta (Actinastrum sp., Ankistrodesmus sp., Centritractus belanophorus, Coelastrum sp., Closterium sp., Gleocapsa sp., Mougeutia sp., Pediastrum sp., Scenedesmus sp., Selenastrum sp., Sphaeroplea sp., Tetraspora cylindrica, Ulothrix sp., and Volvox sp.), Euglenophyta (Cryptoglena sp. and Lepocinclis sp.). Species found in the LL environment were Cyanophyta (Bulbochaeta sp.) and Chlorophyta (Pleurotaenium sp., Uronema elongasi, and Zygnema sp.). Microalgae communities in high light communities have higher diversity than low light communities. This study can be used as a reference for the diversity of microalgae in two different types of environments, especially in the tropics and in freshwater microalgae communities. This diversity data could be a reference for researchers and provide preliminary information of microalgae potency as alternative biofuels in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scylla paramamosain is an importantly economical mariculture crab. To figure out the optimized conditions in the culture of juvenile crabs, three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of diet, salinity and light condition on the growth performance (body weight gain, BWG; carapace width gain, CWG; carapace length gain, CLG) and moulting cycle (MC) of crablets from V to VII stages. The growth performances of the crablets from stages V–VII have no significant differences after feeding different diets. However, the MC of crablet V fed Artemia or mixed fish were significantly shorter than that fed artificial diet. The CLG of crablet VI in salinity 25‰ was significantly higher than that in salinity 15‰, while the CWG and CLG of crablet VII in salinity 15‰ were significantly higher than that in salinity 5‰. The MC of the crablets V–VI reared in salinity 25‰ and 15‰ were significantly shorter than that in salinity 5‰, while it was significantly shorter in salinity 25‰ than that in salinity 15‰ from crablets VI–VII. For light conditions, the BWG of crablet VI with full cover was significantly higher than that with half cover. Whereas, the MC of the crablets V and VI with full cover was significantly shorter than that without cover or half cover. These findings indicated that crablet V and VI may prefer to exposing to 25‰ salinity and dark environment and feeding on Artemia for faster growth. Thus, the current findings may serve as a guide for establishing appropriate conditions in the aquaculture of juvenile mud crabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is a serious abiotic factor limiting the quality and yield of maize (Zea mays). To produce maize plants with enhanced drought tolerance, we generated transgenic maize plants overexpressing OsPYL/RCAR7, encoding an abscisic acid receptor. We crossed the selected lines with maize variety B73 and obtained F1 hybrid seeds. Initial screening suggested that the transgenic lines were more drought tolerant than wild-type plants. Analysis using the DroughtSpotter platform indicated that expressing OsPYL/RCAR7 enhanced drought resistance in transgenic maize seedlings by reducing water loss. In addition, the stomatal conductance of the leaf surface was 30% lower in OsPYL/RCAR7-overexpressing plants than in wild-type ones. After drought treatment, OsPYL/RCAR7-overexpressing maize showed a much higher survival rate than the wild type, suggesting that expressing OsPYL/RCAR7 reduced the negative effects of drought exposure on stomatal conductance and enhanced water use efficiency. Furthermore, the expression levels of drought-tolerance–related abscisic acid–signaling genes ABP2 and RAB16A were higher in the transgenic plants than in the wild type. Taken together, our data indicate that the seedlings of transgenic maize expressing the gene OsPYL/RCAR7 showed increased tolerance to drought stress, raising the possibility that stress-related genes from monocotyledonous crops could be used as genetic resources to improve the agricultural traits of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passalurosis is a prevalent disease among helminthiases of domestic rabbits. This invasion is caused by the nematode Passalurus ambiguus (Nematoda, Oxyuroidae), which is cosmopolitan and localized in the cecum and colon of rabbits. Passalurosis is highly contagious and capable of unlimited spread, due to the biological characteristics of its pathogen, such as the conditions that ensure maximum preservation of parasites at exogenous stages of their development. Experimental research in the laboratory established the timing of development of P. ambiguus eggs isolated from the gonads of female helminths, depending on temperature regimes and features of their growth and development. According to the morphological features of Passalurus eggs, four stages were distinguished in their exogenous development: zygote, cleavage and formation of blastomeres, formation of larvae and motile larvae. Depending on the cultivation temperature, the duration of embryogenesis ranged from 4 to 9 days, and egg viability ranged from 59.3% to 72.7%. The most favourable temperature regime for the development of P. ambiguus eggs was the temperature of 35 °C, at which 72.7% of eggs with motile larvae were formed within 4 days. At this temperature, the zygote stage lasted for 1 day of cultivation, the stage of cleaving and formation of blastomeres occurred on days 1–2, the stage of larval formation on days 1–3, and the stage of formation of motile larva on days 3–4. At lower temperatures, the term of development of Passalurus eggs increased, and the number of viable eggs decreased. At temperatures of 30 °С and 25 °С, the development of Passalurus eggs took place during 5 and 7 days, respectively, and the viability was 66.7% and 62.7%. At these temperatures, the zygote stage lasted 1–2 and 1–3 days, the stage of cleaving and formation of blastomeres occurred on days 1–3 and 1–4, the stage of larval formation lasted from days 2–4 and 2–6, and the stage of formation of motile larvae took place on days 3–5 and 4–7, respectively. The least favourable temperature for the development of P. ambiguus eggs was the temperature of 20 °С, at which the formation of motile larvae occurred in 9 days, and their viability was only 59.3%. At this temperature, the zygote stage lasted 1–4 days, the stage of cleaving and blastomere formation occurred on days 2–6, and the larval formation stage on days 3–8, and the motile larval stage happened on days 5–9. The growth and development of P. ambiguus eggs was accompanied by significant changes in morphometric parameters, such as the increase in egg width and thinning of egg shell at the egg shell plug. The obtained data will allow preventive measures to be effectively implemented on rabbit farms that are susceptible to pinworms, taking into account the terms of exogenous development of pathogens in different seasons.

