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Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in raw milk and feed from nine Chinese provinces and human exposure risk assessment.
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The per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are substantially produced and applied in industrial and domestic products, which have recently aroused great public concern for their potential toxicity to humans. In the present study, raw milk (n = 107) and cow feed samples (n = 70) were collected across nine Chinese provinces, in order to investigate the occurrence of PFASs in milk and feed, and the human exposure risk to milk. The concentrations of PFASs are in the range of < method detection limit -9.82 ng/g dw (average: 1.03 ng/g dw) for milk and 0.99-144 ng/g dw (7.68 ng/g dw) for feed. Perfluorobutanoic acid (34.0%) dominates in feed, while perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (67.5%) dominates in milk. No significant positive correlations of PFASs are observed between paired feed and milk (p > 0.05). However, feeds collected around fluorination production area show relatively higher PFAS levels than those from other areas, which also increase PFAS levels in milk. Risk assessment of PFASs through milk consumption is carried out according to evolving reference doses (RfDs). The hazard quotient is more than one for both adults and children when the strictest RfDs are applied. The Monte Carlo Simulation shows that children face higher PFAS exposure risk than adults.
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Assessing the evolutionary persistence of ecological relationships: A review and preview
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Species interactions, such as pollination, parasitism and predation, form the basis of functioning ecosystems. The origins and resilience of such interactions therefore merit attention. However, fossils only occasionally document ancient interactions, and phylogenetic methods are blind to recent interactions. Is there some other way to track shared species experiences? "Comparative demography" examines when pairs of species jointly thrived or declined. By forging links between ecology, epidemiology, and evolutionary biology, this method sheds light on biological adaptation, species resilience, and ecosystem health. Here, we describe how this method works, discuss examples, and suggest future directions in hopes of inspiring interest, imitators, and critics.
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Safety in Numbers: How Color Morph Frequency Affects Predation Risk in an Aposematic Moth.
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AbstractPolymorphic warning signals in aposematic systems are enigmatic because predator learning should favor the most common form, creating positive frequency-dependent survival. However, many populations exhibit variation in warning signals. There are various selective mechanisms that can counter positive frequency-dependent selection and lead to temporal or spatial warning signal diversification. Examining these mechanisms and their effects requires first confirming whether the most common morphs are favored at both local and regional scales. Empirical examples of this are uncommon and often include potentially confounding factors, such as a lack of knowledge of predator identity and behavior. We tested how bird behavior influences the survival of three coexisting morphs of the aposematic wood tiger moth Arctia plantaginis offered to a sympatric predator (great tit Parus major) at different frequencies. We found that although positive frequency-dependent selection is present, its strength is affected by predator characteristics and varying prey profitability. These results highlight the need to understand predator foraging in natural communities with variable prey defenses in order to better examine how behavioral interactions shape evolutionary outcomes.
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Future trends in measuring physiology in free-living animals.
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Thus far, ecophysiology research has predominantly been conducted within controlled laboratory-based environments, owing to a mismatch between the recording technologies available for physiological monitoring in wild animals and the suite of behaviours and environments they need to withstand, without unduly affecting subjects. While it is possible to record some physiological variables for free-living animals using animal-attached logging devices, including inertial-measurement, heart-rate and temperature loggers, the field is still in its infancy. In this opinion piece, we review the most important future research directions for advancing the field of 'physiologging' in wild animals, including the technological development that we anticipate will be required, and the fiscal and ethical challenges that must be overcome. Non-invasive, multi-sensor miniature devices are ubiquitous in the world of human health and fitness monitoring, creating invaluable opportunities for animal and human physiologging to drive synergistic advances. We argue that by capitalizing on the research efforts and advancements made in the development of human wearables, it will be possible to design the non-invasive loggers needed by ecophysiologists to collect accurate physiological data from free-ranging animals ethically and with an absolute minimum of impact. In turn, findings have the capacity to foster transformative advances in human health monitoring. Thus, we invite biomedical engineers and researchers to collaborate with the animal-tagging community to drive forward the advancements necessary to realize the full potential of both fields. This article is part of the theme issue 'Measuring physiology in free-living animals (Part II)'.
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Appetite Suppression and Interleukin 17 Receptor Signaling Activation of Colonic Mycobiota Dysbiosis Induced by High Temperature and High Humidity Conditions
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It is known that the microbiome affects human physiology, emotion, disease, growth, and development. Most humans exhibit reduced appetites under high temperature and high humidity (HTHH) conditions, and HTHH environments favor fungal growth. Therefore, we hypothesized that the colonic mycobiota may affect the host’s appetite under HTHH conditions. Changes in humidity are also associated with autoimmune diseases. In the current study mice were fed in an HTHH environment (32°C ± 2°C, relative humidity 95%) maintained via an artificial climate box for 8 hours per day for 21 days. Food intake, the colonic fungal microbiome, the feces metabolome, and appetite regulators were monitored. Components of the interleukin 17 pathway were also examined. In the experimental groups food intake and body weight were reduced, and the colonic mycobiota and fecal metabolome were substantially altered compared to control groups maintained at 25°C ± 2°C and relative humidity 65%. The appetite-related proteins LEPT and POMC were upregulated in the hypothalamus (p < 0.05), and NYP gene expression was downregulated (p < 0.05). The expression levels of PYY and O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine were altered in colonic tissues (p < 0.05), and interleukin 17 expression was upregulated in the colon. There was a strong correlation between colonic fungus and sugar metabolism. In fimo some metabolites of cholesterol, tromethamine, and cadaverine were significantly increased. There was significant elevation of the characteristic fungi Solicoccozyma aeria, and associated appetite suppression and interleukin 17 receptor signaling activation in some susceptible hosts, and disturbance of gut bacteria and fungi. The results indicate that the gut mycobiota plays an important role in the hypothalamus endocrine system with respect to appetite regulation via the gut-brain axis, and also plays an indispensable role in the stability of the gut microbiome and immunity. The mechanisms involved in these associations require extensive further studies.
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Quantification of Phytophthora infestans population densities and their changes in potato field soil using real-time PCR.
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Tuber infection of Phytophthora infestans often occurs at harvest. However, it is difficult to accurately estimate the population densities of P. infestans in soil, especially Japanese soil. In the present study, P. infestans DNA was extracted from soil samples using a modified CTAB-bead method and quantified using real-time PCR to accurately, rapidly and easily estimate the P. infestans population densities in upland soils in Japan. P. infestans was well quantified in eleven types of soil samples, including nine types of upland soils in Japan, that were artificially inoculated with a zoosporangia suspension. The amounts of P. infestans DNA estimated by the real-time PCR were proportional to the inoculum densities. In the non-controlled experimental potato field, P. infestans population densities in soil corresponded to the development of symptoms and were correlated with the number of lesions on the potato foliage. These results imply that the proposed real-time PCR assay is suitable for the estimation or monitoring of P. infestans population densities in upland soils in Japan. The population densities at the ridge bottoms were larger than those at any other location in commercial potato fields. These results were similar to those of a previous report using a bioassay. Moreover, a correlation between DNA quantity and inoculum potential was observed. In conclusion, the real-time PCR assay developed in this study is suitable for indirect estimation of the inoculum potential of P. infestans.
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First report the role of benthic macroinvertebrates as preys for native fish in Toltén river (38° S, Araucania region Chile)
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Abstract The Toltén river is located in the 137 years old Araucania region, Chile (38° S), and is characterized by low alterations through human interference due agriculture and towns in its surrounding basin, the presence of native fishes and salmonids, and by its lake effluent regime originated from Villarrica lake. The aim of the present study was to make a review of ecological role of the benthic inland water macroinvertebrates as preys for native fishes of the River Toltén, in order to understand their importance in the ecosystem of the river. The literature revealed that the main prey for native fishes are Chironomidae larvae, nevertheless there are not specific reports for Tolten river. The exposed results are similar with similar native species for Patagonia, and these native species would have prey for introduced salmonids, or these species would have prey competition with introduced salmonids in according to the literature descriptions for Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia.
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Foraging Behaviour and Landscape Utilisation by the Endangered Golden-Crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus), The Philippines
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Species of Old World fruit-bats (family Pteropodidae) have been identified as the natural hosts of a number of novel and highly pathogenic viruses threatening livestock and human health. We used GPS data loggers to record the nocturnal foraging movements of Acerodon jubatus, the Golden-crowned flying fox in the Philippines to better understand the landscape utilisation of this iconic species, with the dual objectives of pre-empting disease emergence and supporting conservation management. Data loggers were deployed on eight of 54 A. jubatus (two males and six females) captured near Subic Bay on the Philippine island of Luzon between 22 November and 2 December 2010. Bodyweight ranged from 730 g to 1002 g, translating to a weight burden of 3–4% of bodyweight. Six of the eight loggers yielded useful data over 2–10 days, showing variability in the nature and range of individual bat movements. The majority of foraging locations were in closed forest and most were remote from evident human activity. Forty-six discrete foraging locations and five previously unrecorded roost locations were identified. Our findings indicate that foraging is not a random event, with the majority of bats exhibiting repetitious foraging movements night-to-night, that apparently intact forest provides the primary foraging resource, and that known roost locations substantially underestimate the true number (and location) of roosts. Our initial findings support policy and decision-making across perspectives including landscape management, species conservation, and potentially disease emergence.
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Synanthropy of Wild Mammals as a Determinant of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Asian–Australasian Region
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Humans create ecologically simplified landscapes that favour some wildlife species, but not others. Here, we explore the possibility that those species that tolerate or do well in human-modified environments, or ‘synanthropic’ species, are predominantly the hosts of zoonotic emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). We do this using global wildlife conservation data and wildlife host information extracted from systematically reviewed emerging infectious disease literature. The evidence for this relationship is examined with special emphasis on the Australasian, South East Asian and East Asian regions. We find that synanthropic wildlife hosts are approximately 15 times more likely than other wildlife in this region to be the source of emerging infectious diseases, and this association is essentially independent of the taxonomy of the species. A significant positive association with EIDs is also evident for those wildlife species of low conservation risk. Since the increase and spread of native and introduced species able to adapt to human-induced landscape change is at the expense of those species most vulnerable to habitat loss, our findings suggest a mechanism linking land conversion, global decline in biodiversity and a rise in EIDs of wildlife origin.
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Biochar mitigation of soil acidification and carbon sequestration is influenced by materials and temperature
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The alleviation effects on soil acidification by different raw materials and pyrolysis temperatures can broaden the utilization of biochar. In this study, nine types of biochar produced from three raw materials, namely fruit tree branch, peanut shell, and cow dung, at three pyrolysis temperatures (300, 450, and 600 °C) were used to amend acidified brown soil; the rape growth, physiology character, soil chemical and microbial, along with soil organic carbon mineralization were also investigated. The results showed that application of biochar increased soil pH by 8.48-79.25% and reduced exchangeable acidity, exchangeable Al, and exchangeable H by 56.94-94.95%, 34.38-95.66%, and 58.72-93.27%, respectively. Biochar alleviated oxidative stress in plants, reduced malondialdehyde and glutathione content in leaves, promoted rape growth, and increased microbial community diversity and the relative abundances of Acidobacteria and Olpidiomycota in the acidic soil. Moreover, biochar reduced the mineralization rate of organic carbon and the proportion of mineral-bonded organic carbon. Overall, biochar application is an effective strategy to ameliorate soil acidification and enhance rape production and carbon sequestration. The mitigation effect of branch biochar and cow dung biochar on soil acidification was superior to that of peanut shell biochar. The effects of biochar depended on the pyrolysis temperature; the positive effects of biochar samples pyrolyzed at 450 and 600 â were stronger than those pyrolyzed at 300 â. In this study, the optimum biochar materials and carbonization temperature for acidified soil improvement, as well as the effects of biochar application on soil microbial and carbon mineralization were clarified, which provides a new potential strategy for acidified soil improvement and expand the application range of biochar.
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Population Density Affects the Outcome of Competition in Co-cultures of Gardnerella Species Isolated from the Human Vaginal Microbiome
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Negative frequency-dependent selection is one possible mechanism for maintenance of rare species in communities, but the selective advantage of rare species may be checked at lower overall population densities where resources are abundant. Gardnerella spp. belonging to cpn60 subgroup D, are detected at low levels in vaginal microbiomes and are nutritional generalists relative to other more abundant Gardnerella spp., making them good candidates for negative frequency-dependent selection. The vaginal microbiome is a dynamic environment, and the resulting changes in density of the microbiota may explain why subgroup D never gains dominance. To test this, we co-cultured subgroup D isolates with isolates from the more common and abundant subgroup C. Deep amplicon sequencing of rpoB was used to determine proportional abundance of each isolate at 0 h and 72 h in 152 co-cultures and to calculate change in proportion. D isolates had a positive change in proportional abundance in most co-cultures regardless of initial proportion. Initial density affected the change in proportion of subgroup D isolates either positively or negatively depending on the particular isolates combined, suggesting that growth rate, population density and other intrinsic features of the isolates influenced the outcome. Our results demonstrate that population density is an important factor influencing the outcome of competition between Gardnerella spp. isolated from the human vaginal microbiome. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00248-021-01745-4.
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Linking seasonal N(2)O emissions and nitrification failures to microbial dynamics in a SBR wastewater treatment plant
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Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is a strong greenhouse gas and causal for stratospheric ozone depletion. During biological nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), high N(2)O fluxes to the atmosphere can occur, typically exhibiting a seasonal emission pattern. Attempts to explain the peak emission phases in winter and spring using physico-chemical process data from WWTP were so far unsuccessful and new approaches are required. The complex and diverse microbial community of activated sludge used in biological treatment systems also exhibit substantial seasonal patterns. However, a potentially causal link between the seasonal patterns of microbial diversity and N(2)O emissions has not yet been investigated. Here we show that in a full-scale WWTP nitrification failure and N(2)O peak emissions, bad settleability of the activated sludge and a turbid effluent strongly correlate with a significant reduction in the microbial community diversity and shifts in community composition. During episodes of impaired performance, we observed a significant reduction in abundance for filamentous and nitrite oxidizing bacteria in all affected reactors. In some reactors that did not exhibit nitrification and settling failures, we observed a stable microbial community and no drastic loss of species. Standard engineering approaches to stabilize nitrification, such as increasing the aerobic sludge age and oxygen availability failed to improve the plant performance on this particular WWTP and replacing the activated sludge was the only measure applied by the operators to recover treatment performance in affected reactors. Our results demonstrate that disturbances of the sludge microbiome affect key structural and functional microbial groups, which lead to seasonal N(2)O emission patterns. To reduce N(2)O emissions from WWTP, it is therefore crucial to understand the drivers that lead to the microbial population dynamics in the activated sludge.
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First report of plastic contamination in batoids: Plastic ingestion by Haller's Round Ray (Urobatis halleri) in the Gulf of California.
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The presence of microplastics has been reported in the marine environment and these pollutants have also been reported in food webs. Information about the presence of microplastics in the Haller's Round Ray (Urobatis halleri) and bottom sediments off the east coast of the Gulf of California is non-existent. The digestive tracts of individuals of this species and sediment samples were examined for plastic particles in this region. In total, 107 plastic particles were found in the sediment. All were fibers and 94.4% were microplastics, the rest were mesoplastics. The gastrointestinal tracts of 142 rays were analysed, and it was determined that this is a benthic feeder. A total of 386 plastic particles were recovered from 46 individuals (32.4%). On average 10.2 (±7.4) plastic particles were found per specimen, with plastic lengths ranging from 0.00821 mm to 0.953 mm. The FTIR-ATR analysis revealed the presence of six types of polymers: polyamide or nylon polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyacrylic were found in both sediments and gastrointestinal tracts of Haller's Round Ray. Polyethylene terephthalate and polyacrylamide were only found in the gastrointestinal tracts of the ray. These polymers are consistent with the human activities undertaken in this area, specifically intensive small-scale and industrial fisheries, as they are used for the elaboration of fishing nets, plastic bags, storage containers, clothing, and fishing boats maintenance. Our results show that benthic feeders are exposed to plastic debris, and its presence is another potential threat to batoids, which are already threatened by bycatch, overfishing, and other pollutants. However, studies on the ingestion of plastic debris in batoids and its presence in the sediment are still scarce or non-existent for this region. As such, these studies are necessary to help in the preservation of these species.
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Microbial Source Tracking of Fecal Indicating Bacteria in Coral Reef Waters, Recreational Waters, and Groundwater of Saipan by Real-Time Quantitative PCR
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The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) recently identified the need to improve its capacity for detecting and tracking land-based sources of pollution (LBSP) in coastal waters, particularly microbial contaminants like fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). Reported here is a baseline study of a suite of host-specific FIB microbial source tracking (MST) markers in the coastal shoreline and reef waters around the island of Saipan. Three sampling campaigns were conducted in September 2017, March 2018, and August 2018. Samples were collected from the nearshore surface waters of Saipan, the reef waters of Saipan Lagoon, and groundwater from beaches along the Saipan Lagoon shoreline. Measurements of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into nearshore waters and isotopic source tracking of nitrogen inputs were conducted concurrently with MST. Environmental DNA was extracted from the samples and analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for MST gene markers of fecal Bacteroidales specifically associated with humans, dogs, cows, and pigs, and for an MST gene marker of Catellicoccus associated with seabirds. MST assessments were combined with local knowledge, assessments of sanitary infrastructure, and routine watershed surveys. This study identified hotspots of human FIB along the western Saipan Lagoon shoreline in both surface waters and groundwater, plus another hotspot of human FIB at a popular tourist bathing area known as the Grotto. FIB hotspots on the Lagoon shoreline coincided with areas of high SGD and nitrogen isotopic data indicating sewage-derived N inputs. It appears that faulty sanitary infrastructure may be contributing to inputs to Saipan Lagoon, while bather shedding is likely a primary input for the Grotto area. Moderate levels of dog fecal contamination were common and widespread across the island. High levels of seabird fecal contamination were more random, both spatially and temporally, and mostly concentrated along the less developed northeast region of Saipan. No significant levels of cow or pig fecal marker were detected in coastal water samples. This study provides demonstration and establishment of analytical capacity to resource management in CNMI for MST technology to aid in trouble-shooting water quality issues involving land-based sources of microbial contaminants to CNMI coastal waters.
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Novel Foods and Sustainability as Means to Counteract Malnutrition in Madagascar
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Although the trends of international reports show an increase in overweight and obesity, even in developing countries, there are still areas of the world, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, strongly affected by undernutrition. Specifically, in Madagascar, the percentage of stunted children under 5 is extremely high. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to increase the risk of all forms of malnutrition, especially in low-income countries, including Madagascar, with serious intergenerational repercussions. This narrative review aims at investigating eating habits and cooking methods of the Malagasy population, addressing sustainable healthy diets through promotion of novel foods. While novel foods are a recent concept, there are data that describe how they may contribute to counteract food insecurity and malnutrition considering context and place. Efforts to promote native, traditional foods as Moringa oleifera, an indigenous plant in Asia and Africa including Madagascar, rich in protein and micronutrients, as well as edible insects, alternative sustainable source of protein, lipids, iron, and zinc, would provide not only nutritional but also cultural and economic benefits. The potential synergies between food traditions and agroecology have the potential to impact health addressing larger issues of sustainability and food security. Regional, national, and international policies are needed to develop and support one health approach actions.
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Study of Factors That Influence the Sustainability of Agricultural Development in the Bobonaro Municipality, Timor-Leste
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The aim of the study is to assess the factors that influence the sustainability of agricultural development. The study was carried out in the municipality of Bobonaro for about four months, from July to October 2021. Slovin's method was used to determine the sample size, with a desired percentage of 10% of the total population. Thus, 154 producers were interviewed as respondents and key persons in the area of agriculture. The variables interviewed are the main factors of agricultural productivity and the factors that affect sustainable agricultural development. The results of the descriptive statistical analysis of the data showed that about 94.87% of the respondents' productive area is in operation, with an average of 1.84 ha per respondent and the abandoned area around 0.11 ha per respondent. The average value of rice production is 2.38 ton per ha and corn 1.07 ton per ha. About 87% of producers raised the main types of animals such as cattle, pigs, goats with an average density of 2 to 5 animals per establishment. About 61% of producers have access to the market at a normal price for agricultural products. The factors that hinder less successful agricultural development, such as: those of nature with the greatest impact are climate changes, which influence changes in cultivation sessions and in the characteristics of productive soils, availability of water for irrigation and animal feed. On the socioeconomic side, it includes the willingness or interest of young people who want to work as farmers, less investment and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is concluded that natural and socioeconomic impacts can reduce agricultural productivity, so that this will be a major challenge for the development of the agricultural sector in the future.
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Occurrence of pharmaceuticals and cocaine in the urban drainage channels located on the outskirts of the São Vicente Island (São Paulo, Brazil) and related ecological risk assessment
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“Wealth by the sea and poverty away from the sea breeze” is a metaphor that mirrors what happens along the Brazilian coastal zone, namely in São Vicente Island, São Paulo, Brazil. Due to the high cost of the properties on this shore, the impoverished population started to migrate to the northern outskirts of the island (away from the tourist beaches), potentiating the emergence of poor housing conditions, namely stilt-house slums. Consequently, the urban drainage channels across these outskirts neighbourhoods are potentially contaminated by human wastes. In this context, the occurrence and preliminary ecological risk assessment of eleven pharmaceuticals of various therapeutic classes (including cocaine and its primary metabolite, benzoylecgonine) were investigated, for the first time, in five urban drainage channels whose diffuse loads flow continuously to the estuarine waters of São Vicente Island. The results showed the widespread presence of these environmental stressors in all urban channels analysed, namely losartan (7.3–2680.0 ng/L), caffeine (314.0–726.0 ng/L), acetaminophen (7.0–78.2 ng/L), atenolol (6.2–23.6 ng/L), benzoylecgonine (10.2–17.2 ng/L), furosemide (1.0–7.2 ng/L), cocaine (2.3–6.7 ng/L), carbamazepine (0.2–2.6 ng/L), diclofenac (1.1–2.5 ng/L), orphenadrine (0.2–1.1 ng/L) and chlortalidone (0.5–1.0 ng/L). The overall total estimated load of pharmaceuticals and personal care products flowing to the estuarine waters of São Vicente Island is on the order of 41.1 g/day. The ecological risk assessment revealed a great environmental concern for São Vicente Island, ranging between low (e.g. carbamazepine and cocaine) and moderate to high (e.g. caffeine, acetaminophen and losartan) threats for the aquatic biota. Therefore, initiatives promoting basic sanitation, land-use regularisation and population awareness are highly recommended. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-022-19736-4.
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Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach
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SIMPLE SUMMARY: In South Africa, African lions (Panthera leo) are bred on farms for commercial purposes such as tourism, trophy hunting, and the international traditional medicine market. Despite its legal status, South Africa’s growing lion farming industry is a contentious issue. In 2020, a high-level panel was appointed to review the policies, legislation, and management of breeding, hunting, trade, and handling of four wildlife species, namely rhino, elephant, leopard, and lions. In May 2021, it was announced that the government will stop issuing permits to new entrants into this industry as well as the issuance of hunting permits and will start amending permit conditions to prohibit breeding and exclude tourism interactions with captive lions, effectively ending the lion farming industry. In order to follow this line of action, a comprehensive, well-managed plan will be required to ensure a responsible transition away from the current industry. Here, using a “gap analysis” management tool, we outline some of the key considerations necessary for a responsible, well-managed exit from the lion farming industry in South Africa. We compiled key background information about the current state of the industry and use this information to identify desired management states and specific steps that could facilitate a successful phase out of lion farming. ABSTRACT: African lions (Panthera leo) are commercially farmed across South Africa for sport hunting, tourism, and the international bone trade, primarily in Southeast Asia. Despite its legal status, South Africa’s growing lion farming industry is a contentious issue. In 2020 a high-level panel was initiated to review the policies, legislation, and management regarding the breeding, hunting, trade, and handling of four wildlife species, including lions. In May 2021, it was announced that the government intends to amend existing permit conditions to prohibit lion breeding and tourism interactions with captive lions, as well as to stop issuing permits to new entrants into the industry, effectively ending lion farming. In order to follow this line of action, a comprehensive, well-managed plan will be necessary to execute a responsible exit from the industry as it currently stands. Using a “gap analysis” management tool, we aim to: (1) outline some of the key considerations regarding the current state of the lion farming industry in South Africa; and (2) propose specific action steps that could be taken within five key areas (regulation, animal welfare, health and safety, equitability, and conservation) to help inform a responsible transition away from this type of wildlife farming in the biodiversity economy. For our gap analysis, we conducted a semi-systematic literature search to compile key background information about the current state of the industry. This information was then used to identify corresponding desired management states, and steps that could facilitate a successful phase out of lion farming in South Africa. We hope our approach helps identify key considerations for a responsible transition and can help aid decisions during the management of this process.
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Effect of Maize Seeds Soaking with Acids of Ascorbic, Citric and Humic on Field Emergence
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A field experiment was conducted during two spring seasons in 2019 and 2020 to achieve rapid, uniform, and high ratio of field emergence of maize seeds (cv. Baghdad3). Randomize complete block design was used with three replications. Seeds were soaked in acids of ascorbic and citric (100 mg l-1) and humic (1 ml 1-1) for 18 hours, as well as control treatment (seeds soaking in distilled water only). The results showed the significant superiority of soaking treatment in humic acid, which gave averages of field emergence properties in both seasons as follows: last day of field emergence (12.6 and 12.9 days), difference between first and last day of field emergence (4.8 and 4.9 days), ratio of field emergence at first count (49.5 and 55.5%), ratio of field emergence at final count (93.2 and 93.2%), daily average of field emergence (7.8 and 7.8 days), average of field emergence time (9.0 and 8.8 days) and index of field emergence average (10.5 and 10.7 days). It can be concluded that seeds soaking in humic acid improved properties of emergence and seedlings;therefore it can be recommended to soak maize seeds in humic acid (1 ml l-1) for 18 hours when planting in the spring season.
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Low mammalian species richness is associated with Kyasanur Forest disease outbreak risk in deforested landscapes in the Western Ghats, India
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Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV) is a rapidly expanding tick-borne zoonotic virus with natural foci in the forested region of the Western Ghats of South India. The Western Ghats is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots and, like many such areas of high biodiversity, is under significant pressure from anthropogenic landscape change. The current study sought to quantify mammalian species richness using ensemble models of the distributions of a sample of species extant in the Western Ghats and to explore its association with KFDV outbreaks, as well as the modifying effects of deforestation on this association. Species richness was quantified as a composite of individual species' distributions, as derived from ensembles of boosted regression tree, random forest, and generalised additive models. Species richness was further adjusted for the potential biotic constraints of sympatric species. Both species richness and forest loss demonstrated strong positive associations with KFDV outbreaks, however forest loss substantially modified the association between species richness and outbreaks. High species richness was associated with increased KFDV risk but only in areas of low forest loss. In contrast, lower species richness was associated with increased KFDV risk in areas of greater forest loss. This relationship persisted when species richness was adjusted for biotic constraints at the taluk-level. In addition, the taluk-level species abundances of three monkey species (Macaca radiata, Semnopithecus hypoleucus, and Semnopithecus priam) were also associated with outbreaks. These results suggest that increased monitoring of wildlife in areas of significant habitat fragmentation may add considerably to critical knowledge gaps in KFDV epidemiology and infection ecology and should be incorporated into novel One Health surveillance development for the region. In addition, the inclusion of some primate species as sentinels of KFDV circulation into general wildlife surveillance architecture may add further value.
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Castanea spp. Agrobiodiversity Conservation: Genotype Influence on Chemical and Sensorial Traits of Cultivars Grown on the Same Clonal Rootstock
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A large species diversity characterises the wide distribution of chestnuts in Asia, North America, and Europe, hence reflecting not only the adaptation of the genus Castanea to diverse environmental conditions, but also to different management strategies encompassing orchards. The characterisation and description of chestnut populations and cultivars are crucial to develop effective conservation strategies of one of the most important Italian and European fruit and wood species. Chestnut cultivars grown in the same pedoclimatic conditions and on the same clonal rootstock were characterised with sensory, spectrophotometric, and chromatographic analysis to determine the phytochemical composition and nutraceutical properties. A multivariate approach, including principal component analysis and conditional inference tree models, was also performed. The ease of peeling, seed colour, and intensity of sweetness were the sensory descriptors that allowed us to differentiate C. sativa cultivars. Antioxidant capacity ranged from 9.30 ± 0.39 mmol Fe+2 kg-1 DW ('Bouche de Bètizac') to 19.96 ± 1.89 mmol Fe+2 kg-1 DW ('Garrone Rosso'). Monoterpenes represented the main component, reaching 88% for hybrids, followed by polyphenols (10-25% for hybrids and chestnuts, respectively). A multivariate approach showed that phenolic acids and tannins were the bioactive classes with the highest discriminating power among different genotypes, and that genotype is a significant variable (p < 0.05). In addition, most of the analysed chestnut cultivars showed a content of bioactive compounds similar to or higher than the main hazelnut, walnut, and almond varieties. Chestnut agrobiodiversity could be intended as strictly associated to the genotype effect and underlines the large variability within the genus Castanea, and therefore, the importance of in farm and ex situ conservation of local germplasm is part of a global strategy aimed at increasing the levels of agrobiodiversity.
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Sucrose cycling, Rubisco expression, and prediction of photosynthetic acclimation to elevated atmospheric CO(2)
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Photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO(2) cannot presently be predicted due to our limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms and metabolic signals that regulate photosynthetic gene expression. We have examined acclimation by comparing changes in the leaf content of RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) with changes in the transcripts of Rubisco subunit genes and with leaf carbohydrate metabolism. When grown at 1000 mm(3) dm(–3) CO(2), 12 of 16 crop species at peak vegetative growth had a 15–44% decrease in leaf Rubisco protein, but with no specific association with changes in transcript levels measured at midday. Species with only modest reductions in Rubisco content (10–20%) often had a large reduction in Rubisco small subunit gene mRNAs (> 30%), with no reduction in large subunit gene mRNAs. However, species with a very large reduction in Rubisco content generally had only small reductions in transcript mRNAs. Photosynthetic acclimation also was not specifically associated with a change in the level of any particular carbohydrate measured at midday. However, a threshold relationship was found between the reduction in Rubisco content at high CO(2) and absolute levels of soluble acid invertase activity measured in plants grown at ambient or high CO(2). This relationship was valid for 15 of the 16 species examined. There also occurred a similar, albeit less robust, threshold relationship between the leaf hexose/sucrose ratio at high CO(2) and a reduced photosynthetic capacity ≥ 20%. These data indicate that carbohydrate repression of photosynthetic gene expression at elevated CO(2) may involve leaf sucrose cycling through acid invertase and hexokinase.
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Lethal and sublethal effect of heat shock on Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
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Temperature is an important abiotic environmental factor, and is responsible for various kinds of behavioral and physiological changes in living organisms. Induced heat shock is associated with feeding behaviour, reproduction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that causes oxidative damage. In this experiment, we examined the lethal and sublethal effects of heat shock on reproduction, feeding behaviour and antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidases (POD) in P. solenopsis. Results showed that males were highly susceptible to heat shock treatments than females, as LTemp50 values were 43.8 °C for males and 45.11 °C for females. Heat shock events non-significantly affected the fecundity in female only treated adults and significantly affected the both sexes heat treated adults, it increased the xylem feeding duration, percentage of xylem feeding adults and reduce the phloem feeding duration and percentage of phloem feeding adults. Similarly it alter the antioxidant enzymes activities, an increase of CAT, SOD and POD activities were noticed in response to highest intensity of heat shock while a reduction of CAT and SOD activity were noticed in response to lowest intensity of heat shock compared to control (30 °C). These results suggest that heat shock may result in loss of body water and induce oxidative stress in P. solenopsis. However, antioxidant enzymes play a significant role in overcoming the oxidative damage.
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Climate-smart livestock production: options for Nigerian farmers. (Special Issue: Covid-19 and climate change.)
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This paper is focused on reviewing the three key pillars of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in relation to livestock production (i.e., increased productivity, mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions and adaptation to climate change) while exploring the development intervention options for Nigerian livestock farmers. The most serious impacts of climate change are anticipated in grazing systems because of their dependence on climatic conditions and the natural resource base, and their limited adaptation opportunities. Impacts are expected to be most severe in arid and semi-arid grazing systems at low latitudes, where higher temperatures and lower rainfall are expected to reduce yields on range lands and increase land degradation. The dual pathways of responses between climate change and livestock production activities were depicted in this review. It is of note that climate change as a natural phenomenon works on the principle of causes and effect. The actions and in-actions of man will dictate the type of results obtainable in his immediate environment. Means by which livestock farmers can mitigate the GHGs and adapt to the effect of climate changes were discussed in this paper. Concerted efforts at ameliorating the effect of climate change on livestock production are needed. The smart options for rearing livestock are capable of mitigating the attendant effect of production activities of the stocks, reducing the stress obtainable from altered environment and ensuring food security. Nigeria as a country will need to evolve policies that will ensure promotion and subsequent adoptions of technologies that are smart in terms of increasing productivity of farm animals, reducing emissions of GHG and positively altering the effect of climate change.