• Telenomus remus K is 210.36 GD, Tt is 10.6 °C and Tmax is 35.9 °C. • Highest values of net reproduction rate (R 0) were obtained in thermal ranges between 25 and 30 °C. • Highest values of R 0 were obtained in RH ranges between 50 and 70%. • Ecological zoning based on R 0 presented Sep. to Feb. as the most suitable period for T. remus. • Ecological zoning based on number of generations showed south region of Brazil as less suitable for T. remus. Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is an important polyphagous pest of corn (maize) crops, reported as invasive on most continents. It is the main corn pest in South America. Control methods involve the use of agrochemicals and genetically modified cultivars. Among the possible alternatives for controlling this species, the present study evaluated the biological development of an isofemale line of Telenomus remus Nixon collected in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, on eggs of S. frugiperda at different temperatures and relative humidity (RH) levels. The development and parasitism of the parental generation of T. remus and its offspring were evaluated at different temperatures (18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, 33, and 35 °C) and RH levels (30, 50, 70, and 90 %). Fertility life tables were constructed based on the values obtained at different temperatures and RH. The estimated thermal constant (K) was 210.36 degree-days, the lower temperature threshold (Tt) 10.6 °C, and the upper developmental threshold (Tmax) 35.9 °C. In both generations, T. remus showed the best parasitism performance at temperatures between 25 and 30 °C and RH between 50 and 70 %. We represented the results geographically, producing two types of zoning maps, one based on R 0 (net reproductive rate) values and another based on the number of T. remus generations in municipalities according to the calendar for the first and second corn crops. Both zoning approaches indicated that the North, Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast regions of Brazil are the most suitable for the establishment and multiplication of T. remus , especially from September to February. In the colder Southern region, conditions are suitable only from November to March. Under the same climate conditions as S. frugiperda, T. remus can produce 4 to 6 times more generations in both corn crops. For the first corn crop, more regions of Brazil are favorable for the release of T. remus to control S. frugiperda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological stoichiometry is an essential tool to understand carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles and nutrient limitations. Plantations are usually managed to maintain specific age structures, but the impact of such management on microbial biomass and stoichiometric ratios remains unclear. We compared the stand ages of four Larix principis-rupprechtti Mayr. Plantations that were 15 years old, (young plantation, Lar15), 24 years old, (middle aged plantation, Lar24), 40 years old, (near-mature plantation, Lar40), and 50 years old, (mature plantation, Lar50), respectively, to determine the main factors that drive differences in the C:N:P stoichiometry of microorganisms. We demonstrated that the temperature, moisture, and nutrient concentrations in surface soil increased significantly with forest age. The stoichiometric ratios of elements in soil and microorganisms reached their maxima in the Lar40 and Lar50 plantations. Additionally, forest stand ages had a great influence on the biomass of microbial communities. Moreover, soil microbial community and soil abiotic factors are closely related to soil microorganisms’ C:N:P stoichiometric ratios. Specifically, changes in the microbial biomass C:N (MBC:MBN) were primarily correlated with bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria (G+), temperature, NH4+-N, and moisture in soil. Shifts in G+, actinobacteria, soil temperature, and total phosphorus were primarily associated with variation in microbial biomass C:P (MBC:MBP). Alterations in microbial biomass N:P (MBN:MBP) were correlated with bacteria, NH4+-N, water content, Gram-negative bacteria, and soil temperature. Overall, these results suggest that microbial elemental stoichiometric ratios could be affected by stand age and emphasize the importance of microbial communities and soil abiotic factors in shifting this dynamic change process.