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Effects of Dissolved Organic Carbon, Ultraviolet Light and their Co-Exposure on Deepwater Horizon crude oil acute toxicity to larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
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In the aquatic environment, ubiquitous natural factors such as ultraviolet light (UV) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) are likely to influence crude oil toxicity. The present study examined the interactive effects of DOC, UV, and DOC-UV co-exposure on the acute toxicity of Deepwater Horizon crude oil in larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Although DOC alone did not influence crude oil toxicity, it mildly reduced UV photo-enhanced toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;00:1-7. © 2020 SETAC.
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Phthalic acid esters degradation by a novel marine bacterial strain Mycolicibacterium phocaicum RL-HY01: Characterization, metabolic pathway and bioaugmentation
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Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one of the most widely used plasticizers and the well-studied environmental pollutants with endocrine disrupting properties. Investigation about PAEs in terrestrial ecosystem has been extensively conducted while the fate of PAEs in marine environment remains underexplored. In this study, a novel di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) degrading marine bacterial strain, Mycolicibacterium phocaicum RL-HY01, was isolated and characterized from intertidal sediments. Strain RL-HY01 could utilize a range of PAE plasticizers as sole carbon source for growth. The effects of different environmental factors on the degradation of PAEs were evaluated and the results indicated that strain RL-HY01 could efficiently degrade PAEs under a wide range of pH (5.0 to 9.0), temperature (20 °C to 40 °C) and salinity (below 10%). Specifically, when Tween-80 was added as solubilizing agent, strain RL-HY01 could rapidly degrade DEHP and achieve complete degradation of DEHP (50 mg/L) in 48 h. The kinetics of DEHP degradation by RL-HY01 were well fitted with the modified Gompertz model. The metabolic intermediates of DEHP by strain RL-HY01 were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analysis and then the metabolic pathway of DEHP was deduced. DEHP was transformed into di-ethyl phthalate (DEP) via ß-oxidation and then DEP was hydrolyzed into phthalic acid (PA) by de-esterification. PA was further transformed into gentisate via salicylic acid and further utilized for cell growth. Bioaugmentation of strain RL-HY01 with marine samples was performed to evaluate its application potential and the results suggested that strain RL-HY01 could accelerate the elimination of DEHP in marine samples. The results have advanced our understanding of the fate of PAEs in marine ecosystem and identified an efficient bioremediation strategy for PAEs-polluted marine sites.
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Occurrence of antibiotics in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) following organic soil fertilisation under plot-scale conditions: Crop and human health implications
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Recent studies have demonstrated the crop uptake of antibiotics (ABs) from soils treated with AB-carrying fertilisers. However, there is a lack of plot-scale studies linking their effects at the agronomic and metabolomic/transcriptomic level to their impact on human health. This paper assesses the plant uptake of 23 ABs following two productive cycles of lettuce and radish cropped with sewage sludge, pig slurry, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, or chemical fertilisation under plot-scale conditions (32 plots spanning 3-10 m2 each). AB uptake by plants depended on both the vegetable and the AB class and was higher in radish than in lettuce edible parts. Levels ranged from undetectable to up to 76 ng/g (fresh weight). Repetitive organic fertilisation resulted in an increase in the concentration of ABs in lettuce leaves, but not in radish roots. Significant metabolomic and transcriptomic changes were observed following soil fertilisation. Nevertheless, a human health risk assessment indicates that the occurrence of ABs in lettuce or radish edible parts does not pose any risk. To our knowledge, this is the first holistic plot-scale study demonstrating that the use of organic fertilisers containing ABs is safe for crop security and human health.
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Effects of a COVID‐19 lockdown‐induced pause and resumption of artificial provisioning on blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and pink whiprays (Pateobatis fai) in French Polynesia (East‐Pacific)
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The tourism activities linked to artificial provisioning of blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and pink whiprays (Pateobatis fai) on a specific site in French Polynesia were suddenly and completely stopped due to a COVID‐19 lockdown that lasted 6 weeks from March 20 until April 30, 2020. Using both drone footage and underwater counting, we were able to track the abundance of those two species before, during, and after reopening and thus investigate the impact of provisioning on wild shark populations. The absence of any stimulus during this long period resulted in almost total desertion of the site by the elasmobranchs. However, 1 day prior to reopening, some individuals of both species positively reacted to the single acoustic stimulus of an engine boat, showing the resilience of conditioning, and some elasmobranchs reacted to acoustic and olfactive stimuli linked to the provisioning practice from the first day after reopening. During the first 2 weeks after reopening, the abundance of both species remained at reduced levels comparable to those observed between 2008 and 2010 for sharks; i.e., around 9 animals in the presence of local tourists. Pre‐lockdown abundance levels, reaching approximatively 15 individuals for sharks and 10 for rays, were considered restored 1 and 2 months after reopening for blacktip reef sharks and pink whiprays, respectively. These findings improve our capacity to better understand the potential effects of artificial provisioning tourism on the abundance of elasmobranchs by showing that conditioning is resilient for several weeks, suggesting that intermittent interruption of elasmobranchs feeding would not really help to decrease its impact on animal welfare.
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IDENTIFICATION OF SEEDS FROM VARIOUS SPECIES OF STROPHANTHUS
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In a search for differential specific characters, the outer epidermis of the testa from Strophanthus seeds of 15 species has been examined. A “trichome index” has been defined, and the method of its determination described. It enabled the species studied to be divided into six groups.
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Horses as a Crucial Part of One Health
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One Health (OH) is a crucial concept, where the interference between humans, animals and the environment matters. This review article focusses on the role of horses in maintaining the health of humans and the environment. Horses’ impact on environmental health includes their influence on soil and the biodiversity of animal and plant species. Nevertheless, the effect of horses is not usually linear and several factors like plant–animal coevolutionary history, climate and animal density play significant roles. The long history of the relationship between horses and humans is shaped by the service of horses in wars or even in mines. Moreover, horses were essential in developing the first antidote to cure diphtheria. Nowadays, horses do have an influential role in animal assisted therapy, in supporting livelihoods in low income countries and as a leisure partner. Horses are of relevance in the spillover of zoonotic and emerging diseases from wildlife to human (e.g., Hendra Virus), and in non-communicable diseases (e.g., post-traumatic osteoarthritis in horses and back pain in horse riders). Furthermore, many risk factors—such as climate change and antimicrobial resistance—threaten the health of both horses and humans. Finally, the horse is a valuable factor in sustaining the health of humans and the environment, and must be incorporated in any roadmap to achieve OH.
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Wild assumptions? Questioning simplistic narratives about consumer preferences for wildlife products
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That wildlife consumers prefer wild products to farmed alternatives is a widely reported finding in the conservation literature These reported preferences for wild products have been interpreted as evidence that farming and associated trade undermine conservation efforts These conclusions have then been used to influence policy recommendations and the design of conservation interventions related to use of farming itself, as well as to underpin consumer behaviour change campaigns However, for many species and products, the wild versus farmed narrative is based on assumptions that over-simplify consumer behaviour and can lead to conclusions that do not recognize the complexity of real wildlife markets These assumptions include the notions that consumers of the same products have homogeneous preferences, that wild and farmed are the only distinct product types available, and that these preferences do not change over time We highlight the difficulty in linking stated preferences and real-world behaviour, due to confounding factors A consumer who typically prefers wild products may be deterred by factors such as legality, high prices or even simple availability We recommend that researchers embrace these complex markets rather than trying to simplify them, and clearly state the limitations of studies that try to make the connection between stated preferences and actual behaviour This includes considering the full range of products available, what or who might influence the actual purchasing decision a consumer makes, and the diversity of people who may buy wildlife products Considering this complexity is likely to improve evidence-based recommendations for the design of large-scale conservation interventions and policy changes This will ensure that these interventions are better able to reduce the negative impacts on biodiversity from illegal and unsustainable trade, and promote sustainable trade that can benefit both people and wildlife A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article
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About rats and jackfruit trees: modeling the carrying capacity of a Brazilian Atlantic Forest spiny-rat Trinomys dimidiatus (Günther, 1877) Rodentia, Echimyidae population with varying jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus L) abundances/ Sobre ratos e jaqueiras: modelando a capacidade suporte de uma população do rato-de-espinho da Mata Atlântica Trinomys dimidiatus (Günther, 1877) Rodentia, Echimyidae em relação a diferentes abundâncias de jaqueiras (Artocarpus heterophyllus L)
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We carried out a six-year study aimed at evaluating if and how a Brazilian Atlantic Forest small mammal community responded to the presence of the invasive exotic species Artocarpus heterophyllus, the jackfruit tree. In the surroundings of Vila Dois Rios, Ilha Grande, RJ, 18 grids were established, 10 where the jackfruit tree was present and eight were it was absent. Previous results indicated that the composition and abundance of this small mammal community were altered by the presence and density of A. heterophyllus. One observed effect was the increased population size of the spiny-rat Trinomys dimidiatus within the grids where the jackfruit trees were present. Therefore we decided to create a mathematical model for this species, based on the Verhulst-Pearl logistic equation. Our objectives were i) to calculate the carrying capacity K based on real data of the involved species and the environment; ii) propose and evaluate a mathematical model to estimate the population size of T. dimidiatus based on the monthly seed production of jackfruit tree, Artocarpus heterophyllus and iii) determinate the minimum jackfruit tree seed production to maintain at least two T. dimidiatus individuals in one study grid. Our results indicated that the predicted values by the model for the carrying capacity K were significantly correlated with real data. The best fit was found considering 20~35% energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels. Within the scope of assumed premises, our model showed itself to be an adequate simulator for Trinomys dimidiatus populations where the invasive jackfruit tree is present.(AU)
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Machine learning methods for imbalanced data set for prediction of faecal contamination in beach waters.
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Predicting water contamination by statistical models is a useful tool to manage health risk in recreational beaches. Extreme contamination events, i.e. those exceeding normative are generally rare with respect to bathing conditions and thus the data is said to be imbalanced. Modeling and predicting those rare events present unique challenges. Here we introduce and evaluate several machine learning techniques and metrics to model imbalanced data and evaluate model performance. We do so by using a) simulated data-sets and b) a real data base with records of faecal coliform abundance monitored for 10 years in 21 recreational beaches in Uruguay (N ≈ 19000) using in situ and meteorological variables. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of the methods and provide a simple guide to perform models for a general audience. We also provide R codes to reproduce model fitting and testing. We found that most Machine Learning techniques are sensitive to imbalance and require specific data pre-treatment (e.g. upsampling) to improve performance. Accuracy (i.e. correctly classified cases over total cases) is not adequate to evaluate model performance on imbalanced data set. Instead, true positive rates (TPR) and false positive rates (FPR) are recommended. Among the 52 possible candidate algorithms tested, the stratified Random forest presented the better performance improving TPR in 50% with respect to baseline (0.4) and outperformed baseline in the evaluated metrics. Support vector machines combined with upsampling method or synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) performed well, similar to Adaboost with SMOTE. These results suggests that combining modeling strategies is necessary to improve our capacity to anticipate water contamination and avoid health risk.
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Light Pollution and Circadian Misalignment: A Healthy, Blue-Free, White Light-Emitting Diode to Avoid Chronodisruption
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Sunlight has participated in the development of all life forms on Earth. The micro-world and the daily rhythms of plants and animals are strongly regulated by the light–dark rhythm. Human beings have followed this pattern for thousands of years. The discovery and development of artificial light sources eliminated the workings of this physiological clock. The world’s current external environment is full of light pollution. In many electrical light bulbs used today and considered “environmentally friendly,” such as LED devices, electrical energy is converted into short-wavelength illumination that we have not experienced in the past. Such illumination effectively becomes “biological light pollution” and disrupts our pineal melatonin production. The suppression of melatonin at night alters our circadian rhythms (biological rhythms with a periodicity of 24 h). This alteration is known as chronodisruption and is associated with numerous diseases. In this article, we present a blue-free WLED (white light-emitting diode) that can avoid chronodisruption and preserve circadian rhythms. This WLED also maintains the spectral quality of light measured through parameters such as CRI (color reproduction index).
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Nitrate/ammonium-responsive microRNA-mRNA regulatory networks affect root system architecture in Populus × canescens
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BACKGROUND: Nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) are the primary forms of inorganic nitrogen (N) taken up by plant roots, and a lack of these N sources commonly limits plant growth. To better understand how NO3- and NH4+ differentially affect root system architecture, we analyzed the expression profiles of microRNAs and their targets in poplar roots treated with three forms of nitrogen S1 (NO3-), S2 (NH4NO3, normal), and S3 (NH4+) via RNA sequencing. RESULTS: The results revealed a total of 709 miRNAs. Among them, 57 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs and 28 differentially expressed miRNA-target pairs showed correlated expression profiles in S1 vs. S2. Thirty-six significantly differentially expressed miRNAs and 12 differentially expressed miRNA-target pairs showed correlated expression profiles in S3 vs. S2. In particular, NFYA3, a target of upregulated ptc-miR169i and ptc-miR169b, was downregulated in S1 vs. S2, while NFYA1, a target of upregulated ptc-miR169b, was downregulated in S3 vs. S2 and probably played an important role in the changes in root morphology observed when the poplar plants were treated with different N forms. Furthermore, the miRNA-target pairs ptc-miR169i/b-D6PKL2, ptc-miR393a-5p-AFB2, ptc-miR6445a-NAC14, ptc-miR172d-AP2, csi-miR396a-5p_R + 1_1ss21GA-EBP1, ath-miR396b-5p_R + 1-TPR4, and ptc-miR166a/b/c-ATHB-8 probably contributed to the changes in root morphology observed when poplar plants were treated with different N forms. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets play an important role in the regulation of the poplar root system architecture by different N forms.
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Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations governing prey choice by hunters in a post-war African forest-savannah macromosaic
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Overhunting typically increases during and after armed conflicts, and may lead to regional-scale defaunation. The mitigation of hunting impacts is complex because, among other reasons, several intrinsic and extrinsic motivations underpin the elevated deployment of hunting practices. Here we present the first study focusing on these motivations in a post-war zone. Following persistently heavy hunting pressure during the 27-year Angolan civil war, the offtake of small to medium-bodied species has increased recently as a result of large mammal depletion. However, prey choice associated with different motivations varied in terms of species trophic level and body size. While most residents hunted large-bodied species to maximize revenues from wildlife trade, many low-trophic level smaller species were harvested to meet local subsistence demands because they were more palatable and could be captured using artisanal traps near hunters’ households. Mainly low-trophic level species were killed in retaliation for crop-raiding or livestock depredation. Considering all game species sampled in this study, 96% were captured to attend two or more motivations. In addition, hunting associated with different motivations was partitioned in terms of age and gender, with prey acquisition for the wildlife trade primarily carried out by adult men, while hunting to meet local subsistence needs and inhibit human-wildlife conflicts were carried out by adult men and women, children and even the elderly. In natural savannah areas lacking fish as a source of protein, a higher number of species was selected to supply both the meat trade and subsistence, while more species in forest areas were targeted for trade in animal body parts and conflict retaliation. Finally, local commerce in bushmeat and other body parts accrued higher domestic revenues compared to any alternative sources of direct and indirect income. However, these financial benefits were at best modest, largely unsustainable in terms of prey population collapses, and generated high long-term costs for the local to regional scale economy and native biodiversity.
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Teasing apart the host-related, nutrient-related and temperature-related effects shaping the phenology and microbiome of the tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea
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BACKGROUND: Halophila stipulacea seagrass meadows are an ecologically important and threatened component of the ecosystem in the Gulf of Aqaba. Recent studies have demonstrated correlated geographic patterns for leaf epiphytic community composition and leaf morphology, also coinciding with different levels of water turbidity and nutrient concentrations. Based on these observations, workers have suggested an environmental microbial fingerprint, which may reflect various environmental stress factors seagrasses have experienced, and may add a holobiont level of plasticity to seagrasses, assisting their acclimation to changing environments and through range expansion. However, it is difficult to tease apart environmental effects from host-diversity dependent effects, which have covaried in field studies, although this is required in order to establish that differences in microbial community compositions among sites are driven by environmental conditions rather than by features governed by the host. RESULTS: In this study we carried out a mesocosm experiment, in which we studied the effects of warming and nutrient stress on the composition of epiphytic bacterial communities and on some phenological traits. We studied H. stipulacea collected from two different meadows in the Gulf of Aqaba, representing differences in the host and the environment alike. We found that the source site from which seagrasses were collected was the major factor governing seagrass phenology, although heat increased shoot mortality and nutrient loading delayed new shoot emergence. Bacterial diversity, however, mostly depended on the environmental conditions. The most prominent pattern was the increase in Rhodobacteraceae under nutrient stress without heat stress, along with an increase in Microtrichaceae. Together, the two taxa have the potential to maintain nitrate reduction followed by an anammox process, which can together buffer the increase in nutrient concentrations across the leaf surface. CONCLUSIONS: Our results thus corroborate the existence of environmental microbial fingerprints, which are independent from the host diversity, and support the notion of a holobiont level plasticity, both important to understand and monitor H. stipulacea ecology under the changing climate.
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Slowing deforestation in Indonesia follows declining oil palm expansion and lower oil prices
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Much concern about tropical deforestation focuses on oil palm plantations, but their impacts remain poorly quantified. Using nation-wide interpretation of satellite imagery, and sample-based error calibration, we estimated the impact of large-scale (industrial) and smallholder oil palm plantations on natural old-growth (“primary”) forests from 2001 to 2019 in Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer. Over nineteen years, the area mapped under oil palm doubled, reaching 16.24 Mha in 2019 (64% industrial; 36% smallholder), more than the official estimates of 14.72 Mha. The forest area declined by 11% (9.79 Mha), including 32% (3.09 Mha) ultimately converted into oil palm, and 29% (2.85 Mha) cleared and converted in the same year. Industrial plantations replaced more forest than detected smallholder plantings (2.13 Mha vs 0.72 Mha). New plantations peaked in 2009 and 2012 and declined thereafter. Expansion of industrial plantations and forest loss were correlated with palm oil prices. A price decline of 1% was associated with a 1.08% decrease in new industrial plantations and with a 0.68% decrease of forest loss. Deforestation fell below pre-2004 levels in 2017–2019 providing an opportunity to focus on sustainable management. As the price of palm oil has doubled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, effective regulation is key to minimising future forest conversion.
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Gut Microbiota of Ostrinia nubilalis Larvae Degrade Maize Cellulose
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Most arthropod guts harbor diverse microbiota for symbiotic digestion. The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), is a devastating pest that feeds the lignocellulose-rich tissues of maize plants. However, the potential role of ECB gut microbes in degrading maize cellulose remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the gut microbiota of ECB fed with different diets and their potential function in maize lignocellulose degradation. The diversity and composition of gut bacterial communities varied dramatically between the ECB larva fed with artificial diets (ECB-D) and maize plants (ECB-M). Draft genomes of the microbial consortia from ECB-D and ECB-M showed that the principal degraders of cellulose mainly belonged to Firmicutes or Proteobacteria and they were primarily found in the midgut. The cellulolytic microbial consortia contained genes encoding various carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZyme). Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed significant breakdown of lignocellulose in maize treated by the two microbial consortia for 9 days in vitro. Metabolomic analyses show that maize particles treated by two microbial consortia generate distinctive metabolomic profiles, with enrichment for different monosaccharides (i.e., Glucose, Rhamnofuranose, Isomaltose, and Cellobiose) and amino acids (i.e., Threonine, Histidine, and Lysine). The results indicated that the diet of the host impacted the composition and function of its gut microbiota and ECB exploited specific gut microbes to digest maize lignocellulose with distinctive products. Our study provides valuable microbiota resources for lignocellulose bioconversion.
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Effects of sheep manure in agricultural soils on the behavior of Folsomia candida and initial growth and development of Avena sativa
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Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sheep manure in agricultural soils on the behavior of Folsomia candida and initial growth and development of Avena sativa. For this, an Oxisol was submitted to different doses of sheep manure and was subsequently evaluated for Folsomia candida survival and avoidance behavior through standardized ecotoxicological assays, the initial performance of oats by germination test and the soil basal respiration rate by respirometry methodology. There was an increase in the basal respiration rate of the soil by the application of sheep manure and this was consistent with the increase of the doses. The survival rate and avoidance behavior of springtails were not altered and there was no change in the initial performance of oats, indicating that this manure can be used for organic fertilization of soils with low soil pollutant potential.
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Climate, Carbon Dioxide, and Plant-Based Aero-Allergens: A Deeper Botanical Perspective
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There is global evidence of a general increase in the incidence and prevalence of respiratory diseases including allergic rhinitis and associated asthma. This increase in turn, has been related, in part, to concurrent increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature on pollen production and allergic disease generated from plant-based sources of pollen. Such links to anthropogenic climate change has suggested three significant and interrelated consequences associated with respiratory allergies or disease. First, warmer temperatures and a longer frost-free growing season can influence pollen season length and temporal exposure to airborne aeroallergens. Second, both warmer temperatures and additional CO2 can increase the amount of pollen, the seasonal intensity, from spring through fall. Thirdly, there is evidence from oak and ragweed that rising levels of CO2 could increase the allergen concentration of the pollen and symptom severity. However, while these outcomes are of obvious consequence, they do not fully encompass all of the plant derived changes that could, directly or indirectly, influence aeroallergen production, exposure, and consequences for public health. In this overview, I will delve deeper into other plant-based links to climate/CO2 that are consequential either directly or indirectly to allergic rhinitis and associated disease. Such interactions range from pollen morphology to fire occurrence, from volatile organic compounds to potential changes in pesticide usage. The goal in doing so is to provide a broader context and appreciation for the interactions between plant biology and climate that can also affect allergen production and human impact but which, to date, have received little recognition or research.
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A prebreeding study of introgression spring bread wheat lines carrying combinations of stem rust resistance genes, Sr22+Sr25 and Sr35+Sr25
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The Sr22, Sr35, and Sr25 genes attract the attention of bread wheat breeders with their effectiveness against Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici race Ug99 and its biotypes. The effectiveness and impact of Sr22+Sr25 and Sr35+Sr25 gene combinations on agronomic traits have not yet been studied. In the present article, these traits were studied using the spring bread wheat lines L503/W3534//L503, L503/Sr35//L503/3/L503 carrying the Sr22+Sr25 and Sr35+Sr25 genes during 2016-2020. These lines were assessed for resistance to P. graminis f. sp. tritici under natural epiphytotics and to the Saratov, Lysogorsk and Omsk populations of the pathogen and to the PgtZ1 (TKSTF) and PgtF18.6 fungus isolates in laboratory conditions (TKSTF + Sr33). The presence of the studied Sr-genes was conf irmed by using molecular markers. Prebreeding studies were conducted during 2018-2020 vegetation periods. Under the natural epiphytotics of the pathogen and in the laboratory conditions, the Sr22+Sr25 combination was highly effective, while Sr35+Sr25 was ineffective. For grain yield, the lines with the Sr22+Sr25 and Sr35+Sr25 genes were superior to the recipient cultivar L503 in one year (Sr22+Sr25 in 2019; Sr35+Sr25 in 2018), with a decrease in 2020, but in general there were no differences. For the period 2018-2020, both combinations showed a decrease in 1000 grains weight and an increase in the germination-earing period. The line with Sr22+Sr25 genes showed insignif icant effects on gluten and dough tenacity, but the ratio of dough tenacity to extensibility was higher, and f lour strength, porosity and bread volume were lower; in the line with Sr35+Sr25 genes, the gluten content was lower, but the strength, tenacity of the dough and the ratio of dough tenacity to extensibility were higher, f lour strength and the porosity of the bread were at the recipient level, but the volume of bread was lower.
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Species identification of semen stains by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.
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Semen stains are the most important biological evidence when identifying the aggressor in sexual assault cases. Current detecting assays of semen stains species identification were not confirmative enough. In this study, we investigated the potential of species identification of semen stains by using attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with advanced chemometrics methods. The effect of substrates types and time since deposition (TSD) were considered in the study. A partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) classification model was established which demonstrated complete separation between human and other species (rabbit, dog, boar, bull, and ram). Validation was conducted which showed prediction abilities with 100% accuracy. Additionally, we found species identification could be achieved without sperm cells which proved ability of spectroscopic methods detecting the semen samples from the case of azoospermia. This work provides a powerful and practical tool for species identification of semen stains in real forensic casework.
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Principal Drivers and Conservation Solutions to the Impending Primate Extinction Crisis: Introduction to the Special Issue
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Nonhuman primates are facing an impending extinction crisis with over 65% of species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered, and 93% characterized by declining populations. Primary drivers of primate population decline include deforestation, principally for industrial agriculture and the production of food and nonfood commodities, much of which is exported to wealthy consumer nations, unsustainable bushmeat hunting, the illegal pet trade, the capture of primates for body parts, expanding road and rail networks, mining, dam building, oil and gas exploration, and the threat of emerging diseases. Over the next several decades, human population increase, agricultural expansion, and climate change are expected to contribute significantly to the loss of additional suitable habitat and a reduction in the viability of local primate populations. If we are to avoid this impending extinction crisis, primate researchers must prioritize projects designed to mitigate the effects of habitat change on ecosystems health and biodiversity, and play a greater role in conservation and environmental policy by educating global citizens and political leaders. In addition, the international community will need to work with governments in primate habitat countries to expand the number of protected areas that contain primate species (94 primate species have < 10% of their range in protected areas). In this special issue of the International Journal of Primatology, we bring together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to examine the current and future threats to primate population persistence, and present local, country, and regional solutions to protect primate species.
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Distribution and migration characteristics of dinitrotoluene sulfonates (DNTs) in typical TNT production sites: Effects and health risk assessment.
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The production of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) produces a great deal of waste water, and dinitrotoluene sulfonates (DNTs) are the main pollutants in its waste. This paper presents a pilot investigation on the geochemical transformation of DNTs affected by historical wastewater spillage from a typical TNT production company in Northwest China. In the horizontal direction, DNTs diffused from the evaporation pond to the surrounding area of the site, and the concentration of DNTs in the evaporation pond surface soil exceeded 1000 mg/kg. The horizontal distribution of DNTs in the site showed a migration trend to the east and south of evaporation, which was consistent with the terrain of high northwest and low southeast of the site. Due to the high water solubility of pollutants, water flow is the main driving force for the horizontal distribution of DNTs. In the vertical direction, the concentration of pollutants gradually increased with the depth of the soil. DNTs are mainly adsorbed in the third layer (6.0-8.0 m). It can be seen that the accumulation of the 2,4-DNTs-3-SO3- is obviously larger than that of the 2,4-DNTs-5-SO3-, which may be related to the steric hindrance effect of sulfonic acid groups in the two isomers. Results showed DNTs distribution strongly linked to soil physicochemical properties and the migration of DNTs in soil exhibited obvious heterogeneity in time and space. The carcinogenic risks in surface soil (0-1.5 m) and lower soil (1.5-6.0 m, 6.0-8.0 m) are all higher than 1✕10-6; non-carcinogenic risk surface soil (0-1.5 m) is 4.011✕10, which is greater than 1, indicating that they may cause certain harm to the human body. Meanwhile, this study presented a pioneering investigation for the contamination and geochemical transfer of DNTs.
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Prairie and tree planting tool—PT(2) (1.0): a conservation decision support tool for Iowa, USA
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This article overviews the prairie and tree planting tool or PT(2) (1.0), an online GIS-based decision support tool for landowners interested in exploring opportunities to plant prairie or trees in and around their farm fields for conservation or production purposes. PT(2) 1.0 can be found online at: https://pt2.nrem.iastate.edu/. With the PT(2) (1.0) users locate farm fields of interest in an online aerial photograph and mapping geographic information system (GIS). Users explore areas they are considering for prairie or tree cover by examining different data layers: soil maps, 2-foot contour topography maps, LiDAR hillshade maps, and a map of current land values based on estimated land rent. Users then utilize scaled dimensional drawing tools to measure and delineate areas of interest for planting trees and or prairie. Once an area is delineated, users select from drop-down menus prairie seed mixes or woody species that are suitable for the soils present, and users can select basic long-term management options. PT(2) (1.0) estimates total annualized costs for tree or prairie establishment, long-term management, and opportunity costs (based on area weighted expected soil rent), and factors in the potential benefit of utilizing government cost-share programming, e.g., Environmental Quality Incentive Program or the Conservation Reserve Program. Key data layers are currently functional in Iowa, likewise the financial data underlying the cost analysis are specific to Iowa. PT(2) (1.0) is, however, open source and open code and guidance is provided regarding how to access and adapt the data for use in other states. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10457-021-00686-8.
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Spatial distribution of endemic fluorosis caused by drinking water in a high-fluorine area in Ningxia, China
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Endemic fluorosis is widespread in China, especially in the arid and semi-arid areas of northwest China, where endemic fluorosis caused by consumption of drinking water high in fluorine content is very common. We analyzed data on endemic fluorosis collected in Ningxia, a typical high-fluorine area in the north of China. Fluorosis cases were identified in 539 villages in 1981, in 4449 villages in 2010, and in 3269 villages in 2017. These were located in 19 administrative counties. In 2017, a total of 1.07 million individuals suffered from fluorosis in Ningxia, with more children suffering from dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. Among Qingshuihe River basin disease areas, the high incidence of endemic fluorosis is in Yuanzhou District and Xiji County of Guyuan City. The paper holds that the genesis of the high incidence of endemic fluorosis in Qingshui River basin is mainly caused by chemical weathering, evaporation and concentration, and dissolution of fluorine-containing rocks around the basin, which is also closely related to the semi-arid geographical region background, basin structure, groundwater chemical characteristics, and climatic conditions of the basin. The process of mutual recharge and transformation between Qingshui River and shallow groundwater in the basin is intense. There is a close coupling relationship between the power of central and southern Ningxia disease areas and Qingshui River watershed of excess fluorine water. Because the traditional drinking water source of the residents in the basin is shallow groundwater, the underground water is the main cause of the high incidence of endemic fluorosis. The results show that Xiji County and Yuanzhou District were the areas of high incidence of endemic fluorosis which gradually decreased to the middle and lower reaches of Qingshui River. In space, distribution characteristics are Qingshui River source area > Qingshui River valley basin area, tributary area > trunk stream area, upstream area > middle reaches area> downstream area of Qingshui River. This is relatively consistent with the spatial distribution of fluoride ion content in Qingshui River groundwater.
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COVID-19 impacts on participation in large scale biodiversity-themed community science projects in the United States
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Shutdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have had extensive impacts on professional and volunteer-based biodiversity and conservation efforts We evaluated the impact of the widespread pandemic-related closures in the spring of 2020 on participation patterns and rates on a national and a state-by-state basis in the United States in four biodiversity-themed community science programs: eBird, eButterfly, iNaturalist, and Nature's Notebook We compared the number of participants, observations submitted, and proportion of observations collected in urban environments in spring 2020 to the expected values for these metrics based on activity in the previous five years (2015–2019), which in many cases exhibited underlying growth At the national scale, eButterfly and Nature's Notebook exhibited declines in the number of participants and number of observations submitted during the spring of 2020 and iNaturalist and eBird showed growth in both measures On a state-by-state basis, the patterns varied geographically and by program The more popular programs – iNaturalist and eBird – exhibited increases in the Eastern U S in both the number of observations and participants and slight declines in the West Further, there was a widespread increase in observations originating from urban areas, particularly in iNaturalist and eBird Understanding the impacts of lockdowns on participation patterns in these programs is crucial for proper interpretation of the data The data generated by these programs are highly valuable for documenting impacts of pandemic-related closures on wildlife and plants and may suggest patterns seen in other community science programs and in other countries
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Present and future distribution of bat hosts of sarbecoviruses: implications for conservation and public health
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Global changes in response to human encroachment into natural habitats and carbon emissions are driving the biodiversity extinction crisis and increasing disease emergence risk. Host distributions are one critical component to identify areas at risk of viral spillover, and bats act as reservoirs of diverse viruses. We developed a reproducible ecological niche modelling pipeline for bat hosts of SARS-like viruses (subgenus Sarbecovirus), given that several closely related viruses have been discovered and sarbecovirus–host interactions have gained attention since SARS-CoV-2 emergence. We assessed sampling biases and modelled current distributions of bats based on climate and landscape relationships and project future scenarios for host hotspots. The most important predictors of species distributions were temperature seasonality and cave availability. We identified concentrated host hotspots in Myanmar and projected range contractions for most species by 2100. Our projections indicate hotspots will shift east in Southeast Asia in locations greater than 2°C hotter in a fossil-fuelled development future. Hotspot shifts have implications for conservation and public health, as loss of population connectivity can lead to local extinctions, and remaining hotspots may concentrate near human populations.