Bacteriophage has attracted growing interest as a promising therapeutic agent for pathogenic bacteria, especially for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, the various abiotic conditions could impact the stability of phages and further threat host–virus interactions. Here, we investigated the stability and lytic activity of virulent polyvalent coliphage (named PE1) by double-layer plaque assay. PE1 can efficiently infect both the drug-sensitive Escherichia coli K12 and multidrug-resistant E. coli NDM-1 even after prolonged storage at 4 °C for up to two months. Results showed that PE1 exhibits an outstanding stability to infect E. coli strains under a wide range of thermal (4 °C–60 °C) and pH (4–11) conditions, which covers the thermal and pH variations of most wastewater treatment plants. Moreover, PE1 exhibited high resistibility to heavy metals exposure including Cu2+, Cd2+, Co2+, and Cr3+ at the concentrations below 0.5 mM, and an excellent resistant ability to the variation of ionic strength, which still retained strong infectious ability even treated with saturated sodium chloride solution (350 g/L). This work shows that polyvalent phage PE1 has a strong adaptive capacity to various abiotic factors and should be a good candidate of being an antibacterial agent, especially for antibiotic-resistant bacteria control in sewage. HIGHLIGHTS A virulent polyvalent coliphage named PE1 can propagate fast and effectively in both drug sensitive and drug resistant bacteria even after it has been stored for two months.; PE1 exhibited a strong resistant ability to the variations of common environmental factors including thermal, pH, ionic strength and several heavy metals, which could be a good candidate to be used as the antibacterial agent.;

Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis is a polyphagous thrips species that has been reported as a potential pest in strawberry cultivation in Brazil. Since it has only recently emerged as a pest species in production areas, understanding seasonal trends in the species' activity is particularly important for designing management strategies. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of climate factors (temperature and relative humidity) and six strawberry cultivars ('Albion', 'Aromas', 'Camino Real', 'Monterey', 'Portola', and 'San Andreas') on the population dynamics of H. haemorrhoidalis during the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 growing seasons in southern Brazil. The greatest peak in thrips populations in the cultivars assessed occurred between January and March (summer) in both growing seasons. The relationship between the incidence of H. haemorrhoidalis and temperature was observed to be negative during the autumn, spring, and summer months but positive during winter. Relative humidity levels above 70% had a negative influence on the abundance of insects. Populations of H. haemorrhoidalis varied between the cultivars as follows: 'Aromas' > 'Monterey' > 'San Andreas' > 'Albion' > 'Camino Real' > 'Portola'. Cross-sections of strawberry leaves showed that 'Monterey' had the highest density of nonglandular trichomes/mm2 (7.26), while 'Portola' cultivar, the greatest predominance of glandular trichomes/mm2 (12.67), which may have contributed to the incidence of H. haemorrhoidalis. The demographic information presented on H. haemorrhoidalis in strawberry cultivars provides a starting point to better understand the insect's population dynamics. These results also indicate that climatic conditions are a limiting factor for the development of H. haemorrhoidalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining biodiversity is receiving much attention around the world and green spaces in urban areas can help enhance biodiversity by creating habitat for living organisms especially from the class Insecta. Insects maintain biodiversity on earth and play a key role in the regulation as well as dynamics of many ecosystem services. Insect conservation especially in urban areas can be done by protecting the beneficial habitat from human activity and creating an environment with modifications to facilitate the target insect's conservation such as creating green roof spaces. In this study, the richness of insect species was assessed from two different vegetation arrangements, vertical and horizontal, from different sampling sites and noting their light intensity, solar radiation and relative humidity. There was no significant correlation between insect species richness and all the three abiotic factors (p > 0.05). However, different plant types; flowering and non-flowering, were found to affect the richness of insect species, with relatively more insect species present at study sites with flowering plants compared to study sites with non-flowering plants (p < 0.05). This information can help to develop a sustainable and comprehensive environment in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prospect of likely catastrophic transitions in ecosystems requires the development of early warning indicators that will provide advance warnings for undesired transitions. A grass hill is a unique microtopography that plays a crucial role in the functioning of wetland ecosystems. However, it is unclear whether grass hill size could serve as an important warning indicator to predict vegetation dynamics and ecosystem transitions during wetland degradation. Six degradation levels were selected along a grazing gradient in the alpine wetlands on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. General linear and segment regression were used to analyze whether grass hill area (GHA) can be used as an important warning indicator to predict biotic and abiotic factors and ecosystem transitions from typical alpine wetlands to meadows. The species diversity and biomass of aboveground vegetation increased slowly before the threshold point but decreased sharply after the threshold point (GHA (grass hill area) = 0.13 m2). The species diversity of both persistent and transient seed banks and the seed density of persistent seed banks also increased slowly but increased sharply before and after the threshold point (GHA = 0.2 m2). Soil moisture (SM), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) decreased slowly but decreased sharply before and after the threshold point (GHA > 0.2 m2). Surprisingly, we also found the same threshold point (GHA = 0.13–0.2 m2) for the ecosystem transition from alpine wetlands to meadows as that for the other factors. GHA accurately predicted biotic (species diversity of vegetation and seed bank) and abiotic (SM, SOC, and TN) changes and the ecosystem transition from alpine wetlands to meadows. Thus, grass hill area is an effective warning indicator that could be used in future alpine wetland restoration and management.