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Verifiable soil organic carbon modelling to facilitate regional reporting of cropland carbon change: A test case in the Czech Republic
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Regional monitoring, reporting and verification of soil organic carbon change occurring in managed cropland are indispensable to support carbon-related policies. Rapidly evolving gridded agronomic models can facilitate these efforts throughout Europe. However, their performance in modelling soil carbon dynamics at regional scale is yet unexplored. Importantly, as such models are often driven by large-scale inputs, they need to be benchmarked against field experiments. We elucidate the level of detail that needs to be incorporated in gridded models to robustly estimate regional soil carbon dynamics in managed cropland, testing the approach for regions in the Czech Republic. We first calibrated the biogeochemical Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model against long-term experiments. Subsequently, we examined the EPIC model within a top-down gridded modelling framework constructed for European agricultural soils from Europe-wide datasets and regional land-use statistics. We explored the top-down, as opposed to a bottom-up, modelling approach for reporting agronomically relevant and verifiable soil carbon dynamics. In comparison with a no-input baseline, the regional EPIC model suggested soil carbon changes (~0.1-0.5 Mg C ha-1 y-1) consistent with empirical-based studies for all studied agricultural practices. However, inaccurate soil information, crop management inputs, or inappropriate model calibration may undermine regional modelling of cropland management effect on carbon since each of the three components carry uncertainty (~0.5-1.5 Mg C ha-1 y-1) that is substantially larger than the actual effect of agricultural practices relative to the no-input baseline. Besides, inaccurate soil data obtained from the background datasets biased the simulated carbon trends compared to observations, thus hampering the model's verifiability at the locations of field experiments. Encouragingly, the top-down agricultural management derived from regional land-use statistics proved suitable for the estimation of soil carbon dynamics consistently with actual field practices. Despite sensitivity to biophysical parameters, we found a robust scalability of the soil organic carbon routine for various climatic regions and soil types represented in the Czech experiments. The model performed better than the tier 1 methodology of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which indicates a great potential for improved carbon change modelling over larger political regions.
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Misinterpreting proxy data for paleoclimate signals: A reply to Srivastava and Jovane, 2020
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Srivastava and Jovane (2020) have made several comments on our assessment of proxy data and challenged the outcome of Shukla et al (2020) based mainly on interpretation of environmental magnetic parameters We respond to their criticisms and re-evaluate our paper, remove ambiguities and validate our conclusions through additional proxies (grain-size and geochemistry) We welcome their comments and do not entirely rule out their interpretation for magnetic mineralogy We highlight the importance of proxy validation for high-energy environments like Chorabari lake However, single proxy data correlation is likely to produce biased results with no relevant meaning The objective of our study was to understand complexities in the glacial-climate system by reconstructing late-Holocene climate variations using the glacial lake sediment records from the Mandakini River Basin, Central Himalaya, India We presented the complexities in Shukla et al (2020), and this was also highlighted by Srivastava and Jovane (2020) In response, we provide additional justification of proxy response and substantiate our results with present-day estimates from the Chorabari glacier valley We disagree with the thesis put forward by Srivastava and Jovane (2020) in their conclusion as they overemphasize the interpretation of a single proxy We maintain that the investigation of present-day glacial settings is an important precursor of paleoclimatic data interpretation and that this supports our conclusions We will try to incorporate the important suggestions of Srivastava and Jovne (2020) relating to the interpretation of magnetic data in future work
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Updated description of Diospyrosdussaudii Lecomte (Ebenaceae), with lectotypification and notes on its distribution
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Diospyrosdussaudii is a poorly known species and previous descriptions lacked details about its female flowers and fruits. The species had not been recorded since type collections were made in 1913. As a result of our Diospyros research in Thailand, new specimens and data are now available for this species. In this study, we provide an updated morphological description, illustrations, lectotypification and a distribution map. The species was previously reported to be endemic to Laos; as such, the occurrences in Thailand greatly expand the distribution of the species. In addition, we analysed the phylogenetic relationships between D.dussaudii and other Diospyros species from Southeast Asia and other regions, using DNA sequence data from eight plastid regions. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that D.dussaudii is closely related to D.castanea, D.dasyphylla and D.insidiosa. Their taxonomic affinities are discussed.
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Graptoloid feeding efficiency, rotation and astogeny
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Two methods are used to examine feeding strategies in graploloids; the first profiles different sets of zooids on the colony, the second treats the colony as a whole. Both of these techniques have advantages. The choice between them brings into question our concepts of the degree of coloniality shown by graptoloids. Using a whole colony model. graptoloids can be shown to have sampled the water with variable efficiency. as defined in this paper. Planar forms were relatively inefficient, generally sampling less than 10% of the available water. Inclined forms frequently approached 75% efficiency. Biserial forms and strdight monograptids roulinely exceeded 100%. sampling each unit of water more than once. Rotation of the rhabdosome during movement increased the efficiency of horizontal and inclined forms. It reduced the efficiency of scandent biserials and straight monograptids. These were both advantageous effects. Astogenetic changes in colony size and form would have had a profound effect on feeding efficiency.□Graptoloid, ecology, astogeny
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Salmonella Typhimurium fepB negatively regulates C. elegans behavioral plasticity
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OBJECTIVES: Dauer is an alternative developmental stage of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) that gives survival benefits under unfavorable environmental conditions. Our study aims to decipher C. elegan's dauer larvae development upon Salmonella Typhimurium infection and how the bacterial gene regulating the worm's behavioural plasticity for better survival. METHODS: Age-synchronized L4 C. elegans worms were infected with Salmonella Typhimurium 14028s (WT-STM) strain and mutant strains to check the dauer larvae development using 1 % SDS. Besides, bacterial load in animals' gut, pharyngeal pumping rate and viability were checked. Worm's immune genes (e.g., ilys-3, lys-7, pmk-1, abf-2, clec-60) and dauer regulatory genes (e.g., daf-7, daf-11, daf-12, daf-16, daf-3) were checked by performing qRT-PCR under infection conditions. RESULTS: We found that deletion of the fepB gene in S. Typhimurium strain became less pathogenic with reduced flagellar motility and biofilm-forming ability. Besides, there was decreased bacterial burden in the worm's gut with no damage to their pharynx. The fepB mutant strain was also able to enhance the immune responses for better survival of worms. Infection with mutant strain could activate dauer signalling via the TGF-ß pathway leading to a significant increase in dauer formation than WT-STM infection. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that the bacteria act as a food source for the growth of C. elegans and development and can act as a signal that might be playing an essential role in regulating the host physiology for their survival. Such a study can help us in understanding the complex host-pathogen interaction benefiting pathogen in host dissemination.
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Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Salmonella enterica in Rural Areas of North Carolina After Hurricane Florence in 2018
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In this study, water samples were analyzed from a rural area of North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018 and the distribution of the ttrC virulence gene of Salmonella enterica were investigated. We also examined the distribution of culturable S. enterica and determined their antibiotic resistance profiles. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the classes of aminoglycoside, beta‐lactam, and macrolide‐lincosamide‐streptogramin B (MLSB) were targeted in this study. The ttrC gene was detected in 23 out of 25 locations. There was a wider and higher range of the ttrC gene in flooded water versus unflooded water samples (0–2.12 × 10(5) copies/L vs. 0–4.86 × 10(4) copies/L). Culturable S. enterica was isolated from 10 of 25 sampling locations, which was less prevalent than the distribution of the ttrC gene. The antibiotic resistance profiles were not distinct among the S. enterica isolates. The aminoglycoside resistance gene aac(6')‐Iy had the highest relative abundance (around 0.05 copies/16S rRNA gene copy in all isolates) among all ARGs. These findings suggested that the 2018 flooding event led to higher copy numbers of the ttrC genes of S. enterica in some flooded water bodies compared to those in unflooded water bodies. The high ARG level and similar ARG profiles were observed in all S. enterica isolates from both flooded and unflooded samples, suggesting that the antibiotic resistance was prevalent in S. enterica within this region, regardless of flooding.
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Exploring the missing link between soil total antioxidant capacity and herbicide-induced stress on the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg).
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Herbicide application and residue accumulation in farm soils have deleterious effects on non-target fauna such as earthworms. Although previous studies have documented both positive and deleterious effects of herbicides on soil biota, reports are rare on possible toxicity reduction by raising soil total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Here we review the impact of pretilachlor, a herbicide on the morpho-histology and physiology of the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae in soil amended with farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM) and vermimanure (VM), sources of antioxidants over a period of 168 h. The results indicated a significant spike in the TAC of amended soils relative to control. Dermal undulation, setal aberrations, muscular anomaly, protein and lipid peroxidation variations in the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and catalase (CAT) were significantly less in animals from amended soils. The maximum percent increase in protein (314%) and reductions in LPX (87%), LDH (87.9%) and CAT (87.3%) were observed in the earthworm from VM-amended soil. The increase in TAC was also maximum (109.9%) in soil amended with VM. A significant negative correlation between soil TAC with the biochemical parameters was observed and confirmed through receiver operator characteristics (ROC) and principal component analysis (PCA). The novelty of the present study includes exploring the missing link between the antioxidant level of organically amended soil and the herbicide-induced oxidative stress in the earthworm E. eugeniae. We concluded that soils with high levels of antioxidants could reduce oxidative damage in E eugeniae due to herbicide toxicity.
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Características Produtivas E Qualitativas Do Pasto, Desempenho E Emissão De Metano De Vacas Holandês X Zebu Em Pastagem De Capim-marandu
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Objetivou-se avaliar dois intervalos de pastejo (IP) em lotação rotacionada ao longo de três períodos de pastejo consecutivos sobre a produtividade e a qualidade da forragem de Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu, e seu impacto, no consumo de alimentos e água, na produção de leite individual e por hectare e na emissão de metano (CH4) entérico. Os IP foram: (i) intervalo de pastejo fixo aos 30 dias (30-IP) e (ii) quando o dossel interceptou 95% de radiação fotossinteticamente ativa (95-IL). Foram utilizadas vacas mestiças Holandês x Zebu (548 ± 61,0 kg PV), multíparas e com 70 ± 18,1 dias em lactação. O ajuste da capacidade de lotação por piquete foi feito de acordo com a técnica put-and-take, visando um resíduo pós-pastejo de 20 cm de altura. O intervalo de pastejo para o tratamento de 30-IP foi aproximadamente seis dias mais longo (P=0,01) comparado ao de 95-IL, a interceptação da luz pelo dossel forrageiro 2% maior. A massa total de forragem, colmo e massa morta por área foi maior (P<0,01) para o 30-IP em comparação com o 95- IL. No entanto, a taxa de lotação foi 11,3% maior (P=0,02) para o tratamento de 95- IL do que o de 30-IP. No período de pré-pastejo, o manejo de 95-IL apresentou maior (P<0,01) proporção de folhas e relação folha/colmo. A produtividade diária de leite e seus componentes foram de 16 a 28% maior (P<0,01) para 95-LI comparado a 30-IP, respectivamente. O conteúdo de matéria seca digestível in vitro e a concentração de PB no extrato pastejável foi maior (P0,02) para 95-IL em relação à 30-IP. A FDA e FDN no extrato pastejável foram maiores para 30-IP (P<0,01) em relação à 95-IL. O potencial de produção de gases a partir de carboidratos não fibrosos foi 9,4% superior para 30-IP. A produção de metano (CH4) expressa em g/kg de MSD foi maior (P<0,01) para 30-IP em comparação a 95-IL. A oferta de forragem foi maior (P<0,01) para 30-IP em comparação a 95-IL. O consumo de PB, a produção de leite, de lactose e sólidos totais foi maior (P<0,05) para 95-IL em comparação a 30-IP. Todavia os teores de gordura, de proteína, e sólidos totais foram maiores para 30-IP em comparação 95-IL. As emissões entéricas de CH4 in vivo e o consumo de água não foram influenciados pelo manejo (P>0,5). A média de consumo foi de 58 kg de água/d. Estes resultados sugerem que o manejo de 95-IL para o capim de Marandu, possibilitou a redução do intervalo de pastejo, melhora do valor nutritivo da forragem e aumento da produção e produtividade do leite em comparação à 30-IP. Entretanto a redução da produção de metano pelo melhor manejo da pastagem necessita ser mais investigado.
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Diet of Crenicichla lepidota Heckel, 1840 (Perciformes, Cichlidae) of lagoa Redonda, Nísia Floresta/RN - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v20i0.4472/ Dieta de Crenicichla lepidota Heckel, 1840 (Perciformes, Cichlidae) da lagoa Redonda, Nísia Floresta/RN - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v20i0.4472
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This study was undertaken with a sample of 221 specimens of Crenicichla lepidota, ranging between 4.0cm and 14.0cm of total length, collected monthly at the lagoa Redonda (4º5154 and 68º5818LS and 34º5708 and 38º3512WG) using nylon fishing nets and fish-hook, from April 1987 to March 1988. The diet components were analyzed by a method of points, by the frequency of occurrence of feeding items (Hynes, 1950) and by a feeding index suggested by Kawakami and Vazzoler (1980). The diet of Crenicichla lepidota mainly includes Insecta, Crustacea and Pisces. Qualitative and quantitative changes were not verified with regard to sex and during dry and flood seasons.
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Tillage and irrigation increase wheat root systems at deep soil layer and grain yields in lime concretion black soil
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In lime concretion black soil, a two-factor (tillage and irrigation) split block experiment from 2015 to 2017 was conducted to identify whether their combination is suitable for the improvement of winter wheat yield and water use efficiency. The main treatments were subsoiling (SS) and rotary tillage (RT), with secondary treatments of three irrigation regimes: no irrigation during the whole growth period (W0), irrigation at jointing stage (W1), and irrigation at both jointing and anthesis stages (W2). In combination with a soil column experiment, the contribution of the root system in different soil layers to yield was clarified. The results indicated that both tillage and irrigation significantly influenced the spatiotemporal distributions of the root systems and yield components, while tillage produced the strongest effect. Compared with RT, SS significantly promoted the root penetration and delayed root senescence in deep soil layers. With increasing soil depth, each root configuration parameter (dry root weight density, DRWD; root length density, RLD; root surface area per unit area, RSA; root volume per unit area, RV) gradually decreased, and the peak appearance times of each root parameter in RT and three parameters (RLD, RSA and RV) in SS were postponed from heading to anthesis and from anthesis to filling stage, respectively. The average post-peak attenuation values at soil layers from 60 to 100 cm in W1 were less than those in W0 and W2. SSW1 generated the highest grain yields, with an average increase of 31.88% compared with the yield in RTW0. Root systems at three soil layers (0-40 cm, 40-80 cm and below 80 cm) differentially contributed to grain yields with 78.32%, 12.09% and 9.59%, respectively. The growth peak of the deep root system in SSW1 was postponed to the filling stage, and the post-peak attenuation declining rates were also slowed. Therefore, SSW1 is an effective cultivation method improving grain yields and water use efficiency in lime concretion black soil.
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Associating life stages and sexes of Nearctic Polycentropus Curtis, 1835 (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae) using mitochondrial DNA barcoding
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Alpha taxonomy of caddisflies (order Trichoptera) is based primarily on male genital morphology. As such, associations of adult females and other life stages typically require conclusive association with the species’ identifiable male. The aim of this study was to use molecular methods to associate females and larvae of Polycentropus species represented in the Nearctic. Analysis of mtCOI sequences using distance‐ and tree‐based methods resulted in the association of larvae for 14 species of Polycentropus (P. alabamensis Hamilton, Harris & Lago, 1990, P. blicklei Ross & Yamamoto 1965, P. carlsoni Morse 1971, P. carolinensis Banks 1905, P. colei Ross 1941, P. confusus Hagen 1861, P. denningi Smith 1962, P. elarus Ross 1944, P. gertschi Denning 1950, Polycentropus halidus Milne 1936, P. maculatus Banks 1908, P. pentus Ross 1941, P. rickeri Yamamoto 1966, and P. variegatus Banks 1900) and females for 2 species (P. carolinensis and P. chelatus Ross & Yamamoto 1965). Searches for, and descriptions of, diagnostic morphological characters for these previously unidentifiable life forms are now possible. The identity of the larva of P. centralis Banks, 1914 is confirmed and some interesting phylogenetic relationships and a possible cryptic species and potential synonyms are implied in the results. Targets for future immature‐ and female–male associations are discussed along with a preliminary assessment of morphological differences among larvae.
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Technical requirements for cultured meat production: a review
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Environment, food, and disease have a selective force on the present and future as well as our genome. Adaptation of livestock and the environmental nexus, including forest encroachment for anthropological needs, has been proven to cause emerging infectious diseases. Further, these demand changes in meat production and market systems. Meat is a reliable source of protein, with a majority of the world population consumes meat. To meet the increasing demands of meat production as well as address issues, such as current environmental pollution, animal welfare, and outbreaks, cellular agriculture has emerged as one of the next industrial revolutions. Lab grown meat or cell cultured meat is a promising way to pursue this; however, it still needs to resemble traditional meat and be assured safety for human consumption. Further, to mimic the palatability of traditional meat, the process of cultured meat production starts from skeletal muscle progenitor cells isolated from animals that proliferate and differentiate into skeletal muscle using cell culture techniques. Due to several lacunae in the current approaches, production of muscle replicas is not possible yet. Our review shows that constant research in this field will resolve the existing constraints and enable successful cultured meat production in the near future. Therefore, production of cultured meat is a better solution that looks after environmental issues, spread of outbreaks, antibiotic resistance through the zoonotic spread, food and economic crises.