Drought stress is a serious abiotic factor limiting the quality and yield of maize (Zea mays). To produce maize plants with enhanced drought tolerance, we generated transgenic maize plants overexpressing OsPYL/RCAR7, encoding an abscisic acid receptor. We crossed the selected lines with maize variety B73 and obtained F1 hybrid seeds. Initial screening suggested that the transgenic lines were more drought tolerant than wild-type plants. Analysis using the DroughtSpotter platform indicated that expressing OsPYL/RCAR7 enhanced drought resistance in transgenic maize seedlings by reducing water loss. In addition, the stomatal conductance of the leaf surface was 30% lower in OsPYL/RCAR7-overexpressing plants than in wild-type ones. After drought treatment, OsPYL/RCAR7-overexpressing maize showed a much higher survival rate than the wild type, suggesting that expressing OsPYL/RCAR7 reduced the negative effects of drought exposure on stomatal conductance and enhanced water use efficiency. Furthermore, the expression levels of drought-tolerance–related abscisic acid–signaling genes ABP2 and RAB16A were higher in the transgenic plants than in the wild type. Taken together, our data indicate that the seedlings of transgenic maize expressing the gene OsPYL/RCAR7 showed increased tolerance to drought stress, raising the possibility that stress-related genes from monocotyledonous crops could be used as genetic resources to improve the agricultural traits of maize.

The Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, is the most notorious corn pest in East Asia and Oceania. The larvae seriously damage crops and lower yields. A previous study found that the O. furnacalis can migrate seasonally. However, the influencing factor on the flight performance of this pest has not yet been investigated. Here, the flight performance and its influencing factors of O. furnacalis were tested using computer-monitored flight mills. The results showed that the longest total flight of an individual was 71.49 km with a mean speed of 6.36 km·h−1 (1.77 m·s−1). Flight performance reached the peak when the moths were 2-days old, with a mean flight distance of 18.89 ± 2.03 km, mean flight duration of 7.34 ± 0.62 h and mean flight speed of 2.47 ± 0.10 km·h−1 (0.69 m·s−1). The flight capability of females was always higher than that of males. Mating status and nutritional status affected partial flight variables. For both sexes, only temperature and relative humidity among the abiotic factors significantly involved flight performance, which was most significant at 25–30 °C and 55–65%. Our study demonstrated that O. furnacalis have a high capability for migration and determined the influencing factors on flight performance. These results provide essential information for forecasting and management of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in physico‐chemical factors due to natural climate variability and eutrophication could affect the cyanobacterial growth patterns in aquatic systems that may cause environmental health problems. Based on morphological and 16S rRNA gene analysis, three cyanobacterial species isolated for the first time from the Nakdong River water sample in South Korea were identified as Amazoninema brasiliense, Microcystis elabens, and Nododsilinea nodulosa. The variations in temperature, pH, nitrogen, or phosphorus levels significantly impacted the cyanobacterial growth patterns. The optimal temperature range for the growth of isolates was from 25–30°C. A neutral or weak alkaline environment favored growth; however, A. brasiliense resulted in 44.2–87.5% higher biomass (0.75 g · L−1 as dry solids, DS) and growth rate (0.24 · d−1) at pH 7 than the other isolates (0.4–0.52 g DS · L−1, 0.16–0.19 · d−1). The increased nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3‐N) concentrations significantly (P < 0.05) favored biomass production and growth rate for A. brasiliense and M. elabens, respectively, and the maximum growth rate was observed for A. brasiliense at 3.5 mg NO3‐N · L−1. The orthophosphate concentration (PO4–P) from 0.1 to 0.5 mg PO4‐P · L−1 increased the growth of the isolates. These observations suggest that isolate growth rates in water bodies can vary depending on different physico‐chemical parameters. This study contributes to the further understanding of the growth of microalgae in natural freshwater bodies under fluctuating environmental conditions and aquatic ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in physico‐chemical factors due to natural climate variability and eutrophication could affect the cyanobacterial growth patterns in aquatic systems that may cause environmental health problems. Based on morphological and 16S rRNA gene analysis, three cyanobacterial species isolated for the first time from the Nakdong River water sample in South Korea were identified as Amazoninema brasiliense, Microcystis elabens, and Nododsilinea nodulosa. The variations in temperature, pH, nitrogen, or phosphorus levels significantly impacted the cyanobacterial growth patterns. The optimal temperature range for the growth of isolates was from 25–30°C. A neutral or weak alkaline environment favored growth; however, A. brasiliense resulted in 44.2–87.5% higher biomass (0.75 g · L−1 as dry solids, DS) and growth rate (0.24 · d−1) at pH 7 than the other isolates (0.4–0.52 g DS · L−1, 0.16–0.19 · d−1). The increased nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3‐N) concentrations significantly (P < 0.05) favored biomass production and growth rate for A. brasiliense and M. elabens, respectively, and the maximum growth rate was observed for A. brasiliense at 3.5 mg NO3‐N · L−1. The orthophosphate concentration (PO4–P) from 0.1 to 0.5 mg PO4‐P · L−1 increased the growth of the isolates. These observations suggest that isolate growth rates in water bodies can vary depending on different physico‐chemical parameters. This study contributes to the further understanding of the growth of microalgae in natural freshwater bodies under fluctuating environmental conditions and aquatic ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral orientation has been suggested to be a functional floral trait that can enhance reproductive fitness through adaptation to both biotic factors (e.g., pollination) and abiotic factors (e.g., temperature). However, whether those factors drive the diversification of floral orientation needs to be explored through multiple related species. Phylogenetic relationships in Lonicera were identified by incorporating the species' floral orientation (upward vs. downward) and pollinator types. Furthermore, transitions in floral orientation were evaluated together with pollinator shift, and seven Lonicera species were used to detect the influence of floral orientation on pollination and reproductive success. The relationship between temperature and the angle of floral orientation was investigated. Floral orientation in Lonicera showed that most of the closely related species within the same node displayed a similar pattern of floral orientation, and pollinator shift can lead to transitions between upward and downward orientation. Additionally, the angle of floral orientation increased with flowering phenology from spring to summer, and changing floral orientation significantly decreased pollination and seed production. Moreover, the average daily temperature during flowering phenology was significantly correlated with the angle of floral orientation. Our results indicate that pollinator shift could be an important event, leading to the diversification of floral orientation. Results of field investigations inferred that floral orientation should be a functional floral trait adapted to flowering phenology. Downward‐facing flowers might help decrease heat loss to adapt to cold conditions. This study disentangled the influences of historical events and local adaptation on the evolution of floral orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, pollution and climate change have increased the risk of climate penalties particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Rising the temperature, metal pollution and ammonia contaminant are interlinked and have impact on aquatic life. This study investigates dietary zinc (Zn) for mitigation of arsenic, ammonia and high temperature stress on Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The fish were exposed to different combination of arsenic (2.68 mg L−1), ammonia (NH 3 , 2.0 mg L−1) pollution and high temperature (34 °C) stress for 105 days. The average fish weight was 5.44 ± 0.17 g with length of 6.23 cm. The experiment involved 12 treatment groups, each with 18 fish in triplicates, totaling six hundred forty-eight fish (648). The treatments include control, As, NH 3 , As+NH 3 , NH 3 + T, As+NH 3 + T, Zn-5 mg kg−1, Zn-10 mg kg−1, Zn-15 mg kg−1, Zn-5 mg kg1As + NH 3 + T, Zn-10 mg kg−1As + NH 3 + T and Zn-15 mg kg−1As + NH 3 + T. The gene related to apoptosis, cytokines, chemokines, immunity and growth particularly nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB), were studied in liver and gill tissues. Diets containing zinc were prepared with graded levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg kg−1 diet. Cortisol, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heat shock protein (HSP70), and metallothionine (MT), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were upregulated by arsenic (As), ammonia (NH 3) and high temperature (34 °C) stress, but downregulated with dietary Zn at 10 mg kg−1 diet. The NFkB pathway genes, including caspase 3a (CAS 3a), tumour necrosis factor (TNFα), interleukin (IL), and toll-like receptors (TLR), were noticeably upregulated due to stressors. However, Zn supplementation downregulated these genes and mitigated stress in the fish exposed to As+NH 3 + T. Genes related to growth hormone (GH), growth hormone regulator 1 and β (GHR1 and GHRβ), were noticeably downregulated in response to stressors. Conversely, Zn-containing diets significantly upregulated GH , GHR1 , and GHRβ , while myostatin (MYST) and somatostatin (SMT) results differed from other growth-related genes. The liver and kidney tissues showed the highest arsenic bioaccumulation. Notably, Zn-containing diet was observed to protect fish from Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Overall, the results indicate that Zn-containing diet at 10 mg kg−1 diet improved the regulation of the stress-related genes, enhancing the mitigating ability of fish against multiple stressors. • Dietary Zn regulates the NFkB gene regulation in fish against multiple stresses. • Zn improves the gene expression of cytokines IL , TNFα , and TLR in fish. • Zn enhances the detoxification of arsenic in fish. • Zn in the diet reduces the iNOS and DNA damage-inducible protein genes in fish. • v GH, Ghr1, Ghrb, SMT , and MYST gene expressions were improved by Zn diet in fish against multiple stressors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aged brine is a representative natural starter that evolves with stable abiotic and biotic conditions for reproducible quality of fermented vegetables. In this study, the role of aged brine in directing the quality formation of Paocai (a traditional fermented vegetable) was investigated by analyzing the contribution of abiotic and biotic factors to physicochemical properties, volatile compound profiles, microbial composition and function in Paocai. Results showed that the abiotic factors in aged brine promoted reducing sugar consumption and lactic acid accumulation by facilitating the growth of indigenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts. Also, the masking effect of abiotic factors on isothiocyanates and disulfide alleviated the pungent flavor of Paocai. The biotic factors introduced indigenous dominant LAB genera of Liquorilactobacillus , Levilactobacillus , Lactiplantibacillus , Secundilactobacillus , Pediococcus , Lentilactobacillus , Lacticaseibacillus , Lactobacillus and indigenous dominant yeast genera of Kazachstania and Brettanomyces into Paocai. LAB functioned in the production of acid and aldehyde, while yeasts contributed to the accumulation of esters and lactones. Both LAB and yeasts reduced the contents of pungent compounds in Paocai during fermentation. Analysis of microbial function revealed that the role of aged brine was related to the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and carbohydrate-active enzymes of the microbial community. This study provided an understanding of the role of aged brine in shaping the quality of fermented vegetables. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ackfruit is identified as targeted produced for premium fruit and vegetable (EPP 7). Meanwhile in Johor, jackfruit is the third biggest fruit produced in 2016. Jackfruit contains a lot of benefits which certainly good for living things and have been used in various sector such as medicine, food, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant, antifungal effect, immunomodulatory effect and else. However, the existence of pests and diseases have threatened the productivity of jackfruit plant particularly in tropical countries including Malaysia. There are many factors that can affect the occurrence of pests and plant diseases of jackfruit such as shoot borers, bark borers, mealy bug and scale insects, blossoms and fruit rots and bacterial die-back. Several studies have been devoted to model the plant pests and diseases epidemiology, though the contexts that focus in tropical environment and jackfruit plant are limited. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss abiotic factors and spatial methods that have been used to define dispersal pattern and relationship between abiotic factors including major climatic variables with plant pests and diseases occurrence data, particularly in tropical climate. This paper could be used as a basis to understand the epidemiological models in combating pest and plant disease and to support towards the effective management of jackfruit pests and diseases in tropical countries, particularly Malaysia.

The conformity of abiotic factors in the growing environment of crops determines the successful result of crop production. This study aims to assess and evaluate land suitability for plant growth and result of patchouli development in Dilem wilis, Bendungan Distric, Trenggalek Regency. The study was initiated with the survey and continued by utilizing analysis method to adjust the data with the criteria according to the classification of land suitability clashing and crops cultivation as indicator for assessing land suitability. The research was conducted on 3 locations from May to July 2017 for land suitability and from July to November 2017 for patchouli crops cultivation experiment. The result indicated from the three sampling Locations, specifically Location 1 presented the land suitability of N class, conforming that this Location was not suitable with the limiting factor of low K2O content of 0.08 me / 100 g. Meanwhile, both Location 2 and Location 3 presented similar land suitability class of S3s, tc, f, n conforming as less appropriate. The results of this study also depicted the influence of land suitability classes on plant growth; however, the difference in land classes (in this case S3 compared to N) did not demonstrate a correlation for oil yield and patchouli alcohol, where the element Potassium becomes a limiting factor.