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Evaluating the consequences of household hazardous waste diversion on public health and ecological risks of leachate exposure
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Household hazardous waste (HHW) includes approximately 1% of municipal solid waste (MSW), which is related to the lack of efficient separate collection schemes co-disposed with MSW in many countries worldwide. In this research, the effect of HHW diversion on leachate quality and consequent reduction in risks to the environment and human health was investigated. In this regard, physicochemical parameters of MSW leachate samples with and without hazardous fraction were characterized. Next, leachate pollution index (LPI) and associated risks were assessed. The results showed that the source separation of HHW decreases the LPI value by 13.48% and improves the potential of leachate for biological treatment, leading to a reduction in leachate treatment costs and complexity. Based on risk assessment results, HHW diversion could lower cancer risks of organic compounds and heavy metals to acceptable levels for adults and children. Moreover, by the source-separating of HHW, hazard indices for aquatic and terrestrial bioassays reduced by 41.5 and 36%, respectively. Furthermore, despite the comparatively low generated amount of HHW, this fraction should be emphasized due to its unintended effects for public health and the environment.
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A latent growth curve modelling approach to seasonal and spatial dynamics of food security heterogeneities in rural Lake Naivasha Basin, Kenya
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The increasing complexity of food insecurity, malnutrition, and chronic poverty faced by Sub-Saharan Africa warrants urgent categorisation and tracking of household food security along both temporal and spatial dimensions. This will help to effectively target, monitor and evaluate population-level programs and specific interventions aimed at addressing food insecurity. Traditional longitudinal analysis does not address the dynamics of inter- and intrahousehold heterogeneities within the seasonal and spatial context of household-level food security. This study is the first to overcome such limitations by adopting a multi-group piecewise latent growth curve model in the analysis of the food security situation in a statistically representative sample of 601 households involved in subsistence and cut-flower commercial agriculture, around Lake Naivasha. We considered food security as a latent concept, which manifests as food security outcomes in our primary longitudinal dataset from March 2018 to January 2019. Our analysis highlights the temporal and spatial dynamics of food security and advances new evidence on inter- and intrahousehold heterogeneities in food security across different seasons for the subsistence and commercial farming clusters. These heterogeneities were demonstrated primarily during the hunger season from March to June, and persisted in both the clusters and across months, albeit with different intensities. Moreover, our results indicate the importance of commercial agriculture in achieving food security in the hunger season. Our study suggests the need of a multidisciplinary approach to food security and the introduction of well-coordinated interventions for the development of subsistence and commercial agriculture considering the seasonal and cluster-level specificities.
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Community stability and seasonal biotic homogenisation emphasize the effect of the invasive tropical tanner grass on macrophytes from a highly dynamic neotropical tidal river
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We described the spatial and temporal dynamics of aquatic macrophytes in a Neotropical coastal estuarine river, and identified the negative effects associated to the presence and dominance of the invasive tanner grass. We compared macrophyte beds along the Guaraguaçu River (South Brazil) over four years, using taxonomic and functional dimensions. Biodiversity descriptors were higher in the driest periods compared to the rainiest, although this difference seems to be decreasing over the studied years. Moreover, the spatial organization of biodiversity and community structure slightly changed over time. Such spatial community stability was highlighted by the dominance of the highly invasive tanner grass. In beds dominated by the invasive species, the biodiversity was reduced. As aquatic macrophytes represent an important group in water bodies, the long-term loss of seasonal differences in community structuring is of concern, mainly regarding its potential to impact other groups and ecosystem functioning. By analysing data from standardized monitoring, we were able to identify a poorly discussed facet of biotic homogenisation—the seasonal homogenisation. We also discussed the impact of massive development of invasive species and its consequences for biodiversity in a Neotropical river of outmost importance for biological conservation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00027-022-00858-3.
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Evidence for a thoracic crop in the workers of some Neotropical Pheidole species (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)
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The ability of ant colonies to transport, store, and distribute food resources through trophallaxis is a key advantage of social life. Nonetheless, how the structure of the digestive system has adapted across the ant phylogeny to facilitate these abilities is still not well understood. The crop and proventriculus, structures in the ant foregut (stomodeum), have received most attention for their roles in trophallaxis. However, potential roles of the esophagus have not been as well studied. Here, we report for the first time the presence of an auxiliary thoracic crop in Pheidole aberrans and Pheidole deima using X-ray micro-computed tomography and 3D segmentation. Additionally, we describe morphological modifications involving the endo- and exoskeleton that are associated with the presence of the thoracic crop. Our results indicate that the presence of a thoracic crop in major workers suggests their potential role as repletes or live food reservoirs, expanding the possibilities of tasks assumed by these individuals in the colony. Our contribution emphasizes the utility of combining data from external and internal morphology to better understand functional and behavioral mechanisms.
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The transfer of 241Am and 137Cs to the tissues of broilers' organs.
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Data on the transfer of artificial radionuclides from the environment to the food supply is necessary for internal dose assessment. There is a necessity for expanding and improving the available information on these factors in order to make better dose models for specific scenarios. This paper describes the results of a field experiment with broiler chickens on the transfer factor (Ff) and concentration ratio (CR) for the long-term intake of 241Am and 137Cs with grass meal and soil. The broilers were divided into two groups, each group had nine subgroups and each subgroup had three broilers. The radionuclide concentrations in the feed and the thigh muscle, thigh bone, and liver of 54 broilers divided between the grass meal and soil groups were evaluated by gamma spectrometry for 241Am and 137Cs. The duration of feeding with "contaminated" sources ranged between 1-70 days. The equilibrium stage of 241Am in muscle and bone occurs on the 1st and 40th day, respectively; for 137Cs in muscle- 30th days of intake and for liver and bone- 7th days. For 241Am, the liver did not reach equilibrium stage during the 70 days of intake. Ff of 137Cs in the "forage-muscle" and "soil-muscle" systems were determined as 1.9±0.3 and 0.18±0.05; Ff of 241Am in the "soil-muscle" system was-7.5×10-5.
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Validation of Suitable Reference Genes for Assessing Gene Expression of MicroRNAs in Lonicera japonica.
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which play crucial regulatory roles in plant secondary metabolism and responses to the environment, could be developed as promising biomarkers for different varieties and production areas of herbal medicines. However, limited information is available for miRNAs from Lonicera japonica, which is widely used in East Asian countries owing to various pharmaceutically active secondary metabolites. Selection of suitable reference genes for quantification of target miRNA expression through quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR is important for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of secondary metabolic regulation in different tissues and varieties of L. japonica. For precise normalization of gene expression data in L. japonica, 16 candidate miRNAs were examined in three tissues, as well as 21 cultivated varieties collected from 16 production areas, using GeNorm, NormFinder, and RefFinder algorithms. Our results revealed combination of u534122 and u3868172 as the best reference genes across all samples. Their specificity was confirmed by detecting the cycling threshold (C t) value ranges in different varieties of L. japonica collected from diverse production areas, suggesting the use of these two reference miRNAs is sufficient for accurate transcript normalization with different tissues, varieties, and production areas. To our knowledge, this is the first report on validation of reference miRNAs in honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.). Restuls from this study can further facilitate discovery of functional regulatory miRNAs in different varieties of L. japonica.
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Enhancement of crop photosynthesis by diffuse light: quantifying the contributing factors.
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS Plants use diffuse light more efficiently than direct light. However, experimental comparisons between diffuse and direct light have been obscured by co-occurring differences in environmental conditions (e.g. light intensity). This study aims to analyse the factors that contribute to an increase in crop photosynthesis in diffuse light and to quantify their relative contribution under different levels of diffuseness at similar light intensities. The hypothesis is that the enhancement of crop photosynthesis in diffuse light results not only from the direct effects of more uniform vertical and horizontal light distribution in the crop canopy, but also from crop physiological and morphological acclimation. METHODS Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) crops were grown in three greenhouse compartments that were covered by glass with different degrees of light diffuseness (0, 45 and 71 % of the direct light being converted into diffuse light) while maintaining similar light transmission. Measurements of horizontal and vertical photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) distribution in the crop, leaf photosynthesis light response curves and leaf area index (LAI) were used to quantify each factor's contribution to an increase in crop photosynthesis in diffuse light. In addition, leaf temperature, photoinhibition, and leaf biochemical and anatomical properties were studied. KEY RESULTS The highest degree of light diffuseness (71 %) increased the calculated crop photosynthesis by 7·2 %. This effect was mainly attributed to a more uniform horizontal (33 % of the total effect) and vertical PPFD distribution (21 %) in the crop. In addition, plants acclimated to the high level of diffuseness by gaining a higher photosynthetic capacity of leaves in the middle of the crop and a higher LAI, which contributed 23 and 13 %, respectively, to the total increase in crop photosynthesis in diffuse light. Moreover, diffuse light resulted in lower leaf temperatures and less photoinhibition at the top of the canopy when global irradiance was high. CONCLUSIONS Diffuse light enhanced crop photosynthesis. A more uniform horizontal PPFD distribution played the most important role in this enhancement, and a more uniform vertical PPFD distribution and higher leaf photosynthetic capacity contributed more to the enhancement of crop photosynthesis than did higher values of LAI.
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Improved p-hydroxybenzoate production by engineered Pseudomonas putida S12 by using a mixed-substrate feeding strategy
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The key precursors for p-hydroxybenzoate production by engineered Pseudomonas putida S12 are phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and erythrose-4-phosphate (E4P), for which the pentose phosphate (PP) pathway is an important source. Since PP pathway fluxes are typically low in pseudomonads, E4P and PEP availability is a likely bottleneck for aromatics production which may be alleviated by stimulating PP pathway fluxes via co-feeding of pentoses in addition to glucose or glycerol. As P. putida S12 lacks the natural ability to utilize xylose, the xylose isomerase pathway from E. coli was introduced into the p-hydroxybenzoate producing strain P. putida S12palB2. The initially inefficient xylose utilization was improved by evolutionary selection after which the p-hydroxybenzoate production was evaluated. Even without xylose-co-feeding, p-hydroxybenzoate production was improved in the evolved xylose-utilizing strain, which may indicate an intrinsically elevated PP pathway activity. Xylose co-feeding further improved the p-hydroxybenzoate yield when co-fed with either glucose or glycerol, up to 16.3 Cmol% (0.1 g p-hydroxybenzoate/g substrate). The yield improvements were most pronounced with glycerol, which probably related to the availability of the PEP precursor glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAP). Thus, it was demonstrated that the production of aromatics such as p-hydroxybenzoate can be improved by co-feeding different carbon sources via different and partially artificial pathways. Moreover, this approach opens new perspectives for the efficient production of (fine) chemicals from renewable feedstocks such as lignocellulose that typically has a high content of both glucose and xylose and (crude) glycerol.
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A Novel Restraint Device to Improve Safety and Efficacy of Blood Collection During Non-Terminal Sampling of Bats
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There are a variety of blood collection techniques described in the literature for unanesthetized bats, which typically require multiple sharps (e.g., needles, lancets, etc.), competent animal handling for prolonged periods, and usually involve two individuals. With the challenges inherent to non-terminal sampling of blood from bats, as well as the growing need for the use of this technique across multiple disciplines and industries, an improved blood collection method is needed. We report the creation of a bat restraint device specifically designed for a single individual to safely collect blood from anesthetized or non-anesthetized bats. The utility of this restraint device is multifaceted, serving as a safety measure for both animal and handler, as well as increasing the efficiency of blood collection. The restraint device was tested during two laboratory bat studies, Afterwards, the users of the restraint device were provided with a 10-question survey questionnaire to record their opinions on its usage. In total 80% of responses were considered positive, 15% considered neutral, and 5% considered negative. Survey questions that all participants responded to positively when in comparison to the traditional method of blood collection from bats include “easier to perform”, “safer to bats”, and “safer to the individual”. While using the restraint devices during the laboratory studies, no needle sticks, bites, or scratches to laboratorians occurred, and no observable health issues or complication due to blood collection in the bats bled using the restraint devices.
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Characteristics of Harmful Algal Species in the Coastal Waters of China from 1990 to 2017
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Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have occurred frequently in coastal waters of China, imposing negative effects on the marine ecological environment. A dataset of HABs and terrestrial runoff was collected and analyzed in this study, and factors responsible for HABs were further explored. Frequency and expansion of HABs peaked between 2001 and 2007, and although they have declined slightly since then, they have remained quite high. Frequency and accumulative area of HABs peaked in 2004-2005, and most occurred from April to August during these years. HABs occurred frequently in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary, and Prorocentrum donghaiense, Noctiluca scientillans, Karenia mikimotoi, and Skeletonema costatum were the main algal species. The increases of eutrophication, the abnormal sea surface temperature caused by climate and ocean currents, and the species invasion caused by the discharge of ballast water may be important factors for the long-term outbreak of HABs in the Chinese coastal waters. These findings provide a better understanding of HABs in China, which will be helpful to further prevention and control.
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Modelling and mapping eye-level greenness visibility exposure using multi-source data at high spatial resolutions
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The visibility of natural greenness is associated with several health benefits along multiple pathways, including stress recovery and attention restoration mechanisms. However, existing methodologies are inadequate for capturing eye-level greenness visibility exposure at high spatial resolutions for observers located on the ground. As a response, we developed an innovative methodological approach to model and map eye-level greenness visibility exposure for 5 m interval locations within a large study area. We used multi-source spatial data and applied viewshed analysis in conjunction with a distance decay model to compute a novel Viewshed Greenness Visibility Index (VGVI) at more than 86 million observer locations. We compared our eye-level visibility exposure map with traditional top-down greenness exposure metrics such as Normalised Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) and a Street view based Green View Index (SGVI). Furthermore, we compared greenness visibility at street-only locations with total neighbourhood greenness visibility. We found strong to moderate correlations (r = 0.65-0.42, p < 0.05) between greenness visibility and mean NDVI, with a decreasing trend in correlation strength at increasing buffer distances from observer locations. Our findings suggest that top-down and eye-level measurements of greenness are two distinct metrics for assessing greenness exposure. Additionally, VGVI showed a strong correlation (r = 0.481, p < 0.01) with SGVI. Although the new VGVI has good agreement with existing street view based measures, we found that street-only greenness visibility values are not wholly representative of total neighbourhood visibility due to the under-representation of visible greenness in locations such as backyards and community parks. Our new methodology overcomes such underestimations, is easily transferable, and offers a computationally efficient approach to assessing eye-level greenness exposure.
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Influence of provenance origin on the early performance of two sclerophyllous Mediterranean species established in burned drylands
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Forest restoration have had limited success due to intense and prolonged droughts in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. In this context, knowledge of growth and physiology in seedlings of different provenances can be useful in the selection of appropriate seed sources for restoration. In this study we investigated variations in survival, growth, and leaf-level physiology of five provenances of Quillaja saponaria Mol. and five provenances of Cryptocarya alba Mol. originated from coastal and Pre Andean sites exhibiting latitudinal-related climate differences in central Chile. Seedlings were grown in a nursery on 600 mL pots for 18 months and then planted in a dryland site severely damaged by fire. One year after establishment, we measured survival, growth, and leaf-level physiology. We also analyzed the relationship between outplanting survival with seedling characteristics prior to planting, and the relationship between growth and survival with physiological traits and with climate variables. Growth and survival were similar among provenances of Q. saponaria and C. alba, with the exception of differing heights observed within the provenance of Q. saponaria. Initial root collar diameter of Q. saponaria was observed to be positively correlated to outplanting survival. With the exception of photosynthesis in Q. saponaria, all provenances of both species differed in the leaf-level physiological traits. Those provenances originating from interior dryland sites exhibited lower stomatal conductance and used water more efficiently. The opposite was true for provenances coming from coastal sites. In outplanting sites with Mediterranean-type climates that have been damage by severe fire, selections based on larger diameter seedlings, especially for Q. saponaria and from interior and pre-Andean provenances, will likely improve outplanting success.
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Protein suplementation effect on the collected pollen amount and on africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies development/ Efeito da suplementação protéica sobre a quantidade de pólen coletado e o desenvolvimento de colônias de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera)
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The work was developed aiming to check on how the Africanized honey bees behave toward pollen collection and also toward development of brood areas, honey and pollen when lhe bees are fed with sugar syrup plus a protein supplement to which pollen, soybean meal and sugar are added to. Colonies which have been fed with supplement have yielded 60.62g of pollen, (dairy average) from May to November of 1994; a quantity significantly bigger (p 0.05) by the F test, as compared to colonies vhich have received only sugar syrup (36.1Og/day). Pollen collection for the same period increased on a linear basis and corresponding monthly averages can be represented by the equation: Y = 15.19186 + 4.14653X (R2 = 0.757). As to brood and honey areas there have not been significant differences between treated and non-treated colonies, though the smallest measurements have been obtained between July and August. Pollen area however has been significantly smaller (p 0.05) in colonies which had received protein supplementary food (5.22dm2) in relation to control colonies (11.29dm2), and smaller obtained measurements were collected during July.
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A transmissible cancer shifts from emergence to endemism in Tasmanian devils.
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Emerging infectious diseases pose one of the greatest threats to human health and biodiversity. Phylodynamics is often used to infer epidemiological parameters essential for guiding intervention strategies for human viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2). Here, we applied phylodynamics to elucidate the epidemiological dynamics of Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a fatal, transmissible cancer with a genome thousands of times larger than that of any virus. Despite prior predictions of devil extinction, transmission rates have declined precipitously from ~3.5 secondary infections per infected individual to ~1 at present. Thus, DFTD appears to be transitioning from emergence to endemism, lending hope for the continued survival of the endangered Tasmanian devil. More generally, our study demonstrates a new phylodynamic analytical framework that can be applied to virtually any pathogen.
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SARS-CoV-2 surrogate (Phi6) environmental persistence within free-living amoebae
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The reported persistence of SARS-CoV-2 virions in aquatic environments highlights the need to better understand potential mechanisms that may prolong its dissemination. We evaluated the possibility that amoebae might serve as transport hosts by studying the interaction of the enveloped bacteriophage Phi6, as a potential surrogated along with one of the most common amoebae in engineered aquatic environments, Vermamoeba vermiformis. Using microscopy, imaging flow cytometry and bacteriophage cell culture, our results imply that the SARS-CoV-2 surrogate triggers amoebic mitochondria and induced apoptosis to promote viral persistence in trophozoites. Furthermore, virus-infected amoebae were still infectious after 2 months within FLA cysts. These results suggest that amoebae could contribute to the environmental persistence of SARS-CoV-2, including disinfection processes. In addition, amoebae could be a successful model system for understanding respiratory virus-eukaryotic biology at the cellular and molecular levels.
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Tackling Food Insecurity in Cabo Verde Islands: The Nutritional, Agricultural and Environmental Values of the Legume Species
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Legume species are important food sources to reduce hunger and deal with malnutrition; they also play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture in the tropical dry islands of Cabo Verde. To improve the knowledge of the heritage of plant genetic resources in this Middle Income Country, this study had three main goals: (i) to provide a checklist of food legumes; (ii) to investigate which species are traded in local markets and, based on field surveys, to compare species for their chemical, phenolic, antioxidant, and nutritional composition; and (iii) to discuss the agronomic value and contribution to food security in this archipelago. Our results revealed that 15 species are used as food and 5 of them are locally traded (Cajanus cajan, Lablab purpureus, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Vigna unguiculata). The role of these species as sources of important minerals, antioxidants, and nutritional components for food security is highlighted, and the native ones (Lablab purpureus and Vigna unguiculata) stand-out as particularly well-adapted to the climate of these islands, which are already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change. We conclude that the sustainable use of these genetic resources can contribute to the reduction of hunger and poverty, thus meeting some challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Changes in life history and population size can explain the relative neutral diversity levels on X and autosomes in extant human populations
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In human populations, the relative levels of neutral diversity on the X and autosomes differ markedly from each other and from the naïve theoretical expectation of 3/4. Here we propose an explanation for these differences based on new theory about the effects of sex-specific life history and given pedigree-based estimates of the dependence of human mutation rates on sex and age. We demonstrate that life history effects, particularly longer generation times in males than in females, are expected to have had multiple effects on human X-to-autosome (X:A) diversity ratios, as a result of male-biased mutation rates, the equilibrium X:A ratio of effective population sizes, and the differential responses to changes in population size. We also show that the standard approach of using divergence between species to correct for male mutation bias results in biased estimates of X:A effective population size ratios. We obtain alternative estimates using pedigree-based estimates of the male mutation bias, which reveal that X:A ratios of effective population sizes are considerably greater than previously appreciated. Finally, we find that the joint effects of historical changes in life history and population size can explain the observed X:A diversity ratios in extant human populations. Our results suggest that ancestral human populations were highly polygynous, that non-African populations experienced a substantial reduction in polygyny and/or increase in the male-to-female ratio of generation times around the Out-of-Africa bottleneck, and that current diversity levels were affected by fairly recent changes in sex-specific life history.
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Annual trends and health risks of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in a drinking water source in East China
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The extensive pollution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in drinking water has aroused worldwide concern. Successive monitoring of these pollutants has noteworthy significance for drinking water safety. Accordingly, this study conducted successive monitoring of antibiotics and ARGs from 2015 to 2017 in a drinking water source in East China. The total antibiotic concentration ranged from 19.68 ng/L to 497.00 ng/L, and decreased slightly from 2015 to 2017. Eighteen out of forty-one ARG subtypes showing resistance to six antibiotic classes and one class I integrase gene intI1, were detected in the drinking water source at concentrations ranging from 6.5 × 104 copies/mL to 1.6 × 106 copies/mL. Importantly, the total ARG concentration increased on an annual basis from 2015 to 2017 with an average annual increment of 0.25 orders of magnitude, which was mainly attributed to the increase in specific ARG subtypes, such as sul1, sul2, sul3, tetA, qnrB, and ermB. Most ARGs was positively correlated with the intI1 genes (r = 0.47-0.55, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the variation of antibiotics and ARGs appeared to be related to the water indices, particularly of the values of COD, BOD5, NO2-N (P < 0.05). This study provides basic data on antibiotic and ARG pollution in the studied drinking water source. Importantly, the findings expound that although the residual antibiotics in this drinking water source decreased slightly from 2015 to 2017, while its biological effect, the antibiotic resistance, increased annually, which give a warning of the antibiotic resistance pollution in the drinking water source.
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Synthetic methionine meal supplement in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) during sex reversal phase - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v27i4.1186/ Suplementação de metionina sintética em rações para a tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus L.) durante a fase de reversão sexual - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v27i4.1186
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The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of metionine dietary levels on performance and chemical composition from Nile tilapia, during sex reversal phase. A 35 liter-aquarium with 15 animals was considered as an experimental unit. The treatments had been constituted by larvae feeding with diets containing 0.56; 0.65; 0.75; 0.85; 0.95% of total metionine. The animals were fed on ad libitum regimen. In the end of the experimental period, the performance parameters of length and weight, daily weigh gain, factor condition and survival were evaluated. The carcass chemical characteristics from animals as moisture, mineral matter, crude protein and eter extract were also evaluated. The data were submitted to the variance analysis (=0,05). No difference (P >0.05) among treatments was observed. Results show that in rations for Nile tilapia, in this phase, the use of synthetic metionine affected neither the performance nor chemical composition of the animals
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Selenium biofortification in the 21st century: status and challenges for healthy human nutrition
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Background: Selenium (Se) is an essential element for mammals and its deficiency in the diet is a global problem. Plants accumulate Se and thus represent a major source of Se to consumers. Agronomic biofortification intends to enrich crops with Se in order to secure its adequate supply by people. Scope: The goal of this review is to report the present knowledge of the distribution and processes of Se in soil and at the plant-soil interface, and of Se behaviour inside the plant in terms of biofortification. It aims to unravel the Se metabolic pathways that affect the nutritional value of edible plant products, various Se biofortification strategies in challenging environments, as well as the impact of Se-enriched food on human health. Conclusions: Agronomic biofortification and breeding are prevalent strategies for battling Se deficiency. Future research addresses nanosized Se biofortification, crop enrichment with multiple micronutrients, microbial-integrated agronomic biofortification, and optimization of Se biofortification in adverse conditions. Biofortified food of superior nutritional quality may be created, enriched with healthy Se-compounds, as well as several other valuable phytochemicals. Whether such a food source might be used as nutritional intervention for recently emerged coronavirus infections is a relevant question that deserves investigation.
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Impacts of COVID-19 on Animals in Zoos: A Longitudinal Multi-Species Analysis
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Prolonged and repetitive COVID-19 facility closures have led to an abrupt cessation of visitors within UK and Irish zoos for variable periods since March 2020 This study sought to increase understanding of the impact of closures and reopenings on animal behaviour, thereby broadening understanding of whether zoo animals habituate to visitors Data were collected from June to August 2020 at two UK facilities on eight species (n = 1 Chinese goral, n = 2 Grevy’s zebra, n = 11 swamp wallaby, n = 2 Rothschild’s giraffe, n = 2 nyala, n = 4 Chapman’s zebra, n = 2 snow leopard and n = 3 Amur leopard) Behaviour change and enclosure use was variable across species but most changes were non-significant Grevy’s zebra engaged in more comfort behaviour during closure periods than post-closure (p <0 05) Chinese goral engaged in more environmental interactions during closure periods (p <0 05) Grevy’s zebra spent longer than would be expected by chance closest to public viewing areas during closure periods (p <0 008) These results suggest variable impacts of covid-19 closures and reopenings, mirroring human-animal interaction literature We highlight the potential for some species to take longer to re-habituate to the presence of zoo visitors As facility closures/reopenings are ongoing, we advocate a longitudinal monitoring approach Furthermore, we recommend incorporation of physical and physiological measures of welfare where possible, alongside behavioural responses, to enable a holistic approach to answering fundamental questions on whether zoo animals habituate to visitors
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Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) personality: A rating assessment with ex Situ Conservation Program sample
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Research on felid personality has been conducted in a few species. Further research on new species could be highly informative in regard to the influence that adaptation to different ecological challenges has on felid personality. We evaluated the personality of 58 Iberian lynxes (Lynx pardinus) hosted at 3 different breeding centers for reintroduction. A total of 43 adjectives obtained from previous studies with felids were assessed by 30 raters according to the knowledge on the lynx behavior they acquired by observing a live video feed of the animals, finding acceptable standards of interrater reliability. Principal components analysis and regularized exploratory factor analysis revealed 4 factors. Based on the pattern of factor loadings and on previous labeling in felid personality research, we labeled the factors as Boldness, Dominance, Neuroticism, and Attentiveness. The results were similar to that of the previous studies on felids, although some differences were found, which could be due to the evolutionary distance among species and to methodological differences among studies. Future research on endangered felids could provide insights into the influence of personality on conservation outcomes related to successful breeding and reintroduction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Investigation on endocrine disruption of the larval lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol: Short-term reproduction assay with fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas).
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3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) has been used for over 60 years to control the invasive parasitic sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes basin. In the early 1990s, researchers reported that TFM induced vitellogenin in fish and that TFM was an agonist for the rainbow trout estrogen receptor. To support continued registration of TFM for sea lamprey control, regulatory agencies required further testing to evaluate potential endocrine disruption effects. Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to TFM at measured concentrations of 0.0659, 0.181, 0.594, 1.79, and 5.11 mg active ingredient (a.i.)/L for 21 days. No-observable- and lowest-observable-effect concentrations (NOEC and LOEC, respectively) were determined to be 1.79 mg/L or greater for each endpoint. Male survival in the highest treatment group was reduced relative to the controls. Percent egg fertility was reduced in the highest treatment group, resulting in an estimated NOEC of 1.79 mg/L. While no effect on gonadal-somatic index (GSI) was observed for males, female GSI was increased in the 5.11 mg/L treatment. Vitellogenin production was not altered relative to the controls for all TFM treatment groups. However, female testosterone was elevated in the 5.11 mg/L treatment. The results suggest that prolonged exposure to TFM at concentrations exceeding 1.79 mg/L has the potential to disrupt endocrine function. Biologically relevant effects in this study were found at the highest exposure concentration following a 21-day exposure. However, the duration of exposure in this study is not consistent with typical treatment durations (12-h) for sea lamprey control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Ecological efficiency of hog scale production under environmental regulation in China: based on an optimal super efficiency SBM-Malmquist-Tobit model.
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China's hog production is facing the dual pressures of the market and environment. A systematic analysis of the ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) of hog cultivation is of great significance for the development of sustainability and distribution optimization in the industry. This paper investigates the eco-efficiency of hog production and the determinants of eco-efficiency in China using panel data (2004-2018). An optimal super efficiency slacks-based measure (SBM)-Malmquist-Tobit model is adopted for hog production analysis, and the empirical results show a great variation in eco-efficiency across provinces, ranging from 0.557 to 1.19 with a mean value of 0.937 in 2018. The predominant production area of hogs is found being transferred from north to south, with small- and medium-scale predominant production areas shifted from East China to Southwest China, and large-scale predominant production areas shifted from North China to South Central China. Another finding is that eco-efficiency increased by the improvement of technical efficiency. In addition, the Tobit regression results show that rural economic development, the government's investment in environmental control, the market advantage index, and transportation conditions had positive effects on the eco-efficiency; meanwhile, the forbidden policy for livestock cultivation in certain areas, the structure of the hog breeding industry, the density of slaughtered fattened hogs, and the prices of hogs had negative effects on the eco-efficiency.
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Chemical composition: Hearing insect defensive volatiles
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Chemical signals mediate major ecological interactions in insects. However, using bioassays only, it is difficult to quantify the bioactivity of complex mixtures, such as volatile defensive secretions emitted by prey insects, and to assess the impact of single compounds on the repellence of the entire mixture. To represent chemical data in a different perceptive mode, we used a process of sonification by parameter mapping of single molecules, which translated chemical signals into acoustic signals. These sounds were then mixed at dB levels reflecting the relative concentrations of the molecules within species-specific secretions. Repellence of single volatiles, as well as mixtures of volatiles, against predators were significantly correlated with the repulsiveness of their respective auditory translates against humans, who mainly reacted to sound pressure. Furthermore, sound pressure and predator response were associated with the number of different molecules in a secretion. Our transmodal approach, from olfactory to auditory perception, offers further prospects for chemo-ecological research and data representation.
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Quantification of Phytophthora infestans population densities and their changes in potato field soil using real-time PCR
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Tuber infection of Phytophthora infestans often occurs at harvest. However, it is difficult to accurately estimate the population densities of P. infestans in soil, especially Japanese soil. In the present study, P. infestans DNA was extracted from soil samples using a modified CTAB-bead method and quantified using real-time PCR to accurately, rapidly and easily estimate the P. infestans population densities in upland soils in Japan. P. infestans was well quantified in eleven types of soil samples, including nine types of upland soils in Japan, that were artificially inoculated with a zoosporangia suspension. The amounts of P. infestans DNA estimated by the real-time PCR were proportional to the inoculum densities. In the non-controlled experimental potato field, P. infestans population densities in soil corresponded to the development of symptoms and were correlated with the number of lesions on the potato foliage. These results imply that the proposed real-time PCR assay is suitable for the estimation or monitoring of P. infestans population densities in upland soils in Japan. The population densities at the ridge bottoms were larger than those at any other location in commercial potato fields. These results were similar to those of a previous report using a bioassay. Moreover, a correlation between DNA quantity and inoculum potential was observed. In conclusion, the real-time PCR assay developed in this study is suitable for indirect estimation of the inoculum potential of P. infestans.
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Keeping pace with climate change in global terrestrial protected areas.
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Protected areas (PAs) are essential to biodiversity conservation, but their static boundaries may undermine their potential for protecting species under climate change. We assessed how the climatic conditions within global terrestrial PAs may change over time. By 2070, protection is expected to decline in cold and warm climates and increase in cool and hot climates over a wide range of precipitation. Most countries are expected to fail to protect >90% of their available climate at current levels. The evenness of climatic representation under protection-not the amount of area protected-positively influenced the retention of climatic conditions under protection. On average, protection retention would increase by ~118% if countries doubled their climatic representativeness under protection or by ~102% if countries collectively reduced emissions in accordance with global targets. Therefore, alongside adoption of mitigation policies, adaptation policies that improve the complementarity of climatic conditions within PAs will help countries safeguard biodiversity.
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Heavy metal(loid)s in multiple media within a mussel mariculture area of Shangchuan Island, China: Partition, transfer and health risks.
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Limited research has been conducted on the heavy metal (loid) (HM) exchanges among seawater, sediments and cultured mussels in mariculture areas. To determine the impacts of mussel mariculture on the transfer and risks of HMs in coastal environments, samples of seawater, sediments and cultured mussels from a typical mariculture area in the South China Sea were analysed. The logarithmic partition coefficients of sediment/water indicated that HMs were preferentially retained by sediments. There were relatively low ecological risks in mussel raft mariculture areas. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis revealed the influences of terrestrial input and ocean circulation on the HMs in seawater, and the bioaccumulation factors reflected the possible accumulation of HMs in seawater by cultured mussels. Mussel farming was the indirect source of HMs in sediments, and the biochemical processes of cultured mussels promoted the transfer and accumulation of HMs into sediments. Health risk assessment revealed that children were more susceptible than adults, and Cd, As and Cr were among the threatening elements. Nonetheless, the health risks that were possibly caused by the daily consumption of farmed mussels were still within safe limits. Thus, the potential pollution remediation and biomonitoring functions of mussel aquaculture in coastal water environments will be further studied in the future.