We investigated the inter- and intra-species differences of leaf vein traits of three dominant Quercus species, Q. wutaishanica , Q. aliena var. acutiserrata , and Q. variabilis of Niubeiling (subtropical humid climate) and Taohuagou (warm temperate semi-humid climate), located in the eastern and western Qinling Mountains. The nine examined leaf vein traits included primary leaf vein width, secondary leaf vein width, mean fine vein width, primary vein density, fine vein density, vein areole diameter, areole density, 3D fine vein surface area, and fine vein volume. We further elucidated the influencing mechanisms and regulatory pathways of biotic and abiotic factors on leaf vein traits. The results showed that species identity had significant effects on eight out of nine leaf vein traits except 3D fine vein surface area, while habitat had significant effects on primary leaf vein width, secondary leaf vein width, vein areole diameter, fine vein density, and areole density. Altitude had significant effects on primary vein density, mean fine vein width, vein areole diameter, fine vein density and areole density. Habitat, tree species identity, and altitude had significantly interactive effects on primary leaf vein density, 3D fine vein surface area, and fine vein volume. There were significant differences in primary leaf vein width, mean fine vein width, areole density, 3D fine vein surface area, fine vein volume, primary vein density of Q. wutaishanica between the two studied habitats, but the differences were only found in secondary leaf vein width and areole density of Q. aliena var. acutiserrata and Q. variabilis . The examined leaf vein traits were influenced both by biotic and abiotic factors, with varying effect sizes. Among the biotic factors, petiole length, leaf length and width ratio had strong effect on leaf vein traits. Among the abiotic factors, climatic and soil factors had high effect size on vein traits, with the former being higher than the latter. Leaf vein traits were affected directly by biotic factors, but indirectly by abiotic factors (soil and climatic factors) via regulating biotic factors (leaf stoichiometry and leaf phenotypic traits).

Fungal virulence is multifaceted and dependent on multiple abiotic factors. The present study represents an investigation of the effect of one such abiotic factor, that of the grain type, on the insecticidal action of three entomopathogenic fungal species, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschinkoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and Isaria fumosorosea Wize (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) on larvae of the three very common and destructive stored product pests: the khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), the confused flour beetle (Triboliumconfusum Jacquelin du Val) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and the Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestiakuehniella Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). To this end, we selected four different grains, i.e., Triticum aestivum L. (Poales: Poaceae), Oryza sativa L. (Poales: Poaceae), Arachis hypogaea L. (Fabales: Fabaceae) and Vicia faba L. (Fabales: Fabaceae). Bioassays were carried out in the lab, where experimental grains were sprayed with 1 mL of conidial suspension (108 conidia/mL) from each isolate. Mean mortality, median survival time and weight loss of seeds were estimated for each species. Our results suggest that the differences in the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi were dependent both on the isolates and the grain. The grain type as a factor is equally important to other abiotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among all activities displayed by ant colonies, searching for food is essential for all individuals survival. However, many external activities are hazardous or restrictive for the entire society. Even though leaf‐cutter ants are highly successful insects, they are subject to extreme aspects of foraging, as raindrops and wind. Although recruitment and food exploitation are known to change with temperature and humidity, barometric pressure changes and how they affect ant behavior remain unknown. We aimed to determine how an increase or decrease in barometric pressure might modify foraging strategies of the leaf‐cutter ant Atta sexdens compared to steady pressure. The first modification observed in the workers behavior was the scouts greater promptness in leaving the nest when the barometric pressure decreased. Regard to the foragers, there was no difference in the number of individuals recruited for collecting leaves. However, it was cut and brought into the nest 1.5 and 2 times more leaves during the pressure drop, respectively. The reason for this foraging efficiency as a whole was ultimately the sum of the efficiency of each forager. The shifts in behavior, therefore, could be related to the indirect consequences of a pressure decrease, such as rainfall and strong winds, both strong constraints on ants on a trail. This is the first report of barometric pressure affecting the behavior of a social insect under controlled conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review is to examine the problems encountered with logs kept in depots and the measures recommended to correct them. Biotic, abiotic, and other factors can affect the quality and quantitative properties of stored logs. Biotic factors include fungi (decay/rot fungi, stain fungi, and mold), insects (wood, bark, and ambrosia beetles), and bacteria. The climatic conditions of ultraviolet (UV) light, wind, and temperature at the storage site can be considered as abiotic factors. In addition, storage problems may be caused by business management, inadequate training and qualifications of depot personnel, and the type of depot floor/ground. Measures to counteract these factors were examined in detail, as a result of field observations and literature studies. The solutions presented included: shortening the storage period and expanding winter production rather than maintaining year-round storage, bringing production planning in line with the needs of the sector and providing sufficient training to workers and technical personnel, as well as increasing the sale of standing trees, separating earlier- and later-felled products in depot areas, installing pheromone traps, and ensuring proper drainage and maintenance of depot grounds. Additional measures to be taken in factory warehouses included water sprinkling and holding logs in water (ponding). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated effects of strong typhoons on populations of a gall midge Pseudasphondylia neolitseae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and its associated arthropods through leaf fall of the host plant, Neolitsea sericea (Lauraceae). The very strong typhoon No. 13 in 1985 ("8513‐Pat") caused heavy leaf fall particularly on forest edge trees, resulted in the larval death of gall midge and its endoparasitoid Gastrancistrus sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). The typhoons were not directly responsible for the larval death of an ectoparasitoid Bracon tamabae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and a successor Lasioptera yadokariae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) that utilizes vacant galls after the departure of inhabitants. However, reduction in the number of galls possibly made their searching behavior for oviposition sites inefficient because their abundance relies on the gall density. The heavy leaf fall promoted lammas shoot production, which caused the reduction of number and length of the following spring shoots. The shortage of spring shoots must be influential to the gall midge females in searching oviposition sites, and the short spring shoots were not useful for oviposition and larval boring by Oberea hebescens (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). We compared strength of the effects between the typhoons that attacked Kagoshima in 1985 and 1993, and Okinawa in 2015 and 2018, and concluded that typhoons with the maximum instantaneous wind velocity exceeding 50 m/s caused heavy leaf fall and lammas shoot production on N. sericea trees growing at forest edge but not on those inside forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the importance of Culicidae species to public health, this study aimed to update and provide better understanding of the mosquito fauna in an Atlantic Forest preservation area in Paranaguá, Paraná State, Southern Brazil. This was achieved via a mosquito survey with a subsequent analysis of the impact of abiotic factors on the composition of the mosquito community. A total of 1641 culicid specimens of 42 species and 10 genera were identified. The most abundant taxa were Aedes serratus/nubilus, Psorophora ferox and Anopheles cruzii, the latter being the main vector of malaria in the Atlantic Forest. Culex abonnenci, a species that had not yet been recorded in Paraná State, was also identified. Rainfall and temperature were found to have a high influence on some species, such as Aedes hortator, Ps. ferox and An. cruzii. This study demonstrates that performing new studies in already researched regions is relevant, as new species may be recorded. In addition, analysing the effects of abiotic factors on mosquito species is important to understand how climate change influences the composition of species in certain areas and therefore impacts the dynamics of diseases propagated by insect vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the study of antibiotic resistance in the soil animal microbiome has attracted extensive attention; however, the patterns of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil and soil animals related to different land use types remain poorly studied. In the present study, soil and earthworms were collected from four different land-use types (farmland, hospital, park land, and mountain park), and 162 ARGs in the microbiomes of the soil and earthworms were quantified using high-throughput quantitative PCR. Our study showed that the abundance and number of ARGs were higher in soil samples than in earthworm guts, but earthworms as the living organisms created relatively isolated ambient surroundings, which allowed for a more heterogeneous ARGs profile. Meanwhile, land use significantly influenced the abundance, number and co-occurrence pattern of ARGs in the soil and earthworm samples. Furthermore, abiotic and biotic factors had significant effects on the ARGs profile, among which pH had a negative effect on the ARGs profiles of both soil and earthworm microbiomes, and bacterial network complexity had a positive effect on the earthworm ARGs profile. Our study provides new insights into the distribution and dispersal of ARGs in the soil animal gut microbiome under different land use patterns. [Display omitted] • Earthworm owned highly heterogeneous pattern of ARGs profile compared with soils. • Land use altered the network parameters of ARGs profile in the earthworm. • Bacterial network complexity had a positive effect on the earthworm ARGs profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Composting can effectively remove most antibiotics in different AFW. • The knowledge on degradation pathways of antibiotics is limited. • The fate of ARGs shows various trends in AFW composting. • Biotic factors are core driving forces for ARGs variation. • ARGs proliferation in composts can be inhibited by controlling abiotic factors. Fate of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during composting of antibiotic fermentation waste (AFW) is a major concern. This review article focuses on recent literature published on this subject. The key findings are that antibiotics can be removed effectively during AFW composting, with higher temperatures, appropriate bulking agents, and suitable pretreatments improving their degradation. ARGs dynamics during composting are related to bacteria and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Higher temperatures, suitable bulking agents and an appropriate C/N ratio (30:1) lead to more efficient removal of ARGs/MGEs by shaping the bacterial composition. Keeping materials dry (moisture less than 30%) and maintaining pH stable around 7.5 after composting could inhibit the rebound of ARGs. Overall, safer utilization of AFW can be realized by optimizing composting conditions. However, further removal of antibiotics and ARGs at low levels, degradation mechanism of antibiotics, and spread mechanism of ARGs during AFW composting require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]