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A global dataset for the projected impacts of climate change on four major crops
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Reliable estimates of the impacts of climate change on crop production are critical for assessing the sustainability of food systems. Global, regional, and site-specific crop simulation studies have been conducted for nearly four decades, representing valuable sources of information for climate change impact assessments. However, the wealth of data produced by these studies has not been made publicly available. Here, we develop a global dataset by consolidating previously published meta-analyses and data collected through a new literature search covering recent crop simulations. The new global dataset builds on 8703 simulations from 202 studies published between 1984 and 2020. It contains projected yields of four major crops (maize, rice, soybean, and wheat) in 91 countries under major emission scenarios for the 21st century, with and without adaptation measures, along with geographical coordinates, current temperature and precipitation levels, projected temperature and precipitation changes. This dataset provides a solid basis for a quantitative assessment of the impacts of climate change on crop production and will facilitate the rapidly developing data-driven machine learning applications.
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Deltamethrin Application on Pre-Weaned Calves Improves Feed Consumption, Stress and Fatigue Status under Heat Stress Conditions
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Fly infestation remains a universal problem for dairy cattle herds, affecting the animals’ health and welfare status. Pre-weaned dairy calves are significantly challenged by the direct and indirect consequences of severe fly infestation, heat-stress and their interaction, which contribute to a stressful and fatiguing environment. Among several physiological, behavioral, clinical and biochemical traits, serum cortisol (SC) and creatine kinase (CK) levels, as well as feed consumption can be used as valid indicators of potential stressful and fatiguing conditions and, therefore, can be efficiently used for stress analysis studies. Hence, the objective of the study was to assess the fly-repellency effect of deltamethrin on pre-weaned dairy calves exposed to heat stress conditions, as well as its association with SC, CK concentrations and feed consumption. Two commercial dairy cattle herds of the Holstein breed in Central Macedonia (Greece) were involved in the study during summer months and under heat stress conditions. Deltamethrin administration resulted in (i) a decreased fly population (100% Musca domestica) landing on pre-weaned dairy calves, (ii) a reduced SC (stress indicator) and CK (fatigue indicator) concentration, and (iii) an increased consumption of feedstuff in deltamethrin treated animals compared to the untreated ones.
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Spatiotemporal Distribution of Asian Horseshoe Crab Eggs Are Highly Intermingled with Anthropogenic Structures in Northern Beibu Gulf, China
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Identification, protection and restoration of spawning habitats are vital for protecting the depleted species. Asian horseshoe crabs are ecologically important macroinvertebrates in coastal and estuarine ecosystems. However, their spawning habitat studies were limited to several reports in tropical regions, possibly due to the lack of modified survey methods, particularly in habitats with a lower density of spawning adults, and/or intermingled with anthropogenic structures. In this study, the year-round egg distribution and spawning habitat baselines of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Tachypleus tridentatus were determined in the northern Beibu Gulf, China. Our findings demonstrated that the peak spawning occurred in June–July and ceased in November–January when the average water temperature dropped below 20 °C. Egg aggregations were found < 10 cm beneath the sediment surface with regular tidal inundation, regardless of seasonal changes, in the vicinity of natural and artificial structures with elevated, mildly sloping substratum within the high tide zones. The nests were characterized by medium-sized sediment grains (0.5–0.9 mm), high temperatures (31–34°C), low water contents (0.8%–0.9%), and total organic carbon contents (0.5%–0.7%), which might maximize the hatching success. The identified nesting beaches were close to nursery habitats for juveniles, and tidal creeks were present as the possible corridor connecting these two important habitats through the dominant mangrove forests. The findings provide valuable insights in the scope of spawning behavior and nest-site selection of Asian horseshoe crabs under a mixture of natural and artificial structures, which could benefit future management efforts for the exploited spawning populations.
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Please summerize the given abstract to a title
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Association between increasing agricultural use of 2,4-D and population biomarkers of exposure: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2014.
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BACKGROUND 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most extensively used herbicides in the United States. In 2012, 2,4-D was the most widely used herbicide in non-agricultural settings and the fifth most heavily applied pesticide in the US agricultural sector. The objective of this study was to examine trends in 2,4-D urinary biomarker concentrations to determine whether increases in 2,4-D application in agriculture are associated with increases in biomonitoring levels of urine 2,4-D. METHODS Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with available urine 2,4-D biomarker measurements from survey cycles between 2001 and 2014 were utilized. Urine 2,4-D values were dichotomized using the highest limit of detection (LOD) across all cycles (0.40 μg/L or 0.4 ppb). Agricultural use of 2,4-D was estimated by compiling publicly available federal and private pesticide application data. Logistic regression models adjusted for confounders were fitted to evaluate the association between agricultural use of 2,4-D and urine 2,4-D level above the dichotomization threshold. RESULTS Of the 14,395 participants included in the study, 4681 (32.5%) had urine 2,4-D levels above the dichotomization threshold. The frequency of participants with high 2,4-D levels increased significantly (p < .0001), from a low of 17.1% in 2001-2002 to a high of 39.6% in 2011-2012. The adjusted odds of high urinary 2,4-D concentrations associated with 2,4-D agricultural use (per ten million pounds applied) was 2.268 (95% CI: 1.709, 3.009). Children ages 6-11 years (n = 2288) had 2.1 times higher odds of having high 2,4-D urinary concentrations compared to participants aged 20-59 years. Women of childbearing age (age 20-44 years) (n = 2172) had 1.85 times higher odds than men of the same age. CONCLUSIONS Agricultural use of 2,4-D has increased substantially from a low point in 2002 and it is predicted to increase further in the coming decade. Because increasing use is likely to increase population level exposures, the associations seen here between 2,4-D crop application and biomonitoring levels require focused biomonitoring and epidemiological evaluation to determine the extent to which rising use and exposures cause adverse health outcomes among vulnerable populations (particularly children and women of childbearing age) and highly exposed individuals (farmers, other herbicide applicators, and their families).
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Can DNA help trace the local trade of pangolins? Conservation genetics of white-bellied pangolins from the Dahomey Gap (West Africa)
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BACKGROUND: African pangolins are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of harvesting, feeding both local demands and the illegal international trade. So far, the lack of knowledge on the population genetics of African pangolins has hampered any attempts at assessing their demographic status and tracing their trade at the local scale. We conducted a pioneer study on the genetic tracing of the African pangolin trade in the Dahomey Gap (DG). We sequenced and genotyped 189 white-bellied pangolins from 18 forests and 12 wildlife markets using one mitochondrial fragment and 20 microsatellite loci. RESULTS: Tree-based assignment procedure showed that the pangolin trade is endemic to the DG region, as it was strictly fed by the the Dahomey Gap lineage (DGL). DGL populations were characterized by low levels of genetic diversity, an overall absence of equilibrium, important inbreeding levels, and lack of geographic structure. We identified a 92–98% decline in DGL effective population size 200–500 ya—concomitant with major political transformations along the ‘Slave Coast’—leading to contemporaneous estimates being inferior to minimum viable population size (< 500). Genetic tracing suggested that wildlife markets from the DG sourced pangolins through the entire DGL range. Our loci provided the necessary power to distinguish among all the genotyped pangolins, tracing the dispatch of a same individual on the markets and within local communities. We developed an approach combining rarefaction analysis of private allele frequencies with cross-validation of observed data that traced five traded pangolins to their forest origin, c. 200–300 km away from the markets. CONCLUSIONS: Although the genetic toolkit that we designed from traditional markers can prove helpful to trace the illegal trade in pangolins, our tracing ability was limited by the lack of population structure within the DGL. Given the deleterious combination of genetic, demographic, and trade-related factors affecting DGL populations, the conservation status of white-bellied pangolins in the DG should be urgently re-evaluated. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-01971-5.
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Drought and plant litter chemistry alter microbial gene expression and metabolite production
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Drought represents a significant stress to microorganisms and is known to reduce microbial activity and organic matter decomposition in Mediterranean ecosystems. However, we lack a detailed understanding of the drought stress response of microbial decomposers. Here we present metatranscriptomic and metabolomic data on the physiological response of in situ microbial communities on plant litter to long-term drought in Californian grass and shrub ecosystems. We hypothesised that drought causes greater microbial allocation to stress tolerance relative to growth pathways. In grass litter, communities from the decade-long ambient and reduced precipitation treatments had distinct taxonomic and functional profiles. The most discernable physiological signatures of drought were production or uptake of compatible solutes to maintain cellular osmotic balance, and synthesis of capsular and extracellular polymeric substances as a mechanism to retain water. The results show a clear functional response to drought in grass litter communities with greater allocation to survival relative to growth that could affect decomposition under drought. In contrast, communities on chemically more diverse and complex shrub litter had smaller physiological differences in response to long-term drought but higher investment in resource acquisition traits across precipitation treatments, suggesting that the functional response to drought is constrained by substrate quality. Our findings suggest, for the first time in a field setting, a trade off between microbial drought stress tolerance, resource acquisition and growth traits in plant litter microbial communities.
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Body temperature of free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in south-east Queensland
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The distribution of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Queensland is predicted to contract as a result of climate change, driven by the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves and drought. However, little is known about the physiological responses of this species to environmental extremes under field conditions. This study aimed to establish the efficacy of surgically implanted thermal radio transmitters and data loggers to measure the body temperature of free-ranging koalas across a range of environmental conditions and ambient temperatures. Five free-ranging koalas in southeast Queensland were implanted with thermal transmitters and data loggers waxed together as a single package. Body temperatures were recorded for variable periods ranging from 3 to 12 months. Diurnal rhythms in body temperature were detected irrespective of season. The long-term diurnal body temperature peak for all koalas occurred between 16:00 and 17:00 h and body temperature was 36.7-36.9 °C, the long-term nadir occurred between 07:00 and 08:00 h and body temperature was 35.4-35.7 °C. Koala body temperatures as low as 34.2 °C and as high as 39.0 °C were recorded. Thermolability became apparent when ambient temperatures were outside the deduced thermal neutral zone for koalas (14.5-24.5 °C): heat was accumulated during the day and dissipated during the cool of the night. While this study is the first to report on body temperature of free-ranging koalas in their normal behavioural context, further investigations are necessary to determine the physiological boundaries of the thermal niche for this species, in order to better equip models that will more accurately predict the impacts of climate change on koalas.
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The need for practical insecticide-resistance guidelines to effectively inform mosquito-borne disease control programs
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Monitoring local mosquito populations for insecticide resistance is critical for effective vector-borne disease control. However, widely used phenotypic assays, which are designed to monitor the emergence and spread of insecticide resistance (technical resistance), do not translate well to the efficacy of vector control products to suppress mosquito numbers in the field (practical resistance). This is because standard testing conditions such as environmental conditions, exposure dose, and type of substrate differ dramatically from those experienced by mosquitoes under field conditions. In addition, field mosquitoes have considerably different physiological characteristics such as age and blood-feeding status. Beyond this, indirect impacts of insecticide resistance and/or exposure on mosquito longevity, pathogen development, host-seeking behavior, and blood-feeding success impact disease transmission. Given the limited number of active ingredients currently available and the observed discordance between resistance and disease transmission, we conclude that additional testing guidelines are needed to determine practical resistance—the efficacy of vector control tools under relevant local conditions— in order to obtain programmatic impact.
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### Instruction:
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Histopathological changes in Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) ovaries after a chronic exposure to a mixture of the HIV drug nevirapine and the antibiotics sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim
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ABSTRACT The burden of the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection has transformed the African continent into a major consumer of antiretrovirals (ARVs) drugs In addition to HIV burden, the African continent has also a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) and has been experiencing recurring outbreaks of several other viral, bacterial, and parasitic epidemic diseases The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2 or Covid-19) pandemic outbreak is adding to the continent’s infectious diseases burden as experts are predicting that it will be here for a long time One of the consequences of these infectious diseases is that antiviral and antibiotic compounds have become some of the most consumed pharmaceuticals on the continent Many of these drugs have been frequently detected in surface waters across Africa There is limited information available on the adverse effects of the mixtures of different types of pharmaceuticals in African aquatic environments on fish reproduction The present study investigated the effects of the ARV drug nevirapine (NVP - 1 48 and 3 74 μg/L) and its mixture with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (3 68 μg/L) and trimethoprim (0 87 μg/L) on O mossambicus gonads using histopathological endpoints as biomarkers The fish (n = 52) were exposed for 30 days in a static renewal system Female O mossambicus exposed to nevirapine (3 74 μg/L) and to NVP – antibiotic mixture recorded higher ovary indices Statistically significant differences were found in female ovary indices between the fish exposed to NVP (3 74 μg/L) and the control fish (p = 0 002) as well as between the fish exposed to the NVP - antibiotic mixture and the control fish (p = 0 009) The main observed histopathological changes in the ovaries were increased vitellogenic oocyte atresia and vacuolation of the interstitial tissue in the fish exposed to NVP - antibiotic mixture It is evident that the presence of NVP - antibiotics mixture in water triggered the observed histopathology in female fish ovaries The detected abnormal high rate of atretic oocytes could result in impaired fish reproduction
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Seasonal weight changes in laboratory ferrets
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Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are a valuable animal model used in biomedical research. Like many animals, ferrets undergo significant variation in body weight seasonally, affected by photoperiod, and these variations complicate the use weight as an indicator of health status. To overcome this requires a better understanding of these seasonal weight changes. We provide a normative weight data set for the female ferret accounting for seasonal changes, and also investigate the effect of fluid regulation on weight change. Female ferrets (n = 39) underwent behavioural testing from May 2017 to August 2019 and were weighed daily, while housed in an animal care facility with controlled light exposure. In the winter (October to March), animals experienced 10 hours of light and 14 hours of dark, while in summer (March to October), this contingency was reversed. Individual animals varied in their body weight from approximately 700 to 1200 g. However, weights fluctuated with light cycle, with animals losing weight in summer, and gaining weight in winter such that they fluctuated between approximately 80% and 120% of their long-term average. Ferrets were weighed as part of their health assessment while experiencing water regulation for behavioural training. Water regulation superimposed additional weight changes on these seasonal fluctuations, with weight loss during the 5-day water regulation period being greater in summer than winter. Analysing the data with a Generalised Linear Model confirmed that the percentage decrease in weight per week was relatively constant throughout the summer months, while the percentage increase in body weight per week in winter decreased through the season. Finally, we noted that the timing of oestrus was reliably triggered by the increase in day length in spring. These data establish a normative benchmark for seasonal weight variation in female ferrets that can be incorporated into the health assessment of an animal’s condition.
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Caracterização do metaboloma sérico de bovinos Nelore e sua potencial associação à eficiência alimentar
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NOVAIS, F.J. Caracterização do metaboloma sérico de bovinos Nelore e sua potencial associação à eficiência alimentar. 92 f. Dissertação (Mestrado) Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, 2017. A seleção de animais para consumo alimentar residual (RFI) está intrinsecamente associada com a diminuição do consumo matéria seca e é independente do ganho de peso corporal, selecionando animais de eficiência produtiva e econômica, além também de diminuir a emissão de gases de efeito estufa provinda do gado. Neste estudo, amostras de soro de 16 animais selecionados divergentemente para eficiência de alimentação foram coletadas antes do confinamento (dia -21) e avaliadas em uma abordagem metabolômica global, com o objetivo de usar análise diferencial, análise de co-expressão e enriquecimento funcional, identificando marcadores para eficiência de alimentação antes do confinamento. Um analito foi diferencialmente presente entre os animais de baixo e alto RFI. A análise WGCNA identificou 22 e 25 módulos no modo positivo e negativo, respectivamente e, 1 módulo de cada modo foi fortemente associado a RFI (r = 0,53, p-valor <0,05 e r = 0,52, p-valor <0,1 nos modos negativo e positivo, respectivamente). A análise de enriquecimento funcional predize 13 processos biológicos associados à eficiência alimentar, incluindo alterações no metabolismo de vitaminas lipossolúveis, inflamação, estresse oxidativo, metabolismo de aminoácidos e metabolismo de ácidos graxos. Esse trabalho evidencia a possibilidade de se identificar um biomarcador para eficiência alimentar e também sugerem que as diferenças nas respostas ao estresse oxidativo e nos processos inflamatórios já influenciam na variação da eficiência alimentar previamente ao confinamento.
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